BIBLE IN TEN

Acts 26:19

Thursday, 4 April 2024
 
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, Acts 26:19
 
Paul just finished repeating the words of Jesus that he had received during the vision. With that, he next says, “Therefore, King Agrippa.”
 
Paul once again specifically addresses Agrippa as he did in verse 13. The word translated as “Therefore,” hothen, is derived from two words signifying “where” and “then.” The older English translations of “Wherefore” or “Whereupon” give a good sense of the intent. The meaning Paul is conveying is that he received this vision, and from that, he made his decision, saying, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”
 
It is an astonishing set of words to be considered. Paul uses the verb ginomai, to become or come into being. The tense of the verb, being aorist, gives the sense of “I did not become disobedient.”
 
As Ellicott notes, “The language of the Apostle is significant in its bearing on the relations of God’s grace and man’s freedom. Even here, with the ‘vessel of election’ (Acts 9:15) ‘constrained’ by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14), there was the possibility of disobedience. There was an act of will in passing from the previous state of rebellion to that of obedience.”
 
It is another testimony to the doctrine of free will in man. Paul’s choice of words clearly signifies that he could have, in fact, been disobedient to the vision. However, his choice was to comply with what he had been told. In essence, his words can be turned around to say, “How could anyone find fault in me for being obedient to such a message!”
 
It is reflective of the words of Isaiah 6 –
 
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:‘Whom shall I send,And who will go for Us?’Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8
 
The doctrine of free will in man is seen time and again in such callings. Moses and Jonah are great examples of this. Jeremiah is as well.
 
As for the word translated as “vision,” it is optasia. It refers to an actual vision as opposed to a dream or some other non-specific vision. It is used in Luke 1:22 and is frequent in the Greek translation of the book of Daniel.
 
Life application: The words of Paul in this verse confirm the doctrine known as synergism. It signifies that man has his part in the conversion process. However, that, in turn, does not mean that man has any part in the salvation process. These are two separate things that some try to shove into one box in an attempt to justify the incorrect doctrine of monergism.
 
Monergism teaches that man has no part in the conversion process and that God alone converts a person. For example, the idea of being born again from a monergistic teaching says that God chooses a person, God regenerates that person, allowing him to believe (he is born again), and from there, he believes and is saved. The teaching is utter rubbish.
 
Rather, the conversion process is based on the salvation process. Jesus did everything necessary for man to be saved, minus nothing. However, with that process complete, His work must then be appropriated by those who hear. They can mock, oppose, or blaspheme what they hear (see Acts 18:6), a free-will choice. They can contemplate and check out what they hear (as in Acts 17:20), a free-will choice. They can simply hear and believe (think of Cornelius in Acts 10), a free-will choice. Etc.
 
With the salvation process complete, man is hopefully provided the chance to believe in what He has done. This is why we share the gospel, send out missionaries, etc. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the word of God. If the doctrine of monergism was correct, none of this would be necessary. In fact, it would be a pointless waste of time. God’s will cannot be thwarted. But the process must be carried out –
 
“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8, 9
 
God truly wants all to change their minds about Him. But He does not change it for them. Rather, He asks those who believe the message to get about the business of sharing the gospel. Only through that avenue will others be saved. So, get about sharing the gospel.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to take Your word in its proper light. When we are presented with a doctrine that is incorrect, may You help us to identify it, contemplate why it is so, and then turn from it to that which is correct. We are asking for Your guiding hand to be with us so that we will be properly trained followers of You. Amen.

Acts 26:18

Wednesday, 3 April 2024
 
“to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18
 
Though clunky, a literal translation would be, “to open their eyes – the turned – from darkness to light, and the authority of Satan unto God. They received forgiveness of sins and a lot among those having been sanctified – the faith in Me” (CG).
 
The previous verse is provided with the addition of the ongoing words of this verse, “...delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you, to open their eyes.” “Their eyes” is thus referring to those to whom the Lord is sending Paul. Of them, and in particular the Gentiles to whom his main ministry was directed, the Lord next says, “the turned – from darkness to light.”
 
Paul is to be the vehicle by which this change was to come about. The people of the world without Christ are in darkness. It is a state from which they could not bring themselves. There is no ability to discern the mystery of the gospel apart from it being specially revealed to a person. This was to become Paul’s ministry.
 
And he was the perfect person to accomplish this. He was a living metaphor of these words. He was spiritually blind and he was made physically blind as well. However, he was brought into the light of Christ, and he was healed of his physical darkness at the same time. He was blind, but now he saw. He could fully empathize with those he ministered to because of this.
 
As for the change in a person who receives this light, Jesus continues His words, saying, “and the authority of Satan unto God.”
 
The thoughts are completely tied together. If one is of Satan, he is blind, he is without light, and he is under the authority of Satan, not of God. This is seen from the first pages of Scripture, and it carries through in the words of Jesus and the apostles. It even goes through the book of Revelation until Satan is finally cast into the Lake of Fire.
 
John, in his first epistle, sums this thought up –
 
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8, 9
 
Sin is the problem. Violating law is what brings about the imputation of sin. The devil uses law to lure man to fall into sin. However, once a person turns to God through Jesus Christ, he is brought into the light, his eyes are opened, and he can see. In God there is no darkness, one who is in Christ is also, therefore, no longer in darkness.
 
