Acts (Written)

Salt Lake City

Thursday, 18 August 2022

And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. Acts 9:34

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).

The previous verse told of Aeneas who was bedridden for eight years, being paralyzed. Now, Luke continues with, “And Peter said to him.” Nothing has been said about this man being a believer. Rather, all it said was that Peter “came down to the saints in Lydda” in verse 32. Without any definitive answer to this either way, it continues with the words of Peter, saying, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you.”

Peter addresses him by name and then notes the Source of the healing. It is “Jesus the Christ.” The article is appropriately rendered here. Jesus (Hebrew: Yeshua) was not an uncommon name at the time in Israel. Therefore, to definitively identify Him, Peter calls Him “the Christ,” meaning “the Messiah.”

This is not unlike the account in Acts 3 where the man lame from birth was healed –

“Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’ ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” Acts 3:6, 7

Notice the differences though. In Chapter 3, Peter called him Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Being in Jerusalem, it would have been well known that Jesus of Nazareth was believed to be the Messiah by many. Therefore, to ensure that He was definitively identified, the place He was known to herald from was given. Here, that is unnecessary as someone in Lod would probably have no idea about where Jesus was identified with.

Instead, He is called Jesus the Christ. Secondly, nothing is said of Peter grabbing him and helping him up. The man had been bedridden for eight years, not his whole life. So, Peter knew that he would know what it was like to be strengthened in his legs and to walk. Therefore, he simply gives the command, saying, “Arise and make your bed.”

The command for healing has been given, and a command to prove the healing and its long-term effects is stated. The idea is that not only is Aeneas healed, but that the bed was no longer needed except for times of sleeping. Hence it is to be folded up and taken away as a testament to the event. With that stated, it next says, “Then he arose immediately.”

Aeneas must have felt the strength return to his legs and so without a moment of hesitation, he arose. It can be assumed that he immediately took care of his bed as directed and was happy to do so.

Life application: Nothing about the mental state of Aeneas is given. This is unlike what is recorded concerning the healing by Paul in Acts 14. There it says, “Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, ¹⁰ said with a loud voice, ‘Stand up straight on your feet!’ And he leaped and walked” (Acts 14:9, 10).

The information concerning Aeneas was already supplied in the previous verse where it says of Peter, “There he found a certain man named Aeneas.” The indication is that something transpired between the two because, in this verse, Peter called him by name. Both men were at least prepared to be healed by the words of Peter or Paul.

What can be certain, however, is that if Aeneas was coming to faith, that faith came in full upon his healing. But what if Peter never was called to heal him? What if he left and Aeneas remained upon his bed? Would his state be something that proved God didn’t care? The answer is, “No.”

The healing of our physical bodies is a great thing. This is why we go to doctors. But a person who is permanently disabled is loved by God in the same way as someone who is whole. What God desires is a right heart within.

God is often glorified through sickness. Our weaknesses and failings allow us to rely on His grace. Also, our testimony of patience in suffering can actually lead people to want to know why we have such faith.

Such things as these are found in Scripture and they show us that sickness, oppression, and even torture or death can be used by God for His glory. It is our faith in His hand upon our lives that He is most pleased with. In the end, we shall receive a reward for this. As believers, we have a sure hope in Jesus Christ. Our faith in Him will receive its reward in due time. And so, let us be people of faith.

Lord God, help us to accept suffering, affliction, trials, and the like with grace. And we know already, because Your word tells us it is so, that Your grace is sufficient for us. We can live with a thorn in our flesh, but it will never be something that can remove Your hand of grace from upon us. Thank You that we are secure in Christ! Amen.

Utah mountain.

Wednesday, 17 August 2022

There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. Acts 9:33

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).

The previous verse saw Peter going throughout the country and eventually came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. Now, Luke continues, saying, “There he found a certain man named Aeneas.”

This is all that is stated about the meeting between the two. He may have been in the streets, he may have been staying with a believer, or he may have been in a house where Peter stayed the night. He may not have been a believer at the time. If he was, Luke probably would have called him a brother. However, Luke may be simply tying him in with “the saints” of the previous verse. Despite this, it is certain that he has been told about Jesus already because, in the next verse, Peter will call him by name, implying they have already conversed.

The meaning of his name, Aeneas, is hard to pin down. It may be a Greek name, coming from the verb aineo, meaning to tell about or speak of. Or it may be from the adjective ainos, horrible. Charles Ellicott states –

“The Greek name (we note the shortened vowel Ænĕas of the later form of the word), perhaps, implies that he belonged to the Hellenistic section of the Church. Had the fame of Virgil’s poem made the name of the Trojan hero known even in the plains of Palestine?”

