What is the theme of this chapter?
The church at Antioch.
What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verses 20-21
But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to theHellenists [Greeks] also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?
I should freely give, according to my ability, to fellow believers in need.
So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea (Acts 11:29).
Additional observations/questions:
Interesting that the ESV uses the word "Hellenists" in verse 20, while the NASB and NIV use the word "Greeks." It makes more sense to me that "Greeks" is correct.
The church at Antioch.
What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verses 20-21
But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the
What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?
I should freely give, according to my ability, to fellow believers in need.
So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea (Acts 11:29).
Additional observations/questions:
Interesting that the ESV uses the word "Hellenists" in verse 20, while the NASB and NIV use the word "Greeks." It makes more sense to me that "Greeks" is correct.
I like this comment. A fuller explanation would be " greek- speaking Jews ". I am doing a computer analysis of Paul's travels, where he was and when he wrote each epistle and to whom. Its a great personal exercise. I tried a few years back but got lost.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit takes great delight in making us concentrate. For instance, there are two's and threes of everything.
A) Paul speaks to the Jew first, both Greek speaking and Hebrew speaking. Also the gentiles.
B) There are two Antiochs.
C) Paul is a prisoner three ways; of Jesus, in Rome, and in
Caesarea.
D) I am of the "opinion only" that Acts is not chronological.
E) The beginning and ending of Romans poses questions for me.
F) I am not using anyone's analyses.
Cheers,
God bless,
J.A.
Interesting, especially "D" and "E." On what do you base your opinion that Acts is not chronological? And what questions do you have regarding the beginning and ending of Romans?
ReplyDeleteD) and E) pose problems for me together.
ReplyDeleteIn Romans, Paul infers that here will visit them in the future.
1. He says that their faith is acknowledged everywhere.
2. He sends many friends to Rome with the epistle. Ch 15.
But:
When he gets to Rome in Acts 28:
A. No one has heard of him.
B. None of those friends visit him.
C. Christianity is just an nknown sect to the jew.
My problem is this:
The Holy Spirit did not send all the asain christians to Rome to be martyred as must be assumed if Paul wrote the epistle BEFORE he went to Rome.
Paul himself would not have sent his friends to anyone he did not know.
Other than inserting [ellipses] all indications are that that is the case.
I am truly confused that no one met Paul on his arrival.
I can only search for evidence that Romans was sent to a Roman church that HE founded after he got to Rome and that the "Romans" epistle was sent to them after Paul left Rome and went elsewhere.
Tradition holds that Peter started thr church in Rome and the scriptures are silent on that case.
I have no wish to condemn martyrs as seems the case of all commentators.
What do you think?
Cheers
J.A.
You will also notice that three times does Paul announce that he is turning to the gentiles. Acts 13:46; 18:6 and 28:28.
ReplyDeleteIndispersed between all these chapters is Paul fighting with the unbelieving Jews, gentiles, proselytes etc.
As I categorically state: the Holy Spirit enjoys making us think.
The entire bible is canonical, not chronological.
He reveals His secrets to those who truly love His words.
1 & 2 Thessalonians are Paul's earliest epistles written fron either Athens or Corinth. I'm not sure? It could have been one from each city.
People say that "revelations" do not exist! I say that the more bible study I do the more "revelations" I get.
The bible is slowly revealing its secrets to me and I thrill at the Glory of God.
That's why I use only the AV which has the least man made errors.
Cheers,
J.A.
What do you make of Acts 28:14-15: “… And so we came to Rome. And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.”?
ReplyDeleteFor me, it makes sense that Luke wrote the Book of Acts chronologically. It’s the perfect bridge from the Gospels to the Book of Romans. How shocking Romans would seem if Acts didn’t explain the transition.
