Acts

Heroes display, Wisconsin Capitol.

Thursday, 11 April 2024

“For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. Acts 26:26

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, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Though a bit clunky, the words more literally read, “For the king understands concerning these, to whom also, declaiming, I speak. For none of these, I am persuaded – none – are hiding from him. For this is not having been done in a corner” (CG).

Paul, in his reply to Festus, just noted that he was not maniacizing, but spoke words of truth and reason. With that, he continues, saying, “For the king understands concerning these.”

Paul must have seen something in Agrippa’s evaluation of the trial to know that he was following along with it and understanding it exactly as it was being presented. Further, Paul appeals to Agrippa’s position, knowing that one with his background, upbringing, and leadership could not have been unaware of the converted Jews’ belief in Christ.

In fact, verse 28 will show that he was aware of it when he uses the title “Christian.” Paul’s appeal holds a two-fold purpose. It was first to show that Agrippa was fully aware of what Moses and the prophets had prophesied concerning a coming Messiah.

Second, Agrippa would be aware that for more than twenty-five years, there was a subsect of Judaism that held to the fact that those prophecies had been fulfilled in the person of Jesus. He had come, He had taught, and Agrippa would be fully aware of it and of how the things He did, in fact, matched what the prophets had said.

Therefore, he continues using two verbs in a row, normally translated adverbially because it is difficult to find a suitable set of words to accomplish this. However, saying, “to whom also, declaiming, I speak,” satisfies the translation perfectly.

The word declaim means to deliver words in a rhetorical or impassioned way. Paul is doing just that as he boldly proclaims words of his conversion and his mission as an apostle of Christ. And more, his speech is something that has been openly and publicly proclaimed for many years. Therefore, he next says with emphasis, “For none of these, I am persuaded – none – are hiding from him.”

The repetition of the word ou, or none, is usually ignored because it isn’t easily translatable, but it is an important part of Paul’s appeal. He is not only saying that Agrippa is aware of the teachings of Christians concerning Christ, but he is completely and fully versed on the subject.

It wasn’t as if the Christians taught the crucifixion but not the resurrection. It wasn’t as if this was a secret teaching that had escaped everyone’s notice. Rather, what believers in Jesus proclaimed was fully expressed with no secret or hidden agendas. Peter had openly spoken to the people at the temple. Paul had openly proclaimed Christ everywhere he went. And so forth. Paul reconfirms this with his next words, saying, “For this is not having been done in a corner.”

Jesus stated this same type of thing as is recorded in John 18:20. When He was standing before the high priest during the interrogation He endured, He said –

“I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.”

The message of Christ was never intended to be hidden under a bed or a basket. Instead, it is a message that has been intended to be proclaimed from rooftops and throughout the world. Paul avows that Agrippa knew this and comprehended it as an axiom of the faith.

Life application: The message of Jesus is exactly what Paul states in this verse. It is not from a closed and secret society, but from a group of people who are passionate about sharing what had so profoundly changed and directed their lives.

It is a message that isn’t to be peddled for money or pounded over someone’s head. Instead, it is a message that is to be presented and allowed to sink into the recipient’s head. Sometimes, this may take many visits or discussions, while sometimes, it may happen with just a few words.

However the message is transmitted, it is a message that must be shared properly and that should be shared with conviction. People need Jesus. Without Him, there is no hope. But in Him, there is complete restoration and the promise of eternal life. Be sure to share this message. It will make an eternity of difference in those who accept it.

Lord God, may we be willing to share the wonderful message of Jesus as often as we can and with as many as we can. May we be bold enough to share it again and again if necessary. Help us to not be overbearing. And yet, help us to not lose heart. May our words about Jesus be appropriate to each and every situation. Amen.

The preamble to Wisconsin constitution. Wisconsin Capitol.

Wednesday, 10 April 2024

But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. Acts 26:25

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, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

A more literal translation is, “And he says, ‘I am not maniacizing, most excellent Festus. But I declare words of truth and sanity’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Festus blurted out, “You are maniacizing Paul! Your great letters turn you to mania.” The meaning is that Paul was basically bonkers and that too much studying had driven him nuts. Now, Paul responds accordingly. Luke notes that with the words “And he says, ‘I am not maniacizing.’”

