Aug 22 2014

Peter Raises Tabitha – Acts 9

Peter went to the town of Lydda, where he found a man named Aenaes, who had been paralyzed for eight years. Paul, as usual, gave all the glory to the one who really healed — Jesus, saying “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” The healing caused quite stir and many conversions were made around Lydda and the surrounding Sharon.

He then ended up about 18 miles to the northwest, in the town of Joppa. There, a much-loved disciple named Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) had become ill and died. She was loved dearly because she was always doing good works for others, and lived a charitable life. When he arrived, he was taken to an upper room where the washed body had been taken. There were widows there who showed Paul their tunics that Dorcas had made for them, demonstrating her charitable nature.

Paul raised her from the dead, and word spread quickly, resulting in many more conversions. Peter remained for several days there in the house of Simon the Tanner.

(This year’s reading plan for Luke, Acts, and 1 and 2 Chronicles averages just 15 verses per day – 5 days per week!)
Schedule for this week
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from Acts here
Read or listen to audio of today’s selection from 2 Chronicles here

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 21 2014

Saul Goes to Caesarea – Acts 9

Saul left Damascus for Jerusalem. He wanted to join the disciples there, but they were understandably afraid of him. It was Barnabas, who we met at the end of chapter 4, who spoke in Paul’s defense to the apostles. He told them of Saul’s conversion, how it had happened., and how he had been preaching the gospel.

So now Saul went in and out among them at will, as he continued preaching about Jesus. Verse 29 speaks of how he disputed against the Hellenists. Obviously, this was a different group of Hellenists from those spoken of in Acts 6:1. These were Jews who had not been converted, and they were plotting to kill Saul, presumably for his “change of allegiance” as much as for anything else. So the brothers had to get him out of there. They took him to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.

So according to verse 31, the church all over Judea, Galilee, and Samaria then had peace and began to grow and many were filled with the Spirit.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 20 2014

Saul Preaches Christ as the Son of God – Acts 9

In verses 19-20, we find the man who had ravaged the church and approved of the deaths of Christians, including that of Stephen preaching in the synagogue and declaring that Jesus is the Son of God. This naturally amazed and bewildered a great many people. Such a turnaround in such a short time must have been difficult to comprehend.

Verse 22 says that he “confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.” How was Saul proving that Jesus was that Messiah that they had awaited so long? He was filed with the Spirit, and he was using the Scripture. He had the eyewitness accounts of the apostles. And now, he had his own account of what had happened to him, which would be very convincing as he declared that Jesus (whose very name he had despised) was Lord and Christ.

But not everyone was happy about Saul’s conversion. Verse 23 says that the Jews were plotting to kill him. The Jews referred to, we can naturally assume, were the chief priests and scribes — some of whom for which he had acquired letters in Jerusalem giving him authority to arrest Christians. Now they watched the gates day and night waiting to kill him. But his disciples helped him escape quietly, lowering Saul in a basket through an opening in the wall. His time in Damascus, for now, was coming to an end.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 19 2014

Saul’s Baptism – Acts 9

Now in Damascus for three days after the encounter on the road which left him blind, Saul did not eat or drink anything. The Lord told a man named Ananias (in a vision) to “go to the street called Straight,” to find Saul and restore his sight. Ananias protested, reminding the Lord of all he had done to the Christians in Jerusalem, stating that he had full authority to do the same to anyone in Damascus.

English: Damascus, street called straight (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But the Lord told him that Saul had been chosen by Him to carry His name “before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Saul would of course do exactly that, as we will see throughout the book of Acts. But it is significant to note that his purpose, beyond evangelizing the Gentiles, included doing so not just for kings (and presumably an emperor). He was to do so to the children of Israel themselves. And Saul (Paul) will do plenty of that as well.

Then the Lord told Ananias that He will show Saul how much he must suffer for the sake of His name. God’s word never mentions a statement from God or Jesus that has no meaning. So it is appropriate to consider that Saul would have a very good idea of what was in store for him the rest of his days, as his life was changing forever.

