Podcasts about Ellicott

Annie Ellicott is a jazz vocalist, songwriter and interdisciplinary artist. In recent years, she has expanded her creativity through acting, voice over, audio book narration, video production, album production, stagecraft, and performance art. Ellicott has acquired a substantial fan base from her voiceover work as both a character actor and narrator for Soundbooth Theater Audiobooks, and has toured the United States and Europe, performing both traditional jazz and original compositions. Ellicott's stage power arises from her sustained drive. A disciplined performer, Ellicott has performed some 300 shows in the past 5 years, before crowds as wide-ranging as the annual Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park to Caveau de la Huchette in Paris. She's also a recurring guest vocalist with Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra at both The Rockwell Table and Stage in Los Angeles, as well as Feinstein's At The Nikko in San Francisco. Ellicott appeared with Goldblum and his ensemble in San Francisco at Sketch Fest 2016, 2017, 2018 and at the famed Glastonbury Festival in London in 2019.

Welcome to season 2. We begin this season diving into what the Bible actually says, and we address many misconceptions about the texts that often lead to increased anxiety and a decrease in mental health. In this episode we look into understanding the lie of, "I don't have enough faith," and, "If I had enough faith, I could move mountains." We get into the impact that misunderstandings can have on mental health, and we reframe the correlation between faith and mental health. My Book: The Fight: My Battle With Depression - https://a.co/d/bDFMFNB References: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/matthew/17.htm (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/17.htm (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers) Against the Stream: religion and mental health – the case for the inclusion of religion and spirituality into psychiatric care Dein S. Against the Stream: religion and mental health - the case for the inclusion of religion and spirituality into psychiatric care. BJPsych Bull. 2018 Jun;42(3):127-129. doi: 10.1192/bjb.2017.13. PMID: 29761753; PMCID: PMC6048728. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6048728/

Sunday, 24 November 2024   Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19   “Whoever if therefore, he shall loosen one of these commandments – the least – and he shall teach the men thus, least he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens. And whoever, if he shall keep and he shall teach, this great he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples that till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or stroke will not pass from the law until all should be fulfilled. With that remembered, He continues, saying, “Whoever if therefore, he shall loosen one of these commandments – the least.”   The word luó, to loosen, is introduced here. When one loosens something, a bond is broken. One can loosen a donkey, and the donkey is no longer bound to the post it was tied to. To loosen the temple would be to destroy it because its structure – foundation, pillars, etc., is no longer firm.   To loosen the Sabbath is to violate or break it because it is a precept commanded by the law. The same is true here. Jesus is saying of the Law and Prophets (verse 17), “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments.” From there, He continues with, “and he shall teach the men thus.”   Not only is the person breaking (loosening) the least of the commandments but he is then teaching that it is ok to do so. Of such a person, “least he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens.”   Such a person, who is so presumptuous as to willfully violate a law set forth by the Lord, and who also then teaches others that it is ok to do so, will not find favor in the eyes of God who gave the law in the first place. It is unconscionable to even consider that a man could override the word of God given to the people of Israel for the guidance of their lives in His presence.   Of this precept, Charles Ellicott says, “The words seem at first to imply that even the ceremonial law was to be binding in its full extent upon Christ's disciples. The usage of the time, however, confined the word to the moral laws of God.”   What is right or wrong with the words of Ellicott? Consider that as the words of Jesus continue. Next, He says, “And whoever, if he shall keep and he shall teach.”   Jesus is precisely saying to His disciples that there is another category of person, completely distinct and separate from the one He just mentioned. There is the meticulous keeper of every precept of the Law and Prophets. He understands it is God's word for the people of Israel, it is binding in its every precept, and he faithfully attempts to live out the commandments as they are set forth – without adding to or detracting from what is prescribed.   Paul was such a person. In Philippians 3, he gave his points of boasting from a worldly perspective. To sum up his long list of achievements, accomplishments, and accolades, he says in verse 3:6, “concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”   In other words, Paul was just the person Jesus is describing here. He was a meticulous law keeper whose righteousness before the law could not be questioned. Of such a person, from the perspective of the dispensation of the law, Jesus says, “this great he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens.”   Paul, at any time under the Law of Moses, would have been the epitome of one who would be exalted in the kingdom of the heavens set forth by God. At the base of Mount Sinai, he would have stood against those who fashioned the golden calf.   During the time of the Judges, he would have come against the idolatry of Micah and the tribe of Dan, standing against them and calling them out for their willful violation of the law. At the time of David, he would have counseled the king concerning his adulterous affair, telling him that what he had done was abominable in the sight of God.   This was the type of person Paul was. He faithfully and meticulously upheld t he standards of the Law and Prophets set forth by God for the conduct of Israel. And yet, after listing this most valuable asset of his under the time of the law, he next said –   “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11   Had Paul gone off his rocker? Was he suddenly in violation of what Jesus said in Matthew 5? Was he set to be the least in the kingdom of God? No! What is wrong with Ellicott's words? What now makes what Paul says acceptable? The answer is JESUS.   Who was Jesus speaking to? Israel. What was the state of Israel at the time He spoke those words? Bound to the Law of Moses under the Mosaic (Old) Covenant. What is the difference in Paul's words of Philippians 3? Jesus had fulfilled the Law of Moses, died in fulfillment of it, and established a New Covenant in His blood. Is the law still binding on Israel, then? Yes and No. Yes, if one has not come to Jesus. He is still bound to the Mosaic Covenant and must fulfill it perfectly. As it is impossible for someone to do so, he stands condemned before God. However, the answer is No for one who has come to Jesus. He has been imputed Christ's righteousness, meaning Jesus has fulfilled the law on his behalf. He has kept every precept according to God's standard, not on his own, but through Jesus' fulfilling each on his behalf. He has entered into the New Covenant of grace. The law is done away with for him. Are Gentiles bound to the law of Moses? No. The law was only given to Israel. No other nation or people group was given the law. Jesus was speaking to Israel about matters pertaining to Israel alone.   Life application: The problem with Ellicott's words is that there is NO DISTINCTION between the moral law and the ceremonial law. It is a false teaching. Jesus' words bear no such tone. The least part of the Mosaic Law was to be fulfilled, even in ceremonial matters. As James says –   “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10   The Law of Moses is a codified whole. No person had the right to dismiss even the least portion of it. The entirety was binding upon the people. And in Jesus' fulfillment of it, the entirety of it is taken away for the one who trusts in His finished work –   “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments [the Law of Moses] contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:14-16   “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements [the Law of Moses] that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-15   “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment [the Law of Moses] because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:18, 19   “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,' He has made the first [the Law of Moses] obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13    “He takes away the first [the Law of Moses] that He may establish the second [the New Covenant].” Hebrews 10:9   The law is done. No person will find righteousness through the law. Only through faith in Christ's fulfillment of it can man be saved. This is the message of the Bible. Jesus! It is all about what God has done in and through JESUS.   Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wish your business would run like a well-oiled machine? In this episode, host Brien Gearin is joined by certified EOS implementer, Mike Ellicott, for an insightful deep-dive into the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and its transformative power for businesses. They discuss how EOS, inspired by Gino Wickman's book Traction, provides structure and clarity to help business owners overcome common pain points like lack of profit, people management, and operational inefficiencies. Mike shares his journey from military engineering to EOS implementation, offering practical strategies to boost vision alignment, operational consistency, and team accountability. This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs looking to scale sustainably and regain control over their business! What we discuss with Mike: + Importance of data-driven decisions + Overview of EOS framework + Mike's journey to EOS implementer + Six core EOS components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, Traction + Vision Traction Organizer (VTO) for goal setting + Aligning team with core values + Challenges in letting go and empowering team + Overcoming growth obstacles with EOS + EOS implementation timeline (approx. two years) Thank you, Mike! Check out Mike's EOS Implementer profile at EOSWorldwide.com/Mike-Ellicott. Email Mike at mike.ellicott@eosworldwide.com. Call or text Mike at 910-916-1796. Purchase a copy of Traction. And follow us on: Instagram Facebook Tik Tok Youtube Twitter To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"My dream house is a Michael Mann murder victim house or a house in a DePalma movie." Pushing the Mann agenda on MINHUNTER, it's Australian film critic and programmer Jess Ellicott. Jess EllicottDedicated film programmer and marketing executive with over a decade of industry experience across exhibition, distribution, festivals and media.Twitter: @jellicotttJoin our Patreon for as little as $1 a month to receive an exclusive weekly podcast and access to the OHM Discord here.ONE HEAT MINUTE PRODUCTIONSWEBSITE: ONEHEATMINUTE.COMPATREON: ONE HEAT MINUTE PRODUCTIONS PATREONTWITTER: @ONEBLAKEMINUTE & @KATIEWALSHSTX & @OHMPODSSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/one-heat-minute-productions/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Recorded on 10/29/24. Coach V is the showrunner but he is joined by the entirety of the PMC squad as they recap the 2024 Colorado Girls High School Flag Football Playoffs from round 1 to the quarterfinals in 4A and 5A. The crew was able to cover 25 playoff games live in one week, which is a podcast record. Peep the end for info on our end of the year award show in 4A and 5A!  Intro 0:00- 2:45 Round 1 Ralston Valley vs Northfield 2:46- 5:48 5A Round 1 Games 5:49- 9:43 4A Round 1 Games 9:44- 12:31 Round 2 Air Academy vs Denver West 12:32- 21:07 Round 2 Pomona vs Evergreen 21:08- 38:49 Round 2 TCA vs Ellicott 38:50- 43:05 Round 2 Mountain View vs Ponderosa 43:06- 1:02:54 Round 2 Mullen vs Highlands Ranch 1:02:55- 1:06:33 Round 2 George Washington vs Dakota Ridge 1:06:34- 1:34:26 Round 2 Green Mountain vs Elizabeth 1:34:27- 1:37:46 Round 2 Vista Ridge vs Manual 1:37:47- 1:45:55 4A Quarterfinals TCA vs Denver West 1:45:56- 1:50:20 4A Quarterfinals Mountain View vs Pomona 1:50:21- 2:15:38 4A Quarterfinals Mullen vs Green Mountain 2:15:39- 2:18:49 4A Quarterfinals Vista Ridge vs George Washington 2:18:49- 2:41:39 Round 2 Mountain Vista vs Regis Jesuit 2:41:40- 2:49:11 Round 2 Arvada West vs Grandview 2:49:12- 2:59:06 Round 2 ThunderRidge vs Denver South 2:59:07- 3:03:14 Round 2 Doherty vs Douglas County 3:03:15- 3:16:57 Round 2 Cherry Creek vs Chatfield 3:16:58- 3:25:38 Round 2 Valor Christian vs Ralston Valley 3:25:39- 3:33:54 Round 2 Legend vs Heritage 3:33:55- 3:37:53 Round 2 Chaparral vs Northglenn 3:37:54- 3:45:41 5A Quarterfinals Mountain Vista vs Thunderridge 3:45:42- 3:51:08 5A Quarterfinals Arvada West vs Douglas County 3:51:09- 3:58:16 5A Quarterfinals Valor Christian vs Chaparral 3:58:17- 4:13:40 5A Quarterfinals Cherry Creek vs Legend 4:13:41- 4:21:00 Playmaker of the Week 4:21:01- 4:24:15 Semi Finals Predictions 4:24:16- 4:37:38 Outro 4:37:39- 4:40:14 https://linktr.ee/PlaymakersCorner Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaymakerCorner Tik Tok: Playmakers Corner Instagram: https:https://www.instagram.com/playmakerscorner/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaymakerCorner Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEcv0BIfXT78kNEtk1pbxQ/featured  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/playmakerscorner  Website: https://playmakerscorner.com/  Listen to us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4rkM8hKtf8eqDPy2xqOPqr  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cycle-365/id1484493484?uo=4  Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/the-cycle-365 Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mODg4MWYwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

As part of our ongoing series on the important issues that confront the US in the 2024 election we look at access to safe water and lessons learned from the Ellicott city floods. Segment 1: Although Access to safe drinking water is a human right, millions of people in the United States do no have … Continue reading Scholars' Circle – Water issues and challenges faced by voters in 2024 US elections – October 13, 2024 →

Sunday, 22 September 2024   Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. Matthew 4:12   “And Jesus, having heard that John – he was surrendered, He withdrew into the Galilee” (CG).   In the previous verse, Matthew noted that the Traducer left Jesus and then messengers came and ministered to Him. With these temptations behind Him, it next says, “And Jesus.”   Some manuscripts, and thus some translations, do not include the name Jesus here. For example, the Berean Literal Bible says, “And having heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee.” As always, there are those who claim one text or another is correct, but the context is completely understandable either way. Jesus is the Subject of the words. Of Him, it next says, “having heard that John – he was surrendered.”   The word is paradidómi. It gives the sense of giving or turning over. Thus, it can be putting someone in prison, entrusting someone with goods, betraying someone, etc. The word simply means to surrender. John was arrested or surrendered to the prison. Of this event, the timeline is not necessarily chronological. Matthew presents things in more of a categorical manner. Charles Ellicott notes the following: “Between the 11th and 12th verses there is a great break, and it is well to remember what passed in the interval: (1) the return to the Baptist, and the call of the six disciples (John 1:29-51); (2) the marriage at Cana, and the visit to Capernaum (John 2:1-12); (3) the cleansing of the Temple; the interview with Nicodemus, and the last testimony of the Baptist (John 2:13 to John 3:36). At this stage comes in the imprisonment of John (mentioned here, but not narrated till 14:3-5) and the consequent journey through Samaria to Galilee (John 4:1-42). The verse now before us may be noted as implying a ministry in Judæa, which for some reason the writer does not narrate.” Jesus continued His ministry. Eventually, He heard of John's imprisonment, and so it next says, “He withdrew.”   The word is anachóreó. It has been seen four times already in Matthew 2. Strong's notes concerning it, “underlying idea perhaps of taking refuge from danger or of going into retirement.” In other words, Jesus is withdrawing to the Galilee. This would keep His ministry from overexposure in Judea until the right time for His ministry to come to its completion. As for where He withdrew to, it next says, “into the Galilee.”   Most translations do not include the article. Rather, they simply say Galilee. But even in the Hebrew, the location is normally preceded by the definite article. It is a region, the Galilee, first noted in Joshua 20:7. It signifies a circle or circuit. In 1 Kings 9:11, it included twenty cities that were given to Hiram, king of Tyre, by Solomon.   Because it designates an area, “the Circle,” inclusion of the article more appropriately defines the area when it is included in the Greek text.   Life application: Of this verse, the Expositor's Greek Testament says, “In a few rapid strokes the evangelist describes the opening of the Messianic work of Jesus in Galilee. He has in view the great Sermon on the Mount, and the group of wonderful deeds he means thereafter to report, and he gives first a summary description of Christ's varied activities by way of introduction.”   This statement is somewhat misleading. As noted above in Ellicott's commentary, Jesus carried out His ministry for some amount of time in the area of Judea. However, at this point, Matthew's focus is more categorical than chronological. It is good to remember this when evaluating the gospels in order to avoid theological misunderstandings.   At times, the actual chronology of when Jesus said things can be difficult to determine because of how the gospels present their narratives. Therefore, it is better to have a side-by-side comparison of the content of the gospels before jumping to erroneous conclusions. With such a side-by-side comparison, the events of Jesus' life make a much fuller and more understandable picture from a chronological perspective.   Such comparisons can be found right online, so when you are trying to sort things out, do a search and you can explore things in that manner.   Lord God, Your word is big, detailed, and complex. Help us to study it carefully and with a view to understanding it more fully. May we not jump to erroneous conclusions about things until we have taken the time to search them out in a complete way. And, Lord, thank You for those people who have already done so much to help us understand this precious word. Amen.

