Author: Charlie Garrett

Anna Jarvis Bust. West Virginia Capitol.

Saturday, 20 January 2024

When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.  Acts 23:33

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, 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, the words read, “Who, having entered into Caesarea, and having delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him” (CG).

In the previous verse, it noted that the soldiers returned to Jerusalem, but the horsemen stayed with Paul in order to conduct him the rest of the way to Caesarea. Now, referring to these horsemen, it says, “Who, having entered into Caesarea.”

It would have been an impressive sight for the people of the city to see seventy horsemen arrayed in Roman colors marching a single man into the city, carefully guarding him as they went. Like the procession of a presidential limousine today, the people would have stopped to gawk. Upon arriving at their destination, it next says, “and having delivered the letter to the governor.”

Interestingly, Paul’s name is mentioned a total of sixteen times in this chapter, but in the letter from Claudius Lysias, it is never declared. As such, it was up to the testimony of those who conducted him to say, “This is the man.” Therefore, it next says that they “also presented Paul to him.”

As there was a whole contingent of horsemen, they could testify that the right man had been safely delivered into the care of the authorities.

Life application: The word is a wonderful gift to us from the mind of God. As you read it, be sure to think about why things are included in it. Stopping to do short word studies, counting the number of times things are mentioned, or doing short topical studies will open up new avenues of thought that may never have been contemplated before.

Also, let your mind wander into what things might have been like. Considering such things as the majestic, stately, or terrifying march of horses into a city, a battle, or across a desert area will make the word come alive in your mind. Let the word come alive to you in wonderful ways.

Your time in the word will only be as interesting as you make it. So be sure to make it interesting!

Lord God, thank You for Your wonderful word. And, above all, thank You for Jesus, who is revealed to us in this precious word! Amen.

Net angle looking up into dome of West Virginia Capitol.

Friday, 19 January 2024

The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. Acts 23:32

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, 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, the words read, “And the morrow, having allowed the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the barracks” (CG).

In the previous verse, the detachment of soldiers took Paul out of Jerusalem to Antipatris. Now, the narrative continues, saying, “And the morrow.”

Scholars debate whether this means it is the next day from Jerusalem or from Antipatris. Being a forced march, it is most probably from Jerusalem. Thus, the entire trip was done in a single day. Further, Cambridge notes that “The original has a conjunction which the Rev. Ver. represents by ‘But.’ These men would return to Jerusalem again on the day of the intended plot.”

Because of the use of the conjunction, which can be translated as and, but, now, etc., it is more probable that this is referring to the next day from Jerusalem. Further, some translations add in the word “on” before “morrow” or “next day.” That will also cause confusion. It is most likely the first day after leaving Jerusalem that it next says, “having allowed the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the barracks.”

The four hundred soldiers and spearmen went directly back to Jerusalem. Thus, they would be in Jerusalem when the original plot against Paul was supposed to occur. These soldiers would have had a very long time without sleep before all went back to normal. The seventy horsemen would be more than sufficient to conduct Paul the rest of the way swiftly and safely.

This account shows us the immense size of the force that must have been kept in Jerusalem. If almost 500 were dispatched for this one incident, there were many more who remained to keep the peace and to perform the normal functions Rome required.

Life application: For such a short and simple verse, one would think the translators would be willing to carefully look at the Greek, notice there was an opening conjunction, and say, “This is a necessary part of God’s word,” and include it in the translation.

But translations as far back as Tyndale (1526), the Bishop’s Bible (1568), and the King James (1611) arbitrarily omit it. By doing so, an ambiguity in the wording arises, and debates arise concerning which day Paul was escorted. It’s not an issue that someone should lose sleep over, but because of the poor translation, varying thoughts are unnecessarily bandied about concerning what is being said.

So why would this conjunction have been left off? It may have been to make the verse flow better in English. Reading a literal translation can be awkward because the words fit together in a clunky fashion. But this is not an excuse to arbitrarily skip necessary words.

When you come to a conflict in translations, before deciding on a final analysis that may be wrong because of one translation or another, try checking the original manuscript. Carefully consider what is being conveyed. Unlike Acts 23:32, faulty translations of some verses can lead to very poor theological positions being held. Study! Stand approved in what you accept.

Glorious Lord God, the more we study Your word, the more delightful it is to our minds. It is like a well of deep waters that are sweet and refreshing. Help us to read it, cherish it, and carefully study its contents all the days of our lives. To Your glory! Amen.

Fancy brass lamp at West Virginia Capitol.

Thursday, 18 January 2024

Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. Acts 23:31

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, 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 is, “Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that having been appointed them, having taken up Paul, brought through night to Antipatris” (CG).

