July 3, 2020

The Lord’s will be done (Acts 21:14)

“Since he would not be persuaded,

We remained silent,

Except to say.

‘The Lord’s will be done.’”

μὴ πειθομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ ἡσυχάσαμεν εἰπόντες Τοῦ Κυρίου τὸ θέλημα γινέσθω.

The author of Acts indicated that since they could not persuade Paul (μὴ πειθομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ), they remained silent (ἡσυχάσαμεν), only to say (εἰπόντες) that the Lord’s will be done (Τοῦ Κυρίου τὸ θέλημα γινέσθω).  The companions of Paul, including the author of Acts, could not persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem.  Thus, they were silent, only saying that God’s will should be done.  No one could talk Paul out of going to Jerusalem, not even a prophet uttering the words of the Holy Spirit.  Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem, no matter what.  How determined are you about your life?

July 3, 2020

I am ready to die for Jesus! (Acts 21:13)

“Then Paul answered.

‘What are you doing?

Why are you weeping?

Why are you

Breaking my heart?

I am ready

Not only to be bound,

But even to die

In Jerusalem

For the name

Of the Lord Jesus.’”

τότε ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Παῦλος Τί ποιεῖτε κλαίοντες καὶ συνθρύπτοντές μου τὴν καρδίαν; ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐ μόνον δεθῆναι ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀποθανεῖν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἑτοίμως ἔχω ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ.

The author of Acts indicated that then Paul (ὁ Παῦλος) answered them (τότε ἀπεκρίθη) by asking them what were they doing weeping (Τί ποιεῖτε κλαίοντες)?  Why were they breaking (καὶ συνθρύπτοντές) his heart (μου τὴν καρδίαν)?  He was ready not only to be bound (ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐ μόνον δεθῆναι), but even ready (ἑτοίμως ἔχω) to die (καὶ ἀποθανεῖν) in Jerusalem (εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ) for the name (τοῦ ὀνόματος) of the Lord Jesus (τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ).  Acts was the only Greek biblical writing that used this word συνθρύπτοντές, that means to break in pieces, crush, or weaken.  Paul was indignant that they questioned his motives.  He wanted to know why they were weeping, since they were breaking his heart.  He was ready to go to Jerusalem.  He was not only willing to be bound up and handed over to the gentiles, but he also was willing to die like a martyr for the name of Jesus Christ.  Are you willing to die for Jesus?

July 3, 2020

Do not go to Jerusalem! (Acts 21:12)

“When we heard this,

We,

And the people there,

Urged Paul

Not to go up to Jerusalem.”

ὡς δὲ ἠκούσαμεν ταῦτα, παρεκαλοῦμεν ἡμεῖς τε καὶ οἱ ἐντόπιοι τοῦ μὴ ἀναβαίνειν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

The author of Acts indicated that when the companions of Paul heard this (ὡς δὲ ἠκούσαμεν ταῦτα), everyone there in that place (ἡμεῖς τε καὶ οἱ ἐντόπιοι τοῦ) urged (παρεκαλοῦμεν) Paul not to go up (μὴ ἀναβαίνειν αὐτὸν) to Jerusalem (εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ).  Upon hearing this from the prophet, the traveling companions of Paul, including the author of Acts, and everybody there tried to convince Paul not to go to Jerusalem.  Have you ever been told not to go to someplace?

July 3, 2020

The Jews at Jerusalem want to bind Paul (Acts 21:11)

“Agabus came to us.

He took Paul’s belt.

He bound his own feet

And hands

With it.

He said.

‘Thus,

Says the Holy Spirit.

‘This is the way

The Jews in Jerusalem

Will bind

The man who owns this belt.

They will hand him

Over to the gentiles.’”

καὶ ἐλθὼν πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ ἄρας τὴν ζώνην τοῦ Παύλου, δήσας ἑαυτοῦ τοὺς πόδας καὶ τὰς χεῖρας εἶπεν Τάδε λέγει τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον Τὸν ἄνδρα οὗ ἐστιν ἡ ζώνη αὕτη οὕτως δήσουσιν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ παραδώσουσιν εἰς χεῖρας ἐθνῶν.

