Author: Charlie Garrett

Looking down on House (or Senate) from guest seating. Wyoming Capitol.

Friday, 14 June 2024

where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. Acts 28:14

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).

The NKJV needs to be tweaked, “Where, having found brothers, we were called upon them to remain seven days. And so, to Rome, we came” (CG).

The previous verse revealed the travel from Rhegium to Puteoli. The narrative in Puteoli now begins with, “Where, having found brothers.”

Some scholars dismiss these brothers as being only brothers of Paul, meaning Jews. However, Luke is the author of this letter and the “we” clearly indicates that this is inclusive of himself.

Therefore, these were Christians who had already spread out as far as this city of Italy. In Hebrews 13:24, we read, “Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.”

If this was speaking of the church at Rome, it probably would have said so. In other words, “Those from Rome greet you.” For this reason, it is more than likely that these are merely believers in Italy in general who are being referred to.

Further, it only says “brothers,” not “the brothers.” In other words, it appears that upon their arrival, they didn’t know that there were Christians there. Having found them, it next says, “we were called upon them to remain seven days.”

Somehow Paul and the others found out that these were fellow believers. They were greeted by them, and then they were called upon to stay a full week with them. This is the same length of time that they stayed at both Troas (20:6) and Tyre (21:4).

It appears that Julius the centurion had no problem allowing the additional time which was probably intended to allow at least one and maybe two Sunday gatherings with these Christians. It also may be that, as previously speculated, Julius himself may have been a convert.

With a week of fellowshipping with them, it next says, “And so, to Rome, we came.”

Some translations, along with the NKJV, say that they went toward Rome. Most versions, however, say that they came to Rome. The word can mean either, but the stress in the Greek is on the word came – “And so, to Rome, we came.” The entire 140-mile trip is summarized in this one sentence. Verse 15 merely explains the occurrence upon their arrival.

Life application: We don’t know how many people lived in Puteoli at the time, but it was a city with many people. And yet, these men found believers. It is unlikely this happened while sitting in a restaurant. It appears that Paul went to a synagogue and asked if there were any known Christians in the city.

It is hard to see how else they could have found them unless cities had boards with various people or activities listed which people could read and then contact those with similar interests. However they found these believers, they certainly made a concerted effort to do so.

When you are traveling, do you take time to attend church somewhere? Is meeting other Christians and sharing in the faith something that is important to you at all times, or is it just something you do in your local area because you are familiar with the people you attend with?

It is true that today we can attend church online or listen to podcasts at any time, even while on vacation, but are you even doing that? In other words, is taking a weekend off with the wife or family a time to ignore church? The two hours you spend on Sunday morning, even if just attending your church online, shouldn’t be ignored.

Be sure to include the Lord in your routine. In fact, with podcasts – tens of thousands of them available at your fingertips – you can attend church all day every day. Great preachers of the past, and those who are still alive today, are available for free online, including all of their sermons and studies.

Be sure to take full advantage of this marvelous time in which we live to get closer and closer to the Lord through whatever means are available to you. How blessed we are to have the ability to do so.

Lord God, there are ten jillion things that come at us all day every day, vying for our attention. And yet, if we are wise, we will spend our time focusing on You, on Your word, and on fellowship with those who will keep us on the right path as we proceed. May we do this, to Your glory, O God. Amen.

Fancy lights. Wyoming Capitol.

Thursday, 13 June 2024

From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, Acts 28:13

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 more literal translation is, “From where, having gone around, we arrived at Rhegium. And after one day, having come upon an Auster, the second day we came to Puteoli” (CG).

Luke just noted that they had landed at Syracuse and stayed three days. Now, the journey to Rome continues with, “From where, having gone around.”

The words “from where” refer to Syracuse which is on the southeast corner of Sicily. Leaving that port, they had to make a bit of a sweeping motion. Of the words, “having gone around,” the KJV says, “And from thence we fetched a compass.” The Berean Study Bible says, “From there we weighed anchor.”

It is generally accepted that the Greek term is speaking of making a circuitous route around Sicily. As Syracuse is on the southeast corner of the island, and they need to head northward to the Italian peninsula, they set sail and worked off the coast of Sicily to reach their destination.

