BIBLE IN TEN

Sunday, 28 January 2024   “He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. Acts 24:6   In the previous verse, Tertullus began to list the accusations against Paul, saying he was a plague, a creator of dissension of the Jews throughout the empire, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He continues now, saying, “He even tried to profane...

Saturday, 27 January 2024   “For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Acts 24:5   The words are more literally rendered, “For we have found this man a plague and stirring insurrection in all the Jews throughout the habitation, and the leader of the Nazarenes sect” (CG).   Tertullus just gave...

Friday, 26 January 2024   Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. Acts 24:4   The words more literally read, “And so not upon you further I should hinder, I implore you to hear us briefly, in your indulgence” (CG).   In the previous verse, the orator Tertullus completed his opening platitudes to Felix. He now transitions towards...

Thursday, 25 January 2024   “we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Acts 24:3   The Greek more literally reads, “Both entirely and everywhere we welcome, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness” (CG).   In the previous verse, Tertullus began his accusation against Paul. It was a butter-up job to hide the fact that they really have no case against him in...

Wednesday, 24 January 2024   And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, Acts 24:2   A literal translation is, “And he, having been called, Tertullus began accusing, saying, ‘Great peace we are attaining through you. And reformations are being done to this natio...

Tuesday, 23 January 2024   Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. Acts 24:1   Chapter 24 enters into the hearing that Felix promised Paul in the preceding verse. That begins with, “Now after five days.”   This five-day period is probably from the time of Paul’s departure from Jeru...

Monday, 22 January 2024   he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium. Acts 23:35   The Greek more literally reads, “‘I will thoroughly hear you, he said, when your accusers also may have arrived,’ having commanded him to be guarded in the Praetorium of Herod” (CG).   The previous verse flows into this one, having ended with t...

Sunday, 21 January 2024   And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, Acts 23:34   In the Greek, the words are full of participles, and the sentence remains incomplete until the next verse. More literally, it reads, “And the governor having read, and having asked from what province he is, and having learned that from Cilic...

Saturday, 20 January 2024   When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.  Acts 23:33   More literally, the words read, “Who, having entered into Caesarea, and having delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him” (CG).   In the previous verse, it noted that the soldiers returned to Jerusalem, but the horsemen stayed wi...

Friday, 19 January 2024   The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. Acts 23:32   More literally, the words read, “And the morrow, having allowed the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the barracks” (CG).   In the previous verse, the detachment of soldiers took Paul out of Jerusalem to Antipatris. Now, the narrative continues, saying, “And the morro...

Thursday, 18 January 2024   Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. Acts 23:31   A more literal rendering is, “Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that having been appointed them, having taken up Paul, brought through night to Antipatris” (CG).   With the letter from the commander fully detailed by Luke, it next says, “Then, indeed, the sold...

Wednesday, 17 January 2024   And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell. Acts 23:30   The Greek, though a bit clunky, more literally reads, “And, having been revealed to me a plot, about to be by the Jews, against the man, I sent immediately unto you, having also...

Tuesday, 16 January 2024   I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. Acts 23:29   The tense of the verbs needs tweaking. The Greek reads, “Whom I found being accused about questions of their law and having no accusation worthy of death or chains” (CG).   The commander’s letter to Felix, the governor, about P...

Monday, 15 January 2024   And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. Acts 23:28   The words more literally say, “And desiring to know the charge through which they accused him, I brought him down to their council” (CG).   In the previous verse, the commander referred to his actions in rescuing Paul, noting that he rescued him, having learned he was a...

Sunday, 14 January 2024   This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. Acts 23:27   The words are filled with participles, excitedly filling the statement with action. It more literally reads, “This man, having been seized by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, having come with the detachme...

Saturday, 13 January 2024   Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.  Acts 23:26   The narrative previously noted that the commander wrote a letter to Felix, the governor. The introductory salutation of that letter now begins, saying, “Claudius Lysias.”   By giving his name here, we finally learn the commander’s identity. Until this point, he has been referred to many time...

Friday, 12 January 2024   He wrote a letter in the following manner: Acts 23:25   A literal translation says, “Having written a letter, having this form:” (CG).   In the last verse, the commander ordered that beasts were to be provided to set Paul on in order to safely conduct him to Felix the governor. Now, it says, “Having written a letter, having this form:”   It seems like a curious few words...

Thursday, 11 January 2024   “and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” Acts 23:24   A more literal translation would be, “And provide beasts, that, having set Paul upon, they might bring safely unto Felix the governor” (CG).   In the previous verse, the commander directed that soldiers, horsemen, and spearmen be readied to go to Caesarea at the third hour of t...

Wednesday, 10 January 2024   And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; Acts 23:23   A literal translation would be, “And having called a certain two of the centurions, he said, ‘Prepare two hundred soldiers that they might go unto Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundr...

Tuesday, 9 January 2024   So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” Acts 23:22   More literally, the Greek reads, “Therefore, indeed, the commander excused the young man, having instructed, ‘Tell no one that you reported these to me’” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul’s nephew completed his explanation to the commander...

Monday, 8 January 2024   “But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” Acts 23:21   More literally, the Greek reads, “Therefore, you should not be persuaded by them. For more than forty men of them are lurk...

Sunday, 7 January 2024   And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. Acts 23:20   A literal translation is, “And he said, ‘That the Jews agreed to ask you that to-morrow you might bring down Paul to the council, as intending to more precisely inquire something about him’” (CG).   In the previ...

Saturday, 6 January 2024   Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” Acts 23:19   A literal translation is, “And the commander, having taken his hand, and having withdrawn in private, inquired, ‘What is it that you have to tell me?’”   In the previous verse, the centurion had taken Paul’s nephew to the commander so that he coul...

Friday, 5 January 2024   So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.” Acts 23:18   A literal translation would be, “He, therefore, indeed, having taken him, brought to the commander. And says, ‘The prisoner Paul, having summoned me, asked to lead this young man to you, hav...

Thursday, 4 January 2024   Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” Acts 23:17   The words more literally read, “And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, ‘Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.’”   In the previous verse, it noted that Paul’s nephew heard of the...