Regarding the 3 references you site in Acts where Paul says he is going to the Gentiles, this is the way I see it: In Acts, Paul always went to the Jews first in every city he visited, giving them the chance to either accept or reject Jesus Christ as Messiah. It’s like God wanted to give the Jews every opportunity to accept Him so as to remove all excuses. When they rejected Him, Paul basically said, “Fine, I’m going to the Gentiles.” Paul last said this when he finally made it to Rome (Acts 28:28); although not in the way he had hoped (in chains).
It's unclear how the church in Rome began. “All roads lead to Rome” was a popular saying that indicated the city’s importance and accessibility. Every road in the Roman Empire either led directly to Rome, or linked to one of the major roads that did lead directly to Rome. So it’s not surprising to me that there was already an established church before Paul’s arrival. People who may have heard the gospel in Asia, Greece, or elsewhere could have traveled to Rome.
Here's a link to a rough timeline that shows how I see things:
http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2011/01/acts-rough-overview.html
Sorry, acts-rough-overview page will not come up for me.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the words " brethren" and "Jews" in Acts 28.
The early christians were identified as "saints."
See : Acts 9:13: Acts 9:32: Acts 9:41: Acts 26:10: Romans 1:7: Romans 8:27: and many more times in all the epistles.
That was the name early christians were identified.
No saints met Paul at All?..imagine his distress when he thanked God and took courage when at least some brethren met him.
Christian was a name given at Antioch to the Asians first.
There are "saints" mentioned everywhere through Acts and the epistles except at Acts 28. So contrary to chronology, scriptural answers elude me yet.
I can form for myself a myriad of my own opinions but then I cease to learn.
For myself, I can only accept what the scriptures tell me otherwise I will remain spiritually blind on many subjects.
Cheers,
John Allen
That is my name.
71 years young. Australian.
Brethren defined at Romans 9:3
ReplyDeleteJews defined as those under the Law.
Cheers
John
"Brethren" or "brothers" is a pretty generic term (Gr Αδελφος and Αδελφοι or adelphoi and adelphos) and should be interpreted within the context one finds it. See also its use in Eph 6:10; Phil 3:1,17; 4:8; Col 1:2, etc...
ReplyDeleteSorry the link doesn't seem to work in the comments section. I guess you could copy and paste the link in the address bar, but here it is instead:
Acts - a rough timeline
(timeline of Acts and beyond)
30 AD - Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:9-11)
32-33 AD - Ananias and Sapphira put to death (Acts 5:1-11)
34-37 AD - Stephen martyred; Paul's conversion (Acts 7-9)
42-50 AD - Book of James (half-brother of Jesus Christ) written (because of its content, I'd put it closer to 42 AD)
44 AD - 1st of the Twelve — James (brother of John) — martyred (Acts 12:2)
46 AD - Famine in Judea
47 AD - Ananias becomes high priest
47-48 AD - Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-14:28)
49-50 AD - Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35); Galatians written
49-52 AD - Paul's second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)
51 AD - 1 & 2 Thessalonians written
54 AD - Nero becomes Roman emperor
56-58 AD - Paul's third missionary journey (Acts 18:23-21:26)
57 AD - Paul's fourth and last visit to Jerusalem (Acts 21-23)
56-57 AD - 1 & 2 Corinthians written
56-58 AD - Romans written
58-60 AD - Paul imprisoned at Caesarea (Acts 23:11-26:32)
59-60 AD - Porcius Festus appointed governor of Judea; Paul taken to Rome for trial
60-61 AD - Paul under house arrest at Rome (Acts 28:11-31)
61-63 AD - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon written
62 AD - James (half brother of Jesus Christ) martyred
63-66 AD - 1 Timothy, Titus, and 1 & 2 Peter written
64 AD - Fire at Rome
64-68 AD - Hebrews written
67 AD - 2 Timothy written; Peter and Paul martyred
68 AD - Roman emperor Nero dies
70 AD - Destruction of Jerusalem
This is a "rough timeline" because I remain open to changing it as I learn something new.
