Month: June 2024

Acts 28:26

Charlie Garrett Acts (Written)

Frontier life painting. Wyoming Capitol.

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

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 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 here in Acts, Luke records Paul’s words, 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.

 

 

 

 

 

Acts 28:25

Charlie Garrett Acts (Written)

Frontier Life Painting, Wy0ming Capitol.

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, Acts 28:25

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 more literal translation is, “And being non-symphonic with one another, they were departing, Paul having said one word, ‘That rightly the Holy Spirit spoke through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,’” (CG).

In the previous verse, and without indicating whether any actually believed Paul’s words in their hearts, it said, “And these, indeed, were persuaded these by speakings, and those disbelieved.”

There were some who were persuaded Paul’s analysis was correct, whether they believed or not. On the other hand, there were those who simply disbelieved. The state of these people is next described by Luke, saying, “And being non-symphonic with one another.”

It is an adjective found only here in Scripture, asumphónos. It is derived from the negative particle a and the adjective sumphónos, to be harmonious or agreeable. One can see the etymological root of the word symphony in it. With the negative particle beginning it, the word thus indicates “non-symphonic.”

Not agreeing among themselves seems to point to more than just happily agreeing to disagree. Instead, it shows a complete schism between the two that necessitates the next words of Paul which come as “they were departing.”

The verb is imperfect showing that the day is winding down and the people are getting ready to leave, all the while disagreeing with one another. Therefore, Luke continues, saying, “Paul having said one word, ‘That rightly the Holy Spirit spoke through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers.’”

Some texts say, “your fathers.” Paul, not including himself in this thought seems hard to imagine, but either way, he – acting just as Moses and the prophets after him – proclaims the word of the Lord to the stubborn and rebellious people of Israel.

In this case, he cites Isaiah, but he also shows that Isaiah was not merely speaking on his own behalf but on that of the Lord. This is evidenced in the words, “the Holy Spirit spoke…” But more poignantly, Paul says that He spoke “rightly.”

In other words, the message from God through Isaiah was as relevant at Paul’s time as it was when Isaiah proclaimed it to their ancestors. But there is more underlying his words. Not only is he saying that Isaiah proclaimed certain words to Israel, but that the words he spoke support his position, not theirs!

It is Paul who claims to be in line with the intent of Scripture and thus that of God. It is they who are rebelling against God by rebelling against the message of Christ. What Paul will quote lies ahead, but if he is quoting Scripture against Israel, it means he is quoting God’s word against them. The word of the Lord is set, and it has context and purpose that Paul is saying applies directly to those who have rejected his message of Jesus the Messiah.

Life application: To this day, Israel is not listening to the words of their own Scriptures. The very words that have established them as a people are ignored or manipulated according to the situation at hand.

In other words, it is not uncommon to hear Jewish speakers in government quote Scripture when it fits with their opinion of how things are at the time, regardless of the context of what is actually said in that passage. But if one is to rightly apply context concerning what is being said about Israel of today, and cite that to (or about) the Jewish people, you are bound to get knocked on the head, cursed, or otherwise accused of being an antisemite.

Paul is disliked by the Jewish people because he clearly, precisely, and unambiguously excoriates his people for their rejection of God’s provision in Christ. They malign Jesus, curse His name, and want nothing to do with Him.

And yet, He is the One who was promised to restore them and give them life. But the problem rests with Jesus’ greater purposes, which are clearly laid out in the words of Isaiah –

“And now the Lord says,
Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
To bring Jacob back to Him,
So that Israel is gathered to Him
(For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,
And My God shall be My strength),
6 Indeed He says,
‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:5, 6

The Jewish people as a whole perceive themselves as God’s gift to the world, and they feel that only they are worthy of participating in His prophetic plan and sharing in His salvation. When Jesus brought the need for salvation from sin into the equation, the people rejected Him, feeling that they were secure from sin because of the provision found in the Mosaic code.

Then, once Gentiles were brought into the equation as being just as acceptable as the Jews to be brought into God’s redemptive plans, the Jews went ballistic in their thinking, completely rejecting any hint of what their own Scriptures state. Paul will show them this in the verses ahead.

This state of “feelings of superiority” is not one isolated to the Jews alone. There are many people groups and cultures on the planet who think they are God’s favored people and superior over all others. The difference is that the nation of Israel received God’s word, maintained it, and then incorrectly identified what it is conveying to them and the people of the world.

Because of this, they have had – and will continue to face – many evils. In the days ahead, they will enter into a time of disaster so great that it will make what has come upon them for the past two thousand years pale in comparison. And this fate will be shared by all the peoples of the world.

Let us be found right with Jesus before that day comes. And be sure, it is coming. The book is written. Find your safety in the goodness of God in Christ. Do it today!

Lord God Almighty, we know dire times are coming upon the whole world. But You have offered Your people – those who have come to Jesus – a better hope. We thank You. It is not that we are any better than any others, but that Christ, in whom we are, is our place of safety. Thank You for Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has made us acceptable to You. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts 28:24

Charlie Garrett Acts (Written)

Painting. Wyoming Capitol

Monday, 24 June 2024

And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. Acts 28:24

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 literal rendering of the Greek would be, “And these, indeed, were persuaded these by speakings, and those disbelieved” (CG).

