Author: Charlie Garrett

Ceiling of State House. Washington State Capitol.

Sunday, 25 June 2023

After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. Acts 18:1

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).

Note: The order of the words in the NKJV doesn’t follow the Greek. It should read, “And after these things, Paul having departed from Athens came to Corinth” (CG).

Paul has spoken at the Areopagus and a few converts were noted from his time there. Now, with that complete, Chapter 18 begins with, “And after these things.”

With his efforts complete, a new direction will now take place. Nothing is said of the length of time he was in Athens, but whenever it was time to move on, Luke next records, “Paul having departed from Athens came to Corinth.”

Depending on where he started from and arrived at, it was about fifty miles by land. Thus, it would take about two days to make the trip. If he sailed, it would have been a day’s journey. At the time of Paul, it was a Roman colony. There was a synagogue there and it was a city of great commerce. Verse 18:11 says that Paul stayed in this new location for a year and a half. Of the city, Albert Barnes states the following –

“Corinth was the capital of Achaia, called anciently Ephyra, and was seated on the isthmus which divides the Peloponnesus from Attica. The city itself stood on a little island; it had two ports, Lecheeum on the west, and Cenchrea on the east. It was one of the most populous and wealthy cities of Greece, and at the same time one of the most luxurious, effeminate, ostentatious, and dissolute. Lasciviousness here was not only practiced and allowed, but was consecrated by the worship of Venus; and no small part of the wealth and splendor of the city arose from the offerings made by licentious passion in the very temples of this goddess. No city of ancient times was more profligate. It was the Paris of antiquity; the seat of splendor, and show, and corruption. Yet even here, notwithstanding all the disadvantages of splendor, gaiety, and dissoluteness, Paul entered on the work of rearing a church; and here he was eminently successful. The two epistles which he afterward wrote to this church show the extent of his success; and the well-known character and propensities of the people will account for the general drift of the admonitions and arguments in those epistles. Corinth was destroyed by the Romans 146 years before Christ; and during the conflagration several metals in a fused state, running together, produced the composition known as Corinthian brass. It was afterward restored by Julius Caesar, who planted in it a Roman colony. It soon regained its ancient splendor, and relapsed into its former dissipation and licentiousness. Paul arrived there in 52 or 53 ad.”

As noted by Barnes, the church at Corinth will be the recipient of two epistles. The state of the city reflects the state of the church that sprang from it. There were many problems that had to be addressed and corrected, but Paul’s love for those at Corinth is perfectly evident in his words to them.

Life application: Paul tirelessly moved from one place to the next, understanding where he was needed or when he had accomplished his mission. For whatever reason, his time in Athens was short. On the other hand, he will spend a considerable time in Corinth. We may not leave our own area for evangelizing, but we can still look for opportunities in our area that will be fruitful. However, there is also nothing wrong with consistency.

Just because there is not a lot of fruit evident in a particular area, it does not mean you are not having an effect. Faithfully showing up on a regular schedule brings a familiarity of your face to those you interact with. Eventually, they are going to have the troubles and trials that all people run into. At those times, they are more likely to reach out for advice or help. This can take many months or even years, but it is likely to come.

From there, and depending on how things turn out, others will see the outcome and the ball can begin to roll. Growth in converts can increase quickly at such times. But it took faithful consistency for it to come about. If you are looking to minister to others, talk to the Lord about your efforts and ask Him to direct you. Be patient and yet be forward enough to ensure those you encounter are aware of why you are doing the things you are doing.

Nothing you do for the Lord will go unrewarded by Him. So just keep at it, remembering that if you are doing what He would expect of you, that He is pleased with your efforts.

Lord God, sometimes it may seem like our wheels are spinning and we are not getting any traction in our spiritual life. But if we are pursuing You and doing what You would approve of, then it must be acceptable to You. And so, Lord, help us to contentedly press on with our efforts. Direct our steps according to Your wisdom and be glorified in how we serve You. Amen.

More of House Chambers. Washington State Capitol.

Saturday, 24 June 2023

However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:34

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).

More appropriately, the verse reads, “But some men, having joined him, believed: among whom also, Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman by name Damaris, and others with them.”