Monday, 26 August 2024   and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 3:2   “and saying, ‘Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens'” (CG).   In the previous verse, John the Baptist was introduced, noting that he came proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea. The words now continue with his message. He was proclaiming “and saying, ‘Reconsider!'”   The Greek verb metanoeó is introduced here. It is almost always translated as “repent,” a word that has such a different meaning in today's society that it is no longer acceptable as a translation. The word comes from meta, with, and noeó, to exercise the mind, such as in observing or comprehending. Thus, the word signifies “‘think differently after,' ‘after a change of mind'” (HELPS Word Studies).   It thus signifies a mental assertion that the thought process has been incorrect and needs to be adjusted. To get the sense, imagine being a Democrat who supports abortion, thinking that a woman's right to choose trumps the right to life that was generated in her womb. One day this person realizes that her stand is completely immoral and perverse. She then changes her mind about her stand.   It deals with the mind, not the actions. Any actions would follow from the change of mind but are not necessarily a required condition of that change. A person who mentally supports abortion but who never participated in an abortion and who will never face such a decision would not have any actions to back up the change of mind.   Ellicott says, “Etymologically, the word ‘repent,' which has as its root-meaning the sense of pain, is hardly adequate as a rendering for the Greek word, which implies change of mind and purpose. In the Greek version of the Old Testament, the word is used of divine rather than human repentance, i.e., of a change of purpose implying pity and regret.”   Cambridge says, “The original implies more than ‘feel sorrow or regret for sin,' it is rather ‘change the life, the heart, the motive for action.' It was a call to self-examination and reality of life.” Note: as long as “change the life” means a change in the inner disposition, this analysis is correct.   Bengel says, “A lovely word (see verses 8, 11), implying change your disposition, put on a disposition royal, heavenly, worthy the kingdom of heaven.”   Vincent's Word Studies says, “A word compounded of the preposition μετά [meta], after, with; and the verb νοέω [noeó], to perceive, and to think, as the result of perceiving or observing. In this compound the preposition combines the two meanings of time and change, which may be denoted by after and different; so that the whole compound means to think differently after. Μετάνοια (repentance [reconsideration]) is therefore, primarily, an after-thought, different from the former thought; then, a change of mind which issues in regret and in change of conduct. These latter ideas, however, have been imported into the word by scriptural usage, and do not lie in it etymologically nor by primary usage. Repentance, then, has been rightly defined as ‘Such a virtuous alteration of the mind and purpose as begets a like virtuous change in the life and practice.' Sorrow is not, as is popularly conceived, the primary nor the prominent notion of the word. Paul distinguishes between sorrow (λύπη) and repentance (μετάνοια), and puts the one as the outcome of the other. ‘Godly sorrow worketh repentance [reconsidering]' (2 Corinthians 7:10).” Note: Vincent's is careful to distinguish the actual meaning and its common use. Any change that takes place in a person is the result of the mental reconsideration, not a part of it.   Each of these explanations shows that a change in life follows, not precedes or is necessarily in conjunction with, a change of mind. Logically, it must be this way. Of this reconsideration, John the Baptist next says, “For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens.”   The word “heavens” is plural, following the Hebrew word shamayim, heavens. This phrase is used many times by Matthew and is unique to his gospel. He is expressing the Hebrew thought, demonstrating that his epistle is particularly directed toward the Hebrew or Semitic mindset. Vincent's Word Studies does an excellent job of explaining the phrase –   “It is a kingdom of heaven because its origin, its end, its king, the character and destiny of its subjects, its laws, institutions, and privileges - all are heavenly. In the teaching of Christ and in the apostolic writings the kingdom of the Messiah is the actual consummation of the prophetic idea of the rule of God, without any national limitation, so that participation therein rests only on faith in Jesus Christ, and on the moral renewal which is conditioned by the same. It is the combination of all rights of Christian citizenship in this world, and eternal blessedness in the next. All its senses are only different sides of the same great idea - the subjection of all things to God in Christ.”   This is correct. His words “without any national limitation” mean exactly what Paul explains in Galatians –   “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” Galatians 3:26-29   In this kingdom, such distinctions – even if there are these differences – are eliminated. This new economy in the redemptive scenario was coming. John the Baptist was the one to prepare the nation of Israel for the Messiah who would establish it.   Life application: Today, people use the word repentance in a manner that is synonymous with, “remove the sin from your life.” In other words, “You must do this before your salvation is realized.” This is an incorrect and harmful addition to the gospel based on a misinterpretation and misapplication of the word “repent,” which is now different from what it once meant.   The meaning of words often changes over time. For example, the words awesome and awful used to be essentially synonymous. However, this began to change. Now, awesome signifies something marvelous or wonderful while awful signifies something very bad, bordering on terrible.   This is what has happened to the word “repent” in the church today. It has been so misapplied that it no longer means to reconsider but to repair through action. The problem with this is that it makes the idea of repentance one of “fixing your life of sin before God will accept you.” That is not the biblical understanding of salvation. Though a descriptive passage, the account in Acts 10 reveals this –   “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” Acts 10:44-46   Likewise, Paul says –   “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14   The process of salvation is to hear the word, believe it is so through reconsideration of who Jesus is and what He has done, or reconsideration of who God is and what He has done. The reconsideration is based upon past understanding and a new faith, not on a change in lifestyle. And change in lifestyle is subsequent to this change in mental thought.   Think it through – how many things are Christians to do or not to do as detailed in the epistles? The answer is “a lot.” However, there are those who have been in Christ for many years and who have never learned the Bible. They have not had a change in action even though they are saved.   Logically, one must know what pleases God before he can do it. Thus, to expect a change in action without even knowing what that change is cannot be a condition for salvation. Belief (faith alone) must be the only condition for salvation. To say otherwise is to present a false gospel. If you are presenting a false gospel you must reconsider!   Lord God, may we be careful to never add to the gospel of our salvation as we proclaim it to others. What we are asked for is faith in what Christ has done, not in what we must do. Once we believe, we can spend whatever time it takes to then be obedient to the things laid out in Your word. Help us, Lord, to not assume we can merit our salvation through our own deeds. Amen.  

Recorded on July 9th, 2024. On this episode Coach V talks about Buena Vista, Colorado Springs Christian, Rye, Banning Lewis academy, Ellicott, Trinidad, Florence, Lamar, and La Junta. He talks about last season, departures, key players, and predicts schedule.  Intro 0:00- 1:57 Buena Vista 1:58- 10:21 Colorado Springs Christian 10:22- 19:30 Rye 19:31- 26:13 Banning Lewis Academy 26:14- 35:23 Peyton 35:24- 41:25 Ellicott 41:26- 47:02 Trinidad 47:03- 50:48 Florence 50:49- 55:52 Lamar 55:53- 1:00:04 La Junta 1:00:05- 1:04:46 Outro 1:04:47- 1:05:52 https://linktr.ee/PlaymakersCorner Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaymakerCorner Tik Tok: Playmakers Corner Instagram: https:https://www.instagram.com/playmakerscorner/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaymakerCorner Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEcv0BIfXT78kNEtk1pbxQ/featured  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/playmakerscorner  Website: https://playmakerscorner.com/  Listen to us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4rkM8hKtf8eqDPy2xqOPqr  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cycle-365/id1484493484?uo=4  Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/the-cycle-365 Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mODg4MWYwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Tuesday, 11 June 2024   After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. Acts 28:11   The words are more literally translated, “And after three months, we went up in a ship having been wintered in the Island, Alexandrian, figure-headed Dioscuri” (CG).   In the previous verse, Luke noted that the islanders honored Paul and him in many ways, noting that when they departed, they were provided things that were necessary. Now, Luke speaks of the actual departure, saying, “And after three months.”   This means that it was likely about early to mid-February. Some speculate it was as early as the month of January, others date it as late as March. The point is that they continued through the dangerous winter months while sailing was too hazardous.   The ship remained over the winter on the island until the time when it was safe to once again engage in commerce on the high seas. With the winter ending, the sailing would again be favorable. Therefore, Luke next notes, “we went up in a ship having been wintered in the Island.”   Being a perfect participle, it means that the ship was wintered there, and it continued to winter there until the time that it could again go up to the high seas. This ship was heading in the right direction for the continued travel to Rome, and so it was employed for the next leg of the journey. Of this ship, Luke notes it was “Alexandrian, figure-headed Dioscuri.”   These words continue to show that Melita is, in fact, Malta. Malta would fall on the course from Alexandria to Italy, and so the identification of the ship as Alexandrian gives a good indication of the fact that the island was most likely Malta.   The word translated as figure-headed is parasémos. It comes from para, beside or by the side of, and séma, a sign or mark. Thus, a most literal translation would be “side-marked.” However, the intent is that of a figurehead.   Some ancient ships were side-marked with paintings, such as large eyes or other symbols like fighter jets display today. Others had carved images on them. Being the Dioscuri, it would seem likely these were carvings which then may have been highlighted with paint.   The word used to describe them is Dioskouroi, a word found only here in Scripture. It is derived from Dios which refers to Zeus and the plural of kouros, boy. Thus, it means the two sons of Zeus and Leda, Castor and Pollux. They were the patrons of sailors.   Due to the nature of the word, the translation can be literal, Dioscuri, or any suitable translation that conveys the message, such as “twin gods,” “twin brothers,” “Castor and Pollux,” “the Castors,” “the sign of the Twins,” “the Heavenly Twins,” etc.   Each gives an acceptable description intended to convey what Luke meant with the single word Dioskouroi. Of these guardian deities of sailors, Ellicott notes –   “In Greek mythology, Zeus had rewarded their brotherly devotion by placing them among the stars as the Gemini, which were connected with the month of May in the signs of the Zodiac, and Poseidon (= Neptune) had given them power over the winds and waves that they might assist the shipwrecked. So in the Helena of Euripides they appear, in 1550–60, as promising a fair wind and a safe voyage. The figure-heads of the Greek and Roman ships were commonly placed both at the prow and the stern.”   What is unusual is that Luke has never noted the figurehead on any ship that they had sailed on in his previous accounts. And the number of ships would not have been small. For example, he notes that sometimes they changed ships while in a harbor, taking another to get to their intended destinationy. This would have been quite common, changing ships from one harbor to the next.   Despite this, the account now – when leaving Malta – is the only time a figurehead is described. Of this, Benson says, “And yet, in a ship having such an idolatrous image, Paul did not refuse to sail, considering it as being only the name of the ship.”   Paul was a prisoner being conducted to Rome, he had no choice in what ship he traveled, and it is certain that the majority, if not all, of the ships they had traveled on had figureheads. Therefore, it is irrelevant that it was an idolatrous image.   What seems likely is that Luke included this to show a contrast to what had occurred upon their arrival. As that ship certainly had a figurehead, and maybe even the same one as the ship they were now departing on (being the patron of sailors), such figureheads were irrelevant in providing protection to a ship.   The Lord had been with Paul. He had assured the safety of every person on the ship, He had followed through with that, and He had demonstrated His hand upon Paul when the viper bit him and He continued to be with Paul as he laid hands upon the sick and healed them. And more, this journey to Rome is the fulfillment of the words of the Lord that Paul would bear witness at Rome (Acts 23:11).   Luke has, therefore, set a contrast to the effective workings of the Lord and the ineffective protection of false idols made by man's hands.   Life application: Despite Benson's comments not fitting the narrative, his words are correct that the images on the ship were idolatrous. People were putting their trust in something that is a part of creation rather than in the Creator.   The Bible mentions several constellations, acknowledging that they are as real as the planets. If God uses the constellations to tell a story, that is not the same thing as God allowing those things to be objects of worship or luck.   In Judges 9, Jotham uses the trees as an allegory. The Lord does this elsewhere as well. However, this doesn't mean that the trees have any power in and of themselves. They are simply used to convey a story or prophecy. We must be careful to distinguish between such things.   Also, it would be ludicrous to refuse to travel on a ship or airplane that has figureheads on it. Paul addresses such notions when dealing with foods sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians. Those things are nothing. As long as we remember that and have our hearts and minds directed to the Lord, we don't need to worry about what the world is doing.   Our hope is not in a carving, a painting, or a constellation. Rather, our hope is in the One who created all things and who has revealed Himself in Scripture and in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord.   Heavenly Father, we know that an idol is nothing at all. It cannot help and it cannot harm. When our eyes look to the stars and constellations, we see Your hand of creation, not deities that can help us with our problems or direct our futures. May we always remember these things and focus our hearts and attention on You alone. Amen.  

Saturday, 8 June 2024   And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. Acts 28:8   The Greek, even if a tad clunky, more literally reads, “And it was, the father of Publius – afflicted with fevers and dysentery – who, lying toward Paul, having entered and having prayed, having laid the hands on him, healed him” (CG).   In the previous verse, Luke noted that there was a portion of land where the first of the island, Publius, lived. He invited Paul and others to stay with him for three days. Remembering that, it now says, “And it was.”   The Greek word egeneto is used to show the transition from one thing to another. In this, we can see that the divine hand is guiding the events of the matter. This transitional thought is then explained by Luke with the words, “the father of Publius – afflicted with fevers and dysentery.”   Publius has brought Paul, Luke, and whoever else was with them into his house. At some point, it was relayed to them that Publius' father was sick. The word translated as “fever” is in the plural. This plural use of “fevers” is believed to indicate a recurrent fever.   As such, it was a malady that afflicted him regularly. Along with his fevers, he had a case of dysentery. It is a word found only here in the New Testament, dusenterion. Luke is giving a precise medical diagnosis of the situation.   Ellicott notes that the plural “fevers” in “combination with dysentery would, according to Hippocrates, who also uses the plural form (Aph. vi. 3), make the case more than usually critical.” In his situation, it says using multiple participles which makes the narrative quite exciting, “who, lying toward Paul, having entered and having prayed, having laid the hands on him, healed him.”   It is carefully noted that as soon as Paul entered, he prayed. At the same time, he laid hands on the sick man. All of this was done in a carefully recorded way to show an absolute connection between Paul's actions and the man's healing.   This is especially noted by Luke to show that Paul had subordinated himself to the Lord. It is likely that this was stated here to show the contrast to the claim in the previous account just a couple of verses earlier that he was called a god by the locals.    This verse parallels the account of Peter in Acts 9:32-35. For further insights concerning this, refer to James 5:14, 15. Also, notice the very close sequence of events in this account of Paul's snake bite and then healing of this man in comparison to Mark 16:18.   In the previous verse, Publius was first noted in the Bible. Now, he is seen for the second and last time. This is actually noteworthy because in just a couple of verses, it will say that the duration of their time on Malta is a full three months.   Life application: We are told here that Paul prayed, laid hands on the sick man, and he was healed. The next verse will speak about more healings. By incorrectly taking these verses in a prescriptive manner, many have assumed that we too have been given such powers without any limits at all.   They claim healing over others as if they have a right to demand things from the Lord, or as if they are divine conduits for the powers of healing to flow through them. This is completely contrary to what is actually the case. It is presumptuous and it is a sinful attitude.   Paul was unable to heal himself and several others as is clearly indicated in his epistles. And more, Scripture never indicates that we have been given the apostolic powers of healing.   Rather, we have been given the intelligence to produce medicines. Also, societies have developed institutions to educate people to be doctors and nurses. We have likewise been given the honor to pray for the healing of others. If it is in the Lord's will to respond favorably, He will. But we should never claim such things as if we have the authority to tell the Spirit how and when to heal.   Use reason and intelligence when you pray for yourself and others. And, if you really want to be a part of the healing of others, go to school and learn how to do so. You can have a lifetime of positive effects on others, both physically and spiritually if you are willing to put forth the effort.   Lord God, thank You for our doctors, nurses, and others who are in the business of healing others. And thank You that we can also come to You for healing when it is in Your will to respond. May we never accuse You in our hearts when others get sick and die, knowing that this is a fallen world. In Christ, however, we have an eternal hope of life and health ahead of us! Amen.  

Friday, 7 June 2024   In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. Acts 28:7   The Greek more literally reads, “And in the surrounding area [lit: in the around that region], were parcels of the first of the island by name Publius, who having received us three days, lodged us hospitably” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul was seen to have not swollen up or keeled over from the snake bite. Because of this, the fickle islanders of Malta said he was a god. Now, Luke begins a new portion of the narrative, saying, “And in the surrounding area [lit: in the around that region].”   By God's providence, they were shipwrecked in a particular place that would bring comfortable times to those who had been cast ashore. Despite the great trials and losses that were suffered by those who were shipwrecked, there would be a season of blessing to come upon them. This is first starting to be realized now because in that surrounding area, there “were parcels of the first of the island.”   The meaning of “first” is the principal man of the island. The adjective used to describe the person is protos. It means the first, or chief, and thus he is “the first man.” Ellicott notes –   “The term is found both in Greek and Latin inscriptions, at Malta, of the time of Augustus, as an official title.”   Score another point for Luke's accuracy. He is the chief ruler or magistrate appointed to oversee the population. Luke then notes, “by name Publius.”   This man's name is a Latin one, literally: Poplios. It is known that Malta was rendered under the province of Sicily and so he would have been over the island, but under the Sicilian proconsul.   What we see in him then is a person who has received his job through appointment and not through a family line. This is indicated even more poignantly by the fact (as will be seen) that his father is there. He would not be the chief man if the position was based on family. This man is said to have “received us three days.”   It is a new word in Scripture, anadechomai. It comes from ana, up or upwards, and dechomai, to receive or welcome. Thus, HELPS Word Studies says it signifies to “receive up to the limit” and thus “to welcome with gladness.”   They were whole-heartedly and enthusiastically received up by the chief man of the island. It is agreed that this did not mean the entire host from the ship, but rather a select few.   Despite being a prisoner, Paul was a Roman citizen and stood in high favor with Julius. Luke was a physician and, thus, a man of respect. It is probably these three and maybe a limited number of others who were brought in as guests for those three days until other arrangements could be made. During this time, Luke notes that he “lodged us hospitably”   The word translated as “hospitably,” philophronós, is an adverb found only here. It literally means, “acting from a mind-set of personal affection” HELPS Word Studies. In other words, this was not a formal thing that was required by custom, but an invitation because of truly having come to like them. It was probably brought on by the words of Julius to Publius about the exceptional character of Paul and Luke.   Life application: Luke writes in the first-person plural concerning this visit. Thus, he was there, and it is absolutely certain that Paul, as will be seen, was there as well. Because Paul was there, Julius would have been there also, being the lead soldier and personally responsible for Paul.   Nothing is said here, or anywhere else, about Julius being converted to the Christian faith. However, it is unlikely that he was not fully aware of every nuance of what it meant to be a Christian by the time his supervision of Paul was ended. He personally saw prophecies uttered and fulfilled. He will see miracles of healing in the verses ahead. If anyone ever knew it, certain Julius did, that Paul would not have been silenced over his proclamation of the gospel, etc.   Because of this, either Julius was converted and that is purposefully left out of the narrative for whatever reason Luke deemed necessary or the heart of Julius was soft towards Paul and hard toward the message Paul proclaimed.   The latter is not unusual. There are people who have remained friends for years, even friends of pastors and preachers, who find the faith of their good friend curious and maybe even a bit comical. And yet, they stay fast friends through it. And how many times has there been an effect on the stout unbeliever later in life?   We cannot know what effect we will have on others by giving the gospel and then simply sharing our lives together with those we know whether they readily accept our words at the start or wait decades to yield. We don't need to beat our faith into others. We simply need to share it and then let our lives be a testimony to those we know.   Let us never tire of living out the gospel that we have received. When the ball drops in the life of others, and it always does, they will know who to turn to if they are willing to once again hear the good news in their time of need.   Lord God, may our faith be on display at all times for others to see and remember what we believe. But we need to first let them know what our faith entails. So, Lord, give us boldness to first share the message, and then to live it out from day to day from that point on. Help us in this, O God. Amen.  