You make mention of "context" quite often without explanation?
ReplyDeleteWhat is your interpretation of the word?
Clear definition if far superior that contexting.
Context is a word that Professors use when they cannot clearly define a question.
How large or small have the parameters of scripture got to be to remain in context?
And regarding interpretation? How do you interpret Acts 28:29: in the ESV that you are using?
Cheers,
John
I had to think about this for a bit. You’re right, most everybody talks about reading Scripture in context, that “context is king!” But everybody doesn’t follow the same method. The simplest definition would be that THE PART OF A TEXT THAT SURROUNDS A PARTICULAR WORD OR PASSAGE DETERMINES ITS MEANING. And most people would agree with this. However, I believe we also need to DETERMINE TO WHOM THE VERSE, PASSAGE, OR BOOK WAS ADDRESSED — because all Scripture is for us but not all is written directly to us or about us — and TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR SETTING IN WHICH A STATEMENT IS MADE OR AN EVENT OCCURS. This, of course, includes determining where along the path of progressive revelation (the dispensation) it occurs. Looking at the context in this way allows Scripture say what it means and mean what it says.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Acts 28:29 — “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much dispute among themselves” — some manuscripts add this verse. Obviously you know that the ESV omits its. But I don’t refer to the ESV only. I use many translations, mostly the ESV (our church uses this version), NASB, NKJV, KJV, and occasionally the NIV and NLT.
Yes! Correct context searching is looking for WORDS or SENTENCES that are in the area of what you are searching to try to understand why God has written them for our edification.
ReplyDeleteNow, if you look at the first part of Acts: 28:25 you will see that Acts 28:29 repeats what is written there. Why?
But if you search verses 23 & 24 you will find similar repeats in verses 30 & 31.
And in the middle verse 27 you will find:
Heart
Ears
Eyes
Eyes
Ears
Heart.
Heavens above! It is our God speaking to us in hebrew poetry!
The "pleonasm" of verse 29 ALERTS us of this in the CONTEXT.
Cheers,
John
"It is our God speaking to us in hebrew poetry!"
ReplyDeletePerhaps that's because verses 26 and 27 are quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10.
I am posting you the full parable just in case you miss some of it.
ReplyDeleteACTS 23-31
AN EPANODOS
"Spoken by the Holy Spirit through Paul and scribed by Luke."
( To interpret correctly, please look up "epanodos" in the dictionary, and compare the A's; B's ; C's etc. )
Keywords in capitals.
A 23 ONE DAY
B 23 At Paul's LODGING
C 23 He expounded the KINGDOM OF GOD concerning JESUS
D 23 from the LAW and the PROPHETS
E 23 to the JEWS only
F 23 from MORNING till EVENING
G 24 Some BELIEVED, some did not
H 25 They DEPARTED
I 26 " Go to this PEOPLE and say, Hearing ye shall hear,but not understand; and seeing ye shall see but not perceive."
J 27 Their HEARTS are waxed gross
K 27 Their EARS are dull of hearing
L 27 Their EYES are closed
L 27 Lest they see with their EYES
K 27 Hear with their EARS
J 27 Understand with their HEARTS
I 28 "Be it known that salvation is sent to the GENTILES."
H 29 They DEPARTED
G with great REASONING
A 30 For TWO YEARS
B 30 At Paul's hired HOUSE
C 30 He preached the KINGDOM OF GOD concerning the Lord JESUS CHRIST
D 31 with all CONFIDENCE
E 31 to EVERYONE
F 31 ANYTIME
Note: Hebrew poetry is unlike our rhythmic or metred type.
Everything was parablolic, but that's another story.
Cheers
John
Sorry, it should be Acts 28: 23-31.
ReplyDeleteI left out the 28! but I presume you realise that
John
A little bit more for you...PARABLES.
ReplyDeleteA parable means " a placing beside for purposes of comparison."
Miles Coverdale showed us how to do it hundreds of years ago.