In the previous verse, the Jews came to where Paul was staying, and he spent the entire day persuading those listening concerning Jesus. He did this right from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Now Luke records the results. He says, “And these, indeed, were persuaded by these speakings.”

Luke uses the same word just used in the previous verse and translated as “persuading.” Paul actively attempted to persuade his audience. The verb here is passive and is rightly translated as “were persuaded” rather than simply “believed.”

They went through a process of hearing the word of God and then being persuaded by what they heard. From there, Luke then records the state of the others with the words, “and those disbelieved.”

The verb is now active, and so, “…some were persuaded, and some disbelieved.” The context tells us that this was a voluntary act of free will to search out what is being conveyed concerning the message of Christ. And being persuaded still does not mean believing. If it did, the verb would have been active.

Paul reasoned with them, and they were persuaded that his conclusions were correct, but that does not mean that they accepted them. They could have said, “Yes, these Scriptures clearly indicate that what Paul says is correct, we just don’t believe the Scriptures.” Once information is conveyed, it has to be processed and then it is decided whether it will be trusted or not.

Thus, what Paul says in Romans 10:17 is borne out, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” After this verse, nothing is said about any of these Jews actually believing. In fact, Paul’s words seem to imply that none did.

There were some who were persuaded and some who simply disbelieved. Those who disbelieved may have said, “If you accept this nonsense, you are out of the synagogue.” From there, they may have walked away from Paul’s reasonings. If that were the case, it would mirror what John wrote in his gospel narrative, citing some of the same Scriptures that Paul will next cite –

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:37-43

Life application: The Calvinistic model of salvation is that God first regenerates a person to believe. After that, the person then believes. And then, from that point, he is saved. This excludes any act of reasoning on the part of the individual, and it also excludes free will.

But this is not what the Bible teaches. If Paul believed that nonsense, he would not have spent the entire day reasoning with these people. He would not have even called them to his place of accommodation. What would be the point? In fact, what would be the point of telling anyone about Jesus at all?

But rather, the Bible is a book of reasoning out what it says has happened concerning the fall of man and what God has done to correct that event. Man chose to turn from God, and for the rest of the Bible, God’s redemptive plan is slowly and meticulously unfolded, showing us what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do to restore man to Himself.

If God was just going to regenerate a certain group, saving them after doing so, the Bible would be a galactically huge waste of effort. He could do that apart from the words of Scripture. Hold fast the truth that we need to share the message of Jesus with others. If we fail to do so, and nobody else steps up and does so, those people will not be saved.

Be a hero of the faith today! While Calvinists sit smugly in a church teaching nonsense and figuring that God will regenerate those whom He has elected, you can go out and do what is right, telling others the good news about Jesus.

Heavenly Father, help us to be responsible in our theology, understanding that You have given us Your word to read it, consider it, and carefully contemplate its truths so that we will properly conduct our lives before You all our days! Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judges 13:15-25 (Samson, Judge of Israel, Part II)

Charlie Garrett Judges (Written)

Artwork by Douglas Kallerson.

Judges 13:15-25
Samson, Judge of Israel, Part II

(Typed 1 April 2024) The day I typed this sermon, I actually broke three fingers and two keyboards in my excitement. It was a painful and costly session of sermon typing, but it was definitely worth the pain and the expense. April Fool’s! That didn’t happen.

But this sermon is exciting, nonetheless. Chapter 13 is filled with pictures of Jesus from beginning to end. The main point of the passage is to both implicitly and expressly reveal His deity. In fact, what is being pictured would make no sense at all without understanding this.

Therefore, the narrative reveals it in multiple ways, one after another. Some of it requires a thorough knowledge of Scripture while some of it requires faith that God’s incarnation is an actual possibility. In believing in the latter and possessing the former, the narrative today comes alive.

Text Verse: “The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob,
To the Mighty God [el gibor].” Isaiah 10:21

An explanation of the choice of this text verse will be forthcoming. For now, we can prepare ourselves for entry into today’s verses by accepting that with God, all things are possible, although this does not mean all things in the absolute sense.

For example, God cannot violate His own nature. He is righteous and that aspect of Him must be upheld. He cannot violate His righteousness by overriding it with His love. The two must work in perfect harmony with each other.

God cannot violate what is logical. He cannot make a 3 that is a 2. He cannot make a square that is a triangle. Those things would be illogical. God is logical. That is evidently on display throughout His creation. There is order and harmony, not chaos and dissonance.

Remember this. What we are presented in Scripture is a revelation of who He is. As such, and because man is fallen, there is the need for reconciliation of that which is in tension between God’s attributes and His logical nature in regard to fallen man.

Such truths as this, and how these things are resolved, are to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again, and… May God speak to us through His word today, and may His glorious name ever be praised.

I. We Have Seen God (verses 15-25)

15 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.”

