Author: Charlie Garrett

Statue, Esther Hobart Morris, 1 each.

Saturday, 11 May 2024

“saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Acts 27:24

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).

With a few tweaks, the Greek more closely reads, “Saying, ‘Fear not, Paul. It behooves you to stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those sailing with you’” (CG).

Paul just told those gathered with him that a messenger of the God stood by him. Now he continues his thought with, “Saying, ‘Fear not, Paul.’”

Similar words are seen throughout Scripture when reassurance is needed in one of God’s people. Daniel 10:12 and Matthew 28:5 are two examples prior to Paul’s time. Revelation 1:17 comes after his time, and it will also provide the same needed help for the apostle John.

Further, this address is more personal than many others as Paul is addressed by name. Along with this, the reason for the admonition is given, “It behooves you to stand before Caesar.”

In other words, this is what is predominantly on the Lord’s mind concerning the entire ordeal, meaning the advancement of the gospel message, and that especially through Paul. God’s foreknowledge of all things means that He knows exactly what is needed at every moment to direct the affairs of man according to His predetermined purposes.

Paul was an integral part of the plan at this point in time, and he would live through the ordeal in order to continue to effect the outcome of what God had determined. His salvation from this ordeal was necessary for these things to come about, but even more, and what certainly points to where Paul’s prayers had actually been placed, he is told, “And behold, God has granted you all those sailing with you.”

Paul’s concern while on his knees in prayer was not for himself. It was for the lost souls on the ship who needed a Savior before they perished. If this ordeal could bring them to understand the truth of Paul’s message, then so be it. And in fact, this is now promised.

Whether they accept the message or not, the validity of his words concerning his God could not be disputed. It is of note that the exact opposite of what occurs here is mentioned in Ezekiel 14:14, 14, 18, and 20. Paul’s status was sufficient to save those around him, whereas the status of those in Ezekiel’s time was only sufficient to save themselves.

Life application: One can consider the difference between the examples in Ezekiel 14 and those of Paul’s situation here. In thinking about it, we can see that the law brings condemnation but God’s grace in Christ brings salvation.

Those living under the law had the weight and burden of the law stacked against them. If they appealed to the law for their hope, they would find it only brings condemnation. However, even those under the law could appeal for God’s mercy. David discovered this.

He knew that the law demanded satisfaction. Therefore, he didn’t appeal to the law, lest he be swept away. When he was found to have done wrong, he appealed to God’s forgiveness in his displaying of a heartfelt, internal remorse –

“Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
¹⁶ For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:14-17

Lord God, thank You for Your grace, displayed in the giving of Your Son for us. May we cling to the cross and lay the entirety of our sin there. May our hearts be purified through remorse at the wrongdoings we commit in Your presence as we proceed forward in our salvation. May we never use Your grace as a license to continue sinning. Amen.

Arrived…

Friday, 10 May 2024

“For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, Acts 27:23

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 bit more literally, it reads, “For a messenger of the God stood by me this night, whose I am and whom I serve” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul told those gathered on the ship to be of good cheer because there would be no loss of life. Only the ship would be lost. Now, to explain how he knows this, he says, “For a messenger of the God.”

The Greek word aggelos means a messenger. It can be human or divine. In this case, there is no indication which it is. One could say, “Obviously it was a non-human angel from heaven because they are on a ship at sea.” However, it could be one of the two anointed ones noted in Zechariah 4, who are surely humans. As it is, a messenger of the God came to Paul and, he says, “stood by me this night.”

The words would otherwise be incredible unless one is willing to believe in the supernatural. How could a messenger come to a person on a ship that has been lost at sea for an extended period of time, even while the sea raged and roared around them?

And yet, this is the claim Paul has made. Therefore, those gathered must decide if he is bonkers or if he is telling the truth. The fact that the messenger waited this long, however, is its own sort of validation. Why would God allow the ship to be tossed around so long and then send a messenger, unless what he says to Paul is true?

The people had, as it said already, given up all hope of being saved. And yet, there is suddenly a ray of hope shining through to them. With their physical and mental strength completely used up, this would have a much more profound effect on them. Where their works had failed them, a note of grace is extended from above, and it has come from the God, as Paul says, “whose I am and whom I serve.”

