BIBLE IN TEN

Acts 20:10

Monday, 11 September 2023
 
But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Acts 20:10
 
The words more exactingly read, “And Paul, having descended, fell upon him and having embraced, said, ‘Be not agitated, for his life is in him’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Eutychus was overcome by sleep and fell out of the third-story window. He was taken up dead. However, it now says, “And Paul, having descended, fell upon him.”
 
It is certain that the people in the room that saw him fall shouted out and rushed down the stairs. These stairs are generally a staircase on the outside of the house. One after another, the people would have rushed down in a state of anxiety. As the line allowed, Paul would have joined in the descent.
 
At such a time, most people would be standing there looking at the corpse. Those who knew him well would begin to start moaning and wailing. The women would be crying. Paul, obviously feeling the power of the Spirit, fell upon Eutychus. Luke next notes, “and having embraced.”
 
There are similar accounts in 1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 4. The prophets Elijah and Elisha both raised dead young men after physically joining to them. In Paul’s embracing of Eutychus, it next says that Paul stated, “Be not agitated, for his life is in him.”
 
The word translated as “agitated,” thorubeo, is used for the fifth and last time in the New Testament. It signifies to make an ado, disturb, agitate, etc. The idea here is certainly the tumult of sadness over death. The cries would increase, and some would shriek or cry out, “O God!” Paul’s words are given to silence this and to give them the comfort of knowing that all was ok. Welcome back, Eutychus.
 
“LIFE” application: The word “life” in this verse is from the Greek word psuché. This is the soul. There are three words in Greek that are used to describe the state of what is going on within a person.
 
The first, psuché, is the soul. It is that which exists from conception, and which is tied to the body. However, even if the body dies, the soul continues, albeit in an unnatural state.
 
The next is pneuma – wind, breath, or spirit. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit and the spirit of man. This is the rational soul or the mental disposition.
 
The third is the zóé, or life. This speaks of the vitality of the being, even plant life.
 
These three words correspond exactingly to the Hebrew words nephesh, ruakh, and khai.
 
In the case of Paul’s words, he literally says, “his soul is in him.” As the soul is the part that actually doesn’t die, saying “life” explains the matter clearly to us. His soul returned to his dead body. To understand this, Paul says this in 2 Corinthians –
 
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-5
 
Paul, speaking of our physical bodies, here called “our earthly house,” notes that if a person is separated from this earthly body (it is destroyed), he is unclothed and naked. This was the state of Eutychus. His body was broken from the fall and his soul (psuché) had departed.
 
This is an unnatural state. The soul of man continues to exist, but the zóé, or vitality of the body, has ended. This is what happened to Eutychus. In the ending of his physical body’s zóé, the vehicle by which his soul went about could no longer sustain it. Therefore, his soul departed from the physical body. Unless the rapture happens first, this will happen to each of us. However, God has promised us, buyt giving His Spirit (His Pneuma) as a guarantee, that this will be corrected.
 
One can see that the Pneuma of God is connected not to the corruptible body but to the soul. We have been given a guarantee that our soul will be “further clothed.” The meaning is that we shall be given an eternal and incorruptible body. It is hard to figure out how people fail to understand what is being said here, but it is as common as pages in a book.
 
Our soul has been reconnected to God through an act of grace. At that moment, we are given His Spirit as a guarantee of our future redemption. The physical body no longer has any bearing on our eternal state. As it is in our physical bodies that we sin, and as we are no longer being imputed sin, then we are no longer under any sentence of condemnation. We have gone from death to life. It is an eternal decree of God. Salvation is, by default, something that is eternal.
 
Glorious God, thank You for having saved us by Your grace in Christ. But more, thank You that this is an eternal decree. We have been brought into the New Covenant. Even if we fail You, You will never fail us. And You have proved this by giving us Your Spirit. Thank You for the sure hope of eternal salvation. Yes, thank You, O God. Amen.
 

Acts 20:9

Sunday, 10 September 2023
 
And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. Acts 20:9
 
The translation is more precisely rendered, “And a certain youth named Eutychus, sitting upon the window, deep sleep overpowering him – Paul discoursing on more – having been overpowered from the sleep, fell from the third story down, and was taken up dead” (CG).
 
The previous verse curiously noted that there were many lamps in the upper room where the church was gathered. One main reason for including that observation is now seen. Luke’s use of participles gives action to the events as they occur. His words begin with, “And a certain youth.”
 
The word “youth” signifies a young man, but it can extend to someone even forty years of age. He is a man in the prime of life. Luke next says, “named Eutychus.” The name comes from eu, well or good, and tuché, fortune or fate. Hence, his name means Well Fated. This Eutychus is “sitting upon the window.”
 
Luke uses a present participle. He is sitting there during the gathering. Vincent’s Word Studies says, “The windows of an Eastern house are closed with lattice-work, and usually reach down to the floor, resembling a door rather than a window. They open, for the most part, to the court, and not to the street, and are usually kept open on account of the heat.”
 
It is in this location that he is sitting “upon” the window, meaning directly upon the frame. But more, the use of the article before “window” implies it is the one (or main) window to the entire room. Certainly because of this, as will be explained, there was “deep sleep overpowering him.”
 
