Acts (Written)

Moutain peaks. Washington state.

Tuesday, 5 September 2023

And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. Acts 20:4

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 verse more exactingly reads: “And there accompanied him as far as Asia Sopater, a Berean; and Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius a Derbite and Timothy; and Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus” (CG).

In the previous verse, a plot against Paul by the Jews caused him to cancel his sailing trip to Syria. Instead, he returned through Macedonia. Along with Paul, seven other people are mentioned as going to Asia with him.

These would have been the people selected to go with him to Jerusalem to present the gift to the church. They would then have all been in Corinth with him, intending to travel by ship when he went. Instead, they have all taken the longer trip with him. The naming of these individuals begins with, “And there accompanied him as far as Asia Sopater, a Berean.”

Rather than “of Berea,” as some translations state, the designation is an adjective, “a Berean.” Some think that Sopater is the same as Sosipater, who is mentioned along with Timothy and others in Romans 16:21. The name occurs on an arch in the area of Thessalonica. If he is the same person, he may have been one of the politarchs of Thessalonica. He is identified here, however, as a Berean. Next, it says, “and Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus.”

Aristarchus worked with Paul at Ephesus and had been in the riot there (Acts 19:29). Secundus isn’t mentioned elsewhere, but if his name is aligned with Tertius of Romans 16:22 and Quartus in Romans 16:23, then he may have been their brother. Secundus means Second, Tertius means Third, and Quartus means Fourth.

They may have been either the sons of one man who chose to name his sons this way, or they could have been born slaves and named according to their birth in that way. The only name missing is Primus, which would be the First, and it was not an unknown name at the time. The verse continues with, “and Gaius a Derbite and Timothy.”

Gaius may be the same Gaius in Acts 19:29 (but there he is referred to as a traveling partner from Macedonia) and 1 Corinthians 1:14. The term used to describe him is also an adjective, not a noun. Hence, he is a Derbite. Timothy is Paul’s faithful friend and companion first mentioned in Acts 16:1 and who is mentioned many times in Acts and Paul’s epistles. The verse ends with, “and Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.”

Tychicus means Fortunate or Fortuitous. It is the Greek equivalent of Felix. It was a common name of the time. He is mentioned five times in the New Testament – Here in Acts, Ephesians 6:21, Colossians 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:12, and Titus 3:12. He is well spoken of.

Trophimus comes from trophé, meaning food or nourishment. Thus, according to Strong’s, the name means something like Nutritive. However, others think it signifies something like Nursling or Foster Child. He is found again in Acts 21 and then in 2 Timothy 4:20 in a classic verse concerning health in relation to New Testament teachings on the misused doctrine of faith healing. That there were seven with Paul may be a subtle connection to the seven deacons found in Acts 6.

Life application: As noted, Trophimus is mentioned later in 2 Timothy 4:20. There, it says –

“Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.”

Paul was an apostle who had been granted special powers. At times, his influence alone was able to heal without him even being present. Each time that he was able to heal, it was for a set purpose. At other times, he was unable to heal. Such instances are recorded for us to understand, in advance, that the claims of “faith healers” are false.

There is no such things as faith healers in Scripture, and there is no guidance for its practice. Rather, the Bible asks us to pray for the healing of others and to allow God to respond according to His wisdom. Hence, we can say that faith healing is possible, but faith healers are false. Such people who make claims like this should not be listened to. Rather, read the Bible, and accept that people get sick, and some will die.

We are to accept God’s providential care for us, praying for His hand of healing or for His hand of comfort in our afflictions or loss. In all things, let us not lose heart but be people of faith as we continue on life’s path.

Heavenly Father, we know that You can and will heal if it is according to Your will. You can do all things, but sometimes it is not in Your plan to do so. Help us to remain faithful when times of trial and testing come about. May we understand that Your plan is far greater than our temporary health or happiness. We bow to You and will follow, even through the valleys that may test us. Amen.

Mountains of Washington.

Monday, 4 September 2023

and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Acts 20:3

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 accurately read, “having made three months, a plot against him having been made by the Jews, being about to sail to Syria, there arose in him a resolution to return through Macedonia.”