Paul is a Hebrew. The people on the ship would probably have known this. But at least those in charge were aware of it. The words are not unlike the account of Jonah. There is a difference, however. In Jonah, the remedy was to cast Jonah into the sea. That was an anticipatory type of Christ. With Paul, he is a servant of Christ Jesus.

Instead of being the instrument of the salvation of those on the ship, as Jonah was when he was cast into the sea, Paul’s God will bring about their salvation apart from any effort of, or use for, Paul. The types of the past, seen in Jonah, are no longer needed. Christ has come. Paul serves Him, and He will provide the delivery.

Life application: Notice the difference in the KJV and NKJV in these words –

KJV – the angel of God.
NKJV – an angel of the God.

In the Greek, there is no article before angel (messenger), but there is one before God. Therefore, either way, the KJV is wrong. However, the NKJV, despite having the articles right, might lead someone to a false understanding of what the intent of Paul’s words is. Look now at the difference between the placement of the words by the NKJV, the YLT, the SLT, and the CGT –

NKJV – For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.

YLT – for there stood by me this night a messenger of God — whose I am, and whom I serve.

SLT – For the messenger of God stood by me in this night, whose I am, and whom I serve.

CGV – For a messenger of the God stood by me this night, whose I am and whom I serve.

The NKJV directly connects the words “of the God” to “to whom I belong and whom I serve. This could then lead to a false conclusion, that Paul’s God is one of many.

Regardless of the use of the article before God, the other three separate the thoughts. Thus, it separates the thought of God and man in the mind of the reader. The SLT and YLT chose not to include the word “the” before God.

This is a common way of treating the article when it is before God, especially in a verse where it is understood that there is one God. However, including the article as the CGT does is perfectly acceptable because of the separation of the God and Paul in the clauses.

As for the article before “messenger” in the SLT version, that is incorrect and should not have been included. Likewise, the word “there” in the YLT should have been italicized as it is not in the Greek. Despite this, the order of the words in the Greek is more closely matched by the YLT than the CGT.

Here is the exact order of the Greek:

παρέστη γάρ μοι τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ ἄγγελος τοῦ θεοῦ οὗ εἰμι ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω
(Stood by) for me the night this messenger the God whose (I am) whom and (I serve).

Now it is your turn to look at the words and see how you would make them fit both the intent and the English so that it is understandable. Test at 9. Be ready…

Lord God Almighty, may we carefully and respectfully contemplate Your word. There is intent in how it is presented, but there is also a need for it to be understandable to us. Help us to have the two match in our minds so that our thoughts about You are correct. We want to know You and Your word intimately. So be with us in our time in fellowship with You through Your word. Amen.

Capitol hiding between train cars…

Thursday, 9 May 2024

“And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. Acts 27:22

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 literal rendering of the Greek would be, “And now, I admonish you to be cheerful, for there will be no off-casting of soul from you, except the ship” (CG).

Paul had just noted that those on the ship should have listened to him and stayed in Crete. By doing so, they would not have incurred the damage and loss that was now being experienced. Now, having set forth that his words are worth listening to, he will provide good news to the worn-out people before him, saying, “And now, I admonish you.”

Paul uses the same word, translated as “admonish,” that Luke used to describe Paul’s words in verse 27:9 –

“And much time having elapsed, and the sailing being already dangerous – and the Fast already passed by – Paul admonished” (CG).

This is the second and last time the word is used in Scripture, paraineó. It means to exhort or advise. However, HELPS Word Studies notes that it is “to urge acknowledging what is praiseworthy, i.e. ‘recommend, advise, urge.’” It is an up close and personal form of admonishment.

One can see that when Luke penned Acts, he remembered Paul’s word and used it in verse 27:9 when giving his narrative about what Paul would say now in verse 27:22. Luke’s precision of recording events and even single words is highlighted in this. Next, Paul says for them, “to be cheerful.”

It is another new word in Scripture, euthumeó. HELPS Word Studies says it is used “to show positive passion as it proceeds from a sound disposition.” It will be used again in verse 27:25 and once in James 5:13.