The word translated as overpowering, katapheró, is also a present participle. It is used for the first of four times, all in acts. It signifies to bear down, overpower, oppress, etc. Its second use will be in this verse as well. Being another present participle, Luke is drawing the reader into the narrative with one quick thought after another. Eutychus is sitting upon the window, and he is being overpowered by sleep.
 
With that, Luke provides the next words in another present participle to provide a reason for why he was being overpowered, saying, “Paul discoursing on more.”
 
The night is wearing on, Eutychus is sitting upon the window, there are many lamps in the room, all of which are burning, and Paul is talking on and on. Being in the window, he was in the spot where all of the heat and smoke of the “many lamps” would exhaust from the room. Breathing this in would make anyone sleepy, no matter how exciting the words of Paul. Thus, Luke switches to an aorist participle, saying, “having been overpowered from the sleep.”
 
It is the second use of katapheró. Eutychus was being overpowered, and then he is overpowered. He could not bear up with the long hours sitting directly in the spot where all of the lamp fumes, heat mixed with smoke, were exiting. And so, he “fell from the third story down.”
 
This is the only use of the word tristegon, or third story, in the Bible. It means that Eutychus probably fell somewhere about 18-25 feet, maybe a bit more if the window was elevated. Being asleep when he fell, he would have been unable to keep himself from damage. Rather, he would have plunked down in whatever form his body slumped over in. Therefore, Luke next notes, “and was taken up dead.”
 
Luke, being a competent physician, notes with all certainty that Eutychus had expired from the fall. Goodbye, Eutychus.
 
Life application: When something unusual is stated in Scripture, such as noting “many lamps” in the previous verse, there will be a reason for it. The reason may escape us. But in thinking through the times, situations, and circumstances of the event being described, we can usually come to a conclusion concerning the reason.
 
Further, there are two thousand years’ worth of commentary available to us. A simple search on the internet will bring up many of them. Be careful with such things because, quite often, the most sensational comments are the ones that are more commonly read. Because of this, they will come up first on internet searches. So be sure to read several commentaries. The initial one may be sensational, but it also may be wrong.
 
Take the time and effort necessary to find out the reason for things that you find curious. Quite often, you will discover that real human events are connected to real human circumstances. From there, and built upon that foundation, the miraculous will then come forth, such as what will next be stated by Luke in the ongoing narrative.
 
Heavenly Father, it is a treasure to search out Your word and to find out why things are stated there. The cultures described are different and the circumstances vary, but the human element remains the same. We can identify with what happened thousands of years ago because we are humans that You have created to know You and Your intents for us personally. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.

Acts 20:8

Saturday, 9 September 2023
 
There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. Acts 20:8
 
In the previous verse, it noted that the church in Troas had come together to break bread and that Paul, being ready to depart the next day, continued his message until midnight. With that remembered, it now says, “There were many lamps in the upper room.”
 
At first, it seems like something entirely superfluous to say. However, there are probably several reasons for Luke's inclusion of these words. The first was probably unintentional by him, but it shows the minuteness of the details.
 
The room was well lit, maybe more than usual, to mark the joyous nature of the first day of the week. It would show that the Christians met not in secrecy but in open fellowship.
 
Also, it would dispel the lie against the early church that Christians would turn out all the lights and proceed to commit all kinds of abominable acts. Also, the mentioning of it would explain what occurs in the coming verses.
 
As for noting that it is in the upper room, Charles Ellicott says –
 
“...the upper storey is often chosen for social or devotional purposes, partly as more removed from the noise of the street, partly as giving access to the roof of the house. Such a room in a good sized house might well hold two or three hundred people.”
 
It is in this large upper room “where they were gathered together.” In these words, some manuscripts say, “where we were gathered.” That would then be inclusive of Luke. Saying “we” would bolster the point about Luke’s careful attention to the details from a personal perspective, but even if the original is “they,” the note of many lamps would still probably have been told to Luke – even if he was not physically present – in order to explain what occurs in the ongoing narrative.
 
Life application: As has been explained previously in Acts, small differences in source Texts do not mean we do not have a sure word, as some claim. The argument in such a case would be that God failed to preserve His word. This is incorrect.
 
The original is contained in the manuscripts, even if scribes have made mistakes in various parts of it during the copying process. If there are 100 texts that say “how” and one that says “who,” and if the context demands “how,” then it is rather obvious the scribe had a moment of dyslexia, or he transposed the two letters by accident.
 
If a word is missing from a text and yet it is found in 72 others, it is likely the copyist missed the word without realizing it. Etc.
 
The original, however, remains within the enormous number of texts, lectionaries, and other ancient witnesses. But it must be searched out. There is nothing wrong with such a process. Rather, it confirms that God has given us His word, but He has allowed fallen, fallible man to transmit it throughout the ages, occasionally adding in an error that must then be weeded out by others.
 
Don’t ever feel we are lacking a sure word. The contents of Scripture contain the word of God because they are the word of God. Our errors in transmitting it do not change that.
 
Lord God, we know that Your word is sure because it tells us exactly what we need to know concerning our state before You, what You have done to correct it, and how we can then appropriate what You have done. No other religion comes even close to this. Rather, the message of Jesus is the resolution to man’s problem. Thank You for having sent Jesus to bring us back to Yourself. Amen.