Ananias reluctantly agreed to go. And as he laid his hands on Saul and told him what the Lord had told him to do in verse 17, verse 18 says that “something like scales fell from his eyes” and his sight was restored. That phenomenon is not explained because it does not need to be. The entire ordeal was certainly miraculous. But the real miracle was that this man who had caused the death of so many Christians was then baptized into Christ.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and social media contacts.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 18 2014

Saul Goes Hunting – Acts 9

As chapter 8 opened, we had Saul of Tarsus (in Luke’s words) “ravaging the church,” literally dragging people out of their homes, and taking them to prison – all for being Christians. And thus began the scattering of the church to other regions. Chapter 9 opens with these two verses which speak volumes:

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

The statement in that opening phrase demonstrates the venomous heart Saul had against those who followed Jesus. He believed in his heart

the Conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus as painted by Michelangelo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

that the disciples were blasphemous against God and all that he had been taught his whole life; and he wanted nothing less than to crush them. Having made a very good start at doing so in Jerusalem was no longer enough. Now he wanted to go to Damascus to hunt down those who had escaped to that location, as well as any who may have already been there. Verse two marks the first time the Bible refers to Christians as belonging to “the Way.” “The Way” was a name used for Christianity during those times. Luke uses the name in Acts (Acts 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22).

On the way to Damascus, a bright light from heaven fell upon Saul — strong enough to bring him to the ground, and he was blinded. Jesus spoke to him, saying “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He was told to go into the city, where he would be told what to do. Verse 7 says that the men with him stood speechless, “hearing the voice but seeing no one.” This is another passage that skeptics try to use as a contradiction. Paul gives his own account of this in Acts 22:9, saying that those men “saw the light but did not understand the voice…” Ironically, such skeptics, by seeing this as a contradiction, prove that it is possible to hear (and read) without understanding.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 15 2014

Philip Baptizes the Ethiopian – Acts 8

Philip went and joined the Eunuch. He was reading from Isaiah 53 7-8 specifically at that time, which says:

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 074 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?

Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, and the Ethiopian invited him to come up into the chariot with him. Peter explained this well-known passage as it applied to Jesus, and he used that opportunity to preach Christ crucified to him. Coming upon water, the Ethiopian asked Philip to baptize him. Afterward, the Eunuch went on his way, rejoicing.

One cannot help but wonder how many others this Eunuch taught upon his return to Ethiopia. But afterward, Philip “found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” The words “found himself” suggest that the Spirit carried him away by divine intervention.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 14 2014

Philip sent to Meet an Ethiopian – Acts 8

Lambert Sustris – The Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch by the Deacon Philip – WGA21979 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Verse 25 says that Peter and John “testified” and spoke the word of the Lord to villages in Samaria before returning to Jerusalem. “Testifying” merely refers to giving people their eyewitness account of Jesus rising from the dead. Meanwhile, an angel of the Lord appeared to Philip and told him to go to the desert land that was to the south on the road between Jerusalem and Gaza.

Philip did obey, and upon arriving, he met with an Ethiopian eunuch who was a court official to Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. “Candace” was a name assigned to all such rulers of Ethiopia during that time (much like the name Pharaoh was given to rulers of Egypt. Because the Ethiopian would have been returning from worship in Jerusalem to a destination over a 1,000 miles away, he must have been a a very devout man. Some speculate that he was a “God-fearer” — a Gentile who had converted to Judaism. That certainly seems to fit. Philip found him in his chariot reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit sent him to join the Ethiopian in his chariot.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 13 2014

Peter Rebukes Simon – Acts 8

Word reached the apostles that the people of Samaria were being taught, believed and obeyed the gospel. So they sent Peter and John to “lay hands” upon many of them so that they would receive the gifts from the Holy Spirit that would allow them to work the same miracles that Philip was doing – healing the sick, the lame, etc.