As noted, this theme follows from the earliest pages of the Bible to the very last pages. It literally permeates Scripture. As for those who are so turned, Paul continues, saying, “They received forgiveness of sins.”
 
Some translations make this clause subjunctive, “that they may receive.” Others make it a cause-and-effect type of thing, “for their receiving.” However, the verb is aorist. They have had their eyes opened, they have been brought into the light, and they have moved from the authority of the devil to that of God. Hence, they have received forgiveness of sins. With that, it next says, “and a lot.”
 
In the opening of the eyes and the turning to God from Satan, there is then forgiveness of sins. In turn, there is then a lot, meaning an inheritance, for them. An inheritance is something granted by another. In the case of those who come to Christ, it means salvation, eternal life, and a heavenly hope. This is all to be obtained by simple faith in Christ’s complete work. Paul explains this in Ephesians 1 –
 
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14
 
This lot, or inheritance, is next said to be “among those having been sanctified.” It is as sure of a pronouncement of eternal salvation as any found in Scripture. The verb is a perfect participle, an accomplished fact wrought by the act of faith.
 
A perfect participle indicates something that occurred in the past and which has continuing results at the time it is being referred to. As this is a statement of fact, it is something that can be conveyed at any time into the future. It thus speaks of eternal salvation. Understanding this, Paul then notes what brought this about, meaning how it was appropriated, saying, “the faith in Me.”
 
That is wholly consistent with his words of Ephesians 1 noted above. Those who have believed are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. God Himself seals that person as an absolute guarantee. It is something to be collected by the one to whom the guarantee is given. God has promised and it will come to pass.
 
This is what Paul was called to do. He was to go out into the Gentile world, even with the knowledge that harm would face him. He had a mission and a calling which was under the authority of God through Christ.
 
As this was so, then his mission could not be thwarted by any power on earth. The fact that he was standing there on trial then could only be considered a part of the plan in which he was called to participate. Either these words concerning Paul are true, or they are not. If they are, then all of the fighting against Paul’s doctrine by so many in the modern world is simply a fight against the Lord Himself.
 
Life application: When properly considered, the words of this verse, which are perfectly in accord with the rest of Scripture, clear up a lot of really bad doctrine. They show that the law has no part in one’s salvation. No works are required to be saved or to continue to be saved.
 
They show that all people are separated from God when they do not have Jesus Christ. Either one is under the authority of the devil, or he belongs to God because of Christ. The words also tell us (based on the previous verses) that one must be presented with the gospel and a response must be made, believing what was heard.
 
Once belief occurs, the person is saved, eternally. These and other points of doctrine are clearly presented in what Paul has said in just a few words to those who listened to him. It is our duty to consider what Scripture is telling us and to accept it at face value. People need Jesus. Without him, they are lost.
 
Does this affect you or move your soul? You may be the only person who will ever have the opportunity to clearly explain the gospel to them. Be about it while you can. Tomorrow may be too late.
 
Lord God, Your gospel is clearly presented in Scripture so that we can know what to tell others. Help us to convey the life-changing message clearly and responsibility to those we come in contact with. May we be willing to do this so that they can have the same hope of eternal life that we now possess. Amen.

Acts 26:17

Tuesday, 2 April 2024
 
‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, Acts 26:17
 
More literally it reads, “delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you” (CG).
 
Paul just explained his calling to those of the court in which he stood, noting that he had been called as a minister and a witness concerning his calling. He now continues that thought. Taken together, they read, “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you, delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you.”
 
The words “delivering you from the people” refer to the Jewish people. That is inserted by the NKJV for clarity. However, simply saying “the people” is a way of specifically identifying them. The fact that they are mentioned indicates that he knew, right from the mouth of the Lord, that he would, in fact, be persecuted by them.
 
However, the Lord also let him know that he would be delivered from them. The trials which had been held against him were proofs of this very fact. Along with them, it next says, “and the Gentiles.”
 
The implication is that he would be likewise persecuted by them, exactly as has occurred throughout all of his time recorded in Acts.
 
Albert Barnes notes that “As the opposition of the Jews arose mainly from the fact that he had gone among the Gentiles, it was important to bring this part of his commission into full view before Agrippa, and to show that the same Saviour who had miraculously converted him had commanded him to go and preach to them.”
 
Paul’s words are carefully selected to show the substance of his commission and the Source of it, meaning Jesus. It is this ministry to the Jews and Gentiles that Jesus next says, “to whom now I send you.”
 
In some manuscripts, there is an emphasis in his words where the “I” is in the emphatic position, “to whom I, I send you.” If that is the correct reading, it is the same words used by Jesus, egō apostellō, “I, I send” that is seen in Matthew 10 when Jesus selected and commissioned the original apostles –
 
“Behold, I send [egō apostellō] you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
 
For Paul, he now recounts his own calling. The voice from heaven was sending him out with a promise of deliverance. The purpose of the marvelous commission is to be found in the next verse.
 
Life application: Paul’s opening words to those in Galatia say –
 
“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Galatians 1:1-5
 
Paul was commissioned to minister to both the Jews and the Gentiles, but his primary mission was to the Gentiles. Jesus said that He would deliver Paul from both. But the fact is that the people he ministered needed to be delivered from the Jews as well.
 
