THE BOOK OF ACTS, Chapters 1-28
CHAPTER ONE
1:5: “John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” = Which occurs in Acts 2:4.
1:7: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons” = Notice that they did not even understand Dan. 8:14, it was still sealed then.
“It was not necessary for them to see farther into the future than the revelations He had made enabled them to see. Their work was to proclaim the gospel message.” AA:30.
1:8: “power” = The Greek is, “dunamis.” Our English word “dynamite: originates from this Greek word.
1:9: “He was taken up” = Here is my Mark 16:19 Note: “A cloud of glory received Him out of their sight, and at the same moment there floated down to their charmed senses the sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir.” 3SP:251; ST, October 31, 1895; ST, November 2, 1904; BEcho, August 1, 1887.
“When Christ passed within the Heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents,” AA:38.
“[252] All Heaven was waiting to welcome the Saviour to the celestial courts. As He ascended He led the way, and the multitude of captives whom He had raised from the dead at the time when He came forth from the tomb {Mat. 27:52-53}, followed Him. The Heavenly host, with songs of joy and triumph, escorted Him upward. At the portals of the City of God an innumerable company of angels awaited His coming. As they approached the gates of the City, the angels who were escorting the Majesty of Heaven, in triumphant tones addressed the company at the portals: ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in! {Psa. 24:7}’
“The waiting angels at the gates of the City inquire in rapturous strains, ‘Who is this King of Glory?’ {Psa. 24:8} The escorting angels joyously reply in songs of triumph, ‘The Lord, strong and mighty! The Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O ye gates, even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in! {Psa. 24:8-9}’ Again the waiting angels ask, ‘Who is this King of Glory?’ {Psa. 24:10} and the escorting angels respond in melodious strains, ‘The Lord of hosts! He is the King of Glory!’ {Psa. 24:10} Then the portals of the City of God are widely opened, and the Heavenly [253] train pass in amid a burst of angelic music. All the Heavenly host surround their majestic Commander as He takes His position upon the Throne of the Father.” 3SP:252-253.
“He is seated by the side of His Father on His Throne. The Saviour presents the captives He has rescued from the bonds of death, at the price of His Own life. His hands place immortal crowns upon their brows; for they are the representatives, and samples, of those who shall be redeemed, by the blood of Christ, from all nations, tongues, and people, and come forth from the dead, when he shall call the just from their graves at His Second Coming.” 3SP:253.
1:10: “two men” = Here is my Matthew 28:5 Note: John 20:12 states that there were “two angels.” First of all, to call this a contradiction is to want the Bible to be in error, instead of loving God’s Word. These were obviously two separate accounts. In Matthew’s account “the [one] angel” spoke to “the women,” more than once (see verses two through five). Whereas, in John’s account, only Mary Magdalene lingered behind by herself, then she peeks “into the sepulchre” and sees “two angels.”
“Mary then hastened with all speed to the disciples, and informed them that Jesus was not in the sepulcher where they had laid Him. While she was upon this errand, the other women, who waited for her at the sepulcher, made a more thorough examination of the interior, to satisfy themselves that their Lord was indeed gone. Suddenly they beheld a beautiful young man, clothed in shining garments, sitting by the sepulcher. It was the angel who had rolled away the stone, and who now assumed a character that would not terrify the women who had been the friends of Christ, and assisted Him in His public ministry. But notwithstanding the veiling of the brightness of the angel, the women were greatly amazed and terrified at the glory of the Lord which encircled Him. They turned to flee from the sepulcher, but the Heavenly messenger addressed them with soothing and comforting words. . .
“As the women responded to the invitation of the angel, and looked again into the sepulcher, they saw another angel of shining brightness, who addressed them,” 3SP:199.
“[199] These angels were well acquainted with [200] the Words of Jesus to His disciples, for they had been with Him in the capacity of guardian angels, through all the scenes of His life, and had witnessed His trial and crucifixion.” 3SP:199-200; DA:793.
“These angels were of the company that had been waiting in a shining cloud to escort Jesus to His Heavenly home. The most exalted of the angel throng, they were the two who had come to the tomb at Christ’s resurrection, and they had been with Him throughout His life on earth.” DA:832.
1:11: “this same Jesus, which is taken up” = Note the word “same.” This denotes that we must know Him (recognize Him, i.e., “false Christs” will come to deceive) if we are to truly see Him when He Comes.
“Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives, whence, after His resurrection, He ascended, and where angels repeated the promise of His return.” GC:662; 4SP:477. See Zechariah 14:4-5.
“The disciples, with the mother of Jesus, witnessed the ascension of the Son of God,” 1SG:79.
1:12: “a Sabbath Day’s journey” = From “Albert Barn’s Notes on the Bible,” we learn: “The distance of a lawful journey on the Sabbath was not fixed by the Laws of Moses, but the Jewish teachers had fixed it at 2,000 paces. This measure was determined on because it was a tradition that in the camp of the Israelites, when coming from Egypt, no part of the camp was more than 2000 paces from the Tabernacle, and over this space, therefore, they were permitted to travel for worship.”
1:14: “These all” = In addition to the ones listed (previous verse): “[135] Nicodemus came boldly to the front. He was rich, and he employed his wealth to sustain the infant Church of Christ, that the Jews thought would be blotted out with the death of Jesus. He who had been so cautious and questioning, now, in the time of peril, was firm as the [136] granite rock, encouraging the flagging faith of the followers of Christ, and furnishing means to carry on the cause. He was defrauded, persecuted, and stigmatized by those who had paid him reverence in other days. He became poor in this world’s goods, yet he faltered not in the faith that had its beginning in that secret night conference with the young Galilean.” 2SP:135-136; CC:293; DA:177; 4Red:19-20.
“His brethren” = That is, His relatives. They were unbelievers six months before (John 7:5), but now believed. James had seen the risen Lord (1Co. 15:7).
1:18: “this man purchased a field” = Actually, the Jewish priests purchased the field (see Mat. 27:5 & 10). In the Bible a man is accounted as doing a thing when he is the one in charge, or has the means to accomplish the act, such as in Matthew 27:60, where Joseph of Arimathea is said to have “hewn out in the rock” “his own new tomb.” However, he most likely personally did not hew out his own tomb, being a wealthy man, but had workmen do it. Also, John 4:1 states that Jesus Himself did all the baptizing. But in John 4:2, we learn that it was His disciples that performed the act. Wherefore, Jesus is given the credit, since He was the One in charge.
“falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out” = Some have suggested that the Greek word in Matthew 27:5 translated as “hanged,” should be translated as “impaled,” as if falling upon a sword. That Greek word is “apagchomai,” and literally means, “to strangle.” Its “Septuagint” equivalent word is found in Second Samuel 17:23, and also means “to strangle.” The conclusion for explaining the supposed discrepancy between here and Matthew 27:5’s account, is that Judas jumped off one of the many rocks found in this “potters field,” that are still present today, and in places are from 10 to 25 feet high, and as such could have caused his bowels to burst out. In other words, Acts 1:18, is not telling us his method of death, but what happened after he “hanged himself,” from Matthew’s account.
1:20: “and his bishoprick let another take” = Explained by seeing Psalm 109:8, which states: “Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Also, if we continue on and read Psalm 109:8, we can learn that Judas was married.
1:26: “the lot fell” = See Leviticus 16:18 Note; then see Numbers 26:55; Proverbs 16:33; 18:18. It must be remembered that this “lot” was only to choose between two individuals which had already been singled out by the choice of the brethren (Acts 1:23). Thus, either would have been well qualified. In other words, this is not just some random tossing of the dice. Prayer was given first (Acts 1:24), then the “lot” was delivered.
It would also appear that after the giving of the Holy Spirit the casting of “lots” was no longer necessary due to the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 5:3; 13:2; 16:6-8; etcetera).
CHAPTER TWO
2:1: “Pentecost” = Fifty days after Passover came the “Feast of Shavu’ot,” often referred to by its Greek name, Pentecost. Although the Scriptures don’t provide a reason for Pentecost, the rabbis believed that it commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses. There is no record in the Gospels that Jesus ever celebrated Pentecost. See my Bible Study: “HOLIDAY’S, JEWISH.” This feast is held on the 6th of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar and the date of “Shavuot” is directly linked to that of Passover. Therefore, Jesus must have kept it Holy.
Something that is interesting to note here is that in the Jewish mindset the focus is on the 49 days prior to “Shavu’ot” they are focused upon one must DO in preparation for the “Feast of Shavu’ot,” while the western, or Christian mindset, is focused upon what do I get when the day arrives.
2:2: “house” = This Greek word is interesting, because most of Christianity believes that the people listed in Acts 1:13 (and the “women” further in Chapter One) are in the same “upper room,” Acts 1:13, when the “Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:4, “filled all the house,” Acts 2:3. However, this is a new location, because the Greek word used in Acts 1:13 for “upper room” (assumed “house to be the same), is “huperoon,” meaning, “a higher part of a house; upper chamber (room),” while the Greek word for “house” in this verse is, “oikos,” meaning, “dwelling; home; house,” with non-story, or height implications. It must be understood that time has passed (days) from where they were (in the “upper room”), from where they are now.
What is interesting is that “oikos” can also mean, “tabernacle.” And if we go to Acts 7:47 we find that this is what “oikos’ ” true meaning is in the Book of Acts. Verse 5 and onward now make more sense as to the people being “amazed and marveled,” Acts 2:7, to “hear them speak in our tongues,” Acts 2:11, so quickly, since all were in the Tabernacle for Pentecost and God would take advantage of so large a crowd. Acts 2:6 specifically states that “the multitude came together,” to hear this miracle of God. And what did God have them hear? Acts 2:11: “the wonderful works of God.” Then, once the Disciples [God has their attention] realize they have an audience, “Peter standing up with the eleven,” Acts 2:14, gives a sermon.
If you still disagree with me, think about it: Where would a crowd be at 9:00 in the morning on the day of Pentecost? Many have traveled from all over the world to be at the Temple to celebrate this Feast; right? The other Feasts are celebrated for a week or more. This Feast is celebrated for this “one day.” So, at the hour of prayer at 9:00 in the morning on the Day of Pentecost, where are they going to be? Oh wait! You do have an answer for me. They were sleeping from the hangover of verse 13. Lastly, Acts 2:46 states that “they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple.” Where were they and what were they “continuing” to do that they started to do in the “house?” You fill in the blanks.
In fact, if you go to Jerusalem today and get into a taxi and ask him to go to “Har haBayit,” which means, “Mountain (of) the House,” he/she would know that you want to go to the “house” where it is known to be where the Apostles were when the Spirit fell upon them. In other words, the Temple (or what’s left of it).
What makes this understanding so very important about the word “house,” and why I take the time here to explain it, is that it gets rid of the false doctrine of “Speaking In Tongues,” as being something other than known languages. Again, I give you my teaching statement: “A false concept of God leads to false Doctrine.” However, if you think I am speaking in a foreign tongue and have another Doctrine to promote that will gain a bunch of followers, send me all your money.
2:3: “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire” = “[38] Christ’s ascension to Heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the Heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even [39] with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity. The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven’s communication that the Redeemer’s inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from Heaven to His followers, as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in Heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.” AA:38-39.
2:3-4: “cloven tongues like as of fire. . . speak with other tongues” = “The Holy Ghost assuming the form of tongues of fire divided at the tips, and resting upon those assembled, was an emblem of the gift which was bestowed upon them of speaking with fluency several different languages, with which they had formerly been unacquainted. And the appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which they would labor, and the power which would attend their words.” 3SP:266.
“The Holy Spirit had done for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime; they could now spread the truth of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the language of those for whom they were laboring. This miraculous gift was the highest evidence they could present to the world that their commission bore the signet of Heaven.” 3SP:267.
2:4: “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” = This is that which was promised in John 16:7.
“During the patriarchal age the influence of the Holy Spirit had often been revealed in a marked manner, but never in its fullness.” AA:37.
“According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from Heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in Heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.” AA:39; AG:193.3; 3SP:271.2.
2:6: “every man heard them speak in his own language” = See Zechariah 8:23.
2:13: “new wine” = But how can one be drunken on “new wine?” The Greek is “gleukos,” meaning “unfermented.” “The priests and rulers” were so upset that they resorted to “mocking,” hoping that the people would think the disciples are so stupid that they could even be drunk upon “new wine.” They were “mocking” them for being drunk on none other than the pure juice of the grape! Thus, in view of the established meaning of “gleukos” as un-intoxicating grape juice, the irony of the charge is self-evident. What the mockers meant is, “These men, too abstemious to touch anything fermented and have made themselves drunk on grape juice.” See my Bible Study, “WINE, BIBLICAL.”
“The priests and rulers, determined to account for the miraculous power of the disciples in some natural way, declared that they were simply drunken from partaking largely of the new wine prepared for the feast. Some of the most ignorant seized this suggestion as the truth; but the more intelligent knew that it was false; and those speaking the different languages testified to the accuracy with which they were used by the disciples.” 3SP:268.
“It was certainly unreasonable to suppose that more than one hundred persons should become intoxicated at that unseasonable hour of the day, and on the occasion of a solemn religious festival. This wonderful demonstration was before the customary meal at which wine was taken.” 3SP:269.
2:17: “in the last days” = This quote comes to us from Joel 2:28. However, to better understand it, we need to catch the context there. According to Joel 2:23, there are two “rain[s].” A “former rain [notice the next word] moderately,” and a “latter rain.” Thus, we can easily attribute the first “rain” to apply to Acts 2:17 during the Apostles time. Whereas, the “latter rain” would clearly be applying to a future event from there, taking place “in the last days.” That the entire prophecy was not fulfilled in Acts, Chapter Two, can be determined in that we have no record of “sons,” “daughters,” “old men,” and “young men” prophesying what they are supposed to.
“Today you are to give yourself to God, that you may be emptied of self, emptied of envy, jealousy, evil surmising, strife, everything that shall be dishonoring to God. Today you are to have your vessel purified that it may be ready for the Heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord -- fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” 1SM:190.3.
2:20: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord” = See Joel 2:31.
2:23: “by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” = This is a very important verse, in that it teaches us that there was a counsel of the triune Godhead to determine -- pre-creation -- that Christ would accept the penalty for sinful man; which was “crucifixion.”
“This work of opposition to the Law of God had its beginning in the courts of Heaven, with Lucifer, the covering cherub. Satan determined to be first in the councils of Heaven, and equal with God. He began his work of rebellion with the angels under his command, seeking to diffuse among them the spirit of discontent. And he worked in so deceptive a way that many of the angels were won to his allegiance before his purposes were fully known. Even the loyal angels could not fully discern his character, nor see to what his work was leading. When Satan had succeeded in winning many angels to his side, he took his cause to God, representing that it was the desire of the angels that he occupy the position that Christ held.” 1SM:222.2; 7BC:972.6.
“In the councils of Heaven before the creation of the world, when it was planned that man should people the earth, there arose the question, What if man should sin, as Satan has sinned? Christ answered this question. The infinite Son of God pledged Himself that if man should sin, He would give Himself, His life, as a ransom for the fallen race, taking upon Himself the transgression of humanity. The Innocent would bear the sins of the guilty, and stand before God to make intercession in behalf of the transgressor.” 2SAT:229.4.
“By Christ the work upon which the fulfillment of God’s purpose rests was accomplished. This was the agreement in the councils of the Godhead. The Father purposed in counsel with His Son that the human family should be tested and proved to see whether they would be allured by the temptations of Satan, or whether they would make Christ their righteousness, keeping God’s Commandments, and live. God gave to His Son all who would be true and loyal. Christ covenanted to redeem them from the power of Satan, at the price of His Own life.” 21MR:54.
“It was God’s purpose to place things on an eternal basis of security, and in the councils of Heaven it was decided that time must be given for Satan to develop the principles which were the foundation of his system of government. He had claimed that these were superior to God’s principles. Time was given for the working of Satan’s principles, that they might be seen by the Heavenly universe.” DA:759.2; RH, September 7, 1897; TA:41.1.
“Angels delighted to execute His {Christ’s} Commands, and He was clothed with wisdom and glory above them all. Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged Sovereign of Heaven, One in power and authority with the Father. In all the councils of God, Christ was a participant, while Lucifer was not permitted thus to enter into the Divine purposes. ‘Why,’ questioned this mighty angel, ‘should Christ have the supremacy? Why is He thus honored above Lucifer?’ ” GC:495.1.
“By Christ the work upon which the fulfillment of God’s purpose rests, was accomplished. This was the agreement in the councils of the God-Head. The Father purposed in counsel with His Son that the human family should be tested and proved, to see whether they would be allured by the temptations of Satan, or whether they would make Christ their righteousness, keeping God’s Commandments, and live. God gave to His Son all who would be true and loyal. Christ covenanted to redeem them from the power of Satan, at the price of His Own life.” GH, June 11, 1902 paagraph. 6.
