Author: Charlie Garrett

Washington Coast now heading south to Oregon. Waves. Wish I took my board…

Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:12

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, 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 when we heard these things, implored him – both we and the residents – not to go up to Jerusalem” (CG).

In the previous verse, the prophet Agabus tied himself (or Paul) up by his hands and feet and prophesied that the same would happen to Paul in Jerusalem, noting that he would be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. Now, Luke records, “And when we heard these things.”

The reaction is immediate, and Luke includes himself in the words of the verse with the use of “we.” He and all those with him “implored him.” The word is variously translated, having several different meanings, depending on the context. In this verse, translations still vary widely: beg, intreat, entreat, beseech, urge, plead, etc.

In this case, it was certainly a mixture of begging and admonishing. Thus, he was implored. Further, the word is imperfect, indicating that they continued to implore him. But the words were not just from his companions alone. Rather, it next says, “both we and the residents.”

Here, another word unique to the New Testament is seen – entopios. It is an adjective derived from en (in) and topos (region). Hence, a single English comparable word would be “residents.”  Luke was a master of using interesting words to make simple points. Those who were residing there and heard, along with the missionaries who were going to Jerusalem with Paul, implored him “not to go up to Jerusalem.”

Luke and the others who accompanied Paul were fully capable of taking the gift themselves, and there was no need for Paul to go and thus endanger himself. Therefore, they continued to implore him not to go with them on this final portion of the long voyage they had been on.

Life application: One of the things that makes a sermon, narrative, or story interesting is a wide range of words. Why use one adjective when two or even three will do? If you want to excite the minds of others, it is important not to repeat the same words in sentences if at all possible. In this, you will keep the minds of your readers active as they listen.

Having said that, it is important for translations of Scripture to convey the meaning of the words as originally presented. There are various ways of doing this. The first and most obvious is a literal translation. The word noted above is a single plural adjective preceded by a plural article indicating “those residents.” That is the most literal way to translate it.

However, it is not the only way to do so. Saying “the residents” means the same thing because the plural marker in English sufficiently carries the meaning. It also sounds smoother to the ear than “those residents” when taken in the context of the rest of the sentence. The words can also be translated in an equivalent paraphrase: those of that place, they of that place, the locals, the people there, etc.

A literal translation will often get clunky or cumbersome to the mind of the hearer. Thus, the equivalent rendering may be preferred. Don’t get too negatively excited over varying translations. Instead, look at them as opportunities to understand more fully what is being conveyed while also learning to expand your own lexicon and ability to form interesting sentence structures.

This appears to be Luke’s goal as he continuously introduces nifty new words to Scripture. Remember that in order to fully understand the meaning of his words, it is often necessary to refer to a concordance, lexicon, or formal word study. As this is so, then it may be that you had to read an entire paragraph, or more, just to get what is being said. Therefore, a single translation will never fully express what the intent of the entire original text is saying.

Study! Enjoy! And then turn around and express. Use your words in a way that will bless and benefit others without overwhelming them. Be one that will excite the minds of those around you. The Bible has shown, right in the diverse and unique words that it uses, that this is a commendable thing to do.

Lord God, You have given us a precious word meant to excite our minds and fill our thoughts with delight and wonder. Thank You for this precious gift. May we be willing to study it deeply all the days of our lives and then use our words in a manner that will also bless and excite others. Praise to You, O God, for the gift of Your precious word. Amen.

I think (?) it was a lighthouse. Something made me take a photo of it.

Friday, 20 October 2023

When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Acts 21:11

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, 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 closely rendered, “And having come to us, and having taken up the belt of Paul, having bound his hands and feet, he said, ‘Thus says, the Holy Spirit, “The man whose is this belt, thus will bind in Jerusalem the Jews, and will deliver into the hands of Gentiles.”’”

The previous verse told of the coming down of Agabus from Judea to the missionaries staying in Caesarea. In his coming, it next says, “And having come to us, and having taken up the belt of Paul.”

There is no indication of how long he was there before this occurred, but Luke, using participles to show action, writes his words to make it seem as if it is the first thing that happens. Agabus was just called a “certain prophet.” So, one gets the sense of this prophet arriving at Caesarea, walking up to Paul, and then lifting Paul’s belt off of him.

The belt noted here is zóné. It indicates a girdle, belt, or waistband. This is not a belt to hold up the pants as we use today. Rather, it would be worn on the outside of the loose-fitting garments worn by men. They would pull it tight to remove the slack from the garment. Thus, to lift it off of Paul would be a simple process.