Manoah’s words contain two cohortatives. They are also unusually stated, probably forming an ellipsis: vayomer manoakh el malakh Yehovah natsrah na othakh v’naaseh l’phanekha g’di izim – “And says, Manoah, unto Messenger Yehovah, ‘We shall detain, I pray, You. And shall do to your face kid goats.’”

The surrounding words are similar to what was said by Gideon in Judges 6, thus demonstrating that this would have been something people would be accustomed to doing –

“Then he said to Him, ‘If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before You.’
And He said, ‘I will wait until you come back.’
19 So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them. 20 The Angel of God said to him, ‘Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.’ And he did so.” Judges 6:17-20

Gideon realized who he was talking to, meaning the Lord. That is not as certain with Manoah. Exactly what is on Manoah’s mind is hard to determine. Barnes says, it “seems to indicate some suspicion that his visitor was more than human.” This seems unlikely based on the next verse.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says, “not as the Lord, but as what he imagined him to be, not even an angel (Jud 13:16), but a prophet or merely human messenger.” This seems more likely, but then there is the issue with the wording.

The words “And shall do to your face kid goats” are probably elliptical and mean, “And shall do (prepare and offer) before you a kid of the goats.” Therefore, it is either an offering of a meal or the offering of a sacrifice. As for the gedi izzim, or “kid goats,” gedi comes from an unused root signifying to cut off. Izzim means goat, coming from the word azaz, or prevail.

16 And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord.”

vayomer malakh Yehovah el manoakh im tatsreni lo okhal b’lakhmekha v’im taaseh olah l’Yehovah taalenah – “And says, Messenger Yehovah, unto Manoah, ‘If detaining Me, no eating in your bread. And if offering burnt offering, to Yehovah you must ascend it.’”

Because of the progression of thought, some scholars think this is not the Lord at all. For example, the Pulpit Commentary says –

“The angel, perhaps perceiving that Manoah was in doubt as to who he might be, had a holy dread lest he might offer the kid to him, just as the angel whom St. John was about to worship said, “See thou do it not” (Revelation 22:9); and Barnabas and Paul ran in among the people of Lycaonia to restrain them from offering sacrifice to them (Acts 14:14-18).”

This is not correct. In Genesis 18, the Lord (YHVH) appeared to Abraham. It was He and none other, and Abraham knew it. In Judges 6, the Messenger of the Lord, who is the Lord, appeared to Gideon. The fact that He was not merely a man but the Lord God was elicited out of Gideon so that when he made His offering, he knew he was presenting it to the Lord.

Here, however, it is the Messenger of the Lord, meaning the Lord incarnate, but Manoah does not yet know it. The text has identified him as such, but only for our benefit. In Judges 6, the same terminology was used, malakh Yehovah, but neither the reader nor Gideon knew it at first.

Here, because of the progression of biblical revelation, the reader knows who He is based on Judges 6, but Manoah must learn what we have already come to know…

16 (con’t) (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the Lord.)

ki lo yada manoakh ki malakh Yehovah hu – “For not knew, Manoah, for Messenger Yehovah, He.” The point of these words is that we know it’s Jesus (Tee hee, shhhh, it’s a secret!), but Manoah is not yet aware.

Manoah has asked to make an offering to this Person. His intent concerning the offering is what we cannot fully determine: a meal, a burnt offering to Him even though he doesn’t know He is the Lord (something that would be inappropriate – because offerings are only to be made to the Lord), or an offering to the Lord on behalf of the Man who is there before him.

Whatever Manoah is thinking, the Messenger has expressly told him that He would not partake of the meal but it was to be offered to the Lord alone. This is like what Jesus said to the rich man in Matthew 19 –

“So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’” Matthew 19:17

Jesus was not saying He is not God. He is making a point about going around calling people good. Only God is good. The Messenger is not saying He is not the Lord God. He is ensuring that such an offering is to be made to the Lord God alone. Manoah just does not yet know that this Messenger is the Lord God.

17 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name,

vayomer manoakh el malakh Yehovah mi sh’mekha – “And says, Manoah, unto Messenger Yehovah, ‘Who Your name?’” The wording seems peculiar. It is like mixing two thoughts together, “Who are you and what is your name?” The word mi, who, is used. It is similar to mah, or what. The difference is that mi asks of the person, mah asks of the nature or quality.

What happens here is similar to what transpires in John 7 and again in John 9 –

“‘But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? 27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.’ 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, ‘You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.’” John 7:26-29

The people didn’t know who Jesus was. To them, He was just someone they were aware of in a general way. This is where Manaoh is right now. He knows this guy is a prophet or something, but he doesn’t know His true identity. Thus, he asks for it…

17 (con’t) that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?”

ki yavo divrekha v’kibd’nukha – “for comes your words, and we honor You.” The thought is that by knowing the person through the name, Manoah and his wife would know the nature or quality of the person. Thus, they could suitably honor him. This is seen elsewhere, such as –

“And they came to Balaam and said to him, ‘Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: “Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.”’” Numbers 22:16, 17

Likewise, Saul gave a gift suitable to the office of prophet to Samuel in 1 Samuel 9. These and other such examples speak of the person as well as the nature of the person. In response to Manoah’s request, the Messenger declines to answer according to the person and instead answers according to the nature…

18 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”

vayomer lo malakh Yehovah lamah zeh tishal lishmi v’hu peli – “And says, to him, Messenger Yehovah, ‘Why this asking to My name? And it Wonderful.’” The Messenger uses an adjective, pili or pali, found only here and in Psalm 139:6. Keil states that the word is to be taken in the absolute sense – “absolutely and supremely wonderful” and thus “as a predicate belonging to God alone.” Speaking of the omniscience of the Lord, David said –

“Such knowledge is too wonderful [pili] for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.”

