Bible Commentaries

Genesis 21:8-21 — became the heir of his mother but not of his father (cf. Judges 9:1-3). Now that Abraham had a son by his wife, Sarah did not want Ishmael to share Isaac’s inheritance. Weaning would have normally occurred at age two or three (cf. 1 Samuel 1:22-24; Hosea 1:8). The Hebrew word translated "mocking" (Genesis 21:9) comes from the same root as Isaac’s name and means "laughing." However this participle is in the intensive form in Hebrew indicating that Ishmael was not simply

Exodus 25:31-40 — The lampstand 25:31-40 This piece of furniture was probably similar in size to the table of showbread (Exodus 25:39). It stood opposite that table in the holy place against the south (left) wall. It weighed about 75 pounds. The tabernacle craftsmen fashioned it in the form

1 Kings 11:41-43 — Solomon’s death 11:41-43 The writer of Kings referred to other ancient records (1 Kings 11:41; cf. 1 Kings 14:19; cf. 1 Kings 14:29). The Acts of Solomon was the first of these. [Note: J. Liver, "The Book of the Acts of Solomon," Biblica 48:1 (1967):75-101.] It

Esther 1:1-9 — 1. The king’s feast 1:1-9 Ahasuerus is the Hebrew name of the Persian king, Khshayarsha, whom we know better in ancient history by his Greek name, Xerxes. [Note: Lewis B. Paton, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Esther, p. 54. Cf. Ezra 4:5-7; Daniel 11:2.] He reigned over the Persian Empire from 486 to 464 B.C. and was the son of Darius I (521-486 B.C.). Another high-ranking Persian government officer, Artabanus, eventually assassinated him. Xerxes is famous in secular history

Matthew 24:31 — Israel is in view, so Jesus must have been speaking about the gathering of Israelites again to the Promised Land at His second coming. The four winds refer to the four compass points. This regathering will involve judgment (Matthew 13:39; Matthew 13:41; Matthew 24:40-41; Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). Jesus had previously spoken of the angels’ role of assisting Him at this time (Matthew 13:41; cf. Matthew 16:27). This regathering will set the stage for Messiah’s worldwide reign. God

Matthew 28:19 — Jesus’ disciples should go and make disciples because Jesus now has universal authority. He gave them a new universal mission in keeping with His new universal authority. Previously He had limited their work to Israel (Matthew 10:1-8; cf. Matthew 15:24). Now He sent them into all the world. They could go confidently knowing that Jesus has sovereign control over everything in heaven and on earth (cf. Romans 8:28). Note the similarity between the original cultural mandate to be fruitful, multiply, and

John 13:2 — The supper (Gr. deipnon) in view was the evening meal (John 13:30). It was a Passover meal. Jesus evidently washed the disciples’ feet just after the meal had been served (John 13:4; John 13:26). The fact that Jesus washed Judas’ feet after Judas had determined to betray Him shows the greatness of His love (John 13:1). John’s reference to Satan’s role in Judas’ decision heightens the point even further.

John 8:31 — Him, though He urges us to do so (cf. John 21:15-23). The disciples in this context appear to have believed that Jesus was a prophet or the Messiah as the Jews popularly regarded Messiah. They apparently did not believe that He was God (cf. John 7:39-41). They appear to have been unsaved in view of what Jesus proceeded to say about them. This then is another of the many passages in the Gospels in which Jesus taught the conditions of discipleship. Some interpreters have sought to differentiate two

Acts 20:32 — Paul concluded his address with a blessing. Since he was no longer going to be able to build up these men, he committed them to God who would, and to the Scriptures, God’s tool in this process. God’s grace is the source of all spiritual growth and of the ultimate inheritance these elders would one day enjoy because they were believers (cf. 1 Peter 5:1-4; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 3:24).

Acts 23:7-8 — Paul’s belief in the resurrection divided the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees denied the resurrection as well as the existence of (good) angels and (evil) spirits, but the Pharisees believed in these things. [Note: See my comments on 4:1 and 5:34. See Bock, Acts, pp. 671-2, for six views of what the Sadducees believed about angels, and Witherington, pp. 692-93, for discussion of the view that both terms refer to deceased persons.]