Acts 20:7

Friday, 8 September 2023
 
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. Acts 20:7
 
In the previous verse, it noted that Paul and Luke (indicated by the word “we”) joined the others at Troas, where they then stayed seven days. With that noted, Luke continues, saying, “Now on the first day of the week.”
 
The Greek reads, “In now the one of the sabbaths.” The cardinal numeral here is used for the ordinal. The word “sabbaths” is plural. This plural is used for the singular in imitation of the Hebrew form. The noun, sabbaths, is used after numerals in the signification of a week. In other words, the Sabbath is the last day of the week. The next day begins a new week which is day one of the week. Thus, the day is Sunday, even if it started on Saturday night.
 
This verse, along with 1 Corinthians 16:2, shows with certainty that the Lord's Day was already being observed at this early time in church history –
 
“On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
 
Of this day, Luke next records, “when the disciples came together to break bread.” The words are more precisely translated, “the disciples having been gathered together to break bread.” Like in Corinth, the people have gathered as an assembly. In Troas, this included 1) being on the first day, just as in Corinth, 2) gathering together, 3) breaking bread after that (see verse 11), 4) a sermon, and 5) long hours of contemplating God’s word.
 
This may have been Saturday night, which is the beginning of the first day of the week when reckoning by Jewish days. The breaking of bread is in accord with Paul’s words of 1 Corinthians 11. It is the observance of the Lord’s Supper. This would have been done along with a greater meal, an Agape or love feast, which is a regular meal along with fellowship. Next, Luke records, “Paul, ready to depart the next day.”
 
If this is Saturday night, meaning the beginning of the first day of the week, then Paul would depart on a Sunday. If this gathering began during the day on Sunday, then Paul would depart on a Monday. The reason for the confusion rests in the fact that the Jewish days begin in the evening at sundown. Thus, without knowing what time they gathered, it is unwise to be dogmatic.
 
At this meeting, Paul “spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” The word translated as “spoke” is dialegomai. HELPS Word Studies says it signifies “through, from one side across to the other,” It contains the idea of “exercising ‘dialectical reasoning.’” Further, it notes, “This is the process of giving and receiving information with someone to reach deeper understanding – a ‘going back-and-forth’ of thoughts and ideas so people can better know the Lord (His word, will).” One can see that this is where our word “dialogue” comes from.
 
In other words, people were asking questions, and Paul was answering them. At times, Paul may have pulled out his parchments, referring to them to find the answer to a particular question.
 
The word translated as “continued” is found only here in Scripture, parateinó. It means to prolong. Paul obviously had a lot to say, and the people would then continue to question him as well. As a historical note, the Pulpit Commentary says –
 
“Justin Martyr, in his second Apology to Antoninus Plus (or Marcus Aurelius), of the Church assemblies in his day, not a hundred years after this time, is in exact agreement with it: - ‘On the day which is called Sunday, all (Christians) who dwell either in town or country come together to one place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read for a certain time, and then the president of the meeting, when the reader has stopped, makes a discourse, in which he instructs and exhorts the people to the imitation of the good deeds of which they have just heard. We then all rise up together, and address prayers (to God); and, when our prayers are ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president, to the best of his ability, offers up both prayers and thanksgivings, and the people assent, saying “Amen.” And then the distribution of the bread and wine, over which the thanksgivings have been offered, is made to all present, and all partake of it.’ He adds that the elements are carried to the absent by the deacons, and that collections are made for poor widows, and orphans, and sick, and prisoners.”
 
Life application: Regardless of whether these believers gathered on Saturday night after the Sabbath or at some point during the day on Sunday, the church was gathered on Sunday. The reason that the Sabbath is mentioned at all by Luke as a means of counting the days would be because Paul would have observed the Sabbath in order to not be an offense to Jews (1 Corinthians 9:20).
 
Luke, knowing this, is explaining things from the perspective of Paul’s conduct. However, Paul’s instruction to the church, not his personal habits, is what direct doctrine. Just because Paul may or may not have observed a Sabbath, that has no bearing on what he taught. Also, the words that he was set to travel the next day show that there were no restrictions concerning Sabbath observance transferred to the new day of worship, meaning Sunday.
 
Those who impose Sabbath standards for Saturday worship, or who move those Sabbath standards to Sundays, are not working in accord with our freedom in Christ, which Paul writes about in Romans 14:5, Galatians 4:10, or Colossians 2:16. The Sabbath belonged to the Jewish people alone. It was never transferred to the church, even if Jews in the church continue to conduct their weeks in accord with the Jewish weekly calendar.
 
Those who have come to Christ have entered the rest that the Sabbath only anticipated (Hebrews 4:3). Exercise your freedom in Christ and do not be led down a path of false piety and to the observance of things that were mere shadows of the substance that has come in Jesus.
 
Heavenly Father, we are grateful to you for the full, finished, final, and forever work of Jesus Christ. Now, and in Him, we have the freedom to worship You in spirit and in truth. May we hold fast to Him and cling to You through His completion of all things necessary to restore us to Your presence. Thank You, O God, for Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Acts 20:6

Thursday, 7 September 2023
 
But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. Acts 20:6
 
In the previous verses, it noted that some of those traveling with Paul went ahead of him to Troas. However, Luke accompanied Paul by ship. That can be discerned from the next words, “But we.”
 
Luke includes himself in the narrative. He and Paul “sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread.”
 