The previous verse noted that Paul had gone out of the midst of the Areopagus. The meaning was that he no longer was in the place of speaking, not that he had left the forum entirely. The results of his words were a bit of mocking while some wanted to hear him again. However, there were some who were more profoundly affected. That is seen in the next words, “But some men, having joined him, believed.”

The word translated as “joined,” is kollaó. It signifies to cling to or adhere to. Thus, it would be to stick like glue. HELPS Word Studies notes it is used “frequently in ancient medical language of the uniting of wounds.”

It is a touching scene. These people had probably been to the Areopagus many times, sitting and listening to one philosopher after another step forward and present his thoughts on creation, existence, the state of man, the afterlife, and so forth. And yet, they sat listening, unaffected by what they heard. They could see through the vain babblings, knowing that things just didn’t fit with what they could instinctively know or logically deduce about the operation of things around them.

And yet, when Paul stepped forward to speak, they suddenly came alive in their spirit. That came by the simple act of belief. What does the word say? Paul explains it in Ephesians 1 –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

Those now being referred to in Acts 1) heard the gospel of their salvation, 2) believed, and therefore, 3) were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. They came alive in Christ and they knew that the words had changed them. In their excitement, they clung to Paul, certainly with the greatest of joy.

One could argue that the gospel, as stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4, was not properly presented. But this is not so –

Christ died for our sins. Paul has noted that God overlooked the times of ignorance. The meaning is that what was done was wrong in God’s eyes. It was sin, even if that was not responded to by God in judgment. Paul noted that the people needed to repent of their ignorance, but he tied that in with Christ’s death. He did not need to explicitly say this because it is inferred in the words, “He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). If Christ was raised from the dead, it meant that He first died. If He died, there was a purpose for that death.

Even if Paul did not explicitly state these things, those who listened to him were able to sufficiently deduce from what he was saying that God had made an avenue to reconciliation with Himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But more, it is possible that Paul explicitly said these things and Luke simply didn’t record every word Paul said, rather focusing on the main lines of thought. It would be an argument from silence to say otherwise.

With the belief in Paul’s message confirmed in some of his hearers, it next says, “among whom also.” The reason for this is to show that his words were not limited to those who first asked him to speak, meaning the Epicureans and the Stoics. Though some of them may have believed, at least two are noted by name who were not of them. The first is “Dionysius the Areopagite.”

The name is derived from the Greek god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theater, also known as Bacchus by the Romans.

Ellicott notes, “As the constitution of the Court of the Areopagus required its members to have filled a high magisterial function, such as that of Archon, and to be above sixty, the convert must have been a man of some note.” Further, the Pulpit Commentary states –

“The earliest notice we have of him in ecclesiastical writers is the well-known one of Eusebius, ‘Eccl. Hist.,’3. 4, in which he says, ‘We are told by an ancient writer, Dionysius the pastor of the diocese of Corinth (ob. ), that his namesake Dionysius the Areopagite, of whom St. Luke says in the Acts that he was the first who embraced the faith after St. Paul’s discourse in the Areopagus, became the first bishop of the Church in Athens.’”

There are false writings ascribed to Dionysius that are known to be later forgeries. Along with him, it next says, “and a woman by name Damaris.” James Strong connects the name to the Greek word damazó, meaning to tame or subdue. Thus, he defines it as maybe meaning Gentle. Abarim defines it as Wife or Domesticated.

Chrysostom says in his writings that she was the wife of Dionysius. This is quite possible based on her name. It could be that she took the name Damaris to reveal her new nature under Dionysius. It would be a reasonable explanation for mentioning her by name. Not only was a member of the Areopagus a believer, but his wife also joined him in belief as well.

Along with these two, Luke next records, “and others with them.” These could be of the Epicureans and Stoics or others who sat around waiting to have their ears tickled. Rather than the ears being tickled, their hearts were pricked.

Life application: In reading the narrative, and then comparing it to Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8, there is no difference in the wording. It simply says, “Then Simon himself also believed.” The Bible does not level any other requirements on salvation than this. When the gospel is presented and someone believes, it means that the person is saved. It is not our job to go around questioning this.

However, it is our responsibility to speak to those who are not living in accord with the faith they profess. This is especially so in the church. When someone is obviously violating what is right and proper, it should be addressed. 1 Corinthians 5 speaks of this, giving an obvious example of how to handle the matter.

Let us carefully consider the goodness of God who saves us through the simple act of faith, and then may we be willing to maintain uprightness and purity of the faith among those we associate with. This is important for the continued health of the church.