Monday, 20 May 2024   And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Acts 27:33   More literally, it reads, “And until it was about to be day, Paul urged all to take food, saying, ‘Anticipating today, the fourteenth day, you continue undernourished, having taken nothing.'” (CG).   The previous verse noted the soldiers cutting away the skiff. At some point later, in the very early morning, Luke next records, “And until it was about to be day.”   This indicates the time between midnight and morning, not specifically the dawn itself. It is at some point very early in the day when the dawning is the next anticipated event in the daily progression of time. It is at this very early time that, “Paul urged all to take food.”   His advice for those gathered to eat surely wasn't just as a means of strengthening the people, but it also would have served that great purpose of once again uniting the soldiers and sailors after what just happened.   Paul had a keen understanding of human nature, and he knew that there would certainly need to be a united effort on the part of both parties to ensure that everyone would be safe during the coming hours. A meal would bring a state of harmony which had been lacking through the long ordeal, and which could only have gotten worse with the cutting away of the skiff. Because of this tense state, Paul continued, “saying, ‘Anticipating today, the fourteenth day, you continue undernourished, having taken nothing.'”   The need to stop and eat a good meal begins to be evident first from the words “the fourteenth day.” They were anticipating the completion of two full weeks of constant battering by the wind and water. It would have been a harrowing ordeal for even the most seasoned sailor, but those fourteen days were, as he says, in an undernourished state.   The Greek word is not the usual word for “fasting” where one goes completely without eating. Rather, the word is asitos, an adjective that is only used here in Scripture. It is from the negative particle a along with the word sitos, signifying wheat or grain. Ellicott notes that they had taken “nothing beyond what was absolutely necessary to keep body and soul together.”   Life application: When people go without food, there are various ways they will handle it. Very few people will be unaffected by extended times of food deprivation. Some quickly get hangry (hungry combined with angry) while others just lay around lethargically, etc.   The point for most is that without food, things will not go as intended for the human physique. In Scripture, God's word is equated to food, such as in Deuteronomy 8:3 –   “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”   Even Job understood this –   “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.” Job 23:12   If we can have immediate and negative reactions to a lack of food for our physical bodies, shouldn't we expect that without taking in God's word, we can have immediate and negative reactions in our spiritual lives? Without coming to the word frequently, our minds are quickly diverted to contemplate the things of the world. In this, God becomes almost an afterthought. Eventually, He disappears from our thoughts altogether.   Let us consider this and choose to voluntarily feed ourselves on His word at least daily, and preferably more often than that. We eat two or three times a day. Shouldn't we be feasting on the word equally as often? Stay in proper spiritual shape by tasting and seeing the Lord through His word!   “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:8-10   Lord God, may we fill our lives daily with the nourishment that can only come from You through Your word. Help us to responsibly feed ourselves on what You have presented to us for our guidance, protection, and life. Yes, Lord, help us in this and be with us as we dine daily in this wonderful treasure. Amen.

Tuesday, 7 May 2024   Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. Acts 27:20   A literal rendering would be, “And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days, and no little tempest lying upon, removed all remaining hope of us being saved” (CG).   Luke just noted that the tackle of the ship was thrown overboard. Ellicott noted that the word goes beyond the ship's own tackle, but to anything moveable. However, even with this drastic measure, the narrative continues with, “And neither sun nor stars appearing for many days.”   Verse 27 will give an overall span of time that the storm raged around them, fourteen days. It was on the third day that they chucked the tackle overboard. Therefore, Luke's words now indicate a period of another 9-11 days, depending on what he was thinking as he penned the narrative.   Such a span of time, while being completely tossed to and fro and hearing the constant noise of the storm and groan of the ship, would wear out the hardiest of souls. Luke notes this was the case with the next words, “and no little tempest lying upon.”   The words “lying upon” are a literal translation of the word epikeimai. It is referring to the storm lying upon the ship (the verb is singular). It is as if the ship itself was bearing the entire burden of the ordeal and those inside were at the mercy of God upon the ship holding together. One can imagine what it would have been like for Noah and his family on the ark.   With this terrifying ordeal upon them, Luke says that this “removed all remaining hope of us being saved.”   In ancient times, there was no such thing as a compass, GPS, etc. Without such devices, they would have no idea at all where they were. The only way to reckon their location was to determine the placement of the sun, moon, and stars.   They had been deprived of this and so they could just as well have been on the moon as still in the Mediterranean Sea. It would leave them with a feeling of complete helplessness. Adding to the lack of knowing their location, the tempest continued to beat them mercilessly. The throwing over of the supplies and tackle implies that there was probably a leak in the hull that was gaining ground.   The people would be getting more and more tired of bailing and so the leak would be like the sword of Damocles over their heads, little by little gaining the advantage over the situation. Because of this, any hope of them getting through the ordeal and being saved was erased.   The metaphor of works-based salvation is perfectly seen in this verse. The more one works, the more futile the effort. The people on the ship had gone without food, they had given up on their goods, they had worked tirelessly in the midst of chaos, and they were no better off – and certainly worse off – than when the tempest started.   Life application: Life without assurance is the most hopeless place to be. But in Christ, there is always hope, and the promise of eternal life will carry the worn-out soul to assured rest. God did not send Jesus to provide His people with eternal insecurity.   No! He did not send Jesus to save us and then expect us to then keep on saving ourselves. That would mean that His initial salvation was not truly sufficient to save. Instead, Jesus did everything necessary to restore us to life and to continue to do so as long as we are in this body of death. He has promised, and He will deliver us from it.   Lord God, give us the wisdom and the faith necessary to fully grasp what it means to be saved. Jesus has done the work. Our walk after coming to Him is to be one of gratitude, not insecurity and fear. Help us to realize that the battle has been won. Jesus has prevailed, and we are the recipients of His glorious deeds. May we rest in this assurance all our days! Amen.  

Monday, 6 May 2024   On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. Acts 27:19   A literal reading is much sparser in content, “And on the third, self-handed, the tackle of the ship we cast away” (CG).   In the previous verse, Luke noted that because the ship was exceedingly tempest-tossed, the ship was lightened. Now, his words continue with, “And on the third.”   The storm continued to rage which would have put a great strain on the ship, even with it having been lightened. Therefore, by the third day, more extreme measures were needed to take the stress off the hull. Therefore, on that day, Luke says, “self-handed, the tackle of the ship we cast away.”   Luke again uses a word unique to the Bible, autocheir. It comes from autos, a reflexive personal pronoun indicating self, and cheir, hand. In this case, it doesn't identify whose hands were involved. That is determined by the corresponding verb.   Luke next uses the word skeué to describe the tackle. It is akin to the word skeuos that was used in verse 27:17. It signifies the tackle, fittings, equipment, etc. As for the verb, there is a difference in the texts. Some say “they” while others say “we.”   If the translation of we is correct, then it means that even the passengers were enlisted to assist in the lightening of the ship. If not, then only the crew did, and Luke simply made a note of the dire straits that would lead to such an extreme choice being made.   Either way, after three continued days of abuse, they needed to again lighten the ship in hopes of finding some relief from the terrifying ordeal. Because of this, it says the ship's tackle was cast overboard.   As just noted, the word is skeué. It is found only here in the New Testament. Ellicott notes that in Greek it “is wider in its range than the English, and includes the beds and personal luggage and movables of all kinds. Even the sailors were ready to sacrifice for the chance of safety.”   Life application: To some extent we all hold onto the things of the world. Our attention may be focused a bit too much on people, pets, or possessions, consuming what should be our main devotion, which should be to the Lord.   Quite often, we hold onto things that are actually of less importance than we would realize in a time of true catastrophe or deprivation. A few examples from Scripture are Lamentations 4:1, Ezekiel 7:19, James 5:3-5, or 1 Peter 1:18. Also, the story in Matthew 19:16-22 gives us a good insight into how we hold onto that which is worthless. Psalm 119:37 is a good verse to redirect us from this.    This is a physical world, and it is a world where we need fellowship with others, food to keep ourselves going, clothing to protect us from the elements, and so forth. However, any of these (and so many more things!) can cause us to be misdirected in our thinking. We begin to put trust in them and in our thoughts, they become some sort of lifeline that we feel we must have.   However, Scripture reveals that what we need above all else is the Lord. If He is our main hope, desire, and focus, the things of this world will not hold sway over us as they are inclined to do. So, let us remember the Lord in all things and at all times. In doing so, everything else will find its proper place.   Lord God, how faithless we can be toward You. We get consumed with the things of this world and lose our focus and attention. Help us to remember You at all times and place You as the highest joy in our lives. With this, we will then rightly place all other things as we interact with them. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen!  

Saturday, 4 May 2024   When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. Acts 27:17   A literal rendering would be, “Which, having lifted, they used helps, undergirding the ship. And fearing lest they fall into the Syrtis, having lowered the tackle – thus they were borne.” (CG).   The last verse revealed that the ship ran under Clauda and at that time, they were able to secure the skiff, but with much difficulty. Now, concerning the skiff, it next says, “Which, having lifted.”   Once the skiff was brought in, they next lifted it onto the ship. The reason this was necessary was after lifting the skiff, “they used helps.”   The NKJV translates this verse using the word “cables.” Others say, ropes, supports, under-girding, and so forth. Cables, or ropes, are exactly what was used, but the term is boétheia which literally means “assistance” or “help.”   HELPS Word Studies says, “It is a brand of help, especially critical assistance that meets an urgent situation.” This word is used just twice, here and in Hebrews 4:16, where we are told –   “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help [boétheia] in time of need.”   The process of undergirding the ships in this manner is known as “frapping.” According to Albert Barnes, Falconer's Marine Dictionary describes the process, saying, “To frap a ship is to pass four or five turns of a large cable-laid rope round the hull or frame of a ship to support her in a great storm, or otherwise, when it is apprehended that she is not strong enough to resist the violent efforts of the sea.”   Barnes also cites an instance of frapping which was recorded in Lord Anson's voyage round the world, “They were obliged to throw overboard all their upper-deck guns, and take six turns of the cable round the ship to prevent her opening.” The reason for the frapping of the ship is that without it, the ship would literally come apart at the seams in such a tempestuous storm.   Therefore, they used these helps in the process of “undergirding the ship.” This is another unique word in Scripture, hupozónnumi. It is a compound word coming from hupo, under, and zonnumi, to gird. Just as one might gird himself up to run, the ship is undergirded to keep from splitting apart and sinking. After this process was complete, Luke next notes, “And fearing lest they fall into the Syrtis.”   This was another anticipated problem that they feared. The Syrtis is described by Thayer's Greek Lexicon –   “...the name of two places in the African or Libyan Sea between Carthage and Cyrenaica, full of shallows and sandbanks, and therefore destructive to ships; the western Syrtis, between the islands Cercina and Meninx (or the promontories of Zeitha and Brachodes), was called Syrtis minor, the eastern (extending from the promontory of Cephalae on the Winers Grammar, to that of Boreum on the E.) was called Syrtis major (sinus Psyllicus); this latter must be the one referred to in Acts 27:17, for upon this the ship in which Paul was sailing might easily be cast after leaving Crete.”   The sands shift over time. Therefore, their exact location remained unknown from voyage to voyage. Should they hit the sands, the ship would stick fast and be torn apart in the waves and sand. Because of the danger, it says, “having lowered the tackle – thus they were borne.”   The NKJV says, “they struck sail and so were driven.” Ellicott notes that “The English fails to give the sense of the original. Had they struck sail altogether the ship would simply have drifted in the very direction which they were anxious to avoid. Some sail was absolutely necessary to keep the ship steady. What is meant is that they ‘lowered the ship's gear,' the spars and rigging, and especially, perhaps, the heavy yard and ropes which the ancient ships carried, and which would, in such a gale, make the ship top-heavy.”   Because of this, it would be their aim to sail as close to the wind as possible and head northwest. In doing so, they would be able to avoid the sands.   Life application: There is the normal routine of life, and then there are times when things seem to be bursting at the seams and that pressures and forces around us are beyond our ability to withstand.   It is at such times that sailors take drastic, emergency methods to hold things together, even employing those passengers on the ship to assist. We should be no different. When it comes to trying times, we should be prepared to go into emergency mode. We can seek assistance from others that we would not normally dare ask help from, lest we inconvenience them.   We can gird ourselves up and prepare ourselves mentally for what lies ahead. And we should not fail to stop and pray for the Lord's kind hand to be on us during our trials. No life is without trial, and none of us will safely navigate every journey we take. We should remember this and have our emergency kits of life ready to keep things together at all times.   Let the Lord be your Helps as you pass through the deep and stormy waters of affliction. No matter what the earthly outcome, He will be with you at the end. So, trust Him at all times.   Lord God, may we be willing to place our lives in Your hands at all times. And when things get beyond our control, may we remember that You are there with us. You will safely carry us to fair shores of eternal peace. Even if this life gets tossed about, we are forever safely in Your hands. Thank You for this comforting reassurance. Amen.  

Wednesday, 1 May 2024   But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. Acts 27:14   More literally, the words read, “And not long after, a typhonic wind cast against it, called Euroclydon” (CG).   In the last verse, it said, “And Auster, having wafted, having thought to have obtained the purpose, having hoisted they laid beside near Crete.” With that, complicated words are penned by Luke, beginning with, “And not long after.”   There was a fair wind from the south wafting along bringing the men satisfaction that the decision to leave Fair Havens was a good one. They were sailing along the coast of Crete and moving in the right direction. However, it next says, “a typhonic wind cast against it.”   The Greek word, found only here in the Bible, is tuphónikos, a typhonic wind. It is etymologically connected to our modern word typhoon, but being an adjective, it doesn't name but rather describes the wind. The word comes from the noun tuphón, a hurricane or typhoon. Typhoon is the designation used today for those hurricanes that arise in the western Pacific.   These words are derived from the same root as tuphó, smoky, found in Matthew 12:20. One can think of the ocean spray being stirred up and giving it an appearance that is clouded or smoky.   This raging wind is described as having been cast against it. The question is, “Cast against what?” Ellicott notes -   “The Greek pronoun is in the feminine, and as the noun used for ship is, throughout the narrative, in the neuter, the difference of gender presents a difficulty. Grammatically the pronoun seems to refer to Crete, and if referred to it, the sentence admits of three possible constructions: (1) the wind drove us against Crete; or (2), blew against Crete; or (3), drove down on us from Crete.”   The first two go against what is later recorded, and so it is most likely speaking of the winds driving against Crete and blowing them off the shore, Crete being a feminine noun and the nearest antecedent. The wind that arose was so strong that it cast against Crete causing a swirling, typhonic action that literally blew the ship away from the coast they had been clinging to as they drove the ship towards Phoenix.   Understanding this, the verse finishes with the name of this type of wind. Luke said it is “called Euroclydon.”   This last word is variously rendered in manuscripts. Some say Euroclydon while others say Euroquilo. From there, translators use one designation or another, or they simply translate it as a Northeaster and avoid the trouble.   Which word is correct is argued. It appears nowhere else in the Bible. If Euroclydon is correct, then it may come from euros, wind, and kludon, wave. As such, it signifies a storm where winds just whip around forming battering waves, like a hurricane.   If Euraquilo is right, it might mean “...between Eurus, ‘the E. S. E. wind,' and Aquilo, ‘the north-wind, or, strictly, N. 1/3 E. Hence, E. N. E.'” (Vincent's Word Studies).   No matter what, the storm was a raging one and it bore down on the ship so tempestuously that it drove it away from Crete and into the open sea.   Life application: Studying the etymology of words is fun and increases one's knowledge of how languages develop and express themselves. Be sure to take time to look into this aspect of God's revealed word!   Lord God, thank You for the pages of Scripture that reveal so much to us about the life and events of those who have gone before us, expending their time and energy with the intent of spreading the message of Jesus and the good news of His gospel. May we follow suit and be willing to set out with the aim and intent of telling others about it as well. Praises to You, O God, for this wonderful chance to be a part of the redemptive narrative as it continues to unfold! Amen.  

Monday, 29 April 2024   And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. Acts 27:12   A more literal translation is, “And the harbor, being unsuitable to a wintering, the majority set counsel to go up thence also, if how they might be able, having arrived to Phoenix to winter – a harbor of Crete looking against southwest and against northwest” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul's words concerning the state of the ship and the people on it were overridden by the pilot and the shipmaster. The centurion agreed with them instead. Therefore, a verse filled with rare words begins with, “And the harbor, being unsuitable.”   Luke uses an adjective found only here in the New Testament, aneuthetos. It is the negative of euthetos, or suitable. Thus, it signifies to be unsuitable. The harbor was not a proper place “to a wintering.”   It is a new noun found only here, paracheimasia. It indicates the state of spending the winter. The harbor in which they currently were positioned would face the coming winds of the wintertime and make it a less suitable place to be than an area sheltered from those same winds. As such, it next says, “the majority set counsel to go up thence also.”   Because of the less-than-ideal location, it appears that a majority vote was taken which decided that they would leave this harbor and continue to some other location more suitable for the winter months.   There are decisions that might properly be considered through a popular vote and there are those which should not be. In this case, what was popular was not what was right. A cold and bumpy time in a port is far better than a ship at the bottom of the sea. However, the majority made their voice known and that was “if how they might be able, having arrived to Phoenix.”   The fact that this terminology is used shows the impending doom from Luke's hand. A risk is being taken and Luke is giving advance notice that it will not prove to be a great choice to make.   The place where they hope to reach would be Phoinix, or Phoenix, a location found only here in Scripture. Though a bit long, Ellicott gives a great description for us to consider –   “Phenice . . . which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.—The precise meaning of the phrase is that the harbour looked, as we say, down these winds, in the direction to which they blew—i.e., that it faced the north-east and south-east, the words used being the names, not of points of the compass, but of the winds which blew from them. The harbour so described has been identified with the modern Lutro, on the east of the promontory of Kavo Muros, which looks eastward, and so corresponds to the interpretation just given of the words that describe it. The harbour is named by Ptolemy (iii. 17) as Phoenikous, and a city named Phoenix lay a few miles inland. It is still used as a harbour by Greek pirates, and was marked as such in the French admiralty charts of 1738; but, owing to the silting up of the sand, has become unsuitable for larger vessels. An inscription of the time of Nerva, of the nature of a votive tablet to Jupiter and Serapis, found near the spot, records the fact that it was erected by Epictetus, the tabularius, or agent, of the fleet to which the ship belonged, with the assistance of Dionysius of Alexandria, the pilot (the same word as that which St. Luke uses) of a ship which had as its sign (the same word as in Acts 28:4) the Isopharia. It is a natural inference from this that the Alexandrian ship (we note the Egyptian element in the dedication to Serapis, and possibly in the connection of the sign with the Pharos, or lighthouse of Alexandria) had anchored, and possibly wintered, at Phœnice, and that the tablet was a thank-offering for its preservation.”   The name Phoenix probably got its name from the palm tree, phoinix, which is indigenous to Crete. Of this location, those on the ship hoped to sail in order “to winter.”   It is another new word, paracheimazó. It is the verb form of the noun just used to describe “a wintering.” It will be seen three more times in Scripture. This location was more suitable because it was “a harbor of Crete looking against southwest and against northwest.”   This is the third and last use of the word, limén, a harbor or haven. Also, two more words found only here in Scripture are to be noted. The first is lips, signifying the southwest. It is an interesting word, coming from leibó, to pour. The reason for this name is that it is from this direction that the rains come. Therefore, it is as if the rains pour from there.   The other new word is chóros, the northwest. It is of Latin origin and signifies the area from which the winds blow.  A harbor facing these directions would be more suitable for wintering than where they currently were, even if it was dangerous to leave where they were in order to get there.   Life application: Majority votes often fail to be the best choice. Uninformed people with a strong voice can override those who are knowledgeable because the knowledgeable are often more contemplative and less vocal about matters. They are also, more often than not, in the minority. Those who don't think things through logically are aplenty in the world.   In governments that are based on the majority vote, people will often vote for things that are wholly unreasonable. This is true with committees and the like as well. Although majority votes may seem fair, it is usually best to steer away from them and allow those who are in charge to make the ultimate decisions for a matter.   These leaders may ask for a majority consideration, but then evaluate what was presented and amend or override what the majority wants. The world is not fair, but to leave decisions in the hands of the masses is not the best way of handling things. This will become evident to those on the ship in the verses ahead.   Lord God, it is so wonderful to know that You alone are in charge of the process of the redemption of man. If it were up to us, even in the least part, things would not go well. How evident this is when pastors, churches, and denominations cannot even agree on what the word “grace” means. Help us to be obedient followers of Your word in all ways and at all times, yielding ourselves to what You have decided upon for us. Amen.