The author of Acts indicated that Agabus came to them (καὶ ἐλθὼν πρὸς ἡμᾶς).  He took Paul’s belt (καὶ ἄρας τὴν ζώνην τοῦ Παύλου).  He bound (δήσας) his own feet (ἑαυτοῦ τοὺς πόδας) and hands (τὰς χεῖρας) with it.  He then said (εἶπεν) that the Holy Spirit (τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον) had told him (Τάδε λέγει) that this was the way (οὕτως δήσουσιν) that the Jews (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι) in Jerusalem (ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ) would bind the man who owns this belt (ἄνδρα οὗ ἐστιν ἡ ζώνη αὕτη).  They would hand him over (καὶ παραδώσουσιν) into the hands of the gentiles (εἰς χεῖρας ἐθνῶν).  This same prophet Agabus had predicted the famine in Antioch in chapter 11:28.  “One of these prophets (δὲ εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν) named Agabus (ὀνόματι Ἅγαβος) stood up (ἀναστὰς).  He predicted or signified (ἐσήμαινεν) by the Spirit (διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος) that there would be (ἔσεσθαι) a severe famine (λιμὸν μεγάλην) over all the world (ἐφ’ ὅλην τὴν οἰκουμένην).  This took place or happened (ἥτις ἐγένετο) during the reign of Claudius (ἐπὶ Κλαυδίου).”  Now this same prophet was predicting that the Jews in Jerusalem were going to bind Paul’s hands and feet and deliver him to the gentiles.  This was an extremely serious warning.  How concerned are you with warnings about the future?

July 3, 2020

The prophet Agabus (Acts 21:10)

“While we were staying

For several days,

A prophet

Named Agabus

Came down from Judea.”

Ἐπιμενόντων δὲ ἡμέρας πλείους κατῆλθέν τις ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας προφήτης ὀνόματι Ἄγαβος,

The author of Acts indicated that while they were staying (Ἐπιμενόντων) for several days (δὲ ἡμέρας πλείους) in Caesarea, a prophet (προφήτης) named Agabus (ὀνόματι Ἄγαβος) came down (κατῆλθέν τις) from Judea (ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας).  Paul and his companions, including the author or Acts, stayed an unspecified number of days in Caesarea with Philip, the evangelist.  Agabus, a prophet from Judea, had been in Antioch in chapter 11:28, where he correctly predicted a famine.  Now he showed up here again in Caesarea.  How much do you travel?

July 2, 2020

Philip and his four prophetic daughters (Acts 21:9)

“Philip

Had four unmarried daughters,

Who had the gift

Of prophecy.”

τούτῳ δὲ ἦσαν θυγατέρες τέσσαρες παρθένοι προφητεύουσαι.

The author of Acts indicated that Philip had (τούτῳ δὲ ἦσαν) four (τέσσαρες) unmarried (παρθένοι) daughters (θυγατέρες), who had the gift of prophecy (προφητεύουσαι).  This evangelist Philip, who was a member of the seven ordained Hellenists, had four unmarried or virgin prophetic daughters.  There was no indication of their age, probably teenagers, if Philip had married before the conversion of Saul.  He must have had a house big enough to hold this traveling contingent with Paul.  Do you know anyone with the gift of prophecy?

July 2, 2020

Caesarea (Acts 21:8)

“The next day,

We left.

We came to Caesarea.

We went into

The house of Philip

The evangelist.

He was one of the seven.

We stayed with him.”

τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον ἐξελθόντες ἤλθομεν εἰς Καισαρίαν, καὶ εἰσελθόντες εἰς τὸν οἶκον Φιλίππου τοῦ εὐαγγελιστοῦ ὄντος ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἐμείναμεν παρ’ αὐτῷ.

The author of Acts indicated that the next day (τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον), they left (ἐξελθόντες) Ptolemais and came (ἤλθομεν) to Caesarea (εἰς Καισαρίαν).  There they went into (καὶ εἰσελθόντες) the house of Philip (εἰς τὸν οἶκον Φιλίππου), the evangelist (τοῦ εὐαγγελιστοῦ), who was one of the seven deacons (ὄντος ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ).  They stayed with him (ἐμείναμεν παρ’ αὐτῷ).  Paul and his traveling companions, including the author of Acts, arrived at Caesarea, about 30 miles south of Ptolemais.  Paul had been in Caesarea in chapter 9:30, when he was thrown out of Jerusalem on his way back to Tarsus.  Philip had been ordained as one of the seven chosen to help the Hellenists in Jerusalem in chapter 6:5.  He was called an evangelist here as one who brings the good news of Jesus.  Philip also went on a mission away from Jerusalem where he helped to convert the Ethiopian minister eunuch to Jesus in chapter 8:26-40.  He ended up in Caesarea.  Interesting enough the story of Philip preceded the conversion of Saul or Paul in chapter 9:1-30.  Now the two are joined together.  The city of Caesarea was built by Herod the Great about 25–13 BCE as a major port on the Mediterranean coast.  Caesarea was therefore the administrative center of the Judaea Province of the Roman Empire.  The centurion gentile Cornelius was also from the city of Caesarea, chapter 10:1-11:18, so that this town played a major role in the spreading of Christianity.  Caesarea was the last port stop for Paul and his companions.  From now on, they will go on foot to Jerusalem.  Were you ever happy to end a sea trip?

