Tag: Acts

Acts 18:12-22 — Paul In Corinth Part II

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In Part I, we left Paul teaching the word of God in Corinth. As we pick back up, we find Paul still in Corinth and getting in trouble again, something that happened almost everywhere he went. When Paul wrote, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, he was speaking from experience. According to Paul, if your Christianity does not get you in trouble at times, you are not doing it right.

Father, thank You for our trials. It is an honor and a blessing to suffer persecution for your Son. Fill us now with your Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 18:12-22
12 And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat [Gk bema],

Gallio was the older brother of Seneca, the famous Roman senator. Whether Gallio was a good statesman or a bad statesman has been a matter of debate among commentators. As a libertarian, I have mixed feelings about Gallio, and I will explain why.

13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

Their charge was more or less true, from a certain point of view. They were still living by the Old Covenant, and had not considered that maybe it was time for the New Covenant Jeremiah prophesied. (Jer 31:31) These Jewish fanatics are telling the Roman proconsul that Paul is not teaching the Scriptures correctly. Imagine going to the governor’s office in your state capital and telling him there is a guy in town who does not teach the Bible the right way. I recall an instance where church leaders actually did this, ie asked a secular leader to solve their dispute with other church leaders, with the same results we have here in Acts. The secular leader did not care, nor should he have.

14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

In this respect, I like Gallio. He knows how to stay in his lane. He does not want to get involved in disputes between religious leaders over doctrine — especially concerning a religion that he does not practice or know much about.

16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

Weirsbe has a little different take on verse 17 than I do. He says that Sosthenes was beaten by the ‘Greeks’ as an act of antisemitism. The word for ‘Greeks’ in the Majority Text is the same word used for Greek proselytes in other places in Acts. (Aleph and B remove the word, so it just says ‘they all beat Sosthenes’.) So either ‘all the Greeks’ beat Sosthenes, or ‘all the Greek proselytes in the synagogue’ beat Sosthenes. In cases like this, where there is some ambiguity, we have to rely on the Holy Spirit to interpret the meaning for us.

It appears to me that Sosthenes was beaten by Greek proselytes for receiving Christ and hosting Paul. Sosthenes and Crispus (v 8) may even be one and the same person. Many of the people in the Bible have two names (eg Silas/ Silvanus, Timothy/ Timotheus, Priscilla/ Prisca, Saul/ Paulus). In any case, if Sothenes was a successor to Crispus, he became a believer and a fellowservant of Paul (I Cor 1:1), the same as Crispus (I Cor 1:14).

Gallio judged that Paul had not broken any Roman laws. I like that he did not want to get involved with the matter in any way. On the other hand, the way Gallio looked on in indifference as Sosthenes was beaten is more of a gray area. Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Essentially, Franklin was saying war was preferable to tyranny. There can come a point when a government’s powers are so overbearing that any benefits obtained thereby are just not worth it. So what is the proper balance between liberty and safety? I would say your liberty to wave your fists around stops where my nose starts, but without anyone to enforce that, my nose might end up getting in the way of your fist. So in the case of Sosthenes, Gallio took the liberty of the ‘Greeks’ a little too far. From a libertarian perspective, the primary duty of the government is to protect people’s individual rights.

All that remains of the bema seat today is part of the foundation.

Partial foundation of the bema seat viewed from the north side
Acrocorinth can be seen in the background.

The remaining foundation is only one component of the bema seat, which was only one component of the larger Rostra complex. The bema seat was made of marble and had pillars, benches, and other rooms. The Rostra complex was likewise made of marble with pillars and central shops. On the east end was a circular monument. On the west end was a temple to Hermes.

Reconstruction of the Rostra complex, with the bema seat at the center

In his second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul said we must all appear before the bema seat of Christ. (II Cor 5:10) This will probably be the most solemn occasion we will ever experience. We are going to review our lives, and Jesus will judge them. (John 5:22) We will give an account of every idle word we have ever said. (Matt 12:36) We are going to weep for all our shortcomings, our missed opportunities, and all of the ways we have failed Christ. If we are trusting in Christ alone by faith alone, having the seal of the Holy Spirit (ie if we have oil in our lamps), Jesus is going to wipe the tears from our eyes and say [E]nter thou into the joy of thy lord.

I once heard a story about someone who stood before the bema seat, and he was given a box, but Jesus told him he should probably not look inside. Eventually, curiosity got the best of him, and when he opened the box, he started to weep, because the box contained all the things that Jesus wanted to give him but couldn’t, because of his disobedience. Most parents know what it is like to want to give their child a present, only to be stopped from giving it to the child when he is naughty; to have to put it away and hope for a more opportune time in the future.