Heavenly Father, it is wonderful to know that we are saved by grace through faith in the completed work of Christ. Thank You that we now have restoration with You. May we now do our part in living for You in sincerity and truth all our days. To Your glory. Amen.

Inside House Chambers. Washington State Capitol.

Friday, 23 June 2023

So Paul departed from among them. Acts 17:33

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).

As simple as the sentence is, the translation is lacking in three ways. It says, “And so, Paul went out from their midst.”

The previous verse described the mocking reaction of some of those who heard Paul. Others had said they would hear him again on the matter. With that, it next says, “And so, Paul.”

Some texts omit the word “And” and simply say, “So Paul…” The Greek text used by the KJV and the NKJV includes it, even if they failed to translate it. With that, it next says that he “went out.”

The word translated as “went out” means exactly that, to go or come in or out. Saying Paul departed, as with the KJV and NKJV, gives an incorrect sense of the matter. How long Paul remained at the Areopagus we don’t know. Another speaker may have taken up the center position while Paul retreated from it. What he did was to go out “from their midst,” not depart entirely.

This takes the reader back to verse 22, which said, “Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus.” But he was already at the Areopagus, having arrived there as stated in verse 17:19, “And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus.” Eventually, he was given the opportunity to speak to the forum. At that time, he went into the midst of them.

Now, it is not that Paul departed, but that he has moved out of the place of speaking. He could not have departed from among them because the words of the next verse would then make no sense.

Life application: Translation matters. This short sentence will not change the world if it is incorrectly translated, but it can give the mind an incorrect sense of the flow of movement of the apostle. Here are some variations in the translation of this verse. See how widely different they are and consider how each will affect your thought about what has taken place –

NIV – At that, Paul left the Council.
NLT – That ended Paul’s discussion with them,
BSB – At that, Paul left the Areopagus.
Holman CSB – Then Paul left their presence.
CEV – When Paul left the council meeting,
GWT – With this response, Paul left the court.
Mace New Testament – upon which Paul left the assembly.

ESV – So Paul went out from their midst.
Catholic Public Domain Version – So Paul departed from their midst.
NASB– So Paul went out from among them.
NKJV – So Paul departed from among them.
Weymouth New Testament – So Paul went away from them.
Amplified Bible – So Paul left them.
CSB – So Paul left their presence.
Worsley New Testament – So Paul went out of the assembly.
NET Bible – So Paul left the Areopagus.

CG – And so, Paul went out from their midst.
Haweis New Testament – And so Paul departed from the midst of them.
SLT – And so Paul went forth from the midst of them.
A Faithful Version – And so Paul went out from among them.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English – And so Paulus went out from among them.
ANT – And so Paul departed from among them.
GNT – And so Paul left the meeting.

New Heart English Bible – Thus Paul went out from among them.
Darby – Thus Paul went out of their midst.
BLB – Thus Paul went out from their midst.
Worrell New Testament – Thus Paul went forth out of their midst.

Depending on the source text, the Greek has either seven or eight words in it. Despite that, there are 27 different translations presented here. And this was only from checking 46 Bibles and having provided a personal translation. There are hundreds of versions that were not checked, each with its own nuances and translational preferences. If punctuation and capitalization were considered, there would be even more variations.

Some of these are so off that they are simply paraphrases. Others are incorrect in one way or another. And yet, most convey the sense well enough to be understandable. Don’t limit yourself to a single version of the Bible. Rather, read a version in the morning and one at night. When you finish, grab another and start over again. Take time to consider what you read each day and reflect on the precious word that God has given us. In all things, be sure to thank God for it. What a treasure it is!

Heavenly Father, You have allowed Your creatures to translate Your word. Quite often, we have done a sloppy job of that. And yet, You have allowed it. Help us to be studious and careful about what we accept until we have really checked things out. Be glorified in our study of Your precious word. Amen.

Inside State House. Washington Capitol.

Thursday, 22 June 2023

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” Acts 17:32

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).

Paul, while speaking to those at Athens, noted that God had appointed a Man through whom He would judge the world in righteousness. To confirm this was so, Paul noted that God had raised this Man from the dead. Having said that, Luke next records, “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead.”