At times, such a belt would be hollow and used as a money belt. This is why some versions will say “girdle.” Of this belt that was just taken up by Agabus, it next says, “having bound his hands and feet.”

It is generally believed that Agabus tied his own hands and feet, not Paul’s, but some scholars think maybe it was Paul. Different manuscripts use a reflexive pronoun that would definitely indicate it was Agabus tying himself up rather than Paul. Also, the words vary in order saying either “hands and feet” or “feet and hands.”

It would be hard to tie up one’s feet if the hands were already bound. Therefore, the action may be tying up Paul, or it may be Agabus tying himself up. Either way, it is a symbolic gesture not unlike many other examples found in the Old Testament and which are worthy to be considered, such as –

“In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it, ² at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, ‘Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.’ And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.” Isaiah 20:1, 2

With that action directed, the Lord then explains the command –

“Then the Lord said, ‘Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, ⁴ so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. ⁵ Then they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation and Egypt their glory. ⁶ And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, “Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?”’” Isaiah 20:3-6

As for the action taken by Agabus, he then proclaims, “Thus says, the Holy Spirit, ‘The man whose is this belt, thus will bind in Jerusalem the Jews.’”

Just as Isaiah was used as a warning and an object lesson for Israel, Agabus’ action is also an object lesson to warn Paul. The Lord, through Agabus, has given an advanced sign to Paul and those with him that what will occur has been ordained by Him and that it is the way that things were supposed to be.

Israel at Isaiah’s time could not say that what occurred to them was not the will of the Lord. Likewise, those who saw Paul being bound could not say that this was out of the will of the Lord or something that they should act against. It was a part of a greater plan, already known and authorized by God. From there, it next says that the Jews “will deliver into the hands of Gentiles.”

A greater plan was going to be worked out which included Paul being handed over to the Gentiles. Therefore, the people who saw these things come about should not interfere with the events, nor should they think that Paul was out of favor with the Lord. The events to take place were meant to be, and those who would interact with Paul should do so with this in mind.

Life application: As reading the Bible is an important part of the things we do each day, take a few more minutes and read one or more of the following object lessons that are found in the Old Testament: 1 Kings 22:10-12; Jeremiah 13:1-11; Jeremiah 27:2-11; Ezekiel 4:1-13; Ezekiel 5:1-10; Ezekiel 12:1-14; Ezekiel 24:15-24.

There are other such object lessons to be found. The book of Hosea is built around such an idea, where the prophet is asked to marry an unfaithful woman. Throughout the book, the interactions of the prophet with her, as directed by the Lord, mirror the interactions of the Lord and Israel.

Consider the things you are reading in Scripture and why the Lord places such things there. In the end, we can more fully understand the mind and intent of the Lord, His faithfulness even in our unfaithfulness, etc. The Bible tells us that God has everything under control and that we should trust that His plan is being worked out in a way that will bring His people to a very happy end, even if the road we are currently on may be a bit rocky.

Lord God, thank You for Your tender care of us. We can know from Your word that You have a plan that is already set and that will lead us back to Yourself. Help us to faithfully endure in this life and to walk in a manner that is pleasing to You, knowing that our actions reflect our trust in You as we continue our trek to our heavenly home. Amen.

Almost to the top of the bridge…

Thursday, 19 October 2023

And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Acts 21:10

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, 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 reads, “And remaining many days, a certain prophet came down from Judea, by name Agabus” (CG).

The previous verse was a short note about Philip’s four daughters who prophesied. Luke next says, “And remaining many days.”

The adjective which is used here is given in the comparative degree. Therefore, Ellicott believes that this means that they stayed longer than originally intended. But because there was still time available, either because of quicker travel on the voyage to Israel than expected, or because they cut another stop short, they stayed on for a while.

The only time limitation that is known to be weighing on them is what it said in Acts 20:16 –

“For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.”

Therefore, even if they stayed with Philip longer than intended, as long as they had time to spare before the short trip to Jerusalem, it was of no great matter. It is during these “many days” that “a certain prophet came down from Judea, by name Agabus.”

This Agabus is probably the same prophet by that name was first seen in Acts 11. At that time, it was said that he had come down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Now, it says that he has come down from Judea. Thus, it is highly probable that this is the same prophet again being drawn into the narrative.