18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

In our last post, we saw that Paul had already been in Corinth teaching them the word of God for a year and a half. Now, Paul tarries there yet a good while. Paul wrote more to the Corinthians than to any other church. His Letters to them are filled with personal comments about what was happening in the church. He was certainly close to the Corinthian Christians. 

I love the way Paul picks up fellow travelers to serve on his team wherever he goes. Priscilla and Aquila are traveling with him to Ephesus. The vow Paul took was the vow of the Nazarite (Num 6), which Paul had the freedom to do, as a Jewish man under the New Covenant. He also had the freedom not to take a vow. For whatever reason, Paul wanted to take the vow.

Cenchrea is on the south side of the isthmus where Corinth is. Paul and Co walked there from Corinth and took a ship from Cenchrea to Ephesus. It may have been at this time that the church in Cenchrea was planted, or maybe when Paul first met Phoebe. (Rom 16:1) Today, the main road that runs through Cenchrea is called Apostle Paul.

19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them [Priscilla and Aquila] there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

Paul was headed for Ephesus at the beginning of this, his second mission trip, but was directed by the Spirit to go to Macedonia. He may have even wanted to go to Ephesus on his first mission trip, yet was hindered by his thorn in the flesh. (Gal 4:13; II Cor 12:2, 7) Now, at the end of his second mission trip, Paul is finally here in Ephesus, opening the door for him to come back again on his third. That visit may prove to be Paul’s most glorious experience in the mission field. Priscilla and Aquila will be busy in Ephesus while Paul is away, as we will see in our next post.

20 When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

This reference to God’s will is easy to pass over, but it shows Paul’s reliance on the sovereignty of God. An understanding of the sovereignty of God is a great sedative, and it’s free. When I consider the sovereignty of God, I say, Okay, I may not have gotten what I wanted, but God is not done yet. I can trust Him. He knows what He is doing. (Rom 8:28)

22 And when he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch [of Syria].
Acts 18:12-22

‘Gone up’ means gone up to Jerusalem. You always ‘go up’ to Jerusalem. Paul went ‘up’ to Jerusalem, but he went down to Antioch, even though Antioch is north of Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, Paul saluted the church before going back to his home church in Antioch.

Thus ends Paul’s second missionary journey. I do not know about you, but studying the life of Paul makes me feel wholly inadequate as a Christian. I feel like I am going to have no other option at the bema seat but to throw myself on the mercy of the Court. C T Studd famously wrote, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” C T Studd was right. Most of what we build in this life is only wood, hay, and stubble. It’s going to burn.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
I Corinthians 3:11-15

In closing, meditate on this classic poem by brother Studd:

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past
by C.T. Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its days I must fulfill.
living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

__ extra stanza __

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

Acts 17:15-34 – Paul In Athens

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, the troublemakers from Thessalonica pursued Paul to Berea, causing him to flee once more. This persecution kept Paul moving and, in turn, spreading the gospel even more.

In Acts 17, we get a closer look at the world of the New Testament period. Before Christianity triumphed over paganism, the ancient world was a very bizarre place.

As our section opens, Paul is being conducted by sea to Athens, while Silas and Timothy stay behind in Berea and Thessalonica. This allowed them to minister to the new believers who needed discipleship.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and open our understanding as we read your precious word. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 17:15-34
15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

After they drop Paul off in Athens, he gives them a message to take back to Silvanus and Timothy: Come to Athens as soon as possible. When they come, they have a list of questions from the Christians in Thessalonica. It was at this time that Paul wrote I Thessalonians. Then they returned with more questions, so Paul wrote II Thessalonians. Later, Timothy and Silas joined Paul again in Corinth to continue on the mission trip. (Acts 18:5)

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

The patroness of Athens was, of course, Athena. According to legend, Athena bested Poseidon in a contest for patronage of Athens by creating an olive tree. Her idol in the Parthenon atop the Acropolis was 39’ tall, 43’ tall including the base. Made of ivory and clothed in gold, the statue of Athena was a powerful idol, inasmuch as its aesthetic beauty made it very enticing.

For example, many in Southern India worship the folk deity, Muneeswarar, which is nothing more than an oval rock, about 15” long, painted orange, with a horizontal thick black line for a mouth and two X’s for eyes, also made with thick black lines.