“In the councils of Heaven it was determined that Christ should die for the sins of the whole world.” ST, April 16, 1894, paragraph 3.
“In the councils of Heaven it was decided that principles must be acted upon that would not at once destroy Satan’s power; for it was God’s purpose to place things upon an eternal basis of security. Time must be given for Satan to develop the principles which were the foundation of his government. The Heavenly universe must see worked out the principles which Satan declared were superior to God’s principles. God’s order must be contrasted with Satan’s order. The corrupting principles of Satan’s rule must be revealed. The principles of righteousness expressed in God’s Law must be demonstrated as unchangeable, perfect, eternal.” RH, September 7, 1897 paragraph 10.
“This work of opposition to the Law of God had its beginning in the courts of Heaven, with Lucifer, the covering cherub. Satan determined to be first in the councils of Heaven, and equal with God. He began his work of rebellion with the angels under his command, seeking to diffuse among them the spirit of discontent. And he worked in so deceptive a way that many of the angels were won to his allegiance before his purposes were fully known. Even the loyal angels could not fully discern his character, nor see to what his work was leading. When Satan had succeeded in winning many angels to his side, he took his cause to God, representing that it was the desire of the angels that he occupy the position that Christ held.” RH, January 28, 1909 paragraph 5.
2:25: “David speaketh concerning Him” = “Peter traced back the lineage of Christ in a direct line to the honorable house of David. He did not use any of the teachings of Jesus to prove his true position, because he knew their prejudices were so great that it would be of no effect. But he referred them to David, whom the Jews regarded as a venerable patriarch of their nation.” 3SP:269.
2:27: “leave My soul in hell. . . see corruption” = This is a direct quote from Psalm 16:10. The Hebrew word for “hell” there is “H7585; sheh-ole; she’ol” and occurs 65 times in the Old Testament and is translated as “hell” 31 times, and “grave” 30 times, and “pit” 3 times, and “grave’s” once. In the Greek here, “G86; hades,” is translated as “hell,” and appears 11 times in the New Testament and is translated as “hell” 10 times and “grave” once.
In order to understand what this “hell” truly means we must go to Ecclesiastes 9:10 to see that a person is “dead” and in the “grave / she’ol.” This is better explained by seeing Ecclesiastes 9:5, which tells us that “the dead know not anything,” because they are dead. See my Bible Study: “DEATH, THE BIBLICAL TRUETH ABOUT.”
Plus, why would our Lord ask the Father to make sure His body did not “see corruption” if it were already in Heaven. We know for a fact that Christ was in the grave for three days, since He tells Mary to release Him so He can go to Heaven after He was resurrected (John 20:17).
2:29: “David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day” = Proof positive that when you die you neither go to Heaven or Hell. See my Bible Study: “DEATH, THE TRUTH ABOUT.”
2:31: “hell” = The “hell” spoken of here means “the grave,” 3SP:270, else how could “His flesh to see corruption.” See my Bible Study: “DEATH, THE TRUTH ABOUT.”
2:34: “David is not ascended into the heavens” = See verse 29 and my Bible Study: “DEATH, THE TRUTH ABOUT.”
“The LORD said unto my Lord” = = “David, as king of Israel, and also as a prophet, had been specially honored by God. In prophetic vision he was shown the future life and ministry of Christ. He saw His rejection, His trial, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension.” 3SP:270.
“. . . the Father is called Lord, Who said unto Christ, Who is also Lord, and equal with the Father,” 3SP:271.
2:38: “be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ” = The Jews (Peter) knew that they were to be “baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” Matthew 28:19. Therefore, Peter was only emphasizing to them that Jesus was their Messiah and when being baptized in all three Names they must think of “the Son” as being Jesus in that roll. Thus, Peters emphasis upon Christ. The same principle applies in First Corinthians 10:2 where Paul states that all were “baptized unto Moses.” Not that they were being baptized in the name of Moses, but that they accepted him as their authoritative figurehead as leader of the people. Thus, Jesus needed to be acknowledged as their Messiah, the third personage in the Godhead.
2:41: “there were added unto them about three thousand souls” = Hearts that have been watered and touched by the Adventist’s message will then adhere to the truth.
“Those who did not yield their prejudice and bigotry were so overawed that they dared not by voice or violence attempt to stay the mighty work, and, for the time being, their opposition ceased.” 3SP:272.
“Jesus, our Representative and Head, is ready to do for us what He did for the praying, watching ones on the day of Pentecost.” 3SP:273.
“The disciples were astonished and overjoyed at the greatness of the harvest of souls. They did not regard this wonderful ingathering as the result of their own efforts; they realized that they were entering into other men’s labor’s.” AA:44-45.
“[54] The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or [55]
“former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time, the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church. But near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the lord of the harvest ‘in the time of the latter rain.’ ” AA:54-55.
2:42 & 46: “breaking bread” = For those who would use these texts as a right to change the Biblical Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday, I would ask, “How many days a week do you ‘break bread’ for a meal?” If you answer correctly and honestly that you have a meal “every day.” Then your new Biblical Sabbath day should be “every day,” which is un-Biblical.
CHAPTER THREE
3:2: “a certain man” = “[275] Peter and John, going up to the Temple to worship, saw a distressed and poverty-stricken cripple, forty years of age {Acts 4:22}, who had known no other life than one of pain and infirmity. This unfortunate man had long desired to go to Jesus and be healed; but he was almost helpless, and was removed far from the scene of the great Physician’s labors. Finally his earnest pleadings induced some kind persons to bear him to the gate of the Temple. But upon arriving there he discovered that the Healer, upon Whom his hopes were centered, had been put to a cruel death.
“His disappointment excited the pity of those [276] who knew how long he had eagerly hoped and expected to be healed by Jesus, and they daily brought him to the Temple, that the passers-by might be moved to give him a trifle to relieve his present wants.” 3SP:275-276.
3:6: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” = “The manner of Jesus in working His miracles was very different from that of His apostles. His language was that of one Who possessed power in Himself. ‘Be thou clean.’ ‘Peace, be still.’ Neither did He hesitate to accept the honor offered Him on these occasions, nor seek to divert the minds of the people from Himself, as though His miracles were not wrought by His own power, for His own glory. But the apostles wrought miracles only in the name of Jesus, and refused to receive the least honor to themselves.” 3SP:277.
3:11: “all the people ran together unto them” = “After the performance of this miracle, the people flocked together in the Temple, and Peter addressed them in one part of the Temple, while John spoke to them in another part.” 3SP:278.
3:12: “when Peter saw it, he answered” = “Peter addressed them in one part of the temple, while John spoke to them in another part.” 3SP:277; 1ST:482.
3:19: “that your sins may be blotted out” = We learn here that there is a time “when [hasn’t happened yet]” your “sins” will be “blotted out.” They are registered as being repented of, but not yet “blotted out.” If we check with Deuteronomy 25:1, there is first a “judgment,” then a “justification” or “condemnation.” This will happen a the “Close of Probation,” just before Christ Comes.
“The record of every life is written in the Books of Heaven. Every sin that has been committed is there registered. Every regret for sin, every tear of repentance, every confession of guilt, and the forsaking of every darling sin, is also recorded. When the judgment shall sit and the Books are opened, every case will have to stand the test of the Law of God. God has a Law by which He governs intelligences both in Heaven and in earth. Jehovah is the Supreme Governor of nations, and no greater or more fatal deception could take hold on human minds than that which leads men to declare that the Law of God has been abolished. Were this so there could be no judgment; for there would be no rule by which character could be tested, and actions weighed. But we read that the judgment is to sit, and that the Books are to be opened, and that every man is to be rewarded according as his works have been. If God has no moral standard by which to measure character, there can be no judgment, no reward.” ST, May 16, 1895, paragraph 2.
“When sin has been repented of, confessed, and forsaken, then pardon is written against the sinner’s name; but his sins are not blotted out until after the Investigative Judgment.” ST, May 16, 1895, paragraph 3.
“times of refreshing” = “The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus.’ Acts 3:19, 20.” GC:611.3.
That the “times of refreshing” equals “the baptism of the Holy Spirit:”
“Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready for the Heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord -- fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” RH, March 22, 1892; 1SM:190.3; Ev:701.4; AG:205; LDE:193.1; 1888M:959.6.
“Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God’s Church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. . . But near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the Church for the Coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain. . . Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain.” FLB:333.
3:24: “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel. . . have likewise foretold of these days” = Why begin at Samuel? Certainly Prophets before him, i.e., Moses spoke of “these days.” It is well known that Jewish Rabbis call Samuel “the master of the prophets.” They say, that Samuel the prophet is “the first prophet” in the chain of the Kabbala. Therefore, he is here particularly mentioned as at the head of the prophets, most probably because in his days, the schools of the prophets were set up by him.
CHAPTER FOUR
4:2-3: “Being grieved. . . resurrection from the dead. . . unto the next day” = “This preaching the resurrection of Christ, and that through His death and resurrection He would finally bring up all the dead from their graves, deeply stirred the Sadducees. They felt that their favorite doctrine was in danger, and their reputation at stake. Some of the officials of the Temple, and the captain of the Temple, were Sadducees. The captain, with the help of a number of Sadducees, arrested the two apostles, and put them in prison, as it was too late for their cases to be examined that night.” 3SP:278.
4:3: “they laid hands on them, and put them in hold” = There is no reason for this. But the fact that they did proves that the leaders believed that there was a legitimate challenge being posed against their authority. This could not be because somebody is preaching about whatever. Who cares what they say? Let them talk (see verse 18). By contrast, this could only be because the spiritual realm (Satan’s hordes) were awakened by the working of God’s angels with mere men.
“While they had been with Him, the disciples had often been perplexed by the teaching of the priests and Pharisees, but they had brought their perplexities to Jesus. He had set before them the truths of Scripture in contrast with tradition. Thus He had strengthened their confidence in God’s Word, and in a great measure had set them free from their fear of the rabbis and their bondage to tradition.” DA:349.
4:4: “about five thousand” = “The seed that the Saviour had sown sprang up and bore fruit.” RH, June 8, 1911; AA:60.
4:11: “This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders” = “He had referred to the Stone set at naught by the builders, -- meaning the authorities of the church, who should have perceived the value of Him Whom they rejected, -- but which had nevertheless become the Head of the Corner.” 3SP:281.
4:32: “one heart and of one soul” = “Thus it was in the early Church; and when in the Church of to-day it is seen that by the power of the Spirit the members have taken their affections from the things of the world, and that they are willing to make sacrifices in order that their fellow-men may hear the gospel, the truths proclaimed will have a powerful influence upon the hearers.” AA:71; 3SP:284.1.
4:35: “distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” = “These early believers were most of them immediately cut off from family and friends by the zealous bigotry of the Jews. Many of the converts were thrown out of business, and exiled from their homes because they followed the convictions of their consciences, and espoused the cause of Christ. It was necessary to provide this large number, congregated at Jerusalem, with homes and sustenance. Those having money and possessions cheerfully sacrificed them to the existing emergency.” 3SP:283; RH, February 2, 1911, paragraph 1 (6RH:94); 7Red:19-20; AA:70; LP:14.
CHAPTER FIVE
5:1: “Ananias, with Sapphira his wife” = “They had been present when, after the disciples had prayed, ‘the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.’ Deep conviction had rested upon all present, and under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, Ananias and Sapphira mad a pledge. . . But when they were no longer under this Heavenly influence, they began to regret their promise.” RH, February 2, 1911; AA:71-72.
“[284] This couple had noted the fact that those who had parted with their possessions to supply the wants of their poorer brethren were held in high esteem among the believers. They therefore, upon consulting together, decided to sell their property, and affect to give all the proceeds into the general fund, but really to retain a large share for themselves. They thus designed to receive their living, which they intended to estimate much higher than it really was, from the common stock, and to secure the high esteem of their brethren. . . [285]
“Peter asked, ‘Was it not thine own?’ thus showing that no undue influence had been brought to bear upon Ananias and Sapphira to compel them to sacrifice their possessions to the general good. They had acted from choice. But in pretending to be wrought upon by the Holy Ghost, and attempting to deceive the apostles, they had lied to the Almighty.” 3SP:284-285.
“[285] This signal manifestation of the wrath of God [286] upon the dissemblers was a check which Infinite Wisdom knew was needed. The Church would have been disgraced, if, in the rapid increase of professed Christians, there were persons professing to serve God, but worshiping mammon.” 3SP:285-286.
“This marked judgment upon two avaricious hypocrites, whose sin had been detected by the evidence of the Spirit of God to the apostles, excited the reverential awe of all the new converts. From that time there was greater caution manifested by them, and a more thorough self-examination, testing the motives of their actions.” 3SP:286.
5:18: “laid their hands on the apostles” = The physicality of this is brought forth in the Word of God; making them even more guilty.
“These things greatly perplexed the priests and rulers, especially those among them who were Sadducees. They saw that if the apostles were allowed to preach a resurrected Saviour, and to do miracles in His Name, their doctrine that there was no resurrection of the dead would be rejected by all, and their sect would soon become extinct. The Pharisees saw that the tendency of their preaching would be to undermine the Jewish ceremonies, and make the sacrificial offerings of none effect. Their former efforts to suppress these preachers had been in vain; but they now felt determined to put down the excitement.” 3SP:287.
“prison” = “When through Satan’s malice the servants of Christ have been persecuted, their active labors hindered, when they have been cast into prison, or dragged to the scaffold or to the stake, it was that truth might gain a greater triumph.” AA:465.2.
5:21: “called the council together” = “The priests and rulers in council had decided to fix upon them the charge of insurrection, and accuse them of murdering Ananias and Sapphira, and of conspiring to deprive the priests of their authority and put them to death. They trusted that the mob would then be excited to take the matter in hand, and to deal by the apostles as they had dealt by Jesus. They were aware that many who did not accept the doctrine of Christ were weary of the arbitrary rule of the Jewish authorities, and were anxious for some decided change. If these persons became interested in and embraced the belief of the apostles, acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, they feared the anger of the entire people would be raised against the priests, who would be made to answer for the murder of Christ.” 3SP:288; RH, February 9, 1911, paragraph 8 (6RH:98); AA:80-81; SR:255.
5:29: “obey God rather than men” = This is our commission for all time.
“It was the angel sent by God who delivered them from prison, and who commanded them to teach in the Temple. In following his directions they were obeying the Divine Command, which they must continue to do at any cost to themselves.” 3SP:289.
5:31: “Him hath God exalted” = Not that Christ was not already “a Prince and a Saviour.” For if we go to Isaiah 43:3, we find Jesus was our “Savior” their already. And in Daniel 9:25, we have Him listed as “Messiah the Prince.” And in verse 26 we have Him as “Prince” also. And if we go to Revelation 13:8, we can determine that Jesus was always going to be “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Thus, the meaning is that, now that the act has physically taken place, the exaltation can be fully realized.
“to give repentance to Israel” = “And we cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit of God. [Verse quoted]. Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon.” DA:175.
5:33: “cut to the heart” = See my Acts 7:54 Note.
5:34: “Gamaliel” = The Sanhedrin was controlled by the Sadducees, with the Pharisees forming an influential minority. Gamaliel was a Pharisee and “a doctor of the Law” and highly regarded among the Jews. Paul was one of his disciples (Acts 22:3).
5:38-39: “[38] if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: [39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” = Although at first this looks like good advice, which it was at the time for diminishing the sentiment of persecution, in reality Gamaliel was giving “passive” advice. The truth is, one must make a decision as to whether you believe in Christ or not. And later on they did take a stand against Christ.
“The learning and high position of this eminent rabbi gave weight to his words.” LP:13.
CHAPTER SIX
6:1: “murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews” = For a long period a feeling of mutual jealousy had existed between the “Hebrews,” or Jews proper, who spoke the sacred language of Palestine, and the “Grecians,” or “Hellenists,” or Jews of the Grecian speech, who had adopted the Grecian language, and read the Septuagint version of the Bible instead of the Hebrew.
6:3: “Philip” = The name Philip is associated with one of the Twelve apostles (see Mark 3:18). It is also known to be applied to two of Herod the Great’s sons. It was frequent in the ruling house of Macedonia in previous centuries. Therefore, to assume that the Philip of Acts 6:3 is the same as that of being one of the apostles would be stepping a bit too far. The testimony is, “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you,” Acts 6:3. In other words, look out men separate from us (the 12), seven separate men, because, “we [the 12] will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word.” Acts 6:4. Then comes the testimony of Acts 6:5, “and they chose,” the “they” being the verse 3’s “brethren,” selected “out [from] among” themselves and not from the apostles (the 12). Thus, just like Stephen was chosen and separate from the 12 apostles, so it was that this Philip is separate from the 12 Apostles. Also, this same Philip is the one of whom we have the testimony of in Acts 21:8, for he is listed there as being comprised from one of the 7 that were chosen at this time.
