Month: February 2020

February 29, 2020

Speak with boldness (Acts 4:31)

“When they had prayed,

The place

Where they were gathered together

Was shaken.

They were all filled

With the Holy Spirit.

They spoke the word

Of God

With boldness.”

καὶ δεηθέντων αὐτῶν ἐσαλεύθη ὁ τόπος ἐν ᾧ ἦσαν συνηγμένοι, καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν ἅπαντες τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος, καὶ ἐλάλουν τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ μετὰ παρρησίας.

The author of Acts indicated that when they had prayed this prayer (καὶ δεηθέντων αὐτῶν), the place where they were gathered together (ὁ τόπος ἐν ᾧ ἦσαν συνηγμένοι) was shaken (ἐσαλεύθη).  They were all filled (καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν ἅπαντες) with the Holy Spirit (τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος).  They spoke (καὶ ἐλάλουν) the word of God (τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ) with boldness (μετὰ παρρησίας).  This was the third time in this chapter they were bold, (παρρησίας) to speak about the word of God, after verses 13 and 29.  This time, it actually happened.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.  This was the second coming of the Holy Spirit as the place was all shook up.  Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?

February 29, 2020

Wonders in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:30)

Wonders in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:30)

“Stretch out

Your hand

To heal!

Perform

Signs

And wonders

Through the name

Of your holy servant Jesus.”

ἐν τῷ τὴν χεῖρά ἐκτείνειν σε εἰς ἴασιν καὶ σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα γίνεσθαι διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ ἁγίου Παιδός σου Ἰησοῦ.

The author of Acts indicated that the early Christians wanted God to stretch out his hand (ἐν τῷ τὴν χεῖρά ἐκτείνειν σε) to heal (εἰς ἴασιν), with signs (καὶ σημεῖα) and wonders (καὶ τέρατα), so that it would happen (γίνεσθαι) through the name (διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος) of his holy servant Jesus (τοῦ ἁγίου Παιδός σου Ἰησοῦ).  They wanted God to heal people with his strong right hand with signs and wonders in the name of his holy servant, Jesus.  If there were miracles through the name of Jesus, more people would believe in Jesus.  They wanted some of the power of Jesus in their lives.  Do you want to perform wonders in the name of Jesus?

February 29, 2020

Speak the word with boldness! (Acts 4:29)

“Now,

Lord!

Look at their threats!

Grant to your servants

To speak

Your word

With all boldness!”

καὶ τὰ νῦν, Κύριε, ἔπιδε ἐπὶ τὰς ἀπειλὰς αὐτῶν, καὶ δὸς τοῖς δούλοις σου μετὰ παρρησίας πάσης λαλεῖν τὸν λόγον σου,

The author of Acts indicated that the early Christians concluded their prayer.  They asked the Lord (καὶ τὰ νῦν, Κύριε) to look (ἔπιδε) at their threats (ἐπὶ τὰς ἀπειλὰς αὐτῶν) and grant his servants (καὶ δὸς τοῖς δούλοις σου) to be able to speak (λαλεῖν) his word (τὸν λόγον σου) with all boldness (μετὰ παρρησίας πάσης).  Acts is the only Greek biblical writing that used this word ἔπιδε, that means to look upon or regard.  This was the second time in this chapter, after verse 13, when Peter and John spoke boldly, where the author of Acts insisted on boldness (παρρησίας) in action.  They were praying not for less persecution but that they might be more bold or courageous in the face of this opposition.  Thus, they might speak the word of God with all the boldness that they could muster.  Are you a bold person?

February 29, 2020

The plan of God (Acts 4:28)

“They were doing

Whatever your hand

And your plan

Had predestined

To take place.”

ποιῆσαι ὅσα ἡ χείρ σου καὶ ἡ βουλὴ προώρισεν γενέσθαι.

The author of Acts indicated that these early Christians said that all these people were doing (ποιῆσαι) whatever the hand of God (ὅσα ἡ χείρ σου) and his plan (καὶ ἡ βουλὴ) had predestined (προώρισεν) to take place (γενέσθαι). The death of Jesus was part of God’s plan, yet at the same time due to the humans involved in this action.  How are humans involved with God’s plan?

February 29, 2020

Against the holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:27)

“In this city,

In truth,

Both Herod

And Pontius Pilate,

With the gentiles

And the people of Israel,

Gathered together

Against your holy servant Jesus,

Whom you anointed.”

συνήχθησαν γὰρ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ ἐπὶ τὸν ἅγιον Παῖδά σου Ἰησοῦν, ὃν ἔχρισας, Ἡρῴδης τε καὶ Πόντιος Πειλᾶτος σὺν ἔθνεσιν καὶ λαοῖς Ἰσραήλ,

The author of Acts indicated that the early Christians applied Psalm 2 to their current situation.  They said that in truth (γὰρ ἐπ’ ἀληθείας), in this city (ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ), both Herod (Ἡρῴδης τε) and Pontius Pilate (καὶ Πόντιος Πειλᾶτος), with the gentiles (σὺν ἔθνεσιν) and the people of Israel (καὶ λαοῖς Ἰσραήλ), gathered together (συνήχθησαν) against God’s holy servant (ἐπὶ τὸν ἅγιον Παῖδά σου) Jesus (Ἰησοῦν), the anointed one (ὃν ἔχρισας).  Thus, it was not just the Jerusalem Jewish leaders alone, but everyone, including the Roman leaders and the gentile non-Jewish people, was involved in this opposition to Jesus, the special anointed one, the Christ.  Can there be a collective guilt?