AI-generated image

If people will worship that, how much more would they be enticed to worship the colossal image of Athena Parthenos, “Athena the Virgin”? I suspect this is why the Acropolis Museum in Athens does not have a replica. The museum has a small hologram that shows what the idol looked like:

    If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
    And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
    This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
Job 31:26-28

The Roman counterpart to Athena was Minerva. She was therefore worshiped in one form or another throughout the empire. Expanding on the teaching of the Old Testament, Paul wrote that behind every idol a devil is waiting to be worshiped (Deut 32:17; Ps 106:37; I Cor 10:20f), whether it be the sun, the moon, Athena, or Muneeswarar.

Athena was just one of the many idols worshiped in Athens. (More on that below.) Seeing how the city was wholly given to idolatry, a righteous indignation was stirred in Paul. If there is one sin that God really hates, it is idolatry—so much so that God forbade his people to even utter the names of the idols worshiped by the heathen nations. (Ex 23:13)

17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

What was it that Paul was disputing in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons? The Jews did not worship idols. The Babylonian captivity cured them of that, even unto today. Paul was disputing the same thing he preached everywhere he went, the resurrection of Christ.

In the market (Gk agora), Paul got the attention of the Epicureans, who were libertines, and the Stoics, who were ascetics.


The market, viewed from the north
(The Areopagus is directly behind the market, below the Acropolis.)

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?


This screenshot shows where Paul started in the marketplace (the upper-left quarter of the image) before they took him to the Areopagus (lower-left quarter of the image).

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

The Areopagus was dedicated to Ares, the god of war. His Roman counterpart was Mars. Dr Luke gives us the Greek name, Areopagus (lit Hill of Ares), as well as the Latin name in verse 22, Mars’ Hill. This is where the Areopagus Council met to judge cases of murder, sacrilege, and arson.


The summit of Mars’ Hill viewed from the Acropolis

The fact that they led Paul to Mars’ Hill shows that they were interested in hearing what he had to say. Paul had a captive audience, as they are very much into the art of oratory. Paul does not disappoint:

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

It is commonly said today that a better translation of ‘too superstitious’ would be ‘very religious’. Those who make this claim say that Paul would not start by rebuking the Athenians but would rather compliment them. I suppose these same folks would have John the Baptist beginning with ‘O generation of religious brethren, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come’. All kidding aside, Paul’s message is filled with rebukes against idolatry. It would not make much sense, therefore, for him to begin by commending them for it.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

The Athenians had an altar for every god, but if there was a god they did not know about, they did not want to offend him, so they made an altar for him, just in case. Paul is here to tell them about their UNKNOWN GOD.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Paul made this declaration in the midst of a city filled with temples—on Mars’ Hill, where there were many sanctuaries, including that of the Erinyes, or the Furies to the Romans. Directly above was the temple of Athena on the Acropolis.


The Acropolis viewed from Nymphs Hill at nightfall

25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

First Paul attacks their temples, then he attacks the idols inside their temples. Paul’s reference to ‘men’s hands’ was a direct reference to idoatry, ie the work of men’s hands. (Deut 4:28; II Kings 19;18; Ps 115:4; Ps 135;15; Isa 37:19) The Athenians felt their idols honored God, but Paul dispelled this idea. If for no other reason, you have to admire Paul for his bravery. Preaching against idolatry in Athens would be like preaching against basketball in the Crypto.com Arena. 

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Because of their fine architecture, their famous philosophers, their theaters, and the arts, the Athenians thought they were a ‘cut above the rest’. Paul is rebuking their conceit. We have all been made of one blood (ie Adam). The ‘time before appointed’ in their day was the beginning of the church age following the first coming of Christ. In our day, the ‘time before appointed’ is the closing of the church age and the second coming of Christ. They owe their Greek pedigree, which they are so proud of, to God, as He set the bounds of their habitation.

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

The idea that you are closer to God when you go to a temple (or a church) is still widespread today. This was one of the tenets of the Reformation, and born-again Christians understand that one can be just as close to God in his garage or his basement as in a church.

Paul drives his point home by quoting a couple of their Greek poets, Aratus of Soli and Cleanthes. Both had written odes to Zeus, which said, ‘We are his offspring.” Paul does not put a fine point on it to clarify his meaning. They know what he means. Luke 3:38 says Adam was the son of God (cf Gen 2:7).

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

Again Paul strikes at their false gods, which were made of gold, silver, and stone.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The age in which God closed his eyes to their idolatry was so brief from God’s perspective that it was just a wink, but now that Christ is risen, Paul says that all men everywhere need to repent.

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

The ancient Greeks, heavily influenced by Plato, saw bodily resurrection as a foolish idea. Nevertheless, whenever the gospel is given out, there are always those who respond.