It was probably a west or a northwest wind at this time and this caused them to head out to sea in order to catch the winds while traveling north. Thus, one gets the idea of circling around, or going around, instead of traveling straight to their destination. From there, it next says, “we arrived at Rhegium.”

Rhegium, now known as Reggio, is on the southwest extremity of the toe of Italy. According to Wikipedia, Reggio “commonly and officially referred to as Reggio Calabria, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, is the largest city in Calabria as well as the seat of the Regional Council of Calabria. It has an estimated population between 150,000 and 200,000 and is the twenty-first most populous city in Italy, after Modena and other Italian cities, and the 100th most populated city in Europe. Reggio Calabria is located near the center of the Mediterranean and is known for its climate, ethnic and cultural diversity. It is the third economic centre of mainland Southern Italy. About 560,000 people live in the metropolitan area, recognised in 2015 by Italy as a metropolitan city.”

The city is right at the southern opening of the Straits of Messina. These straits pass between Sicily and Italy. They connect the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north with the Ionian Sea to the south. At its narrowest point, it measures 1.9 miles in width. However, near the town of Messina the width is some 3.2 miles. It has a maximum depth of 830 feet.

Certainly because of the narrowness of the straits and the contrary wind, they stopped at Rhegium. However, Luke next records, “And after one day, having come upon an Auster.”

The words “having come upon” are from a word found only here in Scripture, epiginomai. It is derived from two words signifying “upon” and “to come about.” The word translated as Auster is the same word as in Acts 27:13, notos. It signifies the South and thus a south wind. A single English word which corresponds to this is Auster, a south wind. Once this favorable wind came upon them, it next says, “the second day we came to Puteoli.”

Here is another word unique to Scripture, deuteraios. It is derived from deuteros, second, and signifies the second day. With the favorable wind that came from the south, it allowed them to pass through the straits. Once through the straits, they were able to sail all the way to Puteoli.

This is the modern city known as Pozzuoli. It is located very near Naples and was once a port city. Today, however, it is too shallow for large ships to arrive at. Its name means “The wells.” Being known for its warm baths, it is supposed that is how it got its name. Some relevant information from the era that these men arrived there is found in Wikipedia –

“Puteoli became the great emporium for the Alexandrian grain ships and other ships from all over the Roman world. It also was the main hub for goods exported from Campania, including blown glass, mosaics, wrought iron, and marble. Lucilius wrote in about 125 BC that it was second only to Delos in importance, then the greatest harbour of the ancient world. Many inscriptions show that a polyglot population established companies (stationes) for trade and transport and formed professional guilds for arts, crafts and religious associations for foreign cults; they included Greeks from the islands and the coast of Asia, Jews and later Christians. Under the Roman Empire, it was the greatest emporium of foreign trade in all of Italy. Trade with Tyre was so important that the Tyrians established a factory there in 174.”

Life application: In one verse, travel has gone from Syracuse to Rhegium to Puteoli. The population of these three cities totals about four hundred thousand people. Think of how many of them may have never heard of Jesus. Now imagine that you encounter people just like them throughout the week or even every day. They may never have heard of Jesus. Who is going to tell them? If not you, then who?

If you are saved, hooray for Jesus in your life. But be sure to now tell others about what He has done for you, and indeed for all the people of the world. Without hearing about Him, people cannot be saved. Hopefully, you will be affected enough about their plight to at least try to share what you know.

Lord God, help us to be responsible in sharing our faith in Jesus. We have family, friends, and acquaintances that need to hear the good news. We go to restaurants and are served by people that may have never been told the simple message of Your goodness to us in sending Jesus. Help us, O God, to faithfully proclaim what we know. Amen.

Skylights, Wyoming Capitol.

Wednesday, 12 June 2024

And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. Acts 28:12

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 verb is an aorist participle, “And having brought down at Syracuse, we stayed three days” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul and those with him departed Malta after having been there for three months. Luke continues this next leg of the journey, beginning with, “And having brought down.”

Departing on a ship is to go up to the high seas. When arriving at a new destination, one comes down again. The ship was brought down from the sea “at Syracuse.”