There is no article before either resurrection or dead. Therefore, one must infer what is the best way of taking this –

• The resurrection of the dead
• A resurrection of the dead
• The resurrection of a dead
• A resurrection of a dead

As the adjective translated as “dead” is plural, the last two would seem to make no sense. One might assume from the plural that this is a resurrection of more than just the Man Paul has mentioned. And yet, Paul has not spoken of any resurrection beyond that of Jesus. Therefore, the plural may be a general way of expressing any resurrection at all.

Most translations go with the first, “the resurrection of the dead.” Several translations say, “a resurrection of the dead.” Only the Weymouth with a bit of a paraphrase for clarity says, “a resurrection of dead men.” Despite being a lone voice, this seems to be the intent. It is the thought of any resurrection at all that suddenly brings about a change.

Since verse 17:22, Paul’s words were going along without interruption, but now it says that “some mocked.” Rather, the verb is imperfect. More correctly, it says, “some began to mock.” In other words, it was at this moment that their attentive ears turned to interruptive jests, which is just what the Greek word implies.

One can see them raising their hands and casting them forward in a dismissive manner and shouting out, “Yeah, right.” If they had tomatoes, they would be tossing them at this point. This would have been most laughable to the Epicureans. In verse 17:18, Albert Barnes was cited noting that, “They denied that the world was created by God, and that the gods exercised any care or providence over human affairs, and also the immortality of the soul.”

Because of their presuppositions about such things, it would be especially incredible for them to accept the words of Paul. However, Luke continues, saying, “while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter.’”

The thinking of the Stoics was not especially opposed to Paul’s line of reasoning, although it was considerably different from what the gospel presents. In Acts 17:18, Barnes noted that they “prided themselves on their own righteousness.” As this is so, they may have been at least sympathetic to Paul’s words because he had just said in the previous verse that God “has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness.”

One does not need to pride himself in his own righteousness if there is no judgment for righteousness. Rather, if this life is all there is, then righteousness is a rather unimportant trait to pursue. Therefore, it is likely that the Stoics would at least be willing to consider the matter further.

Having said that, the logic of Paul’s argument was such that it could have touched anyone in a positive manner. His words were precise and carefully presented. Anyone willing to set aside what they think they already knew, soberly considering if what Paul said was possible, could be positively influenced by his words.

Those who were at least willing to entertain the possibility of a resurrection from the dead would also be willing to hear him again when the mockers had quieted down and departed for lunch.

Life application: Quite often when talking to others about God’s judgment or some other major doctrine that personally affects people, you will hear something like, “Well, I don’t believe that” or “I don’t think God would do that.” Without being argumentative or flippant, a good response to that is, “If it is true, then what we think doesn’t matter.”

God is God. He is sovereign over all things. He has the absolute right to judge His people and to dispense with His creation as He sees fit. People may mock the resurrection as the definitive proof of God’s impending judgment, but if it is true, their jeers will not change a thing. Paul writes about exactly this attitude in 1 Corinthians –

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’
²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

The cross is a sign that God is serious about judgment. The resurrection proves that judgment has either been meted out on Christ for those to whom it applies or that it lies ahead for those to whom it does not apply.

The gospel says that those who believe are imputed God’s righteousness and they are no longer the objects of His wrath. Those who do not believe remain under the sentence of condemnation. Therefore, if the resurrection is true, all the mocking and disbelief in the world will not change a thing. Use reason and logic with people as you talk to them. In the end, it doesn’t matter what we think. All that matters is what is true. People need to research the matter of the resurrection. It is the dividing line by which all humanity will be judged.

Lord God, You have done everything necessary to secure our salvation and restore us to You. May we never waffle on our presentation of the gospel. Rather, may we be bold and speak out the truth of what You have done. Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again. It was prophesied before it happened, it is testified to by reliable witnesses, and it is documented in Your word after it occurred. May we not fail to get this message out! Amen.

State House. Washington Capitol.

Wednesday, 21 June 2023

“because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31

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).

Paul just finished his words about the nature of God by saying that He “now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Paul now provides the reason for this, saying, “because He has appointed a day.”

The verb is not a participle. It simply says, “because He appointed a day.” In understanding the foreknowledge of God, it is known that the future is laid out before Him. The entire timeline of human history is known and events are set to occur at predetermined moments. God knew when the flood of Noah would commence. He knew the day He would part the Red Sea or appear on Mount Sinai before Israel.