33 So Paul departed from among them.

Paul drops his mic and walks away. But some of them follow after him:

34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 17:15-34

To the west of the summit, Mars’ Hill sloped down toward the marketplace. On this slope was the Areopagus residential area, which belonged to the prestigious district of Melite. Dionysius lived there, which means he was a well-to-do individual. According to tradition, Dionysius was Athens’ first bishop, but I wonder who Damaris was? When I was in Athens last year, I noticed that the women were into health and beauty. Many of them could be described as chic. I like to think of Damaris as a Greek matron with style and grace.


Images of Greek matrons

There is no Epistle to the Athenians. Paul preached in the center of Greek philosophy and learning, but the message was not received as well as it was in Thessalonica and Berea. I think it was because they were too smart for their own good. (Pr 26:12; Luke 10:21; I Cor 1:26)

I believe another reason the gospel was not well received in Athens was because of their idolatry. I have never met anyone so blinded to spiritual truth as those who worship idols. There is something of a revival taking place in the Muslim world, but not among Hindus. My experience with them was similar to Paul’s in Athens. There were some who believed, but most were not open to the gospel.

15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
Psalm 135:15-18

The Bible begins with a commandment not to worship idols (Ex 20:3-5), and ends with people worshiping the image of the beast. (Rev 13:14f) Then, as the canon of Scripture closes, those who worship idols are cast into the lake of fire. (Rev 21:8)

But before we are too quick to pass judgment on the Athenians in our text, let us take a look at ourselves. Concerning idolatry, the Bible says:

     For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1 Samuel 15:23

Have you been resisting God’s will in a certain matter? According to the Bible, that is idolatry, and idolaters will not get into heaven. In I Corinthians 6:9, Paul says as much and gives a long list of other sins that will keep people out of heaven. But then he writes, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (I Cor 6:11) In other words, our sins are forgiven. If you have not yet received Christ as your Saviour, do not delay. Repent of your sin, and abide in the word which will cleanse you of your sins. (Ps 119:9)

In closing, I do not think there is any question that AI is the Parthenon of our day. I used AI to generate an image for this post, which is a story in itself. First, it denied that such an idol as I described existed in India. Then, I used a more advanced version that conceded the idol existed, but said there are no images available on the web. So I had it generate one, which was laughable, as it made it look shiny and spiffy. After some more tries and Photoshoping it to make it look realistic, I asked the AI how it was able to generate the image if it could not find a picture to go by. It then denied generating the image. The amount of money and energy consumption being poured into AI is nothing short of obscene, but that is nothing compared to the effect it is having on society. It is all leading to the mark of the beast and the image of the beast in Revelation 13. Jesus is the way out. I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 16:16-40 — Spiritual Warfare In Philippi – New Life In Christ

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul and Co (Silas, Timothy, and Dr Luke) were being hosted by a Christian family in Philippi — Lydia of Thyatira and her household, who were all baptized shortly after Paul arrived in Philippi. (Acts 16:15) The year is now circa 50 AD.

Philippi was an economic powerhouse, made rich by nearby gold mines. Shortly after the famous Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, a decisive engagement that changed the course of Western history, Philippi was made a Roman colony. Philippi was a walled city with an impressive Roman forum. Adjacent to the forum was a theater that was built in the 4th Century BC.

Aside from the imperial cult of the Roman emperor, Claudius, the standard pantheon of gods was worshiped in Philippi, along with other deities. By preaching Christ, Paul was declaring war on the order of the day, not just for the Romans, but the Greeks and the Jews as well. Paul was God’s CDO.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Father, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 16:16-40
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

This is typical of demonic behavior I have witnessed myself firsthand. She is drawing attention to herself and away from Paul, making a mockery of his ministry. Satan is not happy with Paul’s preaching.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Curious that even though the demon did not instantly come out, Paul did not continue with a lengthy deliverance session. Ostensibly, Paul trusted by faith that the demon would leave after his rebuke, and shortly thereafter, it did.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

The word translated as marketplace is agora, but most of the Philippians would have called it the forum, as Romans who spoke Latin.


The ruins of the agora in Philippi


Model of the agora in Philippi (2nd Century AD)

20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

The slavegirl’s masters think they can easily attack Paul because he is Jewish. There’s still a lot of that going on today. Antisemitism has been steadily increasing, particularly over the last few decades, but those who oppose the Jews bring a curse on themselves. (Gen 12:3; 27:29; Num 24:9) A guy named Haman comes to mind. (Esther 7:10) Someone may read this and protest, citing war crimes by Israel in Gaza, but in the end, God will deal with Israel the same way He will with all of us. (Ez 16:59-63) We are all a work in progress, but the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. (Ps 135:4)

21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

According to the Archaeological Museum of Philippi, this underground water reservoir was Paul’s prison cell. Later, it became a place of worship and was decorated with frescoes.