Paul returns the same word to Festus that he had just used, mainomai. It is the verbal form of mania. With that, he adds, “most excellent Festus.”

Instead of a sharp response like he gave to the High Priest in Acts 23:3, he gives the title of honor which Festus bore. He also did this to Felix in Acts 24:3. The word, kratistos, translated as “most excellent,” is also the same as that found in Acts 23:26 in the introduction of the letter from Claudius Lysias to Felix.

It is an adjective coming from kratos, a word signifying might, strength, dominion, power, etc. Thus, it literally means “strongest.” This is its last use in Scripture. After having respectfully disagreed, he next says, “But I declare words of truth and sanity.”

Paul turns the thought around. Instead of being insane, he claims that what he has said is true and sane. The second word, translated as “sanity,” is sóphrosuné. This is the first of three times it will be used in the New Testament. The other two uses are in 1 Timothy 2:9 & 2:15. It is derived from sóphrón, temperate, sober-minded, self-controlled, etc. It specifically means “soundness of mind, i.e. (literally) sanity or (figuratively) self-control — soberness, sobriety” (Strong’s).

While Festus has accused Paul of being bonkers, Paul says that his words are well-minded. Unfortunately, an insane person will normally not know that he is insane. And a person who is deluded will not know his own delusion. This is certainly so in religious matters.

However, Paul’s simple response is also not the response of a lunatic or a deluded person. Instead, a person who is deluded will normally not continue to handle the matter as Paul will in the verses to come.

It is to be noted, however, that a person who is passionate is often mistaken for a lunatic. Paul had an enormous zeal to stamp out Christianity. That was redirected to building up the faith. In the eyes of many, Martin Luther probably seemed to border on insanity, and yet, it was his passion that led him to research the truth. His passion was not misdirected, but properly placed. Paul is the same. In order to demonstrate this, he will next turn his argument to one who can substantiate the claims of Scripture, even if not their fulfillment.

Life application: Someone who had never been to a football game might think that some of the fans were nuts. At times, they might be right. But for the most part, the crazy attitude of the people can be attributed to a passion for the sport, their home team, and the desire to be the winners. That, along with letting go of the stresses of the work week, might lead people to think that the stadium was filled with lunatics.

Understanding that zeal for something does not always indicate being crazy, how do people perceive you and your faith in Jesus? There are people who stand on street corners and annoyingly yell out about Jesus. It is true that their approach may be out of place, but it may be that they just can’t contain themselves and want to express their joy in the Lord in the only way they can think of.

How do you express your faith? Do people even know you have faith in Jesus? If not, why not? If people think you are nuts for believing in an unseen God who supposedly came in the flesh two thousand years ago, how much more nutty are they for believing in a universe that popped itself into existence?

When you discover that faith in Jesus is both rational and reasonable, you should be excited to defend that with others. This is because if it is the truth, then those people who do not yet believe are on their way to eternal separation from God. Without Jesus, they are lost. That should drive you to some extreme or another based on your makeup, but if it doesn’t affect your life towards them, there is probably a problem with you. Maybe you are nuts. Remind yourself daily: “Don’t be nuts. Share Jesus with someone!”

Glorious Lord God, help us to be more and more passionate about Jesus each day that we live. As we learn more, consider Him and His work, and think about what He has done for us personally, may it affect us greatly – changing us from peevish people to bold believers. Give us a renewed passion for Jesus each day. Hooray for Jesus! Amen.

A bit blurry, but founding father’s picture. Wisconsin Capitol.

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” Acts 26:24

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, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

It is another verse that is rather difficult to translate directly. More literally, and with a newly coined word to get the sense, it reads, “And he, defending himself by these, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘You are maniacizing Paul! Your great letters turn you to mania.’”

Putting the previous verse with this one will provide clarity on the subject, “that passable, the Christ. That first from dead – resurrection – He is come to preach light to both our people and the Gentiles. And he, defending himself by these, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘You are maniacizing Paul! Your great letters turn you to mania.’”