It is the main purpose of the book of Galatians, meaning holding to the grace of God in Christ and not being suckered into law observance by the Judaizers. They had come to Christ, having never observed the law. They were given the Spirit and were saved. But along came the Judaizers who told them that they now needed to be circumcised and observe Moses.
 
In doing so, they would be setting aside the grace that originally saved them. It would mean they were obligated to the law and grace no longer was of any value to them. Their lives and actions would no longer be acceptable to God. At the Bema of Christ, all they could expect is judgment with no rewards, only loss.
 
Unfortunately, this infection has crept into the church time and again throughout the church age in various ways. Anytime someone falls back on the law for personal merit before God, he sets aside God’s grace. With Israel called back to the land, everything Jewish has suddenly become popular with many in the church.
 
This is fine to an extent. But along with this fascination of what God is now doing in the people of Israel after two millennia comes a renewed call to law observance. The church that has carried the banner of God’s grace in Christ has been duped, once again, into the heresy of the Judaizers.
 
Be on guard for this. God’s grace is not for sale. God’s grace cannot be earned. God’s grace requires faith that He has done it all. Trust in this and do not allow yourself to be brought under the yoke of slavery to the law that got Israel into the position it has been in for eons. Rest in Jesus, revel in the grace He provides, and be appreciative to God for His tender mercies to His people through the finished, final, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Lord God, thank You for Your wonderful love, mercy, and grace that has been so marvelously revealed in the coming of Jesus. The burdens are lifted. We do not have to earn Your favor and we no longer have a fear of death. Praise You, O God, for what You have done. Amen.

Acts 26:16

Monday, 1 April 2024
 
“But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. Acts 26:16
 
In the previous verse, Paul had asked the question, “Who are You, Lord.” Jesus then responded, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Now, with Paul’s mind certainly overwhelmed with that thought, probably in absolute terror concerning what disaster must surely be coming upon him, Jesus continues, saying, “But rise and stand on your feet.”
 
The words which Paul conveys in this verse are much fuller in the sense of the commission during this divine visitation than were recorded in either Acts 9 or Acts 22. Paul is carefully orchestrating his words because of the audience that surrounds him. With that, he continues the Lord’s words to him, saying, “for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.”
 
What Paul is saying is more of a condensed form of the first vision along with the words given to him through Ananias as well as from the trance that he referred to in Acts 22:17-21.
 
He is giving his report of the overall account in this manner in order to show that he was, in fact, chosen and designated to take the actions he had taken. As for the word that he uses here for “minister,” is the same as that which he used when speaking of himself in 1 Corinthians 4:1, there translated as “servant” –
 
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
 
It signifies an attendant, an underling, or a servant. HELPS Word Studies says of this word, “properly, a rower (a crewman on a boat), an ‘under-rower’ who mans the oars on a lower deck; (figuratively) a subordinate executing official orders, i.e. operating under direct (specific) orders.”
 
Paul was appointed as Christ’s underling to carry the message of the gospel to all those he would encounter. At this time, it was to a gathering of royals and high officials.
 
Life application: Paul’s words convey what happened, even if they are condensed from several events that took place over time. As he is in a court setting, he needed to get to the point concerning his calling as well as his commission. Therefore, he began with the initial vision and then added information to that which was based on his original calling.
 
Depending on the forum in which you are standing, it may be appropriate to keep your words short and direct. If you are given a time limit, it is good that you stick to it. It is nice to be heard about a matter that is important to you, but it is also good to be brief and concise.
 
If you are given a time limit and you go beyond it to any measure at all, each word you speak will be taken in a different light than you intend. People will normally begin to shut your words out and no longer care about what you have to say. This is because you have shown a disdain for their time or the rules by which you were asked to speak.
 
Let your words be carefully chosen but few in number. In this, you will generally have the greatest impact concerning what you are trying to relay to others.
 
Lord God, help us to be direct and to the point in our conversations. May this especially be so when we share the gospel. Otherwise, the very people we desire to convert may eventually get worn out from our overzealous words and begin to tune us out. Help us to know when to speak, what to speak, and when to conclude so that we have the greatest chance of touching their lives with our words. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Acts 26:15

Sunday, 31 March 2024
 
“So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 26:15
 
In the previous verse, Paul relayed that in his encounter with Jesus, the Lord had asked him why he was persecuting Him. He then said that it was hard to kick against goads. With that, Paul next says, “So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’”
 
Paul wasn’t grasping the situation. There was a light brighter than the sun gleaming all around him and those with him. From there the voice of someone speaking. This Person, who was obviously not overwhelmed by the light as Paul and the others had been, asked him a direct question, the answer to which should have been obvious.
 
But certainly because of cognitive dissonance, he could not get himself to accept the obvious. And so, he must have tried to think of every possible option other than it being Jesus whom he was persecuting. While his mind certainly raced with wonder about who it was that he had been persecuting, the response came with Jesus’ answer, “And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’”
 
The content of these words, when compared to Acts 22:8, reveals a few differences, but the major one between the two is that in 22:8, it said, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.” Here, the words, “... of Nazareth” are left off.
 
