Acts Episodes

Saturday, 20 April 2024 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. Acts 27:3 A literal rendering of the Greek is, “And another day, we brought down at Sidon. And Julius, having treated Paul philanthropically, permitted him, having gone to his friends, to receive care” (CG). Luke is in the process of describing the ongoing voyage from Caesarea to Rome. He continues that now with, “And another.” The meaning is...

Friday, 19 April 2024 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. The Greek closely reads, “And having boarded a ship of Adramyttium, intending to sail unto among the regions of Asia, we headed out. Aristarchus, a Macedonian, being with us” (CG). Chapter 27 began with a note concerning the anticipated departure of Paul, prisoners, and a centurion named Julius to Rome on a ship. That now co...

Thursday, 18 April 2024 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. Acts 27:1 Much more literally, the words read, “And when our sailing away to Italy was decided, they delivered both Paul and certain others, prisoners, to a centurion by name Julius, of the Augustan cohort” (CG). Chapter 26 ended with the words of Agrippa noting that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar, he could ha...

Wednesday, 17 April 2024 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Acts 26:32 In the previous verse, those gathered after the trial had said, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Next, it says, “Then Agrippa said to Festus.” Festus had asked for advice and an opinion on the matter of Paul. That has now been rendered by Agrippa and it will give Festus the statement he needed to include with Paul’s continued evaluatio...

Tuesday, 16 April 2024 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Acts 26:31 A more literal translation would be, “And, having withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, ‘Nothing worthy of death or bonds is the man doing’” (CG). With the substance of the trial complete, the previous verse noted that the king stood up. This was followed by the governor, Bernice, and the others. Now, Luke records, “And, having...

Monday, 15 April 2024 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; Acts 26:30 More literally, “And he, having said these, the king arose, and the governor, and Bernice, and those sitting with them” (CG). In the previous verse, Paul had just concluded his words to those gathered in the court. With his words complete, it next says, “And he, having said these.” These words are not in the Alexandrian text and are thus excluded...

Saturday, 13 April 2024 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:28 A literal reading is much sparser in content, “And Agrippa to Paul: ‘In a little, you persuade me to become a Christian!’” (CG). Paul just asked Agrippa if he believed the prophets. He then immediately answered his own question, acknowledging that the king did. With that, a response comes from the king, “And Agrippa to Paul: ‘In a little, you persuade me to become a Christian!’” Agri...

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...

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 m...

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...

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...

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 r...

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 under...

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, ...

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.” ...

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 ...

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...

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 pr...

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...

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 previou...

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 ...

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 lit...

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...

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 s...