Acts (Written)

Another state done.

Friday, 29 July 2022

And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” Acts 9:14

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).

Ananias just attempted to instruct the Lord on why Saul was not a great person in order to avoid laying hands on him. That continues now with this verse, saying, “And here he has authority from the chief priests.”

Again, he sounds like Moses who protested three times about why he was unqualified and unsuitable for the calling he had been given. Ananias explains that Saul isn’t just a loose cannon who is out causing trouble on his own. Instead, what he is doing is with the support and authority of the chief priests. It is as if he is saying, “The weight of Israel’s religious leaders is with him, Lord, aren’t you aware of this?” With this in mind, he then explains to the Lord that Paul’s commission is “to bind all who call on Your name.”

“Lord, that includes me! Why would you tell me to go heal someone who is intent on arresting me?” As for calling on the Lord, this is the same thought that began in Acts 2 with Peter, and it continues on through the writings of Paul, demonstrating that the message, calling, and audience are one –

“And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.” Acts 2:21

“Then all who heard were amazed, and said, ‘Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?’” Acts 9:21

“For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Romans 10:13

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

Since the coming of Christ, to call on the name of the Lord (Yehovah) is directly equated to calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. This is because Jesus is the Lord (Yehovah) incarnate. He is the full, final, and forever expression of God for us to see and understand. As this is so, calling on Jesus brings one into the church and thus into the kingdom that is referred to by the apostles. It is one calling for both Jew and Gentile. It is based on one gospel message that is given to both Jew and Gentile. This is what Scripture teaches. The church that began in Acts 2 goes on in a continuous stream from that point.

On the other hand, the main focus of that church is set to transfer because of Israel’s rejection of the Lord Jesus. This is the primary purpose of Paul’s ministry. It is not to give a new gospel or to start a new entity, but to bring into the fold a group of people who will carry the one and only gospel message forth for a set time, predetermined by God, until the nation of Israel finally accepts the One they had once rejected.

Life application: Reading the Bible with a presupposition about a particular doctrine will naturally lead to a bias against anything else, even if that “something else” is correct. One must be willing to put aside his biases (and his pride at having been wrong) and acknowledge what is correct. It is one of the hardest things to do, but it is something that should be done in order to properly align one’s thinking with what God is actually doing in the process of redemptive history.

Be sure to go where the Bible leads. If you are wrong, the only one who is harmed is you. God remains unchanged by your poor doctrine. Before calling on Christ, Paul’s doctrine was based on a lifetime of study and then a misunderstanding of what God had done. When Christ came, he was unable to accept what was clearly before him. It took a divine intervention by the Lord Jesus to wake him up.

Today, we will not get a personal visit from Jesus because we now have the completed word of God. But we often still stubbornly bang our heads against theological walls because we are unwilling to see what God has done and is doing. That’s a sad place to be. If you need to, take three days off, isolate yourself, and get into the word. Do a study on the issue that you are told you are wrong about and check it out. The answers for right thinking and correct doctrine are there.

Lord God, how marvelous You are to allow us to hold Your word, to consider it, and to search it out. But it is big, it is complicated, and there are a lot of people with false agendas that would lead us away from its truth. And so, O God, help us to see rightly what You are conveying to us in this wonderful treasure. Amen.

Dallas.

Thursday, 28 July 2022

Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. Acts 9:13

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).

Previously, it was seen that the Lord explained to Ananias that he was seen in a vision by Paul putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. The conversation now continues with, “Then Ananias answered.”

One might think Ananias would, without hesitation, agree to what he had been told. He is in a vision with the Lord. And more, he is being told by Him that he was to go do something that had already been revealed to someone else as an accomplished fact. It is straightforward and simple. It is clear and unambiguous. And it is the Lord Himself who is conveying the message to him.

But instead of simply saying, “Yes, Lord, I can do that!” He pulls a “Moses at the burning bush” and starts giving reasons why the direction of the Lord isn’t the right thing to do. This begins with, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man.”

The words, “I have heard,” indicate that Ananias had lived for an extended period in Damascus. He may have been visiting Jerusalem during the pilgrim feast right at the beginning of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 and became a believer at that time. In his return to his home after the feast, he had slowly become aware of the persecution those in Jerusalem were facing.

Further, the words also hint at the notion that he seems to think Jesus is unaware of what he knows. When taken with all that he is going to say, this first clause essentially says, “I’m sure you want me to do this, but I know other information about this guy that you are obviously unaware of. So, before I say, ‘No,’ I want you to know why.”

