Author: Charlie Garrett

Two streams of the sea and a big ship in the distance.

Friday, 13 October 2023

And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:4

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 verse more closely reads, “And having found the disciples, we continued there seven days: who were saying to Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem” (CG).

Paul and his fellow missionaries just arrived at Tyre where the ship’s cargo was to be unloaded. Next, it says, “And having found the disciples.”

This is a word peculiar to Luke – aneuriskó. It implies that a search was made, and then the disciples were found. The only other time it is used is in Luke 2:16, at the birth of the Lord when the shepherds came looking for Him.

Having to look for the disciples reveals a couple of things. First, there were probably only a few of them. Secondly, they were probably not Jews, or they were Jews who no longer attended the synagogue. Instead, they met privately. Otherwise, Luke would have given those details, as is often the case in Acts. With that considered, it next says, “we continued there seven days.”

As the narrative continues, it will note that they will board the ship. This certainly means the same ship that they had just arrived on. Otherwise, Luke would probably have said so. They had a full week in Tyre while the boat was being unloaded, and new supplies were being loaded. During this week, they would be to attend at least one meeting on the Lord’s Day.

During this week, Luke records of these disciples, “who were saying to Paul, through the Spirit.”

As for this advice, more might be inferred here than is necessary. The Holy Spirit is certainly who is being referred to. The word “who” is plural, but “Spirit” is singular. Hence, it is not their individual spirits. These disciples kept saying (the verb is imperfect) the same thing to him which was “not to go up to Jerusalem.”

Rather than a command not to go, it is reasonable to assume that they simply received a confirmation that Paul would face troubles. This is what will be seen coming up in verse 11. In verse 12, those who hear what is prophesied will plead with him not to go. The same thing is happening here.

These disciples at Tyre are adding in their own warnings to not go to Jerusalem. It is not likely that the Spirit directly warned Paul to not go and he then simply ignored the Spirit. This has already been confirmed to him in the previous chapter –

“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ²⁴ But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:22-24

Life application: Regardless of how the words of this verse are interpreted, one thing that is on prominent display is the doctrine of free will. The Spirit does not override the will of man in the sense that there is no desire or will to resist, even if He strongly compels the person at times.

There is a point that an individual will simply give up and do what he should have done all along. However, the fact that he did not do (or desire to do) what he should have from the beginning demonstrates that he has free will. This is seen, for example, in the prophet Jeremiah –

“Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.’
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.” Jeremiah 20:9

In his state of being compelled, Jeremiah could have jumped off a cliff and ended it all. Instead, he yielded to the will of the Lord, even if his own will wanted to rebel. The point of this is that we can either yield to the Spirit of the Lord or not. As the Bible is given under inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:21; etc.), it is incumbent on us to yield to the will of the Spirit by being obedient to the word He has given.

If we fail to do so, we are the ones who will suffer. God has spoken out His word. Those who have received Jesus are God’s people. Is the Spirit overriding our will as we stand in disobedience to His word? Your answer may depend on how you perceive what is happening in your life as God chastises you, but the answer is “No.”

Your free will means that the troubles that arise from disobeying His word are the result of your choices. Until this is understood, your walk before the Lord will not be sound. Learn the word, meditate upon what it says, and then apply to your life what you know you should do. In this, you will be pleasing to God. Don’t fight the Spirit by rebelling against the word of God.

Lord God Almighty, Your word is given to instruct us. Help us to understand this and to not rebel against what You have set forth in its precious pages. May we be willing to submit our wills to Your direction. In this, our walk will surely be pleasing to You. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

The sea is running in two different colors, Washington state.

Thursday, 12 October 2023

When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. Acts 21:3

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 having sighted Cyprus, and having disregarded it on the left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre. For there the ship was to be unloading the cargo” (CG).

The previous verse noted that the missionaries found a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, so they boarded it. That continues with, “And having sighted Cyprus.”

Luke, proving himself to be a marvelous chronicler, uses a technical term, anaphainó, to describe the sighting of Cyprus. This is a nautical term that means to appear, or literally “to bring to light.” The only other time the word is used is in Luke 19:11 in relation to the appearing of the kingdom of God.

With the island having been sighted, the sailors would then be able to fix their minds more perfectly on the route they were taking. Because of the limited technology of the time, navigation in those days was much more of a feel and less precise than it is today. Having sighted the island, it next says, “and having disregarded it on the left.”