July 2, 2020

Ptolemais (Acts 21:7)

“When we had finished

The voyage

From Tyre,

We arrived

At Ptolemais.

We greeted

The believing brothers.

We stayed with them

For one day.”

Ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸν πλοῦν διανύσαντες ἀπὸ Τύρου κατηντήσαμεν εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα, καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἐμείναμεν ἡμέραν μίαν παρ’ αὐτοῖς.

The author of Acts indicated that Paul and his companions (Ἡμεῖς δὲ) had finished (διανύσαντες) the voyage (τὸν πλοῦν) from Tyre (ἀπὸ Τύρου).  They arrived (κατηντήσαμεν) at Ptolemais (εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα).  They then greeted (καὶ ἀσπασάμενοι) the believing brothers (τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς) and stayed (ἐμείναμεν) with them (παρ’ αὐτοῖς) for only one day (ἡμέραν μίαν).  Acts was the only Greek biblical writing that used these words πλοῦν, that means a voyage or a sailing, and διανύσαντες, that means to accomplish fully, finish, or complete.  Ptolemais, present day Acre, was a Roman colony town with a huge port about a little over 20 miles south of Tyre.  Paul and his companions, including the author of Acts, only stayed there a day with the Christian believers.  What is the shortest stay that you ever had?

July 2, 2020

We boarded the ship (Acts 21:6)

“We said farewell

To one another.

Then we went

On board the ship.

They returned

To their homes.”

ἀπησπασάμεθα ἀλλήλους, καὶ ἐνέβημεν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὰ ἴδια.

The author of Acts indicated that they said farewell to one another (ἀπησπασάμεθα ἀλλήλους).  Then they went (καὶ ἐνέβημεν) on board the ship (εἰς τὸ πλοῖον), while the people of Tyre returned (ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ὑπέστρεψαν) to their own homes (εἰς τὰ ἴδια).  Paul and his companions, including the author of Acts, got on the ship, while the believers from Tyre went back to their own homes.  This was a nice pleasant stay in Tyre without any kind of disturbances.  Have you had nice visits in your life?

July 2, 2020

The farewell at Tyre (Acts 21:5)

“When our days there

Were ended,

We left.

We proceeded

On our journey.

All of them,

With their wives

And children,

Escorted us

Outside the city.

Then we knelt down

On the beach,

And prayed.”

ὅτε δὲ ἐγένετο ἐξαρτίσαι ἡμᾶς τὰς ἡμέρας, ἐξελθόντες ἐπορευόμεθα προπεμπόντων ἡμᾶς πάντων σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις ἕως ἔξω τῆς πόλεως, καὶ θέντες τὰ γόνατα ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν προσευξάμενοι

The author of Acts indicated that when their days there at Tyre were ended (ὅτε δὲ ἐγένετο ἐξαρτίσαι ἡμᾶς τὰς ἡμέρας), they left (ἐξελθόντες).  They proceeded on their journey (ἐπορευόμεθα).  All of them (πάντων), in Tyre, with their wives (σὺν γυναιξὶ) and children (καὶ τέκνοις ἕως), escorted them (προπεμπόντων ἡμᾶς) outside the city (ἕως ἔξω τῆς πόλεως).  Then they knelt down (καὶ θέντες τὰ γόνατα) on the beach (ἐπὶ τὸν αἰγιαλὸν) and prayed (προσευξάμενοι).  After a week, Paul and his companions, including the author of Acts, left Tyre.  However, all the Jesus believers in Tyre with their whole families escorted them to the shore, where they all bent their knees and prayed, before they left.  Once again, the author of Acts with his “we” said that they preceded on their journey and prayed on the beach.  Have you ever had a prayerful farewell?