Interior of the prison cell

24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

God used the suffering of Paul and Silas as a witness to the other prisoners, the jailer, and his family. Everyone saw how these guys who were just beaten were singing praises to God. Then…

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

There was a Roman law that said if a prisoner escaped, the jailer would have to serve out his sentence. Philippi being a Roman colony, that law would have been in force. If all the prisoners escaped, the jailer would have multiple sentences stacked on him, probably including capital punishment. Yet not only are Paul and Silas still there, but the other prisoners as well.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

The thought here is not a guarantee that your family will be saved if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather that they will be saved if they too believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, I cannot help but think that maybe Paul was giving the jailer a word of knowledge. (I Cor 12:7) Maybe Paul knew the family was going to follow.

The important thing to notice about verse 31 is that salvation is a free gift that was available to the jailer and his family if they would simply believe.

32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

They presented the gospel to the jailer’s family. I believe Dr Luke pointed this out to show that they had to make their own decisions for Christ for themselves.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

The same thing happened with Lydia’s family. They all followed her in her new faith and were baptized, believing on the gospel. Now the jailer and Lydia are brother and sister in Christ. Their families worship together at church meetings. (Pr 22:2)

The Philippian jailer is a perfect example of a transformed life. They say that before you die, your life flashes before your eyes. When the Philippian jailer drew out his sword and looked at his life, he knew he was in trouble. He knew Paul had the truth. He wanted what Paul was offering through faith in Christ. He was immediately changed. He ministered to Paul and Silas in washing their stripes and feeding them. He and his family were rejoicing.

34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

This is one of the things I like about Paul; he never ‘rolls over’ but always stands up for what is right. The easiest thing to do would have been to just leave, but Paul wants the magistrates to admit their wrongdoing.

38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

Because Paul stood up for himself, he now has some information that the magistrates know he can use against them. The magistrates thought Paul and his company were Jews — ‘nobodies’ whom Claudius had expelled from Rome. (Acts 18:2) When they learn that Paul is a Roman citizen, they realize they are in serious trouble. This works to the advantage of the new church just formed in Philippi. The magistrates come to Paul with their hats in their hands now, saying, Please, sir, can you move along, and can we put all this behind us?

40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Acts 16:16-40

 

My takeaway from this section is the new life we have in Christ. Psychology tries to dig into one’s past to look for answers. Satan loves to remind us of our past. He tries to make us fixate on past mistakes. The Philippian jailer had a lot of mistakes in his past, no doubt, but looking backward is not the answer. As Christians, we are to look forward. Paul would later write to the Philippians:

   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
   I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13, 14

The Philippian jailer is now with the in crowd, from a kingdom perspective. His future is in the New Jerusalem. I suspect that Christians in 1st Century Philippi were not the most respected people in the community, but Philippi was on the way out. Dying. Yesterday’s news. The New Jerusalem is where the future is. The jailer’s name is written in heaven now.

Father, thank You that your Son is making all things new. We pray You will send Him back soon to fetch us all home to meet You. In the meantime, fill us with your Holy Spirit day by day and give us the wisdom to make good decisions. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prophecy Update: A local teenager on Oahu, Sophia King, said what nobody else would say at a recent neighborhood meeting: The flooding was intentional. (Ps 8:2; Isa 11:6)

Fifteen-year-old Sophia’s name means Wisdom in Greek. They have had the technology to create storms or steer existing storms for decades now. The fact that they did not steer it away shows intent. It looks a lot like what happened in Lahaina on Maui. What comes around goes around, and Revelation 11:18 says that God is going to destroy them which destroy the earth. As the war in Iran continues to escalate, that day is fast approaching. Although wars in the Middle East are nothing new, this one in particular seems to be preparing the stage for the Magog scenario of Ezekiel 38 and 39, which takes place right around the time of the rapture. Of course, no man knows the day or the hour, but wisdom says it is time to prepare. (Matt 25:1-13)