It really appears as if he thinks the Lord is somehow unaware of what is going on and so He needs to be brought up to speed on the matter. As such, Ananias continues, saying, “how much harm he has done to Your saints.”

The Lord is asking him to put his hands on Paul and heal him while Paul has been manhandling those he is aligned with. Jesus somehow missed this, and Ananias is giving him the necessary briefing to open the Lord’s own eyes so that he doesn’t have to open Paul’s eyes. The thought, though incredible to us now, appears to be just what is in the mind of Ananias.

It is of note that this is the first time since the establishment of the church in Acts 2 that the term hagios, “holy” or “saints,” has been used concerning the people of the Lord. There are a couple of points that can be deduced from this. The first is that Ananias says (and the Bible affirms) that they are “Your saints,” meaning saints of the Lord Jesus. Those who follow Him are regarded as being His people. As they are saints set apart to God as holy, then it – by default – means that Jesus is God.

Secondly, so far, the word hagios, has been used when speaking of the Holy Spirit, when speaking of Jesus (such as in Acts 3:14), when referring to “the Holy One and the Just,” when referring to the Old Testament prophets (see Acts 3:21), and of the holy place in Jerusalem (see Acts 6:13).

It is a term used by Paul of those he persecuted in Acts 26:10, and it is a word he uses time and again in his epistles when referring to people in the exact same context as Ananias now, meaning people set apart by the Lord in this new dispensation, the church age. It is another clear and unambiguous clue that the church began in Acts 2 and not, as many ridiculously claim, as having begun with Paul’s ministry.

Rather, the “saints” of the New Testament are saints because of the finished work of Jesus, not because of the preaching of Paul. For now, Ananias’ words end with “in Jerusalem.”

The persecution of the saints was centered on, but not limited to, Jerusalem. But by saying “in Jerusalem,” it appears to be a continued questioning of the Lord’s awareness of what was going on. It is as if he is saying, “Lord, this is going on right in your Holy City. Aren’t you aware of how detrimental and cunning this guy is? He is doing this right behind your back… right in Jerusalem!”

As odd, and even comical, as this might seem to us now, Ananias is much like Moses at the burning bush. He stated things that we can almost shake our heads in amazement at, wondering what he was thinking. But this shows us our inability to perceive the greatness of God.

Life application: How often do we question God about events happening around us? “Lord, don’t you see what is going on in the world today? Don’t you care?” “O God, why did my son get into this horrible accident? Weren’t you paying attention? For the rest of his life, he will be a cripple.”

Our questioning of God’s ability, caring, knowledge, love, etc. goes on and on. It is as if we can trust Him for the proper functioning of the planet, the solar system, the galaxy, and – indeed – an entire universe, but we cannot trust Him with the affairs of our own lives. He has it all under control until something negatively affects us.

However, this is not true. The disconnect is not with God, but with us. When things get out of whack, it is from our perspective. We are not God, but by calling into question His ability to properly conduct His affairs, it places us – not Him – at the center of focus. We are just a small part of a plan that has been going on since the day God created man on this earth. It is not all about us. Rather, it is all about Him and what He is doing through Jesus Christ to bring us back to Himself. Let us trust this. Let God be God, and may we accept that what is happening around us is not out of His knowledge or control!

Heavenly Father, surely You are in complete control. Even in a world that may seem to be spinning into complete chaos around us, You remain unaffected by it and completely aware of it. While we see turmoil, You see things working toward a good and proper end. Help us to have faith and to trust You through these trials. Amen.

Big blade. Whopping.

Wednesday, 27 July 2022

“And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Acts 9:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Ananias was told by the Lord to go to Straight Street, inquiring at the house of Judas for a Saul of Tarsus, noting that he would be praying. The Lord continues with His words now, saying, “And in a vision.”

The word translated as “vision” is the same word just used in verse 9:10 to describe the vision that Ananias is currently having. It is an interesting thought then that Ananias is having a vision explaining to him that another person has had a vision. If Ananias trusts his own senses, then he must trust what is conveyed in his vision, and therefore he must trust that the vision seen by Saul (Paul) was real as well. But Ananias has not yet laid his hands on him, despite the fact that Jesus says, “he has seen.”

It is an aorist verb. As such, it is an event that has occurred at a particular moment without regard to time, but Jesus is speaking of it as if it has occurred in a vision, meaning before the event actually takes place.