Syracuse, or Surakousai in Greek, is a city noted only here in the Bible. It is a city which was made famous during the Peloponnesian war. It was, and still is, a flourishing town of Sicily. It is 92 miles as the crow flies from Malta, but a bit more by boat because it is on the southeast corner of the coast of Sicily.

It can be reached in a bit over a day by boat. Ships bound from Alexandria on their way to Italy frequently put in there. It was one of the major ports of the Mediterranean world at this time. They probably stopped there to sell and offload wares and then pick up any other things or travelers for their continued voyage. Today Syracuse has a population of about 125,000.

Once the ship arrived there, Luke next notes that “we stayed three days.” The ship they were on had been at Malta over the winter. If the men were on the same ship when leaving Syracuse, it may be that it took three days to offload cargo and load on other things.

Or it may be that they switched ships to continue their journey to Rome and the first one departing took three days to get a booking on. Luke does not explain the matter either way but simply gives the duration of time they were in Syracuse. After three months on Malta, three days at this location would have flown by.

Life application: Speaking of flying by, the NKJV says the ship was “landing at Syracuse.” Not only is the tense of the verb wrong, but that can have more than one meaning. Landing at Syracuse may mean on the other side of the Atlantic!

Hancock International Airport is jointly owned by the military and the city. It is about five miles northeast of downtown Syracuse, in Onondaga County, New York.

The airport is off Interstate 81 near Mattydale, New York. Wikipedia says that “[i]n 1927 Syracuse mayor Charles Hanna felt his city needed an airport. A location at Amboy in the town of Camillus, New York was purchased for $50,000, and by 1928, the ‘Syracuse City Airport at Amboy’ was handling airmail.”

At the end of World War II, the United States Army Air Corps leased their bomber base near Mattydale, New York to the city. On September 17, 1949, the Clarence E. Hancock Airport opened to the public using a renovated machine shop as a terminal, and replaced the airport at Amboy. To learn more about this airport at Syracuse, refer to their website on the internet.

This might sound like a pointless diversion concerning another location named Syracuse, but it is given to highlight the fact that there are innumerable locations in the United States that are named based on other locations, many are right out of the Bible.

The movement of people from one location to another, where there had not yet been a name given for the place necessitated those new locations be given names. Some are obvious, such as New York being named based on the movement of people from York in the UK. Others are obvious because of the connection to famous biblical sights, such as cities named Bethlehem in New York and Pennsylvania, and Canaan in Connecticut.

However, many other areas also have biblical names that may not be as famous. In Connecticut, there is Sharon, Gilead, Hebron, Mount Carmel, and so forth. This trend continues in many states throughout the US. A rich biblical heritage permeates the nation’s founding. However, those traditions are quickly fading away. The prosperity of the people, and the movement to a non-biblical worldview, have erased much of the Christian heritage of the land.

If you are familiar with biblical names of people and places, you can use that familiarity to start conversations with people and form a connection between the name and its source. From there, you can then bring in the overall message of the Bible, that it is the story of God’s plan of redemption of man from the power of sin and the devil to one focused on Jesus.

When they see a connection between their name or the name of their city with the Bible, they may want to know more. Be ready at all times to think of innovative ways to get people interested in knowing more about the word! It is the message that can change the eternal destiny of people from a not-so-happy ending to an eternity of delight.

Lord God, help us to always be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. May our words bring them to want to know more and to become interested in reading Your word. People need Jesus and the Bible tells us about Him. So, Lord, help us in this! Amen.

House or Senate. Wyoming Capitol.

Tuesday, 11 June 2024

After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. Acts 28:11

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 more literally translated, “And after three months, we went up in a ship having been wintered in the island, Alexandrian, figure-headed Dioscuri” (CG).

In the previous verse, Luke noted that the islanders honored Paul and him in many ways, noting that when they departed, they were provided things that were necessary. Now, Luke speaks of the actual departure, saying, “And after three months.”

This means that it was likely about early to mid-February. Some speculate it was as early as the month of January, others date it as late as March. The point is that they waited through the dangerous winter months while sailing was too hazardous.