Life application: We should be prepared to expect the unexpected. We don’t know what the future holds, and our plans are just that, plans. They may or may not come to pass. If you are in the Lord and living in accord with His word, then wherever you are – regardless of whether your plans are coming about – the Lord has you exactly where He needs you to be.

It may not be comfortable for you, or the changes that come up may be surprisingly nice. But it is where you are, so make the best of it. Throughout the book of Acts, people make plans, and they don’t always come out as originally intended, but time has gone on, and the lives of these people came out in the way God knew they would.

If you can have this attitude when plans get changed or frustrated, you will be much better off in your own mind. Don’t become discouraged but look for opportunities that may have been placed in your path. You are the Lord’s, so have the proper attitude about the situation you are in. He has you there for a purpose.

Lord God, help us to be content in the situations we find ourselves. We make plans, but ultimately it is Your will that we need to be obedient to. If we are living in accord with Your word, then we are in Your will. May we find peace, joy, and contentment in that. Amen.

Bridge. Fancy. 1 each.

Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. Acts 21:9

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 reads, “And to him were four daughters, virgins, prophesying” (CG).

In the previous verse, it noted that Paul and his companions departed and came to Caesarea. There, they entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven. Now, that continues, saying, “And to him were four daughters.”

The verb is imperfect, signifying that it was ongoing and indeterminate in duration. It cannot be implied that this was their permanent state. As for Philip, he was an evangelist. He held the duty of “preaching the full message of Christ’s salvation” (HELPS Word Studies). Having four daughters meant he had a wife.

Therefore, this is contrary to the false doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that those who are in such a position were to remain celibate. This is obvious from Paul’s pastoral epistles, but it is a valid point of doctrine that is substantiated here and elsewhere. Of his daughters, it next says that they were “virgins.”

Luke takes care to mention this. Therefore, it has a bearing on their state. Otherwise, it would be a pointless addition to the context of his note. Being virgins, they were still living in his house, awaiting the time when they would be married. If they never married, they would remain in his house. The matter would have been decided as families determined such things at the time and within the culture. Finally, Luke notes that they were “prophesying.”

This is not unique in Scripture. It is something that several women of the Old Testament did. Deborah, the Judge of Israel, was a prophetess. A married woman named Huldah, the wife of the keeper of the wardrobe, was noted as a prophetess in 2 Kings 22:14. These and others were noted as having this ability.

It is, however, noted in 1 Corinthians 14 that women (or wives, the word can mean either) are to remain silent in the churches. It may be that being noted as virgins provides an exception to the prohibition of 1 Corinthians. But their prophesying cannot extend to teaching or having authority over men. That is explicitly forbidden in 1 Timothy 2:11, 12.

Further, Paul’s words concerning the selection of elders and deacons in the pastoral epistles are directed to males only. There is no provision in Scripture to allow for the ordination of women. Thus, Luke’s words here must bear these limitations. These women prophesied. Nothing more can be gleaned from the narrative.

The coming verses will mention another man who will prophesy over Paul. What he says is very clearly recorded by Luke. Such is not the case with these four daughters of Philip. Therefore, their ability to prophesy obviously did not include the matter that would be brought forth by him.

What is possible is that Luke’s note concerning these women is a generous acknowledgment of their ability to pass on what has already been received by Philip. This would be similar to the first noted woman to prophesy in Scripture, Miriam, the sister of Moses. In Exodus 15, it says –

“Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. ²¹ And Miriam answered them:
‘Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!’” Exodus 15:20-21

Miriam’s prophesying was not her own words but those already given by Moses –

“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
‘I will sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider
He has thrown into the sea!’” Exodus 15:1

In the case of these four daughters, it is best to take the most conservative view of their words, keeping them also completely in line with what is elsewhere stated as doctrine for the church.

Life application: Q: Is this verse prescriptive or descriptive? It is a descriptive verse that sets no doctrine forth for the conduct of the church.

These words, along with scattered other verses in the Bible, are incorrectly used at times to justify women preachers and “prophetesses.”  In doing this, one must completely disregard the prescriptive and authoritative writings of Paul. Further, context is necessary to understand what is going on. Outside of this descriptive verse, there is no additional context to justify women instructors or preachers with authority over men in a New Testament context. Rather, exactly the opposite is the case.

If one is to logically claim that the words of this verse mean that women today also are entitled to prophesy as these girls did, then the entire description of them must be considered applicable. Luke was careful to note that they were the daughters of an evangelist. Therefore, only the daughters of an evangelist would meet the requirements.