The word is kataleipó. It means to leave, desert, abandon, etc. As the ship was bound for Phoenicia, a stop at Cyprus was not part of the plans. Therefore, they disregarded it as they passed it to their left. This means that they were in the open ocean rather than the channel that runs between Cyprus and the mainland.

As Paul passed, he probably reflected on the many people and events that he had come to know when he was there. He traveled there with Barnabas, met with Sergius Paulus, and was empowered to blind Elymas, the sorcerer, while there (see Acts 13). As his name Paul (Greek Paulus) was probably taken after having met with and converted Sergius Paulus to Christ, passing Cyprus may have opened a flood of other memories of his travels since then. After having passed by Cyprus, Luke next records, “we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre.”

It is reckoned that the journey, if having fair winds, would have taken about 48 hours from the departure from Patara. Tyre was an important trading city, having two harbors. The Pulpit Commentary notes that the harbors, one north and one south of the causeway, connected the island with the mainland. Luke next notes, “For there the ship was to be unloading the cargo.”

The word translated as “unloading” is found only here in Scripture, apophortizomai. It comes from apo (away) and phortizó (to load). Thus, it is the opposite of loading. They are taking away what they have brought and would then load up with other cargo for the next part of their travels. As will be seen, the ship will remain in port for about a week.

Life application: The KJV, following the Geneva Bible, says they “discovered Cyprus.” The word no longer carries the same sense it once did. Someone picking up such an archaic version might think these hearty missionaries were the first to know of the existence of the island. This is another good reason to read multiple translations. Words come into use and fall out of use quickly.

Translations that are more than one hundred or even fifty years old may have words that are no longer used, or the meaning may have changed so drastically that it is hard to know exactly what is being conveyed. Thus, a false sense of doctrine may arise.

Going back to the time of the KJV (1611) or the Geneva Bible (1587), the reader will have almost no idea what is being conveyed in many passages. For example, the Geneva rendering of this verse says –

“And whe we had discouered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, & sailed toward Syria, and arriued at Tyrus: for there the ship vnladed ye burden.”

The versions of the KJV that are used today are not close to the original 1611 version, but even they are often difficult to read. For example, the KJV revisions include the following years for the Cambridge edition: 1629, 1638, 1760, 1873, and 1900. The Oxford Edition is from 1769. Therefore, the most recent Oxford KJV is almost 250 years old. The most recent Cambridge edition is over 120 years old. A lot of change has come into the language since then.

Don’t be afraid to check out new versions, but when you do, be sure to read the preface and find out why they have made translational choices, what the intent of their translation is, and – if possible – check out the person or body that made the translation. There may be a doctrinal bias that you want to avoid with some translations.

Lord God, give us wisdom in searching out Your word. Help us to find translations that are faithful to the original and that are not following some perverse agenda that is intended to draw us away from the grace You have revealed in the giving of Your Son. Thank You for Jesus Christ and the grace found in Him! Amen.

Not ready for sailing.

Wednesday, 11 October 2023

And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. Acts 21:2

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).

To properly get the sense of the verbs, the verse should read, “And having found a ship passing over into Phoenicia, having boarded, we set sail” (CG).

In the previous verse, the missionaries departed from Miletus, ran a straight course to Cos, then to Rhodes, and then to Patara. With those stops complete, it next says, “And having found a ship passing over into Phoenicia.”

The need for a change of ship could be for several reasons. It may be that the one they had been on stopped at Patara for an extended stay. It also may have turned back, having reached the final leg of the journey it had planned. Or, it may have been a coasting vessel that would continue to skip along from port to port.

If so, by finding a new ship that would sail all the way to Phoenicia, the voyage would be cut shorter by quite a few days. It would sail across the open sea and directly to Tyre. Looking at a map, one can see that quite a bit of land is passed when taking this more direct vessel than a harbor hopper. Once they found a suitable ship, it next says, “having boarded, we set sail.”

The description of the sailing course will be described in the coming verse.

Life application: The choice of these missionaries to take the more direct route was because of Paul’s desire to be in Jerusalem by a set date. Taking this ship, rather than a harbor hopper, makes much more sense. Like their choice, in our lives, there is nothing wrong with setting goals and striving to attain them. In fact, living by the seat of one’s pants can often be a hindrance to achieving anything of real substance.