The day Christ would be crucified was set by God. This is true with all things. There is nothing that God does not know will occur because He knows how all things will turn out. This includes a particular day “on which He will judge the world.”

The Greek more closely reads, “in which He is about to judge the world.” The word melló “signifies the very point of acting” (HELPS Word Studies). Understanding this, there are actually various days of judgment, all combined into the singular “day.”

There is the judgment of sin (the cross of Jesus) for believers when they believe the gospel. There is the Bema seat of Christ where believers will be judged for rewards and losses. There is the tribulation period where it is said in Revelation that judgment has come upon the world. There is the judgment of the nations where the sheep will be separated from the goats. There is the Great White Throne judgment of Revelation. These and other such judgments have been set by God and they will come about at the pre-appointed time. And this will be done “in righteousness.”

There is a set standard by which all things will be judged. That standard is the Lord God Himself. This is seen in Psalm 92:15 –

“To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Jesus referred to this in John 7:18 –

“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

Jesus was making a general statement about accusations levied against Him, but He was also proclaiming that His doctrine was not His own, but from God. Thus, the righteousness of the Lord is found in Jesus Christ. Paul, understanding this, next says that God’s righteous judgment will be “by the Man whom He has ordained.”

There is no article before “Man.” The words more appropriately read, “by a Man whom He appointed.” Paul defines the coming judgment as being brought about by a Man. He has not yet spoken directly of Jesus at the Areopagus, but he had spoken of him earlier as noted in verse 17:18. He is now proclaiming what God has done by appointing a Man, meaning the man he had previously spoken of, to accomplish His will.

The word translated as “ordained” or “appointed” is horizó. It is where our word “horizon” is derived from. If one thinks of approaching time as a horizon, with each moment, a new horizon is seen. Thus, it speaks of designated limits or boundaries.

God has “horizoned” every moment of time and thus all of the scenes and moments of life have been known to Him even before He created. As HELPS Word Studies notes, “This guarantees God works each in conjunction with His eternal purpose.” With this concept stated, Paul next turns to the proof that this will come about, saying, “He has given assurance of this.”

The noun translated as “assurance” literally means “faith.” But it is a set faith, not the act of faith. Therefore, it should read “an assurance.” God has provided the necessary evidence that what He says is true, reliable, and will come to pass. And that is confirmed by an assurance “to all.”

Humanity now has a witness that the God of Israel is the true God and that what He has spoken forth, as is recorded in the Scriptures, is true. As this is so, then all must pay heed. The sign has been given and it is intended that all people must pay heed.

This is why Paul, in just the previous verse, said that God overlooked the times of ignorance by all other nations. They did not possess the necessary revelation of God to necessitate His attention in a particular manner. However, with the coming of Jesus that is no longer the case. All men will be held accountable just as Israel was held accountable in the past. The necessary revelation of God has been provided and it now pertains to all people. He has proven this “by raising Him from the dead.”

Rather, being an aorist participle, it reads, “having raised Him out of the dead.” It has been accomplished and it is the necessary sign to all people that the judgment of God will come at its pre-appointed time.

Jesus said this to Israel –

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. ²² For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” John 5:21-23

He continues to express this thought again in John 5:24-30. The statement was made and in order for it to be an assurance that can be trusted, God confirmed His words by having raised Jesus out of the dead.

Life application: Everything about future history for the world is tied up in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If the resurrection is true, then it is the sure sign and confirmation to the world that what God has said elsewhere in Scripture – both before and after Christ’s coming – is true. If the resurrection is not true, then another path than what Scripture presents will come to pass.

As the judgment of the world in righteousness is said to be committed to Jesus Christ, then those who hear this message must decide whether they will accept it or not. But more, as believers have accepted that this message is true, and as it has been provided as the sign to the world of its need of Jesus’ salvation, then it is incumbent on the church to get this word out. Without Jesus, only condemnation will result. The sign has been given. It is the assurance to the world that God’s righteous judgment awaits.

Lord God, may we turn our hearts once again to our need to share with others the message of hope and redemption that is found in Jesus Christ. Without accepting Your offer of reconciliation through Him, only condemnation lies ahead. May our hearts be softened to the plight of the world and may we be ready to share the gospel with all before that day comes. Amen.