Acts (Written)

Rocky hills, eastern Washington State.

Friday, 15 September 2023

And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. Acts 20:14

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).

The Greek reads, “And when he met with us at Assos, having taken him up, we came to Mitylene” (CG).

In the previous verse, the missionaries were set to sail for Assos while Paul took the journey on foot. Now, Luke’s words continue with, “And when he met with us at Assos.”

Without any comment as to why the two parties traveled separately and without any details of their meeting up, other than that they met, it is apparent that it occurred as planned. It isn’t even sure which arrived first. The words simply indicate that they came together. With that, Luke next records, “having taken him up, we came to Mitylene.”

Paul got on board, and they departed. Their first stop is noted as Mitylene. This was, and still is, the capital of the island known as Lesbos. It is about 30 miles south of Assos and just off the west coast of Anatolia. The island is one of the largest in the Aegean Sea and is the seventh largest in the Mediterranean. Its total circumference is about 168 miles. As for the name of the location, Abarim says –

“The name Mitylene comes from the adjective μιτυλος (mitulos), which in turn is related to the familiar Latin word mutilus, from which comes our English verb ‘to mutilate.’ How and from what the Greek language derived our word μιτυλος (mitulos) isn’t clear but from its sparse usages it appears that it was solely used in the meaning of hornless.”

This location, Hornless, is noted only this one time in the Bible.

Life application: Paul spent the entire last night at Troas talking to the disciples there. He then got up and walked the distance from Troas to Assos. As those on the ship met him there, it is apparent he didn’t sleep the entire time it took to meet up with them. It makes guessing why he determined to walk all the more curious.

It is, however, good to stop and consider such things because we can then evaluate our own paths that we decide to take. Paul may or may not have walked that particular area before, but he knew that Mitylene awaited him. It is good to set out on a new path at times, but there has to be a reason for doing so. There also needs to be a goal at the end that is expected. If not, you will be ambling blindly.

This doesn’t mean we control our steps at all. We may not make it till tomorrow morning. But if we do, we should at least have a plan for when we get there. In the meantime, we should include the Lord in the process. The words of James instruct us on this –

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

Heavenly Father, direct our steps according to Your wisdom. We do have to plan them, but our plans are still at Your allowance. So, Lord, may the two be harmoniously put together through Your guiding hand. We look to You for each breath, so if it is Your will, may our plans be in accord with what You would have us do. Amen.

The mountains have turned into hills. Washington, East of the Cascades.

Thursday, 14 September 2023

Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. Acts 20:13

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).

The words of the NKJV need help, “And we, having gone ahead to the ship, sailed to Assos, thence readying to take up Paul. For so he had arranged, readying himself to hike” (CG).

In the last verse, Eutychus was taken home alive, and the people were greatly comforted. With that noted, the journey for the missionaries from Troas was set to commence. Therefore, Luke next says, “And we.”

The “we” verses continue, showing that Luke is with the missionaries at this time. Everything recorded here would be from his first-person perspective. Understanding this, he next notes, “having gone ahead to the ship, sailed to Assos.”

The missionaries, inclusive of Luke, are departing by ship. The first leg of the journey is from Troas to Assos. Assos is about 20 miles south of Troas, but for those who sailed, it was about twice as far as they had to go around a cape. Of this location, Albert Barnes notes –

“There were several cities of this name. One was in Lycia; one in the territory of Eolis; one in Mysia; one in Lydia; and another in Epirus. The latter is the one intended here. It was between Troas and Mitylene. The distance to it from Troas by land was about 20 miles, while the voyage round Cape Lecture was nearly twice as far, and accordingly Paul chose to go to it on foot.”

Assos is only found here and in the next verse in the New Testament. The meaning is uncertain, but Abarim says the following –

“The name Assos may derive from a rarely used adverb ασσον (asson) and revel in the fact that it’s Closer than some other place. Or it relates to the name of the local son and international hero king Assaracus, Number One and the patriarch of all things Rome.

“Even in 1000 BC, when there was no Rome yet, the preference would probably have inclined toward Assaracus. Assos means Number One.”