6:5: “Stephen” = “Though a Jew by birth, he spoke the Greek language, and was familiar with the customs and manners of the Greeks. He was therefore considered the most proper person to stand at the head, and have supervision of the disbursement of the funds appropriated to the widows, orphans, and the worthy poor. This selection met the minds of all, and the dissatisfaction and murmuring were quieted.” 3SP:292.
“Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas” = Notice that these names are all Grecian names’ meaning that Greek men were chosen to better minister to the women as a whole; and to the Grecian women in particular; both quieting the prejudice and fears of the believers. Therefore, it was the Greeks who were complaining (Acts 6:1), so the wisdom of the Holy Spirit had the Church set up Greeks to handle the situation.
6:9: “certain of the Synagogue. . . disputing with Stephen” = “These students of the great Rabbis had felt confident that in a public discussion they could obtain a complete victory over Stephen, because of his supposed ignorance. But he not only spoke with the power of the Holy Ghost, but it was plain to all the vast assembly that he was also a student of the prophecies, and learned in all matters of the Law. He ably defended the truths he advocated, and utterly defeated his opponents.” 3SP:294; LP:15-16; RH, February 23, 1911, paragraph 1 (6RH:103); AA:97.
6:11: “Then they suborned men” = “Learned Jews from the surrounding countries were summoned for the purpose of refuting the arguments of the accused. Saul was also present, and took a leading part against Stephen. He brought the weight of eloquence, the logic of the rabbis to bear upon the case, to convince the people that Stephen was preaching delusive and dangerous doctrines. But he met in Stephen one as highly educated as himself, and one who had a full understanding of the purpose of God in the spreading of the gospel to other nations.” LP:16-17; RH, February 23, 1911, paragraph 3 (6RH:103).
6:12: “brought him to the council” = “Instead of yielding to the weight of evidence he presented, they determined to silence his voice by putting him to death. They had on several occasions bribed the Roman authorities to pass over without comment instances where the Jews had taken the law into their own hands, and tried, condemned, and executed prisoners according to their national custom. The enemies of Stephen did not doubt that they could pursue such a course without danger to themselves. They determined to risk the [295] consequences at all events, and they therefore seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrim council for trial.” 3SP:294.
“Learned Jews from the surrounding countries were summoned for the purpose of refuting the arguments of the accused. Saul, who had distinguished himself as a zealous opponent of the doctrine of Christ, and a persecutor of all who believed on Him, was also present. This learned man took a leading part against Stephen. He brought the weight of eloquence and the logic of the Rabbis to bear upon the case, and convince the people that Stephen was preaching delusive and dangerous doctrines.” 3SP:295.
6:15: “saw his face as it had been the face of an angel” = “Those who exalted Moses might have seen in the face of the prisoner the same holy light which radiated the face of that ancient prophet. The shekinah was a spectacle which they would never again witness in the temple whose glory had departed forever. Many who beheld the lighted countenance of Stephen trembled and veiled their faces; but stubborn unbelief and prejudice never faltered.” 3SP:296; LP:17; RH, February 23, 1911, paragraph 5 (6RH:103); SR:263.
CHAPTER SEVEN
7:6: “four hundred years” = See my Bible Study: “EGYPT, HOW LONG IN.”
7:16: “that Abraham bought” = It is generally accepted that this is an error which got into almost all of the early manuscripts. How is not known. Surely Stephen and Luke knew and were familiar with Jewish history.
From “Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge” we read: “Of the two burying-places of the patriarchs, one was at Hebron, the cave and field which Abraham purchased of Ephron the Hittite (Gen. 23:16, etc.); the other in Sychem, which Jacob (not Abraham) bought of the sons of Emmor (Gen. 33:19). To remove this glaring discrepancy, Markland interprets . . . [Strong’s G3844], from, as it frequently signifies with a genitive, and renders, ‘And were carried over to Sychem; and afterwards from among the descendants of Emmor, the father, or son, of Sychem, they were laid in the sepulchre which Abraham bought for a sum of money.’ This agrees with the account which Josephus gives of the patriarchs; that they were carried out of Egypt, first to Sychem, and then to Hebron, where they were buried. Exo. 13:19; Jos. 24:32.”
Some Bible commentators translate it as, “which Jacob bought for Abraham and his seed,” as a pledge of the inheritance of the whole land, promised unto him. Others think that by Abraham is meant, “a son of Abraham,” that is, Jacob; as children are sometimes called by their father’s name; such as the Messiah is called David, and genealogies are listed as, “the son of,” when the person is really the grandson of.
However, what best seems to remove the difficulty is that the words refer to both places and purchases. In other words, the field of Machpelah, bought by Abraham, and then to the parcel of field that is Sichem, was bought by Jacob, from the sons of Emmor, because the words are a repetition of the phrase, “in the sepulcher,” and may be read thus: “And were laid in the sepulchre, that Abraham bought for a sum of money,” or also, “And in the sepulchre (bought by Jacob) of the sons of Emmor, the father of Sichem.”
Or the words may simply be rendered thus: “They were carried over into Sichem, and laid in the sepulchre which Abraham bought for a sum of money, besides” that “of the sons of Emmor,” the father “of Sichem;” namely, which Jacob bought, and in which Joseph was laid (Gen. 33:19). This agrees with Stephen’s account and design. In the preceding verse he observes that Jacob died in Egypt along with all the twelve patriarchs. Thus, here he tells us how they were disposed of, and where they were buried, both Jacob and his sons.
They were removed from Egypt and brought into the land of Canaan. Jacob was laid in the cave of Machpelah, in the sepulchre Abraham bought of the children of Heth; and Joseph and his brethren were laid in the sepulchre at Sichem, which Jacob bought of the sons of Emmor.
7:38: “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us” = Here is how to read it after you see Isaiah 63:9 & First Corinthians 10:4 & 9: “This is he (Moses), that was in the Church in the wilderness with The Angel (Christ) which spake to him (Moses) in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who (Moses) received the lively oracles to give unto us.”
“Amid the awful glory of Sinai, Christ declared in the hearing of all the people the Ten Precepts of His Father’s Law. It was He Who gave to Moses the Law engraved upon the tables of stone.” PP:366.
7:43: “star of your god Rempharn” = The Six sided (same) star as that of what is on the national flag of Israel. Just another indication of Israel’s close of probation.
Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:8: “Jesus” = “Jesus” in the Greek is “Jesous,” which is equivalent to the Hebrew word “Yenoshua,” meaning “Joshua.”
Acts 7:48-50; Isaiah 66:1: “Heaven is My throne” = “The place of God’s highest worship is in Heaven.” RH, February 23, 1911.
7:51: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart” = Here is where Stephen is going to get to his main point and why he was going through Israel’s history. It also brings out the same rejection from seven’s generation as with Israel’s earlier generations, particularly, verse 53, “and have not kept” God’s Law.
In verse 3 Abraham was told to go to the promised land (verse 4); but he did not go until the second time told, because “his father was [not yet] dead,” verse 4. Then the deliverer Moses was sent in verse 25, but “they understood not,” verse 25. He was later sent a second time (verses 34-36). Then Moses refuses to go in verse 35. But he goes upon the second appeal (verse 36).
Verse 37 is clear in that the people first listened to Moses (those who did) and there will be a people who will listen the second time to “A Prophet [Jesus]. . . like unto me [Moses].” Then the people refused this “Prophet [Jesus]” in verses 38-39, and chose different “gods,” verse 40. Then our Lord gave them a second chance for them to worship the true God by having them build a “tabernacle,” verse 44. Then a “tabernacle” was to be built (verse 46) in the promised land, but it was not built until the second ruler could do so (verse 47). Then Stephen gets to his point, in that you always refuse Christ the first time you hear of Him. Therefore, do not do “as your fathers did,” verse 51, and also you (“so do ye,” verse 51), but here is your (second) chance to receive Christ as your Savior, which “the prophets. . . shewed before of the Coming of the Just One,” verse 52. But they would not, verses 53-54.
“When Stephen had reached this point, there was a tumult among the people. The prisoner read his fate in the countenances before him. He perceived the resistance that met his Words, which were given at the dictation of the Holy Ghost. He knew that he was giving his last testimony.
“When he connected Jesus Christ with the prophecies, and spoke of the Temple as he did, the priest, affecting to be horror-stricken, rent his robe. This act was to Stephen, a signal that his voice would soon be silenced forever. Although he was just in the midst of his sermon, he abruptly concluded it by suddenly breaking away from the chain of history, and, turning upon his infuriated judges, said, [verse quoted].” 3SP:297; LP:18; 3SP:297-298; 6RH:103; AA:100; SR:264.
7:54: “cut to the heart” = In the expression “cut to the heart,” it would be better expressed as “convulsed with rage.” The Greek word for “cut” is “diaprio,” the same as used in Acts 5:33, and is used for expressions of anger, as opposed to the Greek word “katanusso,” which is used to express “remorse,” as in Acts 2:37.
7:56: “I see the heavens opened” = The Greek word for “heavens” here is, “ouranos,” and can be plural or singular. I believe it should be translated as singular and meaning Heaven Itself.
“The Saviour of the world was revealed to him as looking down from Heaven upon him with the deepest interest; and the glorious light of Christ’s countenance shone upon Stephen with such brightness that even his enemies saw his face shine like the face of an angel.” RH, May 3, 1881, paragraph 7.
7:58: “stoned him” = It is interesting to note that the Jewish leaders permitted John the Baptist to be murdered; they requested Jesus to be murdered; but they, by their own hands, murdered Stephan; bringing upon themselves and their nation the close of probation (determined by the 70 week prophecy of Daniel, Chapter 9). See also my Acts 28:38 Note.
“the witnesses” = Saul was one of “the witness.” As such he would be required to cast the first stone.
“The witnesses who had accused him were required to cast the first stones. These persons laid down their clothes at the feet of Saul, who had taken an active part in the disputation, and had consented to the prisoner’s death.
“The martyrdom of Stephen made a deep impression upon all who witnessed it. It was a sore trial to the Church, but resulted in the conversion of Saul.” 3SP:299; LP:19-20; RH, February 23, 1911; SR:267; AA:102
“He seemed to be angered at his own secret convictions that Stephen was honored of God, at the very period when he was dishonored of men.” 3SP:299.
“The learned Saul was a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan to carry out his rebellion against the Son of God; but a mightier than Satan had selected Saul to take the place of the martyred Stephen, and to labor and suffer for His name. Saul was a man of much esteem among the Jews, for both his learning and his zeal in persecuting the believers. He was not a member of the Sanhedrim council until after the death of Stephen, when he was elected to that body in consideration of the part he had acted on that occasion.” 3SP:300; LP:19-20; 3SP:299-300; RH, February 23, 1911; SR:267; AA:102.
“Saul” = “Saul of Tarsus shared to the fullest extent the pride and the prejudices of his nation. While still a young man, he became an honored member of the Sanhedrin.” ED:64:3.
7:59: “stoned Stephen” = This verse is argued to say that we should pray to Jesus (possibly even only). I have no quarrel with that. However, to leave the Father out of any of our prayers is to ignore the instructions of Jesus Himself; that being, we should pray to the Father (Mat. 6:9), always “asking” the Father (Mat. 7:11 & 18:19), in Jesus’ Name (John 14:13 & 14; 16:24 & 26; Col. 3:17 [“by Him”]). This is the proper structure of prayer according to Jesus Himself.
If we understand verse 56 correctly, Stephen sees Jesus, “standing on the right hand of God” the Father. Of course he is going to “call upon God” the Father and then talk to the Jesus he is seeing.
“No legal sentence had been passed upon Stephen, but the Roman authorities were bribed by large sums of money to make no investigation into the case.” AA:101.2; RH, February 23, 1911, paragraph 11.
CHAPTER EIGHT
8:1: “there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria” = “Forgetting that strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service, they began to think that they had no work so important as that of shielding the Church in Jerusalem from the attacks of the enemy. Instead of educating the new converts to carry the gospel to those who had not heard it, they were in danger of taking a course that would lead all to be satisfied with what had been accomplished. To scatter His representatives abroad, where they could work for others, God permitted persecution to come upon them.” AA:105.
“[300] Christ had Commanded His disciples to go and teach all nations; but the previous teachings [301] which they had received from the Jews made it difficult for them to fully comprehend the Words of their Master, and therefore they were slow to act upon Them. They called themselves the children of Abraham, and regarded themselves as the heirs of Divine promise. It was not until several years after the Lord’s ascension that their minds were sufficiently expanded to clearly understand the intent of Christ’s Words, that they were to labor for the conversion of the Gentiles as well as that of the Jews.” 3SP:300-301.
“The Samaritans received the believers kindly, and manifested a willingness to hear concerning Jesus,” 3SP:301.
“Here the disciples began to more fully understand that the gospel was not in any wise to be confined to the Jews; for conversions occurred among all classes, without any definite, special effort on the part of the Christian teachers. Many converts to Christ among the Gentiles demonstrated to the Jewish believers that they were not the only ones embraced in the message of Christ.” 3SP:301.
8:3: “As for Saul, he made havock of the Church” = However: “[305] The mind of Saul was greatly stirred by the triumphant death of Stephen. He was shaken in his prejudice; but the opinions and arguments of the priests and rulers finally convinced him [306] that Stephen was a blasphemer; that Jesus Christ Whom he preached was an impostor, and that those ministering in holy offices must be right. Being a man of decided mind, and strong purpose, he became very bitter in his opposition to Christianity, after having once entirely settled in his mind that the views of the priests and scribes were right. His zeal led him to voluntarily engage in persecuting the believers. He caused holy men to be dragged before the councils, and to be imprisoned or condemned to death without evidence of any offense, save their faith in Jesus.” 3SP:305-306; RH, March 16, 1911 paragraph 3 (6RH:109); AA:112; LP:20; SR:268.
8:15-16: “that they might receive the Holy Ghost” = Why had the Holy Spirit not yet fallen upon them? The best answer appears to be that they HAD received Him as a Spirit of illumination and sanctification, and as, a Spirit of conversion and faith. They had been regenerated, enlightened, and sanctified by Him, and were converted by Him, and brought to believe in Christ by Him, as in Acts 10:44. However, they were baptized believers, and no more. As yet, none of them had the “Gifts of the Spirit,” thus qualifying them for the ministry; such as prophesy, or the working miracles.
Therefore, to answer our question, the Holy Ghost had not yet descended on them for such purposes; and as such, Peter and John were sent there in order to PRAY for them that they might receive these gifts. Thus, they had been born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5), excluding, as yet, they had not received the baptism of that Spirit which confers miraculous powers. Apostolic prayer and the laying on of hands (verse 17) bestowed this. Here and elsewhere, we can see that PRAYER is the key that clearly points to the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit as had been bestowed at Pentecost.
We may take encouragement from this example that we in our day may pray to our God for new believers that they may receive the renewing graces of the Holy Ghost. It also shows our responsibility to recognize those who should be prayed for. Simon Magus (verses 9-13, 18 and on) was ambitious to have the “Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” but cared not at all to have the spirit and disposition of a Christian. He was more desirous to gain honor to himself than to do good to others. What is important to notice here is that although Simon Magus was present at the time of the laying on of hands (verse 18) he was not included.
8:18: “he offered them money” = Do you want to be used by God or do you want to use God?
8:26: “the angel of the Lord” = Rather, “an angel.”
“Philip” = This is not Philip the Apostle, but “Philip the evangelist,” Acts 21:8. He is from “the seven,” ibid. which were chosen to ministrate to the neglected widows (Acts 6:1 & 6:5). He eventually settled in Caesarea (compare Acts 8:20 with Acts 21:8); birthing 4 prophetic daughters there (Acts 21:9).
“Philip the evangelist was bound to Paul by ties of the deepest sympathy. A man of clear discernment and sterling integrity, Philip had been the first to break away from the bondage of Jewish prejudice, and thus had helped prepare the way for the apostle’s work. It was Philip who preached the gospel to the Samaritans; it was Philip who had the courage to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch. For a time the history of these two workers had been closely intertwined. It was the violent persecution of Saul the Pharisee that had scattered the Church at Jerusalem, and destroyed the effectiveness of the organization of the seven deacons. The flight from Jerusalem had led Philip to change his manner of labor, and resulted in his pursuing the same calling to which Paul gave his life. Precious hours were these that Paul and Philip spent in each other’s society; thrilling were the memories that they recalled of the days when the light which had shone upon the face of Stephen upturned to Heaven as he suffered martyrdom, flashed in its glory upon Saul the persecutor, bringing him, a helpless suppliant, to the feet of Jesus.” LP:204.