The vision which Saul had is now complete in Saul’s mind as stated by Jesus, and yet it has not yet actually occurred in the stream of time. That is evident from the continued words of the verse. It shows that Christ is transcendent over time, and He has the ability to call it back from the past or to project it from the future.

As this is the case now, it really doesn’t matter if the time is short, such as in a few hours, or if it spans millennia. It demonstrates that Christ is “above” time and thus can operate “outside of” time. As such, His appearance in Genesis 18 or Judges 13 is just as possible as it is within a short time between His appearance to Saul and then Ananias. And more, His knowledge of the future events referred to in Revelation are equally possible. Understanding this, His words continue, saying, “a man named Ananias.”

Jesus tells Ananias that Saul’s vision includes him and that after arriving at Saul’s location, the vision will have been a past event. In this vision, it will be of Ananias “coming in and putting his hand on him.”

The verbs are aorist participles. It rightly says, “having come and having put his hand on him.” It is not known when Saul received the vision. For all we know, it could have happened at the same moment that Ananias had his. Or it could have been before it or as Ananias is on the way to the house. But by the time he arrives, Saul will have seen the the vision.

Because of this, it would then allow him to know with absolute certainty that what transpired was of the Lord and not of human effort. The Lord will be the Source and Power behind what happens, whereas Ananias will simply be the means by which it is carried out. The laying on of his hands will be the mode by which it occurs. Ananias is to do this to Paul “so that he might receive his sight.”

The translation is correct. The verb is subjunctive. It is a hypothetical event. The laying on of the hands is what will bring about the reality of what is, at this time, merely a possibility. Ananias is being informed that he is the one to carry out what is needed for Saul to have his vision restored.

One can assume that if Ananias didn’t do this, the vision Saul had would be proven false. In other words, if someone named Harry showed up and laid his hands on him and his sight was restored, it would not be a miracle of the Lord, but a healing by Harry because the Lord’s vision for Saul was that Ananias would do it. Everything about its miraculous character would suddenly be called into question.

If Harry knew Saul’s medical condition, he could come in and show himself to be a great healer and that a naturalistic explanation is sufficient. Or he could claim to be a man of God by healing Saul and profit off of the situation personally. Everything must occur as is seen in the vision. As it will, then it demonstrates the Lord’s absolute knowledge of the matter and His sovereignty over time and the events that take place.

Life application: In Amos 9, it says when speaking of the people of Israel –

“’I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.
¹⁵ I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,’
Says the Lord your God.” Amos 9:14,15

Either this is true, or it is not. As this has never taken place, because Israel has been uprooted in the past and is only now back in the land of Israel, then either it must continue to take place into the future, or the Bible is not the word of God.

Prophecy is a part of Scripture that either proves or disproves its veracity. If the prophecies of the Bible are not true, then the Bible is conveying a false message. As this is so, then we can look to the prophecies of the Bible that have been fulfilled, and we can then be confident that what is promised into the future will also be fulfilled. Essentially, God has placed His integrity on the line for us to check and see if what He says is true.

He has done this so that we can know. He has done this so that we should know. He has done this so that we are without excuse for not knowing.

Let us be confident in the word as it continues to unfold as prophesied within the stream of time. It has validated itself and it continues to do so to this day.

Lord God, thank You for the surety we possess because of the reliability of Your word. It proclaims the future, and then the events come to pass as You have spoken. As this is so, we can confidently continue to hold fast to the promises that lie yet ahead, knowing that they will occur. And those promises, because of Jesus our Lord, are great indeed! Hallelujah and Amen!

That’s a pretty whopping fan blade.

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. Acts 9:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Ananias’ calling by the Lord Jesus has been noted. His instruction concerning that calling now begins with the words, “So the Lord said to him.” These words are now given in response to Ananias’ answer, “Here I am, Lord.” As he has acknowledged the Lord’s call, the Lord will now give him direction by saying, “Arise.”

The verb is an aorist participle. It should read, “Having arisen.” It is telling us that Ananias may have been lying down in bed when he received the call, hence it may be a vision not unlike that spoken by Job –

“For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
¹⁶ Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.” Job 33:14-16

Daniel refers to visions while on a bed several times as well. It is also possible that Ananias fell to the floor once the Lord appeared to him. But nothing is documented concerning that, which would be normal for Luke to record. Either way, however, Jesus is speaking to him in sequence. First, “Having arisen,” and then (omitting “and” which is not in the Greek text) “go to the street called Straight.”