The word comes from the same root as the noun pele (not the soccer player) that is used to describe the coming Messiah in Isaiah 9 –

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful [pele], Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

As the state of the name defines the quality or nature of the person, we are given an insight into who this Person is, meaning in His being, by the response. This can be logically deduced from the other descriptors of Isaiah.

For example, He is called el gibor, Mighty God. The only other use of that descriptor is in the next chapter of Isaiah and which was our Text Verse today. In Isaiah 10, the Mighty God is specifically said to be the Lord (YHVH). Manoah is about to find out that this person is the Messenger of the Lord and that the Messenger of the Lord is the Lord incarnate. His nature and His name are impenetrable…

19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord.

vayiqakh manoakh eth g’di ha’izim v’eth ha’minkhah vayaal al ha’tsur l’Yehovah – “And takes, Manoah, kid goats and the present, and ascended it upon the rock to Yehovah.” As Gideon presented his offering upon the rock in accord with the word of the Lord, so does Manoah. The rock has become an altar upon which a burnt offering is made.”

The minkhah, present, is derived from an unused root meaning to apportion. The tsur, rock, is seen numerous times in the Bible to refer to the Lord as the Rock. The last time it is seen is in Habakkuk where it is used in just that manner –

“Are You not from everlasting,
O Lord my God, my Holy One?
We shall not die.
O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment;
O Rock [tsur], You have marked them for correction.” Habakkuk 1:12

The word comes from a primitive root meaning to cramp. Thus it means to confine, be an adversary, to besiege, fortify, and so forth. The application is based on the surrounding narrative.

19 (con’t) And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on—

The words are complicated due to the verbal structure: u-maphli laasoth u-manoakh v’ishto roim – “and wonderfuling to doing, and Manoah and his wife seeing.” The verbal root of the adjective translated as “wonderful” is used, pala. It signifies to distinguish. Being a participle form of the verb calls for distinguishing. But to form an alliteration on the previous word, I have coined a new word, wonderfuling.

The One whose being is Wonderful is the Wonder Worker…

20 it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar!

v’hi baaloth ha’lahav meal ha’mizbeakh ha’shamaymah vayaal malakh Yehovah b’lahav ha’mizbeakh – “And is, in ascending the flame from upon the altar the heavens-ward, and ascends Messenger Yehovah in flame the altar.” It is a bit varied from the description when Gideon presented his offering to the Lord in Judges 6. However, the overall picture is similar.

In these words, the rock is described as an altar. The offering has sanctified it as such. The word mizbeakh, altar, comes from zavakh, to slaughter for sacrifice. In Judges 6, the action of the Lord confirmed what Gideon had already deduced, which was that He was, in fact, the Lord. In this account, the action of the Lord is enlightening for Manoah and His wife. It is something that they are just now learning…

20 (con’t) When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground.

u-manoakh v’ishto roim v’yiplu al p’nehem artsah – “And Manoah and his wife seeing. And falling upon their faces groundward.” As with Gideon, the reaction is one of reverential fear. In their case, they were overwhelmed by the event and simply fell to the ground with their faces looking down.

21 When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the Lord.

v’lo yasaph od malakh Yehovah l’heraoh el manoakh v’el ishto az yada manoakh ki malakh Yehovah hu – “And no added again, Messenger Yehovah, to appear unto Manoah and unto his wife. Then knew, Manoah, for Messenger Yehovah He.”

The absence of the presence of the Messenger is instructive. By not returning, He has both proven who He is, meaning the Lord (YHVH), and that He has accepted their offering, thus He is the Lord (YHVH) to whom the offering was made. These events provide them with a twofold assurance that He is the Messenger of the Lord who is the Lord. That is made explicit to us in the next words…

22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!”

vayomer manoakh el ishto moth namuth ki elohim rainu – “And says, Manoah, unto his wife, dying we shall die, for God have seen!” The words are quite informative when taken with the other seven uses of elohim, or God, in the chapter –

“’For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God [elohim] from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.’
6 So the woman came and told her husband, saying, ‘A Man of God [ha’elohim] came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God [ha’elohim], very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name. 7 And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God [elohim] from the womb to the day of his death.’”
8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord [Yhvh], and said, ‘O my Lord [Adonai], please let the Man of God [ha’elohim] whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.’
9 And God [ha’elohim] listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God [ha’elohim] came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her.”

“And says, Manoah, unto his wife, dying we shall die, for God [elohim] have seen!”