8:27: “an eunuch. . . had come to Jerusalem for to worship” = “[303] The eunuch, in his blindness, had been groping for light. He believed the Scriptures, but could not fully understand them. He therefore went a journey to Jerusalem to the Temple. Hungering and thirsting for knowledge, he laid his perplexities before the priests and scribes; [304] but he was still more mystified than before by their interpretations of Scripture. He prayed fervently for light and knowledge, and God heard his prayer, and sent His angel to Philip, bidding him go to Gaza for the purpose of preaching Christ to a single soul that hungered and thirsted for the truth.
“The eunuch had heard at Jerusalem various conflicting reports in regard to Jesus of Nazareth. His mind was troubled upon the subject. He had a copy of the Scriptures with him, and was diligently studying the prophecies in reference to the Messiah, when Philip met him.” 3SP:303-304.
8:28: “read Esaias the prophet” = “He had a copy of the Scriptures with him, and was diligently studying the prophecies in reference to the Messiah, when Philip met him. They were strangers; but the mind of Philip was impressed that this was the man who needed his help.” 3SP:304.
8:30: “ran” = he may have run to get close, but once close: “Philip, walking by the side of the chariot,” 3SP:305.
8:36: “baptized” = Evidently Philip had said something about baptism following faith and conversion; teaching the teachings of Jesus (see Mark 16:16). According to, “A Popular Commentary On The New Testament,” “Wordsworth states, ‘that Philip, in preaching Jesus, had preached the necessity of baptism’ (so Aug.). By the expression, ‘Philip preached to him Jesus,’ St. Luke implies that Philip preached not only what is to be believed concerning Christ, but what is to be done by those who are joined to the unity of the body of Christ, and so preached to him the main points of Christian faith and duty.”
8:37: “believest with all thine heart, [THEN] thou mayest” = THE FOLLOWING IS THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO BE SAVED: “He showed him the steps necessary to take in conversion -- [ONE] repentance toward God because of transgression of the Father’s Law, [TWO] faith in Christ as the Saviour of men, and [THREE] baptism in the likeness of His death.” 3SP:304.
8:38: “both Phillip and the eunuch” = The sad point is that the driver of the chariot did not also want to be baptized. Though present and most likely listening, some will accept and most will not. Or else he was already converted; but no rejoicing is spoken of.
8:39: “went on his way” = “The eunuch was a man of good repute, and occupied a high and responsible position. Through his conversion the gospel was carried to Ethiopia, and many there accepted Christ, and came out from the darkness of heathenism into the clear light of Christianity.” 3SP:305.
8:40: “Azotus” = Which today is Ashdod, in Israel, and is 42 miles East of Jerusalem on the Mediterranean coast; with Tel Aviv being 20 miles to the north.
CHAPTER NINE
9:3-6: “suddenly there shined round about him a light from Heaven” = Was Paul’s freedom of choice taken away? No more than this example. If you have a child who stray’s out into the road with oncoming cars, no matter how loving a parent you have been up to this point, no matter how kind, your child sees a new face never before seen upon its parents face. No longer loving, no longer kind, but determined a forceful in getting their child out and away from the oncoming traffic. So was our Lord with Paul. Paul was only given more information such that he could then make an educated decision.
9:5: “I Am Jesus” = According to Acts 26:14 Jesus was speaking to Paul in “Hebrew.” Therefore, this should be translated as, “I Am Yeshua.” The Standard accepted meaning is, “Savior; Deliverer.” However, the literal translation is, “I Am That I Am.” See Exodus 3:14. This is affirmed in John 5:43 were Jesus says He “come[s] in [His] My Father’s Name.” Which would be, “I Am That I Am.” See also Matthew 21:9 & 23:39 & John 12:13.
“kick against the pricks” = Or rather, “kick against the ox-goad,” which is a metaphor of an ox, whose hind leg, should he kick, just hit the goad, a sharp piece of iron stuck into the end of a stick, when drawing the plough, only hurting the ox, whom soon learns that kicking it is useless. The idea is, that he is injuring himself, like the ox that kicks back on the goads used to urge him forward.
The fact that Jesus states to Paul that he has been kinking “against the” prodding of the Holy Spirit, indicates that the Spirit of God had been working with Paul for a while.
“Those forcible words illustrated the fact that it would be impossible for any man to stay the onward progress of the truth of Christ. It would march on to triumph and victory, while every effort to stay it would result in injury to the opposer. The persecutor, in the end, would suffer a thousand-fold more than those whom he had persecuted. Sooner or later his own heart would condemn him; he would find that he had, indeed, been kicking against the pricks.” LP 24; 3SP:308-309; 6RH:110.
9:7: “hearing a voice” = In Acts 22:9 the passage states that, “they heard not the voice.” The Greek word for “heard,” used in both instances, is “akouo,” and can be translated as “heard/hears,” or “understood/understand.” Keep in mind that a contradiction can only occur when one statement makes another statement impossible. Clearly, the KJV translators missed the context, forgetting their translation in this verse, and should have translated Acts 22:9 as, “they understood not the voice.”
“[307] The companions of Saul were stricken with terror, and almost blinded by the intensity of the light. They heard the voice, but saw no one, and to them all was unintelligible and mysterious. But Saul, lying prostrate upon the ground, understood the Words that were spoken, and saw clearly before him the Son of God. One look upon that glorious Being, imprinted his image forever upon the soul of the stricken Jew. The Words struck home to his heart with appalling force. A flood of light poured in upon the darkened chambers of his mind, revealing his ignorance and error. He saw that, while imagining himself to be zealously serving God in persecuting the followers of Christ, he had in reality been doing the work of Satan.
“He saw his folly in resting his faith upon the assurances of the priests and rulers, whose sacred office had given them great influence over his mind, and caused him to believe that the story of the resurrection was an artful fabrication of the disciples of Jesus. Now that Christ was revealed to Saul, the sermon of Stephen was brought forcibly to his mind. Those Words which the priests had pronounced blasphemy, now appeared to him as truth and verity. In that time of wonderful illumination, his mind [308] acted with remarkable rapidity. He traced down through prophetic history, and saw that the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension had been foretold by the prophets, and proved Him to be the promised Messiah. He remembered the words of Stephen: ‘I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God;’ and he knew that the dying saint had looked upon the Kingdom of Glory.” 3SP:307-308.
“Saul had verily believed that to have faith in Jesus was virtually to repudiate the Law of God, and the service of sacrificial offerings. He had believed that Jesus had Himself disregarded the Law, and had taught His disciples that it was now of no effect. He believed it to be his duty to strive with his utmost power to exterminate the alarming doctrine that Jesus was the Prince of Life; and with conscientious zeal he had become a persevering persecutor of the Church of Christ.” 3SP:312.
“[315] He had regarded Jesus as making of none effect the Law of God; but when his spiritual vision was touched by the finger of God, he learned that Christ was the Originator of the entire Jewish system of sacrifices; that He Came into the world for the express purpose of vindicating His Father’s Law; and that in His death the typical Law had met Its Antitype. By the light of the Moral Law, which he had believed himself to be zealously keeping, Saul saw himself a sinner of sinners. {CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION} He [ONE] repented, that is, died to sin, [TWO] became obedient to the Law of God, [THREE] had faith in Jesus Christ as his Saviour, [FOUR] was [316] baptized, and [FIVE] preached Jesus as earnestly and zealously as he had once denounced Him.” 3SP:315-316; LP:30-31.
9:9: “three days without sight” = “He believed that his blindness was the punishment of God for his cruel persecution of the followers of Jesus.” 3SP:310.
9:17: “putting his hands on him” = In the humor that can be that of only our Lord, the persecutor of the people he is chasing becomes the learner of the same.
“The very men whom Saul had purposed to destroy were to be his instructors in the religion he had despised and persecuted.” 3SP:313.
“[316] In Christ’s stead, Ananias touches the eyes of Saul that they may receive sight. In [317] Christ’s stead, he places his hands upon him, and, praying in Christ’s Name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the Name and by the authority of Christ; but the Church is the channel of communication.” 3SP:316-317; LP:32; 6RH:114 [RH, March 23, 1911 paragraph 14]; AA:122.
9:18: “immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales” = However: “He was ever to carry about with him in the body the marks of Christ’s glory, in his eyes, which had been blinded by the Heavenly light, and he desired also to bear with him constantly the assurance of Christ’s sustaining grace.” 3SP:319; LP:34; 14MR:57.
Here is my Galatians 4:13 Note: “infirmity of the flesh” = Paul is referring more specifically of his “eye” problems (see verse 15), then just the weaknesses of mankind’s flesh; which is also meant.
Here is my Second Corinthians 12:7 Note: “Paul had a bodily affliction; his eyesight was bad. He thought that by earnest prayer the difficulty might be removed. But the Lord had His own purpose, and He said to Paul, Speak to Me no more of this matter. My grace is sufficient. I will enable you to bear the infirmity.” 6BC:1107 (Letter 207, 1899); 14MR:57.
“and arose, and was baptized” = Notice the first action of Saul upon belief in Christ. Just as was done by the “Eunuch,” in Acts 8:36; WHICH IS ONE OF THE METHODS (requirements) OF SALVATION.
“Paul was baptized by Ananias in the river of Damascus.” 3SP:317.
9:20: “straightway he preached Christ” = “As Saul boldly preached Jesus, he carried a powerful influence with him. He had knowledge of the Scriptures, and after his conversion a Divine light shone upon the prophecies concerning Jesus, which enabled him to clearly and boldly present the truth, and to correct any perversion of the Scriptures. 1SG:92.
“He had no desire to appeal to the unconverted Jews; for he knew they would not listen to or heed his statements.” 3SP:312.
9:26: “Saul was come to Jerusalem” = This is out of traveling order. See my Acts 9:30 Notes.
“[319] As Paul entered Jerusalem, he regarded with changed views the [320] city and Temple. He now knew that the retributive judgment of God was hanging over them {= Jewish Close of Probation; see also Acts 22:21}.” 3SP:319-320.
9:27: “brought him to the apostles” = “Peter and James, who at that time were the only apostles in Jerusalem, gave the right hand of fellowship to the once fierce persecutor of their faith; and he was now as much beloved and respected as he had formerly been feared and avoided.” 3SP:321.
9:30: “sent him forth to Tarsus” = According to Galatians 1:17, Paul first went into Arabia. And according to Galatians 1:18 he was there for “three years,” then he “returned again unto Damascus, Galatians 1:17, that is, after his stint in Arabia. Then he goes to Jerusalem.
“[318] While in Arabia he did not communicate with the apostles; he sought God earnestly with all his heart, determining not to rest till he knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted, [319] and his great sin pardoned.” 3SP:318-319.
“The departure of Paul {from Jerusalem} suspended for a time the violent opposition of the Jews, and the Church had a period of rest, in which many were added to the number of believers.” 3SP:323.
9:43: “a tanner” = Peter stayed in Joppa with a tanner (Acts: This Verse; 10:6, 32), a detail that we don’t want to miss. Tanning and tanners were repulsive to the Jews (see Lev. 11:35-40) since they handled dead bodies and used excreta in their processes. Thus, tanneries were not allowed in towns; taking note that Simon’s residence was located by the sea side (Acts 10:6). Peter’s lodging there shows him already, to some extent, above Jewish prejudice, and as such, ready to receiving his next mission from the Lord.
CHAPTER TEN
10:1: “Cornelius” = “He had not been circumcised, nor did he take part in the sacrificial offerings; he was therefore [325] accounted by the Jews as unclean.” 3SP:324.
“The Greek Jews had received the labors of the apostles, and many of them had responded to those efforts by embracing the faith of Jesus; but the conversion of Cornelius was to be the first one of importance among the Gentiles.” 3SP:327.
Acts 10:9-18 & 28-29 & 34-35 & Acts 15:8-9: “kill, and eat” = This is not a discourse, nor a Biblical teaching upon “diet,” as we shall see. Please, you simply must see my Bible Study: “DIET, THE PROPER BIBLICAL.”
“[327] By the vision of the sheet and its contents, let down from heaven, Peter was to be divested of his settled prejudices against the Gentiles; to understand that, through Christ, heathen nations were made partakers of the blessings and privileges of the Jews, and were to be thus benefited equally with them. Some have urged that this [328] vision was to signify that God had removed His prohibition from the use of the flesh of animals which He had formerly pronounced unclean; and that therefore swines’ flesh was fit for food. This is a very narrow, and altogether erroneous interpretation, and is plainly contradicted in the Scriptural account of the vision and its consequences.” 3SP:327-328.
“[135] This vision conveyed to Peter both reproof and instruction. It revealed to him the purpose of God, -- that by the death of Christ the Gentiles should be made fellow-heirs with the Jews to the blessings of salvation. . . [136]
“In their minds, the middle wall of partition, broken down by the death of Christ, still existed, and their labors had been confined to the Jews; for they had looked upon the Gentiles as excluded from the blessings of the gospel. Now the Lord was seeking to teach Peter the world-wide extent of the Divine plan. . .
“The time had come for an entirely new phase of work to be entered upon by the church of Christ. The door that many of the Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles, was now to be thrown open. And the Gentiles who accepted the gospel were to be regarded as on an equality with the Jewish disciples, without the necessity of observing the rite of circumcision. How carefully the Lord worked to overcome the prejudice against the Gentiles that had been so firmly fixed in Peter’s mind by his Jewish training. By the vision of the sheet and its contents, He sought to divest the apostle’s mind of this prejudice, and to teach the important truth that in Heaven there is no respect of persons; that Jew and Gentile are alike precious in God’s sight.” AA:135-136.
10:23: “certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him” = “He courteously entertained them that night, and in the morning set out with them for Caesarea, accompanied by six of his brethren {Acts 11:12}, who were to be witnesses of all he should say or do while visiting the Gentiles; for he knew that he should be called to account for so direct an opposition to the Jewish faith and teachings.” 3SP:329.
10:25: “worshipped him” = “He [Peter] then commenced to converse with him familiarly, in order to remove the sense of awe and extreme reverence with which the centurion regarded him.” 3SP:330.
10:26: “I myself also am a man” = “Had Peter been invested with the authority and position accorded to him by the Roman Catholic church, he would have encouraged, rather than have checked, the veneration of Cornelius. The so-called successors of Peter require kings and emperors to bow at their feet; but Peter himself claimed to be only an erring and fallible man.” 3SP:330.
10:35: “he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him” = HEREIN LIES THE ROAD TO SALVATION.
“Truth is onward. Truth is upward. On the other hand, those who claim that their faith alone will save them, are trusting to a rope of sand; for faith is strengthened and made perfect by works only.” 3SP:331.
10:47-48: “Can any man forbid water. . . he commanded them to be baptized” = See my Acts 10:35 Note; for this is step THREE in the process of salvation.
“The descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles was not an equivalent for baptism. The requisite steps in conversion, in all cases, are {ONE} faith, {TWO} repentance, and {THREE} baptism. Thus the true Christian Church are united in one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” 3SP:332.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
11:19: “Antioch” = “Antioch had both a large Jewish and Gentile population; it was a great resort for lovers of ease and pleasure, because of the healthfulness of its situation, its beautiful scenery, and the wealth, culture, and refinement that centered there. Its extensive commerce made it a place of great importance, where people of all nationalities were found. It was therefore a city of luxury and vice. The retribution of God finally came upon Antioch, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.” 3SP:346.
11:26: “called Christians first” = However, they were first and later called: “the way.” See Acts 9:2 (footnote); 19:23; 24:14. The name was given to them as an appellation (designation) of ridicule.
CHAPTER TWELVE
12:2: “killed James” = This is not James our Lord’s brother (see Gal. 1:19). This was James the Greater, son of Zebedee, and must be distinguished from James the Less, son of Alpheus (see Mat. 10:3). This latter, according to tradition, was put to death by Ananias the high priest, during the reign of Nero. This Herod was the grandson of Herod the Great; called Herod Agrippa I (B.C. 10 - 44 A.D.). See my Spreadsheet: “HEROD THE GREAT.” He is the only apostle whose death is recorded in the New Testament, except Judas the betrayer.
From “The Pulpit Commentary” we read: “James, the son of Zebedee, or James the Elder, to whom, with his brother John, our Lord gave the surname of Boanerges (which is a corruption of), sons of thunder. Nothing is recorded of him in the Acts but his presence in the upper room at Jerusalem after the Ascension (Acts 1:13), and this his martyrdom, which was the fulfillment of our Lord’s prediction in Mat. 20:23 [see also Mark 10:38]. His being singled out by Herod for death in company with Peter is rather an indication of his zeal and activity in the Lord’s service, though we know nothing of his work. Eusebius relates an anecdote of his martyrdom, extracted from the lost work of Clement of Alexandria, called the (in Latin Adumbrationes), which Clement professed to have received by tradition from his predecessors, to the effect that the informer who accused James was so struck with his constancy in confessing Christ before the judge, that he came forward and confessed himself a Christian too. The two were then led off to execution together; and on the way the informer asked James’s forgiveness. After a moment’s hesitation, James said to him, ‘Peace be unto thee,’ and kissed him. They were then both beheaded (‘Eccl. Hist.,’ 2. 9.).”