Of this trip to Assos, Luke next records that they left by ship. Once they had arrived, the plan was “thence readying to take up Paul.”

Luke notes that while he and those with him would sail, they would be ready at their arrival point to take up Paul at that location. The meaning is obvious. Paul would travel another way to Assos. That is then explained by the next words, saying, “For so he had arranged, readying himself to hike.”

Rather than sail, Paul desired to go by land. Luke uses a word found only here in Scripture, pezeuó. It is ultimately derived from pous, meaning “foot.” Being a single verb in the present tense, the word “hike” suffices. A hike is something conducted on foot and is a little less arduous sounding than “trek” or “trudge,” and a little more determined than “amble” or “saunter.”

Paul hiked to Assos. Quite a few reasons have been speculated as to why he did this. Some think he didn’t want to sail unless it was necessary. Others think that maybe he wanted to pray or contemplate life. Still, others suggest that he might have wanted to visit friends on the way. And yet, others think it might have been for health reasons. Maybe he wanted to race and see who would arrive at Troas first – the old competitive spirit and all. Only speculation can be made because Luke provides no further explanation.

Life application: The traveling noted by Luke as they sailed and Paul, as he walked, can be followed on google maps exactly. You can zoom in on even the minutest details, following along the ancient ports and paths that have been updated for modern shipping and automobiles. What is wonderful about doing this is that you can find assurance that what you are reading is reliable.

Luke didn’t just write a novel about the adventures of fictional characters. Instead, he has documented the exact movements of real people that really set out on these missionary journeys. If the locations, directions, time of travel, etc., are all reliable, why would anyone assume that the other details, such as the restoration of life to Eutychus are any less reliable?

It would make no sense to document the minutest details of one aspect of the narrative and then make up a bunch of fairy tales about the other parts. Rather, we have a sure and sound word that is backed up by facts and eyewitness accounts. Let us not doubt the accuracy of what we read. Instead, let us be firm and confident in what is recorded. This is the word of God, and it is reliable.

Lord God, thank You that Your word is so reliable and verifiable. Because of this, we can know that when things are recorded that are difficult to grasp because of their miraculous nature, we can still have faith that they are true. Because of this, we can also know that what is detailed for the times ahead is also true. We have a sure and grounded hope because of this precious word! Amen.

Going from pointy to rolling. Cascades.

Wednesday, 13 September 2023

And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted. Acts 20:12

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).

Rather, the words read, “And they brought the boy, living, and were comforted not a little” (CG).

In the previous verse, Luke detailed the actions of Paul after having restored Eutychus to life. This was to make a connection between his death and the death of the Lord as remembered in the Lord’s Supper. Through the Lord’s death, restoration of life is available. The words now are certainly inserted into the chronology of those events, probably at the same time as when Paul again went up to the third floor. Luke records, “And they brought the boy, living.”

Most translations use an adjective, alive. But the word is a present participle, thus highlighting the astonishing nature of what occurred. They brought him living. As for Eutychus, the word now used to describe him is pais. It signifies a child under training. Thus, he would have been a younger boy. He had his whole life ahead of him and yet he died during a church gathering.

It explains the use in verse 20:10 of the word thorubeo, being greatly disturbed or panicked. The people would have been horrified at the loss of such a young person. But because of the power of God present through the apostle, he was restored to life.

As for the word translated as “brought,” it generally indicates being led. Thus, he wasn’t carried. Rather, he came in on his own power, fully healed and showing no worse for the wear. Because of that, it next says, “and were comforted not a little.”

This certainly would have gone beyond the comfort of not having to bury a young man, but the comfort of the assurance of life that is found in Jesus.

Life application: These people were given sight into the power of the Lord. We could say, “How blessed they were to have seen these things and to have personally experienced the ability of Jesus to restore that young man to life!” It would certainly have bolstered their faith in an amazing way.

However, Jesus says this –

“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29

The people at Troas were given a blessing through the restoration of Eutychus to life. We are, however, given that exact same blessing if we believe the words of the Bible. We no longer need to have sight. The events recorded in Scripture confirm the power of the Lord to restore life. We can now have faith because of what is recorded there.