Both before and after these verses, the term malakh Yehovah, Angel Yehovah, is used by the narrator. The Man who is in a right relationship with God (as discerned from the article, “the” God, who is Yehovah), is the Angel of the Lord. This Angel of the Lord is now said to be recognized by Manoah as God.

The words are inescapably telling us that Yehovah, who is God, has appeared as a Man. The same truth was previously seen in Judges 6 with Gideon. Manoah understands what was expressed by the Lord in Exodus 33:20, that “no man shall see Me, and live.” Therefore, he now assumes that they will die…

23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things,

vatomer lo ishto lu khaphets Yehovah la’hamithenu lo laqakh miyadenu olah u-minkhah v’lo heranu eth kal eleh – “And says to him, his wife, ‘If desired, Yehovah, to kill us, not took from our hand burnt offering and present, and not shown us all these.”

Manoah’s wife was able to reason out the situation, whether she understood the matter or not. The Lord said what would come to pass and He had done so in the form of a Man. Nothing changed except that He confirmed who He was to them through the acceptance of the offerings and His wondrous deed that accompanied it.

Just because they realized who the Man was in His nature or quality, it did not change who He is in His being, meaning His Person. He was, and He is, the Lord God.

23 (con’t) nor would He have told us such things as these at this time.”

v’khaeth lo hishmianu kazoth – “And, according to the time, not caused us to hear according to this.” The phrase is unusual but well stated. She is saying that He appeared at a particular time to reveal a particular matter that was in accord with His plans and purposes. It would make no sense for Him to kill them after He had explained what those plans entailed, both for them and for the son they would have.

24 So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.

vateled ha’ishah ben vatiqra eth sh’mo Shimshon vayigda ha’naar vaybarkhenu Yehovah – “And bears, the woman, son. And calls his name Samson. And grows, the lad, and blesses him, Yehovah.” Just as prophesied, so the words of the Messenger came to pass.

Samson comes from shemesh, the sun. The vav-nun extension that ends his name either localizes or personifies it. Thus, his name means Sun Man, Place of the Sun, or something similar. In this case, he seems to be anticipating both. He is the Sun Man because he is the Place of the Sun.

In 1 Samuel 12:11, Samson is called B’Dan. The meaning is “In Dan.” He is of the tribe of Dan. Because Zorah was listed as a town under both Judah and Dan in the book of Joshua, he was probably called B’Dan as a form of nickname or appellative.

It appears that the words of the Messenger were on her mind, when choosing his name, especially on what he would do, not the Nazirite status he would hold. As He said, “he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” Perhaps she heard or knew the words of Deborah –

“Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord!
But let those who love Him be like the sun [shemesh]
When it comes out in full strength.” Judges 5:31

*25 (fin) And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

vatakhel ruakh Yehovah l’phaamo b’makhaneh dan ben tserah u-ben Eshtaol – “And begins, Spirit Yehovah, to tap him in camp Dan, between Zorah and between Eshtaol.” These words anticipate the coming narrative where Samson is impelled to take vengeance on the Philistines through events that occur.

There are no visions from the Lord recorded during his time of being judge. Also, there is no communication between Samson and the Lord as with some of the other judges. As Samson is a Nazirite, the connection between him and the Spirit of the Lord occurs through his hair in particular.

As for how this is realized, the word paam signifies to tap and thus to beat regularly. One can think of the beat of an anvil as it is struck in regular fashion. As the events arise, his spirit, which is in connection with the will and Spirit of the Lord, arises in him and stirs him.

Mahaneh Dan means Camp of Dan and thus Camp of the Judge or Camp of Judgment.

Eshtaol is listed by Strong’s under the root shaal, to ask for or inquire. Thus, he defines it as Entreaty. However, Sergio noted that the word Eshtaol without the vowel points which were added much later, would say Bride of God, Wife of God, Woman of God, etc.

The one word means any of these based upon the context. Notice the spelling of Woman of Valor (esheth khayil) from Proverbs 31:10 and its similarity to this word (esheth el) –

אשתחיל
אשתאל

Only the later vowel pointing defines pronunciation and meaning.

Who is the Man who is before us?
What is it that He has come to do?
Is this our Savior, our Lord Jesus?
How can we know if such is true?

What wondrous thing will He do
So that we can know His name and nature?
How can we know what is true?
What is the extent of defining His nomenclature?

Oh God! How great You are, our heads are spinning
To see and understand all that You have done
You have prepared a body since the beginning
The incarnation of Your Son

We long to know more about Jesus
And all the wonders He has done for us

II. Pictures of Christ

Like Chapter 6, this chapter is an introduction into the life of Israel’s next Judge. As the Samson narrative is west of the Jordan, it can be logically deduced that it is typologically specifying details of history after Christ’s coming. Time will tell if that is correct.

Verse 1 noted the evil committed by Israel and that they were delivered into the hand of the Philistines forty years. Samson’s time as judge falls within that time, but the period will extend to the time of David when he meets the Philistines in battle.

The forty years defines this as a time of chastisement on Israel, the covenant people “and points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8).”

