Month: June 2024

Looking down on Wyoming House.

Saturday, 22 June 2024

“But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” Acts 28:22

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, “And we deem it worthy to hear from you what you think, indeed, for concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is contradicted” (CG).

In the previous verse, the Jews let Paul know that they had not received any letters from Judea nor any bad reports from those who traveled from there. Now, they next show their curiosity about Paul’s message, saying, “And we deem it worthy to hear from you what you think.”

These leaders had heard about the message of Christianity and they wanted to hear it explained by the person who seemed to be the main voice behind it. This was probably more interesting to them now that they had heard the Jews in Jerusalem were after him.

Seeing the chain around him and a guard standing right there made it a true point of curiosity that they wanted to see satisfactorily resolved in their own minds. And so they continue, saying, “indeed, for concerning this sect.”

They especially deem it worthy to hear what Paul thinks because they use the same term, hairesis, as was used by the lawyer Tertullus during Paul’s trial. It is the root of the modern word heresy, but this is not the intent at Paul’s time. It deals with the matter of a personal choice within the confines of the overall religion. Hence, there were sects of Pharisees and sects of Sadducees, etc.

In Paul’s case, he was of the sect known as the Christians, specifically followers of Jesus. The term Christian comes from the Greek word signifying Christ which bears the same meaning as the Hebrew word Messiah. Both mean Anointed One.

In Israel, there were many “messiahs,” over their history. Therefore, one needed to know specifically who was being heralded as the Messiah. Paul proclaimed Jesus. Of Paul’s sect, the Jews next say, “it is known to us that everywhere it is contradicted.”

These words are a fulfillment of Luke 2 which was prophesied by Simeon –

“Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵ (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’” Luke 2:34, 35

Wherever Jews went, or whoever had come to them from elsewhere, they had been speaking against this sect of Jews, and apparently Gentiles, who were proclaiming its teachings. This is evident throughout the book of Acts. Paul, from the start, was considered a pariah because of his proclamation that God had done all the work and that anyone who simply believed could be saved based on that faith.

Life application: Nothing has changed to this day. In some ways, it is becoming more like it was at the beginning. Anyone who proclaims the risen Christ is demeaned and spoken against. The days when the gospel was proclaimed freely and without intimidation seem forever behind us.

This is because man simply cannot accept that grace means grace. It is deeply rooted in us that we must do something to be right with God. When a person finds out that the things he has done do not merit God’s favor, it puts up a wall of frustration and enmity. “How could God not see what great things I have done! I am worthy of His attention! How dare someone tell me that I am not good enough and will never be good enough to merit His favor!”

But this is what the Bible teaches. What we cannot merit on our own, God has accomplished for us. He has set the path that leads back to Him, and that path is found in accepting the message of Jesus Christ through faith. We follow Jesus because He is God. To say that what Jesus did isn’t enough is to say that God Himself has not done enough. It is an act of replacing God with self.

Don’t be caught up in such lies of the devil. They have been used since the very beginning of man’s time on earth, and they are what brought us all this trouble. Trust God! He has done it! Trust Jesus who is the Lord God!

Lord God Almighty, You have done what we can never do. You merit what we can never merit on our own. To You alone, we give our praise, adoration, and glory. You have brought us back to Yourself through Jesus. Hallelujah for Jesus! Hallelujah and Amen.

Swell Frontier painting. Wyoming Capitol.

Friday, 21 June 2024

Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. Acts 28:21

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 reading says, “And they said to him, ‘We neither received letters concerning you from Judea nor any of the brothers having come reported or said anything evil concerning you’” (CG).

Paul just finished explaining why he had called the Jews to meet with him. During that time, he noted that the Jews spoke against him and his message. In response to this, Luke records, “And they said to him, ‘We neither received letters concerning you from Judea.’”

It may seem surprising that it appears from their words that the leaders in Jerusalem simply gave up on the attempt to kill him. However, it would be contrary to their existence to be caught attempting to have a Roman citizen killed in Rome itself, especially over a religious matter.

Further, they may never have expected Paul to even call upon the Jews in Rome. As he was bound as a prisoner, they may have assumed that he wouldn’t have the opportunity to even make a case among the Jews of the dispersion.

No matter what, they were more concerned about their own dealings in Israel and in Jerusalem than they were with what went on in the nations. This is evident because these Jews continue, saying, “nor any of the brothers having come reported or said anything evil concerning you.”