Next, he takes special care to note that they were parthenoi, virgins. Therefore, that must be applied as a required standard. As such, it would mean that this ability only applies to virgins. As they were not married, they also wielded no authority over a man. Should they marry, they would then fall under the authority of their husbands. Luke is being careful to show that their role in no way contradicted what Paul was already teaching concerning women.

These daughters prophesied because they were, at least for a season, set apart as virgins to prophesy. This was probably to other women while Philip was conducting evangelism. There is no need to go beyond what is written here and assume that they held any other duties than those intended for women by women. Their status as virgins is what sets them apart as acceptable for ministry. Should their status change, it would mean a change in their life roles.

Finally, as no other gifts are listed, the most one could claim is that the gift of prophesying alone could be appropriated by virgin daughters of evangelists. This is not a verse that allows for women to prophesy in a congregation. It is not a verse that allows for teaching or having authority over men in a congregation. It is also not a verse that would allow for the ordination of women. None of these things can be deduced or appropriated by women from the words of this verse.

Lord God, help us to stay in the proper lanes as we travel on life’s highway. May we be careful never to take single verses out of their intended context in an attempt to justify what Your word elsewhere forbids. May we be obedient to the overall standards that prescribe our conduct as clearly revealed in Your precious and sacred word. Amen.

Bridge. Trees. Etc. Washington State.

Tuesday, 17 October 2023

On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Acts 21:8

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 reads, “And on the morrow, they about Paul having gone out, came to Caesarea. And having entered into the house of Philip, the evangelist – being of the seven – remained with him” (CG).

In the previous verse, the missionaries had completed their voyage from Tyre to Ptolemais. Having arrived there, they greeted the brethren and stayed one day with them. Next, it now says, “And on the morrow.”

It is the completion of the one day spent with the brethren in Ptolemais. At this point, various manuscripts read differently in the next words. In some, it says, “they about Paul,” meaning those who accompanied him on the journey. In other manuscripts, those words are not included.

If the words belong in the text, it is telling us that not everyone who is mentioned in the previous verse would continue the travel. Maybe some who had accompanied him to Ptolemais were staying there, or it may simply indicate that those they visited in Ptolemais would not be accompanying the team when they departed. Regardless, now that the missionaries were heading to Caesarea, those who were his companions on the journey continued the travel toward Jerusalem. That is seen in the words, “they about Paul having gone out, came to Caesarea.”

This is now Paul’s third recorded visit to Caesarea. His other visits were in Acts 9:30 and Acts 18:22. Once they arrived in Caesarea, it next says, “And having entered into the house of Philip, the evangelist.”

It is the first of three times the term “evangelist” is seen in the Bible. The other two times are in Ephesians 4:11 and in 2 Timothy 4:5. It indicates one who shares the good news, meaning the gospel. More specifically, however, it is the person’s vocation. This then would include preaching the entire message about salvation in Christ. In Ephesians 4, it says this, demonstrating that evangelists are an integral part of what God has ordained in order to meet the goals of the church –

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16

Of Philip, it says, “being of the seven.” This is referring to the seven chosen deacons of Acts 6. After being a deacon, he was part of the dispersion after the death of Steven in Acts 8:5, having gone to Samaria to preach the gospel there. Later in Acts 8, he was the one told by the angel of the Lord to preach to the Ethiopian eunuch. After that, Acts 8 finished with these words –

“But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.” Acts 8:40

As for their arrival at the house of Philip, it next says that they “remained with him.” The duration of the stay is not stated, but they will eventually leave the area in verse 21:15.

Life application: It is the duty of every Christian to share the gospel. However, only some make it their full-time vocation. It is a calling of the Lord, and when He calls, He will supply what is needed for the person to accomplish his mission. This was true of Philip. It should be noted, though, that Paul was present at the time of Stephen’s death, condoning his execution.

The meeting here between Paul and Philip shows that truly all things are new in Christ. Philip fully received Paul as an apostle. His work as an evangelist would not make any sense if he preached forgiveness and salvation through Christ, but he then failed to forgive Paul himself. There is new life in Christ.

Even if you are not an evangelist, if you are a believer in Christ, it is your ever-present duty to tell others about your faith in Him. If not you, then who?

Glorious God, help us to forgive what should be forgiven. Help us to speak what should be spoken. Certainly, this means that we should never withhold the news about the love You have displayed in the giving of Your Son for our sins. Help us to be bold and to speak. May it be so to Your glory. Amen.