Verse 2, if translated according to the meaning of the names, would say, “And is man, one, from Affliction from family the judge, and his name Rest.” Manoah (Rest) is mentioned 17 times in this chapter. Bullinger says –

“SEVENTEEN stands out very prominently as a significant number. It is not a multiple of any other number, and therefore it has no factors. Hence it is called one of the prime (or indivisible) numbers.
What is more, it is the seventh in the list of the prime numbers. The series runs 1[2], 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, etc. … seventeen being the seventh of the series, it partakes of and intensifies the significance of the number seven. Indeed, it is the combination or sum of two perfect numbers—seven and ten—seven being the number of spiritual perfection, and ten of ordinal perfection.
Contrasted together the significance of these two numbers is clear; and when united in the number seventeen we have a union of their respective meanings, viz., spiritual perfection, plus ordinal perfection, or the perfection of spiritual order.” Note: 1 is not a prime number but 2 is. Hence, I added and bracketed it.

The name of Manoah’s wife is not provided throughout the Samson narrative. She is either called “the woman” or noted as Manoah’s wife. Manoah represents a type of rest provided by God that was lost at the fall of man. Man was put [yanakh] in the garden. It implies he was rested there, not to labor, but to worship and serve the Creator.

However, in his disobedience, that was taken from him. Manoah anticipates the restoration of rest that will be provided through Christ. His wife, “the woman” typifies the anticipation of Christ, the Seed. Thus, Samson is a type of Christ –

“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15

To her (verse 3), the Messenger of Yehovah appears. She is barren, but He announces she will conceive and bear a son. As such, she is instructed (verse 4) to refrain from wine and blinko drink (shekhar) and from eating anything unclean. This is because the child will be a Nazirite to God all his days.

Her keeping from wine and shekhar is an intentional directive. She is to remain separate from extra-cultural alliances (wine) and close fellowship with others (shekhar). It speaks of the purity of the line leading to Jesus. Each person in His genealogy is carefully selected by God to be there. That is seen in the words of Hebrews 10:5, “a body you have prepared for Me.”

This process extended to her son in the words (verse 5) that no razor, morah, was to come upon his head. Hair signifies an awareness, especially an awareness of sin. Jesus was always aware of sin and refrained from it. He was to be the offering for sin. Jesus was never to change (symbolized by the razor) His appearance from being the sinless replacement for Adam and his seed.

He was set apart (as a Nazirite is set apart to God) for this purpose. This is noted in Psalm 22:10 and elsewhere. The Philistines, the Weakeners, anticipate those who weaken others spiritually. The mission of Samson is to destroy those who afflict Israel. Jesus came to defeat sin and then those who spiritually afflict the people of God.

Verses 6-9 recapped what occurred indicating to Manoah that the birth of the child had been prophesied. The precise use of the words the God, Messenger Yehovah, etc. were carefully laid out to indicate that the Messenger is, in fact, the incarnate Lord. He is appearing in His own history, directing events that lead to His incarnation.

In verse 9, the woman is sitting in the field and her husband, Rest, is not with her. It is a picture of the unsettled state of mankind anticipating the coming of Christ.

Verse 10 noted that the woman went to her husband and told him of the Man who came to her in “the day.” It was a general time in the past when the promise was made. It points to the announcement of the coming Messiah in Genesis 3.

Then Rest arose and walked after his wife. The promise of man’s rest follows the seed of the woman until the time when rest will be realized in Christ. This is exactingly detailed in the book of Hebrews where it speaks of God’s rest that is provided in Christ as taken from the words of David in Psalm 95:11. A time of rest for God’s people is prophesied when His people believe in the Messiah.

In coming to “the Man,” Manoah (Rest) acknowledges that the words of the Messenger will come to pass. He asks, “What becomes judgment the lad and his work?” In essence, “What is the role of the Messiah and what will he do?”

Rather than answering the question, He reiterates the responsibility of the woman. God is directing the history of Jesus’ genealogy to lead to the Messiah, keeping “the woman,” meaning His genealogy pure and set apart. Both the Hebrew and the Greek words concerning genealogy (generations) are feminine.

The generations of Christ from the time of Adam until His birth are carefully recorded, showing the set-apart nature of the woman (His line) all along. The Messenger specifies that she is not to eat anything that comes from the vine.

The vine symbolizes the basic expression of a thing. The purity of God’s expression alone is what is pictured here. It explains the reason for the minuteness of the stories of those who are noted as entering into Jesus’ genealogy.

Verse 15 noted Manoah’s (Rest’s) request to prepare a “kid goats” for the Messenger. The word gedi, or kid, comes from a root signifying to cut off. There is the sense of finality, or a matter being decided (cut off). The word, izim, signifies goats. It is the term used for the sin offering, including the one mandated on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:5.

Taken together, the symbolism is the cutting off of sin by the goat of atonement, anticipating Jesus who was the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement goat sacrifice. It is what finishes the matter of sin. This confirms how Rest is provided through the coming work of Christ –

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“For we who have believed do enter that rest.” Hebrews 4:3

In verse 16, the Messenger notes that He will not eat of the offering, but it is to be made to the Lord. This anticipates Christ’s human life being offered to Yehovah as a satisfaction for sin. Manoah didn’t realize that the Messenger (God in Christ) is that propitiatory offering, as indicated by the final clause of verse 16.