Tuesday, 23 April 2024   There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. Acts 27:6   More precisely, it reads, “And there, the centurion having found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, he placed us in it” (CG).   Having arrived in Myra of Lycia in the previous verse, it now says, “And there, the centurion.”   Luke had previously given the name of the centurion, Julius. However, he now reverts to using his official rank rather than his name. His identification was established, but it is appropriate to the narrative that Luke refers to him according to his capacity and rank as a soldier. Of him, Luke next says, “having found a ship of Alexandria.”   An Alexandrian ship most probably means a large container ship which was used to transport wheat from Alexandria to Rome, which was a regular occurrence during this period. As it is out of a direct route for this, the thought is that it was caught up in the same contrary winds that necessitated the ship Paul and Luke were on to also travel under the lee of Cyprus.   However, Ellicott notes “A local inscription describes Myra as a ‘horrea,' or store-house of corn (Lewin's St. Paul, ii. p. 187), and the Alexandrian ship may therefore have gone thither to discharge part of its cargo.” Either way, the ship was heading in the direction they were going, which was that it was “sailing to Italy.”   As has been previously noted, traveling at the time was not unlike taking a bus or plane now. Although we normally have tickets to our final destination, that is not always the case, especially if we are on a walkabout on the way to our final destination.   The final destination for the centurion and those he was conducting was Italy. Whatever ship would get them closer with each stop is the one they would take. In this case, the Alexandrian ship was going all the way there to drop off the remaining portion of its cargo. This would avoid changing ships again. Therefore, “he placed us in it.”   Here is another word found only once in the New Testament, embibazó. It is also found in the Greek Translation of Proverbs 4:11. It is a nautical term used concerning embarking men on board a ship, but it is also a medical term used to indicate “placing patients in a bath” (Pulpit). Again, we see Luke's mastery of words and the connection between his medical experience and his knowledge of nautical terms as well.   Life application: As noted, the word embibazó is also found in Proverbs 4:11. There it says –   “I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.”   In Proverbs 4, Solomon is writing as a father to his children, giving them words of instruction. The Lord included these words in Scripture, indicating that the wisdom to be drawn from them is universal in its application. Every person in every culture and time will benefit from the words found there.   Today, the progressive mindset is to reject things written by various people groups, such as anything from a white person, saying is biased and finds its roots entrenched in racism. This is taught in schools, government, and business alike.   Even though the Bible was received by people in the Middle East, because of its heavy influence upon the white people of the world, and because they have used it to evangelize people groups around the world, progressives treat the Bible as a book derived from a concept of white supremacy.   But this is nonsense, and deep down they know it is. The Bible clearly claims in Acts 17 that all people are derived from one man. Skin color is something that changes throughout regions of the world. It even changes in some people as their skin goes from black to white because of vitiligo.   Although rare, a couple with a certain skin color may have a child with a completely different skin color. These things don't determine what a person is thinking or where he or she stands on a particular issue.   When it comes to the Bible, it is ultimately derived from God. Therefore, it is a book that exists as a manual for all people in order to conduct their lives in a manner that is right and pleasing to God. It is not a Jewish book, even if it was mostly Hebrew in its being transmitted and maintained.   It is not a Greek book, even if its concluding books were written in the Greek language. It is not a Western book, even if it was first accepted and most widely studied and passed on by Western societies after it was finally completed.   These ideas are incorrect. The Bible is a divinely inspired and God-centered book. It is that which brings about restoration between God and man. It is for this reason, not some other distractionary concept, that the progressives of the world hate it. They hate God, despising His moral character and being, and therefore, they hate the book that He has given to man.   Be aware of this when dealing with people who attack the Bible or the Christian portion of society. You need to address their disconnect between God and them first. Only after this is realized, will you have a chance to then correct them concerning their understanding of the importance of Scripture.   Lord God, the world is so at enmity with those who love You and who uphold Your word as the message from You. Help us to correct their thinking about You. Help us to be wise in how we approach others as they challenge You, Your word, and those who love You. May we be able to open eyes that are dulled over concerning their need to see clearly. Amen.

What does the Bible say about dimethyltriptamine (DMT) and other psychedelic and hallucinogenic drugs? In this episode, you will learn how to respond to a friend who tells you that he is having positive spiritual experiences through using DMT or another hallucinogen. (this is the fixed-audio version). *** Join our new apologetics course starting April 1: https://thethink.institute/apologeticsfoundations *** Links to articles and sources I used to research for this episode:  “What is the Jesus drug (dimethyltryptamine)?” (Got Questions) ⁠https://gotquestions.org/Jesus-drug-dimethyltryptamine.html⁠ “What does the Bible say about sorcery? (Got Questions) ⁠https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-sorcery.html⁠ Drug Use (Open Bible) ⁠https://www.openbible.info/topics/drug_use⁠  Pharmakeia (Open Bible) ⁠https://www.openbible.info/topics/pharmakeia⁠ Sorcery (Open Bible) ⁠https://www.openbible.info/topics/sorcery⁠ “It's Official: DMT Makes You Believe In God” (Vice) ⁠https://www.vice.com/en/article/ep4dxk/its-official-dmt-makes-you-believe-in-god⁠ “Ayahuasca” (American Shaman) ⁠https://americanshaman.org/ayahuasca/#Origins_in_Indigenous_Culture⁠ “Does Joe Rogan Think the DMT Elves Are Real?” (Powerful JRE) ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DQSIzJ9J-g⁠  The Testimony of Pokemon and Bautista (Chief Shoefoot) (Faithful Moms) ⁠https://faithfulmoms.org/is-pokemon-safe-children-christian-perspective/⁠  “Chief Shoefoot's Rebuke” (Touchstone) ⁠https://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=11-05-012-v⁠ “We make the spirits dance” – the world of the Yanomami shaman (Survival International) ⁠https://www.survivalinternational.org/articles/3506-yanomamishaman⁠ Ancient medicinal plants of South America (National Library of Medicine) ⁠https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6561247/⁠ Galatians 5:20 commentaries: Ellicott's, Meyer's, Barnes'; Belgel's Gnomen; etc. (BibleHub) ⁠https://biblehub.com/commentaries/galatians/5-20.htm⁠ What Are DMT Elves and Who Reports Seeing Them? (HowStuffWorks) ⁠https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/drugs-alcohol/dmt-elves.htm#pt4⁠ The Essential Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Part 3 (Galatians 5:16–25) (Grace to You) ⁠https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-332/the-essential-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit-part-3⁠  The DMT ‘elves' people meet while tripping (Big Think) ⁠https://bigthink.com/the-present/dmt-beings/⁠  For OT and NT uses of “pharmakeia”: The Septuagint (LXX) (Blue Letter Bible) ⁠https://www.blueletterbible.org/lxx/mal/3/1/ss0/rl0/s_928001⁠ Greek New Testament ⁠https://www.laparola.net/greco/index.php⁠ ---- Please support this work! Give to the Think Institute at ⁠https://thethink.institute/partner⁠ .  ---- ⁠Subscribe to the Think Institute YouTube Channel!⁠ This channel will deliver even more knowledge on how to answer questions and objections to the Christian worldview! If you subscribe now, you'll get to hear the next video in this series... ---- Want to bring Joel to speak at your church or event? ⁠Go here.⁠   ---- Music Credits:  Energetic & Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10443-energetic-drive-indie-rock Licensed under CC BY 4.0: ⁠https://filmmusic.io/standard-license⁠ Rock Guitar Intro 03 by Taigasoundprod License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Free download: filmmusic.io: search rock-guitar-intro-03-by-taigasoundprod --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/worldviewlegacy/message

Dan Hooker, is the Ellicott Campus Pastor of Rocky Mountain Calvary.  Dan, has some amazing life experiences as well as a wealth of wisdom as a Pastor. Join us as we hear about what God is doing in Ellicott.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It wouldn't be Citizen Detective Month at TDPS if Christopher and Eric didn't include their very own fellow citizen detective, Clark Williams, the brilliant and determined amateur sleuth who solved the murder of Billy Newton after thirty years. Clark joins the podcast in our Sunset Strip studios to discuss the cold case murders he's been working on since finding justice for Billy. Who abandoned Alice Ellicot's corpse in a Midwestern field? Who ended Talfrieda Covington's life steps from the front door of her own home? We're hopeful Clark's work with local authorities brings justice for these nearly forgotten victims as well.  

Erica Ellicott, PA-C has 9 years of family medicine experience and has recently received training in functional and integrative medicine. She has a passion for women's health and combines the next of traditional wisdom and lifestyle practices with modern medical practices. She strives to take a root cause approach with each patient, taking into account the full context of a person's life and how it impacts overall health. To schedule an appointment or speak with Erica you can call Elevate Health at 308.777.2476 or visit our website www.elevatewellnesshealth.org for more information!

Tuesday, 23 January 2024   Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. Acts 24:1   Chapter 24 enters into the hearing that Felix promised Paul in the preceding verse. That begins with, “Now after five days.”   This five-day period is probably from the time of Paul's departure from Jerusalem. At that same time, the council would have been informed, and they would have begun preparations for a case against him.   This is the likely scenario because it was twelve days since Paul's arrival in Jerusalem, as will be seen in verse 24:11. Therefore, the timeline is better reckoned from the departure from Jerusalem and not from the last events of chapter 23.   Regardless of this, the five-day period sees the coming of a delegation to testify against Paul. Of them, Luke records that “Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus.”   As always, when a trip is made from Jerusalem, the term “came down” or “descended” is used. Because the Lord's temple is in Jerusalem, it is considered as the highest place on earth from a legal and royal perspective. He being the King of kings and Lord of lords.   Likewise, when going to Jerusalem from anywhere else, it is an ascent regardless of direction or elevation. The word used to describe Tertullus is rhétór. This is its only use in Scripture. It signifies an orator, public speaker, or an advocate. Today, we use the words rhetoric, rhetorically, etc. These are etymologically derived from this ancient Greek word.   As for Tertullus, he would have the eloquence of a toastmaster. Ellicott describes the rhétór –   “Men of this class were to be found in most of the provincial towns of the Roman empire, ready to hold a brief for plaintiff or defendant, and bringing to bear the power of their glib eloquence, as well as their knowledge of Roman laws, on the mind of the judge.”   Of this delegation that has arrived, it next says, “These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.”   The word translated as “gave evidence” is emphanizó. It signifies to appear, declare, make visible, etc. In this case, it is being used in a technical sense. In essence, it is a formal indictment being made against Paul. One might more accurately say that they litigated against Paul. They are set to disclose the charges against him that have been decided upon.   Of this verse, the Geneva Bible says, “Hypocrites, when they can not do what they want to do by force and deceit, at length they go about to accomplish it by a show of law.”   Life application: Think of what has happened to Paul. These miscreants had initiated a sort of coup against him in the temple, stirring up the masses against him and stealing away his rights in the process. The only thing that saved him from disaster was that he was found to be Roman by the barracks commander.   From there, they plotted against him to kill him. That plot was discovered, and Paul was safely conducted out of Jerusalem. Now, because they have been ineffective in laying hands on him any other way, they are set to bring false charges against him to keep him from spreading his message of freedom in Christ any further.   The parallel between what has happened thus far and what has happened to President Donald Trump is quite similar. There are certain ways that people will react when they cannot get their way. They will follow the same patterns again and again in history to meet whatever the present circumstances are that they find displeasing.   But this isn't just with leaders. Eventually, the persecution continues even to those who are inspired by the leader. In the case of Paul, it started with Jesus. It continued to His apostles. From there, it continued to the people who accepted the apostles' message. Paul was supernaturally pulled from that by a personal appearance of Jesus. But then the persecution against him began.   In our world today, the communists on the left have fought against conservative ideology. They have then targeted the leader of the conservative movement that was most likely to harm their globalist agenda. With that goal seemingly realized, they began targeting his supporters.   Only with a massive amount of public support has this wave of communism been fought against. Will it be turned around? Only time will tell. If not, the political persecution will very quickly become a persecution of the religious lives of the people they are targeting. This is because faith in God is diametrically opposed to communist ideology. It must be terminated for the communists to prevail.   Be ready to stand on your priorities, whatever they are. If they include Jesus, be ready to face what so many have faced before you. Faith in Christ will eventually be something considered intolerable and worthy of death. Even now, that is on the minds of these miscreants.   Lord God, we know that the end times will be difficult for those who hold fast to faith in You. We don't know the timing of the rapture, and so we don't know at what point we may have to face persecution because of what we believe. Should it come to pass, may we be faithful to stand and proclaim the Name of Jesus as our ultimate hope and passion. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.  

Saturday, 16 December 2023   The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.” Acts 22:28   While preparing to have Paul scourged, the centurion was alerted to the fact that Paul was Roman. Hearing this, the centurion told his commander. From there, the commander went to Paul and asked if he was Roman. Paul responded affirmatively. Now, it says, “The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”   The words bear emphasis – “I, great sum, this citizenship bought.” The commander's response shows without any doubt that citizenship could be purchased and that he had done so at great expense, something he was quite proud of. Some believe that such a purchase was made through bribery of corrupt officials. Vincent's Word Studies says –   “The purchase of Roman citizenship was an investment. Under the first Roman emperors it was obtained only at large cost and with great difficulty; later, it was sold for a trifle.”   If that doesn't sound like the US today! It used to be an honor to earn citizenship. Now, it means nothing. It is handed out to those who don't deserve it, and it is denied to those who have demonstrated the wits, intelligence, and business acumen to merit it in the way the law clearly states.   The word translated as sum is kephalaion. It is used only twice in the New Testament, here and in Hebrews 8:1, where it is translated as “the main point.” It comes from kephale, meaning the head, a cornerstone, or even the primary head of something, like a ruler.   Also, the word translated as citizenship is politeia. It indicates “citizenship; concretely, a community -- commonwealth, freedom” (Strong's). Its only other use is in Ephesians 2:12 speaking of the commonwealth of Israel –   “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth [politeia] of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13   Now, and understanding the commander's words, it next says, “And Paul said, ‘But I was born a citizen.'” Again, the Greek is more emphatic. It reads, “I, and even, was born.” This means that he was born into a family who were already citizens. Many theories have arisen as to how he obtained it, but Ellicott may be correct –   “Many of the Jews who were taken to Rome by Pompeius as slaves first obtained their freedom and became libertini, and afterwards were admitted on the register as citizens. The mention of kinsmen or friends at Rome (Romans 16:7; Romans 16:11), makes it probable, as has been said, that the Apostle's father may have been among them.”   Life application: Think about what this conversation means in relation to the world today. Something that was once highly cherished, even precious and/or life-saving, eventually meant nothing at all. The leaders of the great and vast Roman empire squandered what had been built. The mid-level officials had become corrupt and uncaring about safeguarding what had been entrusted to them.   Eventually, Roman citizenship had no value at all. Today, the exact same attitude is on display in most of the great and powerful governments of the world. Obtaining US citizenship, for example, is a laughable process that is so misused by government employees that for a quick bribe when no one is looking, even pedophiles can easily obtain it.   The only citizenship that truly matters in this world is the one that will never be diminished in how it is obtained –   “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22   There is only one way heavenly citizenship is realized, and it is through faith in what God has done in and through the giving of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. While the rest of the world is hurriedly seeking things that have no lasting value, Jesus Christ's offer stands as an eternal hope for those who come to him.   This offer comes at the highest price of all, and yet, that price has been paid already through Jesus' cross. All that is needed to appropriate it is to believe to the saving of the soul.   Lord God, how thankful we are that there is a hope beyond this fallen world. We strive for things that have no value and things that can be taken away or lost in a moment. But what You offer is eternal citizenship in a heavenly kingdom. May we be willing to share this good news with those who so desperately need it. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Wednesday, 13 December 2023   And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” Acts 22:25   Paul has been taken into the barracks where the commander ordered that he be examined under scourging. Now, that continues with, “And as they bound him with thongs.”   Luke uses another word unique in Scripture, proteinó, translated by the NKJV as “bound.” It signifies “to stretch forward.” There is a debate about the correct way to translate these words. It could either say, “As they stretched him out to thong him...” or “And as they stretched him forward with thongs.”   In other words, are the thongs used to tie him in preparation for being beaten, or is he being tied up in order for the thongs, on which are the scourges, to be used on him? Vincent's Word Studies argues that it would be superfluous to say, “bound him” and then add in “with thongs.” But Luke is normally very precise in his use of words. What others may find superfluous, he will find as an exacting and necessary detail.   On the other hand, Ellicott notes that “The Greek word for ‘thong' is always used in the New Testament in connection with the idea of tying.” A good question to ask is, “Does it make any difference in the end?” For precision, yes. However, in the overall picture, the result will be the same. Paul is facing a good beating with scourges. Therefore, “Paul said to the centurion who stood by.”   The commander gave the order. A centurion is ensuring the order is complied with and will probably be the one to administer the scourging. Lower-ranking soldiers are the ones tying Paul up. Paul addresses the one in greatest authority in the room at the current time, asking, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”   His question would have an immediate effect on the centurion. If this person were a Roman citizen, those in the barracks would already be guilty of a crime for violating Paul's rights by not giving him a trial first. Further, even if guilty, this type of punishment could not be given to a citizen.   To continue would make him even more guilty and possibly liable to the same punishment he was about to administer. If Paul were not a Roman, he would be a lunatic. To claim citizenship in this way would be punishable, probably by death. His claim alone would be enough to make the centurion stop and investigate what he was about to do.   Cicero says, “It is a heinous sin to bind a Roman citizen, it is wickedness to beat him, it is next to parricide to kill him, and what shall I say to crucify him?” Another ancient witness says, “According to the Valerian law, it was not lawful for magistrates to condemn a Roman without hearing the cause, and pleading in it; and such condemned persons might appeal to the populace” Pompon. Laetus de Legibus, p. 157.   Life application: If we think about the situation being described, Paul possessed certain rights that kept him from being bound, scourged, or executed without the strictest of investigations and proper judicial processes. Jesus was born in the same general generation, but He did not possess these rights.   Although we can dismiss that idea without much thought, we can also contemplate the enormity of it and stand in awe of what it means. God could have sent His Messiah into the world as the son of a Roman citizen. If this were to have been the case, the result would have been completely different.   But He preordained every aspect of the birth of Christ to meet His purposes. Hebrews 10 says –   “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.”'” Hebrews 10:5-7   God's preparation of a body for Jesus includes every ancestor who came into His genealogy, purposefully selecting the line to ensure each prophecy about Him would come to pass. It included the timing of His birth, its location, the rights or lack of rights He would possess, etc.   Everything was meticulously ordained by God for the purpose of redeeming man. Those who dismiss the life of Christ do so without thinking through the incredible nature of what transpired, and thus the immense love God must have for the objects of His affections, meaning those whom He will save through the giving of Jesus.   Let us never minimize the magnitude of the marvel that is displayed in the coming of our Lord. God's affections are on redeeming the people of the world. May we consider this and be willing to speak out the good news to those who so desperately need to hear it.   Lord God, how can it be that You would look upon us and see anything of value? We have all sinned and gone astray in our hearts, minds, and actions. And yet, You have graciously accepted us and forgiven us because of faith in what was done in the giving of Christ Jesus our Lord. We shall praise you forever and ever because of the glory of our Lord. Hallelujah and amen.

