Bible in Ten

Sunday, 30 June 2024

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, Acts 28:30

The Greek more literally reads, “And Paul remained a whole biennium in a personal rental, and welcomed all coming unto him” (CG).

In the previous verse, it was seen that as the Jews departed Paul’s house, they had a disputation among themselves. That leads into the next verse which leaves out Paul’s name in some manuscripts. For example, the ESV reads –

“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him.” ESV

Other than that, the various manuscripts generally agree. And so, after the Jews departed, this verse commences, beginning with, “And Paul remained a whole biennium.”

The word dietia is used for the second and last time here. It was seen first in Acts 24:27. It signifies a period of two years. A single English word to describe it is biennium. However, the Greek word is defined by Strong’s Concordance, saying, “according to ancient practice this means any period between one and two years.”

Therefore, Luke includes the word holos, whole, to ensure that a full biennium is what is being conveyed. As holos is the etymological root of our modern word “whole,” the translation “whole biennium” is as literal as one can get.

Of this time frame, it next lets us know that Paul remained “in a personal rental.” Again, we have words that are exactingly translated from the Greek idiō misthōmati. The word idios is an adjective signifying “one’s own.” Thus, a single adjective to translate would be “personal.” The next word, misthóma, is only found here in Scripture. It signifies a rented house or a hired dwelling. Thus, the single word “rental” fits perfectly.

Luke’s use of words tells us that while awaiting his trial, Paul rented his own place. He wanted to have the liberty of engaging with others in a decent accommodation. This is reflected in the next words, “and welcomed all coming unto him.”

The verb is imperfect indicating that people came and kept coming. He freely welcomed those who wanted to know about the things of God in Christ, and he did so repeatedly.

As for the word “welcomed, it is the Greek word apodechomai. This is its seventh and last use. It literally means “received from.” It is a way of signifying a glad reception. Paul was excited about people’s interest in his apostleship and message, and he never failed to heartily receive them.

Life application: At first, and from the brevity of these words, it might appear that these two years were wasted as far as true evangelism goes. But this is the furthest thing from the truth.

The often-seen theme of the Book of Acts was Paul winding his way throughout the nations and being quickly expelled from many localities by hostiles, particularly Jews opposed to his message. By being in his own rented house, he was able to receive any and all who wished to talk to him about the message he proclaimed.

The word “all” is to be taken all inclusively. He could freely talk to Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or slave owner, etc. He would be free to speak clearly, without interruption, and to substantiate his words by turning to Scripture.

Whatever this house was, be it a small room or a larger full house, it would certainly have been filled day and night by any who were curious to learn from this immense storehouse of wisdom concerning God’s word. As the Geneva Bible comments on this verse, “The word of God cannot be bound.”

How willing are you to welcome people into your life when a matter concerning the gospel or proper doctrine arises? Will you open your time up for them, or will you simply tell them to check with your pastor or Bible teacher and be done with it?

The more willing you are to share what you know, the more you will learn yourself. The old adage that you never learn as much as when you become a teacher is true. Once you start telling others about Jesus and about proper biblical doctrine, you will find yourself searching out answers and learning more than you ever thought you would.

So be welcoming! Take people into your life and be willing to instruct them on what you know.

Lord God, help us to be giving of ourselves and our time, especially when it comes to sharing the good news about Jesus. May our homes be open, and may our embrace be welcoming as we encounter those curious about our faith. We pray this to Your glory. Amen.

Saturday, 29 June 2024

And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. Acts 28:29

More literally, it reads, “And he, having said these, the Jews departed, having much disputation among themselves” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul proclaimed to the Jews who had heard his presentation of Christ Jesus, “Therefore, be it known to you that the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear” (CG).

Now, Luke records, “And he, having said these, the Jews departed.”

This verse is omitted in some manuscripts, and it is missing from some modern translations because of that (such as the ESV). Doctrinally, it doesn't change anything either way.