Note: The word “maniacizing” didn’t exist until this translation was made. It is a present verbal form of maniac to match the Greek.

Paul was speaking of the human nature of Jesus the Christ, noting that He was passable or capable of suffering. In that human nature, he died but was the first to rise from the dead. It is concerning this line of speaking that Luke refers to Paul with the words, “And he, defending himself by these.”

The meaning is that in the process of speaking out what would otherwise seem absolutely incredible, because it is beyond anyone’s common understanding, that he is interrupted. Luke notes that, “Festus said with a loud voice.”

In other words, Festus had been listening up to this point, probably enjoying Paul’s words, even if he wasn’t on the same page with him. But when Paul spoke concerning the resurrection from the dead, he could no longer contain himself and simply blurted out his next words, “You are maniacizing Paul!”

The words are those of an eyewitness testimony. Luke was probably there in attendance, but if he wasn’t, we can still imagine Paul and him laughing over the response of Festus as Paul brought the memory back to words.

If Luke was not present at the time, the animation of Paul’s words was still enough for Luke to perfectly describe the scene. As Festus is sitting in judgment, it seems almost ridiculous that he would burst out in the way he has. It would be just like a judge yelling at a defendant, “You’re nuts.”

Although he may think these things about people while sitting in judgment, it isn’t a common or expected type of reaction. It would even show that an unfavorable judgment could be the result, simply because of his own bias against Paul’s argument. Regardless of this, the words are blurted out, and the reason for them is given as well, “Your great letters turn you to mania.’”

The word translated as letters is gramma. It signifies that which is drawn or written down. Thus, a letter. We use the same term today when we say something like, “He is a man of many letters.” The same word is used in John 7:15 to speak of Jesus’ great learning as well. Here, it is in the neuter plural, and therefore it gives the idea of the cumulative body of writings which Paul studied.

Festus may have known that the Jews held fast to their sacred writings as no other people, even more so than the highly educated Greeks. The Greeks were in the habit of studying but also writing. The Jews claimed that what they read wasn’t their own writings, but the writings of God. Therefore, they were studiers first and foremost of that which they claimed was divine.

Festus may have known this, and his conclusion was that Paul had gone over the deep end in studying, finding things in the writings which he mentally converted into an obsession and then insanity. Paul had spoken the very words that these writings proclaimed (verses 22, 23), but Festus was unable to accept what he proclaimed.

Although his comments were limited, it is apparent that the words of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 rang true in Festus’s case. What Paul saw as logical, reasonable, and fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ, Festus saw as both incredible and mentally unsound. He surely thought that Paul had, as it were, been overwhelmed through study.

It is of interest that Paul never makes an appeal to either Greek reason or intellect in this speech as he did in Acts 17:25. Instead, he has spoken only of what can be derived from Scripture and which would keep him legally within the confines of a sub-sect of Judaism (religio licita).

As a brain squiggle, the word translated as “mania” is from the noun mania. That is derived from the verb form also used in this verse and translated as “maniacizing.” It is only used here in the New Testament. It is, of course, the basis for our modern term “mania.”

Life application: There is a duality in the final acts of the finished work of Christ. There is the cross, and then there is the resurrection. Neither is a stand-alone act. The cross without the resurrection would be a pointless sacrifice. The resurrection is an unintelligible event unless it is preceded by the atoning death of Christ.

Sin is the problem. People are spiritually dead because of sin. People then physically die apart from Christ because that sin problem is not corrected. Christ was crucified, becoming an atoning sacrifice for the sins of man. But if Christ did not resurrect, it would mean that either He died in His own sin or that the sins of those He died for stuck to Him, tainting Him with their sin. Either way, the act would have been futile.

But because He had no sin, and because He was able to fully atone for the sins of others, their sin is removed from them forever. His body was the offering that made this possible. In Acts 2, Peter says of Jesus that “it was not possible that He should be held by” death. As the wages of sin is death, and as He had no sin, death could not hold Him. But more, because His perfection was fully sufficient to atone for our sin, death could not hold Him by that either.