With the letter from the commander fully detailed by Luke, it next says, “Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that having been appointed them.”

The plan was previously detailed. When the commander completed his letter, the soldiers were assembled according to their previously arranged assignment, and Paul was brought out of the barracks to where the soldiers awaited him. At that point, it next says, “having taken up Paul.”

In verse 24, the centurions were instructed to provide mounts to set Paul on. This is what is now taking place. He is taken up onto his mount for the journey and “brought through night to Antipatris.”

Antipatris was previously called Cafar-Saba. It is mentioned by Flavius Josephus in his writings. Herod the Great had its name changed to Antipatris to honor his father Antipater. It is about thirty-five miles north and west of Jerusalem and still another twenty-six miles south and east of Caesarea.

Today it is known as Kefr-Saba, having reverted back to its original name. The majority of the trip from Jerusalem would be somewhat downhill from the hill country of Ephraim and into the plain of Sharon.

If they went all night, which seems likely, they could have reached this by 6 or 7 the next morning. The rest of the trip would take about six hours until they reached Caesarea. If they stopped for an extended break, they could have been there by sometime in the afternoon.

Life application: The Bible isn’t just a book that tells of arbitrary events that may or may not be true. It details events that can be verified, including locations, names of those locations, structures that existed in those locations, events that are recorded to have happened in those same locations (like certain details of battles where evidence is readily available), and so forth.

There is no reason to assume that the events of a battle that are recorded in the Bible are true but that the details of the lives of those people – as recorded at the time of those battles – are merely myths. Rather, when it says that a city is besieged by the Assyrians, something that can be verified as true, and that the king said and did certain things at that time, we should assume that those things are also true.

This is true with events like Paul’s situation that is now being detailed in Acts. If Luke correctly recorded all of the verifiable information, like names of cities, names of certain officials, distances between locations, etc., then what he says about Paul’s personal matters would have been equally well-researched.

Have confidence that what you are reading is accurate and reliable. This is especially so because it is recorded in God’s word. Why would God allow something false or misleading to be included there? He wouldn’t! Trust the word because God is trustworthy.

Heavenly Father, may we be confident in Your word, knowing that it has been checked, rechecked, and then checked again throughout the time since it was received. Even today, new evidence of its reliability is being discovered. Thank You for the surety we can possess concerning Your word. And, thus, thank You for the surety we can possess concerning what it says about Jesus! Hallelujah for the story of the coming of our Lord. Amen.

Medal of Honor Recipients. West Virginia Capitol.

Wednesday, 17 January 2024

And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell. Acts 23:30

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, 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, though a bit clunky, more literally reads, “And, having been revealed to me a plot, about to be by the Jews, against the man, I sent immediately unto you, having also instructed the accusers to say these against him before you. Be strong” (CG).

In his letter to Felix, the commander just noted that he found that there was nothing charged against Paul deserving of death or chains. Because of this, he next writes, “And, having been revealed to me a plot, about to be by the Jews, against the man.”

The commander, Claudius Lysias, appears to be the epitome of rational thinking. He perceived trouble at the beginning and saved Paul. As the trouble hadn’t ceased, he again saves him by directing the things he now is writing to Felix.

This second half of the account is at least truthful. It also sets Paul as an honorable person being troubled by the seditious Jews who would even dare to harm a Roman citizen and thus make an implicit attack on the government. Thus, as a Roman military officer, he places the Roman priorities above any favor he had curried with the Jews since being assigned in Jerusalem.

This is certainly the intent of his words. He is looking for Felix’s favor by showing his allegiance to Rome above all else. As Paul is also Roman, and to demonstrate his care for his fellow citizens, he next writes, “I sent immediately unto you.”

Paul will be safely conducted with a large force of soldiers. Even after getting safely out of the local area, a sizeable portion of them will continue the trek to Caesarea. When Paul arrives safely, this show of force would be considered a notable aspect of the commander’s care for his charge. Along with that, he tells Felix, “having also instructed the accusers to say these against him before you.”

It is apparent that, by his letter, he wants Paul looked at in a favorable light so that Paul’s original mistreatment will never come to light. The note of him commanding the accusers to state the charges before Felix probably means that he composed two letters at the same time. The first was this letter to Felix, and the second would have been dispatched to the Jewish council once Paul was safely out of the area.

Thus, this letter explains why Paul was sent to Caesarea and why his journey included such a large contingent of soldiers. With that, he closes out the letter with a word not found in all manuscripts, saying, “Be strong.”