The people were certainly disheartened and dejected of soul, having (as it said in verse 20) no hope of being saved. But Paul now tells them to have this positive passion and be cheery in their disposition because, as he next says, “for there will be no off-casting of soul from you, except the ship.”

And, once again, Luke uses a new word, apobolé. It comes from two words meaning “away” and “cast.” Thus, “off-casting” is an exacting translation. This word is found only one more time, in Romans 11:15 when speaking of Israel –

“For if their being cast away [apobolé] is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”

As for Paul’s words to the people, the good news is that no person’s soul would be cast away. Every person aboard would survive the ordeal. However, the bad news is that the ship would be lost. This then would mean that all of the cargo would be lost as well.

Those who owned and operated the ship would receive their lives as a prize, but nothing more. It is not unlike the word of the Lord spoken to Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch –

“The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, ² ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ³ “You said, ‘Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.’”’

⁴ ‘Thus you shall say to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. ⁵ And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,’ says the Lord. ‘But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.’”’” Jeremiah 45:1-5

Life application: For those who owned the ship and/or the cargo, the lesson is similar to that of Acts 27:19. What value are the things of the world in comparison to life itself? If the ship were saved, but the owner was lost, it would mean nothing to the owner that the ship was saved.

And, like those on the ship, the Lord has said that He would lose none of those who would come to Him. Difficult times have come to many, but in the end, all will safely arrive on the promised shores of His safe haven.

Should you be facing great loss in some way, remember that this is a fallen world and that difficult times are inevitable. But God promises us something better. Hold fast to that thought should things get out of control. Wonderful times of rest are ahead for the weary soul.

Heavenly Father, may we hold fast to the sure promises that Your word has given us because of Jesus. No matter how good things are at any given moment, total loss or great sadness may be just around the corner. If we can remember to fix our eyes on Jesus now, then should such things come to pass, we will already have our attention focused properly. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

And more cool stuff.

Wednesday, 8 May 2024

But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. Acts 27:21

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).

More literally, “And being much abstinence then, Paul having stood in their midst, said, ‘Indeed, O men, you ought to have hearkened to me not to go up from Crete, and to gain this disaster and loss’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Luke noted that it had been many days without sun or stars while the tempest beat upon them. This led to the point where they had given up all hope. With that noted, he now records Paul’s words, beginning with, “And being much abstinence then.”

The abstinence from food that is mentioned here is probably as much because of having thrown over the equipment as for any other reason. This may have included much of the cooking equipment, and so the people on the ship would have been put on reduced rations of things that didn’t need to be cooked.

The Pulpit Commentary argues that the word translated as “abstinence,” asitia, “is only found here in the Bible; but it was the common medical term for loss of the appetite, and such is the most natural rendering here. There is nothing about ‘long abstinence’ in the text.”

Their comment, however, does not square with the words of Paul in verse 33. There was, in fact, a long abstinence and the people were certainly weak from the lack of food. Despite this, Paul was both strengthened in the Lord and an encouragement to them. But before he encourages, Luke says, “Paul having stood in their midst, said, ‘Indeed, O men, you ought to have hearkened to me.’”

This isn’t Paul rubbing their bad decision in their faces. Rather, it is an obvious truth that he did his best to get them to avoid disaster. They didn’t listen and his words were vindicated. As such, his coming words should be listened to and accepted. To remind them of what occurred before he gives his encouragement, he says he told them “not to go up from Crete.”

As has been seen several times in Acts, to depart from land is thought of as going up. That is akin to our terminology of heading out to the high seas. They were safely in a harbor, and they were warned not to go up from it. The reason Paul recommended staying was, as he says, “and to gain this disaster and loss.”

He uses the same two words that were introduced into the Bible in Acts 27:10, hubris and zémia, translated as disaster and loss. It may sound odd to say, “gain this disaster and loss,” but this is exactly what has happened. They have lost their cargo and ship, and have, in place of them, gained disaster and loss – at least experientially.

Again, Paul is not holding this tragedy over them. Instead, he is demonstrating to them that he isn’t just a lunatic, incapable of making a reasonable deduction about the events which were certainly to come upon them.

This is readying them for his next words where he will prophesy to all on the ship. Being sane enough to make a reasonable recommendation concerning what would occur by leaving Crete, his words of prophecy would be taken, not as from a nut job, but from a person of sound mind.