Thus, it is an absolute proof that those who are saved will forever remain saved. In coming to Christ, our sin is once and forever immediately atoned for. There is no sin beyond the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood. To claim that would then be to claim that Jesus’ sacrifice was insufficient to purify. Such cannot be the case! All hail the glorious name of Jesus. Hooray for Jesus!

Lord God, we thank You for what occurred in the giving of Your Son for our sin. Jesus! It is all about Jesus. Forgive us for making our lives and thoughts about us. We are merely the recipients of the gracious work that You have accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

Wisconsin House of Representatives.

Monday, 8 April 2024

“that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:23

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, scrolling 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 Paul are very difficult to express literally. They read, “that passable, the Christ. That first from dead – resurrection – He is come to preach light to both our people and the Gentiles” (CG).

Paul had just noted that what he said was nothing other than those things that the prophets and Moses said would come. With that, he next says, “that passable, the Christ.”

The word to describe Christ is an adjective found only here in Scripture, pathétos. It signifies one destined to suffer. In other words, he was passible. Thayer’s says he was endued with the capacity of suffering, capable of feeling.

Paul clearly asserted in the previous verse that each of the points of doctrine that he was to convey to his hearers was to be found in the very Scriptures that Agrippa himself would be aware of.

That the Christ would suffer is found in numerous passages in the psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Zechariah, etc. These things are often specifically stated. In type and in picture, they can be found throughout the writings of Moses and all the way throughout the rest of the Old Testament.

That the Christ was liable to suffer was something that was ignored by the Jews. They had only focused on His acts of conquest, triumph, and power. They looked at the Messiah as one that would fulfill all of the promises concerning restoration of the land to them, leading the nations, and so forth.

What they missed is that these very things are actually found through His suffering. First and foremost, His power is, in fact, shown forth in His weakness. This portion of His coming was to handle the sin problem in man. Only after that is taken care of can man be restored to God.

Having a nation of people whose sins are not atoned for to lead the nations would make no sense. But the Jews misunderstood this and thought that it was Moses and the sacrificial system that dealt with these things, being sufficient to make them acceptable to God. But those things only anticipated Christ’s more perfect work.

After His suffering, Paul next focuses on the resurrection. In both type and in explicit references, the Messiah is shown to not only suffer, but to rise. As he says, “That first from dead – resurrection.”

Paul’s words are succinct and precise. If the Messiah was to suffer and die an atoning death for the people, and yet He was also to rule forever as the Leader of the people, then either there is an absolute and irreconcilable disconnect between the two thoughts, or the Messiah would first die and then be raised to rule. This is seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Greek translation of Isaiah 53:11 – From the labor of His soul He shall see light.

The Masoretic Text, the Vulgate, and the Targums omit this section of the passage, but it is surely in the original. In type, the resurrection is seen in the lives of Isaac, Joseph, Benjamin, etc.

It should be noted that Christ was not the first to come back to life. Both Elijah and Elisha raised children. The widow’s son was raised by Jesus and then later Lazarus was as well. However, Jesus was the first who was resurrected to eternal life. The others were merely raised to restored life. According to Leviticus 18:5, His sinless perfection demanded that He must rise.

Paul next notes that it was out of Christ’s resurrection that “He is come to preach light to both our people and the Gentiles.”

The words are rather difficult to express in English and translations vary widely. However, the verbs, being present tense, are well expressed with the words “He is come to preach.”

It is the resurrection which brings light to those who sit in the shadow of death. All mankind knows that death awaits. It is a dark and futile life. It is an existence with no hope. However, with the coming of Christ, a new Light has dawned. Eternal life is promised to those who trust in Him, both Jew and Gentile.

As for the words “our people,” it simply says “people,” but the word “our” is implied in the word used, especially because Paul is speaking directly to Agrippa.

Life application: The timeline of Daniel 9 says that a certain number of years would pass and then, with seven years left in the given timeline, the Messiah would be cut off. The meaning is that He would die.

If the Messiah died, and there are seven more years to go before the restoration promised by God for Israel under the Messiah would take place, then it means, by default, that the Messiah must resurrect. There is no way around this. The Messiah cannot reign if He were to remain dead!