Friday, 17 November 2023   But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” Acts 21:39   More precisely, the verse reads, “And Paul said, indeed, I am a man, a Jew of Tarsus of Cilicia – not an insignificant city. And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people” (CG).    In the previous verse, the Roman commander had asked Paul if he wasn't the Egyptian who had stirred up a rebellion among the people and who led four thousand Sicarii into the wilderness. In response to that, it next says, “And Paul said, indeed, I am a man, a Jew.”   Where the man just referred to was clearly an Egyptian who led Jews, Paul is a Jew who was being persecuted by Jews. He is contrasting himself to the Egyptian. The intent is surely to reveal to the commander that there was more hanky-panky going on than first met the eye. With that, he continues identifying himself, saying, “of Tarsus of Cilicia.”   This is the second and last time that Tarsus is identified this way. The first was in Acts 9:11. Being from Tarsus meant that he was a part of the dispersion. Thus, he would be familiar with the way Gentiles lived. He would also more than likely speak several languages and dialects (see 1 Corinthians 14:18), including the Greek he is now conversing in.   The particular spelling of the name in Greek is Tarseus. It is also called Tarsus in Acts 9:30, 11:25, and 22:3. James Strong speculates that the name comes from tarsos, meaning a flat basket. If so, it may reflect the layout of the city. It is one of the longest continually inhabited cities in the world.   Paul came from the opposite direction of Egypt, and he claimed to be a citizen from there. If he was found lying, it would only make it worse on him. Hence, there was every reason to believe him. Paul next notes that Tarsus is “not an insignificant city.”   The Greek word used to describe it is asémos. It means “not distinguished.” Vincent's Word Studies says –   “...without a mark or token (σῆμα [sema]). Hence used of uncoined gold or silver: of oracles which give no intelligible response: of inarticulate voices: of disease without distinctive symptoms. Generally, as here, undistinguished, mean. There is a conscious feeling of patriotism in Paul's expression.”   Ellicott further notes, “In addition to all its fame for culture, the town of Tarsus bore on its coins the word METROPOLIS-AUTONOMOS (Independent).”   Having confirmed his identity, thus demonstrating that he was not a rabble-rouser, he then makes a formal request to speak to the people, saying, “And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”   It is a formal request to the man who could allow it to be realized. His boldness in asking demonstrates that he was hoping it would make a difference in the outcome of the situation. Being a Jew and also not an instigator, then he must want to make a defense against their treatment of him.   Life application: As Paul does elsewhere, he appeals to his cultural and national identity. He was willing to work within the framework of the society in which he lived, using his particular identity for the benefit of himself and the ministry.   This is completely the opposite of how many cults and sects treat the national identity they possess. They shun participating in various aspects of society that affect them while actively participating in others. They claim they are not of this world, completely abusing the intent of Jesus' words, in order to not participate. At the same time, they have driver's licenses, registered marriages, and (you betcha they do) pay taxes, claiming it is right and responsible to do so.   And yet, they refuse to vote, engage in politics, participate in other cultural events, etc. It is a failed “pick and choose” type of lifestyle that harms the very goals they set forth for themselves in the country in which they live. This is completely the opposite of the biblical model found in both testaments of Scripture.   Don't hesitate to participate. Your failure to do so may result in the loss of rights you possess or in harm to others (such as the Jews during Nazi Germany). You have a voice as a citizen of your nation. Use it.   Lord God, we are citizens of heaven because of Jesus, but we are also living out earthly lives in the lands which You have ordained for us. May we be responsible citizens of both as we await our departure from here and the trip to our final, heavenly, home with You. Help us in this. Amen.

Saturday, 4 November 2023   Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. Acts 21:26   The Greek is more literally translated as, “Then Paul, having taken the men on the following day – having been purified with them – entered into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of the purification, until which was offered the offering for each one of them” (CG).   In the previous verse, James repeated the requirements expected of Gentiles concerning their walk before the Lord. Now, in contrast to that, the hoped-for completion of the rites of the Nazirite previously discussed for the four men who had taken such a vow is noted. Paul included himself in these rites, thus identifying with them. That is noted, beginning with, “Then Paul, having taken the men on the following day.”   The word “them” is referring to the four men described by James in verse 23. Paul took the advice of James and the other elders and took these men on the very next day, “having been purified with them.”   Fully complying with James' advice, he took the men and went through the mandatory rites of purification with them. This was in accordance with the law, and the period would be seven days. When those days were met, an offering was to be made for each individual. That is stated in the next words, saying he “entered into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of the purification.”   Of this, Charles Ellicott says, “The process lasted, as the next verse shows, for seven days, which were probably reckoned from the completion of the thirty days, or other term, of the vow itself. St. Paul, having made himself the representative of the Nazarite company, had to give, in their name, the formal notice to the priests, who were to be ready for the sacrifices when the seven days had expired. Seven days was, it will be noted, the ordinary period for the more solemn purifications (Exodus 29:37; Leviticus 12:2; Leviticus 13:6; Numbers 12:14; Numbers 19:14, et al.).”   Ellicott may be correct. There is nothing in the rites of the Nazirite to specify a seven-day period being required. However, if Paul was to be the representative for these men, a seven-day period might have been expected for purification purposes. No matter what, this was obviously a custom expected by the priests. Therefore, it next says, “until which was offered the offering for each one of them.”   The words “until which” could have various meanings. The Pulpit commentary says –   “Meyer makes ‘until' depend upon ‘the fulfillment of the days,' so as to define that fulfillment as not taking place till the offering was offered. Wieseler makes ‘until' depend upon ‘he entered into the temple,' with the idea supplied, ‘and remained there,' or ‘came there daily;' supposing that it was the custom for Nazarites to finish up their time of separation by passing the last seven days, or at least being present daily, in ‘the court of the women, where was the apartment appropriated to the Nazarites.'”   What seems logical based on the previous words, “having taken the men on the following day,” is that the rest of the days are future, not past. If it was past, it seems likely that Luke's words would have been more precise concerning those seven days. Therefore, in these words, it is probably that Paul is declaring that the rites of purification had been administered, he was representing the four men, and after the necessary interval, he would make the offering for them.   Life application: The book of Hebrews says –   “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” Hebrews 10:1-4   The point of those words is that the rites and rituals of the temple were only outward, fleshly ordinances, a term used in Hebrews 9:10. They actually didn't cleanse anything but were external rites that could never change the true nature of a person, making him permanently acceptable to God.   However, Christ, because of His complete cleansing of those who come to Him, makes us wholly and eternally acceptable to God. This is reflected in the words –   “‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,' 17 then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:16-18   In saying, “there is no longer an offering for sin,” it means that Christ's work is a one-time and for all-time cleansing. No other offering for sin is acceptable, nor is it needed. As this is so, then why would anyone want to go back to the external, temporary, and futile rites and rituals of the Mosaic Covenant?   Jesus Christ purifies those who come to Him once and forever! Rejoice in that and be confident in your salvation and eternal cleansing. Take time today to read Hebrews 10:1-25. Think about what is being said there. Hold fast to faith in Christ as your hope. It is the sweet spot in what God offers to the people of the world.   Heavenly Father, it is beyond imagination to think about what You have done through the giving of Jesus. You have brought us back to Yourself, completely and perfectly, through His sacrificial offering. We rejoice in You and thank You. Praises be to You forever and ever! Amen.

Thursday, 19 October 2023   And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Acts 21:10   The Greek reads, “And remaining many days, a certain prophet came down from Judea, by name Agabus” (CG).   The last verse was a short note about Philip's four daughters who prophesied. Luke next says, “And remaining many days.”   The adjective which is used here is given in the comparative degree. Therefore, Ellicott believes that this means that they stayed longer than originally intended. But because there was still time available, either because of quicker travel on the voyage to Israel than expected, or because they cut another stop short, they stayed on for a while.   The only time limitation that is known to be weighing on them is what it said in Acts 20:16 –   “For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.”   Therefore, even if they stayed with Philip longer than intended, as long as they had time to spare before the short trip to Jerusalem, it was of no great matter. It is during these “many days” that “a certain prophet came down from Judea, by name Agabus.”   This Agabus is probably the same prophet who was first seen in Acts 11. At that time, it was said that he had come down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Now, it says that he has come down from Judea. Thus, it is highly probable that this is the same prophet again being drawn into the narrative.   Life application: We should be prepared to expect the unexpected. We don't know what the future holds, and our plans are just that, plans. They may or may not come to pass. If you are in the Lord and living in accord with His word, then wherever you are – regardless of whether your plans are coming about – the Lord has you exactly where He needs you to be.   It may not be comfortable for you, or the changes that come up may be surprisingly nice. But it is where you are, so make the best of it. Throughout the book of Acts, people make plans, and they don't always come out as originally intended, but time has gone on, and the lives of these people came out in the way God knew they would.   If you can have this attitude when plans get changed or frustrated, you will be much better off in your own mind. Don't become discouraged but look for opportunities that may have been placed in your path. You are the Lord's, so have the proper attitude about the situation you are in. He has you there for a purpose.   Lord God, help us to be content in the situations we find ourselves. We make plans, but ultimately it is Your will that we need to be obedient to. If we are living in accord with Your word, then we are in Your will. May we find peace, joy, and contentment in that. Amen.

Tuesday, 10 October 2023   Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. Acts 21:1   The words of the NKJV do not logically follow the Greek. It more closely reads, “And it was, at our sailing, having drawn away from them, having run a straight course from them, we came to Cos, and next to Rhodes. From there to Patara” (CG).   In the previous verse, the emotions of those gathered with Paul were described, and then they conducted him to the ship. With that remembered, Chapter 21 begins with, “And it was, at our sailing.”   The word for their setting sail has already been seen in Acts, but as a reminder, it conveys the idea of going up. In essence, the idea is to go up to the sea from the land. On the other hand, the idea of coming to land after a voyage is to go down to the land from the sea. With their departure upon the sea, Luke next records what that departure was like, saying, “having drawn away from them.”   The verb is apospaó. It signifies “away from” and “to draw” as in the drawing of a sword. The sense is that it was as if they were pulled away from those on the shore who were, in essence, still clinging to them. The emotion of the moment is reflected in the choice of words used by Luke. Once they were so drawn away, Luke describes the next three stages of the journey, beginning with, “having run a straight course from them, we came to Cos.”   This is the only time that Cos is mentioned in Scripture. Abarim notes, “It's unclear where the name Cos originally came from, or even in which language it was conceived. But mythology held that it meant Number or Ratio.” Whatever its meaning, it was a straight run from Miletus to Cos. Luke then says, “and next to Rhodes.”   The name is also found only here in Scripture. It is from the same root as Rhodé, the maidservant noted in Acts 12:13. Thus, the name Rhodes probably means something like Place of the Rose. Finally, Luke records, “From there to Patara.”   Patara is also seen only here in the Bible. It was a town on the coast of the Roman province of Lycia. Abarim says, “The Greek name Patara is a transliteration of the original Lycian name Pttara, which in turn derives from the name of a mountain, namely Mount Patar, which is mentioned in the Hittite Yalburt Inscription, and which [in] turn appears to have been named after the Lycian word for basket, again patar (Lycia - Crossroads of Hittite and Greek Traditions? — Annick Payne).” Hence, they define the name as Basket(s).   Luke's noting of the ship's stops informs us that this was the common way of traveling. Ships would go from place to place with their commodities. Travelers would have taken advantage of it, just as Paul and those with him did. For the merchants, goods would have been loaded and unloaded, and possibly even postage might have been conveyed for a fee. Any travelers would also add to their profits.   Ellicott describes the three locations –   “Coos was famous both for its wines and its silk fabrics, of fine and almost transparent tissue; that Rhodes, then famous for its Colossus, was one of the largest and most flourishing islands of the Archipelago, and is memorable for us in later history as connected with the history of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John; that Patara was a harbour on the coast of Lycia. For this harbour the ship in which the travellers had left Troas and Miletus was bound, and they had therefore to look out for another. Happily there was no long delay, and they embarked at once on a merchant-ship bound for Phœnicia.”   Life application: Luke is quite meticulous in his record of the events as they occurred. The particular note of them being drawn away from Miletus shows the difficulty of the departure, but the quick and direct notes about the next three stops relieve that tension as the team gets drawn toward their next goal, which is to be in Jerusalem.   We can look at these events as we look at our own lives. We have connections here that cause us to want to hold on to them. We have family, friends, tasks that we enjoy, and so forth. However, as believers, we also have a heavenly home that is awaiting us.   For the normal course of life, we need to be drawn away from the earthly things and toward the promise of the New Jerusalem. In order for that to happen, God has set our lives to occur in a certain way. As we get older, we are drawn away from certain aspects of life. For example, our bodies no longer allow us to do certain things.   We also experience loss in various ways, drawing us away from other aspects of our lives. For example, we will lose our favorite pets, cherished things in various ways, and even those we love as time goes by.   These things are common to all people. The wise will understand that we must leave this world behind and set a straight course for our heavenly home. Of course, there is a time when this cycle will end, and the rapture will occur. But until that day, we should take our lives and the things that happen here in the context of a greater hope that lies ahead.   Let us not become overly distraught at the changes that occur. Instead, we can cherish the memories while still focusing on the glory that God has promised us in our future, eternal home. We are being drawn away from here to there. It is normal, and we should realize this as we continue along life's often difficult path.   Glorious Lord God, thank You that a better and permanent home awaits us where we will no longer experience the trials and troubles that we currently face. Slowly, but surely, we are being drawn toward that glorious place. Help us to understand this process from Your perspective and to not fret over the changes we must face in this fallen and woeful world. Amen.  

