BIBLE IN TEN

Friday, 12 April 2024   “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Acts 26:27   In the previous verse, Paul noted to Festus that none of the things he was saying would have escaped the attention of Agrippa, since what he spoke of was not done in a corner. Now, he directs his attention and words directly to the king, saying, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?”...

Thursday, 11 April 2024   “For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. Acts 26:26   Though a bit clunky, the words more literally read, “For the king understands concerning these, to whom also, declaiming, I speak. For none of these, I am persuaded – none – are hidi...

Wednesday, 10 April 2024   But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. Acts 26:25   A more literal translation is, “And he says, ‘I am not maniacizing, most excellent Felix. But I declare words of truth and sanity.’”   In the previous verse, Festus blurted out, “You are maniacizing Paul! Your great letters turn you to mania.” The meaning is that Paul was...

Tuesday, 9 April 2024   Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” Acts 26:24   It is another verse that is rather difficult to translate directly. More literally, and with a newly coined word to get the sense, it reads, “And he, defending himself by these, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘You are maniacizing Pa...

Monday, 8 April 2024   “that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:23   The words of Paul are very difficult to express literally. They read, “that passable, the Christ. That first from dead – resurrection – He is come to preach light to both our people and the Gentiles” (CG).   Paul ha...

Sunday, 7 April 2024   “Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— Acts 26:22   More literally, the words read, “Having obtained, therefore, help from God unto this day, I have stood, witnessing to small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and...

Saturday, 6 April 2024   “For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Acts 26:21   A more literal translation is, “Because of these, the Jews, me – having seized – being in the temple, endeavored to kill” (CG).   To understand what Paul says in this verse, reviewing the previous two verses will help –   “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vi...

Friday, 5 April 2024   “but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20   More literally, it reads, “but those in Damascus first and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judea, and the Gentiles – I declared to reconsider and turn to God, pra...

Thursday, 4 April 2024   “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, Acts 26:19   Paul just finished repeating the words of Jesus that he had received during the vision. With that, he next says, “Therefore, King Agrippa.”   Paul once again specifically addresses Agrippa as he did in verse 13. The word translated as “Therefore,” hothen, is derived from two words signifyi...

Wednesday, 3 April 2024   “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18   Though clunky, a literal translation would be, “to open their eyes – the turned – from darkness to light, and the authority of Satan unto God. They r...

Tuesday, 2 April 2024   ‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, Acts 26:17   More literally it reads, “delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you” (CG).   Paul just explained his calling to those of the court in which he stood, noting that he had been called as a minister and a witness concerning his calling. He...

Monday, 1 April 2024   “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. Acts 26:16   In the previous verse, Paul had asked the question, “Who are You, Lord.” Jesus then responded, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Now, with Paul’s mind ce...

Sunday, 31 March 2024   “So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 26:15   In the previous verse, Paul relayed that in his encounter with Jesus, the Lord had asked him why he was persecuting Him. He then said that it was hard to kick against goads. With that, Paul next says, “So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’”   Paul wasn’t grasping the situation. There...

Saturday, 30 March 2024   “And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Acts 26:14   In the previous verse, Paul told the king about the light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that was shining around him and those with him. He continues next with...

Friday, 29 March 2024   “at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. Acts 26:13   A bit more precisely, the Greek reads, “Mid-day on the road, O king, I saw from heaven – beyond the brightness of the sun – a light having shone around me, and those journeying with me” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul noted...

Thursday, 28 March 2024   “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, Acts 26:12   The Greek more properly reads, “In which also, traveling to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests” (CG).   The words of this verse give additional information to what Paul just said. He noted that he was pursuing believers in Christ,...

Wednesday, 27 March 2024   “And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Acts 26:11   The words are not well translated. A more literal translation is, “And in all the synagogues, often punishing them, I – compelling to blaspheme. And exceedingly, being maniacal against them, I –...

Tuesday, 26 March 2024   “This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Acts 26:10   A bit more literally, the Greek reads, “Which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I – I confined – in prisons, having received the authority from the chief priests...

Monday, 25 March 2024   “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Acts 26:9   Paul had just asked those gathered to hear him why it should be thought incredible that God raises the dead. Now, he will speak of how he once was opposed to the message of Jesus being the Messiah. This will then lead to why he was converted in his thinking. Therefore, he...

Sunday, 24 March 2024   “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? Acts 26:8   A more literal, even if a bit clunky, translation would be, “Why judge by you incredible if God raises the dead?”   Paul had just said to Agrippa the reason why he was being accused by the Jews, meaning his hope in the resurrection. With that, he next says to all at the hearing, “Why judge by...

Saturday, 23 March 2024   “To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Acts 26:7   In the previous verse, Paul said, “And now, upon a hope, the [promise] unto the fathers – a promise having been made by God – I have stood, being judged.” He now continues with that thought, beginning with, “To...

Friday, 22 March 2024   “And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. Acts 26:6   A literal rendering of the Greek is, “And now, upon a hope, the [promise] unto the fathers – a promise having been made by God – I have stood, being judged” (CG).   Paul’s previous words to Agrippa were about his conduct before the Lord, having lived according to the strictest...

Thursday, 21 March 2024   “They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Acts 26:5   The words are more literally rendered, “Knowing me firstly, if they willed to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I live a Pharisee” (CG).   Paul just referred to his life in Jerusalem, even from his...

Wednesday, 20 March 2024   “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. Acts 26:4   More literally, it says, “Therefore, indeed, the manner of my life from youth, having been from the beginning in my nation, in Jerusalem, all the Jews know” (CG).   Paul had just asked for Agrippa to patiently hear him as he gave his defen...

Tuesday, 19 March 2024   “especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. Acts 26:3   More literally, the Greek reads, “Especially, you being a knower of all the customs of Jews, and also of questions. Therefore, I implore you patiently to hear me” (CG).   Paul had just noted that he was prepared to answer con...