Acts (Written)

Cloud on hill. Washington state.

Monday, 25 September 2023

“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 20:24

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 previous verse, Paul noted that the Holy Spirit was fully testifying in every city that chains and tribulations awaited him. Now, he continues that thought, saying, “But none of these things move me.”

The words are more closely translated as, “But the word of none do I make mine own” (SLT). Of all of the things that were testified of what lay ahead, he simply disregarded the warnings. He did not hold them to account or consider applying them to himself as if they should deter him. And more, he next says, “Or do I count my life dear to myself.”

Again, the SLT more closely says, “neither have I my soul highly prized to myself.” Paul couldn’t care about himself in relation to the work he was doing. He was entirely unconcerned with the many prophecies that warned him about what lay ahead. In fact, it may be that these arose in order to help him mentally prepare for the very challenges he faced.

By being progressively told what was coming, he could harden his heart to the consequences. It is a similar and yet contrasting process to that which Pharaoh faced before the Exodus. Pharaoh hardened against the will of God, but Paul hardened toward the will of God. This was so much the case that he had given up counting the dearness of his own life.

Where Pharaoh looked to increase his earthly wealth and standing by keeping the Hebrew people, Paul looked to increase his heavenly rewards at the expense of this earthly life by freeing people through the gospel. Despite any earthly afflictions that would normally bring pain and sorrow, he instead says, “so that I may finish my race with joy.”

The tribulations that would arise, despite being physically and mentally challenging, would be a source of joy at the end, knowing that he had suffered them for the sake of Jesus and in receiving a favorable word from Him. He was on a race, his eyes were on Jesus, and his desire was the accomplishment of his ministry. As he next says, “and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus.”

He inextricably links his race, meaning his conduct in life as he raced towards his goal, with the ministry Jesus had bestowed upon him. He didn’t consider his life one thing and the ministry as another. Rather, they merged into a single unit where Paul fully identified with the ministry, and the ministry reflected Paul the man.

Therefore, if Paul was to suffer for his work, it meant that his work was designed for him to suffer. And his work, that which was endowed upon him by the Lord Jesus, was “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Again, for the third time in this chapter, the same verb, diamarturomai, translated as “testifying” or “testifies” in verses 20:21 and 20:23, is used again here. It signifies “fully testifying.” The prefix dia gives the sense of “through.” Thus, it is thoroughly testifying –

• Paul was fully testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
• The Holy Spirit fully testified that in every city that chains and tribulations awaited Paul.
• And yet, Paul’s determined mission was to fully testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

This was what was set before him. If the Holy Spirit testified to chains and tribulations, then the Holy Spirit was preparing him for, not deterring him from, what lay ahead. He knew this and so he was bound in his own spirit to go to Jerusalem, fully set for what was to come.

Life application: The terminology of being in a race was a favorite of Paul’s, having used it several times in his epistles. It is found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 3:14, and 2 Timothy 4:7. Further, it is also found in Hebrews 12:1, an epistle that is unsigned and yet which bears innumerable marks of Pauline authorship. There, it says –

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

Those words were based on the contents of Hebrews 11, the great Hall of Fame of Faith. The trials and tribulations of the past saints were endured because they had a better hope than this temporary, fallen world. Paul had this same hope and united his life in Christ with the fact that tribulations would be a part of it.

The author of Hebrews then builds on that, asking his readers to “lay aside every weight.” Whatever may be considered a limiting factor in reaching the prize should be laid aside. That includes any possibility of loss, trouble, trial, or even death. There is a course marked out before us that leads directly to Jesus. Let us be of the mind that nothing in our lives will hold us back, slow us down, or hinder our progress towards that goal.

No matter what path we choose, we will reach the prize. That is guaranteed because of God’s covenant faithfulness. But how we get there and the rewards we receive for it are up to us. This is why the author of Hebrews so carefully detailed his words of Hebrews 11 and then so clearly admonishes his reader at the beginning of Hebrews 12.

