Bible Commentaries

Acts 10:19-20 — Cornelius’ house. ". . . it is both exegetically and experientially difficult, if not impossible, to draw any sharp lines between ’an angel of God [Acts 10:3; Acts 10:22],’ the Holy Spirit [Acts 10:19], and the ascended Christ [Acts 10:4; Acts 10:14]." [Note: Longenecker, p. 389. See also Neil, p. 139.] We could also add "God" (Acts 10:28; cf. Acts 8:26; cf. Acts 8:29; cf. Acts 8:39; Acts 16:6-7; Romans 8:9-11; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). "A God-fearer had no objection

Acts 14:21-22 — in Tarsus. Tarsus stood some 160 miles east of Derbe. Instead they retraced their steps to encourage, instruct, and organize the new converts (cf. Acts 18:23). [Note: See David F. Detwiler, "Paul’s Approach to the Great Commission in Acts 14:21-23," Bibliotheca Sacra 152:605 (January-March 1995):33-41.] Apparently they did more discipleship than evangelism on this return trip to the cities where the apostles’ lives had been in danger. They warned the new converts that they too

Acts 15:13-14 — Epistle of James, and the leading figure in the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; Galatians 1:19; Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:12). [Note: See Richard Bauckham, "James and the Jerusalem Church," in The Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting; Vol. 4: The Book of Acts in Its Palestinian Setting, pp. 415-80.] "Simeon" was Peter’s older Jewish name. James’ use of it would have emphasized Peter’s Jewishness as well as implying affection for him. Peter had related the salvation

Acts 20:27 — already said. I don’t mean I couldn’t say it in a better way, but the important thing is that I declared the whole counsel of God. I have always believed that the important issue is to get out the entire Word of God." [Note: McGee, 4:604.]

Acts 27:16-17 — hull. The "shallows of Syrtis" probably refers to the dreaded quicksand and shoals off the African coast west of Cyrene (modern Libya) toward which the ship headed. [Note: See Pliny, Natural History, 5:26; and Josephus, The Jewish . . ., 2:16:4.] The Greek word translated "sea anchors" simply means equipment and can refer to any gear, perhaps some of the sails and rigging here (cf. Acts 27:40). Compasses did not exist at this time. Sailors plotted their courses by the stars and by

Acts 28:24-27 — Luke recorded for the third and last time what had become the Jews’ characteristic response to hearing the gospel (Acts 28:24; Acts 13:46; Acts 18:6; cf. Romans 11:7-10). Paul’s parting word was a quotation from Isaiah 6:9-10 in which God told the prophet that his Jewish hearers would not believe God’s message through him (cf. Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; Luke

Acts 28:4-6 — "These people thought that calamity was proof of guilt, poor philosophy and worse theology." [Note: Robertson, 3:479.] People had mistaken Paul for a god previously (Acts 14:8-18). Perhaps his reaction here was the same as it had been at Lystra. Probably he used the opportunity to preach the gospel. Luke’s purpose in recording this incident was probably not

Acts 4:18-20 — Christian and Civil Disobedience," Bibliotheca Sacra 127:506 (April-June 1970):153-62. This article was reprinted with minor changes in idem, You Mean the Bible Teaches That . . ., pp. 11-22.] Speaking what one has seen and heard (Acts 4:20) is the essence of witnessing (Acts 1:8). Contempt and threats have silenced many witnesses, but these tactics did not stop the Spirit-filled apostles. [Note: See Barrett, p. 238.]

Romans 1:11-13 — prayed often for the Romans, so he had also planned often to visit them. The phrase "I do not want you to be unaware" always identifies something important that Paul proceeded to say (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:13). His reason was for fellowship, namely, mutual sharing of things profitable. One obstacle that may have prevented Paul from reaching Rome previously was the imperial edict of A.D. 49 expelling Jews from Rome (cf. Acts 18:2). [Note: See Bruce, p.