The street called Straight is still in Damascus today. Damascus was redesigned during the Greek period by a man named Hippodamus, giving it a grid structure. The street called Straight was 1,500 meters long, extending across the city. It is the longest of the streets on this grid. There is the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus on Straight Street which was built in the 2nd century. Since then, it has been rebuilt multiple times, and it presently is known as the seat of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. It is to this street that Ananias is directed to go “and inquire at the house of Judas.”

Nothing more is known about this particular man named Judas, even knowing if he was a believer or not. With Saul’s (Paul’s) status still up in the air concerning the faith, that could be guessed either way. What is certain is that after the coming events transpire, if he was not a believer, he would get an earful about Jesus from Saul. Another Judas is mentioned in Acts 15, but it cannot be known if he is the same man. As for Ananias, once he arrived at this house, he was to inquire “for one called Saul of Tarsus.”

This is the first time that the location identified with Saul, meaning his place of birth/growing up, is recorded. Identifying him as Saul of Tarsus is to pinpoint him distinctly from others named Saul. And more, it is also to inform the reader that he is a Jew that was a part of the dispersion. Thus, he would be familiar with the way Gentiles lived. He would also more than likely speak several languages and dialects (see 1 Corinthians 14:18). If so, and at this point it is only conjecture, he is a logical choice for being called as the Apostle to the Gentiles.

Tarsus, or Tarseus as a literal transliteration of the Greek, is noted here and in Acts 21:39. It is also called Tarsos in Acts 9:30, 11:25, and 22:3. James Strong speculates that the name comes from tarsos, meaning a flat basket. If so, it may reflect the layout of the city.

About the city, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states it is “… a maritime city, the capital of Cilicia during the Roman period (Josephus, Antiquities 1, 6, 1), situated on the river Cydnus, which divided it into two parts (hence, the plural Ταρσοι). It was not only large and populous, but also renowned for its Greek learning and its numerous schools of philosophers (Strabo 14, p. 613 (cf. Lightfoot on Colossians, p. 303f)). Moreover, it was a free city (Pliny, 5, 22), and exempt alike from the jurisdiction of a Roman governor, and the maintenance of a Roman garrison; although it was not a Roman ‘colony’. It had received its freedom from Antony (Appendix, b. 104:5, 7) on the condition that it might retain its own magistrates and laws, but should acknowledge the Roman sovereignty and furnish auxiliaries in time of war…”

As for Ananias, Jesus continues His words to him, saying, “for behold, he is praying.” Saul went without seeing for three days and he neither ate nor drank (Acts 9:9). But he didn’t waste his time lying around moaning. Instead, he spent it praying. He had seen the risen Lord, and his life would be forever changed. As of yet, he had no idea what that meant, but he is about to find out.

Life application: The Bible mentions the word “pray” almost 400 times, from Genesis to Revelation. At times, it is mandated, such as in Genesis 20:7 (the first time prayer is mentioned). At times, it is encouraged, such as in Psalm 122:6. Sometimes a prayer is heard immediately, such as in 2 Kings 20:1-4. Sometimes, a prayer is not responded to for a considerable amount of time (see Daniel 10:10-14).

There are prayers the Lord finds pleasing, and he responds favorably to them, such as in Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:12-18. And there are prayers that the Lord cannot respond to, as Isaiah 59:1, 2 reveals.

There are people that wonder how prayer can be effective if God already knows everything that will ever occur. If this is so, then how can prayer make any difference? But this is the same fallacious thinking as those who say that if God already knows about everyone who will be saved, then man must not have free will.

If God knows that He will take an action after prayer, it does not change the fact that prayer is needed. This is seen in Job 42:7-10. The obvious thing that can be deduced from the Bible about prayer is that it does have an effect, even if God already knows the outcome. As such, a prayer that is not uttered is a prayer that will not be responded to. A prayer that is made at least has the possibility of being granted if it is in accord with the will of God.

Paul tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We cannot overload God with prayer. In fact, we are pleasing Him by being obedient to the exhortation to pray. And we can know from Jesus’ words that the more we pray, the more likely we are to get an answer (Luke 18:1-8). As these things are seen to be true from Scripture, pray! An unspoken prayer is no prayer at all. Pray!