Thursday, 21 September 2023   “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, Acts 20:20   The words are more closely stated, “how I withheld nothing of things that are profitable, not to declare to you and to teach you in public and among houses” (CG).   The words continue from the previous verse, “And when they came to him, he said to them, ‘You know from the first day in which I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, how I withheld nothing of things that are profitable, not to declare to you and to teach you in public and among houses.'”   With that context, we see that Paul's words could not be made unless they were true. He is speaking to the people among whom the claims he is making pertain. Therefore, what he says must be the way things were. He is merely reminding them so that he can then encourage them based on what he says. And so, he continues by saying, “how I withheld nothing of things that are profitable.”   Hindsight is 20/20, but that is not what Paul speaks of here. Now, he says that he “withheld nothing.” We now welcome a new verb to Scripture, hupostelló. It will be seen just four times. According to Vincent's Word Studies, “A picturesque word. Originally, to draw in or contract. Used of furling sails, and of closing the fingers; of drawing back for shelter; of keeping back one's real thoughts; by physicians, of withholding food from patients.”   Ellicott thinks he used it specifically as a sailing metaphor where he “seems to say of himself, had used no such reticence or reserve, but had gone on his course, as it were, before the wind, with all his canvas spread.” This very well could be because he uses sea-related metaphors elsewhere, including Ephesians 4:14, 1 Timothy 1:19 and 1 Timothy 6:9.   No matter what his intent for using this word, it is clear that he was unafraid to teach them every doctrine and every counsel in accordance with the truth, regardless of whether they might find it offensive or unpalatable. Everything that was profitable was openly and fully shared with his disciples. From there, he turns to a negative clause to reiterate the point he has just made.   He said, “how I withheld nothing,” and now he says, “not to declare to you and to teach you.” The meaning is that instead of not declaring and not teaching, he did exactly the opposite by declaring and teaching. He did so without reservation and in a manner that was open to any and all. As he next says, “in public.”   Here is a word used for the last of four times, démosios. It is an adjective translated by most as publicly. But that is an adverb. Therefore, to retain the flavor of the original, “in public” more reasonably matches the intent. The word is derived from demos, a noun signifying “the people.” One can see the etymological root of the modern word democracy. As for the word démosios, you can wave it goodbye as it departs.   As for Paul, he was willing to speak about Jesus, the faith, holiness, righteousness, keeping from uncleanness, etc., all in the open and without shame or peevishness. He was bold and confident that his words were fully in line with the faith he professed. But, added to that, he next says, “and among houses.”   This would have been his talks and instruction in private settings. But don't some people speak one way in public and another in private? Paul refused such a tactic. He spoke in the same manner when in a public forum and when in private. His words were not two-faced but always in accord with what the Lord had set before him from the start.   Life application: How nice it is when preachers continue to follow this same pattern today while we live in the face of ever-increasing wickedness. Who will be willing to unfurl the sails of proper doctrine and let the winds carry the whole counsel of God to every shore, despite the dangers? Who will teach publicly the doctrines that are found offensive to today's sensitive and dull ears?   Jesus spoke in this manner, setting an example for us two thousand years ago. Paul was a man who did likewise, and many have since followed suit. We know that the Lord is pleased with any and all who are willing to take such a stand. As it says in Matthew 10:27 –   “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.”   In Genesis 31:39, Jacob told Laban that he bore the cost of any lost sheep himself rather than having it charged to his master. Considering the value that Jesus places on the souls of men, as noted, for example, in Matthew 16:26, Paul felt the cost of losing any for his Master. He was willing to expend himself to ensure those who heard and accepted the word would be kept safe from the ravages of the world around him.   And more, he did all he could to glorify God through evangelism and teaching. In verse 27 of this chapter, he will say that he did not shun to declare to his hearers the whole counsel of God. Let us be willing to hold fast to this word and to never waffle on what it proclaims, and to declare it in its fullness. This life is temporary. We might as well please God now with our conduct because eternity is a long time to regret not having done so.   Glorious Lord God, You have given us instruction through Your word, and You have provided examples of how we are to share that through the actions of the apostles. May we be willing to expend ourselves in the furtherance of the gospel and in the necessity of living in accord with the word that You have blessed us with. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Proverbs 31:8 (NLV)“Open your mouth for those who cannot speak, and for the rights of those who are left without help.”Katie Mason joins Angie to discuss the Bible's instruction to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.https://livesteadyon.com/Email Angie at: steadyonpodcast@gmail.comFacebook @livesteadyonInstagram @angiebaughman421Grab freebies and subscribe to the weekly Steady On newsletter at:https://livesteadyon.com/live-steady-on-newsletter/You can download a blank study sheet here:https://livesteadyon.com/sbs-blank-study-sheet/Interested in the Step By Step Bible study method? Download the FREE masterclass here: https://livesteadyon.com/live-steady-on-stepbystepmasterclass/ Katie's Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/1816047835249899 Logos Softwarehttps://www.logos.com/Enduring Word Commentaryhttps://enduringword.com/WordHippohttps://www.wordhippo.com/BibleGatewayhttps://www.biblegateway.com/Blue Letter Biblehttps://www.blueletterbible.org/Jay E. Adams, The Christian Counselor's New Testament and Proverbs, ed. Donn R. Arms, Fourth Revised Edition. (Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2019), 587. David Atkinson, The Message of Proverbs: Wisdom for Life, ed. J. A. Motyer, John Stott, and Derek Tidball, The Bible Speaks Today (England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996), 165–166. Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, vol. 14, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 246.Ellicott, Charles John, ed. A Bible Commentary for English Readers by various writersPoole, Matthew, Annotations upon the Holy BibleTheme musicHeartwarming by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3864-heartwarmingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The details for the Steady On University beta team can be found here: https://livesteadyon.com/sou-beta/Preroll music: Tomorrow Comes Soon by Dreamlamp

Monday, 28 August 2023   “For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. Acts 19:37   The words are more succinct. They literally read, “For you brought these men, neither temple-robbers nor blaspheming your goddess” (CG).   The recorder has logically defended why the crowd should calm down, stating that what he spoke was undeniable. Now, because of what he has said, he explains why they must let the people they have been rallying against be left alone, saying, “For you brought these men.”   The word translated as you is plural. He is speaking to the crowd first spurred on by Demetrius, accusing them of causing an unnecessary riot and an attack against people who have done no wrong. The people he is referring to are Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who traveled with Paul, as noted in verse 19:29. They had been seized and brought into the theater. Of them, the recorder begins with, “neither temple-robbers.”   It is a single Greek word found only here in the New Testament, hierosulos. It is from two words meaning “sacred” or “holy” and to rob or plunder.  It is used only here in the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 11:8, Paul writes a similar thought using the word “rob” with the Greek word ekklésia, translated as “churches.” Of this word, Ellicott says –   “The corresponding noun for ‘robbing temples,' or ‘sacrilege,' is found in inscriptions discovered by Mr. Wood (vi. 1, p. 14) among the ruins of the Temple, as denoting a crime to which the severest penalties were attached.”   These men had not done such a thing. But more, the recorder continues with, “nor blaspheming your goddess.” Note the use of the present tense. They had not blasphemed Artemis in the past and were not doing so now. The point of these words is that Paul and those with him could rightly say, “they are not gods which are made with hands,” as was stated in verse 19:26. No act of blasphemy could be ascribed to such a statement.   If Paul and his disciples said, “And that includes the false goddess made by hands in the temple of Artemis,” they could be accused of blasphemy. But the recorder has said that it was indisputable that she was not made with hands but had fallen from heaven (verse 19:35). Therefore, they could not be accused of blaspheming her. If she was not made with hands, then the statement ascribed to Paul, and which was then stated by Demetrius in verse 19:26, could not apply to them concerning blasphemy against Artemis.   Finally, some texts of the clause say, “our goddess.” Others say, “your goddess.” If the latter is the true original, it could explain why the recorder was so careful to choose his words as he did. It may be that he was convinced that what Paul taught was true, even if he said it was indisputable that the image had fallen from heaven. Those words could have been purposefully chosen to exonerate these men with whom he agreed.   Life application: There is the old saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” This is a way of saying that when you are in another nation or among another culture, you should adapt your conduct according to the location and culture of those you are visiting. It would be arrogant to assume that you can continue to act in a manner that would be offensive to those whose land you are visiting.   For example, whether you agree or disagree with the dress codes for women in an Islamic nation, when you are in such a nation, a visiting woman should wear what is required, or she can expect to be arrested. That is not complicated. If you don't agree with their dress codes, then you should refrain from visiting.   This concept applies to evangelism as well. There are nations that forbid evangelism of their people. Because of this, many missionaries will go to such nations under the guise of working in another job, such as an English translator. The actual reason for going is to be a missionary, but any evangelism is done quietly and usually on an individual basis. If caught, that person is usually aware that it can end in being deported, imprisoned, or worse.   If you are going to travel to another nation, it is best to be aware of what you can and cannot do. Sharing the gospel is the highest priority for a believer, but it must be accompanied with tact and diplomacy. It would be highly inappropriate to go to an Islamic nation and begin your evangelism by blaspheming their god. The same is true with going to a Buddhist or Hindu nation. Be sure to know what is allowed and what is not allowed, and then work within that framework as closely as possible without either compromising your own faith or without getting yourself in a real pickle by those with whom you have come to reside.   Lord God, help us to know the laws, even in our own lands, concerning how we can evangelize others. It serves no good purpose to be labeled as an outlaw when we share the gospel if that can easily be avoided. So, Lord, give us wisdom and discernment about when to speak, how to speak, and what will be the most effective way of sharing the gospel. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Tuesday, 22 August 2023   Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. Acts 19:31   To be more precise, the words read, “And also some of the Asiarchs, being his friends, having sent to him, were imploring not to venture himself into the theater” (CG).     In the previous verse, it noted that Paul wanted to go to the people in the theater but that the disciples would not allow him. That continues now, saying, “And also some of the Asiarchs.” It is a word found only here in Scripture. Vincent's Word Studies says of them, “These were persons chosen from the province of Asia, on account of their influence and wealth, to preside at the public games and to defray their expenses.”   Charles Ellicott adds to this, saying, “The office was an annual one. They were ten in number, and the proconsul nominated one of them as president. Their duties led them now to one city, now to another, according as games or festivals were held, now at Ephesus, now at Colophon, or Smyrna. As connected both with the theatre and with the worship of Artemis, they were probably officially informed of the occasion of the tumult.”   Concerning these Asiarchs, Luke next records, “being his friends.” How he became connected to these men isn't stated. Likewise, it is unknown if they were believers or not. Regardless, Ellicott seems to be correct when he says, “There is something significant in the fact that the Asiarchs were St. Paul's friends. The manliness, tact, and courtesy which tempered his zeal and boldness, seem always to have gained for him the respect of men in authority: Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7), Gallio (Acts 18:14-17), Festus and Agrippa (Acts 25:9; Acts 26:28; Acts 26:32), the centurion Julius (Acts 27:3; Acts 27:43).”   Paul was obviously bold and firm in his speaking. Therefore, whether he obtained converts of others or not, the men respected him for his character. Because they are noted as his friends, Luke continues with, “having sent to him.”   Whether they were in the theater and saw the riotous nature of the crowd, or whether they were elsewhere in the city and knew of what was occurring, they sent a messenger to Paul and “were imploring not to venture himself into the theater.”   These men were aware of Paul's character. They knew that if he went into the theater he would immediately go to where he could be heard and begin to speak up about the gospel. Having dealt with him in the past, they were certain this would be the case. They also knew that the fracas was because of him and his supposed undermining of Artemis.   All of this is either explicit or it can be deduced from the surrounding text. Knowing this, they begged him to refrain from entering, knowing that the outcome would result in certain harm to him.   Life application: As noted above, it is apparent that Paul was known to highly prominent men, not just in Asia but wherever he traveled. Even if they were not converts, he gained their respect as a person. His words and demeanor may have been totally directed to the sharing of the gospel. However, he did it in a manner that was bold and firm but not confrontational.   At times, one may come across a street preacher who yells out his message. He may stand and condemn everyone around him to hell for not accepting Jesus. These things may be true, but there is no reason for this type of conduct. To tell people that they need Jesus in order to be saved implies that they are not saved. If they are not saved, the implication is that they are already separated from God. People get this without being yelled at that they are sinners and are going to hell.   And the whole yelling thing. Yeah, right. If someone comes to your business and you start yelling at him, well, that won't go over well.   [Shouted loudly] “If you don't buy this extra insurance for your new appliance, you are an idiot!”   You will not sell many insurance policies that way. The same is true with selling hot dogs, promoting your plumbing business, etc. There is a way to convey the gospel message without yelling and/or accusation. Reading the evangelistic words of Paul in Acts will help you see how he conveyed the message. Even if his words were rejected, he was received as an honorable man.   The strong words of accusation by Paul (and by Jesus) were saved for those who claimed to be followers of the true God but who were not living according to their proclamation. For the unsaved, they were treated boldly in the message, but respectfully regardless of its acceptance or rejection. Follow this path and you will find that even if you meet with initial failure, you may later have success with those same people.   Heavenly Father, may we be wise and discerning in how we present the gospel to others. It is the message that saves. If we don't present it with respect and care, it will not only be rejected at first, but the encounter will be remembered by those who were offended by our presentation. Our goal should be to exalt You and this saving message, not to demean and condemn those who hear our words. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Sunday, 20 August 2023   So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions. Acts 19:29   To match the Greek, these words are more closely rendered, “And the city was filled – the outpouring – and rushed single-mindedly to the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow-travelers of Paul” (CG).   In the previous verse, the silversmiths had gotten lathered up at the words of Demetrius and cried out, saying “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” With that, people began to take notice of their excited cries and Luke next notes, “And the city was filled – the outpouring.”   It is a noun found only here in Scripture, sugchusis.   It comes from the verb sugcheó, meaning to pour out together. Figuratively, it refers to being confused or confounded. As the noun form is used, the word outpouring (an outburst of strong emotion) gives a close sense. The people heard the shouts of the silversmiths, the word was passed on from there concerning what was going on, and everyone poured out of their homes and businesses in a heat of emotion. From there, it next notes, “and rushed single-mindedly to the theater.”   Here is a word, homothumadon, found eleven times in the New Testament, ten of those instances are in Acts, and this is the last use in Acts. Its root words signify “same” and “passion.” Thus, it describes having the same passion or the same desire. The minds agree and thus “single-mindedly” gives the sense.   Even if they didn't know why they were going to the theater, they were propelled by a herd mentality with one purpose. As for the theater mentioned here, it was next to the temple of Artemis and is said to have been able to hold 25,000 people according to Ellicott. Vincent's Word Studies says it held 56,000. Apparently, it was built for gladiator combat of the day, but it was also a theater for drama and public debates. It would have been a perfect place for the gathering to meet.   Concerning the mob, in verse 32, it will note that most of the people didn't even know why they had come together. They had simply followed the growing mob, one after another. However, of those that did know why they had come together, it next notes, “having seized Gaius and Aristarchus.”   As the crowd rushed towards the focal point of the confused mob, those who knew that it was because of the spreading of the gospel together snatched these two men by force and carried them off.   As for their names, Gaius probably comes from gaia, earth or land. Thus, it means Of the Land. This could be taken as “he is a man of the land” like a farmer, or it could signify “he is made from the earth” like Adam. The name Gaius was one of the most common names of the time. It is the same as the Roman Caius. Several men will be noted with this same name in the New Testament. There could be overlap in them so that one or two are the same person, but this is not certain.   The second name, Aristarchus, comes from ariston, breakfast or midday meal (signifying the best meal), and archó, to rule. Thus, his name means Best Ruler. He will be seen again in Acts 20:4 where he is noted as being from Thessalonica. In Colossians 4:10 he is noted as Paul's fellow prisoner. He came to Christ through Paul and stayed close to him through thick and thin. He is also seen in Acts 27:2 and Philemon 1:24.   Of these men, Paul notes that both were “Macedonians.” As they are in Ephesus, they are not local to the area and had become targets of the crowd because they were also “fellow-travelers of Paul.”   This is a new noun sunekdémos. It comes from three words meaning “with,” “out of,” and “people,” but people of a like commonality. They are those who traveled with Paul, out of another place, and thus “fellow-travelers.”   Life application: One can see how a tumult raised by one group has grown into a general crowd that is gathered into a mob. This is as common as gravel on a driveway. Once a little ruckus gets going outside a store, people will start to gather to see what is going on. Often, without even knowing the circumstances, there will be someone to egg things on. “That guy was minding his own business and the cops started pounding on him.”   From there, the crowd starts yelling at the cops, maybe throwing stuff at them. General disarray erupts, the riot police have to be called, and people get thrown into jail. The person was a shoplifter, he turned on the cops and started pounding on them, they took action to subdue him, the crowd was in the wrong, cops were beaten, and one was killed. All because someone made up a false story.   Solomon says –   “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.” Proverbs 26:17   Grabbing a dog by the ears is not smart. They will usually attack and bite the person who does it. When you see a tussle going on outside, the best thing to do is to keep your distance and not get involved. To get more such wisdom, be sure to read the Proverbs from time to time. It is filled with good information like this. Pay attention to it and keep yourself from disaster.   Lord God, help us to make the Bible a priority in our daily lives. It is certain that it will fill us with wisdom and also keep us from harm. Above all, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord who will save us from this world of woe, even if we get caught up in it from time to time because we failed to read Your word. In the end, we shall be secure. Amen.