In a side note, from the two brothers, James is the first Christian martyr, while John is the last to die.
“with the sword” = Meaning he was beheaded. The Jews considered beheading a shameful death as in the case of John the Baptist (Mat. 14:10).
12:3: “it pleased the Jews” = “[335] The people applauded the act of Herod in causing the death of James, though some of them complained of the private manner in which it was accomplished, maintaining that a public execution would have had the effect to more thoroughly intimidate all believers and sympathizers. Herod therefore held Peter in custody for the purpose of gratifying the Jews by the public spectacle of his death. But it was suggested to the ruler that it would not be safe to bring the veteran apostle out for [336] execution before all the people who were assembled in Jerusalem for the Passover. It was feared that his venerable appearance might excite their pity and respect; they also dreaded lest he should make one of those powerful appeals which had frequently roused the people to investigate the life and character of Jesus Christ, and which they, with all their artifice, were totally unable to controvert. In such a case, the Jews apprehended that his release would be demanded at the hands of the king.
“Peter’s ardent zeal in vindicating himself, and in advocating the cause of Christ, had lost to the Jews many of their brethren, and they stood in great dread of his having an opportunity to lift up his voice in the presence of all the nations and people that had come to the city to worship. Therefore the apostle was placed under charge of sixteen soldiers, who alternated in guarding him day and night.” 3SP:335-336.
12:4: “four quaternions” = Four groups of four.
“Easter” = “In AD 196, Victor -- bishop of Rome, attempted to impose on all the churches the Roman custom of having Easter fall every year on Sunday.” “Bower’s History of the Popes,” Vol. 1 p. 18. “This bold attempt,” says Bower, “we may call the first essay of papal usurpation,” “ibid.” Prior to this time, and for many years after, the Eastern churches celebrated the Passover -- now called Easter -- on the 14th day of the first month. The council of Nicaea was finally called by Constantine to settle this and other questions in dispute.
To be clear, this was a year (or two) after the crucifixion of Christ, and not as some suppose, in order to justify their use of “Easter” here, eight days after the death of Christ. Thus, “Passover” would be and is a correct rendering here.
12:6: “between two soldiers, bound with two chains” = “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. Peter was placed between two soldiers, and was bound by two chains, each chain being fastened to the wrist of one of his guard. He was therefore unable to move without their knowledge. The prison doors were securely fastened, and a strong guard was placed before them. All chance of rescue or escape, by human means, was thus cut off.” 3SP:337.
12:17: “shew these things unto James” = That Peter would make this statement is a clear indication that James was the leader of the Church at this point.
12:19: “he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death” = “Herod knew that no human power had rescued Peter, but he was determined not to acknowledge that a Divine power had frustrated his design, and he set himself in bold defiance against God.” AA:149.
12:22: “voice of a god” = “The same voices which now glorified a vile sinner, had, but a few years before, raised the frenzied cry of, Away with Jesus! Crucify Him, crucify Him!” 3SP:344.
12:23: “immediately the angel of the Lord smote him” = “While the apostle of Christ had been miraculously delivered from prison and death, his persecutor had been stricken down by the curse of God. The news was borne to all lands, and was the means of bringing many to believe on Christ.” 3SP:345.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
13:1: “there were in the church that was at Antioch” = Acts 13:1 reveals more about the makeup of the early Church. We know that Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew (a native of Cyprus); Saul, of course, came from Tarsus, another city that was not part of Israel proper. Manaen was either a good friend or foster-brother of Herod Antipas. Simeon was called “Niger,” which is a Latin word for “black.” Lucius hailed from Cyrene in North Africa. This means that the leadership of the early Church was ethnically diverse, with some of the leaders possibly not being Jews at all.
“Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod” = From “Albert Barns Notes On The Bible” we learn: “Herod Antipas, not Herod Agrippa. Herod was tetrarch of Galilee (see Luke 3:1). The word translated here as ‘which had been brought up,’ Greek, ‘suntrophos,’ denotes ‘one who is educated or nourished at the same time with another.’” In the Vulgate, the word used instead of “suntrophos” is an old word “collactaneus,” used for applications meaning, “nourished with or brought up with one.”
From “Adam Clark’s Bible Commentary” we read: “a foster-brother; i.e. Manaen was the son of the woman who nursed Herod Antipas; and the son, also, whose milk the young Herod shared. Of a person whose name was Manaen or Menahem, and who was in the court of Herod, we read several things in the Jewish writers. They say that this man had the gift of prophecy, and that he told Herod, when he was but a child, that he would be king. When Herod became king he sent for him to his court, and held him in great estimation. It might have been the son of this Menahem of whom St. Luke here speaks.”
According to Josephus, it was Herod the tetrarch; that is, Antipas, who was himself “brought up with a certain private person at Rome,” “Antiquities,” 17.1, 3.
“Herod the tetrarch” = Here is my Matthew 14:1 Note: From “Treasury Of Scripture Knowledge” we read: “This was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, by Malthace, and tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, which produced a revenue of 200 talents a year. He married the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia, whom he divorced in order to marry Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, who was still living. Aretas, to revenge the affront which Herod had offered his daughter, declared war against him, and vanquished him after an obstinate engagement. This defeat, Josephus assures us, the Jews considered as a punishment for the death of John the Baptist. Having gone to Rome to solicit the title of king, he was accused by Agrippa of carrying on a correspondence with Artabanus king of Parthia, against the Romans, and was banished by the emperor Caius to Lyons, and thence to Spain, where he and Herodias died in exile.”
“Tetrarch” means “one-fourth.” Therefore, Herod was ruler over “one-fourth” of the governor of one of four divisions of a country or province; which his section obviously included Galilee and Perea.
13:2-3: “laid their hands on them” = This is none other than a symbol of the act of ordination, or ordaining one to the office and responsibilities of whatever.
“The ordination by the laying on of hands, was, at a later date, greatly abused; unwarrantable importance was attached to the act, as though a power came at once upon those who received such ordination, which immediately qualified them for any and all ministerial work, as though virtue lay in the act of laying on of hands. We have, in the history of these two apostles, only a simple record of the laying on of hands, and its bearing upon their work. Both Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God Himself [verse 2];
“and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification. It was merely setting the seal of the Church upon the Work of God -- an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office. This form was a significant one to the Jews. When a Jewish father blessed his children, he laid his hands reverently upon their heads. When and animal was devoted to sacrifice, the hand of the one invested with priestly authority was laid upon the head of the victim. Therefore, when the ministers of Antioch laid their hands upon the apostles, they, by that action, asked God to bestow His blessing upon them, in their devotion to the specific work which God had chosen them to do.” 3SP:349; LP:43-44; 6RH:141; AA:159-160.
13:5: “Salamis” = Salamis was on the Eastern side of the island of Cyprus. According to Acts 13:4 “the Holy Ghost” directed “Barnabas and Saul,” verse 2, to this city and island. However, notice how intelligent God is, for Barnabas was born here according to Acts 4:36. Thus his familiarity with the people and region would help in the conversion work ahead.
Also, although Barnabas may have thought it his idea to go to his home-town, for at this point in the relationship they are listed as “Barnabas and Saul,” Acts 11:30; 12:25; 13:2, 7, Saul then moves into the lead role on this first of his missionary tours, Acts 13:43, 46, 50; (still later) 15:2, 22. Thus, we learn from the Power of inspiration of the Bible that it was the “Holy Ghost” that was leading Barnabas to want to start in his home-town.
13:9: “Saul” = The name means, “to ask.”
“Paul” = The name Paul means “the least; the little one.”
13:11: “thou shalt be blind” = “The sorcerer had closed his eyes to the evidences of truth, and the light of the gospel, therefore the Lord, in His righteous anger, caused his natural eyes to be closed, shutting out from him the light of day. This blindness was not permanent, but only for a season, to warn him to repent, and to seek pardon of God Whom he had so offended. The confusion into which this man was brought, with all his boasted power, made all his subtle arts against the doctrine of Christ of none effect. The fact of his being obliged to grope about in blindness, proved to all beholders that the miracles which the apostles had performed, and which Elymas had denounced as being produced by sleight of hand, were in truth wrought by the power of God. The deputy was convinced of the truth of the doctrine taught by the apostles, and embraced the gospel of Christ.” 3SP:351.
13:14: “on the Sabbath day” = That the Seventh-Day Sabbath was kept until at least sometime after 200 A.D. is clearly seen from the following history. In a well-known passage, Philo writes: “There is not a single people to which the custom of Sabbath observance has not spread,” “Against Apion,” 2 & 39.
Tertullian, an influential Church leader (about A. D. 200) reproaches the pagans for having adopted the Jewish custom of resting on the Sabbath. He writes: “You have selected one day [Saturday] in preference to other days as the day on which you do not take a bath or you postpone it until the evening, and on which you devote yourselves to leisure and abstain from revelry. In so doing you are turning from your own religion to a foreign religion, for the Sabbath and cena pura [special supper] are Jewish ceremonial observances,” “Ad Nationes,” 1:13.
13:20: “After that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years” = That the time of the Judges is 410 years, see my Chronological Chart, and remember that a key word is used here, i.e., “about.”
13:22: “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart” = “I was shown that it was when David was pure, and walking in the counsel of God, that God called him a man after His own heart. When David departed from God, and stained his virtuous character by his crimes, he was no longer a man after God’s own heart. God did not in the least degree justify him in his sins, but sent Nathan, His prophet, with dreadful denunciations to David because he had transgressed the commandment of the Lord.” 1SP:379.
13:33: “written in the Second Psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee” = Here is my Psalm 2:7 Note: The Biblical fact that Jesus has ALWAYS existed is seen in many passages (see as an example John 1:1-3 & 10). Therefore, Jesus cannot be a created being, born at this time, if He already existed before this time.
According to the Sukkah, 52a (a Sukkah is a Jewish Talmudic work), the words of Psalm 2, verses 7 and 8, are put into the mouth of the Messiah, and therefore the proper translation of the Hebrew here would be “Thou art King Messiah.” In the Targum, the “Ba-in,” translated “Son of man,” in Psalm 80:16 (verse 17 of our versions), is rendered “Mal-cha M-sha-cha,” meaning “King Messiah.” My point is that the Psalm 2:7 rendering is paraphrased in a manner that removes the anthropomorphism of the Hebrew, meaning it could be translated as: “Thou art beloved unto Me, like a son unto a father. . .”
If none of this is clear enough, the “begotten thee” is explained by seeing Acts 13:33: “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the Second Psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee.” In other words, God the Father raised up the Son, not created Him as some would like to speculate or conjecture here.
It all becomes cleared up when we realize that “this day” is a response to the rebellion of verse 1-3, “against His anointed.” Therefore, “this day” God will coronate the Messiah, even though they have rejected Him, over Mount Zion. Therefore, it cannot refer to a physical birth, for Messiah is already in existence and being rejected.
13:46: “unworthy of everlasting life” = “They could not endure that the Gentiles should enjoy religious privileges on an equality with themselves, but clung tenaciously to the idea that the blessing of God was reserved exclusively for them. This had ever been the great sin of the Jews, which Christ, on several occasions, had rebuked.” 3SP:355.
13:48: “were ordained” = The Greek form of the verb here may be understood reflexively as well as passively, so that it may mean “appointed themselves,” or “set themselves.” Rendering the passage: “and as many believed as has set (or appointed) themselves unto eternal life.”
13:50: “raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas” = “Let not the follower of Christ think, when he is no longer able to labor openly and actively for God and His truth, that he has no service to render, no reward to secure. Christ’s true witnesses are never laid aside. In health and sickness, in life and death, God uses them still. When through Satan’s malice the servants of Christ have been persecuted, their active labors hindered, when they have been cast into prison, or dragged to the scaffold or the stake, it was that truth might gain a greater triumph. As these faithful ones sealed their testimony with their blood, souls hitherto in doubt and uncertainty were convinced of the faith of Christ, and took their stand courageously for Him. From the sashes of the martyrs has sprung an abundant harvest for God.” AA:465.
13:51: “Iconium” = “This place was a great resort for pleasure-seekers, and persons who had no particular object in life. The population was composed of Romans, Greeks, and Jews.” 3SP:358.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
14:6: “Lystra and Derbe” = “These were populated by a heathen, superstitious people; but among them were souls that would hear and accept the doctrine of Christ. The apostles chose to labor in those cities because they would not there meet Jewish prejudice and persecution. They now came in contact with an entirely new element, -- heathen superstition and idolatry.” 3SP:360.
“In Lystra there was no Jewish synagogue, though there were a few Jews in the place. The temple of Jupiter occupied a conspicuous position there.” 3SP:361.
14:12: “Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius” = “The former they believed to be Mercury; for Paul was active, earnest, quick, and eloquent with words of warning and exhortation. Barnabas was believed to be Jupiter, the father of gods, because of his venerable appearance, his dignified bearing, and the mildness and benevolence which was expressed in his countenance.” 3SP:363.
14:18: “scarce restrained” = “They were not satisfied, however, and led the sacrificial beasts away in great disappointment, that their traditions of Divine beings visiting the earth could not be strengthened by this example of their favor in coming to confer special blessings upon them, {HEREIN LIES THEIR TRUE PURPOSE} which would exalt them and their religion in the estimation of the world.” 3SP:364.
14:19: “Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people” = “The miracle wrought upon the cripple, and its effect upon those who witnessed it, stirred up their envy and led them to go to the scene of the apostles’ labor, and put their false version upon the work. They denied that God had any part in it, and claimed that it was accomplished through the demons whom these men served.” 3SP:365.
“The disappointment experienced by the idolaters in being refused the privilege of offering sacrifices to the apostles, prepared them to turn against these ministers of God with a zeal which approached that of the enthusiasm with which they had hailed them as gods. The malicious Jews did not hesitate to take full advantage of the superstition and credulity of this heathen people to carry out their cruel designs. They incited them to attack the apostles by force; and they charged them not to allow Paul and opportunity to speak, alleging that if they did so he would bewitch the people.” 3SP:366.
“Timothy had been converted through the ministration of Paul, and was an eye-witness of the sufferings of the apostle upon this occasion,” 3SP:367.
14:20: “he rose up” = “To the disciples this seemed like a resurrection from the dead, a miracle of God to preserve the life of his faithful servant. . . These disciples had been newly converted to the faith through the teachings of Paul, and had stood steadfast notwithstanding the misrepresentation and malignant persecution of the Jews. In fact, the unreasoning opposition of those wicked men had only confirmed these devoted brethren in the faith of Christ; and the restoration to life of Paul seemed to set the signet of God upon their belief.” 3SP:367.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
15:ALL: This Jerusalem letter, written in the name of the apostles and elders of Jerusalem, was an official document that reflected the ascendancy of the Jerusalem Church -- certainly because of the apostles’ leadership -- over the other Christian communities. It was written approximately in 49 A.D., which is a most probable date for the council to have taken place. That make this letter as being one of the earliest Christian documents we have.
15:6: “apostles and elders came together” = “The council which decided this case was composed of the founders of the Jewish and Gentile Christian Churches. Elders from Jerusalem, and deputies from Antioch, were present; and the most influential Churches were represented. The council did not claim infallibility in their deliberations, but moved from the dictates of enlightened judgment, and with the dignity of a Church established by the Divine Will.” 3SP:376.
15:7: “disputing” = The Greek is “suzetesis,” which literally means, “to stand against; to argue vehemently.” This can be better seen by its use in Acts 15:2. This translation of mine goes against Strong’s & Thayer’s breakdown of the Greek word, who make it a watered-down interpretation as, inquire; reason together; questioning.” They are ignoring the feverishness of the situation and people standing up for what they believe in.
15:10: “yoke” = Our Lord, Who instituted these Laws, did not make Them a yoke on His people. Instead, over the years, some of the leaders had through their oral traditions turned many of God’s Laws from the blessings they were meant to be by God, into burdens. The council at Jerusalem sought to change that and spare their Gentile brethren from these unnecessary burdens.
“This yoke was not the Law of Ten Commandments, as some who oppose the binding claims of the Law assert; Peter here referred to the Law of Ceremonies, which was made null and void by the crucifixion of Christ.” 3SP:374; AA:194.
15:13: “James answered” = This is very clear that James is the leader of this counsel. Other verses that show this to be the case are Acts 12:17; 21:18; Galatians 2:9 (mentioned first; typical of Jewish authority); Galatians 2:12.
15:16: “the Tabernacle of David” = This is not Solomon’s temple, for that was the religious Sanctuary. This is the governing “Tabernacle of David.”