It would be hard to imagine no Jews had arrived from Jerusalem over the past months, and yet nobody showed up at the synagogue to speak badly about Paul or the Christian message that was being carried to the nations.

But their words seem to mean that, apparently, Jews had arrived since Paul’s voyage began, and it may be that they had even talked about Paul, but not in a negative way. About him, there was no word of either caution or concern, even if there was talk about his faith. It is this to which these Jews will next comment.

Life application: It is evident from the words of this verse that the Jewish leaders who were so against Paul’s message concerning Jesus were more interested in keeping their local position and power than they were in dealing with real transgressions. If Paul was a murderer, it is certain they would have sent out letters telling the Roman authorities to find this guy and deal with him.

However, the matter that bothered them about Paul was that he was telling the Gentiles a message of a personal relationship with God apart from going through the law that they administered. To pursue Paul outside of Israel would have brought in many questions concerning the “exclusivity” of their faith that would then put them at further odds with the rulers of the Roman empire.

And so, they simply dropped the matter about Paul in order to keep themselves from controversy. But being leaders of the people, they spoke for the people. Like during the times of the kings, when there was a good king, the people were blessed by the Lord. When there was an evil king, the people faced the Lord’s wrath.

Israel rejected Jesus because the leaders first rejected Him. This is what brought their condemnation upon them, and it is what continues to keep them at enmity with God even to this day. Until they (those in the leadership positions of Israel) acknowledge Jesus as Lord, they will continue to suffer. The book is written. The outcome is certain. And the pattern is set.

Even though the nations of the world are not in the same covenant relationship with the Lord as Israel is, it is evident that the Lord is judging nations based on the actions of their leaders. Be sure when you vote, not to choose a leader who is a pervert, degenerate, etc. Things cannot go well for a nation when the leader is doing what is contrary to what God would have that nation doing.

Lord God, may our lives as citizens of the nations in which we live be honoring of You. If the leaders we choose are godly, we can expect things will go better for the nation than if we choose someone who is morally corrupt. Help us wake up to this truth and to appoint over us leaders who will act rightly before You. Amen.

Chandelier and stained glass. Wyoming Capitol.

Thursday, 20 June 2024

“For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” Acts 28:20

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 reading says, “For this cause, therefore, I called you – to see and to speak – because for the hope of Israel, this chain surrounds me” (CG).

Paul had just told the Jews visiting him in his confinement that he was compelled to appeal to Caesar even though he had no accusation against his nation. Now, he continues, saying, “For this cause, therefore, I called you.”

This is based on verse 17 where it says he called the leaders of the Jews. A message would have been sent to the local synagogue(s) imploring them to come and consult with him. That is seen in the next words which are briefly stated, “to see and to speak.”

The words are certainly to be taken as personal. He didn’t want to send a letter or have a messenger convey his words to them. Rather, he wanted to look them in the eyes, see their faces, and carry on a dialogue with them.

What he had to say was something that would naturally elicit questions from his listeners. To , a letter or a messenger who would speak out the substance of Paul’s word, would only lead to many back-and-forth trips. Instead, by meeting with them, he would cut all of that out. He would also remove any chance of misperception of his words. When a question arose, he could answer it right then and there.

And so, he tells them the substance of why he called them in this manner, saying, “because for the hope of Israel, this chain surrounds me.”

Paul explicitly states the reason for having called them together. He had been sent to Rome as an innocent man who appealed for his right to exercise his faith which was recognized by Rome, but not by his own countrymen.

In order to reveal the substance of his faith, he speaks of the hope of Israel. It is a term explicitly stated twice by Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 14:8 and 17:13. In both instances, the term is ascribed to the Lord, Yehovah. The Hebrew word is miqveh, something waited for. The coming of the Messiah was always understood to be that hope.

Paul was telling them that the Lord’s Messiah had arrived, and it was the reason for the chain surrounding him. The word chain is in the singular. It indicates that there was a Roman guard right there with him to whom one of his hands, probably his right, was chained.

What is rather interesting is the structure of the Greek used to describe the type of punishment noted. The same word is used in both Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:2 to indicate a millstone hung around the neck. However, here the subject and object are reversed.