Life application: When our words are found to be reliable, we will tend to be more likely to get the ears of others. If what we say is inconsistent, not based in reality, or false, the chances of people listening to us will normally be greatly diminished or non-existent.

Having said that, this doesn’t seem to apply to politicians or sensationalist teachers, regardless of what they say. Such people can lie through their teeth or claim things that never happened, and their words are simply ignored by those who follow them. Instead, they want to hear certain things and will shut out any falsity that comes their way as if it isn’t important.

Therefore, we need to really stand back and evaluate ourselves to determine if we are allowing lies to fill our minds simply because we agree with an overall agenda or approach to life. If so, we need to forcibly restrict ourselves from allowing this to happen.

What we should hear and accept is nothing but the truth. If we allow falsity of whatever kind to rule our thoughts, we are opening ourselves up to real trouble and even disaster. History has proven this true time and again. Be on guard concerning what you will accept and who you will listen to.

Lord God, You expect us to be truthful. You also surely want us to only accept what is truthful. And so, Lord, give us wisdom to identify those times when we are willing to accept falsity, in order to weed that out of our lives. May our lives be dedicated to right thinking and words that are based upon reality and truth. Amen.

More nifty.

Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. Acts 27:20

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 rendering would be, “And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no little tempest lying upon, removed all remaining hope of us being saved” (CG).

Luke just noted that the tackle of the ship was thrown overboard. Ellicott noted that the word goes beyond the ship’s own tackle, but to anything moveable. However, even with this drastic measure, the narrative continues with, “And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days.”

Verse 27 will give an overall span of time that the storm raged around them, fourteen days. It was on the third day that they chucked the tackle overboard. Therefore, Luke’s words now indicate a period of another 9-11 days, depending on what he was thinking as he penned the narrative.

Such a span of time, while being completely tossed to and fro,ƒ and hearing the constant noise of the storm and groan of the ship, would wear out the hardiest of souls. Luke notes this was the case with the next words, “and no little tempest lying upon.”

The words “lying upon” are a literal translation of the word epikeimai. It is referring to the storm lying upon the ship (the verb is singular). It is as if the ship itself was bearing the entire burden of the ordeal and those inside were at the mercy of God upon the ship holding together. One can imagine what it would have been like for Noah and his family on the ark.

With this terrifying ordeal upon them, Luke says that this “removed all remaining hope of us being saved.”

In ancient times, there was no such thing as a compass, GPS, etc. Without such devices, they would have no idea at all where they were. The only way to reckon their location was to determine the placement of the sun, moon, and stars.

The overcast had deprived them of this, and so they could just as well have been on the moon as still in the Mediterranean Sea. It would leave them with a feeling of complete helplessness. Adding to the lack of knowing their location, the tempest continued to beat them mercilessly. The throwing over of the supplies and tackle implies that there was probably a leak in the hull that was gaining ground.

The people would be getting more and more tired of bailing and so the leak would be like the sword of Damocles over their heads, little by little gaining the advantage over the situation. Because of this, any hope of them getting through the ordeal and being saved was erased.

The metaphor of works-based salvation is perfectly seen in this verse. The more one works, the more futile the effort. The people on the ship had gone without food, they had given up on their goods, they had worked tirelessly in the midst of chaos, and they were no better off – and certainly worse off – than when the tempest started.

Life application: Life without assurance is the most hopeless place to be. But in Christ, there is always hope, and the promise of eternal life will carry the worn-out soul to assured rest. God did not send Jesus to provide His people with eternal insecurity.

No! He did not send Jesus to save us and then expect us to then keep on saving ourselves. That would mean that His initial salvation was not truly sufficient to save. Instead, Jesus did everything necessary to restore us to life and to continue to do so as long as we are in this body of death. He has promised, and He will deliver us from it.

Lord God, give us the wisdom and the faith necessary to fully grasp what it means to be saved. Jesus has done the work. Our walk after coming to Him is to be one of gratitude, not insecurity and fear. Help us to realize that the battle has been won. Jesus has prevailed, and we are the recipients of His glorious deeds. May we rest in this assurance all our days! Amen.