Live your life in a manner that will bring you the highest joy in the next. Eyes on Jesus!

Lord God, our lives are like a race being run toward the greatest prize of all. Jesus is at the finish line, and His words to us about the conduct of our lives will be waiting there. Help us to remember this all our days. May we count this life as nothing in comparison to the glory that lies ahead. And so, may we conduct them accordingly now. Amen.

Hill. Washington State.

Sunday, 24 September 2023

“except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. Acts 20:23

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 noted that he did not know what would happen to him in Jerusalem, but he was going there bound in the spirit. Now, he continues that thought, saying, “except that the Holy Spirit testifies.”

The same verb, diamarturomai, translated as “testifying” in verse 20:21 is used again here. It signifies “fully testifying.” The prefix dia gives the sense of “through.” Thus, it is thoroughly testifying.

Paul was bound in his spirit, determined that he was to go to Jerusalem, and yet in this state of personal conviction, he also knew that the Holy Spirit was giving him advanced notice of what lay ahead. And more, it wasn’t just an inkling that rushed upon him for a moment, rather, the Spirit had testified to him “in every city.”

With each stop he made, he could feel the presence of the Spirit. But more, he could sense what the Spirit was conveying to him. That is then noted in the rest of the words of this verse, “saying that chains and tribulations await me.”

These words refer to the limited portion of what lay ahead that Paul was made aware of. However, this doesn’t mean that it was directly from the Spirit to him. Rather, it could be just like the meeting with Agabus. People were selected to progressively reveal to Paul what would happen.

Or it could be that because of the persecution he had faced in each and every city he had been to during his ministry, he could expect that in Jerusalem it would be even greater. Everywhere he had gone, the Jews had hounded him. They pursued him relentlessly with each step and attempted to refute him each time he opened his mouth.

Jerusalem was the hub of Jewish life. Therefore, if this spirit of enmity existed in the isolated areas where the Jews were, it could only be magnified in Jerusalem. Paul, being indwelt with the Holy Spirit, could readily discern this. Paul’s use of the term “every city” seems to imply that this might be the case.

People like Agabus were warning him externally. The Jews were hounding him personally. And so, rather than the Holy Spirit revealing it to him directly, he was being given Spirit-led warnings about what lay ahead.

Vincent’s Word Studies agrees by saying, “The compound verb signifies full, clear testimony. Not by internal intimations of the Spirit, but by prophetic declarations ‘in every city.’” It is for this reason, and despite what he knows, that he was bound in his spirit. He felt compelled to press on, and yet he perceived in his spiritual self what his physical self would soon endure.

Life application: In this life, we constantly have to make choices about what we will do. Some of them are minor and don’t need a lot of consideration, such as, “Will I leave the house at 8:05 or 8:10?” It really isn’t that big of a deal. At least, not in most circumstances.

And yet, we may leave the house at 8:10 and find out that exactly where we would have been at 8:05, we would have been caught in an exploding gas main that killed 273 people. It occurred on the subway we would have been on. The same could be true about the 8:10 train instead of the 8:05 train. And yet, if we are going to keep our job, we must act and get on the subway.

If we want our decisions to be the right ones, we should commit our day to the Lord in advance through prayer. “Lord, lead my steps according to Your wisdom. I don’t know what lies ahead, but You do. Help me to make each decision accordingly.” In this, we have entrusted our time and circumstances to His capable hands. Whether disaster or a humdrum ride to work awaits, we will know that we have at least committed ourselves to His guiding hand.

If this is true with the little things we do, how much more the larger decisions that will not only affect us but many others in their lives as well. Paul understood this. Think of the impact he has had, not only on the elders of Ephesus as they met together in Miletus, but two thousand years of people whose lives have been affected by what he experienced.

We cannot know the extent of the impact of our life beyond ourselves. So, commit your days to the Lord and His guiding hand.