In the previous verse, it noted Paul’s having encouraged those in Macedonia and then his traveling to Greece. Now, it says of his time in Greece, “having made three months.”

During these three months, he would have gathered together the gift for the churches in Jerusalem which is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3. Probably most of the time was spent with those in the Corinthian church, as 1 Corinthians 16:6 seemed to indicate was his desire.

It is during this time that he would have written Romans. This can be deduced because he had not yet been to Rome and that he was on his way to Jerusalem to deliver the gift, as mentioned in Romans 15:25-27.

In the letter to the Romans, he greets Aquila and Priscilla, meaning they had probably left the area earlier at the same time Paul did – after the incident of the riot stirred up by Demetrius. If they had helped Paul, they would have needed to leave quickly as well.

It appears that the edict expelling the Jews from Rome had ended by this time. Additionally, it seems that Timothy and Sosipater (Sopater), who was one of the noble Bereans, were there as he wrote Romans. That is seen in Romans 16:21. These details fit with verse 20:4. The account is orderly and well documented.

With these three months complete, it next says, “a plot against him having been made by the Jews.”

It is a common theme in Acts that has been seen and will be seen again. Probably the main reason for this is not simply the spreading of the news that Jesus is the Messiah, but that Jesus had fulfilled the law and it was now set aside in Him. With that accomplished, salvation was available to all, Jews and Gentiles, apart from the law.

Because of his adamant stand of salvation by grace through faith being granted to anyone who accepted the premise, he was hated even to the point of enraging those Jews who heard him. With this hatred boiling in them, they looked for opportune moments to eliminate him. Understanding this, it next says, “being about to sail to Syria.”

Paul was going to leave Greece and travel by ship directly to Syria. Any stops by the ship would be for the sake of off-loading cargo and obtaining new supplies at each port as they went.

As far as the plot against him, it seems the Jews heard that he was carrying the gift to Jerusalem, or at least that he was headed there, and they wanted to either arrest him at the port or even once on the ship. Or what may be just as probable, is that they wanted to eliminate him at sea by killing him and chucking him into the water at a convenient time. Because he had heard of the plot, however, “there arose in him a resolution to return through Macedonia.”

Instead of going by ship to Syria, he took a much more roundabout way of getting home by heading up through Macedonia once again – either by land or maybe sailing up the coast on another vessel, something the Jews would not have expected. Despite this delay, those in Macedonia were then favored by another visit from their beloved apostle.

Life application: Things haven’t changed that much, even after two thousand years. There are still Jews much like Paul (Saul) in Israel who literally hate the Messianic believers in Israel. They despise the thought of the gospel that robs them of their elite status as Jews, superior to all others.

Despite not upholding the law themselves, they see the law and their culture as being the epitome of God’s favor. Along with this are those heretical Christians who proclaim law observance, clinging to their own deeds as acceptable before God. They refuse to come to Christ through faith alone, and they bitterly oppose any who dare to challenge their unscriptural doctrine.

This is a real problem in the world, and it can only lead to being separated eternally from God. Those who think they are the ones to receive His favor, most especially because of their relationship with the Law of Moses, are those who will never satisfy Him through their attempts. But self gets in the way and the wall is built, one brick of work at a time, forever separating themselves from the righteousness of God in Christ.

Be sure to hold fast to God’s grace. Remove yourself from the equation. Have faith in the merits of Christ alone and you will be accepted by God. Jesus! It is all about Jesus!

Glorious Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord who alone can reconcile us to You. We gladly receive the grace offered through His cross. Yes, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mountain side. Washington State.

Sunday, 3 September 2023

Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece Acts 20:2

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 correctly rendered, “And having passed through those parts, and having exhorted them with much talk, he came to Greece” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul departed from Ephesus, having first given his farewell to them. Luke next records, “And having passed through those parts.”

The meaning is the various parts of Macedonia which would have included Thessalonica, Berea, and Philippi, along with any other area where a church was established by this time. It is possible that he wrote 2 Corinthians during this period. That is hinted at in 2 Corinthians 7 –

“For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. ⁶ Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.” 2 Corinthians 7:5-7

It is also possible that he journeyed northwest into Illyricum at this time –

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— ¹⁹ in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:18, 19

As for his time in Macedonia, Luke continues the narrative, saying, “and having exhorted them with much talk, he came to Greece.”