Thursday, 17 August 2023   “Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. Acts 19:26   The verse more correctly reads: “And you see and hear, that not only in Ephesus, but almost all Asia, this Paul – having persuaded – seduced a sizable multitude, saying that they are not gods being made by hands” (CG).   In the previous verse, Demetrius had called together the workers in the related silver trade and reminded them that they received a good income from their business. However, that was now threatened as Luke continues to relay his words, saying, “And you see and hear.”   The effects of Paul were readily apparent to Demetrius. And so, appealing to their own senses, he validates that what he is saying is obvious and true. Those in the silver trade had personally seen the scope of Paul's ministry and they had obviously heard of it from those of other areas who had come to trade as well. That is seen in the next words, “that not only in Ephesus but almost all Asia.”   Paul was in Ephesus, but there were other churches in Asia as well. They may have been started by him or others, but if they were started by others (such as those who had been there at the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection), they would have been more Jewish-centered. Paul was called as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore, even if he did not start some of the other churches in Asia, he still would have had an effect on their expansion into the Gentiles of the community where they were.   Therefore, this verse provides confirmation of the scope and efficacy of the work conducted by him which is recorded in verse 19:10 –   “And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”   He had such a great harvest among the Gentiles that it caused these people to feel the effects of his ministry personally and monetarily. It isn't certain, but if the areas around the seven churches in Revelation were evangelized by Paul, along with those areas that he is definitively noted as having been at in Asia (Ephesus, Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis), almost two-thirds of Asia's coastline would have been affected by his efforts. That would certainly explain the great alarm of Demetrius. Therefore, his words continue with an emphatic note, “this Paul.”   The demonstrative pronoun calls attention to the source of their loss. One might say, “Paul is a real problem for us.” Or he might emphasize his words to get the point across, “That Paul, he is a real problem for us.” This is the sense of Demetrius' words. He then continues to explain what the matter is saying, “having persuaded – seduced a sizeable multitude.”   The first verb means to persuade or convince. Paul was clear and precise in what he said, even to the point that people were convicted of their sins and certain that they needed what he offered in his words concerning the good news of Jesus Christ.   The second verb, methistémi, means to change, pervert, turn away, etc. In Colossians 1:13, it speaks of the change that takes place in us when we come to Christ. In the case of Demetrius' thoughts about Paul, the word “seduced” probably carries the thought that was on his mind. Paul didn't just persuade people with his rhetoric, but he seduced them away from what he believed was right, “saying that they are not gods being made by hands.”   Of these words, Bengel humorously asks, “Are they then, Demetrius?” Demetrius was so depraved in his thoughts that he believed the things he made with his own hands were actually gods. Just note the irony! If the idols he was making were really gods, then he – a man – was the creator of gods. This is the type of attitude that Paul addressed in Acts 17:29 –   “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.”   Paul also addresses the issue of such idolatry in Romans 1. From that springboard, having traded the truth of God for a lie, other sins inevitably develop. In fact, Paul's list, which is at first based on turning away from God to idolatry, is quite extensive –   “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32   But with Paul in the province of Asia, the unholy tide of idolatry was beginning to ebb. Surely at least in part because of his efforts, Ellicott notes these words –   “Pliny, in his Epistle to Trajan (Epp. x. 96), uses language, half a century later, which is hardly less strong, speaking of ‘deserted temples,' ‘worship neglected,' ‘hardly a single purchaser' (rarissimus emptor) found for sacrificial victims.”   Life application: The stupidity of idolatry seems obvious to a person once he comes to know and understand the nature of the true God. And yet, idolatry is so infectious that it can continue in the lives of believers. We must always be on guard against it because anything can turn into an idol. And, depending on the church one is in, it can be reinstituted in the lives of adherents almost instantaneously.   An obvious example is the Roman Catholic Church which is so filled with idols that the true God has become an ethereal secondary thought to most Catholics. This is true with other orthodox religions. It can creep into any church that is not prepared to meet the temptation head-on.   Take the time to slowly read and think about the words of Isaiah 44:9-20. Consider what is being said about idolatry and then determine to weed all such ideas out of your life. Eyes on Jesus! Let your heart, mind, and soul be filled with the knowledge of Him at all times. This is the sweet spot for your life, doctrine, and practice of faith.   Glorious God, help us to constantly evaluate our lives, removing the idols from them as they creep up. May our hearts and affections be directed to You alone as we live our lives in Your presence. Thank You for the sure hope we possess because of Jesus. We need nothing else to connect with You. He is our All in all. Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Saturday, 12 August 2023   When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” Acts 19:21   The words more closely read, “And after these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the Spirit – having passed through Macedonia and Achaia – to go to Jerusalem, having said, “That after I have been there, I must also see Rome” (CG).   The previous verse told of the word of the Lord growing mightily and prevailing. This occurred in Ephesus. Now a new direction takes place with the words, “And after these things were fulfilled.”   There was a time in Ephesus to evangelize, teach, and raise up leaders, and now that time is about to be fulfilled. Verse 19:10 said that this continued for two years. That was in addition to the three months he had spent reasoning in the synagogue. With this time in Ephesus coming to its completion, it next says, “Paul purposed in the Spirit.”   It is debated whether this should simply refer to a willful spirit in Paul or the Holy Spirit. The word is preceded by an article in the Greek text. Of this, Ellicott – who argues it should simply say “in spirit” – says, “The Greek word, however, implies a reference to something more than human volition. The spirit which formed the purpose was in communion with the Divine Spirit.”   If this is true, and it certainly is, then rendering it “in the Spirit” provides the honor of the communion to the Holy Spirit by saying “in the Spirit.” For example, Paul says elsewhere –   “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:24-26   This is something he repeats in various ways elsewhere. Paul was walking in the Spirit. He was in communion with the Spirit and thus he “purposed in the Spirit” to take action. Therefore, once the gospel was firmly fixed in Ephesus, he – and the Spirit he was in communion with – couldn't sit at ease any longer.  And so, it was resolved that it was time to move on. Therefore, it next says, “having passed through Macedonia and Achaia.”   Paul surely yearned to fellowship with the churches he had established. And so, it was his intention that prior to doing anything else, he would go through these areas, certainly anticipating a happy reunion with them, strengthening them, etc. In addition to this, he purposed to use this trip to gather a collection for the saints in Jerusalem. This is noted in his epistles, such as –   “But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:25-29   He also discusses this in great detail in 2 Corinthians 8. As for what he purposed in the Spirit after having passed through Macedonia and Achaia, it was “to go to Jerusalem.”   This was the purpose of the collection he was going to gather from those churches. Those who were in Jerusalem had ministered to the Gentiles in spiritual things. Paul thought it was appropriate to reward them by tending to them in material things. The entire matter concerning this offering was very sensitive. People had made promises and Paul expected them to be fulfilled.   This is especially true because the poorer churches had gone out of their way considering this offering. If the richer churches failed in their promises, it would be an embarrassment to Paul, a stain upon them, and a slap in the face of the poorer churches. Therefore, Paul carefully wrote out the necessity for everything to be handled in a proper fashion.   Once this offering was made, Paul had made plans beyond the trip to Jerusalem. Next, Luke records Paul “having said, ‘That after I have been there, I must also see Rome.'”   This is just what is recorded in the citation from Romans 15 above. He will, in fact, go to Rome. However, it will not be in the manner that he expected as indicated in those words. Of the words of this verse, the Pulpit Commentary, citing Bengel, says –   “Observe also the insatiable appetite of the apostle for spiritual conquests, and his noble contempt for idleness. He has but just won Ephesus and Asia, and already he undertakes Macedonia and Achaia. Nor does his mind stop there, but reaches on to Jerusalem, then stretches onwards to Rome, and meditates the invasion of Spain. Truly neither Alexander, nor Caesar, nor any hero of antiquity was a match for this little Benjamite (paulus) in the magnanimity of his designs.”   Life application: There is never a time that we can say, “I have nothing else to do in my walk with the Lord.” It is true that Paul said to Timothy that he had finished his race, but the context must be considered –   “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8   In his words, the surrounding verses tell us that Paul's race was ending only because of his anticipated death. In the verses following this, he continued to give instruction to Timothy which confirmed he was still active and would continue until that day had arrived.   Even if we are on our deathbed, there is no reason to keep silent about Jesus. If a doctor or nurse comes in, it is time to tell them the good news. If an unbelieving family member comes by, it is time to speak about the hope you possess. Let us continue in the good fight until we can no longer speak. Eternal destinies are being decided in those we encounter from moment to moment.   Heavenly Father, give us the strength to speak out about Jesus until our dying breath. And more, instill in us the desire to do so. If we fail to speak, we may miss the only chance someone ever has to hear the good news about Your offer of peace and reconciliation. Yes, Lord, help us to do this until our final day arrives. Amen.

On this episode Simon (Coach V) previews a number of 1A programs including Buena Vista, Denver Christian, Rye, Banning Lewis Academy, Rocky Ford, Peyton, Ellicott, Trinidad, Florence, and Colorado Springs Christian. He talks about their season last year, graduating seniors/transfers, key players, and then predicts the record for each team for the upcoming 2023 football season.  Intro 0:00- 3:23 Buena Vista 3:24- 18:35 Denver Christian 18:36- 25:58 Rye 25:59- 37:04 Banning Lewis Academy 37:05- 53:00 Rocky Ford 53:01- 56:24 Peyton 56:25- 1:08:02 Ellicott 1:09:03- 1:12:39 Trinidad 1:12:40- 1:13:35 Florence 1:13:36- 1:21:54 Colorado Springs Christian 1:21:55- 1:31:23 Outro 1:31:24- 1:32:06 https://linktr.ee/PlaymakersCorner Social Media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaymakerCorner Tik Tok: Playmakers Corner Instagram: https:https://www.instagram.com/playmakerscorner/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaymakerCorner Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEcv0BIfXT78kNEtk1pbxQ/featured  Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/playmakerscorner  Website: https://playmakerscorner.com/  Listen to us on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4rkM8hKtf8eqDPy2xqOPqr  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cycle-365/id1484493484?uo=4  Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/the-cycle-365 Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mODg4MWYwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Thursday, 13 July 2023   And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. Acts 18:19   In the previous verse, Paul left Corinth along with Priscilla and Aquila. While in Cenchrea, he cut his hair because of a vow. Leaving Cenchrea, which is the port from which they would have sailed, it next says, “And he came to Ephesus.”   Of this journey, the Pulpit Commentary states –   “No voyage across the AEgean was more frequently made than that between Corinth and Ephesus. They were the capitals of the two flourishing and peaceful provinces of Achaia and Asia, and the two great mercantile towns on opposite sides of the sea. (Howson, vol. 1:454).”   They also note that the voyage would take from ten to fifteen days. As for Ephesus, this is the first mention of it in Scripture. Abarim says that the name is derived from the Hittite name Apasa. That comes from appa, behind or after which is related to the Greek word epi, on or upon. They define the meaning as “Later Place,” or maybe “Place Very Much at the Back.” Their reasoning for this is that it is at the mouth of a river on the coast. Thus, it would be comparable to Land's End or The Boondocks.   Of the city itself, Ellicott notes –   “It had been one of the early Greek colonies on the western coast of Asia Minor. It fell under the power of Alyattes, King of Lydia, and his successor, Croesus. It had from the first been celebrated for the worship of Artemis ... and her Temple, with its sacred image, and stately courts, and its hundreds of priests and priestesses of various grades, was visited by pilgrims of all nations. It was one of the cities in which East and West came into close contact with each other, and the religion of Greece assumed there a more Oriental character, and was fruitful in magic, and mysteries, and charms.”   As for the words, “And he came,” some translations say “they” instead of “he.” This would be because of the next clause, “and left them there.” As the focus is on Paul, saying “he” is probably the correct rendering. Regardless of this, after the arrival in Ephesus, one of two things occurred:   Paul left them at the arrival point and – as was his usual custom – he went seeking after his countrymen. If this is what the words are referring to, then the narrative continues with the next words, “but he himself entered the synagogue.” The words “he left them there” are followed by a parenthetical set of verses that end in verse 21 – “And he came to Ephesus, and left them there ... And he sailed from Ephesus.”   Either way, the next thought in the narrative is his entering into the synagogue. Being an aorist participle, it properly reads, “And he himself, having entered into the synagogue.” Despite all the grief that he had repeatedly suffered from his own Jewish countrymen, one can see the desire he had to tell them of what he knew. One can almost sense the passion of the words he will later write to those in Rome –   “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” Romans 9:1-3   It is because of this burning desire for them to know their Messiah that he sought them out. And so, having entered into the synagogue, it next says he “reasoned with the Jews.” The verb is not one of ongoing action, but that he went in and reasoned as in a transient act. The verses ahead will explain why he didn't stay longer, but he at least made the effort to go in and make himself and his position known to these Jews.   Life application: If you are traveling, do you seek out a church to attend while you are in the area? Or, if your church has streaming online services, do you take advantage of attending with them even when you are traveling?   It's hard to figure that anyone would take a vacation and say, “We are not going to church while we are on it,” but some people do this. If your priority is your vacation, your priorities are out of whack. You don't need to go on a set day or a set time, but simply ignoring fellowshipping with others because you are vacationing speaks volumes about your priorities.   Do you eat while on vacation? If so, why? What is the purpose of eating? It is to be fed. While on vacation, go to church.   Heavenly Father, help us to always make church attendance a priority in our lives. Even if we have other things to do, this is one thing that we can do to honor and worship You, to learn about You, and to fellowship with others. May our priorities, which reflect the state of our hearts, be set on You. Amen.  

Thursday, 6 July 2023   When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, Acts 18:12   The previous verse noted that Paul continued in Corinth for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among the people. Now, it says, “When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia.”   Rather, the verb is a present participle, “And Gallio being proconsul of Achaia.” Gallio is described by Albert Barnes –   “Gallio, who was now deputy of it, was brother to L. Annaeus Seneca, the famous philosopher, who was preceptor to Nero; his name at first was M. Annaeus Novatus, but being adopted by L. Junius Gallio, he took the name of the family. According to his brother's account of him (s), he was a very modest man, of a sweet disposition, and greatly beloved; and Statius (t) calls him Dulcem Gallionem, "the sweet Gallio", mild and gentle in his speech, as Quintilian says.”   Luke notes that at this time he was the proconsul of Achaia. This is the first mention of Achaia in Scripture. It was a Roman province that consisted almost completely of Greece. Ellicott says, “This word, in its largest sense, comprehended the whole of Greece. Achaia proper, however, was a province of which Corinth was the capital. It embraced that part of Greece lying between Thessaly and the southern part of the Peloponnesus.”   During Gallio's time as proconsul, Luke notes that “the Jews with one accord rose up.” The action described is from a word found only here in Scripture, katephistemi. It is a word that is also not found in the Greek Old Testament nor in any ancient Greek writers. It gives the sense of standing against another. Older Bibles incorrectly say “insurrection.” However, an insurrection is against a ruling body, not a guy you disagree with. As it next notes, “against Paul.”   As has been the case several times in Acts, the Jews' jealousy at Paul's success, and their inability to refute his words concerning the coming of Messiah, had them all steamed up. A similar event occurred in Daniel 6 where the governors and satraps rose up against Daniel, thronging king Darius. As for Paul, remembering that his letters to those in Thessalonica were written during his time in Greece, one can see the bitterness that had arisen between the two parties in his first letter to them –   “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 20   The greater number of Jews had rejected the message of Jesus being the Messiah while the Gentiles had openly embraced it in ever-increasing numbers. What the Jews had been unable to do for many years with established synagogues, Paul had done in a short amount of time. And more, Paul did not mandate any type of conversion to Judaism. Rather he openly preached against it. This infuriated them. Because of this, they stood against him “and brought him to the judgment seat.”   The meaning is to the bema seat of Gallio. They probably did this because he was new and hoped that his inexperience in this position would work on their behalf. They had surely concocted a charge against him concerning his diversion from Jewish law. Where their teaching was accepted as a legitimate expression of the Roman-approved religions, they wanted what Paul was teaching to be cut off as illegitimate.   Life application: What happened to Paul in his day is what is coming about again in our own time. The proper expression of worship concerning Jesus is derived from obedience to Scripture. However, churches around the world are actually of the attitude that those who hold to Scripture are the problem.   For example, everything homosexual and perverted is becoming the norm in major denominations. And yet, there is no provision for such things in Scripture. Despite this, these apostate bodies are actively accusing those who hold to Scripture of being the ones who are intolerant and aberrant concerning proper Christian values.   Eventually, this will become so pervasive that these greater bodies will openly come against those who faithfully adhere to the word and attempt to have them cut off from being considered Christian entities. The unholy tide is rushing in their favor, and so this is not mere speculation, but rather a logical conclusion concerning what lies ahead. Be prepared to stand on your faith from a biblical perspective. It may cost you dearly, but heck, it is well worth it in the long run.   Heavenly Father, the time has arrived when what You have set forth in Your word concerning our conduct is no longer being tolerated. It seems inevitable that those who hold to what You expect of us will be increasingly persecuted for their faith. So, Lord, be with us and give us the strength to endure whatever comes against us. Help us in our weak state to be strong in You. Amen.  

They just don't make ‘em like Annie Ellicott anymore. This talented Tulsan is an all around ENTERTAINER who's made a name for herself as a jazz singer, songwriter, performer and voice actor. In this week's episode of the OKPOP Radio Hour, Annie gives us a preview of her upcoming album "Happy Talk", and tells us how she went from playing Tulsa clubs with her dad to sharing the stage at Glastonbury with Jeff Goldblum! Give us a listen, and don't miss Annie Ellicott & The Lucky 7 live at Summer's Fifth Night - July 13th at Utica Square!

Tuesday, 27 June 2023   So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. Acts 18:3   A more literal translation would be, “And because being of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul found Aquila and Priscilla. Now it records, “And because being of the same trade.”   It is a word found only once in Scripture, homotechnos. One can look at the word and get a sense of its meaning. It signifies being of the same trade or craft. Alfred Edersheim, in his commentary on Jewish social life, noted that Jewish guilds always kept together, whether on the street or in a synagogue. Because of this, he would have easily come upon Aquila and Priscilla. In meeting them, they obviously found each other agreeable and so, “he stayed with them and worked.”   Luke doesn't dwell on the reason for this, but it is evident that this was their means of living. Paul didn't sponge off of those he evangelized. Instead, he worked with his own hands. He says as much elsewhere –   “I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:33-35   Also –   “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 7-10   Paul also refers to his work in 1 Corinthians 4:12 and 1 Thessalonians 2:9. His work in this manner should not be surprising as a large number of Jews throughout history have had particular skills that they possessed and worked with. Jesus Himself is noted by the word tektōn, translated by most as a carpenter, but which very well may have indicated a stonemason. As for Paul and Aquila, it next says, “for they were tentmakers by trade.”   The word is skénopoios, and it is also only found here in the New Testament. It comes from skéné, tent, and poieó, to make. As for the work itself, Ellicott says –   “The calling was one which St. Paul had probably learnt and practised in his native city, which was noted then, as now, for the rough goat's-hair fabrics known to the Romans, from the name of the province, as Cilicium (= sack-cloth). The material was one used for the sails of ships and for tents, and on the whole, though some have supposed that leather was used for the latter, it seems more probable that this was the material which St. Paul worked at. It may be added that Pontus, from which Aquila came, was also famous for the same manufacture, the material in each case being furnished by the goats which fed upon the slopes of the Taurus, and the mountain ranges of that province.”   Vincent's Word Studies disagrees with this and says, “Not weavers of the goat's-hair cloth of which tents were made, which could easily be procured at every large town in the Levant, but makers of tents used by shepherds and travellers. It was a trade lightly esteemed and poorly paid.” Even if the job was one looked down on, this did not appear to bother Paul in the least.   Life application: It is common in today's churches that the pastor is paid entirely by the church. This includes his housing and many other fringe benefits. However, smaller churches may have pastors that might not live very well or who have to work other jobs to pay the bills. But there is nothing wrong with this. If one truly loves preaching, then having an extra job or two throughout the week should be considered a blessing and an honor. As Paul says –   “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8   The idea of working in a trade is not unique to the Christian faith, Maimonides says that “the wise generally practice some of the arts, lest they should be dependent on the charity of others.” Likewise, Vincent's Word Studies notes, “It was a Rabbinical principle that whoever does not teach his son a trade is as if he brought him up to be a robber. All the Rabbinical authorities in Christ's time, and later, were working at some trade. Hillel, Paul's teacher, was a wood-cutter, and his rival, Shammai, a carpenter. It is recorded of one of the celebrated Rabbis that he was in the habit of discoursing to his students from the top of a cask of his own making, which he carried every day to the academy.”   The roots from which the church sprang did not feel it was abasing to do such menial tasks. If Paul could do it and still work tirelessly in the mission field, it should be a badge of honor for pastors, preachers, evangelists, and missionaries to work with their own hands as well.   Lord God, Your word says that in having food and clothing it should be a source of contentment. We may need a dose of this ourselves in a world where we have to have more and more all the time. Help us to be productive, not feeding off of others, and willing to toil to whatever extent is necessary for this to come about. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.  