15:19: “my sentence is” = “James, in this instance, seems to have been chosen to decide the matter which was brought before the council. It was his sentence that the Ceremonial Law, and especially the ordinance of circumcision, be not in any wise urged upon the Gentiles, or even recommended to them. James sought to impress the fact upon his brethren that the Gentiles, in turning to God from idolatry, made a great change in their faith; and that much caution should be used not to trouble their minds with perplexing and doubtful questions, lest they be discouraged in following Christ.
“The Gentiles, however, were to take no course which should materially conflict with the views of their Jewish brethren, or which would create prejudice in their minds against them.” 3SP:375.
“The Jewish Christians living within sight of the temple naturally allowed their minds to revert to the peculiar privileges of the Jews as a nation. When they saw the Christian Church departing from the ceremonies and traditions of Judaism, and perceived that the peculiar sacredness with which the Jewish customs had been invested would soon be lost sight of in the light of the new faith, many grew indignant with Paul as the one who had, in a large measure, caused this change. Even the disciples were not all prepared to accept willingly the decision of the council. Some were zealous for the ceremonial law, and they regarded Paul with disfavor because they thought that his principles in regard to the obligations of the Jewish law were lax.” AA:197.
15:20: “things strangled, and from blood” = “. . . the Gentiles were accustomed to eat the flesh of animals that had been strangled; while the Jews had been Divinely instructed with regard to the food they should use. They were particular, in killing beasts, that the blood should flow from the body, else it was not regarded as healthful meat. God had given these injunctions to the Jews for the purpose of preserving their health and strength. The Jews considered it sinful to use blood as an article of diet. They considered that the blood was the life; that the shedding of blood was in consequence of sin, and was a sacred emblem of the Son of God.” 3SP:371.
And they are right in doing so; such that they still practice this today with their “Kosher Meat” shops.
“[371] The Gentiles, on the contrary, practiced catching the blood which flowed from the victim of [372] sacrifice, and drinking it, or using it in the preparation of their food. The Jews could not change the customs which they had so long observed, and which they had adopted under the special direction of God. Therefore, as things then stood, if Jew and Gentile came to eat at the same table, the former would be shocked and outraged by the habits and manners of the latter.” 3SP:371-372.
15:29: “meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication” = In regards to “meats offered to idols,” see Exodus 34:15. In regards to “blood” and “strangled,” see Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 7:24; 17:15; 22:8; Ezekiel 4:14; 44:31; which speak of not eating animals “torn,” “strangled,” or lying [already] dead; see also Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; 7:26; 17:10, 14; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23; First Samuel 14:32-33. Thus, “strangled” then meaning where the blood has not been properly drained out making it unacceptable to then be eaten. Also, according to the verses I have given you it was acceptable for animals but not for humans. See my Bible Study, “DIET, DINNING GOD’S WAY.”
“fornication” = Studies have shown that the four precepts of the apostolic decree are drawn from Leviticus, Chapters 17 and 18. In the light of this fact “porneia,” translated “fornication,” mean “harlotry,” and in actuality refers to unlawful marriages to close relatives discussed at length in Leviticus 18:6-18.
15:38: “Paul thought not good to take him [Mark] with them, who departed from them” = “Unused to hardships, he was disheartened by the perils and privations of the way. He had labored with success under favorable circumstances; but now, amidst the opposition and perils that so often beset the pioneer worker, he failed to endure hardness as a good soldier of the cross. He had yet to learn to face danger and persecution and adversity with a brave heart. As the apostles advanced, and still greater difficulties were apprehended, Mark was intimidated and, losing all courage, refused to go farther and returned to Jerusalem.” AA:169.3.
15:39: “the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark” According to Galatians 2:13 this “contention” may have been brewing for a while with Paul because of Barnabas’ own lack of character when needed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
16:3: “circumcised him because of the Jews” = “Paul, with his usual good judgment, caused Timothy to be circumcised; not that God required it, but in order to remove from the minds of the Jews an obstacle to Timothy’s ministration. Paul was to labor from place to place in the synagogues, and there to preach Christ. If his companion should be known as an uncircumcised heathen, the work of both would be greatly hindered by the prejudice and bigotry of the people. The apostle everywhere met a storm of persecution. He desired to bring the Jews to Christianity, and sought, as far as was consistent with the faith, to remove every pretext for opposition. Yet while he conceded this much to Jewish prejudice, his faith and teachings declared that circumcision or uncircumcision was nothing, but the gospel of Christ was everything {1Co. 7:19}.” 3SP:379; AA:204.
16:6-7: “and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. . . Bithynia” = It is not that the Holy Spirit did not want these people to hear the Gospel; for we are to note that Peter later ministered to these areas (see 1Pe. 1:1). Apparently, they were not yet ready to accept the Gospel, or “Macedonia,” verses 9 & 10, was more urgent as this time.
16:9: “Macedonia” = Which today we know as the country of Greece.
16:10: “we” = It has been noted by Bible Scholars that Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, uses “they” (see verses 6, 7, & 8, and others previous to this verse) previous to this verse, then he includes himself here. Thus it is thought that this is the place where Paul met Luke. Being a “physician,” Luke most likely treated Paul, becoming acquainted with him, then deciding to follow him.
16:13: “by the river side” = Due to this statement it is reasoned that there was no Synagogue in Philippi at this time. The rule is that there must be at least ten Jewish men in a city in order for a Synagogue to be constructed.
16:14: “purple” = Lydia must have been very wealthy, for the process of obtaining “purple” was very costly and time consuming. From my Bible Study under SDA’s and Sanctuary called, “THE TABERNACLE’S SECOND VAIL” we read: The color “purple” was produced from a secretion of the purple snail (murex). Purple, in Bible times, was the color used for royalty, and Christ is well qualified to present us with His royalty that He deserved of the Deity that He both represented (His Father) and was (the Son). Jesus was born from the kingly line of David (Luke 1:32), born a king (Mat. 2:2), mocked as a King (Mat. 27:29), declared to be a King at His crucifixion (Mat. 27:37), is Coming back as King of kings (Rev. 19:16), and will rule as a King forever and ever (Luke 1:33).
16:17: “The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying” = “Satan knew that his kingdom was being invaded, and he resorted to this means of opposing the work of God, hoping to mingle his sophistry with the truths taught by those who were proclaiming the gospel message. The words of recommendation uttered by this woman were an injury to the cause of truth, distracting the minds of the people from the teachings of the apostles, and bringing disrepute upon the gospel; and buy them many were led to believe that the men who spoke with the Spirit and power of God were actuated by the same spirit as this emissary of Satan.” AA:212.
16:24: “their feet fast in the stocks” = “The apostles were left in a very painful condition. Their lacerated and bleeding backs were in contact with the rough stone floor, while their feet were elevated and bound fast in the stocks. In this unnatural position they suffered extreme torture;” 3SP:381.
“Paul and Silas suffered the loss of all things. They suffered scourging, and were in no gentle manner thrown upon the cold floor of a dungeon in a most painful position, their feet elevated and fastened in the stocks.” RH. December 15, 1874.
16:25: “prayed, and sang praises” = “[381] There, in the pitchy darkness and desolation of the dungeon, Paul and Silas prayed, and sung songs of praise to God. The other prisoners heard with astonishment the voice of prayer and praise issuing from the inner prison. They had been accustomed to hear shrieks and moans, [382] cursing and swearing, breaking at night upon the silence of the prison; but they had never before heard the words of prayer and praise ascending from that gloomy cell. The guards and prisoners marveled who were these men, who, cold, hungry, and tortured, could still rejoice and converse cheerfully with each other.” 3SP:381-382.
16:26: “a great earthquake” = “An angel was sent from Heaven to release the apostles. As he neared the Roman prison, the earth trembled beneath his feet, the whole city was shaken by the earthquake, and the prison walls reeled like a reed in the wind.” 3SP:382.
SDA’s: Here is the changed and improved version: “All Heaven was interested in the men who were suffering for Christ’s sake, and angels {SINCE IN THEIR VERSION ONE ANGEL CANNOT HANDLE AN EARTHQUAKE} were sent to visit the prison. At their tread the earth trembled.” AA:215.
“every one’s bands were loosed” = “The apostles might have fled when the earthquake opened their prison doors, and loosened their fetters; but that would have been an acknowledgment that they were criminals, which would have been a disgrace to the gospel of Christ; the jailer would have been exposed to the penalty of death, and the general influence would have been bad. As it was, Paul controlled the liberated prisoners so perfectly that not one attempted to escape.” 3SP:386.
16:27: “would have killed himself” = Here is my Judges 9:54 Note: The Romans and the Greeks were sanguine about suicide. They believed that the human body belonged to the gods. Thus, killing oneself was an offence against them. They were not far off from the truth.
16:30: “what must I do to be saved” = “He [the jailer] saw the light of Heaven mirrored in their countenances; he knew that God had interposed in a miraculous manner to save their lives; and the words of the woman possessed by the power of divination came to his mind with peculiar force: ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation.’ ” 3SP:384.
“[294] In a genuine revival, when the Spirit of God convicts the [295] conscience, the earnest, anxious inquiry will be heard, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ ” 4SP:294-295.
16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” = Let us not build a doctrine upon one verse. The same man (Paul) who said this, also said in the Book of Romans alone: 2:13; 3:31; 4:15; 7:16 & 22 & 25; 8:4 & 7; 9:9; i.e., “Obey and live.”
Consider the next verse, where “they spake unto him the Word of the Lord,” verse 32. What is “the Word of the Lord” other than teaching him to observe all things which our Lord has Commanded?
The true meaning is that now the persons in the jailer’s household would be responsible to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” since the jailer would now be introducing this new doctrine to them. This principle can be observed by seeing Acts 10:2, and even more so by seeing Acts 11:14. However, the next verse (32) then tells us that Paul and Silas then went to the Jailers “house” and “spake unto him {them} the Word of the Lord.” If the jailers “house” was already “saved,” then Paul and Silas did not have to go preach to them in order for them to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” But apparently their teaching was needed and accepted by the jailer’s “house” by the testimony we have in verses 33-34. Another place where this took place is also recorded in Acts 18:7-8.
“We can have the salvation of God in our families, but we must believe for it, live for it, and have a continual abiding faith and trust in God.” RH, April 22, 1862.
16:33: “was baptized” = Note the action taken once belief in Christ was achieved. See my Bible Study: “
16:35: “the magistrates” = “Meanwhile the magistrates had returned to their homes congratulating themselves upon having quelled a tumult, by their prompt and decisive measures. But upon their way home they heard more fully concerning the character and work of the men whom they had sentenced to scourging and imprisonment. They also saw the woman who had been freed from Satanic influence, and who had been a very troublesome subject to them. They were sensibly struck by the change in her countenance and demeanor. She had become quiet, peaceful, and possessed of her right mind. They were indignant with themselves when they discovered that, in all probability, they had visited upon two innocent men the rigorous penalty of the Roman law against the worst criminals. They decided that in the morning they would command them to be privately released, and escorted in safety from the city beyond the danger of violence from the mob.” 3SP:382.
16:40: “and departed” = “The news of their unjust imprisonment, and miraculous deliverance, was noised about through all that region, and brought the apostles and their ministry before the notice of a large number who would not otherwise have been reached. Christianity was placed upon a high plane, and the converts to the faith were greatly strengthened.
“Thus we have the establishment of the Church at Philippi under peculiar circumstances, and Its numbers steadily increased. Among them were men of wealth and influence, whose noble generosity and ready sympathy were ever on the side of right. They often came to the aid of the apostles in their affliction and pecuniary necessity.” 3SP:386.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
17:1-2: “they came to Thessalonica” = “After leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas made their way to Thessalonica. Here they were given the privilege of addressing large congregations in the Jewish synagogue. Their appearance bore evidence of the shameful treatment they had recently received, and necessitated an explanation of what had taken place.” AA:221.
17:3: “Christ must needs have suffered” = “He needed no suffering to atone for Himself. His was a depth of suffering, proportionate to the dignity of His person, and His sinless exalted character.” NL:133.
17:5: “assaulted the house of Jason” = As the saying goes: “If you can’t speak loudly with truth, you have to use violence.”
“When the Jews saw that the apostles were successful in obtaining large congregations; that many were accepting their doctrines -- among them the leading women of the city, and multitudes of Gentiles -- they were filled with envy and jealousy. These Jews were not then in favor with the Roman power, because they had raised an insurrection in the metropolis not long previous to this time. They were regarded with suspicion, and their liberty was, in a measure, restricted. They now saw an opportunity to take advantage of circumstances to re-establish themselves in favor, and, at the same time, to throw reproach upon the apostles, and the converts to Christianity.
“This they set about doing by representing that the leaders in the new doctrine were raising a tumult among the people. They accordingly excited the passions of the worthless mob by cunningly devised falsehoods, and incited them to make an uproarious assault upon the house of Jason, the temporary home of the apostles.” 3SP:390.
“Those who will not themselves accept the truth are most zealous that others shall not receive it; and those are not wanting who perseveringly manufacture falsehoods, and stir up the base passions of the people to make the truth of God of none effect.” 3SP:392.
17:10: “sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea” = That would be about 45 miles away.
17:11: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica” = “In the presentation of the truth, those who honestly desire to be right will be awakened to a diligent searching of the Scriptures. . . God will judge all according to the light which has been presented to them, whether it is plain to them or not. It is their duty to investigate as did the Bereans.” 3SP:393.
17:15: “they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens” = This would be about 140 miles away. Therefore, “they” most probably took him there very ship. Today, Athens is the capital of Greece.
“[395] The city of Athens was the metropolis of heathendom. Paul did not here meet with an ignorant, credulous populace, as at Lystra; but he encountered a people famous for their intelligence and education. Statues of their gods and the deified heroes of history and poetry met the eye in every direction; while magnificent architecture and paintings also represented the national glory and the popular worship of heathen deities.
“[396] The senses of the people were entranced by the beauty and glory of art. Sanctuaries and temples, involving untold expense, reared their lofty forms on every hand. Victories of arms, and deeds of celebrated men, were commemorated by sculptures, shrines, and tablets. All these things made this renowned city like a vast gallery of art. And as Paul looked upon the beauty and grandeur surrounding him, and saw the city crowded with idols, his spirit was stirred with jealousy for God, whom he saw dishonored on every side.
“His heart was drawn out in deep pity for the [396] citizens of that grand metropolis, who, notwithstanding their intellectual greatness, were given to idolatry.” 3SP:395-396
17:16-17: “when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. [17] Therefore disputed he” = THIS IS THE ENTIRE REASON FOR THE WRITING OF ALL OF MY BIBLE STUDIES AND COMMENTARIES. “I am For Truth And Against Error.”
“But the principal work of Paul in that city was to deal with paganism.” 3SP:397.
17:18: “certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him” = According to “John Gill’s Exposition Of The Bible,” these people believed in Evolution: “These were so called from Epicurus, the son of Neocles, who was born 342 years before Christ, and taught philosophy at Athens, in his garden; the principal tenets of which were, that the world was not made by any deity, or with any design, but came into its being and form, through a fortuitous concourse of atoms, of various sizes and magnitude, which met, and jumbled, and cemented together, and so formed the world; and that the world is not governed by the providence of God; for though he did not deny the being of God, yet he thought it below his notice, and beneath his majesty to concern himself with its affairs; and also, that the chief happiness of men lies in pleasure.”
The Epicurean philosophy was “To seek out pleasure wherever you can find it; Whatever brings pleasure, do it.” The Stoick philosophy was, “To know your duty and to do the right thing.” The “right thing” however, was based upon whatever was acceptable within society of that time. Next year it could be different.
“His heathen opponents called his attention to the fate of Socrates, who, because he was a setter forth of strange gods, had been condemned to death; and they counseled Paul not to endanger his life in the same way.” AA:236; VSS:370.
“What will this babbler say” = “The Stoics and the Epicureans encountered him; but they, and all others who came in contact with him, soon saw that he had a store of knowledge even greater than their own. His intellectual power commanded the respect and attention of the more intellectual and learned; while his earnest, logical reasoning, and his power of oratory, held the promiscuous audience. Thus the apostle stood undaunted, meeting his opposers on their own ground, matching logic with logic, and philosophy with philosophy.” 3SP:398.
17:19: “Areopagus” = Known even today as, “Mars’ Hill.”
17:21: “spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” = I perceive that even today there are more things said than done.
17:22: “Mars’ hill” = “The judges sat in the open air, upon seats hewn out in the rock, on a platform which was ascended by a flight of stone steps from the valley below. At a little distance was a temple of the gods; and the sanctuaries, statues, and altars of the city were in full view.” 3SP:399.
“Here, away from the noise and bustle of crowded thoroughfares, and the tumult of promiscuous discussion, the apostle could be heard without interruption; for the frivolous, thoughtless class of society did not care to follow him to this place of highest reverence. Around him here were gathered poets, artists, and philosophers,--the scholars and sages of Athens,” 3SP:399.
17:25: “as though he needed any thing” = What are you going to give to God that He made (made everything)?