The word “Bread” should be italicized. The Greek simply gives the adjective azumos, not leavened. The timing shows that the span spent in Corinth was the winter months. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is in the spring. Having left that area and going through the area of Macedonia, they met up with Luke in Philippi. With Unleavened Bread complete, Luke obviously decided to join him on his trip and sailed with him. From there, it says, “and in five days joined them at Troas.”
 
The Greek reads “until five days.” It is a way of indicating the duration of the voyage between Philippi and Troas. In Acts 16, the same trip appears to have taken only three days. The reason for the longer trip could be either because there was a contrary wind as they traveled eastward, or it could be that they made a few more stops to offload and onload cargo.
 
Either way, Luke’s providing the specific timeframes shows his meticulous nature. He carefully records such things, providing details often not found in other narratives that he later compiled. Once having reached Troas, Luke next says, “where we stayed seven days.”
 
Although it is impossible to know for certain, it is generally accepted (and likely) that they stayed a full week to ensure they could participate in one week of fellowship together. This will be seen in the coming verse.
 
Life application: It is known from this verse that Paul observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Based on this, Judaizers are adamant that we too must observe the Feasts of the Lord. This is obviously wrong for several reasons.
 
First, Paul was a Jew. Gentiles are not Jews. Gentiles were never given the law, and Christ fulfilled the law, setting it aside through His work. As this is so, it makes as much sense as making a tennis puck to observe something never mandated and which is now obsolete.
 
Even Paul did not feel compelled to do such things any longer. He clearly indicates that we (including himself) are not under law but under grace. That is found in Romans 6:14, 15 –
 
“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”
 
Second, Paul clearly dismisses such observances in Colossians 2:16, 17 –
 
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
 
Dietary laws, Sabbaths, and feast observances simply anticipated Christ. They have no substance but are mere shadows that anticipated Him.
 
Third, Paul explicitly explains what we are to do at Passover and Unleavened Bread in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 –
 
“Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
 
The words “let us keep the feast,” meaning the feast that Paul just got done observing, do not mean “observe as Israel observed.” Rather, he explains that the physical rites observed by Israel anticipated spiritual truths. He does this with the words, “not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
 
This is exactly what he meant in Colossians 2. The physical rites of Israel were mere shadows that pointed to spiritual truths. Keeping the feast for a week each year is replaced with living in sincerity and truth throughout the year. The feasts only anticipated our lives in Christ.
 
If this is so, then why did Paul observe the feast? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 9 –
 
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but underlaw toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
 
Paul’s actions were to bring people to Christ. If that meant observing a now obsolete fest, he was up to it. If it means having a super yummy pulled-pork sandwich at Demetrio’s Diner, he was up to it. Paul’s only goal was to have people come to Christ.
 
Don’t allow uneducated, legalistic people to ruin your walk with Christ through such silly notions as “It is pleasing to God to observe these points of the law.” If you must observe any point of the law, you must observe the entire law – perfectly. Choosing the law over the grace of Christ is a self-condemning act. You do not have the right to pick and choose which laws you will observe and which you will not. You have placed the entire burden of the law on your shoulders. Good luck with that.
 
Lord God Almighty, thank You for the grace which is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us to never fall back on our own supposed deeds of personal righteousness, assuming that they can make us right before You. Instead, may we hold fast to what Jesus has done and live our lives from that perspective. Thank You for the freedom we have because of Your grace lavished upon us. Amen.

Acts 20:5

Wednesday, 6 September 2023
 
These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. Acts 20:5
 
The verse more correctly reads: “And these, having gone ahead, waited for us in Troas” (CG).
 
The previous verse listed seven men who had accompanied Paul on the journey. Of them, it next says, “And these, having gone ahead, waited for us in Troas.”
 
At first, one might think that it is referring to all seven. However, the Greek may indicate that it was only Tychicus and Trophimus that went on ahead. This is not unlikely because they were from that area, and therefore they may have been the only two to head that way. If so, then the other five went with Paul.
 
The word “us” indicates that Luke has now joined them in Philippi. The last we/us section was also in Philippi. That was in Acts 16. Therefore, it appears that Luke stayed there during all this time. Possibly he pastored a church or did medical work there. Only speculation is possible, but his connection to Philippi seems assured.
 
There are two good reasons for the arrangement of this verse. First, Paul could then observe the Passover at Philippi as the next verse will show. Therefore, it is certain that this time of year was already becoming a celebration of the cross and the resurrection, as Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8 and 1 Corinthians 15:20. Also, second, it would allow for all the believers at Troas to come together to meet with Paul upon his arrival.
 
Life application: It is common among various heretical Christian sects to claim that believers must adhere to the Law of Moses in part or in whole. For some, celebrating the Leviticus 23 Feasts of the Lord is mandatory. And yet, Paul dispels that notion in Colossians 2 –
 
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Colossians 2:16, 17 
 
The “sabbaths” are the weekly Sabbath observances noted in Leviticus 23:1, along with special Sabbaths specifically noted in the Law. The “festival” refers to the individual annual feasts of Leviticus 23. These only anticipated the coming of Jesus. They are fulfilled in Him, and it is pointless to observe them now, except in the sense of remembrance of what He has done.
 