It is Paul who is said to be bound in the chain. This same structure is also found in Hebrews 5:2 when speaking of the high priest –

“He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness [literally: weakness surrounds him].”

The Pulpit Commentary thus paraphrases this verse as, “I have asked you to come to me because this chain which binds me is not a token of a renegade Israelite who has come to Rome to accuse his nation before the heathen master, but of a faithful Israelite, who has endured bondage rather than forsake the hope of his fathers.”

Life application: Paul’s approach to conversing with these Jews is one that we should do our best to emulate when sharing the gospel. It is fine to hand out tracts, and sometimes that is the best way to act. Likewise, an email or a personal letter may be what the situation calls for.

However, if you can personally talk to a person about the gospel, or about a doctrinal matter that needs to be addressed, doing so face-to-face is the preferred option. When questions arise, you can see the facial expression, hear the tone of the voice, and so forth. In this, you can sense whether the person is scared, tense, frustrated, angry, etc. From there, you can adjust your conversation to make them less apprehensive.

And more, you can then avoid misperceptions of what is being said. An email carries no emotion, and it can easily be misunderstood because of this. It is also frustrating to ask a question and then have to wait. Therefore, the more you can communicate personally, the more likely you are to avoid such troubles that easily arise. John understood this –

“Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” 2 John 1:12

Lord God, may our time discussing You with others be fruitful and productive. Help us to wisely use the resources available to us to share the good news and to provide sound instruction. And help us to not exclude the personal touch of face-to-face communication if possible. A lot can get done when we are willing to spend our time just opening up to others in a friendly conversation. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Not sure what room this is… Wyoming Capitol.

Wednesday, 19 June 2024

“But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation…” Acts 28:19

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, “And the Jews, contradicting, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar – not as having something charged against my nation.” (CG).

Paul, speaking to his countrymen in Rome, just noted that the Romans found nothing to charge Paul with and wanted to let him go. Now, his words continue, saying, “And the Jews, contradicting.”

Still sticking to the main facts only, Paul gives the reason why he was in Rome bound in chains and facing a trial before Caesar. It is because the Jews, meaning the leaders of the Jews, spoke against the proclamation of innocence which had been rendered by the Roman authorities.

This caused a problem for the governor who wanted to have harmony with those under his jurisdiction. This exchange was recorded in Acts 25 –

“But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?’
¹⁰ So Paul said, ‘I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. ¹¹ For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.’
¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, ‘You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!’” Acts 25:9-12

Paul now recalls these facts for the ears of those in Rome, saying, “I was compelled to appeal to Caesar.”

The request of the Jews left him with no choice but to appeal to Rome. He doesn’t explain the details at this time, but the brevity is all that is needed for the purpose of the meeting. His delicacy concerning this matter becomes evident though, as he continues by saying, “not as having something charged against my nation.”

Instead of defending himself against those who wished him harm, he showed himself a patriotic Jew in the highest sense. Whether they knew he was a Pharisee or not isn’t stated, but it is probable. His speech and demeanor would show he was also well educated.

And yet, he shows that he never put his Roman citizenship above his ties to his Jewish brothers. Despite having been unfairly treated by his own countrymen, he waited until necessity demanded it before appealing to Rome. As the Pulpit Commentary notes –

“Undazzled by the splendor of Rome and the power of the Roman people, his heart is with his own despised nation, ‘that they might be saved.’ He wishes it to be well with them; he wants them to understand his position; he speaks to them as a kinsman and a brother. His appeal to Caesar had been of necessity – to save his life. But he was not going to accuse his brethren before the dominant race. His first desire was that they should be his friends, and share with him the hope of the gospel of Christ.”

Life application: Paul was clearly wronged by the leaders of his nation, and it was for the sake of the gospel. The Jews hated the thought that he was telling Gentiles that they had the same rights and benefits to the Lord God of Israel that they possessed.

And yet, they had spent not only their entire lives serving under the Law of Moses, but their nation, since its inception as the people of the Lord at Mount Sinai, had struggled under the law. Despite this, Paul was telling people who never had the law, who didn’t even know what the law demanded, that they were on equal footing with those who officiated at the temple on behalf of Israel.

This was, to them, intolerable. How dare a rogue Jew proclaim that their law was not binding on the nations because one of their people had died under that law and supposedly resurrected! It was incomprehensible, and to them, it was the epitome of blasphemy.

