BIBLE IN TEN

Saturday, 9 December 2023   “Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’” Acts 22:21   Paul just tried to defend why he was no longer a threat to the people, even after Jesus had told him he should quickly leave Jerusalem. However, Jesus had already spoken, knowing what was best. Therefore, without allowing any further appeal, it next says, “Then He said to me,...

Friday, 8 December 2023   “And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ Acts 22:20   Paul has been defending his conversion and adherence to the Way based on his life prior to his conversion. He continues that thought now, saying, “And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed.”   P...

Thursday, 7 December 2023   “So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. Acts 22:19   The verbs are all present participles – “And I said, ‘Lord they know that I was imprisoning and scourging in those synagogues those believing on You’” (CG).   In the previous verse, the Lord instructed Paul to get out of Jerusalem because those in the city w...

Wednesday, 6 December 2023   “and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ Acts 22:18   A literal rendering would be, “and saw Him saying to me, ‘Hasten, and in speed depart from Jerusalem: because they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’”   Paul just noted that after his conversion that when he had ret...

Tuesday, 5 December 2023   “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance Acts 22:17   The Greek is more literally translated, “And it happened to me, having returned to Jerusalem and my praying in the temple, I came into a trance” (CG).   Paul had just been instructed by Ananias to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling on the nam...

Monday, 4 December 2023   “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16   The Greek reads, “And now, why delay? Having arisen, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (CG).   In the previous verse, Ananias said to Paul, “For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.”...

Sunday, 3 December 2023   “For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:15   Paul was just told by Ananias that the God of their fathers had chosen him to know His will and to personally see and hear the Just, meaning Jesus. With that, he next says, “For you will be His witness.”   At this point, Paul leaves off the words of Acts 9:15. Those words would have been...

Saturday, 2 December 2023   “Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. Acts 22:14   The Greek reads, “And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has before-handed you to know His will, and to see the Just, and to hear the voice from His mouth.” (CG).   Paul’s sight was just restored at the word of the Lord t...

Friday, 1 December 2023   “came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. Acts 22:13   The Greek reads, “Having come to me and having stood, said, ‘Saul, brother, look up.’ And I, the same hour, looked up to him” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul told the crowd about Ananias, a devout man according to the law and who had a g...

Thursday, 30 November 2023   “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, Acts 22:12   The words are more exactingly translated, “And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, being testified to by all the Jews dwelling there” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul noted to the crowd that he could not see because of...

Wednesday, 29 November 2023   “And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. Acts 22:11   Paul was just instructed by the Lord to arise and go into Damascus where he would be told all the things appointed for him to do. Continuing the narrative, he next says, “And since I could not see for the glory of that light.”   T...

Tuesday, 28 November 2023   “So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’” Acts 22:10   The words are more appropriately translated as, “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord.’ And the Lord said unto me, ‘Having arisen, go to Damascus, and there it will be told you all things that ha...

Monday, 27 November 2023   “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. Acts 22:9   The Greek more literally reads, “And those being with me indeed saw the light and were terrified but did not comprehend the voice of Him speaking to me” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul told the crowd that he asked who was speaking to h...

Sunday, 26 November 2023   So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Acts 22:8   Rather, the Greek reads, “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting’” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul had fallen to the ground and heard a voice asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecu...

Saturday, 25 November 2023   “And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ Acts 22:7   In the last verse, Paul was approaching Damascus when a gleaming light shone around him. Next, it says, “And I fell to the ground.”   The light overwhelmed him, and as happens at other points in Scripture where someone encounters the glory of God. Regardless...

Friday, 24 November 2023   “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.” Acts 22:6   A more literal translation would be, “And it was to me, traveling and approaching Damascus about midday, suddenly from heaven considerable light gleamed around me” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul told the gathered crowd that he had r...

Thursday, 23 November 2023   “as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. Acts 22:5   A more literal rendering would be, “as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the elderhood. From whom also having received let...

Wednesday, 22 November 2023   “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, Acts 22:4   The words are more literally rendered, “Who persecuted this Way until death, binding and betraying to prisons both men and women” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul refuted the accusations levied against him to the crowd standing before him, noting that he was zea...

Tuesday, 21 November 2023   “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. Acts 22:3   More precisely, the Greek reads, “I am indeed a man, a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia and brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed accor...

Monday, 20 November 2023   And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: Acts 22:2   In the previous verse, Paul noted his desire to present his defense before the people. With that, it now continues, saying, “And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language.”   As noted in the commentary on Acts 21:40, the meaning of...

Sunday, 19 November 2023   “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” Acts 22:1   The Greek reads – “Men, brothers and fathers, hear now my defense to you” (CG).   In the previous verse, which ended Chapter 21, Paul had been given permission to speak to the mob. Therefore, he motioned with his hand and began speaking to them in their own dialect. His recorded words begin with, “Men, b...

Saturday, 18 November 2023   So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, Acts 21:40   The Greek reads – “And he, having permitted; Paul, having stood on the stairs, shook with the hand to the people. And great silence having come to be, he spoke in the He...

Friday, 17 November 2023   But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” Acts 21:39   More precisely, the verse reads, “And Paul said, indeed, I am a man, a Jew of Tarsus of Cilicia – not an insignificant city. And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people” (CG).    In the previous verse, the Roman commander ha...

Thursday, 16 November 2023   “Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” Acts 21:38   A more literal rendering would be, “Are you not, then, the Egyptian who before these days having upheaved and having led out into the wilderness the four thousand men, the Sicarii?” (CG).   In the previous verse, Paul was about t...

Wednesday, 15 November 2023   Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek?” Acts 21:37   The NKJV is more of a paraphrase. Although clunky, the Greek reads, “And being about to be brought into the barracks, Paul says to the commander, ‘If lawful to me to say something to you?’ And he said, ‘Do you know Greek?’...