The ship remained over the winter on the island until the time when it was safe to once again engage in commerce on the high seas. With the winter ending, the sailing would again be favorable. Therefore, Luke next notes, “we went up in a ship having been wintered in the island.”

Being a perfect participle, it means that the ship was wintered there, and it continued to winter there until the time that it could again go up to the high seas. This ship was heading in the right direction for the continued travel to Rome, and so it was employed for the next leg of the journey. Of this ship, Luke notes it was “Alexandrian, figure-headed Dioscuri.”

These words continue to show that Melita is, in fact, Malta. Malta would fall on the course from Alexandria to Italy, and so the identification of the ship as Alexandrian gives a good indication of the fact that the island was most likely Malta.

The word translated as figure-headed is parasémos. It comes from para, beside or by the side of, and séma, a sign or mark. Thus, a most literal translation would be “side-marked.” However, the intent is that of a figurehead.

Some ancient ships were side-marked with paintings, such as large eyes or other symbols like fighter jets display today. Others had carved images on them. Being the Dioscuri, it would seem likely these were carvings which then may have been highlighted with paint.

The word used to describe them is Dioskouroi, a word found only here in Scripture. It is derived from Dios which refers to Zeus, and the plural of kouros, boy. Thus, it means the two sons of Zeus and Leda, Castor and Pollux. They were the patrons of sailors.

Due to the nature of the word, the translation can be literal, Dioscuri, or any suitable translation that conveys the message, such as “twin gods,” “twin brothers,” “Castor and Pollux,” “the Castors,” “the sign of the Twins,” “the Heavenly Twins,” etc.

Each gives an acceptable description intended to convey what Luke meant with the single word Dioskouroi. Of these guardian deities of sailors, Ellicott notes –

“In Greek mythology, Zeus had rewarded their brotherly devotion by placing them among the stars as the Gemini, which were connected with the month of May in the signs of the Zodiac, and Poseidon (= Neptune) had given them power over the winds and waves that they might assist the shipwrecked. So in the Helena of Euripides they appear, in 1550–60, as promising a fair wind and a safe voyage. The figure-heads of the Greek and Roman ships were commonly placed both at the prow and the stern.”

What is unusual is that Luke has never noted the figurehead on any ship that they had sailed on in his previous accounts. And the number of ships would not have been small. For example, he notes that sometimes they changed ships while in a harbor, taking another to get to their intended destination. This would have been quite common, changing ships from one harbor to the next.

Despite this, the account now – when leaving Malta – is the only time a figurehead is described. Of this, Benson says, “And yet, in a ship having such an idolatrous image, Paul did not refuse to sail, considering it as being only the name of the ship.”

Paul was a prisoner being conducted to Rome, he had no choice in what ship he traveled, and it is certain that the majority, if not all, of the ships they had traveled on had figureheads. Therefore, it is irrelevant that it was an idolatrous image.

What seems likely is that Luke included this to show a contrast to what had occurred upon their arrival. As that ship certainly had a figurehead, and maybe even the same one as the ship they were now departing on (being the patron of sailors), such figureheads were irrelevant in providing protection to a ship.

The Lord had been with Paul, He had assured the safety of every person on the ship, He had followed through with that, and He had demonstrated His hand upon Paul when the viper bit him. He also continued to be with Paul as he laid hands upon the sick and healed them. And more, this journey to Rome is the fulfillment of the words of the Lord that Paul would bear witness at Rome (Acts 23:11).

Luke has, therefore, set a contrast to the effective workings of the Lord and the ineffective protection of false idols made by man’s hands.

Life application: Despite Benson’s comments not fitting the narrative, his words are correct that the images on the ship were idolatrous. People were putting their trust in something that is a part of creation rather than in the Creator.

The Bible mentions several constellations, acknowledging that they are as real as the planets. If God uses the constellations to tell a story, that is not the same thing as God allowing those things to be objects of worship or luck.

In Judges 9, Jotham uses the trees as an allegory. The Lord does this elsewhere as well. However, this doesn’t mean that the trees have any power in and of themselves. They are simply used to convey a story or prophecy. We must be careful to distinguish between such things.