The probable reason is because the jurisdiction of Herod’s reign included Nazareth. That is known from Luke 23:7. Paul probably withheld this detail from the conversation to keep from offending Herod, especially before an entire council who could then snicker at the situation.
 
The incredible thing for Paul is that he had been on his way to continue his attack against Jesus’ followers, but now he was being addressed by the very Person he was working to eradicate from the minds of the people. Jesus was no longer a dead false preacher to him. Instead, He had suddenly become the risen Lord. The thought must have been terrifying.
 
Life application: When we gather as congregants of a church, we are doing so because there is a church, a body of people who belong to the Lord. Our gathering implies that we have a reason to do so, which is to remember, celebrate, worship, and learn about the One we are gathering together for.
 
Jesus isn’t just a thought or a concept that should keep us living rightly. Rather, He is the One who prevailed over death. He is the Lord God. Our time in church meetings shouldn’t be a time of simply learning how to live properly by getting away from wrong living. Our time should be a heartfelt appreciation for what God has done for us in the giving of Christ.
 
Remember this. Don’t let your thoughts about Jesus get misdirected from the fact that He is ever present with you. In Him you live and move and have your being because He is God. Let your life be a continuous stream of conscious understanding that He is with you. He is there in the trials and in the good times. He is as close to you in intimacy as you allow Him to be. Consider this and live in intimate fellowship with Him from moment to moment.
 
Lord God, may You be the Lord of our lives at all times. You are there when we gather as a church, but You are also there when we are alone on a walk. There is never a time You are not with us. Help us to remember this and to always have faith that You are with us. In this, may we live our lives accordingly and to Your glory. Amen.

Acts 26:14

Saturday, 30 March 2024
 
“And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Acts 26:14
 
In the previous verse, Paul told the king about the light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that was shining around him and those with him. He continues next with, “And when we all had fallen to the ground.”
 
Again, Paul gives a bit more detail than in the past. He says that not only he fell to the ground, but those with him did as well. This was not stated by Luke in Acts 9, and Paul left it out of his words to those of Israel gathered before him in Acts 22.
 
Apparently, the light was so overwhelming that they were simply stunned by it to the point of bringing them to the ground. From there, he next says, “I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language.”
 
Paul specifically identifies the voice as being in Hebrew. This was unnecessary in Acts 9 and Acts 22. However, Paul is addressing a room filled with various people, all of whom would have spoken Greek, along with any other language they knew. Therefore, Paul continues with the words spoken to him, saying, “‘Saul, Saul.”
 
The spelling of the name of Saul in both Acts 9 and Acts 22 indicated a Hebrew, not a Greek, address. The Hebrew is SAOUL, the Greek is SAULOS. There was no need for him to tell the audience this in Acts 22 as they were Jews who listened to the account.
 
However, it may be that he specifically addresses the council with the words “in the Hebrew language” to let the non-Hebrews know that it was the Jewish Lord who spoke to him, thus definitively identifying to them that the Messiah is, in fact, Jewish.
 
Further, this is one of the many proofs that the NT was written not in Aramaic or Hebrew, but in Greek. If not, then this, and each other such instance, is a non-scriptural addition. In this case, it is the spelling of the name that indicates this to us. Of the words spoken by the voice to him, he next says, “why are you persecuting Me?”
 
Again, as in the past, the voice asks, “Why are you persecuting Me?” In fact, Paul had persecuted Christians. Therefore, an attack against the body is an attack against the head. Paul’s efforts were only hurting himself as the voice then tells him with the words, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
 
Rather, the Greek is less specific, saying, “Hard for you to kick against goads.” It is an exact repeat of Acts 9:5, and it is how a Hebrew would speak, normally using less definitive wording than a Greek to express the same thought. Of kicking against the goads, the scholars at Cambridge describe that action – 
 
“The figure is from an ox, being driven on in his work. When restive or lazy, the driver pricks him, and in ignorance of the consequences, he kicks back, and so gets another wound. The words would imply that God had been guiding Saul towards the true light for some time before, and that this zeal for persecution was a resistance of the divine urging. It is not unusual for men who are moved to break away from old traditions at such times, by outward acts, to manifest even more zeal than before for their old opinions, as if in fear lest they should be thought to be falling away. This may have been Saul’s case, his kicking against the goads.”
 
According to Vincent's Word Studies, this metaphor concerning the goads is not found in Hebrew writing, but it was common among Greek and Roman writings.
 
Life application: As noted above, the words of Paul in this verse, as recorded by Luke, clearly indicate that the New Testament was first penned in Greek. Paul conveyed his name in Hebrew in the past, but he does so in Greek now for the benefit of the hearer. From there Luke clearly expresses the Greek form, something unnecessary in the previous accounts of this event.
 
Instances like this are found throughout the New Testament as well –
 
“‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23
 
“Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’” Mark 5:41
 
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. John 5:2
 
And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Revelation 16:16
 
These are just a few examples. If the words were not originally penned in Greek, but rather in Hebrew (or Aramaic), such explanations would not be necessary. And more, their inclusion now would mean that the words are not inspired.
 
This is important because we can see the transfer of the redemptive message away from only Israel to the entire world. But this was initiated long before the writing of the gospels when the Greek translation of the Old Testament was made. That is what is most commonly cited in the New Testament.
 