However, if it belongs in the Bible, and it seems unlikely that such a verse would be arbitrarily added, it shows that some Jews were convinced of the truth of the matter concerning Christ, or they at least wanted to search out the matter further. That is indicated in the next words, “having much disputation among themselves.”

In this clause is a word found only here in Scripture, suzétésis. It is a noun referring to a disputation or a mutual questioning. These Jews found themselves questioning what Paul had shown them from Scripture and there was not an agreement fully decided among them.

Such a dispute would lead, as it always did, to a dividing of the people. There would be some coming to salvation while others continued on the path to condemnation. As Romans 11:5 says that there is a remnant of Jews saved by grace, and as Romans was written for the maintenance of the entire Gentile-led church age, then it remains true that the Jews have not been rejected entirely.

The dispute among them remains to this day, but the movement of the Spirit among the Jews is expanding almost exponentially. The truth of salvation through the shed blood of Christ is finally taking deep roots among His long-wayward people. Healing for the nation is coming and Christ is coming to reign among them.

Until then, this dispute continues on. Many who come to Christ are shunned by family and friends, but Jesus told them that such a cost was to be expected.

Life application: In a society where Christ is openly accepted, one can expect less trouble coming to salvation through faith in the gospel. In fact, exactly the opposite is the case. When a person makes a commitment to Christ, the family rejoices, but when Jesus is rejected, there is true sadness at the anticipated loss.

However, even in openly Christian societies, there are those who come to Jesus out of Islam or Judaism and the family is often angry. Depending on the family, it may even mean excommunication or death.

Muslims, in particular, have a written code that calls for those who leave the faith to be killed. It is not always carried out, but that is because they are not fulfilling the writings of their own religion. For example, this is what it says in Wikipedia concerning this matter –

“Death penalty is the traditional form of punishment for both male and female apostates for leaving Islam. Jaʿfari or Imāmī school – Male apostates must be executed, while female apostates must be held in solitary confinement until they repent and return to Islam. Apostasy from Islam is considered a hudud crime.”

This leaves people with an obvious dilemma. Will they be true to the false religion they were born into, eventually being cast into the Lake of Fire for rejecting Christ, or will they take the chance of being killed for the sake of Jesus but find eternal life through His shed blood?

Judaism doesn’t have any such written code to kill those who depart from their faith, and quite often, Jews don’t profess any faith in God at all. And more, Jews can become Buddhists, Muslims, etc. without losing their status as Jews. However, many Jews say that when a Jew converts and accepts Jesus, he or she is no longer a Jew.

This is a problem that must be considered. Messianic Jews, however, say that they become “completed Jews” when they come to Christ. They now possess the fulfillment of what their ancient culture always hoped for. In coming to Jesus, they are reconciled to God and are on the heavenly path to glory.

So, choices must be made at times. But the right choice is always to come to Jesus. Only He is the path that God has given for fallen man to be saved. This is the Christian message because it is the message of the Bible.

But that brings us to another sad development within the broader label of “Christian.” Liberal churches have now largely rejected what Scripture says. They now say that God accepts people from many paths and that Christ is not the exclusive way to be saved.

Unfortunately for them, they are not true Christians who proclaim this. They will find themselves taking an eternal swim in the Lake of Fire along with all who reject Jesus. Be sure to get the boxes right. There is the “Jesus is the way to be saved” box, and there are all others that lead to condemnation. Be sure to find yourself in the right one.

Lord God, You have sent Your Son into the world to bring us back to Yourself. He paid a high price to redeem us. How can we tread upon the precious blood of Christ through rejecting the offer or diminishing the act by saying that there is another path? We cannot! We proclaim that Jesus is Lord and that every knee will bow to Him. Some in salvation and others in condemnation. But we proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

Friday, 28 June 2024

“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” Acts 28:28

More literally, it reads, “Therefore, be it known to you that the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear” (CG).