There is the possibility, however, that his name comes from the Hebrew noun ‘ayin, fountain, or eye. With these various possibilities, it is unsure what the meaning of his name actually was, but it was likely tied to one of these roots. Therefore, the meaning may be Praise, Horrible, or Man of the Well (Fountain). Of him, Luke next says, “who had been bedridden.”

Rather, it is a present participle. He was “lying on his bed.” Luke continues to provide the narrative as if it is happening as if we are watching. The word translated as bed, krabattos, signifies the mattress of a poor man, showing that not only was he confined to a bed, but that he was financially ruined as well. And this had continued on for “eight years.”

As usual, Luke is very careful to provide the details in an exacting manner. The words are not unimportant because they discount any hint of deception as might otherwise be the case with a charlatan. This man had lain on a poor bed, unable to rise at all for eight years. Anyone who knew him or saw him would know this to be a fact. Luke then adds in a medical note, saying, “and was paralyzed.”

It is a word, paraluó, found twice in Luke, twice in Acts, and once in Hebrews 12 –

“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:12, 13

It comes from two words signifying “to loose beside.” As such, it can mean either paralyzed or enfeebled. In this case, it is most likely paralyzed simply because he was bedridden for eight years, but it could be that he just couldn’t rise because he had permanently torn his quad muscle while on a vacation. As such, he just lay helpless. Whatever the reason, Luke’s description is sufficient to explain that the man was incapable of proper functioning.

Life application: The miracles of the Bible always have a reason. One is to bring glory to God. Another is to validate the ministry of the individual who is performing the healing. The miracles that are performed never have the purpose of enriching or making well-known and famous those performing them.

Further, there is no longer a need for such miracles because the Bible is written. It stands as the witness and testimony to the validation of the ministry of Jesus and those who were appointed by Him. As the Bible says that we live by faith and not by sight, that is an indication that those miracles that do happen now are miracles that require faith to believe.

In other words, we do not need faith to believe a true healing like Aeneas if we see it. We would have known him, seen his condition, and then seen his healing. We would, therefore, have no reason to disbelieve.

But if we have a person who is in need of healing and we pray for it and it occurs without a showy display by a charismatic preacher, we will have to have faith that it was our prayers that brought it about. As Hebrews says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Nobody should ever try to dismiss the miraculous. If God wants to heal, He can and He will. And this is what we are to pray for. But let us not get duped into the fake miracles, signs, and wonders of those who are looking to profit off of such things. Be wise, be circumspect, and be ready to pray for God’s hand to perform the miraculous. If it comes about, have faith that He heard your prayers and has responded accordingly, thanking Him for His goodness.

Glorious God Almighty, thank You for the hope we possess in You because of the work of Jesus. We have a hope that You can and do heal in this life, but that You may not choose to do so for Your own reasons. But this life is short, and so we know that the true and everlasting healing lies not too far off. Someday, things will be perfect, and they will be so forever. May that day be soon! Amen.

Hay! Hay, hay!

Tuesday, 16 August 2022

Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. Acts 9:32

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).

The previous verse told of the peace and edification of the believers in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. They were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit while being multiplied. With that remembered, the narrative now returns again to Peter. “Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country.”

Rather than “went,” the verb is a present participle. He was passing through all parts of the country. Luke is describing it as he is going. As for the traveling itself, it can be inferred that this is what the apostles did, both from the previous verse where the content and expanding nature of the church were noted as well as from Galatians 1 where Paul noted that he only saw Peter and James the Lord’s brother.

The inference to be made is that the apostles traveled about Israel strengthening the churches and instructing them while using Jerusalem as their home base. Peter is now doing this, carrying his knowledge of the Lord throughout the land. During this trip, it next says “that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.”

Of this town, Albert Barnes (1798-1870) notes the following –

“This town was situated on the road from Jerusalem to Caesarea Philippi. It was about 10 or 12 miles southeast from Joppa, and belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. It was called by the Greeks Diospolis, or city of Jupiter, probably because a temple was at some period erected to Jupiter in that city. It is now so entirely ruined as to be a miserable village. Since the Crusades, it has been called by the Christians George, on account of its having been the scene of the martyrdom of a saint of that name. Tradition says that in this city the Emperor Justinian erected a church.”

Today, Lod is considered a part of the Central District of Israel, being situated between the lower Shephelah on the east and the coastal plain on the west. In 2019, it had a population of a bit more than 77,000. It is a mixed city with about 30% Arabs. It is a major junction for roads and railways.

As for its biblical history, it appears four times in the Old Testament. Each reference is without any great specificity. Its name is defined by Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names as “Contention.” It is at this place that Peter has made a stop during his travels.