Monday, 26 June 2023   And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. Acts 18:2   In the previous verse, Paul departed Athens and went to Corinth. Now it says, “And he found a certain Jew.”   Rather, being an aorist participle, it reads, “And having found a certain Jew.” Luke is preparing the next thought through the use of the participle. With the knowledge that he has come across this individual, Luke next records, “named Aquila.”   Rather than a verb, the word is a noun and would more rightly read, “by name Aquila.” On the name, Ellicott says, “The name presents some interesting associations. Strictly speaking, the Greek form is Ahylas, but this is undoubtedly the transliterated form of the Latin Aquila (= Eagle). The name appears in a yet more altered form in Onkelos, the traditional writer of one of the Targums, or Paraphrases of the Law, then current among the Jews. In Aquila, one of the later translators of the Old Testament into Greek, himself also born in Pontus, and possibly ... identical with Onkelos, we get the Greek form again.”   This individual, Aquila, is seen at other points in Paul's writings as being his friend, such as in Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:19; and 1 Corinthians 16:19. Aquila means Eagle. Despite being a Jew by birth, he became a convert to Christianity. It next says that he was “born in Pontus.”   Being an adjective and a noun, it would most closely be translated as a Pontian native.  Pontus was mentioned in Acts 2:9 as one of the locations where the Jews had gathered from while in Jerusalem at Pentecost. Thus, it could be that he was a convert at that time. It was a province of Asia Minor, situated north of Cappadocia. It was bound on the west by Paphlagonia. Together, Pontus and Cappadocia constituted one Roman province. Peter directed one of his epistles to this area in 1 Peter 1:1.   Of Aquila, it next says, “who had recently come from Italy.” Here is an adverb found only this once in Scripture, prosphatós. That comes from the adjective, prosphatos, also found only once in Scripture. That word literally means “freshly killed.” Therefore, in Hebrews 10:20, it describes “‘the new road' Christ has successfully inaugurated (the NT era) by the sacrifice of Himself.” (HELPS Word Studies). Therefore, this adverb signifies lately or recently.   The reason for his having left Italy will be explained in the next few words. For now, it continues by saying, “with his wife Priscilla.” The name Priscilla is a diminutive form of Prisca. She will be called Prisca in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy. Prisca is a Latin name meaning Ancient or Longevity.   With these two noted, it next says, “because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome.” Literally, it says, “because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to be separated from Rome.” Of this, the Pulpit Commentary says, “Suetonius mentions the fact, but unfortunately does not say in what year of Claudius's reign it took place. His account is that, in consequence of frequent disturbances and riots among the Jews at the instigation of Chrestus, Claudius drove them from Rome.”   With that note, scholars then assume that it was because of the spread of Christianity, taking Chrestus as a variant spelling of Christ. In other words, it was because of the new faith in Christ that was being proclaimed. The assumption then is that conflicts arose between the Jews and the Romans as well as between believers and nonbelievers. In order to regain control of the situation, the Jews were expelled from Rome.   This is defended by variant spellings of the name of Christ that has been found elsewhere. Because of this, lengthy commentaries are then written to defend this scenario. This is possible as Aquila and Priscilla were believing Jews. However, these commentaries ignore the words spoken to Paul in Acts 28 which tend to reveal a curiosity by the Jews about Christianity because they had heard about it but were not well-schooled in what it proclaimed.   It seems unlikely that those Jews, having returned to Rome at a later date, would be willing to entertain Paul's words if they had been kicked out of Rome because of Christianity some years earlier.   What seems likely is that Chrestus was a Jew who stirred up the other Jews for some unknown reason, causing them to be separated from Rome. Regardless of the actual reason for the expulsion, it occurred. Having been expelled from Rome, Aquila and Priscilla left Italy together and Paul found them in Corinth where Luke next records, “and he came to them.”   Having found them, he joined with them. The reason for this will be explained in the next verse. It is the start of a new friendship for Paul as he continues his missionary work, establishing the gospel and continuing to develop churches into places of sound doctrine and a right understanding of the work of Jesus Christ.   As for the verse itself, based upon the evaluation of it, a more literal rendering of it would be, “And having found a certain Jew, by name Aquila, a Pontian native, recently having come from Italy, also Priscilla his wife – because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to be separated from Rome – he came to them.”   Life application: Like with the life of Joseph, for whatever reason the Jews were separated from Rome, good came out of what would have otherwise been considered evil to Aquila and Priscilla. Together with Paul, they were able to live and work as they developed their lives in Christ. They will travel to Ephesus with Paul and, as noted above, Paul will refer to them in his epistles, even as late as his second epistle to Timothy.   We may find events that arise in our lives troubling, but later we find out that what happened was actually for a good reason. As believers, this will always be the case, even if we never discover the reason for it in this life. We are sons of God through adoption. As this is so, we must believe that He always has the best in mind for us.   Therefore, when things seem completely upturned and contrary to what we think is best, let us place the matter in the Lord's hands and faithfully acknowledge that we trust Him to do what is right. In this, we will be demonstrating faith in Him and His intentions for us. It may be difficult to do but let us strive to have this attitude at all times.   Lord God, we know that because of Jesus, You have the very best intention for us. Help us in times of weakness, trouble, and trial, to stand fast on this thought and to remain confident of Your presence in our lives. Thank You that we have a sure and eternal hope because of Jesus. Yes, thank You for Your loving hand upon us. Amen.  

Saturday, 24 June 2023   However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:34   More appropriately, the verse reads, “But some men, having joined him, believed: among whom also, Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman by name Damaris, and others with them.”   The previous verse noted that Paul had gone out of the midst of the Areopagus. The meaning was that he no longer was in the place of speaking, not that he had left the forum entirely. The result of his words was a bit of mocking while some wanted to hear him again. However, there were some who were more profoundly affected. That is seen in the next words, “But some men, having joined him, believed.”   The word translated as “joined,” is kollaó. It signifies to cling to or adhere to. Thus, it would be to stick like glue. HELPS Word Studies notes it is used “frequently in ancient medical language of the uniting of wounds.”   It is a touching scene. These people had probably been to the Areopagus many times, sitting and listening to one philosopher after another step forward and present his thoughts on creation, existence, the state of man, the afterlife, and so forth. And yet, they sat listening, unaffected by what they heard. They could see through the vain babblings, knowing that things just didn't fit with what they could instinctively know or logically deduce about the operation of things around them.   And yet, when Paul stepped forward to speak, they suddenly came alive in their spirit. That came by the simple act of belief. What does the word say? Paul explains it in Ephesians 1 –   “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14   Those now being referred to in Acts 1) heard the gospel of their salvation, 2) believed, and therefore, 3) were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. They came alive in Christ and they knew that the words had changed them. In their excitement, they clung to Paul, certainly with the greatest of joy.   One could argue that the gospel, as stated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4, was not properly presented. But this is not so –   Christ died for our sins. Paul has noted that God overlooked the times of ignorance. The meaning is that what was done was wrong in God's eyes, it was sin, even if that was not responded to by God in judgment. Paul noted that the people needed to repent of this, but he tied that in with Christ's death. He did not need to explicitly say this because it is inferred in the words, “He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). If Christ was raised from the dead, it meant that He first died. If He died, there was a purpose for that death.   Even if Paul did not explicitly state these things, those who listened to him were able to sufficiently deduce from what he was saying that God had made an avenue to reconciliation with Himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But more, it is possible that Paul explicitly said these things and Luke simply didn't record every word Paul said, rather focusing on the main lines of thought. It would be an argument from silence to say otherwise.   With the belief in Paul's message confirmed in some of his hearers, it next says, “among whom also.” The reason for this is to show that his words were not limited to those who first asked him to speak, meaning the Epicureans and the Stoics. Though some of them may have believed, at least two are noted by name who were not of them. The first is “Dionysius the Areopagite.”   The name is derived from the Greek god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theater, also known as Bacchus by the Romans.   Ellicott notes, “As the constitution of the Court of the Areopagus required its members to have filled a high magisterial function, such as that of Archon, and to be above sixty, the convert must have been a man of some note.” Further, the Pulpit Commentary states –   “The earliest notice we have of him in ecclesiastical writers is the well-known one of Eusebius, ‘Eccl. Hist.,'3. 4, in which he says, ‘We are told by an ancient writer, Dionysius the pastor of the diocese of Corinth (ob. ), that his namesake Dionysius the Areopagite, of whom St. Luke says in the Acts that he was the first who embraced the faith after St. Paul's discourse in the Areopagus, became the first bishop of the Church in Athens.'”   There are false writings ascribed to Dionysius that are known to be later forgeries. Along with him, it next says, “and a woman by name Damaris.” James Strong connects the name to the Greek word damazó, meaning to tame or subdue. Thus, he defines it as maybe meaning Gentle. Abarim defines it as Wife or Domesticated.   Chrysostom says in his writings that she was the wife of Dionysius. This is quite possible based on her name. It could be that she took the name Damaris to reveal her new nature under Dionysius. It would be a reasonable explanation for mentioning her by name. Not only was a member of the Areopagus a believer, but his wife also joined him in belief as well.   Along with these two, Luke next records, “and others with them.” These could be of the Epicureans and Stoics or others who sat around waiting to have their ears tickled. Rather than the ears being tickled, their hearts were pricked.   Life application: In reading the narrative, and then comparing it to Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8, there is no difference in the wording. It simply says, “Then Simon himself also believed.” The Bible does not level any other requirements on salvation than this. When the gospel is presented and someone believes, it means that the person is saved. It is not our job to go around questioning this.   However, it is our responsibility to speak to those who are not living in accord with the faith they profess. This is especially so in the church. When someone is obviously violating what is right and proper, it should be addressed. 1 Corinthians 5 speaks of this, giving an obvious example of how to handle the matter.   Let us carefully consider the goodness of God who saves us through the simple act of faith, and then may we be willing to maintain uprightness and purity of the faith among those we associate with. This is important for the continued health of the church.   Heavenly Father, it is wonderful to know that we are saved by grace through faith in the completed work of Christ. Thank You that we now have restoration with You. May we now do our part in living for You in sincerity and truth all our days. To Your glory. Amen.  

Sunday, 18 June 2023   “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.' Acts 17:28   Paul has stated that God has ordained the boundaries of the nations so that people should seek the Lord, and in feeling for Him, He might be found. He said this while noting that He is not far from each of us. He now explains that saying, “for in Him.”   The word “in” can have various connotations. One of them is to be inside of something else. It can also mean being the product of, such as “In His act of creating, God displayed infinite wisdom.” Further, it can be used to help define something else. For example, “In seven days, I will finish this job.”   Paul is probably saying this in the sense of being the product of, but because of that, it would be inclusive of the thought of being inside of or surrounded by. We are the product of His hand and thus “we live.”   The word means exactly that. It is experiencing the gift of life given by God. We are the product of His act of creation, but we are also being sustained by Him, as it says in Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1. For example –   “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16, 17   God created and He sustains. Further, Paul continues, saying, “and move.” The word signifies the act of moving. It is translated as wagging in Matthew 27:39. In Revelation, Jesus tells the church at Ephesus that He will remove their lampstand unless they repent. However, the word also is used figuratively to indicate the arousal of passions. Ellicott seems to rightly argue that this is the intent here.   This is the only time Paul uses the word. Its other two uses in Acts are by Luke. One is in the sense of provocation and another refers to stirring up sedition. If the first word, live, refers to the physical existence of man, this one would speak of his emotional nature. Remembering that the purpose of Paul's words is based on the previous verses where man is to seek after God, this makes complete sense.   First, man is created by God and our lives are the product of His hands. Thus, we have a responsibility to search out the One who so fashioned us. Second, our emotions are a part of who we are and they are to be directed to conduct that would support our seeking after Him. Third, Paul continues with, “and have our being.”   The words are an unnecessary paraphrase. It is a single word meaning “are.” Therefore, an equivalent idea is “and exist.” Not only do we have life as a product of His hand, but our continued existence, from moment to moment is fully known to Him and dependent on Him. This is reflected in Jesus' words –   “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31   The existence of the sparrow is known to God, the state of the hair on our heads – which is a part of our existence – is known to God, and the number of our days is known to God –   “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.” Job 14:5   Paul's words indicate the total dependence of man on God. Thus, man should acknowledge that He is reliant on Him and seek Him out. His nearness makes this possible and it is thus man's duty to perform. With that noted, Paul next goes outside of Scripture to make his point, saying, “as also some of your own poets have said.”   When he says, “your own poets,” he is not referring to Athenians specifically, but Greek-speaking Gentiles whose work was known and quoted among the people. By quoting such a poet, it would lead the Athenians to know that he wasn't just a wandering Jew, but an educated man who knew Greek literature.   As for the word “poet,” it is introduced into Scripture here, poiétés. It signifies a doer or a performer. In this case, because Paul will cite poetry, it refers to a doer of poems. As Paul notes poets in the plural, he is indicating that what he will cite is found in more than just one poet. It was a well-known thought used again by another. The poets are Aratus and Cleanthes. Paul cites their words, saying, “For we are also His offspring.”   In other words, these Gentile writers understood that man is the product of a greater being. The being they ascribe their life to may not be the God of the Bible, but the premise of being the product of a divine being was understood by them.   Aratus was from Cilicia where Paul was from. He lived from 315-240 BC. Cleanthes was from Behram, Turkey, living from 331-232 BC. Concerning this line of poetry, Barnes writes –   “This precise expression is found in Aratus (‘Phaenom.,' v. 5), and in Cleanthus in a hymn to Jupiter. Substantially the same sentiment is found in several other Greek poets. ... Aratus passed much of his time at the court of Antigonus Gonatas, king of Macedonia. His principal work was the ‘Phoenomena,' which is here quoted, and was so highly esteemed in Greece that many learned men wrote commentaries on it. The sentiment here quoted was directly at variance with the views of the Epicureans; and it is proof of Paul's address and skill, as well as his acquaintance with his auditors and with the Greek poets, that he was able to adduce a sentiment so directly in point, and that had the concurrent testimony of so many of the Greeks themselves. It is one instance among thousands where an acquaintance with profane learning may be of use to a minister of the gospel.”   The specific lines of poetry from Aratus state –   “From Zeus begin; never let us leave His name unloved. With Him, with Zeus, are filled All paths we tread, and all the marts of men; Filled, too, the sea, and every creek and bay; And all in all things need we help of Zeus, For we too are his offspring.” Aratus from Phenomena   Cleanthes' words are almost identical and are in a hymn to Zeus. Paul's point is that truth can be found in other religions and philosophies and it can be used for the benefit of evangelizing. However, this does not mean that the religion itself is true.   In verse 23 he referred to a Greek altar to show that he was not introducing foreign gods. He does the same here by supporting his knowledge of God with words from Greek writers. They may have been confused about who this God is, but they could not say he was introducing a foreign one. Rather, he is clarifying what was stated by them.   Life application: When evangelizing someone of another religion, asking what that person believes is a good way of helping him process what you are telling him. This is because most people really have no idea about their own religion. They do things because that is what they were taught to do.   This is no different than evangelizing someone who has been in church his whole life but has never been told the simple gospel. Such people go to church and do stuff. But they have no idea as to why they do what they do. It is just a part of their cultural life and so they continue with it.   However, without knowing Jesus, those people cannot have a close and personal relationship with God. Introducing them to what Jesus has done will make this possible. There will no longer be a need to “do” stuff because Jesus has done it all. Be sure to get out and tell people about Jesus – our great Doer!   Lord God, thank You that Jesus has done it all! He has accomplished everything necessary to reconcile us to You. Now, all we need to do is to believe. May we use wisdom in how we spend our time and may we get out and tell others about this good news. To Your glory. Amen.  

Monday, 12 June 2023   Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; Acts 17:22   A more literal translation would say, “And Paul, having stood in the midst of the Areopagus said, ‘Men, Athenians, I recognize that in all things you are super-spiritual'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Luke explained that Athenians and the foreigners who came to Athens spent all their time telling or hearing something new. With that thought being understood by Paul, it now says, “And Paul, having stood in the midst of the Areopagus.”   Of this, Ellicott says, “The Court sat in the open air on benches forming three sides of a quadrangle. A short flight of sixteen steps, cut in the rock, led from the agora to the plateau where the Court held its sittings.”   Paul was standing in the midst of this court where all of those professing to be wise would be gathered to hear whatever presentation was brought forward. In this case, it is the apostle Paul bringing the message of the incarnation and life of Jesus Christ to their ears. To begin, he “said, ‘Men, Athenians.”   As in Hebrew, when men are present, the masculine is used. However, later in the chapter, it will be seen that the court was not only attended by men. Having made this formal address, he next continued with, “I recognize that in all things you are super-spiritual.”   The word translated as super-spiritual is deisidaimonesteros. It is found only here in Scripture. HELPS Word Studies says – “(from deidō, ‘to dread' and daimōn, ‘a deity') – properly, religious (superstitious) fear, driven by a confused concept of God – producing ‘sincere' but very misdirected religion. Indeed, this is the mark of heathenism.”   The word is variously translated as over-religious, very religious, remarkably religious, too superstitious, etc. Rendering it super-spiritual eliminates the often-negative connotation of superstition and it more correctly addresses the state of mind of what he will say in the coming verse.   The Athenians, like the supposedly super-spiritual people of today, obviously thought that there were many gods or that all paths led back to God. Such thinking is confused concerning God, what He is like, and what He expects. Paul, being an apostle of Jesus, was there to present to them the truth of God. His words will take from their own writings and he will present them in a manner that clearly expresses concepts that the Hebrew Scriptures had presented since the first verses of Genesis.   Life application: One of the most common things you will encounter when witnessing to others about God is a state of mental confusion concerning who He is and what He must be like. By following the pages of the Bible, one can develop a clear understanding of these things.   For example, it says in Genesis 1:1 that God created the heavens and the earth. Just a momentary stop before proceeding to the next verse to think about that statement and the reader can deduce that God is therefore before creation. Because time defines the progression of the aging of the creation (meaning that time started when the material universe came into existence), then God must be outside of (before, above, not limited to, etc.) time.   Further, and because of what that conveys to us, if God created matter, then He is not associated with matter. Thus, He is Spirit (John 4:24) and He exists in an eternal state where time does not exist. When the Lord said to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM” in Exodus 3:14, He was proclaiming His eternality. But more, He is a Necessary Being who cannot not exist.   Thinking on this, and then considering the rest of Scripture in light of this, including the things said about Jesus, we can more fully appreciate innumerable things about God. However, we must be careful to never apply incorrect ideas about Him to our theology. If our thoughts do not align with Scripture, then we must put them aside.   If you are saved, you are saved. Your incorrect ideas about God will not change that. However, what you set forth for others in your words or in what you write may affect their chance of ever being saved. Be careful to always consider God from how He has revealed Himself. Don't try to be smarter than God. That which is considered orthodox has been carefully contemplated for millennia.   The chances of you or someone you follow suddenly having a correctly aligned epiphany about God that nobody else has had are very unlikely. But this is how cults get started. So, be careful to not get drawn down strange paths of theology.   Lord God, Your word is so very wonderful. It is a revelation of Yourself to us and we can know so much about You if we think about You in relation to it. And, for sure, we can know that anything that is said about You that is not in line with the pages of Scripture cannot be correct. So, Lord, help us to stay on the right path as we seek out who You are. Amen.