Also, it would be ludicrous to refuse to travel on a ship or airplane that has figureheads on it. Paul addresses such notions when dealing with foods sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians. Those things are nothing. As long as we remember that and have our hearts and minds directed to the Lord, we don’t need to worry about what the world is doing.

Our hope is not in a carving, a painting, or a constellation. Rather, our hope is in the One who created all things and who has revealed Himself in Scripture and in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Heavenly Father, we know that an idol is nothing at all. It cannot help and it cannot harm. When our eyes look to the stars and constellations, we see Your hand of creation, not deities that can help us with our problems or direct our futures. May we always remember these things and focus our hearts and attention on You alone. Amen.

House or Senate chamber. Wyoming Capitol.

Monday, 10 June 2024

They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary. Acts 28:10

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).

The words are much sparser in the Greek, and much must be inferred, “And who honored us many honors, and going up they laid upon for the necessity.” (CG).

The previous verse noted that the others on the island, having heard Paul healed Publius’ father, came to him with their diseases and were healed. Because of this, it next says, “And who honored us many honors.”

In other words, because Paul was able to heal them, and because he spent his time doing so, the kindness of Paul and Luke was rewarded by the people. The word translated as honor indicates a price. Vincent’s Word Studies says –

“The word was applied to payments for professional services, and that fact may have influenced Luke in selecting it; but it is evidently not used in that sense here.”

Whether it was payment or gifts, honors of some tangible nature were bestowed upon them for their efforts. However, other scholars disagree. Some of them show concern that accepting compensation for their work would be a violation of Matthew 10 –

“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. ⁹ Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, ¹⁰ nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.’” Matthew 10:5-10

There is absolutely no reason to accept that. Those words of Jesus were to the disciples, in Israel, under the time of the law, and for a specific purpose. If those words applied to the situation now, everything that Paul and Luke had done would be a violation of Jesus’ words because He said, “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles.” But this is the main focus of Paul’s ministry.

Such an evaluation is not a proper handling of Scripture. And more, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:3-12 concerning the rights of accepting payment for such work. He also notes it to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:18 concerning receiving compensation.

It is stated explicitly and implicitly elsewhere as well. If those on the island felt that they should pay for the help they had received, and they freely offered it to those who had lost everything, then there is no reason to assume that Paul and Luke should not receive it – whether merely as a gift or as a sort of payment. Understanding this, it next says, “and going up they laid upon for the necessity.”

As noted above, the words are sparse. The meaning is that upon sailing (because to sail from land is considered going up), the same people from the island heaped everything necessary for the travel upon Paul and Luke.

This means that two separate things occurred. They were first rewarded for their efforts of healing the people, and then they were assisted in their continued traveling to Rome. Of this verse, the Geneva Bible says, “God does well to strangers for his children’s sake.”

Life application: When reading the Bible, the context of what is being said must be maintained. For example, we cannot force the words of Jesus in the synoptic gospels into what is going on in the book of Acts and the epistles. Jesus was speaking to Israel, under the law, about matters of the law and of the kingdom to come.

Care must be taken to ensure that if something is cited from the gospels, that it actually applies to whatever point is being made. To not do so can form a logical contradiction in one’s theology. For example, Jesus said –

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

People in the church will often cite these words, applying them to the life of believers today. Jesus’ words in this passage are not intended for those of the church. He is speaking to the people of Israel who were under the law and in anticipation of the tribulation period which comes after the church age.

Those in the church during this dispensation do not need to pray that they will be counted worthy to escape those things. They will be taken out at the rapture before those days transpire. We also do not need to pray that we will be worthy to stand before the Son of Man. Rather –

“…giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14

Mixing matters between dispensations will always result in poor theology. Normally, it will result in a complete contradiction in what is said in Scripture. We are qualified to be partakers. We have been delivered! Read and apply the words of the Bible in their intended context and your doctrine will be sound.

Almighty God, help us to rightly divide Your word. May our evaluation of it be based on what You are doing in history according to the dispensation in which events are being referred. In this, our understanding of what is being said will be proper. Help us always to remember the proper context as we seek out what is being conveyed. Amen.