Life application: In Lod, Israel today there is a Greek Orthodox church. The closest Messianic synagogues noted on the map are in Tel Aviv. This means that the message of Jesus is sorely needed there. While you’re praying for the lost, be sure to pray for those in Israel. There they are, right in the middle of the land of the Bible, and yet the knowledge of Jesus is severely lacking.

The traditional orthodox churches are pretty much all rites and rituals, but there is generally little concern for, or even an understanding of, the gospel. Messianic synagogues are growing in Israel, but the Arab churches appear to be in a bit of decline. On the brighter side, there are Messianic believers that put out great music in Hebrew and there is a radio station that broadcasts from Israel.

With the internet available pretty much everywhere, there is access to sermons, studies, and music. Direct your prayers for the Lord to bring about those seemingly chance occurrences where a finger will push a wrong button and click on something Christian-related. Pray that something even as cumbersome as a flat tire or an accident might lead to someone meeting a believer who is willing to share his faith.

Just like in the other countries of the world, people in Israel need to hear about Jesus. Pray that the Lord will open those doors and bring the word to many.

Lord God, today we lift up the people in Israel – Jews and Gentiles alike. We pray that they will be curious about the biblical history of where they are and that they will seek out and find Jesus as they look. Make this the day where many wonderful meetings through time and circumstance will bring this about. According to Your wisdom, we pray. Amen.

Fun, fun, fun!

Monday, 15 August 2022

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. Acts 9:31

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).

In the last verse, Saul (Paul) was sent out from Caesarea to Tarsus. With him now sent off, the narrative continues with the focus on the immediate area, beginning with, “Then the churches.” Some manuscripts here identify it as one church – “And the church.” Either way, the individual churches form one church as long as they are under Christ, the Head. But the distinction between individual churches is not inappropriate and is seen throughout the rest of the Bible, even into Revelation where Jesus addresses the seven churches.

For now, these churches (forming one church) are found “throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria…” The land of Canaan, the original area of Israel’s land grant, is the main area of focus at this time. The words “had peace and were edified” should read “had peace, being edified.”

The first verb is imperfect and the second is a present participle. These things were happening, and the time of edification was a part of what resulted in the peace they experienced. Of this word, edified, Charles Ellicott says –

“The passage is noticeable for the appearance of the word ‘edified,’ or ‘built up,’ in the sense in which St. Paul had used it (1Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 14:4), as describing orderly and continuous growth, the superstructure raised wisely upon the right foundation.”

Along with that, it says, “And walking in the fear of the Lord.” Rather than being a new sentence, these words are a continued part of what brought the state of peace. Along with being edified, the churches were walking in the fear of the Lord. This speaks of a sense of reverent fear of the Lord, not a sense of terror or trembling fear. Just as a child is admonished by his father and he has a sense of respect for him, so the church is built up in the knowledge of the Lord, growing in a sense of respect and humility before Him. With that understood, it next says, “and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”

The word translated as “comfort” signifies “close beside.” Helps Word Studies says it “is used of the Lord directly motivating and inspiring believers to carry out His plan, delivering His particular message to someone else.” The context will decide what is being conveyed, whether it is a warning, an exhortation, an encouragement, etc.

In this case, and because it is tied in with edification and fear of the Lord leading to peace, it is probably a mixture of exhortation – meaning the words of the apostles building them up into a fuller knowledge of Christ, and encouragement – meaning a state of feeling secure, confident, and hopeful in the faith that was espoused to all of the believers.

In this state, it concludes with, “they were multiplied.” These words certainly mean the number of believers, but it may go beyond that to the state in which the believers existed. A small church that doesn’t have great growth can still be multiplied in knowledge and in their state of blessing. A large church with new members coming in all the time may have a love for the Lord, but may not have the same sense of importance concerning doctrine.

In other words, one may be multiplied in doctrine and instruction while the other is multiplied in people filling the seats. The words now do not limit the meaning and it is probable that they were being multiplied in both ways.

Life application: If one goes back to the previous verses, it almost seems as if the statements made in this verse came about because Paul was no longer among them. When he was there several years earlier, they were not in a state of peace. When Paul returned, they – at least at first – were wary of him. His zeal for the Lord also brought about difficulties with the Hellenists who then tried to kill him.

But their animosity toward Paul would naturally lead to that same feeling toward others who Paul identified with. As such, the Lord had Paul removed from the area in order for them to grow without him. This would give Israel a chance to accept this message or reject it apart from him. At the same time, he would be out among the Gentiles evangelizing them.

Eventually, it would be seen that Israel would not accept Jesus in the time allotted by God (see Luke 11:29-32). This was a period of forty years (a day for a year based on Jonah’s proclamation to Nineveh). By the time this period was over, the Gentiles would be ready to take the helm of carrying the gospel forward.