Verse 17 then had Manoah (Rest) ask, “Who Your name?” He wants to know the person, the being, of the Man so that he can honor Him when His words come to pass. The Messenger’s response, “And it Wonderful,” did not give a name and thus did not reveal the Person. Instead, it revealed the nature.

As Keil noted, the adjective used to describe Him is “as a predicate belonging to God alone.” The Messenger is the Lord God. How do you honor the Person? By acknowledging His character. He is the God/Man –

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:22, 23

The point is that only in honoring the Man Jesus who is God, does one honor God the Father.

Verse 19 is filled with anticipations of Christ, “And takes, Manoah, kid goats and the present, and ascended it upon the rock to Yehovah.” Manoah anticipates the restoration of Rest provided by Christ. The kid goats anticipates the cutting off of sin through the offering of Christ. The minkhah, present, anticipates God in Christ’s apportioning Himself as an offering for His people.

The ascending of the offering to Yehovah anticipates God’s acceptance of Christ, the offering. The rock anticipates Christ who is the Rock, the Altar, who is Himself the altar of God –

“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” Hebrews 13:10-12

From my Hebrews 13:10 commentary –

“There are various ideas about what ‘the altar’ in the New Covenant signifies. Some say it is the cross of Christ. Some say it is the table where believers participate in the Lord’s Supper. Some say it is Christ Himself. However, the idea of the altar is that of symbolizing everything associated with the work of Christ in one unified concept. Just as the offering upon the brazen altar signified the offering of the people, the food of the priests, access through the door of the Tent of Meeting, the symbolic restored relationship with God, etc., so the entire picture of life in Christ and full restoration with God, is gathered up in one thought called the ‘altar.’”

Understanding these types, the Messenger was said to be “wonderfuling to doing,” as He ascended in the flame of the altar that rose toward heaven. It speaks of the exhaustive, endmost, all-encompassing, and eternal work of Christ, the God/Man –

“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10

From there, the reaction of Manoah and his wife and the subsequent verses were given as a confirmation of the deity of the Man. The point is that Christ is proven to be God through His work. And more, as our closing verse will note, even though we behold God in the Person of Christ, we can do so without dying.

Verse 24 gave the name of the son, Samson, Place of the Sun. The name anticipates the words of prophecy concerning Christ from Malachi –

“But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.” Malachi 4:2

Samson anticipates Christ, the great Righteous Judge of Israel. But more specifically, He anticipates the Word of God in Christ.

With that, the narrative ended with, “And begins, Spirit Yehovah, to tap him in camp Dan, between Zorah and between Eshtaol.” Literally stated, “And begins, Spirit Yehovah, to tap him in Camp Judge, between Affliction and between Bride of God.”

Zorah, Affliction, reflects the state of believers waiting to be glorified. Several verses indicate this, such as –

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The dual meaning of Eshtaol, which includes Entreaty, then looks to the believer’s life while afflicted in Christ. The believer entreats the Lord for relief from the affliction such as what Paul did –

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9

The Weakeners who afflict are on one side while the Bride who entreats the Lord is on the other, and Judge’s Camp is right in the middle.

With this introductory look into the coming life of Samson, having set the stage for what lies ahead, we will close with the reminder – which is quite evident from the narrative today – that Jesus Christ is the Subject and the Point and Purpose of Scripture.

He is being anticipated and revealed in innumerable facets of who He is through prophecy, typology, and explanations of His coming. From the first page of Scripture to the last, it is all about God in Christ who is Jesus the Lord.

As this is so, be sure to have your relationship with Him set. Life is short and eternity… not so much. You want to be ready for what lies ahead while you have the time.

Closing Verse: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

Next Week: Judges 14:1-14 Under the gun, but still doing well, wait and see… (Samson, Judge of Israel, Part III) (41st Judges Sermon)

The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. It is He who judges His people according to their deeds. So, follow Him, live for Him, and trust Him, and He will do marvelous things for you and through you.

Samson, Judge of Israel, Part II

Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, so he did do
“Please let us detain You, and we will prepare
———-a young goat for You

And the Angel of the LORD said to Manoah
“Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food
———-according to My word
But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD
(For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the LORD)

Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD
“What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass
———-we may honor You?”
And the Angel of the LORD said to him
“Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful? Yes it’s true

So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering
And offered it upon the rock to the LORD, yes upon
And He did a wondrous thing
While Manoah and his wife looked on

It happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—
The Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar!
When Manoah and his wife saw this
They fell on their faces to the ground – veneration
———-like in the psalter

When the Angel of the LORD appeared no more
To Manoah and his wife
Then Manoah knew
That He was the Angel of the LORD, remembering that all his life

And Manoah said to his wife
“We shall surely die, because we have seen God!”
But his wife said to him
Finding his words odd…

“If the LORD had desired to kill us
He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering
———-from our hands (now to make a rhyme…)
Nor would He have shown us all these things
Nor would He have told us such things as these at this time

So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson
And the child grew, and the LORD blessed him
———-not in part but in whole
And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him
At Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol

Lord God, turn our hearts to be obedient to Your word
Give us wisdom to be ever faithful to You
May we carefully heed each thing we have heard
Yes, Lord God may our hearts be faithful and true

And we shall be content and satisfied in You alone
We will follow You as we sing our songs of praise
Hallelujah to You; to us Your path You have shown
Hallelujah we shall sing to You for all of our days

Hallelujah and Amen…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.”