Glorious God Almighty, today is a new day. We don’t know what lies ahead, but You do. You know every possible outcome of every step we will take and each decision we will make. So, Lord, we ask that You direct us according to Your wisdom. Point our feet so that they will bring about the greatest outcome for Your glory. May our days be filled with You through delight or disaster. Yes, Lord, direct us for a greater purpose. Amen.

Heading west along the Columbia River.

Saturday, 23 September 2023

“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, Acts 20:22

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 bear more of an emphasis than the NKJV provides – “And now, behold, I – bound in the spirit – go to Jerusalem, not knowing what will befall me in it” (CG).

The previous verse includes Paul’s words concerning “repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now, he speaks of what lies ahead for him, saying, “And now, behold, I – bound in the spirit.”

These words are curious when taken in connection with the words of Agabus in verse 21:11. Paul says he is “bound” in the spirit. The word is deo and is used often concerning binding someone up, such as binding the strong man in Mark 3 or the demoniac in Mark 5. When a donkey is bound to a post, this word would be used. If one is bound in prison, this word is used.

Paul feels “bound in the spirit,” not knowing what he will next speak of. Scholars vary on whether they believe he is referring to the Holy Spirit or simply being constrained in his own spirit. Based on what Agabus says, it is most likely his own spirit, not the Holy Spirit. This will be seen as the verse continues.

Paul next says that he will “go to Jerusalem” in this state of being bound in the spirit. This is the path set before him and his traveling companions. He is so determined to get there that he has called these elders of Ephesus to come a considerable distance for this short meeting. Despite this determined trek to Jerusalem, he next says, “not knowing what will befall me in it.”

These words tell us that Paul is most likely referring to his own spirit. This is because the Holy Spirit does know, and it will be altered more fully to Paul at the meeting with Agabus. This seems more likely because it appears that Paul is drawing a contrast between his own desires and efforts and what he says in the next verse concerning what the Holy Spirit is revealing to him –

Paul is bound in his spirit to accomplish his mission.
The Holy Spirit testifies that chains and tribulations await.

For whatever reason, the Holy Spirit did not reveal everything to him directly, but rather, He will do it more fully through Agabus. It is a remarkable testimony concerning the reliability of the Book of Acts as a true account.

Life application: It is important to not mix our desires with claims of divine leading. And yet, it is as common as signs on a highway for people to do it. “I think the Lord is leading me to marry this woman.” What if someone else says the same thing? God is not in the business of causing contradictory desires in people. “I think the Lord is leading me to open this business.” What if the business fails the first year it is opened? Did the Lord lead this person to bankruptcy?

“I think the Lord is leading me to stop paying on my house and to move to Franklin, Tennessee.” The Lord tells us to pay our debts. People may do these things because they are bound in their spirits to take certain actions. And yet, they claim that it is God, the Lord, or the Holy Spirit who is directing them.

We should be careful to not make such claims. Later, when it is discovered that the thing doesn’t come about, or it turns out in a negative way, we will either have to admit we were wrong or implicitly pass the blame onto God for what happened. Rather, let us state our desires as such, pray about what we intend to do, and then acknowledge, “If it is the Lord’s will.” If what we desire doesn’t come about, or if it proves to have been the wrong decision, we will find that out in due time.

Lord God, help us to carefully consider our words and to never make claims concerning Your presence in our lives that are not in line with reality. Instead, we can acknowledge Your presence and ask for Your guidance but not bind our words so that what later transpires could possibly tarnish what we have stated about You. Help us in this, O Lord. Amen.

Columbia River, Washinton state.

Friday, 22 September 2023

“testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21

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 previous verse, Paul continued his words to the elders of Ephesus concerning his teaching and how he withheld nothing from those he spoke to, both in public and in private settings. Now, that continues further, saying, “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks.”