To reinsert law observance is to diminish or ignore the purpose of the coming of Jesus. It is, in essence, another path of working one’s way to heaven. That is an infinite climb that no man can make. Set aside such things. Look to the cross and consider the words, “It is finished.” That is where our faith should rest.
 
Glorious God, thank You for all You have done for us. May Your glorious name ever be praised as we look to the cross of Jesus and find our hope, our assurance, our peace, and our rest. May we never diminish the glory of what He has done by trying to earn what is offered by grace. All hail the name of Jesus, who alone has secured our path back to You. Amen.

Acts 20:4

Tuesday, 5 September 2023
 
And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. Acts 20:4
 
The verse more exactingly reads: “And there accompanied him as far as Asia Sopater, a Berean; and Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius a Derbite and Timothy; and Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, a plot against Paul by the Jews caused him to cancel his sailing trip to Syria. Instead, he returned through Macedonia. Along with Paul, seven other people are mentioned as going to Asia with him.
 
These would have been the people selected to go with him to Jerusalem to present the gift to the church. They would then have all been in Corinth with him, intending to travel by ship when he went. Instead, they have all taken the longer trip with him. The naming of these individuals begins with, “And there accompanied him as far as Asia Sopater, a Berean.”
 
Rather than “of Berea,” as some translations state, the designation is an adjective, “a Berean.” Some think that Sopater is the same as Sosipater, who is mentioned along with Timothy and others in Romans 16:21. The name occurs on an arch in the area of Thessalonica. If he is the same person, he may have been one of the politarchs of Thessalonica. He is identified here, however, as a Berean. Next, it says, “and Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus.”
 
Aristarchus worked with Paul at Ephesus and had been in the riot there (Acts 19:29). Secundus isn’t mentioned elsewhere, but if it is aligned with Tertius of Romans 16:22 and Quartus in Romans 16:23, then he may have been their brother. Secundus means Second, Tertius means Third, and Quartus means Fourth.
 
They may have been either the sons of one man who chose to name his sons this way, or they could have been born slaves and named according to their birth in that way. The only name missing is Primus, which would be the First, and it was not an unknown name at the time. The verse continues with, “and Gaius a Derbite and Timothy.”
 
Gaius may be the same Gaius in Acts 19:29 (but there he is referred to as a traveling partner from Macedonia) and 1 Corinthians 1:14. The term used to describe him is also an adjective, not a noun. Hence, he is a Derbite. Timothy is Paul’s faithful friend and companion first mentioned in Acts 16:1 and who is mentioned many times in Acts and Paul’s epistles. The verse ends with, “and Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.”
 
Tychicus means Fortunate or Fortuitous. It is the Greek equivalent of Felix. It was a common name of the time. He is mentioned five times in the New Testament – Here in Acts, Ephesians 6:21, Colossians 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:12, and Titus 3:12. He is well spoken of.
 
Trophimus comes from trophé, meaning food or nourishment. Thus, according to Strong’s, the name means something like Nutritive. However, others think it signifies something like Nursling or Foster Child. He is found again in Acts 21 and then in 2 Timothy 4:20 in a classic verse concerning health in relation to New Testament teachings on the misused doctrine of faith healing. That there were seven with Paul may be a subtle connection to the seven deacons found in Acts 6.
 
Life application: As noted, Trophimus is mentioned later in 2 Timothy 4:20. There, it says –
 
“Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”
 
Paul was an apostle who had been granted special powers. At times, his influence alone was able to heal without him even being present. Each time that he was able to heal, it was for a set purpose. At other times, he was unable to heal. Such instances are recorded for us to understand, in advance, that the claims of “faith healers” are false.
 
There is no such thing recorded in Scripture, and there is no guidance for its practice. Rather, the Bible asks us to pray for the healing of others and to allow God to respond according to His wisdom. Hence, we can say that faith healing is possible, but faith healers are false. Such people who make claims like this should not be listened to. Rather, read the Bible, and accept that people get sick, and some will die.
 
We are to accept God’s providential care for us, praying for His hand of healing or for His hand of comfort in our afflictions or loss. In all things, let us not lose heart but be people of faith as we continue on life’s path.
 
Heavenly Father, we know that You can and will heal if it is according to Your will. You can do all things, but sometimes it is not in Your plan to do so. Help us to remain faithful when times of trial and testing come about. May we understand that Your plan is far greater than our temporary health or happiness. We bow to You and will follow, even through the valleys that may test us. Amen.
 

Acts 20:3

Monday, 4 September 2023
 
and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Acts 20:3
 
The words more accurately read, “having made three months, a plot against him having been made by the Jews, being about to sail to Syria, there arose in him a resolution to return through Macedonia.”
 
In the previous verse, it noted Paul’s having encouraged those in Macedonia and then his traveling to Greece. Now, it says of his time in Greece, “having made three months.”
 
During these three months, he would have gathered together the gift for the churches in Jerusalem which is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3. Probably most of the time was spent with those in the Corinthian church, as 1 Corinthians 16:6 seemed to indicate was his desire.
 
It is during this time that he would have written Romans. This can be deduced because he had not yet been to Rome and that he was on his way to Jerusalem to deliver the gift, as mentioned in Romans 15:25-27.
 
In the letter to the Romans, he greets Aquila and Priscilla, meaning they had probably left the area earlier at the same time Paul did – after the incident of the riot stirred up by Demetrius. If they had helped Paul, they would have needed to leave quickly as well.
 