Peter’s conflict with Simon Magus by Avanzino Nucci, 1620. Simon is on the right, dressed in black. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When Simon saw that these gifts came to those who had been so designated by the apostles, he wanted those gifts as well. So he offered money to Peter and John in hopes of getting them to lay hands on him also. Peter’s rebuke of Simon for this shameful act and the condition of his heart is cause for some debate as to what is actually meant. Part of what Peter said was: “I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”

But it seems clear to this writer that Peter meant exactly what he said. Simon did have bitterness in his heart because of the loss of the attention that he had received from amazing the people, and he wanted that attention back. This selfishness was the motive for his desire to receive the Holy Spirit. There was nothing about it that remotely resembled a desire to serve the Lord or to help others in need. It was pure selfishness and pride that motivated him, and he needed to repent for it. His request for their prayers aft the rebuke gives us hope that he did repent, and perhaps he became useful in the Lord’s church.

/Bob’s boy

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Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 12 2014

Philip Preaches in Samaria – Acts 8

English: This is a map of first century Iudaea Province that I created using Illustrator CS2. I traced this image for the general geographic features. I then manually input data from maps found in a couple of sources. Robert W. Funk and the Jesus Seminar. The Acts of Jesus. HarperSanFrancisco: 1998. p. xxiv. Michael Grant. Jesus: An Historian’s Review of the Gospels. Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1977. p. 65-67. John P. Meier. A Marginal Jew. Doubleday: 1991. p. 1:434. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Now that the church had scattered to escape the persecution in Jerusalem, one of the places some of them went was Samaria. The Samaritans had long been shunned by the Jews, so the significance should not be overlooked. This was the beginning of evangelism in its purest form. People who held no “office” or position in the church were teaching and preaching the gospel. Philip was one of those first seven that had been chosen a deacons, and he also was teaching in Samaria.

Having been given authority by the laying on of hands by the apostles, Philip was casting out demons, healing the sick and the lame, and (most importantly) preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Verse 8 says that there was much joy in the city because of the work that he was doing. There was also a man there named Simon, who had practiced manic of some sort. He had amazed the people and had commanded much attention from them because of it. many believed and were baptized.

Simon himself was one of those who were baptized, and afterward he stayed with Philip, and was amazed because of the miracles that Philip performed. But before being converted, he had convinced the people that he was himself someone very special – and he also evidently believed that to be the case.

/Bob’s boy

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Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Aug 11 2014

Saul Ravages the Church – Acts 8

Paul the Apostle, Russian icon from first quarter of 18th cen. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The first three verses of chapter 8 really belong with chapter 7 in this writer’s opinion because they really mark the end of what could easily be considered the first section of the book of Acts. The significance of the previous chapter’s cold-blooded murder of murder of Stephen cannot be understated. A t the end, they stoned Stephen to death, laying their garments at the feet of Saul. Verse one begins

And Saul approved of the execution.

The reality of those words from verse one would haunt the apostle Paul for the rest of his life. Known at this time as “Saul of Tarsus,” Paul was himself a Pharisee, having been “educated at the feet of Gamaliel” (Acts 22:3), a much revered member of the Sanhedrin council. Though himself not a member of the Sanhedrin, the last few verses confirm that Paul did enjoy a somewhat revered status himself. That status afforded him some authority as well. The fury over Stephens speech was not quenched by his death by way of stoning. The wrath of the council was then turned upon all Christians, and Saul acted upon their authority as he “was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison (verse 3).

The tremendous growth of the church from the day of Pentecost up until Stephen’s death had been a great blessing mixed with the growing pains we saw in chapter 6. Now as the church scattered, that growth would ensure that many more in many other places would be taught, as well as become teachers of, the gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostles, of course, remained where they were.

/Bob’s boy

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Please visit this site’s menu item “The Author’s Books” for info on the author’s books, website, and Facebook page.

All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.