Everything finds its proper place, and God continues to work out His plans according to His infinite wisdom. We do not need to fret or fear that things are not working out as they should. They are. We just need to continue to trust that God is in control. He is doing things that we may not even realize. In the end, we will see the wisdom of it all.

Lord God, how precious it is to know that You are leading things. If it were up to us, it all would have fallen apart eons ago. But things are getting done because You are directing things to a good end. Help us to trust this when things don’t appear that way from our perspective. We have a sure place of trust in Your guiding hand. Thank You for that. Amen.

Utah mountains.

Sunday, 14 August 2022

When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. Acts 9:30

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 last verse revealed that the Hellenists had determined to kill Saul (Paul). With that, Luke now records, “When the brethren found out.” These words show that either Saul had already heard the threats and ignored them or that someone simply heard, and it became more widely known among the brethren.

The first option is not unlikely. Saul had a defiant streak in him that will be seen again and again in Acts. A good example of this is found in Acts 21 –

“And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ 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.”’
¹² Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’
¹⁴ So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, ‘The will of the Lord be done.’” Acts 21:10-14

However, the second option is also something that occurs elsewhere in Acts –

“And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ¹³ Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. ¹⁴ They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, ‘We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.’
¹⁶ So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, ‘Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.’ ¹⁸ So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, ‘Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.’” Acts 23:12-18

One way or another, the word concerning a threat to his life would get around and either Saul would ignore the danger, or he would have someone work on his behalf to get him out of it. In this case, it next says, “they brought him down to Caesarea.”

Instead of staying in order to continue to challenge these belligerent and threatening Hellenists, Saul leaves Jerusalem and travels to Caesarea. A trip from Jerusalem to anywhere else is always considered traveling “down.” As for the location, this is Caesarea Maritima which is a port by the sea. It was built by Herod the Great around 22-9BC. Its ruins are still there today including the great aqueduct and the amphitheater along with many other areas of note. A short video on the location that is well worth watching can be seen at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ71dph8qE8

Another point about these words, “and they brought him down,” is that Saul is almost always seen being conducted by others. This could be chalked up to simply protecting his life from the Hellenists. However, due to the frequency of such comments, it appears that Saul was not suited to traveling alone. Instead, when Acts is taken as a whole, it seems to appear that he required assistance getting from one place to another. Regardless of this, though, it was certainly a testament that they had accepted Saul and it validated that they believed he had truly become one of them. With that, it next says they “sent him out to Tarsus.”

This is where Saul was from, and it had now been an extended period since he had been there. A period of at least four years, and maybe more, had gone by since his being in Tarsus. The narrative will return to Jerusalem after this verse, but Saul’s time away is referred to by him in Galatians 1 –

“Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. ²³ But they were hearing only, ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ ²⁴ And they glorified God in me.” Galatians 1:21-24

While in Tarsus, he certainly would have evangelized others, and he went into these other regions as well. During this time, he probably took up his old source of employment which was making tents. It is something he could do anywhere, and it would pay for his travels as he went. During his time in Syria and Cilicia, he obviously had made converts. This can be deduced from Acts 15:41. There, it records details of the second missionary journey and refers to churches not mentioned on the first missionary journey –

“And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” Acts 14:39-41

It is probable that these churches were established by Saul before he is reconnected with the details provided by Luke in Acts.

Life application: Even when out of the main picture of Acts, it is seen through a careful study that Paul was always staying active in his evangelism. It is not uncommon to hear someone say today, “I just need to get away from it all for a while.” This is even seen among Pastors who take a “sabbatical” in order to unwind. Such a notion was unheard of to Paul. There was no unwinding but rather a constant focus on his life’s mission.

Paul evangelized while in prison. He evangelized while traveling. He evangelized at the synagogues on the Sabbath and to both Jews and Gentiles throughout the week. It didn’t matter where he was or what secondary thing he was engaged in, he was telling people about Jesus. With prosperity, we have forgotten what it means to be focused. When enough time for a vacation is earned, we drop every remembrance of what we have been focused on and redirect to time away. How blessed we are that we can do this, but how unfortunate if we don’t carry the message of Jesus along with us.

Regardless of where we are going and what other things we are doing, let us not forget to continue to let people know our allegiance to Jesus and then share why we hold to it. As we travel, we may be the only ones the people we encounter will ever talk to about Jesus. If not we, then who?

Lord God, how faithful You have been to us. We called on You when we heard the gospel, and You saved us. Now, it is our turn to tell others about this same wonderful message of hope. May we get about it and tell! People need to hear this good and precious news. So be with us and prompt us to do so. To Your glory! Amen.