It appears that the edict expelling the Jews from Rome had ended by this time. Additionally, it seems that Timothy and Sosipater (Sopater), who was one of the noble Bereans, were there as he wrote Romans. That is seen in Romans 16:21. These details fit with verse 20:4. The account is orderly and well documented.
 
With these three months complete, it next says, “a plot against him having been made by the Jews.”
 
It is a common theme in Acts that has been seen and will be seen again. Probably the main reason for this is not simply the spreading of the news that Jesus is the Messiah, but that Jesus had fulfilled the law and it was now set aside in Him. With that accomplished, salvation was available to all, Jews and Gentiles, apart from the law.
 
Because of his adamant stand of salvation by grace through faith being granted to anyone who accepted the premise, he was hated even to the point of enraging those Jews who heard him. With this hatred boiling in them, they looked for opportune moments to eliminate him. Understanding this, it next says, “being about to sail to Syria.”
 
Paul was going to leave Greece and travel by ship directly to Syria. Any stops by the ship would be for the sake of off-loading cargo and obtaining new supplies at each port as they went.
 
As far as the plot against him, it seems the Jews heard that he was carrying the gift to Jerusalem, or at least that he was headed there, and they wanted to either arrest him at the port or even once on the ship. Or what may be just as probable, is that they wanted to eliminate him at sea by killing him and chucking him into the water at a convenient time. Because he had heard of the plot, however, “there arose in him a resolution to return through Macedonia.”
 
 Instead of going by ship to Syria,    he took a much more roundabout way of getting home by heading up through Macedonia once again – either by land or maybe sailing up the coast on another vessel, something the Jews would not have expected. Despite this delay, those in Macedonia were then favored by another visit from their beloved apostle.
 
Life application: Things haven’t changed that much, even after two thousand years. There are Jews much like Paul in Israel who literally hate the Messianic believers in Israel. They despise the thought of the gospel that robs them of their elite status as Jews, superior to all others.
 
Despite not upholding the law themselves, they see the law and their culture as being the epitome of God’s favor. Along with this are those heretical Christians who proclaim law observance, clinging to their own deeds as acceptable before God. They refuse to come to Christ through faith alone, and they bitterly oppose any who dare to challenge their unscriptural doctrine.
 
This is a real problem in the world, and it can only lead to being separated eternally from God. Those who think they are the ones to receive His favor, most especially because of their relationship with the Law of Moses, are those who will never satisfy Him through their attempts. But self gets in the way and the wall is built, one brick of work at a time, forever separating themselves from the righteousness of God in Christ.
 
Be sure to hold fast to God’s grace. Remove yourself from the equation. Have faith in the merits of Christ alone and you will be accepted by God. Jesus! It is all about Jesus!
 
Glorious Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord who alone can reconcile us to You. We gladly receive the grace offered through His cross. Yes, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts 20:2

Sunday, 3 September 2023
 
Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece Acts 20:2
 
The words are more correctly rendered, “And having passed through those parts, and having exhorted them with much talk, he came to Greece” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Paul departed from Ephesus, having first given his farewell to them. Luke next records, “And having passed through those parts.”
 
The meaning is the various parts of Macedonia which would have included Thessalonica, Berea, and Philippi, along with any other area where a church was established by this time. It is possible that he wrote 2 Corinthians during this period. That is hinted at in 2 Corinthians 7 –
 
“For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.” 2 Corinthians 7:5-7
 
It is also possible that he journeyed northwest into Illyricum at this time –
 
“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:18, 19
 
As for his time in Macedonia, Luke continues the narrative, saying, “and having exhorted them with much talk, he came to Greece.”
 
A great amount of area, time, and events are brushed over with just a few words. The things that happened during this period are not unimportant, but they are not germane to the ongoing narrative. Therefore, the Holy Spirit did not inspire Luke to include the details. Rather, they are quickly summed up, and the narrative continues, noting his arrival in Greece.
 
Here, Luke uses the term Hellas. This is the only time it is used in the New Testament, and scholars vary widely on what they believe it means – all of Greece, the area of Achaia, the area between Macedonia and Achaia, etc. Without knowing what Luke was thinking, it is hard to be dogmatic about why he chose this particular name at this time.
 
Life application: This verse in Acts is not unlike Acts 18:22, where Paul is recorded as having landed at Caesarea, gone up to greet the church, meaning in Jerusalem, and then proceeded down to Antioch. A lengthy journey and an extended amount of time and activity were brushed over in just a few words.
 
We are being kept on a precise and meticulously recorded path of the ongoing redemptive narrative as outlined in Scripture. At times, immense detail is given concerning a single event that may have spanned just a couple of hours. At others, almost no detail is provided for an excursion that could have gone on for months or more.
 
Therefore, it is good to stop and consider why such minute detail is given at times. The Lord is focusing attention on matters of doctrine, theology, etc., even if we don’t realize it right away. So, take the time to stop and reflect on such things. Ultimately, they have great importance, or they would not have been so carefully recorded.
 
Glorious God, how wonderful is Your word. It is a story of love, redemption, and blessing in Christ. Someday we will see and understand why history has unfolded as it has. For now, we have the framework set before us to know what is important to our lives in Your presence.  Help us to carefully consider what is recorded in Your word. It is a marvelous treasure pointing us to You and what You have done and are doing to bring us back to You. Amen.