It has been largely forgotten.
By the way, there are hundreds of parables in the Bible just waiting for us to uncover them.
This is Acts 28:23-31 side by side.
A 23 One day A 30 Two years
B 23 At Paul's lodging B 30 At Paul's hired house
C 23 He expounded C 31 He preached
D 23 from the O. T. D 31 with confidence
E 23 to the Jews E 31 To everyone
F 23 morn till night F 31 Anytime
G 24 some believed G 29 great reasoning
H 25 they departed H 29 they departed
I 26 go to this people I 28 go to the gentiles
J 27 their hearts J 27 their hearts
K 27 their ears K 27 their ears
L 27 their eyes L 27 their eyes
Cheers,
John
Interesting.
ReplyDeleteDon't concern yourself if you did not know about Epanodos. Very few people do! Even the translators and publishers of the ESV are obviously not aware of epanodos either other wise they would have made mention of it rather than leave a "ditch". The ESV is worthy of reading though but it ( as most modern translations) is just a paraphrase.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
John
P.S. Your work is excellent otherwise I would never have communicated with you.
Haven't heard from you for a few days. Is all ok?
ReplyDeleteRemember, scripture is for us but not necessarily about us so I hope you don't think that Acts 28 is about you and ESV translators. Good christians are hard to come by.
Man has not changed since Adam and Eve regardless of nationality.
"God is no respecter of persons." Acts 10:34.
In the 1880's many old manuscripts were discovered in Egypt and translators went ga-ga over them. They mistakenly opined that the older the manuscript the nearer the truth. But this is a serious blunder.
But alas, into circulation went the RSV, ASV, NKJV, NIV, ad nauseum, until so many versions glut the market one would think that God's word came to us via a swap meet.
And everyone thinks they have the best copy. And copies is what they all are.
The Jews hold the real manuscripts and the only copy they approve is the KJV.(circa 1890)
The word of God is subtle.
Plain reading for application in everyday affairs.
Foolish words to the "wise."
But all his words are perfect.( In the KJV that is..definitely not in the ESV)
Cheers,
Hope I hear from you again,
If not,
God's blessing to you,
John
All is well. I guess I assumed this conversation was finished. I still think it's prudent to use several different translations instead of sticking to just one.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I use the KJV (from the hebrew), the Douay Rheims (from the Latin) and the Septuagint (from the greek).
ReplyDeleteI recently purchased the NETS version of the Septuagint which is produced by your own Uni at Pennsylvania.
I buy most of my books from Grand Rapids Michigan, U.S.A.
I use Strong's Concordance (U.S. product), an electronic KJV(made in New York), the internet(U.S. invention),
I have relatives in Florida and I lived in Long Beach, California for 18 months way back in 1976/77.
And my favourite movie of all time is Alan Ladd's "Shane."
I hope you didn't think I was just another ignorant foreigner. HaHa.
Your work is truly excellent and I hope we will learn from eachother.
I already accept your timeline and now place Hebrews where you have it.
And thanks to you, I am reconciled with Romans where you have placed it also.
Now, as God only contacts us through the Bible, He can only do this "three
Sorry about that...I computer is being repaired and I have/been using a tablet and it too pplays up sometimes. It did just then.
ReplyDeleteWhat I was trying to say was this.
God can only communicate with us in three ways using the written word. 1 Cor 1:27-29
Take just one simple sentence.
He will add a word/words. Called Pleonasms.
He will remove a word/words. Called ellipses.
He will change a word/words. Called Enallage.
Now, modern man, being so wise:
Removes the word/words God has added.
Add his own words to what God has removed.
Brings back to normal words God has changed.
And God laughs at us from the heavens.
All these things He does are for EMPHASIS!
And these are the things God invites us to meditate upon.
Compared to God we are just like babies in a cot tearing up the pages of a book and admiring our handiwork.
Cheers,
John