The word translated as “testifying,” diamarturomai, means more than that. It signifies “fully testifying.” The prefix dia gives the sense of “through.” Thus, it is thoroughly testifying. Paul spoke out his witness in a full and complete manner, and he did so to all people, without distinction, meaning to both the Jews and the Gentiles.

His words are intended to mean all people of the earth, of whom the Greeks represent the whole. In both categories, he next notes the need for “repentance toward God.” This is the only time that Paul will tie in repentance in quite this manner, although it is similar to what he says in 2 Corinthians 7:10 –

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

The meaning of the word must first be explained. It means “change of mind” and nothing more. Paul says that we must have a change of mind toward God. This does not, in any way, mean what people think it means today, as in, “You must repent, or turn from, your sins.” That is not what the word means.

Paul’s words now refer to an evangelical type of repentance, not a legal form. One cannot at first legally repent of what they do not understand. We cannot repent of a law or custom which we have violated until we know what that law or custom is.

Therefore, we cannot say that Paul is speaking of the standards of the law. Rather, it is speaking of who God is, what our relationship to Him is, and who Jesus is in relation to us in that context. From there, we are to repent (change our mind about who He is) and turn toward Him in faith.

His words have nothing to do with the issue of sin, except that we recognize that we are sinners before God, without dealing with any specific sin that must be first ended before we can be saved. If we tie works into the process of this verse, then we are putting the horse before the cart.

If a Buddhist is to be saved, he must repent of what he thinks about God, turn from that incorrect thinking, and put his faith in the true God through Jesus. The same is true with a Muslim or an atheist. The mind must be changed about what “god” is being pursued and then combine that with turning to the true “God.”

Only after we are saved can we then learn the laws, grow in conformity to what is expected, and be obedient to the Lordship of Christ, not before. This may sound obvious, but it is one of the chief points of incorrect doctrine among almost all legalistic churches. They tie legal repentance, rather than evangelical repentance, in with this verse.

Paul next continues with, “and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” This explains the first part of the equation more fully. God is God. There is one God. However, there must be a means by which He is approached. It is not through Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, or any other expression than through His Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Note how Paul opened his words of this thought with “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks.” This means, without any ambiguity at all, that Jews must come through Jesus as well. Judaism, as it is defined today, is not an acceptable approach to God. The Messiah has come. Any Jew who has not come to God through Him is in the exact same position as a Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, etc.

Remember: Repent means “change of mind.” Repentance toward God means “change your mind about God.” Repentance at this point (meaning in order to be saved) does not mean “stop all your sinning.” It means to acknowledge you are a sinner and that as you learn what things displease God, you will then turn from those things. Finally, no person can be saved, Jew or Gentile, unless he turns to God (repents of his incorrect notion about God) by coming to Him through Jesus Christ.

Life application: Dual Covenantalism is a doctrine that says Jews can be saved by adherence to the Law of Moses. John Hagee teaches this. It is the official stand of the Roman Catholic Church and others. And it is a heresy. This is a great lie from Satan, and those who teach it are condemning unsaved Jews to eternal separation from God because of such teaching. They will be held to account.

Do not waffle in your convictions about Jesus Christ. Be firm and ready to defend what you believe by properly presenting it to those you talk to. Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Word. He is God who came to dwell among His people. He fulfilled the law, He died in fulfillment of it, and by faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, people will be saved. There is no other path to God available to man.

Get the word out! God has done it! Jesus has prevailed, and salvation is a gift of God’s grace to any who will simply believe.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the sure hope we possess. Through Jesus Christ, You have accomplished all things necessary to reconcile us to Yourself. We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that through Him we are restored to You. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

Fruit on a Washington state fruit farm (the edible, not political, kind).

Thursday, 21 September 2023

“how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, Acts 20:20

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 are more closely stated, “how I withheld nothing of things that are profitable, not to declare to you and to teach you in public and among houses” (CG).

The words continue from the previous verse, “And when they came to him, he said to them, ‘You know from the first day in which I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, how I withheld nothing of things that are profitable, not to declare to you and to teach you in public and among houses.’”