17:26: “hath made of one blood” = “In that age of caste, when the rights of men were often unrecognized, Paul set forth the great truth of human brotherhood, declaring that God ‘hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.’ In the sight of God all are on an equality.” AA:238.
17:28: “as certain also of your own poets have said” = Here is an EXCELLENT EVANGELISTIC TOOL. First, know your audience. Second, get to know their culture on a personal basis. As a professional fisherman taught me, “If you are going to go fishing, first you have to go where there is water. Second, you have to learn where the fish like to hang out. Third, you have to understand the water conditions at that time.”
“His words could not be controverted. He showed himself familiar with their works of art, their literature, and their religion. Pointing to their statuary and idols, he declared to them that God could not be likened to forms of man’s device.” 3SP:400; LP:94.
17:29: “offspring of God” = Mormons use this verse to teach that God had sex with some woman of His choosing and that is how we came to be. See how the Word of God needs to be spiritually understood? We are “offspring[s] of God” only in the sense that when we become believers we become “sons of God.” See my Bible Study: THE TRUE SONS OF GOD.” However, we are all “offspring of God” in that He is our Creator. Malachi 2:10 states this fact: “Have we not all one Father? Hath not One God created us?”
“Godhead” = Note the word “Godhead” and Paul’s use of it. Paul used the Greek term, “to theion,” meaning, the “Divine [nature of the] Godhead,” most likely in an effort to get back behind all their notions of various gods to the real true nature of God.
17:30: “the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now” = When is “now” for you? The Greek for “winked” is “G5237; hupereido,” meaning, “to overlook.”
“The people were carried away with admiration of Paul’s eloquence. The Epicureans began to breathe more freely, believing that he was strengthening their position, that everything had its origin in blind chance; and that certain ruling principles controlled the universe. But his next sentence brought a cloud to their brows. He asserted the creative power of God, and the existence of His overruling providence.” 3SP:401.
17:31: “raised Him from the dead” = “As Paul spoke of the resurrection from the dead, ‘some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.’
“Thus closed the labors of the apostle at Athens, the center of heathen learning, for the Athenians, clinging persistently to their idolatry, turned from the light of the true religion. When a people are wholly satisfied with their own attainments, little more need be expected of them.” 3SP:402.
“Had his oration been a direct attack upon their gods and the great men of the city, he would have been in danger of meeting the fate of Socrates. But with a tact born of Divine Love, he carefully drew their minds away from heathen deities, by revealing to them the true God, Who was to them unknown, as they themselves confessed by a public inscription.” 3SP:403; AA:241.
“Many who listened to the words of Paul were convinced of the truths presented, but they would not humble themselves to acknowledge God, and to accept the plan of salvation. No eloquence of words, no force of argument, can convert the sinner. The Spirit and power of God can alone apply the truth to the heart of the impenitent.” 3SP:402.
“In their pride of intellect and human wisdom may be found the reason why the gospel message met with so little success among that people.” 3SP:402.
“[239] Among those who listened to the words of Paul were some to whose minds the truths presented brought conviction, [240] but they would not humble themselves to acknowledge God and to accept the plan of salvation. No eloquence of words, no force of argument, can convert the sinner. The power of God alone can apply the truth to the heart. He who persistently turns from this power cannot be reached.” AA:239-240.
17:34: “Dionysius the Areopagite” = Dionysius is specifically mentioned because of her possible further influence. She was among those who came to believe along with some of the most influential people of Athenian society. She was a member of the Areopagus, whose mention by name implies she was of some status, if not also a member of the council herself.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
18:1: “Athens, and came to Corinth” = Which is about 41 miles of travel via ship and land.
“Paul did not wait at Athens for his brethren, Silas and Timothy, but leaving word for them to follow him, went at once to Corinth. Here he entered upon a different field of labor from that which he had left. Instead of the curious and critical disciples of schools of philosophy, he came in contact with the busy, changing population of a great center of commerce. Greeks, Jews, and Romans, with travelers from every land, mingled in its crowded streets, eagerly intent on business and pleasure, and having little thought or care beyond the affairs of the present life.
“[404] Corinth was one of the leading cities, not only of Greece, but of the world. Situated upon a narrow neck of land between two seas, it commanded the trade of both the east and the west. Its position was almost impregnable. A vast citadel of rock, rising abruptly and perpendicularly from the plain to the height of two thousand feet above the level of the sea, was a strong natural defense to the city and its two sea-ports. Corinth was now more prosperous than Athens, which had once taken the lead. Both had experienced severe vicissitudes; but the former had risen from her ruins, and was far in advance of her former prosperity, while the latter had not reached to her past magnificence. Athens was the acknowledged center of art and learning; Corinth, the seat of government and trade.
“This large mercantile city was in direct communication with Rome, while Thessalonica, Ephesus, [405] Alexandria, and Antioch were all easy of access, either by land or water. An opportunity was thus presented for the spread of the gospel. Once established at Corinth, it would be readily communicated to all parts of the world.
“Yet the apostle saw on every hand serious obstacles to the progress of his work. The city was almost wholly given up to idolatry. Venus was the favorite goddess; and a great number or dissolute women were employed in connection with the worship of this reigning deity, for the purpose of attracting the devotees of popular vice. The Corinthians had become conspicuous, even among the heathen, for their gross immorality.
“There was now a much larger number of Jews in Corinth than at any previous time. This people had been generally favored by the ruling powers. and treated with much consideration. But for some time they had been growing arrogant and insubordinate, and after they had rejected and crucified Christ, the Light of the World, they followed their own darkened understanding, manifested more openly their envy and hatred of the powers that governed them, and proudly boasted of a king of the Jews who was to come with great power, overthrow their enemies, and establish a magnificent kingdom. It was in view of this vague belief that they had rejected the Saviour. The same malignant spirit that actuated them in their persecution of the Son of God led them to rebel against the Roman government. They were continually creating seditions and insurrections, until they were finally driven from Rome because of their turbulent spirit. Many of them found refuge in Corinth.” 3SP:404-405.
18:2: “Aquila. . . Priscilla” = Aquila and Priscilla would become Paul’s lifelong friends (Rom. 16:3; 2Ti. 4:19). The account implies that they were already Christians when they came to Corinth, probably because of the deportation of Jews from Rome by the Emperor Claudius. Roman historian Suetonius seems to indicate that the deportation occurred due to disturbances in the Jewish community associated with the name of “Christ,” Claudius 25.4, which would perhaps have been the result of the preaching of the Gospel by local Jewish believers.
18:3: “tentmakers” = “Paul worked at his trade as a tent-maker. This he was obliged to do on account of having accepted unpopular truth.” GW:163.
18:6: “he shook his raiment, and said unto them” = Paul “preached first in the synagogue, reasoning from Moses and the prophets, showing what sins the Lord had most severely punished in olden times, and that murmuring and rebellion was the grievous crime that had brought God’s displeasure upon the people of His choice.” 3SP:409.
“from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” = This is more the doing of the Holy Spirit than of Paul’s doing.
“Those who today teach unpopular truths need not be discouraged if at times they meet with no more favorable reception, even from those who claim to be Christians, than did Paul and his fellow workers from the people among whom they labored.” AA:230.
18:8: “Crispus” = Although steeped in Jewish Old Testament thought, and the Holy Spirit broke through and changed his life.
18:9: “Then spade the Lord” = Here is the reason why: “[412] Though Paul had a measure of success, yet he became very weary of the sight of his eyes and the hearing of his ears in the corrupt city of Corinth, He doubted the wisdom of building up a Church from the material he found there. He considered Corinth a very questionable field of labor, and determined to leave it. The depravity which he witnessed among the Gentiles, and the contempt and insult which he received from the Jews, caused him great anguish of spirit.
“[413] As he was contemplating leaving the city for a more promising field, and feeling very anxious to understand his duty in the case, the Lord appeared to him in a vision of the night,” 3SP:412-413.
18:11: “a year and six months” = “It is recorded that Paul labored a year and six months in Corinth. His efforts, however, were not exclusively confined to that city, but he availed himself of the easy communication by land and water with adjacent cities, and labored among them both by letter and personal effort. He made Corinth his headquarters, and his long tarry and successful ministry there gave him influence abroad as well as at home.” 3SP:415.
18:12: “Gallio” = “[414] Gallio was a man of integrity, and would not become the dupe of the jealous and intriguing Jews. Unlike Pilate, he refused to do injustice to one whom he knew to be an innocent man. The Jewish religion was under the protection of the Roman power; and the accusers of Paul thought that if they could fasten upon him the charge of violating the laws of their religion, he would probably be given into their hands for such punishment as they saw fit to inflict. They hoped thus to compass his death.
“Both Greeks and Jews had waited eagerly for the decision of Gallio; and his immediate dismissal of the case, as one that had no bearing upon the public interest, was the signal for the Jews to retire, baffled and enraged, and for the mob to assail the ruler of the synagogue. Even the ignorant rabble could but perceive the unjust and vindictive spirit which the Jews displayed in their attack upon Paul. Thus Christianity obtained a signal victory. If the apostle had been driven from Corinth [415] at this time because of the malice of the Jews, the whole community of converts to the faith of Christ would have been placed in great danger. The Jews would have endeavored to follow up the advantage gained, as was their custom, even to the extermination of Christianity in that region.” 3SP:414-415.
“Achaia” = See Second Corinthians 1:1 Note.
18:18: “Priscilla and Aquila” = Interesting the order here. In Acts 18:2 & 26 the listing is “Aquila and Priscilla.” Bible Commentators agree that Aquila was the husband and Priscilla the wife. However, Romans 16:3 and Second Timothy 4:19 also list Priscilla first. In Acts 18:26 Aquila takes the lead in instructing Apollos, as the male, or head of the family should in such instances. However, Priscilla may have been the better tent-maker, i.e., better bread winner, or the better evangelist, or better at what we are not certain, and therefore is occasionally mentioned first.
18:24: “Apollos” = “Apollos, had been disciples of John the Baptist, and like him had gained an imperfect knowledge of the life and mission of Christ.” 3SP:416.
“Ephesus” = “[415] The city of Ephesus was the capital of the province of Asia, and the great commercial center of Asia Minor. Its harbor was crowded with [416] shipping from all parts of the known world, and its streets thronged with the people of every country. It therefore presented, like Corinth, a favorable missionary field.” 3SP:415-416.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
19:1: “came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples” = “On his arrival at Ephesus, Paul found twelve brethren, who, like Apollos, had been disciples of John the Baptist, and like him had gained an imperfect knowledge of the life and mission of Christ. They had not the ability of Apollos, but with the same sincerity and faith they were seeking to spread the light which they had received.
“These disciples were ignorant of the mission of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus promised to His believing people, to be the life and power of the Church.” 3SP:416.
“. . . as Paul laid his hands upon them, they received also the baptism of the Holy Spirit, by which they were enabled to speak the languages of other nations and to prophesy. Thus these men were qualified to act as missionaries in the important field of Ephesus and its vicinity, and also from this center to spread the gospel of Christ in Asia Minor.” 3SP:417; AA:282; LP:129; RH August 31, 1911.
19:5: “they were baptized” = Note the action taken upon belief in Christ. See my Bible Study: “BAPTISM, PROPER BIBLICAL.”
“There is still another lesson for us in the experience of those Jewish converts. When they received baptism at the hand of John, they were holding serious errors. But with clearer light they gladly accepted Christ as their Redeemer; and with this advance step came a change in their obligations. As they received a purer faith, there was a corresponding change in their life and character. In token of this change, and as an acknowledgment of their faith in Christ, they were rebaptized, in the Name of Jesus.” 3SP:419.
19:12: “sick handkerchiefs” = Obviously there should be a comma (,) after “sick.” Otherwise, “by the hand of Paul,” verse 11, Paul cured “handkerchiefs or aprons.” Instead of the “sick.”
19:19: “their books” = “Facts which had previously been concealed were now brought to light. In accepting Christianity, some of the brethren had not fully renounced their heathen superstitions. The practice of magic was still to some extent continued among them. Convinced of their error by the events which had recently occurred, they came and made a full confession to Paul, and publicly acknowledged their secret arts to be deceptive and Satanic. Many sorcerers also abjured the practice of magic, and received Christ as their Saviour. They brought together the costly books containing the mysterious ‘Ephesian letters,’ and the secrets of their art, and burned them in the presence of all the people. . .
“Those treatises on divination contained rules and forms of communication with evil spirits. They were the regulations of the worship of Satan, -- directions for soliciting his help and obtaining information from him. By retaining these books, the disciples would have exposed themselves to temptation; by selling them they would have placed temptation in the way of others. They had renounced the kingdom of darkness, and they did not hesitate at any sacrifice to destroy its power.” 3SP:425.
19:24: “shrines for Diana” = “[421] The idol enshrined in this sumptuous edifice was a rude, uncouth image, declared by tradition to have fallen from the sky {verse 35}. Upon it were [422] inscribed mystic characters and symbols, which were believed to possess great power. When pronounced, they were said to accomplish wonders. When written, they were treasured as a potent charm to guard their possessor from robbers, from disease, and even from death. Numerous and costly books were written by the Ephesians to explain the meaning and use of these symbols.” 3SP:421-422.
19:27: “this our craft is in danger” = In other words, their livelihood, their source of income.
“The heathen oracles have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the clairvoyants, and fortune-tellers of today. The mystic voices that spoke at Endor and Ephesus, are still by their lying words misleading the children of men. {{ADDED IN AA:290; FLB:319.2; LP:139; RH, September 7, 1911 par. 15: Could the veil be lifted from before our eyes, we should see evil angels employing all their arts to deceive and to destroy.}} The mysteries of heathen worship are replaced by the secret associations and seances, the obscurities and wonders, of the sorcerers of our time. Their disclosures are eagerly received by thousands who refuse to accept light from God’s Word or from His Spirit. While they speak with scorn of the magicians of old, the great deceiver laughs in triumph as they yield to his arts in a different form.” 3SP:426.
“The month of May was specially devoted to the worship of the goddess of Ephesus. The universal honor in which this deity was held, the magnificence of her temple and her worship, attracted an immense concourse of people from all parts of the province of Asia. Throughout the entire month the festivities were conducted with the utmost pomp and splendor. The gods were represented by persons chosen for the purpose, who were regarded as objects of worship, and were honored by processions, sacrifices, and libations. Musical contests, the feats of athletes, and the fierce combats of men and beasts, drew admiring crowds to the vast theaters. The officers chosen to conduct this grand celebration were the men of highest distinction in the chief cities of Asia. They were also persons of vast wealth, for in return for the honor of their position, they were expected to defray the entire expense of the occasion. The whole city was a scene of brilliant display and wild revelry. Imposing processions swept to the grand temple. The air rung with sounds of joy. The people gave themselves up to feasting, drunkenness, and the vilest debauchery.
“[428] This gala season was a trying occasion to the disciples who had newly come to the faith. The company of believers who met in the school of Tyrannus were an inharmonious note in the festive chorus. Ridicule, reproach, and insult were freely heaped upon them. By the labors of Paul at Ephesus, the heathen worship had received a telling blow. There was a perceptible [429] falling-off in attendance at the national festival, and in the enthusiasm of the worshipers. The influence of his teachings extended far beyond the actual converts to the faith. Many who had not openly accepted the new doctrines, became so far enlightened as to lose all confidence in heathen gods. The presence of Paul in the city called special attention to this fact, and curses loud and deep were uttered against him.
“Another cause of dissatisfaction existed. It had long been customary among heathen nations to make use of small images or shrines to represent their favorite objects of worship. Portable statues were modeled after the great image of Diana, and were widely circulated in the countries along the shores of the Mediterranean. Models of the temple which enshrined the idol were also eagerly sought. Both were regarded as objects of worship, and were carried at the head of processions, and on journeys and military expeditions. An extensive and profitable business had grown up at Ephesus from the manufacture and sale of these shrines and images.
“Those who were interested in this branch of industry found their gains diminishing. All united in attributing the unwelcome change to Paul’s labors.” 3SP:428-429.
“These words reveal the real cause of the tumult at Ephesus, and also the cause of much of the persecution which followed the apostles in their work. Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen saw that by the teaching and spread of the Gospel the business of image making was endangered. The income of pagan priests and artisans was at stake, and for this reason they aroused against Paul the most bitter opposition.” AA:295.1.
19:33: “Alexander” = “From the fact that Paul and some of his companions were of Hebrew extraction, the Jews felt that odium was cast upon them, and that their own safety might be endangered. Wishing it to be understood that they had no sympathy with the Christians, they thrust forward one of their own number to set the matter before the people. The speaker chosen was Alexander, one of the craftsmen, a coppersmith, to whom Paul afterward referred as having done him much evil. Alexander was a man of considerable ability, and he bent all his energies to direct the wrath of the people exclusively against Paul and his companions. But the crowd were in no mood to make nice distinctions.” 3SP:431.