And more, we have the exact same blessing awaiting us that Eutychus received and that those with him beheld –

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

The same word translated as “comfort” in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 is the word that is used of the state of those in Troas in Acts 20:12. Because we have the words of Scripture complete, we can be “comforted not a little” as we experience the loss of those around us and as we face our own mortality. The power of God in Christ Jesus is available to all who will simply believe. Death itself has no power over us as we await the coming fulfillment of the promises of God!

Glorious Lord God, we have comfort in our faith because it is grounded on the truth of what You have done in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. What more do we need to be assured and reassured of eternal life through Him? It is sufficient to carry us through this woeful life as we await the glorious life ahead. Hallelujah and Amen!

Coming to the Western end of the Cascades.

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. Acts 20:11

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).

Luke uses a string of singular participles to connect the thoughts together – “And having gone up, and having broken bread, and having tasted, also at length having talked – until daylight – so he departed” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul had gone down and embraced the dead Eutychus and then acknowledged that his life was in him. Now, with that behind them, it next says, “And having gone up.”

As noted, the verbs are singular. Everything focuses on the actions of Paul. Eutychus was restored to life. With that out of the way, Paul returned to the upper room. Immediately, Luke next notes, “and having broken bread.”

Some manuscripts include an article – “and having broken the bread.” It is probable that this is referring to the Lord’s Supper, or it could be the Agape feast that accompanied it. The idea of “breaking” bread is that of a single loaf (or loaves if a lot of people are present) which is passed around as pieces are broken off for each. With that stated, Luke next says, “and having tasted.”

Not only did Paul break off the bread for others, but he also had a taste of it himself. The word geuomai signifies to taste. It is the experiential part of eating or some other event. Jesus said in Matthew 16 –

“Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” Matthew 16:28

Likewise, it says this in 2 Peter –

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

Such examples show that Luke is focusing on the experience rather than the idea of filling one’s stomach. The probable reason for these words is because of what Paul would have said in the rite of the Lord’s Supper –

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ ²⁵ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’
²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

In other words, Eutychus had just tasted death, but because of Christ Jesus’ death, the restoration of his life was made possible. Therefore, the taking of the Lord’s supper would have taken on a much more poignant taste during this meal. They were proclaiming His “death until He comes.” Luke is quickly connecting the thoughts together to show an unbroken succession of events, all bearing on what just occurred. Now, he continues with, “also at length having talked – until daylight.”

The word for “talked” is not the same as verse 9 (“discoursing”). Instead, it indicates a conversation. This verse shows the man Paul as one who devoted every moment of his time to the people he was with, right up until the moment he had to depart. He was a tireless, selfless individual concerning the gospel and the fellowship. With the coming of daylight, it was necessary for him to go his way, and “so he departed.”

Verse 20:13 will show that Paul departed on foot to Assos. Meanwhile, the others would sail there and meet up with him. The reason for this goes unstated, but after an entire night, without any sleep to sustain him, he left Troas and began walking to Assos, a distance of about 21 miles as the crow flies. Taking the Roman road was a distance of about 31 miles. Thus, he would have taken at least two days to make the trip.

Life application: Luke has tied the bringing back to life of Eutychus in with the subsequent breaking of bread. It is his way of connecting the life found in Christ Jesus to that of the life in His people. In this case, it was to teach us that even death cannot hold a believer in Christ.

But more, it is to show a transition of the gospel from going to the Jews to it going to the Gentiles. In Acts 9, Peter was used to bring Tabitha (Dorcas) to life. Paul has now done the same for Eutychus. The various events, signs, and miracles accomplished by Peter for the Jews are also occurring through Paul for the Gentiles.

For both, we now have the written word that verifies these things took place. This is to assure us that the life that is found in Jesus is still available to us now. We may not have a miracle of the restoration of life after a calamity, but we can have the absolute assurance that we will be raised at the coming of the Lord, just as the Bible describes in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4.

Let us hold fast to this truth as we experience our own times of loss. We are asked to trust the Lord and have faith that what His word presents is true and reliable.

