BIBLE IN TEN

Thursday, 22 February 2024   But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. Acts 25:4   A more literal rendering would be, “Therefore, indeed, Festus answered, Paul is kept in Caesarea, and he himself is about in quickness to go out” (CG).   In the previous verse, the leaders’ plot to have Paul ambushed on a journey to Jerusalem was noted by...

Wednesday, 21 February 2024   asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. Acts 25:3   The Greek more rightly reads, “Asking a favor against him, that he might summon him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to kill him along the way” (CG).   The previous verse told of the charges the chief priest and leaders made against Paul. Ba...

Tuesday, 20 February 2024   Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, Acts 25:2   Chapter 25 began with Festus coming to the province and then ascending to Jerusalem after three days. Now, while in Jerusalem, it says, “Then the high priest.”   Some manuscripts have the plural “priests,” while others have the singular “priest.” Either is...

Monday, 19 February 2024   Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Acts 25:1   The verse more rightly reads, “Festus, therefore, having arrived in the province, after three days, he ascended to Jerusalem from Caesarea” (CG).   Chapter 24 ended with a note that Felix was replaced with Festus Porcius and that Paul remained in prison, even aft...

Sunday, 18 February 2024   But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. Acts 24:27   The words more literally read, “And after two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus. ‘And intending to lay the Jews’ a favor, Felix left Paul bound’” (CG).   In the previous verse, it noted that Felix was hoping fo...

Saturday, 17 February 2024   Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. Acts 24:26   The words more literally read, “And simultaneously, also hoping that money shall be given him by Paul that he might release him. And, therefore, summoning often, he talked with him” (CG).   In the previous v...

Friday, 16 February 2024   Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Acts 24:25   A more literal translation is, “And he, reasoning concerning righteousness and continence and the judgment coming to be, Felix, having become frightened, answered, ‘For now, be go...

Thursday, 15 February 2024   And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Acts 24:24   In the previous verse, it was commanded that Paul be given certain liberties while he was incarcerated in Caesarea. Now, the narrative continues, saying, “And after some days.”   This period was probably not very long....

Wednesday, 14 February 2024   So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. Acts 24:23   In the previous verse, Felix told Paul that when Lysias, the commander, came down, he would decide the case against him. With that complete, it now says, “So he commanded the centurion.”   The centurion mention...

Tuesday, 13 February 2024   But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” Acts 24:22   Even if a bit unwieldy, a literal translation is “And having heard these, Felix deferred them, having known distinctly these about the Way, having said, ‘When Lysias...

Monday, 12 February 2024   “unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’” Acts 24:21   The Greek more literally says, “...or concerning this one voice which I cried out, having stood among them, ‘Concerning resurrection of dead I am judged this day by you’” (CG).   Paul has refuted the charg...

Sunday, 11 February 2024   “Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, Acts 24:20   A more literal rendering is, “Or let these themselves say if they found any unrighteousness, having stood me before the Sanhedrin” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul noted that the people who purportedly had testimony against him should have b...

Saturday, 10 February 2024   “They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. Acts 24:19   This verse completes the previous verse. A more literal rendering is, “...who ought to appear before you and accuse if they may have anything against me” (CG).   The previous verse reads, “In which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd, nor with a tumult. A...

Friday, 9 February 2024   “in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. Acts 24:18   The verse is incomplete without the next verse. For now, a more literal rendering is, “In which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd, nor with a tumult. And who, Jews from Asia...” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul noted that aft...

Thursday, 8 February 2024   “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, Acts 24:17   More literally, the Greek reads, “And through many years, I arrived to bring alms to my nation, and offerings” (CG).   Paul just said to Felix that he always strove to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. In support of both of those thoughts, he next says, “And through m...

Wednesday, 7 February 2024   “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. Acts 24:16   More precisely, the text reads, “And in this, I train myself to have an inoffensive conscience toward God and men through all” (CG).   In the last verse, Paul noted his hope in God, affirming his belief in a resurrection of dead, both just and unjust. Because of...

Tuesday, 6 February 2024   “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.  Acts 24:15   Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)   You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at "Discern the Bible" on YouTube...

Monday, 5 February 2024   “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. Acts 24:14   The words are more literally rendered, “And I confess this to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I serve the father’s God, believing all throughout the L...

Sunday, 4 February 2024   “Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. Acts 24:13   Paul just said to Felix that he was neither found in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting a crowd. He then added that this was true in the synagogues and in the city as well. He now adds in an almost challenging note to his accusers, saying, “Nor can they prove the things of which they now a...

Saturday, 3 February 2024   “And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Acts 24:12   A more literal translation is, “And neither found me disputing with anyone in the temple, or making a crowd revolt, nor in the synagogues or in the city” (CG).   Paul, in giving his defense to Felix, just noted that he just told hi...

Friday, 2 February 2024   “because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. Acts 24:11   More literally, the verse reads, “You, being able to know that there are not to me more than twelve days from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem” (CG).   Paul had just presented his opening words of defense, beginning with an acknowledgment that Felix...

Thursday, 1 February 2024   Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, Acts 24:10   A literal translation would be, “And Paul answered, the governor having beckoned him to speak, ‘Knowing from many years, you, being judge to this nation, cheerfully thes...

Wednesday, 31 January 2024   And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. Acts 24:9   The previous verse completed Tertullus' words to Felix. With that, it next says, “And the Jews also assented.”   They agreed either collectively or individually, but they stood behind the substance of his words, affirming that Paul was a plague that needed to be eradicated. One can see them...

Tuesday, 30 January 2024   “commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” Acts 24:8   A literal translation, even if a bit clunky, is, “having commanded his accusers to come to you, from whom you will be able, having examined, to know yourself concerning all these things which we accuse him” (CG).   In the previous ver...

Monday, 29 January 2024   “But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, Acts 24:7   A better rendering of the Greek is, “And Lysias, the commander, having come with great force, led away out of our hands” (CG).   It should be noted that some manuscripts do not include the second half of the previous verse, this verse, or the first clause of verse 8. Thus, dep...