God was preparing the world for the message of the Messiah to go out in the most common language of the day, Greek. From there, it would then be translated into other languages. Some alphabets, such as the Cyrillic, were actually developed for the purpose of bringing Scripture to the people of the world.
 
Because of the work of Christian ministries, the Cyrillic alphabet is now used from Mongolia and Russia even to Ukraine and Serbia, along with many other nations. To this day, new written alphabets are being developed by people groups that do not have a written alphabet. This is being done to share the good news about Jesus.
 
From the Hebrew and Aramaic of the Old Testament to the Greek of the New, the whole world is being given this wonderful treasure we call the Holy Bible in their own languages. Thanks be to God for those who are going forth to make this possible!
 
Lord God Almighty, we lift up the missionaries who are sharing the good news of Jesus around the world. Give them wisdom and fortitude to continue on. May Your hand guide them and bless them each step of the way. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Acts 26:13

Friday, 29 March 2024
 
“at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. Acts 26:13
 
A bit more precisely, the Greek reads, “Mid-day on the road, O king, I saw from heaven – beyond the brightness of the sun – a light having shone around me, and those journeying with me” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Paul noted that he was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. Now, he continues his words stating, “Mid-day on the road, O king.”
 
In Acts 22:6, Paul uses the term peri mesēmbrian, “about midday.” However, he now says hēmeras mesēs, or “day mid.” They mean essentially the same thing, but it shows that he was not peculiar about the specifics of time. It also shows that this is not simply a faked narrative where the author went back and copied what he had already said.
 
Instead, Luke is detailing Paul’s words which are focused less on the specific timing than on the event itself. He next says, “I saw from heaven.”
 
The light is from above. It wasn’t the sun itself, and it wasn’t something shining the reflection of the sun. Rather, its source is separate from and greater than that of the sun. Understanding this, he next says, “beyond the brightness of the sun.”
 
The words that what he saw was brighter than the sun are unique to this verse. The light was beyond anything in the heavens. The redeemed are said to shine magnificently in Daniel 12:3 and in Matthew 13:43. As this is so, how much more magnificently does the Lord shine in His exaltation.
 
As this glorious radiance exceeded even that of the sun in brilliancy, and because it was from heaven, Paul would have been completely overwhelmed in the splendor of the light, something he avows is the case, saying, “a light having shone around me, and those journeying with me.”
 
The light literally encompassed the men as they traveled. Imagine what their thoughts must have been at this time! Paul’s generality concerning the time of day is not where his detail is centered. Rather, he was giving those gathered an account that was focused on the magnificence of Christ.
 
Life application: It is not uncommon for people to take Paul’s words from the various times he tells about this divine visitation and look for a contradiction in what he is saying. They do this in order to diminish the power of Scripture in the eyes of those they are trying to deceive.
 
Some do it to dismiss Christianity altogether while some do it to call into question Paul’s apostleship. When looking at individual translations, it is possible to come up with apparent contradictions in Paul’s words. However, in the Greek, and in properly translated versions, those supposed contradictions are removed.
 
This is also the case with other parts of Scripture. For example, people will argue over Isaiah 7:14 which uses a word that does not necessarily mean “virgin” and then call into question the citation of that as “virgin” in the New Testament.
 
All of a sudden, it appears that Matthew has made an error. But Matthew is not citing the Hebrew text of Isaiah. Rather, he cites the Greek translation, the Septuagint, which predates the coming of Christ by hundreds of years and which was translated by Greek speaking Jews.
 
They knew that Jesus would be born of a virgin. That is why they chose a Greek word that means “virgin.” So, you can see how deceivers, knowing full well that these things are so, will still try to trip people up and ruin their faith.
 
This is why it is important to study such things. In closely evaluating Scripture, you will see that God is carefully instructing His people in the details of the greatest story ever told. Above all else, the Bible is focused on the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
 
Be confident in this. God has given us a sure and reliable word. Trust that it is so!
 
Lord God, help us in our times of doubt or weakness to be strong in our faith. May we be about the business of being grounded in Your word and in a right application of it in our daily lives. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.
 

Acts 26:12

Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, Acts 26:12
 
The Greek more properly reads, “In which also, traveling to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests” (CG).
 
The words of this verse give additional information to what Paul just said. He noted that he was pursuing believers in Christ, even to the out-cities. He now says, “In which also.”
In other words, he is explaining one time in which he was engaged in going to a city outside of Israel proper. In this case, he was “traveling to Damascus.”
 
Damascus is north and east of Canaan. By highway from Jerusalem today, it is 197-miles that takes approximately 4 ¾ hours to drive. The account he will speak of is recorded in Acts 9. In this excursion, he went “with authority and commission from the chief priests.”
 
The word translated as “commission,” epitropé, is found only here in the New Testament. It indicates designated authority, meaning full power to make a decision. What he decided was to be considered final.
 
Again, though he is giving a narrative of the past, he is also showing quite clearly that the actions of the chief priests were (and thus continue to be) wrong. He had their permission to do what he was doing, even if it was not legally appropriate according to Roman law.
 