Therefore, there must be a reason why He would die. That reason is the key theological point to be found in Scripture. Sin. Sin must be dealt with first and foremost before restoration with God can come about. The law was introduced to demonstrate this. Only in the fulfillment of the law can man stand in a right relationship with God.

Without that, only darkness exists. But in the fulfillment of the law, the light is made manifest. As all people already bear Adam’s sin, then no person could fulfill the law and be right with God because Adam’s sin predates the law. Therefore, Christ came in sinless perfection. He then fulfilled the law. He now offers His sinless perfection to any who will simply believe. This is the Light which has come into the world. Believe that God has done it! Jesus has prevailed!

Lord God, thank You for the giving of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. How grateful we are to You for the promise and surety of total restoration and eternal life because of what You have done through Him. Praises to You, O God! Amen.

Wisconsin Senate.

Sunday, 7 April 2024

“Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— Acts 26:22

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, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

More literally, the words read, “Having obtained, therefore, help from God unto this day, I have stood, witnessing to small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses spoke is coming to be” (CG).

Paul just noted that talking about what the Lord expects is the reason why the Jews seized him and tried to kill him. Now, he explains why he has been rescued from this, saying, “Having obtained, therefore, help from God unto this day.”

Despite the Jews trying to kill him, he has been rescued from them because God has been on his side. If this is so, then it means – by default – that God has not been on the side of the Jews. They had wronged him, but more, they were conducting their lives wrongly before God.

As for the word translated as “help,” it is epikouria. It is found only here in Scripture. It gives the idea of external help, but of one of greater ability or power to one of lesser ability or power. In this case, it is divine assistance being from God. Paul says that because of this external help, “I have stood.”

This isn’t speaking of his standing in the court but of his ability to continue with the task to which he was called. It is the same metaphor he uses numerous times elsewhere, such as –

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:11-13

Paul was firm and unwavering in his proclamation, standing because God was with him and, as he says, “witnessing to both small and great.”

These words show that Paul saw no distinction in any man after receiving his commission. To Christ, and therefore to him now, there was no Jew, Gentile, king, servant, male, female, wealthy, or poor, or any other distinction that would preclude him from sharing the gospel. Barnes states it this way –

“He passed by none because they were poor; and he was not deterred by the fear of the rich and the great from making known their sins and calling them to repentance. What an admirable illustration of the proper duties of a minister of the gospel!”

As for his witnessing, he next notes that he was “saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses spoke is coming to be.”

This final clause shows Paul’s understanding that the doctrine of the Messiah was fully testified to in the Old Testament. Christ’s life, work, atoning death, etc. were all carefully detailed, starting from Moses and continuing through the prophets.

All of what Christ would come and do was carefully laid out in their writings. As such, Paul was simply testifying to what those written witnesses testified to. He used their own words for the message he proclaimed. All that Christ was set to do, and all that He did, was spoken of in advance. Because of this, Paul’s testimony was not his at all but God’s. He was speaking as God’s ambassador, something he explicitly states in his own writings, such as –

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20, 21

Life application: If you are speaking accurately concerning the faith as it is recorded in Scripture, how can you not be bold in your proclamation? If you really believe that the Bible is the word of God, and if you are conveying the message of the Bible properly, you are simply explaining what God has already proclaimed. So why should you be distressed, peevish, concerned, etc. about what you are saying?

If someone takes offense at your words, they are taking offense at God’s word. There is no need to be belligerent in your approach, but there is also no shame in being imprisoned for your stand. God is right here with us. Therefore, He is right there with you in such an instance.

Just be sure that what you are saying is properly stated and in accord with His intent. And the only way to know that is not to listen to your preacher or teacher, accepting his words at face value. Rather, you must know the word well enough to accept or dismiss what you are being taught. Otherwise, you are not really proclaiming the truth of God’s word. In other words, “READ AND KNOW YOUR BIBLE.”

Glorious Lord God, people in many churches are taught erroneous doctrine, but they accept what they hear without checking. That is a sad testimony to their time in church. It is also a sad testimony to their willingness to know You properly. May we not be led astray in such ways. Rather, may we be willing to check what we are taught and hold fast only to that which matches what Your word states. Help us in this, O God. Amen.