In many manuscripts, it is the second and last use of the word rhónnumi. It was first used to close out the letter from the council in Jerusalem to the Gentile church in Acts 15:29. It is a verb that literally signifies to strengthen or be strong. Being a perfect imperative, it literally gives the sense of “you have been strengthened and so remain strengthened.”

Life application: There is no note of the commander having ever come to Christ. Therefore, it is likely that if he did, it would have been after Paul’s time with him. During his time interacting with Paul, he placed his highest priority on discharging his duties as a Roman officer.

He was careful to ensure that his account would make him appear favorable in the eyes of those above him, hoping they would notice his deeds and look favorably upon him. For those in Christ, our highest priority should be doing those things that exalt the Lord above all else.

However, in doing this, we will actually be doing our very best to perform our duties in all other areas to the very best of our abilities. This is because in wanting to honor the Lord, we will conduct all other aspects of our lives in the most noble way possible. Only when there is a conflict between our allegiance to the Lord and conducting our duties should this not be the case.

Today, we may be asked to compromise our faith to meet a liberal, woke agenda. We should never cave to this sort of perversion. Instead, we should use our rights as Christians to work against such things. We should even do it to the full extent of our ability. This will be what is most honoring to the name of the Lord. In all things, let us consider the Lord being glorified through our actions as our highest priority.

O God, we may have challenges set before us that ask us to compromise our position as Christians. Help us never to cave to such things. Rather, give us wisdom and strength to stand against anything that may hinder our relationship with You. In the end, we must give an account for our actions when we come before You. May what we do be right and pleasing so that we are prepared to do so. Amen.

Stonewall Jackson bust base. West Virginia Capitol.

Tuesday, 16 January 2024 

I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. Acts 23:29

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, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The tense of the verbs needs tweaking. The Greek reads, “Whom I found being accused about questions of their law and having no accusation worthy of death or chains” (CG).

The commander’s letter to Felix, the governor, about Paul continues, saying, “Whom I found being accused about questions of their law.”

The words, “questions of their law,” mean that there was nothing involved that Rome would care about. Instead, it was a matter of the interpretation of Jewish law and not something that was defined by the courts of Rome.

The Jewish people had been given authority to worship their God as they chose. Any internal strife concerning rites, interpretations, authorized teachers, etc. in relation to the law was left solely up to those in charge of such religious matters to decide. Because of this, the commander was certain that they were of no concern to Rome. They are what was detailed earlier in this chapter where it said –

“But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!’
⁷ And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. ⁸ For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. ⁹ Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, ‘We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.’” Acts 23:6-9

As this was a matter not within the jurisdiction of Roman decision, the commander concluded that Paul was “having no accusation worthy of death or chains.”

None of the things he heard were sufficient to bind him, imprison him, or have him executed. And yet, ironically, the things that they discussed are the most important issues that will ever affect the people of the world.

Because of the Roman system that was in place at the time, the worldly matters seemed to overshadow the more important spiritual ones, at least in order for Paul to be able to continue his ministry. Here and in all other cases in Acts, no magistrate found any wrongdoing in Paul.

Life application: The same situation exists today that existed at the time of Paul’s life under Roman rule. There are those who share the gospel in order to free people from the bonds of sin and the power of the devil. They do this within nations that supposedly have the right to rule over such matters or who are indifferent to such things.

And yet, the problem of sin infects every single person on the earth. At the time of the writing of this commentary, there is a major corruption scandal concerning fundraising in Japan. In Germany, there is a corruption scandal concerning gas supplies from Qatar. In the United States, the person in the White House is being investigated for corruption that literally permeates his political life and his family.

The same type of sinful behavior is found in one nation after another and in religious institutions around the world, including Christian churches and especially the Vatican, from the pope down to all levels. Some of these entities proclaim that they have authority over what believing Christians can say or how they can say it.

This, then, supposedly puts them over God who has given His word and has then instructed believers to share it and teach it. Imagine that! God has allowed humanity to run its own affairs, even if what they decide is set in contrast to His word. This includes churches that are supposed to rightly teach it.

And yet, people call God an ogre for telling them that the problem rests within their hearts and that He has done everything necessary to fix it and bring restoration between them and Him. No wonder the world is devolving into total chaos.

When the people turn from Him and how He has revealed Himself, it means that only sin is left to rule in their lives. Even the very best governments will fail unless the truth of God in Christ is accepted and allowed to flourish within the society.

What a mess the world is in, Lord God. Nations have cast off any sense of Christian morality, and we have turned away from the magnificent message of the gospel. Even churches and denominations are following the path of perversion, accepting profane doctrines to be taught as acceptable. Lord, we know that the coming of Jesus for His people is getting closer each day as we see these things unfold. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.