Life application: Legal does not make right. Paul may have been given the legal right by his chief priests to take a certain action, but it does not mean that what he was doing was right by another standard that also existed.
 
Likewise, just because something is legal, like abortion, it does not mean that it is morally justifiable. But this is the claim of those who support the procedure. However, if you ask the same person if it is ok to have slaves, he will cry out, “Of course not!”
 
But having slaves was legal in the past. Therefore, according to their standard, having slaves was fully justifiable. From a biblical standpoint, slavery is far more tolerable than abortion, and yet one can see how those who are opposed to biblical morality will turn the world upside down to overthrow God’s better way of conducting the affairs of life.
 
Be sure to contemplate the moral arguments set before you from a biblical perspective. When you do, you will see that some things you thought were acceptable because some governmental authority said so are actually not acceptable by the greater standard set forth by God.
 
Lord God, we need to evaluate the world from Your perspective, and then we need to make our moral judgments based on Your perfect standards. But if we don’t know Your word, how can we do this? Help us to want to know Your word more and more. Give us a hunger for it, pursuing its perfect design for our lives all of our days. Amen.

Acts 26:11

Wednesday, 27 March 2024
 
“And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Acts 26:11
 
The words are not well translated. A more literal translation is, “And in all the synagogues, often punishing them, I – compelling to blaspheme. And exceedingly, being maniacal against them, I – pursuing – also until to the out cities” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Paul explained some of the things he did contrary to the name of Jesus, including shutting His followers up in prison, etc. He now says, “And in all the synagogues.”
 
These words show that his trip to Damascus in Acts 9 was not unique. Outside of Jerusalem, he also went to other areas. Saying, “in all the synagogues” indicates that he probably went throughout Judea, Samaria, and the area of Galilee.
 
Wherever someone was reported as proclaiming Christ, he would head out on a mission to stop them. Upon seizing them, it next says, “often punishing them, I – compelling to blaspheme.”
 
The word translated as punishing, timóreó, is used here for the second and last time. Its first use was in Acts 22:5 where Paul described the same events when he defended himself before the large crown in Jerusalem. HELPS Word Studies notes that the word signifies “to act as a guardian with the authority to mete out punishment.” Therefore, Paul felt he was exacting atonement against his perceived foes.
 
His words about compelling his adversaries to blaspheme are certainly intended not against “God” as he understood Him, but against the Messiah, Jesus, as he misunderstood Him. It could have included making people swear that they renounced the notion that He was the Messiah, denying being a follower of the Lord, agreeing that Jesus was only an imposter, etc.
 
What Paul now calls blaspheming was at the time of his actions a service offered to God. Thus, he could claim as he did to Timothy that he acted in unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13). As far as his success in compelling them, it cannot be determined if he ever was ever able to make them blaspheme. The verb is in the imperfect tense. Thus, it indicates a continued action or an incomplete action. Therefore, it cannot be said that he had any success at all from this verse. Rather, as Charles Ellicott paraphrases these words, “I went on trying to compel them.”
 
From there, he next says, “And exceedingly, being maniacal against them.”
 
Here, he uses a word found only this one time in Scripture, emmainomai, translated as “being maniacal.” HELPS Word Studies says, “‘behave as a maniac’ – properly, locked in the frenzy of rage (fury), ... Here Paul describes his pre-conversion behavior as deranged (acting completely irrational).”
 
This is a description then of his emotional state which he refers to elsewhere as zeal (Galatians 1:14, Phil 3:6, etc.). Paul was like a possessed or deranged man. He was obsessed with his duty of stamping out what he perceived as the cult of the Nazarene. His words of Romans 10:1-4 which speak of his people, Israel, marvelously reflect how he was –
 
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
 
He was zealous for God, even exceedingly so. But his zeal was completely misdirected. Therefore, he next says, “I – pursuing – also until to the out cities.”
 
This shows that he now understood his actions to not have been proper. The word translated as “pursuing” is a negative one. His words show that as he had actually persecuted others, what was happening to him by the Jewish leaders must therefore also be considered persecution. Their actions toward him were misguided.
 
Life application: Paul was so single-minded in his determination to tell others about Jesus that he even went to the out cities to find and persecute His followers. When he had his conversion, he did the exact opposite, but in the same way. He went to the out cities and passionately spoke of the goodness of God in Christ.
 
He relentlessly redirected his energies to sharing the good news wherever he went. What is it that we do when we travel outside of our own town? Vacation time should not be a time for ignoring conversations about Jesus. Instead, we should be just as passionate about telling the people we meet about Him as we are when we are in our own towns.
 
Let us not erect barriers to where we will share the gospel and where we will take a break from doing so. Rather, may our zeal well up in us at all times. One reason Paul was chosen was because Jesus knew he would be passionate at all times about his duties as an apostle.
 
In all honesty, He asks nothing less of us today. But He allows us to make our own minds up about how important our duties are to us. Let us stand worthy of our calling and be about the business of sharing this life-changing good news!
 
Lord God Almighty, our actions reflect who we are and where our priorities lie. May we consider this and act responsibly with the days You have entrusted to us. May we be found pleasing in Your eyes on the day we stand before You. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.
 

