Front page news on the Sunday paper (Sunday Tribune – South Africa) this week was that a prominent South African politician was made a pastor by a group of independent Charismatic churches this past Saturday. Most of the readers would respond with “so what”. Well, this man was never trained for the ... Read More
Acts XXIV. 22, 23 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them and said, When Lysias the tribune shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should for... Read More
There is a great need in the body of Christ for consistent reading of the Holy Scriptures in their entirety, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. In this case we are encouraging a chronological reading of the Scriptures. Most of the confusion is created when certain teachers, groups, or... Read More
Defending (626) (apologeomai from apó = from + lógos = speech) literally means to speak oneself off, hence to plead for oneself, to defend or speak or plead for oneself before a tribunal or elsewhere The derivative word anapológetos is used in Ro 1:20 of the Gentiles who have "no excuse" (no defense... Read More
Deities (1140)(daimonion from daímon = demon) most often describes demons or evil spirits who have supernatural powers and are neither human nor divine (Mt 7:22). Acts 17:18 refers specifically to to heathen gods. In the context of a Jewish use it more often refers to a demon, evil spirit, devil, or... Read More
Elders (4245) (presbuteros the comparative form of présbus = an old man or an ambassador) (Click Vine's discussion) referred to men who were older or more senior with no negative connotations but rather a sense of venerability. Presbuteros is transliterated into English as “presbyter” (a leader in o... Read More
Perplexed (639)(aporeo/aporeomai - the latter = always used in the middle voice in NT) means literally to be without a way or path (Vine - "a" = negative + "poros" = a way, a transit, a ford, revenue, resource). Thus not to know which way to turn, to be at a loss, to be uncertain, to be "dazed and c... Read More
Perverted (1612) (ekstrepho from ek = out + strépho = to turn) turn out of a place, as for a tree or post from the earth, to turn inside out as a garment. Figuratively as used in this verse (only NT use) ekstrepho means a change for the worse, to subvert or to pervert. Perverted is in the perfect te... Read More
Power (1411) (dunamis from dunamai = to be able, to have power) power especially achieving power. It refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the power or ability to carry out some function, the potential for functioning in some way (power, might, strength, ability, capability), the power resi... Read More
Sinned (264) (hamartano) literally means to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize). Hamartano means to act contrary to the will and law of God. To commit a wrong. To be in error. Hamartano means to err (err is from Latin errare = to wander or to stray!) which means to wander from the right wa... Read More
Politicians in the Pulpit
Homily 51 on the Acts of the Apostles
76 - Chronological Bible Reading of Scriptures
Defending (627) apologeomai
Demons (1140) daimonion
Elders (4245) presbuteros
Perplexed (639) aporeo/aporeomai
Perverted (1612) ekstrepho
Power (Miracles) (1411) dunamis
Sinned (verb) (264) hamartano