Just as Philippi was on the way out, so is this world. The rich of this world think they can manipulate the future to their advantage. There is a name that appears nearly 12,000 times in the Epstein files: Rothschild. The rich think the future is in AI. They are pouring trillions into new data centers that, when completed, will make today’s AI look antiquated. They think they will be the victors in a technocratic future, but their future a house of cards. Dying. Yesterday’s news. Satan’s kingdom is fallen. (Matt 24:21f; Rev 18:2) The Bible says the great men of the earth are going to hide themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. They are going to cry, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The New Jerusalem is where the future is. Remember that if AI takes away your livelihood. Make no mistake, AI is changing things. Add 3D printing to the mix and we are looking a very different economy coming our way. I recommend you get ahead of what is coming and prepare accordingly. Here is an excerpt from the article linked above:

How fast this is actually moving
Let me make the pace of improvement concrete, because I think this is the part that’s hardest to believe if you’re not watching it closely.
In 2022, AI couldn’t do basic arithmetic reliably. It would confidently tell you that 7 × 8 = 54.
By 2023, it could pass the bar exam.
By 2024, it could write working software and explain graduate-level science.
By late 2025, some of the best engineers in the world said they had handed over most of their coding work to AI.
On February 5th, 2026, new models arrived that made everything before them feel like a different era.
If you haven’t tried AI in the last few months, what exists today would be unrecognizable to you.

By ‘getting ahead of what is coming’, what I mean is that if your job involves looking at a computer screen, you are going to have to learn to use AI or transition into a different profession. The trades are lucrative endeavors. You could probably make as much or more working for an oil company in Texas or as a welder in the Midwest, than you can as a professional working with computers. I make more as a truck driver than I ever did in printing management, which is a highly technical field.

In closing, through faith in Christ, we have new life in Christ, life everlasting. I do not need to fix the old Mike because he is dead. His sins are washed away. The new Mike is a new creation in Christ (II Cor 5:17) with a glorious future in the New Jerusalem. New Mike is still a work in progress as long as he is in his old body, but he is forgiven.

Our section began with a demon-possessed servant girl trying to disrupt Paul’s gospel presentations, but she was delivered. Our section ends with another family receiving the free gift of everlasting life through faith in Christ. Paul and Silas were thrown in jail, but they were delivered too. Everyone in this section was delivered. Paul will have to go to jail again. In fact, that is where he will be when he writes his letter to the Philippians (house arrest in Rome), but he will still be the Lord’s freeman.

Let me leave you with this, as we see the day approaching:

    Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Hebrews 12:14

Acts 15:30-41 — Teaching And Preaching

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, the first church council decided the controversy in Antioch of Syria, whereby the Judaizers were attempting to bring the brethren into the bondage of the law. We learned the key to a pure heart (Ps 24:4; Pr 22:11; Matt 5:8; I Tim 1:5; II Tim 2:22; I Pet 1:22) is faith. Acts 15:9 says our hearts are purified by faith.

Before we move on, however, I want to revisit what I wrote about how Paul may have written to the Galatians by the time of the first church council in Acts 15. This agrees with contemporary conservative scholarship, but I got to thinking about whether we should be looking a little further back. For example, we find some interesting information in the postscripts that the KJV translators included in the Pauline Epistles:

Romans
¶ Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
I Corinthians
¶ The first epistle of the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Archaicus, and Timotheus.
II Corinthians
¶ The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.
Galatians
¶ Unto the Galatians written from Rome.
Ephesians
¶ Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.
Philippians
¶ It was written to the Philippians from Rome by Epaphroditus.
Colossians
Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
I Thessalonians
¶ The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
II Thessalonians
¶ The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
I Timothy
¶ The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.
II Timothy
¶ The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Titus
¶ It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.
Philemon
¶ Written from Rome to Philemon by Onesimus a servant.
Hebrews
¶ Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.

These postscripts were carried over from the Euthalian tradition, which the KJV translators considered to be authoritative. Modern commentators may scoff at this notion, but not so fast; some recent scholarship has shed new light on the subject.

In Volume 67 of New Testament Tools, Studies and Documents, leading academics compiled a catalogue of manuscripts containing the Euthalian tradition. When one considers the scope of this data, it becomes clear that the Euthalian tradition is a rich source of information. For example:

“The Euthalian system was the primary arbiter of most of the Greek New Testament’s works (everything except the gospels and the book of Revelation) for over a millennium, something that nearly every reader would have encountered, even if selectively.” (1)

Hundreds and hundreds of manuscripts still contain references from the Euthalian system. The references to the cities from which Paul wrote and his “co-authors” are preserved in dozens of extant manuscripts. (2)

