Daily Writing

LEGISLATION – Wisconsin Capitol.

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

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

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.

Fancy hall. Wisconsin Capitol.

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

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

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.

Arched ceiling leading to the dome of Wisconsin Capitol.

Thursday, 28 March 2024 

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, Acts 26:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

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.

Snazzily ordained hallway. Wisconsin Capitol.

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

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

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 people were 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 crowd 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 were 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 persecute others over Jesus that he even went to the out cities to find and hunt down 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.

Lamp with lion paw. Wisconsin Capitol.

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

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

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.