To meet a set goal, there normally needs to be specific planning of the target and the successive steps necessary to get there. The more detail in the steps, the less room for error there will be. However, one can plan something to the point where nothing ever gets done. That can be as much of a problem as having no plan at all.

The key to such things is balance. What is of the highest importance, and what can be left out of the details? From there, and with a plan set forth, all things should be accompanied by prayer. To set forth on a journey without prayer is arrogant. It lacks the notion that God is the ultimate Director of our lives.

We can make plans, but those plans can be easily frustrated by a simple slip on the first step of the journey. A slip, a fall, a chipped tooth and a broken leg, and all of the plans in the world will need to be tossed out the window. Proverbs says –

“Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.” Proverbs 37:5, 6

The obvious unstated words of the proverb are that the Lord will bring your plan to pass according to His wisdom, not necessarily your desired intent. But it will be what the Lord has ordained for you. This is also the intent of James’ words –

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ ¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16

Include the Lord in your plans. In so doing, you will do well.

Lord God, guide our steps at all times. We have plans and desires, but there is a greater plan that is being worked out in the world. You already know what will transpire. So may our lives be lived in accord with Your greater plan, even as we live out our lesser plans. May we not forget to include You in every step of this trek we are on. Amen.

Trees.

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. Acts 21:1

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 of the NKJV do not logically follow the Greek. It more closely reads, “And it was, at our sailing, having drawn away from them, having run a straight course from them, we came to Cos, and next to Rhodes. From there to Patara” (CG).

In the previous verse, the emotions of those gathered with Paul were described, and then they conducted him to the ship. With that remembered, Chapter 21 begins with, “And it was, at our sailing.”

The word for their setting sail has already been seen in Acts, but as a reminder, it conveys the idea of going up. In essence, the idea is to go up to the sea from the land. On the other hand, the idea of coming to land after a voyage is to go down to the land from the sea. With their departure upon the sea, Luke next records what that departure was like, saying, “having drawn away from them.”

The verb is apospaó. It signifies “away from” and “to draw” as in the drawing of a sword. The sense is that it was as if they were pulled away from those on the shore who were, in essence, still clinging to them. The emotion of the moment is reflected in the choice of words used by Luke. Once they were so drawn away, Luke describes the next three stages of the journey, beginning with, “having run a straight course from them, we came to Cos.”

This is the only time that Cos is mentioned in Scripture. Abarim notes, “It’s unclear where the name Cos originally came from, or even in which language it was conceived. But mythology held that it meant Number or Ratio.” Whatever its meaning, it was a straight run from Miletus to Cos. Luke then says, “and next to Rhodes.”

The name is also found only here in Scripture. It is from the same root as Rhodé, the maidservant noted in Acts 12:13. Thus, the name Rhodes probably means something like Place of the Rose. Finally, Luke records, “From there to Patara.”

Patara is also seen only here in the Bible. It was a town on the coast of the Roman province of Lycia. Abarim says, “The Greek name Patara is a transliteration of the original Lycian name Pttara, which in turn derives from the name of a mountain, namely Mount Patar, which is mentioned in the Hittite Yalburt Inscription, and which [in] turn appears to have been named after the Lycian word for basket, again patar (Lycia – Crossroads of Hittite and Greek Traditions? — Annick Payne).” Hence, they define the name as Basket(s).

Luke’s noting of the ship’s stops informs us that this was the common way of traveling. Ships would go from place to place with their commodities. Travelers would have taken advantage of it, just as Paul and those with him did. For the merchants, goods would have been loaded and unloaded, and possibly even postage might have been conveyed for a fee. Any travelers would also add to their profits.

Ellicott describes the three locations –

“Coos was famous both for its wines and its silk fabrics, of fine and almost transparent tissue; that Rhodes, then famous for its Colossus, was one of the largest and most flourishing islands of the Archipelago, and is memorable for us in later history as connected with the history of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John; that Patara was a harbour on the coast of Lycia. For this harbour the ship in which the travellers had left Troas and Miletus was bound, and they had therefore to look out for another. Happily there was no long delay, and they embarked at once on a merchant-ship bound for Phœnicia.”

Life application: Luke is quite meticulous in his record of the events as they occurred. The particular note of them being drawn away from Miletus shows the difficulty of the departure, but the quick and direct notes about the next three stops relieve that tension as the team gets drawn toward their next goal, which is to be in Jerusalem.