In this post, we will be embarking on Paul’s second missionary journey. To make a thorough study of Acts, we should be reading Paul’s Epistles as we travel along with him to the areas where he planted churches. Based on the information available, here is a list of possible dates for Paul’s Epistles (and the rest of the New Testament):

1 James: 45–50 AD
2 I Thessalonians: 50–51 AD
3 II Thessalonians: 51–52 AD
4 I Corinthians: 53–55 AD
5 II Corinthians: 55–57 AD
6 Romans: 56–58 AD
7 Philemon: 60–62 AD
8 Galatians: 60–62 AD
9 Ephesians: 60–62 AD
10 Philippians: 61–63 AD
11 Colossians: 60–62 AD
12 I Timothy: 63–65 AD
13 II Timothy: 63–67 AD
14 Titus: 64–67 AD
15 Hebrews: 63–65 AD
16 Gospel of Matthew: 37–55 AD
17 Gospel of Mark: 63–70 AD
18 Gospel of Luke: 60–63 AD
19 Acts: 63–70 AD
20 Gospel of John: 85–90 AD
21 I John: 85–95 AD
22 II John: 85–95 AD
23 III John: 85–95 AD
24 I Peter: 64–67 AD
25 II Peter: 64–67 AD
26 Jude: 50–65 AD
27 Revelation: 94–96 AD

You may have noticed that I included Hebrews in the Pauline Epistles, bolded in the list above. Again, the KJV translators believed Paul wrote Hebrews. It seems plain to me that they had more insight than the translators of our day. The Euthalian postscript says it was written by Timothy, typical of Paul’s letters. Someone may protest, saying that the KJV translators included the Apocrypha in their version. However, in the original 1611 version, the Apocrypha was placed between the Old and New Testaments for historical references only. They did not consider the Apocrypha to be Scripture.

Hebrews makes 14 letters in total by Paul, the number of completion. As a Pharisee and the most successful missionary among the apostles, Paul would be the obvious choice to author Hebrews, as Paul had the gravitas required to address the Hebrews on the vital subject of New Covenant grace. His fingerprints can be seen in Hebrews 10:38, 11, 13:1 et al. Paul probably left the Epistle unsigned because of the controversy attached to his name among his fellow countrymen. Moreover, Paul understood that he was only an instrument; the real Author was the Holy Spirit.

Now we will pick up where we left off in our last post.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your precious word, which is more than our necessary food, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 15:30-41
30 So when they were dismissed, they [Paul, Barnabas, Judas Barsabas, and Silas] came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

This is the Epistle which the apostles in Jerusalem sent back to Antioch (Acts 15:20), establishing the doctrine of New Covenant grace. The Gentiles would not have to be circumcised as the Judaizers were telling them.

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

I would have rejoiced too! I have never been the sort of person who likes rules. Whenever I have gone looking for a job, if there were paragraphs of cold, detailed information in the job description, I kept scrolling until I found a simple job description with a friendly tone.

I feel the same way about churches. There are quite a few of them that still have not gotten the memo. (Acts 15:20, 29)

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Teaching and preaching are key components of the ministry. In many churches, you hear a lot of preaching, but very little teaching. A teaching ministry grows a church and makes it healthy. According to Paul, that is the reason for the church: to teach the saints and equip them for the ministry. (Eph 4:11f)

36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

Paul has a shepherd’s heart. I confess that I have fallen short in this area. We should make the spiritual health of those we lead to Christ our top priority.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

In some ways, Barnabas shows even more grace than Paul. Barnabas was willing to give his nephew a second chance. Paul, not so much. An argument ensued:

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas [aka Silvanus], and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Acts 15:30-41

When Christians disagree with one another, often the result is the same as it was for Paul and Barnabas, which is good, in that it leads to multiplication. (Rom 8:28) Now their missionary efforts will be doubled. According to tradition, after Barnabas returned to his native Cyprus, he continued to Northern Africa and planted churches. We know John Mark from the Gospel he authored, so suffice it to say everything worked out after all. Paul eventually came around and received Mark as a fellowservant. (Col 4:10; II Tim 4:11; Philem 23f) We will not hear from Barnabas again in Acts, but there are a lot of adventures still to come. Paul and Silas are just getting started.

1 Garrick V. Allen, Kimberley A. Fowler, Emanuele Scieri, Maxim Venetskov, The Euthalian Tradition of the New Testament: A Catalogue of Greek Manuscripts (Leiden/ Boston: BRILL, 2025), p 1.
2. Ibid, p 352.