This same attitude permeates the Jewish mind and culture to this day. They alone believe that they are in God’s favor and that all others are a separate category. There are Jews, and there is everything else.

But Paul clearly shows that this is not the case. In fact, it is quite the opposite –

“For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? ²⁷ And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? ²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:25-29

The time of the law served its purpose. That time ended when Christ died in fulfillment of it. Now, something new has been ushered in. Be sure to live for God apart from personal merit. If you inject yourself into the equation, you are saying that what He has done wasn’t enough. Don’t be so deluded as that. Think rightly. Praise God in Christ for having done it all!

Lord God, we don’t need to worry about how we can be pleasing to You. Your word tells us the simple means by which it comes about. When we trust in the all-sufficient work of Jesus, You are satisfied with that. Thank You for the simplicity of the gospel, O God. Amen.

Alcove. One each. Wyoming Capitol.

Tuesday, 18 June 2024

“who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. Acts 28:18

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 rendering would be, “Who, having examined me, wanted to release, because nota reason of death being in me” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul began his personal defense concerning his situation with the Jews in Jerusalem in his conversation with the Jews in Rome, noting that he was delivered into the hands of the Romans. Having said that, he now continues with, “Who, having examined me.”

This is a brief summary of a line of examinations, one leading to another, over the course of two years. But even without all of the details, it would be obvious that the Romans would have done a thorough job checking out the facts of the matter. However, even after this, the Romans “wanted to release.”

Immediately following the words of his betrayal by his own countrymen, Paul acknowledges that the Romans had nothing worthy of charging him and releasing him would be the appropriate thing to do.

This again shows that what was found worthy of punishment by Jerusalem, meaning a matter of Jewish law, was not considered as such by Rome. Rome found his actions in accord with the freedom of religious expression granted to the Jews. In short, his faith was considered a subsect of Judaism and was religio licita.

In review, this included Lysias, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. All had interrogated him, and all had been in agreement concerning his status. His innocence before Rome, while being hounded by the Jews, parallels that of Jesus, such as in Luke 23:4 & 14. Paul next says that their wanting to release him was “because nota reason of death being in me.”

The word translated as “nota” literally means “not one.” Therefore, nota is a single word to match the intent. There was not a single charge made against him that was sufficient for him to receive capital punishment, even if the Jews demanded that it should be so. Paul’s use of a present verb indicates that not only was he innocent, but he continued in that state even now. However, in the next verse, he will explain the reason why he remains in chains, despite his state of innocence.

Life application: The book of Acts has included a continuous stream of occasions where the Jews tried to disassociate the Christian faith from their religious system of belief. This has been countered, time and again, by the Roman government that God allowed to be the judge of such matters over Israel at the time.

One cannot rightfully say that because these were Romans making the decisions they are invalid. That would be to usurp what God had ordained. Israel is his people. It is the Lord who decided who would rule over them, be it their own king, the Babylonians, the Romans, or even Jesus of the future.

The Jews cannot have it both ways and say, “Yes, this, but not this.” Their very existence and continued existence are at the will of the Lord. How He determines it will be is up to Him. As the Roman government, who ruled over Israel at the time, determined that Christianity was an acceptable extension of the Jewish religion, it was so.

Hence, we have the written record of the growth of this valid extension of Judaism, the one that God determined should be in order to carry His message concerning Jesus to the nations. Anyone who argues against the doctrines of Paul or the other apostles is, therefore, arguing against what God had determined.

Be careful to not get swayed by the modern Judaizers who attack the gospel of salvation which is by grace through faith. Works are not included because God has done everything necessary to secure our salvation. We simply accept that, believe, and we are saved.

Along with the Judaizers, though, are those who add works after being saved in order to keep being saved. Judaizers front load the gospel, these back load it and say that we must “do” in order to continue in God’s favor. Even if people use a term like “easy believism” as a pejorative, this is exactly what God has ordained. We believe and are saved, and it is once and done.

Having said that, belief is actually not that easy. We have to put ourselves aside and trust in God alone to carry us back to Himself. Letting go of self is a hard thing to do. Despite this, the gospel truly is easy believism. There are no other strings attached. Thank God for the simplicity of being saved once we remove ourselves from the equation.

Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord who has done everything necessary to restore us to You forever. Yes! Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.