Acts 9:32 — Lydda (modern Lod, the site of Israel’s international airport) lay on the Mediterranean coastal plain about 10 miles from the sea. It was about 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem. It stood at the junction of the roads from Joppa to Jerusalem and the highway from Egypt to Syria. [Note: See the map near my comments on 8:4-8 above.] There were already "saints" there (cf. Acts 9:13; Acts 9:41).

Romans 10:9 — statement quoted accounts for the unusual order of "confess" and then "believe" in this verse. The normal chronological order is that one believes and then acknowledges his or her belief (i.e., confesses; cf. Romans 10:10; 2 Corinthians 4:13-14). "But the two formulations interpret each other, so that what is to be both believed and confessed is the more precisely defined." [Note: Cranfield, 2:527.] "Confess" means to say the same thing about something as someone

Colossians 4:14 — Paul identified Luke, the writer of the third Gospel and Acts, only as a physician. "At this time medicine was only just becoming a subject of systematic instruction." [Note: Dunn, p. 283. See The Oxford Classical Dictionary, s. v. "Medicine," p. 662.] Luke would have been both physically and spiritually helpful to Paul. Demas later forsook Paul (2 Timothy 4:10), but at this time he was ministering to and with the apostle.

1 Timothy 4:9 — The "trustworthy statement" Paul referred to here seems to have been what he had just said (1 Timothy 4:8). Several schools of philosophy in Paul’s day denigrated the excessive physical conditioning that many Greek young men practiced. [Note: Kelly, p. 100.] They believed the development of the inner man was more important. So perhaps this "trustworthy statement" was one that they had popularized. Paul agreed with this viewpoint whatever its source may have been.

2 Peter 2:1 — are God’s people in Old Testament times, the times to which Peter had just been referring (2 Peter 1:19-21). False prophets in Old Testament times sought to lead God’s people away from the revelations of the true prophets (cf. Numbers 22-24; Jeremiah 6:13; Ezekiel 13:9). False teachers in Peter’s time would try to lead God’s people away from the teaching of the apostles. These men-they were typically males in Peter’s day-would arise from the believers (cf. Jeremiah 5:31;

1 John 4:1-6 — 2. God’s Spirit Recognized 4:1-6 The mention of the Holy Spirit in 1 John 3:24 caused John to pause briefly to sound a warning. God’s Spirit is not the only spirit manifest in the world. Some people naively think that any manifestation of a spiritual presence is indication of the Holy Spirit. The apostle explained how to distinguish the Holy Spirit from other spirits at work in the world.

1 John 4:11 — That demonstration of love by God is our model for showing love to others. As God manifested love in (among) us then by sending Jesus Christ, so He manifests His love among us now as we love one another (1 John 4:12-13). "Since no one in all humanity is beyond the reach of our Savior’s sacrificial death, no brother or sister should be beyond our sacrificial love." [Note: Ibid., p. 187.]

Revelation 13:8 — Unbelievers around the world will not only serve Antichrist but also worship him. The "book of life of the Lamb" contains the names of God’s elect (cf. Daniel 12:1-2; Ephesians 1:4). Most if not all true believers will refrain from worshipping Antichrist (cf. Matthew 24:24). The long and unusual description of unbelievers in this verse has the effect of assuring believers during this time that they are indeed secure.

Revelation 19:4 — The 24 elders and the four living creatures echoed these sentiments in a third song of praise (cf. Revelation 4:9-10; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 7:9-11; Revelation 14:3). The one who sits on the throne is evidently God the Father. "Amen" voices the elders’ and creatures’ approval of the two previous expressions of praise (Revelation 19:1-3), and "Hallelujah" expresses their own praise (cf. Revelation 7:12).

Revelation 6:14 — Evidently the sky will appear to split and roll back in two opposite directions (cf. Isaiah 34:4). [Note: Thomas, Revelation 1-7, p. 454.] The universe will seem to be coming apart. Apparently the opening of the sky will give earth-dwellers a glimpse into the throne-room of heaven (Revelation 6:16). Probably the earthquake (Revelation 6:12) will cause mountains and islands to rise and fall (cf. Nahum 1:6).