February 28, 2020

They were against his anointed one (Acts 4:26)

“The kings of the earth

Took their stand.

The rulers

Have gathered together

Against the Lord

And against his Anointed One.”

παρέστησαν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ κατὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ.

The author of Acts indicated that the early Christians continued their prayer with Psalm 2:2-3.  They said that the kings of the earth (οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς) took their stand (παρέστησαν).  The rulers (καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες) have gathered together amongst themselves (συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ) against the Lord (κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου) and his Anointed One, the Christ (κατὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ).  This Psalm 2:2-3 indicated that the various nations and people of the earth, the non-Israelites, took counsel, conspired, and plotted in vain against Yahweh and his anointed king.  They were trying to figure out how to burst their bonds apart.  They wanted to be rid of the yoke of the great King Yahweh, the king of heaven and earth and his anointed one here on earth.  Do you believe that God is the king of the universe?

February 28, 2020

Why did the gentiles rage? (Acts 4:25)

“It is you,

Our Father,

Who said

By the Holy Spirit

Through David,

Your servant.

‘Why did the gentiles rage?

Why did the people imagine

Vain things?’”

ὁ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν διὰ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου στόματος Δαυεὶδ παιδός σου εἰπών Ἵνα τί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά;

The author of Acts indicated that these early Christian followers prayed a community prayer, citing Psalm 2.  They said that their father (ὁ τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν), by the Holy Spirit (διὰ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου), through the mouth of David (στόματος Δαυεὶδ), God’s servant (παιδός σου), had asked (εἰπών).  “Why did the gentiles rage (Ἵνα τί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη)?  Acts is the only Greek biblical writing that used this word ἐφρύαξαν, that means to neigh, whinny, to be wanton, be insolent, roar, or rage.  “Why did the people imagine vain things (καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά)?”  Psalm 2 was about the universal kingdom of Yahweh and his anointed one who would rule the world.  The early Christians picked up on the anointed one as the messianic king of Israel, which of course they saw as Jesus, the anointed one, the Christ.  This Psalm 2:1 was cited here as a psalm of David.  This work about Yahweh and his anointed king was considered a royal psalm, written during the time of the captivity in the 6th century BCE about an ideal anointed king to come, not a current king.  Do you believe that Jesus is the anointed king of the Jewish expectations, the messianic God?

 

February 28, 2020

Prayer to God, the creator (Acts 4:24)

“When they heard it,

They raised their voices together

To God.

They said.

‘Sovereign Lord!

You make

The heaven,

The earth,

And the sea,

And everything in them.’”

οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἦραν φωνὴν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν καὶ εἶπαν Δέσποτα, σὺ ὁ ποιήσας τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς,

The author of Acts indicated that when the others heard this (οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες), they raised their voices (ἦραν φωνὴν) all together (ὁμοθυμαδὸν) to God (πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν).  They said (καὶ εἶπαν) that the Sovereign Lord (Δέσποτα) had made (σὺ ὁ ποιήσας) heaven (τὸν οὐρανὸν), the earth (καὶ τὴν γῆν), the sea (καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν), and everything in them (καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς).  These early Christians reacted to the news of Peter and John by raising their voices to praise God as the creator of all things in heaven, earth and sea, as well as everything that existed.  They recognized God the creator in their prayer.  Do you pray to God, the creator of all things?

February 28, 2020

Peter and John returned to their friends (Acts 4:23)

“After they were released,

Peter and John

Went to their own friends.

They reported

What the chief priests

And the elders

Had said to them.”

Ἀπολυθέντες δὲ ἦλθον πρὸς τοὺς ἰδίους καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν ὅσα πρὸς αὐτοὺς οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι εἶπαν.

The author of Acts indicated that after they were released (Ἀπολυθέντες), Peter and John went (δὲ ἦλθον) to their own friends (πρὸς τοὺς ἰδίους). They reported (καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν) what (ὅσα) the chief priests (οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς) and the elders or presbyters (καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι) had said (εἶπαν) to them (πρὸς αὐτοὺς).  After Peter and John were released, they went to their own friends to tell them what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  Thus, they let their friends know what happened.  Do you let your friends know what is happening to you?

February 28, 2020

The forty-year old guy (Acts 4:22)

“The man,

On whom this sign of healing

Had been performed,

Was more than forty years old.”

ἐτῶν γὰρ ἦν πλειόνων τεσσεράκοντα ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐφ’ ὃν γεγόνει τὸ σημεῖον τοῦτο τῆς ἰάσεως. 

The author of Acts indicated that the man (ὁ ἄνθρωπος) who had received this sign (ἐφ’ ὃν γεγόνει τὸ σημεῖον τοῦτο) of healing (ἰάσεως) was more than forty years old (ἐτῶν γὰρ ἦν πλειόνων τεσσεράκοντα).  Acts used this unique word ἰάσεως that means a healing or a cure.  It is interesting that this comment about the age of the lame beggar, who was cured, was inserted here.  Clearly, he was not a young man, but a mature person at over forty years old.  Is forty years old young or old?