19:35: “when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said” = “God had raised up a great magistrate to vindicate His apostle, and hold the tumultuous mob in check.” 3SP:433.
19:37: “churches” = Paul would not have used this word. It should be translated as “Temples.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
20:7: “upon the first day of the week” = The literal Greek works out to be, “Upon one day after Sabbath,” for the Greek for “week” is, “G4521; Sabbaton.”
Let us NOT build a new doctrine here. See my Bible Study: “SABBATH, WHICH DAY.” In fact, if you are going to build a new doctrine on changing the Biblical Sabbath Day to Sunday because Paul here “break[s] bread” upon “the first day of the week,” then you are going to have to also have a new Sabbath Day on Sunday (see below; better Monday by your false reckoning), because Paul again “had broken bread,” in verse 11 – WHICH WOULD BE ON MONDAY. Based upon your new doctrine of changing the Biblical Sabbath Law, you now need to keep holy two days; Sunday and Monday; if you are going to use this verse to justify your claims.
“continued his speech until midnight” = Remember, the Biblical days begin at sunset. Therefore, this would be Sunday (see above).
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
21:15: “went up to Jerusalem” = Obviously Jerusalem would be South. In Western thinking, the directional form of “up” would mean North, while the directional form of “down” would be South. However, in Paul’s world “up” constituted “uphill,” for Jerusalem was higher than this sea-coast city.
21:21: “thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses” = It is important to note here that they were accusing Paul of teaching this, not that he was teaching this. See may verse 25 Note.
“This was the golden opportunity for all the leading brethren to confess frankly that God had wrought through Paul, and that at times they had erred in permitting the reports of his enemies to arouse their jealousy and prejudice. But instead of uniting in an effort to do justice to the one who had been injured, they gave him counsel which showed that they still cherished a feeling that Paul should be held largely responsible for the existing prejudice. They did not stand nobly in his defense, endeavoring to show the disaffected ones where they were wrong, but sought to effect a compromise by counseling him to pursue a course which in their opinion would remove all cause for misapprehension.” AA:403.1.
“[404] The brethren hoped that Paul, by following the course suggested, might give a decisive contradiction to the false reports concerning him. They assured him that the decision of the former council concerning the Gentile converts and the ceremonial law, still held good. But the advice now given was not consistent with that decision. The Spirit of God did not prompt this instruction; it was the fruit of cowardice. The leaders of the church in Jerusalem knew that by non-conformity to the ceremonial law, Christians would bring upon themselves the hatred of the Jews, and expose themselves to persecution. . . [405]
“Many of the Jews who had accepted the Gospel were only too willing to make unwise concessions, hoping thus to gain the confidence of their countrymen, to remove their prejudice, and to win them to faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer. Paul realized that so long as many of the leading members of the church at Jerusalem should continue to cherish prejudice against him, they would work constantly to counteract his influence. He felt that if by any reasonable concession he could win them to the truth, he would remove a great obstacle to the success of the Gospel in other places. But he was not authorized of God to concede as much as they asked. When we think of Paul’s great desire to be in harmony with his brethren, his tenderness toward the weak in the faith, his reverence for the apostles who had been with Christ, and for James, the brother of the Lord, and his purpose to become all things to all men so far as he could without sacrificing principle, -- when we think of all this, it is less surprising that he was constrained to deviate from the firm, decided course that he had hitherto followed. But instead of accomplishing the desired object, his efforts for conciliation only precipitated the crisis, hastened his predicted sufferings, and resulted in separating him from his brethren, depriving the Church of one of its strongest pillars,” AA:404-405.
“[417] Had the leaders in the Church fully surrendered their feeling of bitterness toward the apostle, and accepted him as one specially called of God to bear the gospel to the Gentiles, the Lord would have spared him to them. God had not ordained that Paul’s labors should so soon end; but He did not work a miracle to counteract the train of circumstances to which the course of the leaders in the church at Jerusalem had given rise. The same spirit is still leading to the same results. A neglect to appreciate and improve the provisions of divine grace, has deprived the church of many a blessing. How often would the Lord have prolonged the work of some faithful minister, had his labors been appreciated. But if the church permits the enemy of souls to pervert the understanding, so that they misrepresent and misinterpret the words and acts of the servant of Christ; if they allow themselves to stand in his way and hinder his usefulness, the Lord sometimes removes from them the blessing which He gave. [418]
“Satan is constantly working through his agents to dishearten and destroy these whom God has chosen to accomplish a great and good work. They may be ready to sacrifice even life itself for the advancement of the cause of Christ, yet the great deceiver will suggest to their integrity of character, and thus cripple their usefulness. Too often he succeeds in bringing upon them, through their own brethren, such sorrow of heart that God graciously interposes to give His persecuted servants rest. After the hands are folded upon the pulseless breast, when the voice of warning and encouragement is silent, then the obdurate may be aroused to see and prize the blessings they have cast from them. Their death may accomplish that which their life has failed to do.” AA:417-418.
21:25: “that they observe no such thing” = Ignoring the argument that this statement is not in the original Manuscripts (because it is), we must understand that this is only an accusation that Paul was teaching this stuff, and that it was not necessarily a true accusation. Moving on then, “What stuff,” “What, ‘no such thing?’ ” Those “things” he was accused of teaching is found in verse 21, “to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise theirchildren, neither to walk after the customs.”
Remember, the main point to recognize is that Paul was only (falsely) “accused” of teaching these things. Further Bible study of what Paul actually teaches would need to be applied before you believe this is what he was teaching. An example would be verse 24, where we are told that Paul (if I can interject here) continued to “keepest the Law.” And Paul states in Romans 7:25, “I myself serve the Law of God;” and many other such statements like that by Paul.
21:26: “purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification” = At that time Jewish (law) tradition stipulated that any person coming from Gentile lands would be unclean and so unable to enter the temple. This is why Paul had to purify himself before going to the priests to give notice of his purification process related to the Nazirite (then) laws. Their purpose was accomplished (verse 31).
“By the Jewish law it was a crime punishable with death for an uncircumcised person to enter the inner courts of the sacred edifice. Paul had been seen in the city in company with Trophimus {verse 29}, an Ephesian, and it was conjectured that he had brought him into the temple. This he had not done; and being himself a Jew, his act in entering the temple was no violation of the law. But though the charge was wholly false, it served to arouse the popular prejudice. As the cry was taken up and borne through the temple courts, the throngs gathered there were thrown into wild excitement.” AA:407.
21:28: “further brought Greeks also into the temple” = It was well known that along the wall that separated the outer court from the inner court there were signs in Greek and Latin warning Gentile visitors not to enter any farther in, otherwise they would be personally responsible for their ensuing death. The troublemakers were thus ensuring that Paul was an accessory to the fact (lie) and should thus be killed.
Paul, by asking to speak to the crowd, would have worked out, for no one can argue with your own testimony (Acts, Chapter 22:1-21, a well-used instrument in evangelism of unbelievers). However, his testimony about being, as directed from our Lord (Acts 22:14), a “witness unto all men,” Acts 22:15, said to the Jewish rioters that he was confirming the truth of their charges against him about bringing “Greeks also into the temple,” and therefore they were able to rile up the crowd against him again (Acts 22:22).
21:40: “spake to them in the Hebrew tongue” = From “Thayer’s Definition:” “Hebrew, the Hebrew language, not that however in which the OT was written but the Chaldee, which at the time of Jesus and the apostles had long superseded it in Palestine.” And the “Chaldee” he refers to is what we would consider to be the Aramaic language. Aramaic was a common language spoken in New Testament times along with Greek.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
22:1: “hear ye my defense” = The Greek for “defense” is, “apologia,” and it is from this word and Paul’s “defense” from which we get the concept of “Christian Apologetics.”
22:2: “Hebrew tongue” = See my Acts 21:40 Note.
22:9: “heard not the voice” = See my Acts 9:7 Note.
22:28: “I was free born” = From “Albert Barn’s Notes on the Bible” we read: “Pliny says (Act_21:27) that it was a free city. Appian says that it was endowed with the privileges of a free city by Augustus Caesar after it had been greatly afflicted and oppressed by wars. Dio Chrysost. says to the people of Tarsus, ‘He (Augustus) has conferred on you everything which anyone could bestow on his friends and companions, a country (that is, a free country), laws, honor, authority over the river (Cydranus) and the neighboring sea.’ Free cities were permitted in the Roman empire to use their own laws, customs, and magistrates, and they were free from being subject to Roman guards. They were required only to acknowledge the supremacy and authority of the Roman people, and to aid them in their wars. Such a city was Tarsus; and, having been born there, Paul was entitled to these privileges of a free man.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
23:5: “I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest” = This brings up two possibilities for me. One, that due to Paul’s poor eyesight, he did not recognize the clothing of the high priest, or the high priest was not wearing the proper cloths, which leads me to my second concept, in that the high priest was not acting like a high priest, because a high priest would not have a man smitten without a trial, and because of this act, Paul did not recognize him as standing in the position of authority (as high priest).
23:19: “by the hand” = This would be “Paul’s sister’s son,” verse 16, meaning Paul’s nephew. The fact that his nephew was taken “by the hand” indicates that this lad was still a teenager.
It must be realized that, “Had the leaders in the Church fully surrendered their feeling of bitterness toward the apostle, and accepted him as one specially called of God to bear the gospel to the Gentiles, the Lord would have spared him to them. God had not ordained that Paul’s labors should so soon end, but He did not work a miracle to counteract the train of circumstances to which the course of the leaders in the Church at Jerusalem had given rise.
“The same spirit is still leading to the same results. A neglect to appreciate and improve the provisions of Divine grace has deprived the Church of many a blessing. How often would the Lord have prolonged the work of some faithful minister, had his labors been appreciated!” AA:417.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
24:13: “Neither can they prove the things” = Paul could have just called them liars. But instead, he uses tactics to appeal to those who will search for truth as opposed to riling up the accusers by calling them what they were -- Liars. Confirmed in verse 16, “void of offence.”
24:14: “believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets” = See Romans 7:25.
24:26: “He [Felix] hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul” = This is a very interesting insight. Felix was wavering (procrastinating) with both any righteousness within his soul (see verse 25) and his duty (“that he might lose him”). However, where did he think Paul could acquire any “money” so that he could release him? I don’t think that Paul had enough “money” himself, otherwise he might have just paid the fine. Therefore, the only other solution would be that Felix knew of Paul’s standing with the donating Church to Paul’s fund. Think about that and the influence it had on other rulers Paul would come in contact with.
24:27: “Porcius Festus” = Festus ruled from 60 to 62 A.D. From the “International Standard Bible Encyclopedia,” I affirm that “both Agrippa and Festus that ‘this man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds’ (Acts 26:31). While Festus displayed a certain contempt for what he regarded as the empty delusions of a harmless maniac, his conduct throughout the whole proceeding was marked by a strict impartiality; and his straightforward dealing with Paul formed a marked contrast to the dilatoriness of Felix. The praise bestowed upon the latter by Tertullus (Acts 24:2) [which was not true as Felix persecuted the Jews mightily and Tertullus was just attempting to appeal to Felix’s selfishness] might with better reason have been bestowed on Festus, in that he freed the country from many robbers.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
25:4: “Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea” = In Festus’ answer he is telling the Jewish leaders that Paul would be tried by Roman law and not Jewish law.
25:8; 26:4-6; 26:22: “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all” = Paul could never have said these lines if he had abandoned altogether one of the most sacred observances of the Jews, i.e., the Sabbath.
25:9: “willing to do the Jews a pleasure” = In the end, Festus turned out to be not much different or better than Felix with regard to his political strategies (Acts 24:27). Unwilling to lose the support of the Jewish leaders that early in his administration, by declaring Paul innocent he moves to granting them their original request, which was to have the apostle tried by the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem under Jewish law. This Paul knew was just a ploy to have him killed on the journey to Jerusalem. Thus his eventual appeal to Caesar (verse 12).
25:13: “Agrippa” = This is Agrippa II. See my Excel Spread-Sheet: “HEROD’S, LIST OF.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
26:7: “hope to come” = That is the righteous persons in the Jewish state longed for first, that Messiah would Come, but now that He had Come, for the resurrection of the dead, and a future state of happiness in Heaven.
26:10: “I gave my voice against them” = This verse teaches us that Paul must have become a member of the greatest council among the Jews, i.e., the Sanhedrim; as is shown by the fact that he gave his vote.
26:14: “Hebrew tongue” = See my Acts 21:40 Note.
“kick against the pricks” = See my Acts 9:5 Note.
26:24: “much learning doth make thee mad” = This is just an excuse by Festus not to be prompted by the Holy Spirit any longer. In an interesting twist, Paul questions “King Agrippa,” verse 27, thus showing Festus that if “King Agrippa” knows these things to be true, that by Festus thus accusing Paul to be “mad,” then Festus is also accusing “King Agrippa” to be “mad.”
26:28: “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” = Paul’s question put Agrippa in a difficult position. As a Jew, he would never deny his belief in the Scriptures. On the other hand, if he gave an affirmative answer, there would be no option but for him to accept Jesus as the Messiah. His reply was a clever escape from the logical trap he was in.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
27:9: “fast” = This “fast” was in celebration of the “day of atonement.” This also verifies that the time of the year was in the “fall” (what would be the second half of October), the winds not being safe, or at the least, contrary for sailing (see verse 7).
27:17: “used helps, undergirding the ship” = That is, they put ropes or chains around the ship, which went underneath and around the entire ship to strengthen the hull of the ship.
“quicksands” = The Greek is “surtis,” which is better translated as, “a shoal.” However, a more appropriate translation in modern English would be, “a sandbar.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
28:3: “viper” = Fact: There are no poisonous snakes on the island of “Melita,” verse 1. This brings up three possibilities. First, that there used to be poisonous snakes there at the time of Paul, since the natives didn’t seem to act as though there shouldn’t have been one in the first place, or that their goddess “Dike,” the “personification of justice and vengeance,” was inflicting this judgement upon Paul since they thought of him as being “a murderer,” verse 4; and Second, that Satan prepared this “viper” to have Paul killed; or Third, that God prepared the “viper” in order to promote belief in Him through the testimony of Paul.
There is one more possibility, that being that it came in from the debris from the ship (in other words, it was on the ship the entire time). However, it wasn’t until Paul “healed,” verse 8, people that the islanders began to believe (although “believe” may be a strong word here; he at least gained their “respect”).
28:10: “honoured us” = The fact that Luke does not mention any converts is disturbing, since this was a normal practice of Luke’s (Acts 4:4 & 32; 8:12 & 13; 9:42; 11:21; 13:12 & 48; 14:1; 15:5; 16:1; 17:4 & 5 & 12 & 34; 18:8; 19:9 & 18; 22:19; 28:24). How sad. Just like the Israelites of old, who saw so many miraculous miracles, so these islanders missed their opportunity to know the True God.
28:13: “Rhegium” = Modern “(Reggio di Calabria) was a town situated on the east side of the Sicilian Straits, about 6 miles South of a point opposite Messana (Messina). Originally a colony of Chalcidian Greeks, the place enjoyed great prosperity in the 5th century BC, but was captured and destroyed by Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, in 387 BC, when all the surviving inhabitants were sold into slavery.” “Diodorus,” xiv. 106-8 & 111 & 112.
“Puteoli” = Modern Pozzuoli, in the Bay of Naples. It is from here that they would travel to Rome by road.
28:17: “yet was I delivered prisoner” = “Near the close of his life he was, under the cruel Nero, immured [confined] in prison walls that never saw the light of day. His dungeon, chiseled out of the solid rocks, was reeking with dampness, and he an invalid, who had labored for years pressed by physical sufferings. One consolation was left him. One and another of his brethren were allowed to be with him and share the discomforts of his home, and to stand by him when brought before Nero to answer for his life.” RH, November 7, 1878.
28:20: “the hope of Israel” = Meaning, their Messiah would Come. Ironic that that is why he is in trouble.
28:23: “persuading them concerning Jesus” = “Herod had seen Christ in the days of His humanity; Annas had seen Him; Pilate and the priests and rulers had seen Him; the Roman soldiers had seen Him. But they had not seen Him with the eye of faith; they had not seen Him as the glorified Redeemer. To apprehend Christ by faith, to have a spiritual knowledge of Him, was more to be desired than a personal acquaintance with Him as He appeared on the earth. The communion with Christ which Paul now enjoyed was more intimate, more enduring, than a mere earthly and human companionship.” AA:452.
28:28: “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it” = A clear text that God no longer considered the Jewish nation as His people. Why, because “they will [not] hear it.”
28:30: “received all that came in unto him” = Apparently the Roman guards had to listen to all of this and apparently some believed, and or, when going before any of the Roman authorities any Roman citizen who heard Paul could have believed according to Philippians 4:22.