With that context, we see that Paul’s words could not be made unless they were true. He is speaking to the people among whom the claims he is making pertain. Therefore, what he says must be the way things were. He is merely reminding them so that he can then encourage them based on what he says. And so, he continues by saying, “how I withheld nothing of things that are profitable.”

Hindsight is 20/20, but that is not what Paul speaks of here. Now, he says that he “withheld nothing.” We now welcome a new verb to Scripture, hupostelló. It will be seen just four times. According to Vincent’s Word Studies, “A picturesque word. Originally, to draw in or contract. Used of furling sails, and of closing the fingers; of drawing back for shelter; of keeping back one’s real thoughts; by physicians, of withholding food from patients.”

Ellicott thinks he used it specifically as a sailing metaphor where he “seems to say of himself, had used no such reticence or reserve, but had gone on his course, as it were, before the wind, with all his canvas spread.” This very well could be because he uses sea-related metaphors elsewhere, including Ephesians 4:14, 1 Timothy 1:19 and 1 Timothy 6:9.

No matter what his intent for using this word, it is clear that he was unafraid to teach them every doctrine and every counsel in accordance with the truth, regardless of whether they might find it offensive or unpalatable. Everything that was profitable was openly and fully shared with his disciples. From there, he turns to a negative clause to reiterate the point he has just made.

He said, “how I withheld nothing,” and now he says, “not to declare to you and to teach you.” The meaning is that instead of not declaring and not teaching, he did exactly the opposite by declaring and teaching. He did so without reservation and in a manner that was open to any and all. As he next says, “in public.”

Here is a word used for the last of four times, démosios. It is an adjective translated by most as publicly. But that is an adverb. Therefore, to retain the flavor of the original, “in public” more reasonably matches the intent. The word is derived from demos, a noun signifying “the people.” One can see the etymological root of the modern word democracy. As for the word démosios, you can wave it goodbye as it departs.

As for Paul, he was willing to speak about Jesus, the faith, holiness, righteousness, keeping from uncleanness, etc., all in the open and without shame or peevishness. He was bold and confident that his words were fully in line with the faith he professed. But, added to that, he next says, “and among houses.”

This would have been his talks and instruction in private settings. But don’t some people speak one way in public and another in private? Paul refused such a tactic. He spoke in the same manner when in a public forum and when in private. His words were not two-faced but always in accord with what the Lord had set before him from the start.

Life application: How nice it is when preachers continue to follow this same pattern today while we live in the face of ever-increasing wickedness. Who will be willing to unfurl the sails of proper doctrine and let the winds carry the whole counsel of God to every shore, despite the dangers? Who will teach publicly the doctrines that are found offensive to today’s sensitive and dull ears?

Jesus spoke in this manner, setting an example for us two thousand years ago. Paul was a man who did likewise, and many have since followed suit. We know that the Lord is pleased with any and all who are willing to take such a stand. As it says in Matthew 10:27 –

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.”

In Genesis 31:39, Jacob told Laban that he bore the cost of any lost sheep himself rather than having it charged to his master. Considering the value that Jesus places on the souls of men, as noted, for example, in Matthew 16:26, Paul felt the cost of losing any for his Master. He was willing to expend himself to ensure those who heard and accepted the word would be kept safe from the ravages of the world around him.

And more, he did all he could to glorify God through evangelism and teaching. In verse 27 of this chapter, he will say that he did not shun to declare to his hearers the whole counsel of God. Let us be willing to hold fast to this word and to never waffle on what it proclaims, and to declare it in its fullness. This life is temporary. We might as well please God now with our conduct because eternity is a long time to regret not having done so.

Glorious Lord God, You have given us instruction through Your word, and You have provided examples of how we are to share that through the actions of the apostles. May we be willing to expend ourselves in the furtherance of the gospel and in the necessity of living in accord with the word that You have blessed us with. Help us in this, O God. Amen.