Reading John 1:1-14 and chapters 9-10 shows a connection in Messiah Yeshua between the imagery of light and God dwelling among mankind and the festivals of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and Dedication (Chanukah, a.k.a. Lights).
Author: Jeff
Many take Acts 18:6 to mean God gave up on the Jews. Is that what it says in context? If so, why did he take a Nazarite vow after his year and a half in Corinth?
Paul has to “start from scratch” when preaching to the gentiles in Athens and Corinth and has to reach a long way back to find common ground with the Greek philosophers in Athens as well as the commerce-driven, pleasure loving Corinthians. Paul did not have a large community to support him in his evangelist efforts so he had to work with his own two hands to feed himself and his entourage. This may have given him opportunity to be “salt and light” in the marketplaces of the Roman world he was trying to reach to with the Gospel.
Many think Paul “blew it” but getting philosophical among philosophers at the Areapogas (Mars Hill), rather than “just preaching the Cross,” as he did in the synagogues. In reality, Paul did preach the crucified and risen Messiah on Mars Hill, just with a different starting point.
After Paul and Bar-Nabbas part ways for a journey to visit the congregations they reached the first time, Paul seemed to contradict his teachings on circumcision by circumcising Timothy. In Philippi, Paul shut up a demon that had possessed a girl and was haranguing him with truth. Paul and Silas were shut up in prison, then led the jailer to salvation by their rejoicing during their incarceration.
The Shabbat of the seventh day of each week is a memorial that God is the Creator [Gen. 2:2–3; Ex. 20:11] and Redeemer from bondage [Deut. 5:15] and Sanctifier [Exod. 31:13–15], or the One Who sets apart His people from the ignorant or rebellious world. One of the great last messages to the whole world is to “worship Him Who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” Yet today, most children are learning — in school and/or from popular culture — to doubt God because His people are increasingly more afraid of appearing intellectually backward by accepting His testimony of being the Creator than being strong and standing by the only testimony that makes intellectualism possible.
Acts 15 recounts a “watershed” moment among believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) — should believers among the nations be allowed into the assembly of Israel and how. These events didn’t happen in a vacuum. Events from Acts 1–14 — Peter’s encounter with Cornelius and Paul’s first tour of Asia Minor — led to this momentous ruling by the elders. The passage from Amos 9 of restoration of a tabernacle for all believers is important. The Yerushalayim council ruled that we mustn’t “trouble” new believers as they learn Torah.