Paul just completed citing the words of Isaiah, noting the hardened state of the Jewish nation. A time will come when they will hear the gospel, but at this time, they are in a state where they are unwilling – as a nation – to accept it. Therefore, Paul next says, “Therefore, be it known to you.”

He is speaking to his people, the Jews who had come to hear his words as was recorded in the previous verses. They had asked to hear Paul on the subject, he appointed a day for them to come and meet, and he had spent the entire day going over the evidence that Jesus is the Messiah. However, they could not mutually agree on his words.

It was because of this that he cited his words of Isaiah to them. With that done, he continues his words to them now, saying, “that the salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles.”

Unlike many translations, the tense of the verb is aorist, not present. Paul has been proclaiming the message of Jesus to the Gentiles for years. He would continue to do so as well. With that stated, he next changes to the future tense, saying, “and they will hear.”

The message was sent. Paul knows personally that they had received it openly. However, he also knows that even in the future, the Gentiles will hear and respond. This then is set in parallel to his citation of Isaiah in the previous verse –

And I will heal them [the Jewish nation].
And they will hear [the Gentiles].

God’s plan will come about for both Jew and Gentile. His foreknowledge of these matters is on prominent display.

Understanding that the Jews were now going to be healed of their stubborn refusal, a “healing” which would mean being cut off from God’s family and mercy for an unknown duration, God would do a new thing during that period.

It actually began at the conversion of the Ethiopian eu**ch as recorded in Acts 8. It was then especially highlighted at the house of Cornelius in Acts 10. From there, it had been growing in movement since that time under the auspices of Paul's amazing apostleship.

The salvation of God in Christ would go fully to the Gentiles of the world. The new thing then is a prominent focus of the plan of redemption being worked not through and for the Jews, but through and for the Gentiles. This is painstakingly explained by Paul in Romans 9-11.

The result of the salvation of God being sent to the Gentiles is that they will hear it. But this means more than having audible sounds resonate in their ears. The word is used figuratively “to hear God's voice which prompts Him to birth faith within” (HELPS Word Studies). They will hear the message, and they will respond in faith, believing and being saved.

Paul’s words in the future tense, then, were more than an assertion of expectancy. They form a prophetic utterance. He had seen the hope and joy of the Gentiles as they heard the message of Christ proclaimed. He was aware of the prophecies of Scripture which told of their coming trust in the Lord and the resulting blessing upon them (Isaiah 49:6, e.g.), and he was filled with the Spirit of God as he uttered the words which would secure for God a church led by the Gentiles and which has endured for almost two thousand years.

As we approach the sure end of this dispensation, the words of the previous verse are now ready to come true. He said He would heal them. At this time, Jews are now turning to Christ in an immense way. Someday the nation as a whole, as identified in the singular during Isaiah’s quote, will come to pass. The plan of the ages is coming to its fulfillment now in our very lifetime.

Life application: The first chapters of Joshua, especially Chapters 3 and 4, typologically anticipate the time when Israel will, as a nation, finally come to Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, both in typology and in clear prophetic utterances, the national salvation of Israel is clearly seen.

It is hard to imagine how people in the church today cannot accept this. There was a time when the Jews were so scattered as a people that it seemed impossible that they could ever be regathered as a nation.

And more, the land of Israel was so barren and useless that nobody thought it would ever have any value again. Though inhabited by some, it was a land of utter desolation, heat, and almost no productivity at all.

However, God began to stir the heart of the Jewish people. They began to return there and work the land so that it began to be productive. During this time, those in the church who accepted the words of Scripture concerning the return of the Jews to the land as being literal began to support the process.

The modern Zionist movement is not an aberration. Rather, it is the fulfillment of God’s utterances, found right in His word. Let us accept that God is doing something great in the world. Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness to Him, the Lord is demonstrating His faithfulness to them. In doing so, He is showing us that His word is true and that He can be trusted in the greater promises He has given to us.

