Acts 9:3 - And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
I do find some humor in this! He travelled 135 miles, mad as a hornet, saying, "I've got official paperwork to go from house to house." God doesn't save him at the beginning of the journey or the middle of the journey, but right before he goes into the city, 135 miles away.
The word "shined" (or shown), it's the word that is used for lightning, only this is lightning frozen in time. It's not a one quick flash thing like lightning. It's like it appears and just holds right over this entire contingent of people that Saul has with him. And it came from heaven.
Acts 9:5 - And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In the Greek text, there's emphasis in both places. He says, "I myself am Jesus, and you yourself are persecuting me." You are directly persecuting me. You are responding to me in my people!
It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. The Greek word for "pricks" means both a cattle prod, and a bee sting. You can imagine a cattle prod sticking you. It was making Saul madder. What would make him so mad? I can see him being mad enough to chase the Christians out of Jerusalem. But then to say "Hey, I hear there's Christians in Damascus, 135 miles away." It's not like you can take a plane and go over there.
He gets legal papers to travel 135 miles away to go house to house and round up Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem bound. That's obsessed! The Lord says, "I myself am Jesus whom you yourself are persecuting." It's hard for you to kick against the prods.
He's telling him that that's what it's like to get stung by a bee, every time you come across a Christian, and that sting just irritates you and you just want to "rub them out!"
Acts 10:43 - To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Two things about this verse:
The word believes is a Present Participle which means continuously believing. Secondly: the term "in him" is the most common term for believing in Christ. It is EIS AUTON, and it means "into him."
It is a word that expresses surrender, so that whosoever continually believes, and continually surrenders to Christ, will receive forgiveness of sins.
Acts 10:45 - And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The word "gift," DOREA, and there are several words for gift in the bible but there is only one word out of several that means to give you a gift, (actually give it to you), and that's this word! DOREA is always associated with the Holy Spirit. According to the New Testament, the only "gift" that has been given to the believers is the Holy Spirit.
People are told that God gives you "other things." Unfortunately, those words do not mean to give a gift. "Gifts of the Spirit" has nothing to do with giving gifts. It is the word CHARISMA. CHARIS is the word for grace. CHARISMA, with just an MA on the end of it means an expression of grace. That's what it means!
1 Corinthians Chapter12 tells us that there are many expressions of grace or gifts of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the one who has the capacity for all of these expressions of grace. The unfortunate thing about teachings of "the gifts of the spirit" today is that they tell you "You have one!" A talent! There are people out there in the ministry that will teach their people how they need to use their "gifts" for God's work, combining God's "gift" with their personality, and their "God given talents." The problem with this is that it centers on us.
Acts 10:25 - And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
I'll share an important side note. The word for worship in the New Testament, PROSKUNEO, doesn't have anything to do with worship. It's literally to pay respect or homage. He was going to the extreme, but Peter says you don't have to do that. Now how does that fit into the New Testament for the believers?
I'll use John Chapter 4 as an example when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman and He say to her that those who worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and He's using the same word. What Jesus is saying is true worship is bowing down to and submitting to God's Spirit and God's truth. That's worship!
Worship can be expressed in singing, but the bible doesn't say singing is worship. It can be an expression of worship. That's why Jesus said you worship me with your lips, but your heart is far from me, and in vain you worship me.
So just going through a routine and being involved in certain activities that deal with music, or preaching, or prayer, or whatever, God says you can go through whatever you want to, but I see your heart, and if your heart is not in it, it's not acceptable!
Acts 10:38 - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
There are a couple of words for "good" that we need to know. There's the word AGATHOS which is the word for spiritual good. And then the word KALOS for human good, and neither one of those words are used here!
It is the prefix "EU." He went about doing well for everybody. And here's what is described for doing good: We are doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. People who had physical health problems because they were oppressed by the devil. And He freed them from the devil and healed them.
Acts 9:26 - And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself, that is, he was continually (Imperfect Tense), he was continually trying to join himself to the disciples.
And the word "joined" is the word glue. He was continually attempting to be a permanent part of the fellowship of the disciples in Jerusalem. But they were all afraid of him, and they believed not that he was a disciple.
Acts 9:36 - Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Secondly: Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas, which is Aramaic. And her names, both Tabitha or Dorcas mean either Gazelle or Deer.
She is called that because they picked an animal that had large, beautiful eyes. So, they named her Tabitha because of her large, beautiful eyes that means Gazelle or Deer.
So anyways, there's a disciple who belongs to Christ, and this woman was full of good works. The word "good" is Agathos which pertains not to humanitarian good, but spiritual good. And almsdeeds, which means acts of mercy, which she was doing!
Acts 9:41 - And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he called the saints and the widows, he presented her living. In the Greek text, it's a Participle. Not alive, but living, all human functions working as if they never stopped!
Acts 10:10 - And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
More literally, the Greek text says, "the trance fell on him." That is very important. The trance fell on him.
Acts 9:11 - And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight. This is Straight Street. The reason why it was called that was because it is a two-mile street, and it is about as straight as an arrow. The engineering in that town didn't have much of a problem naming that street!
Jesus goes on to say and enquire in the house of Judas (not Judas Iscariot). Judas was a common name. Enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus.
Now I want to share with you that the text never says, "Saul of Tarsus." There's no Genitive case. It is "Saul the Tarsinian." But they say Tarsus so that we know he is from the city of Tarsus. He is Saul the Tarsinian. So, enquire for one called Saul the Tarsinian: for, behold, he is praying.
Acts 9:18 - And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Here is the literal translation. And immediately there fell from his eyes as if scales. This is Dr. Luke describing it for us. It didn't say they were scales, but to him it looked like scales just falling off of his eyes. And he received sight immediately, and arose, and was baptized.