We can look at these events as we look at our own lives. We have connections here that cause us to want to hold on to them. We have family, friends, tasks that we enjoy, and so forth. However, as believers, we also have a heavenly home that is awaiting us.

For the normal course of life, we need to be drawn away from the earthly things and toward the promise of the New Jerusalem. In order for that to happen, God has set our lives to occur in a certain way. As we get older, we are drawn away from certain aspects of life. For example, our bodies no longer allow us to do certain things.

We also experience loss in various ways, drawing us away from other aspects of our lives. For example, we will lose our favorite pets, cherished things in various ways, and even those we love as time goes by.

These things are common to all people. The wise will understand that we must leave this world behind and set a straight course for our heavenly home. Of course, there is a time when this cycle will end, and the rapture will occur. But until that day, we should take our lives and the things that happen here in the context of a greater hope that lies ahead.

Let us not become overly distraught at the changes that occur. Instead, we can cherish the memories while still focusing on the glory that God has promised us in our future, eternal home. We are being drawn away from here to there. It is normal, and we should realize this as we continue along life’s often difficult path.

Glorious Lord God, thank You that a better and permanent home awaits us where we will no longer experience the trials and troubles that we currently face. Slowly, but surely, we are being drawn toward that glorious place. Help us to understand this process from Your perspective and to not fret over the changes we must face in this fallen and woeful world. Amen.

Some bull.

Monday, 9 October 2023

sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20:38

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 translation needs several tweaks to align with the Greek, “agonizing especially over the word that he had spoken, that they are about to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul knelt and prayed, all of those with him wept freely, and they fell on his neck and kissed him. With that, it now continues with the word “agonizing.”

Most translations simply say, “sorrowing.” However, there are other words that can be translated as merely being sorrowful. This one, odunaó, goes beyond that. It is used here for the last of four times. It signifies torment, acute pain, etc. This can be either physical or mental. HELPS Word Studies says it “literally means ‘go down’ (as the sun in a sunset) and refers to consuming sorrow.” They were agonizing of the moment, “especially over the word that he had spoken.”

Here, the NKJV follows the KJV and incorrectly says, “over the words which he spoke.” Rather, the noun is singular, and the verb is pluperfect. Paul has been speaking words. One particular thing he said is what they are truly agonizing over, and it was a word he had spoken back in verse 25, which is “that they are about to see his face no more.”

They were sure they were in the final moments of their earthly time together with the man who had brought to them the heavenly promise of life in Christ. The weight of the parting was so heavy upon them that they agonized over what it meant. He had always made himself available to them. If they had a question, he was there (or returning there sometime) to answer.

They could tap his mind, they could share in his presence, and they could rejoice with him in the Lord Jesus. This was about to end, and their pain was being magnified with each moment that passed. Therefore, instead of turning and parting from their meeting location, they held on to a few more moments with him. As it says, “And they accompanied him to the ship.”

They would see him off rather than him seeing them off. Their journey back to Ephesus could wait a few more moments because they were the last moments they would ever share together. Of this account, the Pulpit Commentary says –

“It is impossible to part with this most touching narrative, of such exquisite simplicity and beauty, without a parting word of admiration and thankfulness to God for having preserved to his Church this record of apostolic wisdom and faithfulness on the one hand, and of loving devotion of the clergy to their great chief on the other. As long as the stones of the Church are bound together by such strong mortar, it can defy the attacks of its enemies from without.”

Life application: If you knew this was the last moment you would share with someone you love, would you take an extra moment to hug, say words of care, letting him or her know how you feel about their presence? The fact is that you never truly know when it will be the last time you will see that person.

Therefore, it is right to consider each person you care about, and be tender and gentle to them at all times. Life is short, and each person we meet will perish in time. Or we may be the one who goes first. Hold fast to this thought and let it guide your steps, knowing that the time of departure is at hand.

And how much more should we consider this with those who have not called on Jesus. Be sure to tell them about the hope you possess and pray for them as well. It’s important. Eternity is forever, but this life is a passing vapor.

O God, give us wisdom to live our days rightly, redeeming the time and understanding the brevity of our walk before You. Help us to consider this and to conduct our affairs properly before You all our days. May our end not be one of regret, but of satisfied happiness that we have lived our lives well before You. Amen.