Acts 26:10

Tuesday, 26 March 2024
 
“This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Acts 26:10
 
A bit more literally, the Greek reads, “Which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I – I confined – in prisons, having received the authority from the chief priests, and they, being taken up, a vote I cast down against” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Paul acknowledged that he thought he must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Now, to explain what he meant, he says, “Which also I did in Jerusalem.”
 
Paul first specifically notes Jerusalem, certainly with the intent that it be known that his working against the name of Jesus wasn’t just done in some far away corner. Rather, it was right in the center of the city of the Jews who now accused him.
 
In the same place where the apostles were gathered after the crucifixion of Jesus, and where they claimed He rose again and ascended to heaven, Paul actively worked out his misguided zeal against His followers. He acknowledges this, saying, “and many of the saints I – I confined – in prisons.”
 
The plural “prisons” is an indirect way of indicating that not only did he work against them in Jerusalem proper, but in various other places as well. And more, his words are emphatic, “I – I confined – in prisons.” He personally did this and therefore that would be known as well. And further, he explains that his authority was from the very seat of power that now stood against him, saying, “having received the authority from the chief priests.”
 
The very people who were now persecuting him for his faith in Jesus and his witness among the Gentiles were the same people who granted him the authority to arrest the followers of the One he now proclaimed as God’s Messiah.
 
After this, he says something that has caused confusion, and which has led many to assume that he was a member of the Sanhedrin. He says, “and they, being taken up, a vote I cast down against.”
 
Charles Ellicott says, “The words show that St. Paul, though a ‘young man’ (see Note on Acts 7:58), must have been a member either of the Sanhedrin itself or of some tribunal with delegated authority.”
 
However, this is not necessarily so. On the words, “I cast down against,” Vincent's Word Studies notes, “Lit., laid down my vote. ... Some suppose that Paul here refers to casting his vote as a member of the Sanhedrim; in which case he must have been married and the father of a family. But there is no reason for believing this (compare 1 Corinthians 7:7, 1 Corinthians 7:8); and the phrase may be taken as expressing merely moral assent and approval.”
 
Barnes concurs with this by saying, “Paul was not one of the council, nor, that we read of, in any office or place to judge any person; besides, the Jews are thought to have had no power of life and death; and that St. Stephen was slain rather in a popular tumult, than legally: but Paul may be said to do this, by carrying the suffrages or sentence to the Roman man president, or any others, to get it executed (for so the words will bear); and howsoever, by his approving, rejoicing at, and delighting in their condemnation, (which was indeed giving his voice, as much as he could, against them), this was verified.”
 
The word he uses, katapheró, is. used for the fourth and last time. All its uses have been in Acts (20:9 (x2), 25:7, and 26:10). It is a compound word coming from kata, meaning down, against, down from, by way of, etc., and pheró, to carry, bear, bring, conduct, etc. The exact intent of Paul’s words must be guessed at, but it is unlikely that it was the casting down of an actual vote, especially for death.
 
The Jews did not have the authority to put anyone to death. Therefore, at best, it would be a petition to ask Rome to execute them. But it is more likely that it was an assent that the people who were being judged should be found guilty and remain in prison or excluded from the assembly of the Jews.
 
The word translated as vote is first used here, pséphos. It simply means a pebble or stone. It will be seen twice again, in Revelation 2:17 where it is translated as “stone.” Paul may have actually cast down a stone or this may be a metaphor meaning giving assent, such as a nod or a “yes” vote on something. As this is the only time it is used this way in Scripture, there is not a lot to go on to be dogmatic concerning his intent.
 
Whatever the intent was, however, it was understandable to his audience, and it certainly was stated with the overall meaning of his being in opposition to the followers of the One he was now aligned with.
 
Life application: One can see the zeal that Paul had for persecuting the people of the Lord with his emphatic words “many of the saints I – I confined – in prisons.” Now that he was converted, he spent the same exceptionally directed energy in a new way wholly concentrated toward the cause of Christ.
 
So does this reflect your current state? What were you most excited about or geared toward before you came to Jesus? Have you taken even a portion of that energy and redirected it toward the cause of Christ? If not, why not consider that in the future? The Lord of all, Jesus, took on human flesh and came among those He created. He revealed the glory of the Lord to the world, and yet we, His creatures, crucified Him.
 
He allowed this to happen so that we could be made spotless and acceptable to God once again. If He had not done this for us, there would only be condemnation and destruction ahead for us. And yet, are our lives so unchanged even after this? How can that be? Let us consider what God has done and redirect our energies to glorifying Jesus. May our lives and actions be responsibly geared towards the cause of Christ all our days.
 
Yes Lord God! We praise You and thank You for what You have done for us. Help us to live out our lives in a manner that demonstrates true appreciation for what You have done in and through the giving of Jesus. We owe You our all in all. Help us to acknowledge this with lives that are dedicated to You for all of our days. Amen.
 

Acts 26:9

Monday, 25 March 2024
 
“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Acts 26:9
 
Paul had just asked those gathered to hear him why it should be thought incredible that God raises the dead. Now, he will speak of how he once was opposed to the message of Jesus being the Messiah. This will then lead to why he was converted in his thinking. Therefore, he begins this new line of thought with, “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
 
Paul’s words demonstrate empathy towards those who persecute him, be it the Jews in Jerusalem or his audience here. The word “indeed” shows us this. It is something that any person who once didn't believe can do as well, such as, “Indeed, I used to think Christians were nuts, but then I met Christ and realized that I was wrong.”
 