The hope of eternal life is not a pipe dream for people to relieve their sadness concerning the futility of existence. Rather, it is a principle tenet promised to the people of God as is recorded in His sacred word. He is faithful and He will do it. Thank God for Jesus who has made this possible.

Lord God Almighty, You have spoken and Your word is true. What it proclaims will come to pass. We can be absolutely certain of this. You have shown us time and again, right from Your word, that You can be trusted. Why should we not consider that the future promises are equally reliable? We do! Praise to You, O God. We trust Your word because we trust You! Amen.

Thursday, 27 June 2024

For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” Acts 28:27

A literal rendering of the Greek is:

“For has fattened, the heart of this people,And the ears, sluggishly they hear,And their eyes, they have closed – Lest when the eyes: they should see,And the ears: they should hear,And the heart: they should understand,And they should turn.And I will heal them” (CG).

Paul began citing Isaiah in the previous verse. He continues citing the prophet now. He begins with, “For has fattened, the heart of this people.”

The word heart is singular. The nation had a national fattening of its collective heart. The word he uses is seen for the second and last time, pachunó. It signifies to fatten, thicken, and thus become stupid, dull, and/or unfeeling.

In Scripture, the heart is the seat of reason and understanding. HELPS Word Studies says, “the affective center of our being" and the capacity of moral preference (volitional desire, choice; see P. Hughs, 2 Cor, 354); ‘desire-producer that makes us tick’ (G. Archer), i.e our ‘desire-decisions’ that establish who we really are.”

Israel’s collective heart, which controlled their very center of being, had grown fat like a man about to keel over from a heart attack in a moral sense. This was true at the time of Isaiah, but Paul says that it continued to be true in them those many hundreds of years later.

Next, it says, “And the ears, sluggishly they hear.” It is a word used for the second and last time in the New Testament, bareós. It signifies heavily or with difficulty or something done in a sluggish manner.

The words are still speaking of the people of Israel collectively, as if they had two ears. Their hearing became heavy, like a person who was sleepy and no longer listened to the sound around him.

The Lord was speaking, but they were not listening. With their moral compass fattened over, they could no longer hear the difference between right and wrong when it was spoken. It next says, “And their eyes, they have closed.”

In their slumbering state, because of the moral degradation that they were tolerating, they could no longer see the difference between right and wrong. They simply closed their eyes and failed to acknowledge wickedness or holiness.

Therefore, as is always the case when in such a state, they took the carnally appealing path of wickedness and rejected the right and moral path found in Christ’s coming. Now because of being in such a depraved state, Paul continues with Isaiah’s words, providing four subjunctives to explain the state they were in. The first is, “Lest when the eyes: they should see.”

Instead of speaking of the people directly, he speaks of their faculties. The first is the eyes. Essentially, Isaiah is saying, “What would be the case if the eyes start seeing? They don’t see now because they are closed. But what would happen if they were opened?” But it will not happen. It next says, “And the ears: they should hear.”

It is the second subjunctive. “What would be the case if the ear suddenly opened up and started hearing – no longer being heavy and sluggish? What would happen if the ears started listening?” The Lord knows it will not come about. From there, he turns to the third subjunctive, “And the heart: they should understand.”

It is the single heart of the nation. What would be the situation of the heart of the people if their eyes started seeing and their ears started hearing? It would begin to understand. Israel had done this to themselves, and the Lord speaks of that as being the case. He knows that their heart will not understand.

Therefore, the Lord through Isaiah speaks of their state, knowing that within them it is an impossible thought. From there, the Lord asks, based on such an otherwise impossible change in them, “And they should turn.”

It is the fourth subjunctive, and the meaning is, “What if Israel should come to himself?” But they can’t because they have placed themselves in such an impossible state that on their own, it simply cannot happen. However, despite this state, the Lord’s response through Isaiah is, “And I will heal them.”

Many translations continue translating these words as a subjunctive, “and I should heal them.” This is incorrect. The words are future indicative, “And I will heal them.”