Acts 20:1

Saturday, 2 September 2023
 
After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. Acts 20:1
 
The verbs, as translated by the NKJV, need to be tweaked: “And after the uproar ceased, Paul – having called the disciples, and having greeted – departed to go into Macedonia” (CG).
 
The previous verse closed out the chapter with the recorder dismissing the assembly. With that remembered, Chapter 20 begins with, “And after the uproar ceased.”
 
Here, the assembly is noted by Luke as a thorubos, or an uproar. The word gives the sense of a confused cry, a hubbub, etc. This is just as the previous chapter described things. With the calm actions of the recorder, things quieted down, the rage of the people was quelled, and Paul deemed it was the proper time to take his leave. Therefore, it next says, “Paul – having called the disciples.”
 
By this time, there would have been no small number of believers in Ephesus. This was seen in Chapter 19 when Demetrius said –
 
“Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.” Acts 19:26
 
Therefore, this probably would have been the calling of a sizeable assembly. With them gathered together, Luke next says, “and having greeted.”
 
The word aspazomai is variously translated. Some say encouraged, greeted, embraced, saluted, etc. It is repeatedly used by Paul in Romans 16 as he greets individuals in the church, but the word itself signifies to enfold in the arms. Therefore, it includes some type of body motion, maybe an embrace or a waving of the arm.
 
Today we might shake hands or give a high five. The point is that Paul personally met with these people and did what people do when they are about to separate. From there, he “departed to go into Macedonia.”
 
This is in fulfillment of what he had already planned, as noted in Chapter 19 –
 
“When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’ 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.” Acts 19:21, 22
 
This is where he intended to go. However, on the way there, he passed through Troas. That is seen in 2 Corinthians 2 –
 
“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.” 2 Corinthians 2:12, 13
 
Troas is north of Ephesus but on the general path to Macedonia when going by foot or by ship.
 
Life application: Though Luke doesn’t record Paul’s stop in Troas, it is of note that he continued to evangelize as he traveled. He didn’t just stop to change ships if going by sea, or pass through on a horse or donkey if traveling by land. Rather, he saw that there was an open door set before him, and he took the time to go through it, even if temporarily.
 
Sometimes, there is an opportunity right in front of us, but we may miss it by being so set on accomplishing whatever goal we had our minds focused on. So, as you close out each day, take time to think about what transpired and consider that maybe tomorrow you can tweak your schedule to include something that you may have overlooked in the busyness of the day that has passed.
 
If you think, “I really should have talked to that person about Jesus,” determine in your mind to do so on the next occasion that you meet up. If it was a one-time meeting, having lost the chance to talk to someone, determine that you will be more aware of such things in the future. This is important because such opportunities can be eternity-changing for those you meet.
 
Heavenly Father, may we be attentive to the state of those we encounter. May we be willing to put aside things that are less important and speak about how our lives have been changed because of the gospel. From there, may we pass on the good news about how to be saved. Without this, people’s destinies will be far different. So, Lord, help us to be conscious of their plight and speak. Amen.

Acts 19:41

Friday, 1 September 2023
 
And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. Acts 19:41
 
In the previous verse, the recorder noted that the city was in danger of being called into question for their unlawful assembly. With that, the chapter ends with, “And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.”
 
Once again, the term ecclesia is used to describe this unlawful gathering. The clerk had the right to dismiss it, and he had presented a logical, orderly case to show why it must be dismissed. Anything less would certainly have led to charges now that he had made his appeal. In this case, the entire city could be put under some type of curfew or had other restrictions placed upon it, or it could have had various privileges removed from it.
 
To close out the commentary on this chapter for us, Charles Ellicott notes that, “An interesting inscription of the date of Trajan, from an aqueduct at Ephesus, gives nearly all the technical terms that occur in the town-clerk’s speech, and so far confirms the accuracy of St. Luke’s report: ‘This has been dedicated by the loyal and devoted Council of the Ephesians, and the people that serve the temple (Neôkoros), Peducæus Priscinus being proconsul, by the decree of Tiberius Claudius Italicus, the town-clerk of the people.’”
 
Life application: There is no evidence that this unnamed person was a Christian convert. However, whether by friend or by foe, the Lord is able to ensure His people and His church will continue as they should. With the church apostatizing today, we can find comfort in this fact. 
 
Nothing is out of the providence of the Lord. To be assured that this is true, think of what Paul says to the church in this same city –
 
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22.
 
The Lord is building a house, a temple, as a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit,” and He is doing it out of His redeemed. When a person wants a house built in today’s world, he will go to a builder and will tell him what he wants.
 
From there, the builder will go to an architect and have the designs drawn up according to the local codes. But he will also detail every item that is needed to build the house. He will note how much copper wire is needed, even the different gauges of wire for various uses. He will calculate how many bricks or cinderblocks are needed.
 
He will determine the thickness of the slab and how much concrete must be poured. He will know how many panes of glass are needed. If the house is in a high wind zone, the glass will have to meet certain standards. The number of tiles required for the ceiling will be noted.
 
In other words, every single detail of the house is planned in advance. The amount of materials is exactingly known, etc. From there, the builder will go to the local market and determine how much all of that stuff will cost. He will then calculate exactly how much time it will take to do each step of the job, planning them in a set order for maximum efficiency. He will figure out the number of manhours, the number of subcontractors and their costs, etc.
 