A great amount of area, time, and events are brushed over with just a few words. The things that happened during this period are not unimportant, but they are not germane to the ongoing narrative. Therefore, the Holy Spirit did not inspire Luke to include the details. Rather, they are quickly summed up, and the narrative continues, noting his arrival in Greece.

Here, Luke uses the term Hellas. This is the only time it is used in the New Testament, and scholars vary widely on what they believe it means – all of Greece, the area of Achaia, the area between Macedonia and Achaia, etc. Without knowing what Luke was thinking, it is hard to be dogmatic about why he chose this particular name at this time.

Life application: This verse in Acts is not unlike Acts 18:22, where Paul is recorded as having landed at Caesarea, gone up to greet the church, meaning in Jerusalem, and then proceeded down to Antioch. A lengthy journey and an extended amount of time and activity were brushed over in just a few words.

We are being kept on a precise and meticulously recorded path of the ongoing redemptive narrative as outlined in Scripture. At times, immense detail is given concerning a single event that may have spanned just a couple of hours. At others, almost no detail is provided for an excursion that could have gone on for months or more.

Therefore, it is good to stop and consider why such minute detail is given at times. The Lord is focusing attention on matters of doctrine, theology, etc., even if we don’t realize it right away. So, take the time to stop and reflect on such things. Ultimately, they have great importance, or they would not have been so carefully recorded.

Glorious God, how wonderful is Your word. It is a story of love, redemption, and blessing in Christ. Someday we will see and understand why history has unfolded as it has. For now, we have the framework set before us to know what is important to our lives in Your presence.  Help us to carefully consider what is recorded in Your word. It is a marvelous treasure pointing us to You and what You have done and are doing to bring us back to You. Amen.

Mountain with cloud. Washington state.

Saturday, 2 September 2023 

After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. Acts 20:1

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

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 verbs, as translated by the NKJV, need to be tweaked: “And after the uproar ceased, Paul – having called the disciples, and having greeted – departed to go into Macedonia” (CG).

The previous verse closed out the chapter with the recorder dismissing the assembly. With that remembered, Chapter 20 begins with, “And after the uproar ceased.”

Here, the assembly is noted by Luke as a thorubos, or an uproar. The word gives the sense of a confused cry, a hubbub, etc. This is just as the previous chapter described things. With the calm actions of the recorder, things quieted down, the rage of the people was quelled, and Paul deemed it was the proper time to take his leave. Therefore, it next says, “Paul – having called the disciples.”

By this time, there would have been no small number of believers in Ephesus. This was seen in Chapter 19 when Demetrius said –

“Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.” Acts 19:26

Therefore, this probably would have been the calling of a sizeable assembly. With them gathered together, Luke next says, “and having greeted.”

The word aspazomai is variously translated. Some say encouraged, greeted, embraced, saluted, etc. It is repeatedly used by Paul in Romans 16 as he greets individuals in the church, but the word itself signifies to enfold in the arms. Therefore, it includes some type of body motion, maybe an embrace or a waving of the arm.

Today we might shake hands or give a high five. The point is that Paul personally met with these people and did what people do when they are about to separate. From there, he “departed to go into Macedonia.”

This is in fulfillment of what he had already planned, as noted in Chapter 19 –

“When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’ ²² So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.” Acts 19:21, 22

This is where he intended to go. However, on the way there, he passed through Troas. That is seen in 2 Corinthians 2 –

“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, ¹³ I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.” 2 Corinthians 2:12, 13

Troas is north of Ephesus but on the general path to Macedonia when going by foot or by ship.

Life application: Though Luke doesn’t record Paul’s stop in Troas, it is of note that he continued to evangelize as he traveled. He didn’t just stop to change ships if going by sea, or pass through on a horse or donkey if traveling by land. Rather, he saw that there was an open door set before him, and he took the time to go through it, even if temporarily.