To understand what is going on, the verse needs to be looked at from a higher perspective. It has a most important chiastic structure to it which reveals a marvelous truth in the last clause.

First it notes hearts/ears/eyes; it then turns around and notes eyes/ears/hearts. As seen, the dullness referred to comes from the idea of becoming thick through fatness. Thus, the fat around their heart caused them to fail to understand.

Collective Israel was numbed to the things of God. The people had shut their ears to His word, and they had closed their eyes completely, shutting out anything but what they wished to see.

These actions are laid solely at the feet of the people. It is not the Lord who closed their eyes, which might somehow be inferred if only evaluating verse 26. Rather, this was a voluntary act of the national free will. This is perfectly evident from the beginning word “For” (Greek: gar), and the interim word “lest” (Greek: me).

It is Israel that turned from the Lord, and it is they who would suffer the consequences. However, the last clause, “And I will heal them,” is explained by Bengel –

“... in Isaiah the Hebrew accent makes the fullest stop of the hemistich after ἐπιστρέψωσι [epistrephosi], should be converted [and so ἰάσομαι [iasomai] becomes distinguished from the contingent relation of the previous verbs, and is made a positive assertion].”

Note: epistrephosi (should turn) is the last word in the Greek of the previous clause.

What Bengel is saying is that translators tend to make the last clause contingent upon the rest of the verse: “If they did this, then I will do that.” However, the clauses are actually not connected at all in this way. Rather, it should be read as -

“For has fattened, the heart of this people,And the ears, sluggishly they hear,And their eyes, they have closed – Lest when the eyes: they should see,And the ears: they should hear,And the heart: they should understand,And they should turn.And I will heal them.”

In other words, this is a prophecy based on the hardness of the hearts of the Jewish people. Their hearts have grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, their eyes have closed. Now the Lord will take action to heal them.

In the previous clauses is found the truth that if they did see, hear, and understand, they would be healed. But on their own, this won’t happen. The “WILL” of the final clause being in the future indicative makes it a positive assertion, kai iasomai autous – “AND I WILL HEAL THEM.”

This then means that the Lord's plans for Israel are judgment leading to repentance. Explained differently, a second exile leading to restoration. It has never been the purpose of God to reject the nation of Israel who rejected Him. Instead, it was, is, and continues to be the purpose of God to bring about their healing and restoration.

The chiastic structure of the verse is a vital clue that shows that the last clause is independent of the others.

The Expositor's Greek Testament notes, “It is significant that Luke the physician should thus cite as almost the last words of his record a prophecy ending with ἰάσομαι [iasomai] = I WILL.”

The great Physician will heal in His own perfect timing. He, through Isaiah and as cited by Paul, notes that it will come about.

Life application: It is not hard to see our own nations as resembling that of Israel. This is especially so watching the liberal left conduct their affairs. Their hearts are totally fattened to the plight of the unborn, those harmed by crime, and the injustice of over-taxation.

Their ears cannot hear cries for justice or right conduct. Their eyes are closed to anything moral and upright, instead they alight upon wickedness and perversion, drawing it into their mind and becoming more depraved with each day that passes.

There is a point where this state will no longer change. The people become so depraved that nothing will change them. When this state arrives, only judgment is left for them. This was the state at the time of the flood. It is the state that Jesus says the world will be like before He returns. And this state includes Israel ever since they rejected Jesus.

The prophecy, as it is recorded in Acts, shows that they will not voluntarily turn to the right path, meaning calling on Jesus, until the Lord acts. This is exactly what the Bible says is coming. The prophets proclaim it and the book of Revelation places His actions on prominent display.

The purpose of the tribulation period is to bring Israel to the point where they will finally turn and call out to the Lord. This will not be an action initiated by them. Rather, the tribulation and resulting judgment is His action that then results in their turning.

We do not save ourselves. Jesus did the work, we then turn to Him, and in our turning, we are saved. The process is of the Lord. We acknowledge that and He heals. This is how it is at all times.

