Author: Charlie Garrett

Marble work under the main dome. West Virginia Capitol.

Sunday, 21 January 2024

And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, Acts 23:34

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).

In the Greek, the words are full of participles, and the sentence remains incomplete until the next verse. More literally, it reads, “And the governor having read, and having asked from what province he is, and having learned that from Cilicia” (CG).

The previous verse told of the arrival of the Roman horsemen in Caesarea, where they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. That next continues with, “And the governor having read.”

One can imagine the situation. The soldiers, along with Paul, were conducted into the main area where the governor sat. The letter bearer would have come forward, probably not saying a word but simply presenting the letter. Then, he would have stood at attention while the letter was read. Once the governor read it, it next says, “and having asked from what province he is.”

Luke begins the clause with an aorist participle and then uses a present tense verb, thus bringing the reader right into the proceedings – “What is his status?”

The question as to where Paul was from would have been the normal way of validating jurisdiction and being able to ascertain more information about the person at hand. This is the same thing that occurs in Luke 23:6. In the US, it is common for a similar question to be asked, such as, “What state are you from?”

We are not told who gave the response. It only says, “and having learned that from Cilicia.” There are a couple of possibilities concerning his question. Cambridge says –

“Cilicia had been at one time, and perhaps still was, attached to the province of Syria. It was so in the time of Quirinus. This will explain why at once Felix without question decided that, at the proper time, he would hear the cause.”

If Cilicia was not attached to Syria, then a formal note would probably have been sent out for either permission to try the case or to determine what they wanted to do with the matter. On the other hand, Vincent’s Word Studies says that, rather than asking what province Paul was from, Felix’s words ek poias eparchias signify “from what kind of a province?”

In other words, Vincent’s Word Studies is stating that, in this situation, the word poios is intended to mean “of what sort,” not merely “which.” As such, he is trying to determine if the province is senatorial or imperial. Cilicia was an imperial province.

Life application: The question concerning Paul’s province may seem irrelevant to us until we consider that the same type of question is asked of accused criminals thousands of times a day. What was the crime? Where was it perpetrated? What is the citizenship of the person who committed it? What is the legal status of the person who committed it?

All of these things must be determined before someone can be properly processed and tried. If a person is from Japan, something is learned about him. If he is in the US on a student visa, something more is now known. If he came here illegally, on a green card, or with diplomatic privileges, it makes a difference in whether he can even be charged at all.

Luke is carefully recording what happened so that the status of Paul in the coming verses will be more properly understood. Seemingly unimportant details may be extremely important if someone wants to question the Bible’s authenticity. A person who is well-informed about how legal matters were conducted in the Roman empire at Paul’s time may say, “This isn’t at all how things worked. The Bible is wrong.”

But with Luke carefully presenting what occurred, such arguments can be laid to rest. Therefore, should you come across such accusations, be sure to not just accept them at face value. Rather, because commentaries have been faithfully composed covering every verse in Scripture, there is a good chance that you will find one that covers exactly what you are looking for.

So carefully has the Bible been studied that even the nuances of single words – their tense, gender, etc. – are carefully considered and commented on. Be sure that this word has been meticulously looked over and challenged. And yet, the brightest minds in history have concluded that this is, in fact, the sure word of God.

Heavenly Father, Your word is a gloriously constructed marvel of wisdom. It is presented to the world as a testament that You are truly working within the stream of time and human existence to reconcile man back to Yourself. Thank You for the elaborate and intricate detail of Your wonderful, superior word. Amen.

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.