1 Corinthians 11:34 — before they came to the service. Otherwise their unloving selfishness might result in the Lord’s judgment. It is very important to the Lord that we put the needs of others before our own needs (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:22; 1 Corinthians 10:33; Mark 10:45; Romans 15:2; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 2:3; et al.). Evidently there were other details of how the Corinthians were behaving when they congregated that Paul did not want to comment on in this letter. Perhaps they were of local importance only. He

1 Corinthians 14:1-25 — 4. The need for intelligibility 14:1-25 "Paul had discussed the gift of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, and the graces of the Spirit; and now he concluded this section by explaining the government of the Spirit in the public worship services

1 Corinthians 16:20 — kiss, holy because saints (1 Corinthians 1:2) exchanged it, was a common practice among believers, and it still is today in some parts of the world. "The holy kiss (cf. 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:25 [sic, 26]; 1 Peter 5:14) was primarily a symbolic expression of the love, forgiveness, and unity which should exist among Christians. As such, it became associated with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper as a prelude to its observance (cf. Justin Apology 1. 65. 2).

1 Corinthians 2:10 — continually examines. "Apparently they have thought of spirituality mostly in terms of ecstasy and experience, which has led some of them to deny the physical body, on the one hand, and to a sense of ’having arrived’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:8), on the other. . . . "They considered Paul’s preaching to be ’milk’; on the contrary, he implies, redemption through the cross comes from the profound depths of God’s own wisdom, which his Spirit, given

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 — the offender in the presence of Christ, namely, with the awareness that Jesus Christ was observing him. Jesus had taught that forgiveness of one another is a condition for receiving family forgiveness from the heavenly Father (Matthew 6:12; Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:23-35; cf. Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32). The apostle had also forgiven to preserve the unity that he enjoyed with this church. Third, he had forgiven the offender to frustrate Satan’s desire to create discord in the church and

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 — Thanksgiving for a share in Christ’s triumph 2:14-17 "The passage that follows (2 Corinthians 2:14 to 2 Corinthians 7:4) is the longest coherent section within 2 Corinthians and is, arguably, the centerpiece of the entire letter. Nonetheless, it is not freestanding, but continuous with what precedes

2 Corinthians 8:7 — called on them to remember the vastness of their spiritual resources and to make sure liberality marked them as a congregation as did so many other gifts of God’s Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:37). "The Corinthians were strong in activities that are local to and centered upon them (miracle-working faith, charismatic speech, and theological understanding), but weak on those that are for the benefit of those outside, in this case the ’saints

Galatians 6:10 — 4. Toward all people 6:10 Christians have a responsibility to do what is good to all people, including the unsaved. We have a special responsibility to other Christians as we have opportunity, as we hear of a need and have the resources to help. As in

Ephesians 1:8 — This reference hints at many other benefits of Christ’s death that Paul did not enumerate here. Chafer discussed 33 riches of divine grace that become ours when we trust Christ as our Savior. [Note: Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, 3:234-65.] "Wisdom" (Gr. sophia) is what is highest and noblest, and "insight" or "understanding" (Gr. phronesei) is the means by which we perceive it. [Note: Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, pp. 263-67.] Again

Ephesians 5:19 — "Psalms" refers to the Old Testament psalms that the Christians as well as the Jews used in their worship. "Hymns" were songs that eulogized some person or god in Greek culture and the true God in Christian worship (Ephesians 5:14). "Spiritual songs" is a general term that probably covers all other kinds of vocal praise. When God controls us, we are joyful. [Note: See Steven R. Guthrie, "Singing, in the Body and in the Spirit," Journal of the Evangelical Theological

Colossians 3:20 — would cover 99 percent of the cases involved in a Christian home. However every Christian is primarily responsible to the Lord, of course. Consequently if the parent required the child to disobey God, the child should obey God rather than man (Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29; Ephesians 6:1). The reason children should please their parents by obeying them is that this behavior pleases the Lord (cf. Exodus 20:12; 2 Corinthians 5:9). "I have seen some literature that tells young married couples that they