When these things are done, the plan and the costs will be laid out before the person who wants the house built. Every single detail is known.
 
If we can build houses with such precision that we know every detail in advance, imagine how perfectly God’s temple has been planned. Here, we are dealing with sin and fallen humans to erect a house properly. God, who is perfect in all ways, and who is of infinite understanding, will have no errors or lapses in His plan. 
 
Considering this, even external influences on the church and on the people of the church will have no negative impact on God’s plan. He already knows those things. Therefore, why should you worry about today? Why should you be upset about what appears to be lacking in your life? The Lord knew and allowed those things as a part of your preparation and perfecting for the time ahead. Be content that things have been figured out according to a plan set forth by the infinite wisdom of God.
 
Lord God, thank You that our lives are set in a way that will lead us to eternal glory, even when they seem – at times – to be falling apart around us. When it appears to be that way, we can confidently know that these things were allowed to mold us and perfect us in You. This is a great and wonderful encouragement to our souls. Thank You, O God. Amen.

Acts 19:40

 Thursday, 31 August 2023
 
“For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” Acts 19:40
 
The text more literally reads, “For also we are in danger of being accused of insurrection concerning today. There being no cause about which we will be able to give a reason concerning this conspiracy” (CG).
 
The recorder at Ephesus made his statement and then told those listening that if they had any grievance, they should take it up in a lawful assembly. That being said, it implies that the gathering was unlawfully assembled. He confirms that now, beginning with, “For also we.”
 
He includes himself in the matter at hand. He is an official in the city, the city has gone into an uproar, and he has entered the place where it occurred. He could, therefore, potentially be considered a part of the uproar. As such, he continues that they, including him, “are in danger.”
 
The authority of Rome was not to be questioned. Unlawful assemblies could be considered a lack of control. Any lack of control over the people could become a movement. Any movement could become a threat to the power of the empire. Therefore, such things were considered intolerable. In this case, he says the result could be “of being accused of insurrection concerning today.”
 
The recorder’s words now bring in a possible ironic turn of events that could result from this mob. The word he translated as “being accused” is the same word just seen in 19:38. The entire assembly, including Demetrius and those gathered with him, are being reminded that they may end up as defendants and not plaintiffs.
 
If so, the results might be even worse than they could imagine. They had almost organized a lynching, but it might be they who were to be executed. Albert Barnes notes –
 
“Popular commotions were justly dreaded by the Roman government; and such an assembly as this, convened without any good cause, would not escape their notice. There was a Roman law which made it capital for anyone to be engaged in promoting a riot. ‘He who raises a mob, let him be punished with death.’”
 
Even if this didn't occur, the privileges of the city could be restricted, such as we have today with curfews and the like. The Romans did not appreciate such disobedience. The recorder was fully aware of this and next says, “There being no cause about which we will be able to give a reason.”
 
In other words, if the authorities heard of this gathering and came to Ephesus, there would be a hearing to determine what occurred. Even if the exact reason was discovered, which has already been described by Luke, it would not be a valid reason for the uproar. Somebody would be held accountable, and others would probably be implicated as well “concerning this conspiracy.”
 
In holding a hearing and finding those responsible, it is probable that charges would be made. If so, and it was quite possible under Roman law, there would be no reasonable defense. The word translated as “conspiracy” is sustrophé - a twisting together, hence a conspiracy. It speaks of anything rolled or twisted into a mass. In this case, a mass of people with an underlying sense of confusion, and thus a mob. The word is found only here and in Acts 23:12.
 
Life application: The words and actions of the recorder in this section of Acts could be compared with Gamaliel of the Sanhedrin in Acts 5. He was able to calm the crowd and use a logical defense of the situation at hand –
 
Gamaliel: “Men of Israel” / logical defense / conclusion – fighting against God.
Recorder: “Men of Ephesus” / logical defense / conclusion – fighting against Roman authority.
 
As such, there is a palpable irony between the two accounts. Gamaliel said that if the Way was of human origin, it would fade away, but if it was of God, it would endure. In this account, the recorder says that the whole world was aware of the divine source of their religion, and yet it eventually faded away.
 
The point of this is that in the world of faithful Christians, there are – at times – moments where it seems all is lost, and the faith is being overcome. This was the state of things several times in vast swaths of Christian-controlled areas. Wars seemed to threaten the very existence of the faith.
 
Likewise, in the world today, there is so much apostasy from the true faith that it seems as if those who are properly following the word of God are being pushed out by those who have completely departed from it. But this should not concern us. We have been told, in advance, that this time would come.
 
Eventually, the Lord will descend, and His faithful will be gathered to Him. He is not going to allow His faithful followers to be completely overwhelmed before that day comes. Until then, He expects us to hold fast to Him and His word, keep sharing the good news about what He has done, and remain encouraged even in a world filled with discouragement. Let us do so because a great Day lies ahead for those who are His faithful followers.
 
Heavenly Father, thank You for the sure hope we possess. Our faith is not built on fantasy but on the truth of who You are and what You have done to bring us back to Yourself. As the world devolves around us, we can remain confident and cheerful that there is an end to wickedness. A new and glorious Day lies ahead. May that Day be soon! Amen.