Lord God, help us to be people of prayer. May our words of praise, petition, and supplication reach Your ears, and may You respond to them according to Your great wisdom. Hear the prayers of Your people, O God, including this one. Amen.

Getting closer to the big environmentally unfriendly wind turbine blade.

Monday, 25 July 2022

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” Acts 9:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse noted that Paul was without sight for three days and that he neither ate nor drank. It is during this time that the next words occur, saying, “Now there was a certain disciple.”

It is the same word, mathétés, used three times in Acts 6 (verses 1, 2, and 7), and then again in Acts 9:1 when referring to the disciples of Jesus. It signifies a learner. In this case, it is a follower of Christ who learns the doctrines laid out in Scripture and what is required to conduct oneself rightly. He is said to be “at Damascus.”

Rather, it says “in Damascus.” It is where he is located, and he was one of the people who would have been targeted by Paul once he arrived and started rounding up the believers. Of him, it says he is “named Ananias.”

It is the Greek transliteration from Khananyah (Hananyah), or “Yah is Gracious.” It is not an uncommon name, and it is seen about 30 times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament it is the name of the husband of Sapphira in Acts 5 and also one of the high priests seen in Acts 23:2 and 24:1. In Acts 22, this man is called a “devout man” using a term that signifies God-fearing or, literally, “taking hold of what is good.” Of him, it next says, “and to him the Lord said in a vision, ‘Ananias.’”

In the coming verses, it is fully apparent that this is the Lord Jesus who is addressing him. He is called personally in order to direct him. This is certainly intended to be used as a validation of the one who the Lord will commission. In other words, Ananias has been selected for the specific purpose of being a reliable testimony to the Lord’s having chosen Saul (Paul) for his apostolic ministry.

• Ananias is a resident of Damascus, the city targeted by Paul.
• Ananias is a disciple of Jesus, the specific group targeted by Paul.
• Ananias is a devout man, meaning his testimony is known to be reliable.
• Ananias is not an apostle. As such, this fact will add unique credence to Paul’s ministry. Paul’s apostolic doctrine came not from one of the apostles (Galatians 1:17), but directly from the Lord. Further, his calling is from the Lord, but the message is transmitted by a regular disciple.

Because of these things, Ananias’ testimony will be all the more credible and readily accepted by those who hear from him of what will now transpire. In response to the Lord’s call, it next says, “And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’”

This is the standard answer of many people called by the Lord in the Old Testament. It is a way of saying, “I am present and at your disposal.” With that noted, the Lord’s directions to him will be forthcoming.

Life application: Everything about Paul’s selection and conversion is marked off as a unique occurrence. In this, he is a part of, but separated from, the other apostles. As such, his commission is a unique one that will carry the already established church through the next two millennia (so far) as the Gentiles take the lead role in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Because of this, a few points should be considered.

• The church is already established based on the introduction of the New Covenant in Christ’s blood.
• Gentile inclusion has already been established prior to Saul’s (Paul’s) recorded conversion (Acts 8).
• Gentile inclusion will continue to occur prior to the focus of Acts being on Paul (Acts 10).
• The gospel that Paul proclaims is the same gospel as the other apostles proclaim (1 Corinthians 15:11).
• Paul’s ministry was not only to the Gentiles, but always to the Jew first (Acts 9:20, 13:14, 14:1, 17:1, 17:10, 18:4, 18:19, 19:8, 28:17, etc.). Therefore,
• Paul’s ministry is not a new ministry to establish the church. Rather, it is a ministry established to continue the expansion of the church in sharing the gospel, after the (known to the Lord) rejection of it by Israel, with the Gentiles.

These points are especially highlighted by the fact that Gentiles are included in the chapter prior to and directly after Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. They are brought into the church by Jews at the direction of Jesus personally.

As this is so, it demonstrates that those who proclaim the doctrine of hyperdispensationalism are teaching a false and heretical doctrine that destroys the purpose and intent of the Lord’s personal workings in Acts to establish and continue His church. Hyperdispensationalism teaches a false gospel by proclaiming two separate gospels, one for the Jew and one for the Gentile. This is, according to Paul in Galatians 1, anathema.

Heavenly Father, may we carefully consider what Acts is telling us and properly evaluate what is going on there. Help us to consider it thoughtfully because many false teachers have come to proclaim heretical teachings based on a misapplication of what is taught out of the book. So, Lord, guide us carefully through this foundational part of Your precious word. Amen.