Lord God, because of the death of Jesus, we can now have eternal life in Jesus. For those who have believed the gospel, it belongs to us by guarantee. Even if our mortal bodies die, we know that we shall rise again. The promise is sure, the matter is settled, and we SHALL RISE AGAIN! Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Western side of the Cascades.

Monday, 11 September 2023

But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Acts 20:10

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 words more exactingly read, “And Paul, having descended, fell upon him and having embraced, said, ‘Be not agitated, for his life is in him’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Eutychus was overcome by sleep and fell out of the third-story window. He was taken up dead. However, it now says, “And Paul, having descended, fell upon him.”

It is certain that the people in the room that saw him fall shouted out and rushed down the stairs. These stairs are generally a staircase on the outside of the house. One after another, the people would have rushed down in a state of anxiety. As the line allowed, Paul would have joined in the descent.

At such a time, most people would be standing there looking at the corpse. Those who knew him well would begin to start moaning and wailing. The women would be crying. Paul, obviously feeling the power of the Spirit, fell upon Eutychus. Luke next notes, “and having embraced.”

There are similar accounts in 1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 4. The prophets Elijah and Elisha both raised dead young men after physically joining to them. In Paul’s embracing of Eutychus, it next says that Paul stated, “Be not agitated, for his life is in him.”

The word translated as “agitated,” thorubeo, is used for the fifth and last time in the New Testament. It signifies to make an ado, disturb, agitate, etc. The idea here is certainly the tumult of sadness over death. The cries would increase, and some would shriek or cry out, “O God!” Paul’s words are given to silence this and to give them the comfort of knowing that all was ok. Welcome back, Eutychus.

“LIFE” application: The word “life” in this verse is from the Greek word psuché. This is the soul. There are three words in Greek that are used to describe the state of what is going on within a person.

The first, psuché, is the soul. It is that which exists from conception, and which is tied to the body. However, even if the body dies, the soul continues, albeit in an unnatural state.

The next is pneuma – wind, breath, or spirit. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit and the spirit of man. This is the rational soul or the mental disposition.

The third is the zóé, or life. This speaks of the vitality of the being, even plant life.

These three words correspond exactingly to the Hebrew words nephesh, ruakh, and khai.

In the case of Paul’s words, he literally says, “his soul is in him.” As the soul is the part that actually doesn’t die, saying “life” explains the matter clearly to us. His soul returned to his dead body. To understand this, Paul says this in 2 Corinthians –

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Paul, speaking of our physical bodies, here called “our earthly house,” notes that if a person is separated from this earthly body (it is destroyed), he is unclothed and naked. This was the state of Eutychus. His body was broken from the fall and his soul (psuché) had departed.

This is an unnatural state. The soul of man continues to exist, but the zóé, or vitality of the body, has ended. This is what happened to Eutychus. In the ending of his physical body’s zóé, the vehicle by which his soul went about could no longer sustain it. Therefore, his soul departed from the physical body. Unless the rapture happens first, this will happen to each of us. However, God has promised us, by giving His Spirit (His Pneuma) as a guarantee, that this will be corrected.

One can see that the Pneuma of God is connected not to the corruptible body but to the soul. We have been given a guarantee that our soul will be “further clothed.” The meaning is that we shall be given an eternal and incorruptible body. It is hard to figure out how people fail to understand what is being said here, but it is as common as pages in a book.

Our soul has been reconnected to God through an act of grace. At that moment, we are given His Spirit as a guarantee of our future redemption. The physical body no longer has any bearing on our eternal state. As it is in our physical bodies that we sin, and as we are no longer being imputed sin, then we are no longer under any sentence of condemnation. We have gone from death to life. It is an eternal decree of God. Salvation is, by default, something that is eternal.

Glorious God, thank You for having saved us by Your grace in Christ. But more, thank You that this is an eternal decree. We have been brought into the New Covenant. Even if we fail You, You will never fail us. And You have proved this by giving us Your Spirit. Thank You for the sure hope of eternal salvation. Yes, thank You, O God. Amen.