Acts 13:1-12 — Paul and Barnabas Launch Out Into the Deep and Let Down Their Nets

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

As Acts 12 closed, we saw Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark returning to Antioch. As Acts 13 opens, we see a diverse cast of characters in the church at Antioch:

• Barnabas (lit The son of consolation) of Cyprus, named so by the apostles.
• Simeon called Niger, possibly ‘Simon of Cyrene’ who carried the cross for Jesus.
• Lucius of Cyrene.
• Manaen, who was raised in the royal household of Herod Antipas. (Pr 22:2)
• Saul of Tarsus, the main character of Acts, aside from Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

They appear to all be Greek-speaking Jews. This alludes to the shift taking place in the body of Christ as Gentiles are added to the church. Greek-speaking church leaders can more easily relate to Gentiles than speakers of Aramaic or Hebrew.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit as we read your word. Give us understanding, that we may each grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We pray this in his holy and precious name. Amen.

Acts 13:1-12
NOW there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger [lit, Black], and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to [served] the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

In my post on Acts 11:19-30, I said I have never made a prophecy. Come to think of it, I did have something like that happen once, but it was so long ago I almost forgot about it. In the mid-90s, a friend was diagnosed with a horrible illness for which there is no cure. I said that she would be healed, which she was. That may not be a prophecy per se, but I have had many similar experiences where God showed me something concerning the future. Like in the verses above, several of my other friends were told the same thing I was, by the Spirit, and all at the same time. (It is implied in verse 2 that the Holy Ghost spoke to all of them about Barnabas and Saul.) From the beginning of the Bible, God speaks to his people. We see this continued in the Book of Acts and in the church today.

Notice it says they ministered to the Lord (not the church). This begs the question, how can one minister to the Lord? If someone is hungry and you feed them, thirsty and you give them drink, a stranger and you take them in, naked and you clothe them, sick and you visit them, in prison and you come to them, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Church service is service to the Lord.

If you will do these things, Jesus said one day you will hear Him say, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: But Jesus also said, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

I recall an outreach by a church in Margao. They fasted and prayed for months before they went out. Then, when they went into the neighborhoods one Sunday afternoon, every door they knocked on that day was answered by someone who listened and said the sinner’s prayer with them. If you are going to evangelize, prayer and fasting are essential. 

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Seleucia was the seaport of Antioch, on the Mediterranean coast at the mouth of the River Orontes. The island of Cyprus is where Barnabas is from. (Acts 4:36) This makes for a smooth transition into missions work, as Barnabas is familiar with the area.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

John Mark is Barnabas’ nephew. (Col 4:10) He was led to Christ by Peter. (I Pet 5:13) He is also the author of the Gospel According to Mark. In Mark 14:51, 52, Mark seems to drop a hint that he was there the night Jesus was arrested.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer [Gk magos (1)], a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

Like Simon in Acts 8, we have another ‘sorcerer’ here. 

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

From this point forward, Dr Luke refers to Saul by his Greek name, Paulos, meaning ‘small’ or ‘humble’. According to Weiersbe, as a Roman citizen, Paul’s full Roman (Latin) name was probably Saul Paulus, as many Jews had both Jewish and Roman names.

10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Acts 13:1-12

Paul deals with Elymas in much the same way that Peter dealt with Simon the sorcerer, with a stinging rebuke. Paul, however, adds a curse. He removes the sorcerer’s ability to see, but only for a season. The Holy Spirit is patient, even with wicked sinners. Thank God for that, because I need that grace. Elymas may look bad, but not so much if I take an honest look at myself. Sin always looks worse on someone else. We all need God’s grace and mercy.

For Paul to make such a pronouncement — that Elymas would not be able to see — it took faith. The Bible says faith is a spiritual gift. (I Cor 12:9) When had my prophetic experience concerning my friend’s healing in the 90’s, I had the faith to tell everyone in my office that God was going to heal her. It was not very difficult, as God had spoken this truth into my heart, the same way I suppose He did for Paul. It says that when Paul made this pronouncement, he was filled with the Holy Ghost. If you fill your mind and your heart with the word of God, He gives you the gift of faith. (Rom 10:17) If you fill your mind with the things of the world, it will have the opposite effect.

We are now into the final division in the Book of Acts, following the outline in Acts 1:8. Paul, Barnabas, and Mark are taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. As our section ends, the curse on Elymas leads to the conversion of the deputy, Sergius Paulus, and we have another astonished Christian, much like we had in Chapter 12. Our God is an astonishing God, indeed.

 

1 The sorcerers in Acts (Gk magi) were foolish, but the magi in Matthew 2 were wise men. Greek words, like words in any other language, have different definitions depending on the context.