Sometimes, there is an opportunity right in front of us, but we may miss it by being so set on accomplishing whatever goal we had our minds focused on. So, as you close out each day, take time to think about what transpired and consider that maybe tomorrow you can tweak your schedule to include something that you may have overlooked in the busyness of the day that has passed.

If you think, “I really should have talked to that person about Jesus,” determine in your mind to do so on the next occasion that you meet up. If it was a one-time meeting, having lost the chance to talk to someone, determine that you will be more aware of such things in the future. This is important because such opportunities can be eternity-changing for those you meet.

Heavenly Father, may we be attentive to the state of those we encounter. May we be willing to put aside things that are less important and speak about how our lives have been changed because of the gospel. From there, may we pass on the good news about how to be saved. Without this, people’s destinies will be far different. So, Lord, help us to be conscious of their plight and speak. Amen.

Sweet. Washington State.

Friday, 1 September 2023

And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. Acts 19:41

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, the recorder noted that the city was in danger of being called into question for their unlawful assembly. With that, the chapter ends with, “And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.”

Once again, the term ecclesia is used to describe this unlawful gathering. The clerk had the right to dismiss it, and he had presented a logical, orderly case to show why it must be dismissed. Anything less would certainly have led to charges now that he had made his appeal. In this case, the entire city could be put under some type of curfew or had other restrictions placed upon it, or it could have had various privileges removed from it.

To close out the commentary on this chapter for us, Charles Ellicott notes that, “An interesting inscription of the date of Trajan, from an aqueduct at Ephesus, gives nearly all the technical terms that occur in the town-clerk’s speech, and so far confirms the accuracy of St. Luke’s report: ‘This has been dedicated by the loyal and devoted Council of the Ephesians, and the people that serve the temple (Neôkoros), Peducæus Priscinus being proconsul, by the decree of Tiberius Claudius Italicus, the town-clerk of the people.’”

Life application: There is no evidence that this unnamed person was a Christian convert. However, whether by friend or by foe, the Lord is able to ensure His people and His church will continue as they should. With the church apostatizing today, we can find comfort in this fact.

Nothing is out of the providence of the Lord. To be assured that this is true, think of what Paul says to the church in this same city –

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22.

The Lord is building a house, a temple, as a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit,” and He is doing it out of His redeemed. When a person wants a house built in today’s world, he will go to a builder and will tell him what he wants.

From there, the builder will go to an architect and have the designs drawn up according to the local codes. But he will also detail every item that is needed to build the house. He will note how much copper wire is needed, even the different gauges of wire for various uses. He will calculate how many bricks or cinderblocks are needed.

He will determine the thickness of the slab and how much concrete must be poured. He will know how many panes of glass are needed. If the house is in a high wind zone, the glass will have to meet certain standards. The number of tiles required for the ceiling will be noted.

In other words, every single detail of the house is planned in advance. The amount of materials is exactingly known, etc. From there, the builder will go to the local market and determine how much all of that stuff will cost. He will then calculate exactly how much time it will take to do each step of the job, planning them in a set order for maximum efficiency. He will figure out the number of man-hours, the number of subcontractors and their costs, etc.

When these things are done, the plan and the costs will be laid out before the person who wants the house built. Every single detail is known.

If we can build houses with such precision that we know every detail in advance, imagine how perfectly God’s temple has been planned. Here, we are dealing with sin and fallen humans to erect a house properly. God, who is perfect in all ways, and who is of infinite understanding, will have no errors or lapses in His plan.

Considering this, even external influences on the church and on the people of the church will have no negative impact on God’s plan. He already knows those things. Therefore, why should you worry about today? Why should you be upset about what appears to be lacking in your life? The Lord knew and allowed those things as a part of your preparation and perfecting for the time ahead. Be content that things have been figured out according to a plan set forth by the infinite wisdom of God.

Lord God, thank You that our lives are set in a way that will lead us to eternal glory, even when they seem – at times – to be falling apart around us. When it appears to be that way, we can confidently know that these things were allowed to mold us and perfect us in You. This is a great and wonderful encouragement to our souls. Thank You, O God. Amen.