16 And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the Lord.)

17 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?”

18 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”

19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on— 20 it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the Lord.

22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!”

23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have told us such things as these at this time.”

24 So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

 

Acts 28:23

Charlie Garrett Acts (Written)

The lighting on the stairway at the Wyoming Capitol needs an upgrade.

Sunday, 23 June 2024

So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. Acts 28:23

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 literal rendering of the Greek would be, “And, having appointed him a day, they came – many – to him, to the accommodation, to whom he set forth, fully testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets from morning until evening” (CG).

In the previous verse, the Jews told Paul that they wanted to hear from him about his sect, knowing that it was spoken against everywhere. Having requested this, it next says, “And, having appointed him a day, they came.”

Paul probably happily agreed to have a chance to tell of his faith. In fact, he was probably overjoyed at the prospect of it. Instead of just telling people to come by at will though, a day was appointed for them to meet and to bring any who would be willing to listen. On that day, it says “many” came.

The word translated as many is pleión. It is a comparative form that, in English, would be typified by the use of “er” on a word. If one said, “they were great in number,” it would mean they were “greater in number.”

In essence, it means that more than was anticipated actually showed up. It is the same thing as has been seen at other times. When Paul was to talk about the coming of Christ, the halls would be filled for the first gathering. A good example of this is the account in Acts 13:42-48. Of this multitude in Rome, it says they came “to him, to the accommodation.”

This is a new word, xenia. It is found only here and in Philemon 1:22. It is derived from xenos, signifying foreign or a stranger. Thus, xenia signifies hospitality which then gives the sense of an accommodation. When this great number had arrived, Paul then began to convey his message. As Luke says, “to whom he set forth, fully testifying the kingdom of God.”

Paul proclaimed Christ, His kingdom, and all that this entailed. Having already written Galatians, Romans, and his letters to the Corinthians, he would be well prepared to speak through the most detailed of theological matters concerning Christ.

And just as he did even in those letters, he gave New Covenant theology as he had received from Jesus and from what he knew from his own training. Therefore, he was speaking to them “and persuading them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.”

In other words, he simply went to their own writings in order to demonstrate that what he was saying was both plausible and fully supportable from Scripture, all of it. From both the law and from the prophets, meaning the entire body of Scripture, Jesus is on prominent display. Paul was able to show them this. Therefore, if God gave them these writings, and if they testified to the work of Jesus, then there could be no doubt that they at least had to consider the plausibility that Paul was correct.

This is one of the obvious reasons that Paul was selected for the position he was given. Jesus instructed him directly through revelation –

“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11, 12

However, Paul would be asked things during his ministry that Jesus probably did not talk to him about personally. But because of his great wealth of knowledge from Scripture, being a Pharisee, along with inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he could then convey things that were carefully reasoned out. The synergistic working together of Paul, the word, and the Spirit would be evident, just as it is when we read his epistles today.

Once those gathered got to that point, having heard the words of Paul and seen how they match what their own writings stated, they would then need to turn the head knowledge into an active faith. The end of the verse shows the length to which Paul was ready to go to make his point. They met “from morning until evening.”

Paul was willing to speak fully, completely, and at length concerning his beliefs in the Messiah who had come. The Messiah’s name is Jesus.

Life application: As with Paul, it must still be the same with us today. We cannot expect revelation from Scripture to be directly infused into our heads. We need to first read and know what Scripture says.

Paul had known the writings and yet he didn’t know Jesus. He was supernaturally called to be an apostle for a specific purpose. Once he realized, however, that Jesus was the Lord, he was then able to take his giant wealth of knowledge and reexplain the coming of Jesus in accord with the Scriptures.

Today, we are told about Jesus, and by faith in what we hear, we are saved. What happens after that is up to us. How deep do we want to dive into the knowledge of God in Christ? The more we read and learn the Bible, the more we will be able to then unpackage what God is telling us.

However, we can come to erroneous conclusions concerning what is being conveyed. And so, in our study of the word, we need to pray to God that His Spirit will direct us and keep us from what is incorrect. We should also pray that if we are incorrect, that He will alert us to this. From there, we should then drop any pride and accept that we were wrong, correcting our doctrine accordingly.

The study of the knowledge of God through understanding Scripture is a lifelong task. Let us get about it. Our days are numbered and they are few. Let us spend them wisely.

Heavenly Father, be with us as we read and contemplate Your word. Help us to be logical and precise in how we interpret it. Should we come to wrong conclusions, please send us correction so that we will not be at fault in regard to Your precious and sacred word. It speaks of Jesus, and we desire to know Him correctly, intimately, and completely. To Your glory. Amen.