The Lord is the One to receive the credit for salvation. There are no works involved. Rather, there is an appeal for mercy based upon His goodness. When the turning comes and the appeal is made, God heals.

Lord God, help us to understand that we cannot work our way back to You. We are corrupt and incapable of doing what is needed to please You. But Jesus has done it all. When we realized that our judgment was laid upon Him, how can we not turn to You? Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 26 June 2024

saying,‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive; Acts 28:26

The Greek more closely reads, “saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “News you will hear and not understand. And seeing you will see and not perceive.”’” (CG).

Because the Jews couldn’t agree among themselves, even after Paul had shown them the truth of Jesus being the Messiah right from their own Scriptures, Paul had told them that the Holy Spirit had rightly spoken to the fathers through Isaiah. Luke next records the words of Isaiah that Paul uttered.

The quote is pretty much verbatim from the Greek translation of Isaiah 6:9, 10. It is cited in Matthew (13:13), Mark (4:12), and Luke (8:10) as a quote from Jesus. It is also cited by John (12:40) to explain why Jesus’ ministry was rejected by Israel. It was not He who had failed them, but they who had rejected Him. As for the quote, Luke records it, beginning with, “saying, ‘Go to this people and say.”

Notice the words don’t say, “Go to MY people and say.” At the time of Isaiah, the Lord was speaking to the prophet about their continued rebellion against Him. This was still true in Paul’s time.

The words of Hosea had come true in the past and they had once again been fulfilled in their rejection of Christ (see Hosea chapter 1). Israel was rejected because they first rejected Him. The prophets of old had spoken to Israel, calling them to repentance, but they refused to heed. Thus, they were exiled.

When in His covenant mercy they were returned, they had the words of the prophets who all spoke of the coming Christ. They then had His incarnation, His ministry, His cross, and His resurrection. And yet, as a collective whole, they had once again rejected their God. They were now lo-ammi, NOT MY PEOPLE, because they were no longer His people; and they were lo-ruhamah, NO MERCY, because they would no longer receive His compassion.

As for the words of the Lord through Isaiah, they begin with, “News you will hear and not understand.”

Many translations make the first word a verb. It is not. It is a noun as in “a hearing.” Thus, it speaks of a report, news, a rumor, etc. The Lord gives the news to His people, and they fail to understand what has been reported. Isaiah next said, “And seeing you will see and not perceive.”

This time, it is a present participle verb, “seeing.” They would hear the news and not understand what was being conveyed. Then, when the news came about, they would see it as it happened and not perceive what was happening because they did not understand the news when it was told to them.

This was true in their times of judgment, and it was true in the coming of the Messiah. Israel had all the news they needed to discern the times, but they lacked the understanding to know that what they had heard and saw was of immediate importance to them. Jesus alluded to this as He approached Jerusalem on Palm Sunday –

“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.’” Luke 19:41-44

Life application: The Bible is a book of news. Like a newspaper, it has published information for us to read, consider, and then act upon. However, if we pick up a paper and read it and don’t consider what it says, we may get stuck in traffic, even though the paper warned there would be construction work at a certain place during the coming week.

This is one of innumerable examples of failing to pay heed to what is reported in the daily paper. Because of this, we may have many griefs, much loss, and tough times. Considering that the Bible is God’s manual for humanity to know Him, what He expects, and how to be right with Him, if we fail to pay heed to it, we will be the ones to suffer.

Israel failed to properly tune their minds and their thinking to the words the Lord spoke to them through His holy men. Because of this, they have suffered greatly. Let us learn from their example and pay heed to what God has given us in His word. In doing so, things will go well for us. In failing to do so, we can expect things will not go so well. Be wise! Heed the word!

Lord God, help us to read and consider Your word all our days. May we be attentive to it in our daily lives, our interactions with others, and in our thoughts about You – meaning in prayers, praises, supplications, and confessions. Help us to live before You appropriately all our days. Amen.