The “many things” that he refers to here are those recorded before his conversion in Acts. He also alludes to them in passages such as Galatians 1:13 and 1 Timothy 1:13. The statement by Paul, though, clearly shows that he now identified with the One he once worked against.
 
He will explain this further as he continues, but by saying that he once thought it necessary to work against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it means that he now no longer felt that way. Thus, he ties himself directly to the sect known as the Nazarenes, whose faith was in Jesus of Nazareth. This is the last time that Nazareth, or any form of the word tied to it, is found in the Bible.
 
Life application: Paul is giving a testimony of who he once was in order to help those listening to better understand who he now is. By following this approach, we can eliminate a lot of the baggage that people may carry with them.
 
People may have had a bad experience with Christians. Or they may have heard that Christians believe fairy tales, and so forth. By stating how you once perceived Christians or Christianity, you allow them to immediately start considering their own state in related matters. When they see that you are just an ordinary person like them and that you once felt just as they do, they will be more willing to stand and listen.
 
For example, if a person is an alcoholic and there is a reformed alcoholic with you, he will have a better opportunity to empathize with the alcoholic and then explain the freedom found in Jesus. So let him do the evangelizing.
 
If a person was brought up in a cult like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, someone who is well-schooled in what they believe can chime in and begin a reasonable dialog that others may not be able to carry out. Empathy and identification are a strong means of helping break down barriers. So, do your best to find out where the commonality between you and a person lies and then use that as you talk to them about Jesus.
 
Heavenly Father, may our lives be used to glorify You. Even the things that were a part of our old lives can be used for a positive end if we can fit them into conversations with others that will build up their confidence in who they can become in Christ. So, help us to wisely use our own past lives and experiences to help others move towards faith in You. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Acts 26:8

Sunday, 24 March 2024
 
“Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? Acts 26:8
 
A more literal, even if a bit clunky, translation would be, “Why judge by you incredible if God raises the dead?”
 
Paul had just said to Agrippa the reason why he was being accused by the Jews, meaning his hope in the resurrection. With that, he next says to all at the hearing, “Why judge by you incredible if God raises the dead?”
 
Some versions make this a supposition rather than a statement of fact, such as, “that God should raise the dead.” But this isn’t correct. Paul is not asking it as if it were possible. He is stating it as an accomplished deed.
 
The “you” in this verse is plural. He is now not only speaking to Agrippa but to all of the people there. Agrippa was a Jew and his Scriptures testified to the fact that God could do it. Paul now says that He has done it. If Christ were not raised from the dead, then Paul would not be on trial for spreading the gospel. Instead, he would still be waiting for the Messiah to come.
 
Those gathered to hear Paul simply needed to believe the content of his words. When we witness to others about Christ, we may put such a question forward as a supposition, but before we are done, we will put it forth as a statement of fact. It would be pointless to tell somebody that it was merely possible to raise someone from the dead. Rather, our testimony is only complete when we avow that it has happened.
 
To substantiate his claim, he will next give his own personal testimony.
 
Life application: Life is filled with possibilities. When debating an issue, someone may raise a possibility. A debate about creation or evolution, for example, may raise the possibility of the gap theory of creation in order to then justify a long-term creation, even opening the possibility of evolution.
 
And yet, unless such a theory is based in reality, it doesn’t make it true. But people have been so conditioned to the supposed science of an old earth for the past several hundred years, that the default belief is in a world that is billions of years old. To believe otherwise is to ignore the supposed specialists who know what they are talking about.
 
However, the Bible makes certain claims that are wholly incompatible with this notion. So, there is a dilemma that seemingly needs to be resolved. Enter the gap theory. Billions of years of time are shoved into the narrative between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. From there, an entire narrative is developed to show how all those fossils showed up in our geologic record.
 
This is convenient and it then hopefully keeps theologians from looking stupid in the eyes of mainstream science. But the gap theory is unsupportable by the Bible. Moreover, it is a theory that is totally unnecessary if the evidence for a short-term creation is considered.
 
We don’t need man’s inserted narrative in Scripture to accommodate unproven science. What we should be doing is testing Scripture that is verifiable and then saying to ourselves, “I will trust God’s word and evaluate the difficult parts as they are written, comparing what we can know from what is stated in Scripture.”
 
In doing this, we are not immediately dismissing either the evidence or Scripture. We are seeing if the two are compatible. Therefore, if you struggle with a short-term creation, but want to trust what Scripture says, read what evidence is presented by short-term creationists. See if their discoveries suitably explain what is presented. If they do, then the problem rests with the generally accepted science of an old earth.
 
Be willing to check things out, but don’t accept man’s inserts into Scripture that are not at all supportable by either the written Hebrew or in a comparison with the rest of Scripture.
 
Lord God, help us to rationally consider what is presented in Your word. May we be willing to take the time and effort to review those things that are difficult for us to understand and to learn from those who have spent their lives in pursuit of the knowledge that will help us to figure out where the truth of a matter lies concerning whatever issue we are struggling with. Amen.