(Acts Part 21):
Acts 9:3 - And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
I do find some humor in this! He travelled 135 miles, mad as a hornet, saying, "I've got official paperwork to go from house to house." God doesn't save him at the beginning of the journey or the middle of the journey, but right before he goes into the city, 135 miles away.
The word "shined" (or shown), it's the word that is used for lightning, only this is lightning frozen in time. It's not a one quick flash thing like lightning. It's like it appears and just holds right over this entire contingent of people that Saul has with him. And it came from heaven.
Acts 9:5 - And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In the Greek text, there's emphasis in both places. He says, "I myself am Jesus, and you yourself are persecuting me." You are directly persecuting me. You are responding to me in my people!
It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. The Greek word for "pricks" means both a cattle prod, and a bee sting. You can imagine a cattle prod sticking you. It was making Saul madder. What would make him so mad? I can see him being mad enough to chase the Christians out of Jerusalem. But then to say "Hey, I hear there's Christians in Damascus, 135 miles away." It's not like you can take a plane and go over there.
He gets legal papers to travel 135 miles away to go house to house and round up Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem bound. That's obsessed! The Lord says, "I myself am Jesus whom you yourself are persecuting." It's hard for you to kick against the prods.
He's telling him that that's what it's like to get stung by a bee, every time you come across a Christian, and that sting just irritates you and you just want to "rub them out!"
Acts 10:43 - To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Two things about this verse:
The word believes is a Present Participle which means continuously believing. Secondly: the term "in him" is the most common term for believing in Christ. It is EIS AUTON, and it means "into him."
It is a word that expresses surrender, so that whosoever continually believes, and continually surrenders to Christ, will receive forgiveness of sins.
Acts 10:45 - And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The word "gift," DOREA, and there are several words for gift in the bible but there is only one word out of several that means to give you a gift, (actually give it to you), and that's this word! DOREA is always associated with the Holy Spirit. According to the New Testament, the only "gift" that has been given to the believers is the Holy Spirit.
People are told that God gives you "other things." Unfortunately, those words do not mean to give a gift. "Gifts of the Spirit" has nothing to do with giving gifts. It is the word CHARISMA. CHARIS is the word for grace. CHARISMA, with just an MA on the end of it means an expression of grace. That's what it means!
1 Corinthians Chapter12 tells us that there are many expressions of grace or gifts of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the one who has the capacity for all of these expressions of grace. The unfortunate thing about teachings of "the gifts of the spirit" today is that they tell you "You have one!" A talent! There are people out there in the ministry that will teach their people how they need to use their "gifts" for God's work, combining God's "gift" with their personality, and their "God given talents." The problem with this is that it centers on us.
Acts 10:25 - And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
I'll share an important side note. The word for worship in the New Testament, PROSKUNEO, doesn't have anything to do with worship. It's literally to pay respect or homage. He was going to the extreme, but Peter says you don't have to do that. Now how does that fit into the New Testament for the believers?
I'll use John Chapter 4 as an example when Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman and He say to her that those who worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and He's using the same word. What Jesus is saying is true worship is bowing down to and submitting to God's Spirit and God's truth. That's worship!
Worship can be expressed in singing, but the bible doesn't say singing is worship. It can be an expression of worship. That's why Jesus said you worship me with your lips, but your heart is far from me, and in vain you worship me.
So just going through a routine and being involved in certain activities that deal with music, or preaching, or prayer, or whatever, God says you can go through whatever you want to, but I see your heart, and if your heart is not in it, it's not acceptable!
Acts 10:38 - How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
There are a couple of words for "good" that we need to know. There's the word AGATHOS which is the word for spiritual good. And then the word KALOS for human good, and neither one of those words are used here!
It is the prefix "EU." He went about doing well for everybody. And here's what is described for doing good: We are doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. People who had physical health problems because they were oppressed by the devil. And He freed them from the devil and healed them.
Acts 9:26 - And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself, that is, he was continually (Imperfect Tense), he was continually trying to join himself to the disciples.
And the word "joined" is the word glue. He was continually attempting to be a permanent part of the fellowship of the disciples in Jerusalem. But they were all afraid of him, and they believed not that he was a disciple.
Acts 9:36 - Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Secondly: Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas, which is Aramaic. And her names, both Tabitha or Dorcas mean either Gazelle or Deer.
She is called that because they picked an animal that had large, beautiful eyes. So, they named her Tabitha because of her large, beautiful eyes that means Gazelle or Deer.
So anyways, there's a disciple who belongs to Christ, and this woman was full of good works. The word "good" is Agathos which pertains not to humanitarian good, but spiritual good. And almsdeeds, which means acts of mercy, which she was doing!
Acts 9:41 - And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he called the saints and the widows, he presented her living. In the Greek text, it's a Participle. Not alive, but living, all human functions working as if they never stopped!
Acts 10:10 - And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
More literally, the Greek text says, "the trance fell on him." That is very important. The trance fell on him.
Acts 9:11 - And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight. This is Straight Street. The reason why it was called that was because it is a two-mile street, and it is about as straight as an arrow. The engineering in that town didn't have much of a problem naming that street!
Jesus goes on to say and enquire in the house of Judas (not Judas Iscariot). Judas was a common name. Enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus.
Now I want to share with you that the text never says, "Saul of Tarsus." There's no Genitive case. It is "Saul the Tarsinian." But they say Tarsus so that we know he is from the city of Tarsus. He is Saul the Tarsinian. So, enquire for one called Saul the Tarsinian: for, behold, he is praying.
Acts 9:18 - And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Here is the literal translation. And immediately there fell from his eyes as if scales. This is Dr. Luke describing it for us. It didn't say they were scales, but to him it looked like scales just falling off of his eyes. And he received sight immediately, and arose, and was baptized.
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