07-02 - From Heb-7 Lk-3 Mk-1

N.Testament & Prophecy Advanced CU Study, verses paraphrased  [ ] references { } thots

Hebrews 7:13-17 Luke 3:15-22 Mark 1:9-13

             ☀️ A.M. Hebrews 7:13-17

13 - The one these things are spoken about belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it’s evident our Lord was descended from Judah. And about that tribe Moses didn’t say anything about priests.

     15 So this becomes even more evident when a new priest arises in the example of Melchizedek, 16 who is a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning one’s descent, but by the power of an indestructible {non-entropic} life. 17 For it is testified of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” {Who seemed, by the way met, to have a non ending priesthood.}

            🌙 P.M. Luke 3:15-22, Mark 1:9-13

15 - As the people were wondering about John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 he answered them, saying, “I baptize you with water! But he who is mightier than I is coming! The strap of whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie! He’ll baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with {his} fire! {Spirit.} 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand! To clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” {Chaff is part of the wheat.. the kernal goes into his barn - “we’re the big door prize” - Jn Prine. And the chaff is blown away in the breeze.. {like what occurs during “the 8th day”. And it’s HE who has the winnowing fork! Not Satan with a pitchfork in his forever kingdom of pain, sorrow, and death, and 80% or more of all humanity.. Lol, God “is Perfect” Mt.5:48.}

     18 And with many other exhortations John proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch (the son of Herod the Great who had tried to destroy/devour Jesus when he was one or two years of age, Rev.12:4, the chapter is the middle of three tellings of the revelation vision - with Mt.23:39) who had been publicly scolded by John for Herodias, his brother's wife, adding to all the evil he had already done, 20 he locked John up in prison.

     21 When the people were baptized [“preparing the way before him”] and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit {Presence of God in fullness} descended and alighted upon him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son. With you I am well pleased.”

    MARK 1:9 - In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. 11 And there was heard a voice from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son, and with you, I am well pleased.” [“We shall be like him.”]

     12 Then the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. {First gone rogue one. God, being Life, suffers all things, and endowed thinking and reasoning ability to mankind and angelkind anyway! And engineered this ‘quick’ one & done contrast/proof.} And he was with the wild animals {I bet they were friendly with him} and the angels ministered to him.

           

Tomorrows verses, 07/03

Hebrews 7:18-24  Luke 3:23-4:15

Start/End the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Jesus said he “will draw all” Jn.12:32.

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

06-28 - From Heb-6 Lk-2

N.Testament & Prophecy Advanced CU Study, verses paraphrased  [ ] references { } thots

Hebrews 6:12-18  Luke 2:39-52

             ☀️ A.M. Hebrews 6:12-18

12 We aught not be spiritually sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 When God made the promise to Abraham, he swore by his own self and his own name. This is because there is none greater than he. 14 And what he said was, “Surely - I will bless you, and multiply you.” 15 And so Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

     16 We swear by something greater than our self, and in disputes, an oath is final. {Notarized, stamped, sealed.} 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise, the - unchangeable character - of his purpose - he guaranteed it with an oath (Isaiah 45:23).

     18 And so by these two unchangeable things {the promise/oath, and} it’s impossible for God to lie, we flee to him for refuge. And we hold fast to the hope that’s set before us, due to such strong encouragement.

     [The word translated encouragement, is the Greek, paraklésis - which means comfort, appeal, consolation, urging, exhortation, encouragement. It’s root is paraclete, paráklētos - Jesus said to the disciples, “I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk.24:49). Earlier he had said “I am going to the Father ..I will ask him, and he’ll give you another Helper (paráklētos) to be with you to the age/aion” (Jn.14:16). {Surprise, the very Spirit/Presence of God, Father himself!} The helper, advocate, paráklētos, is from the words, pará which means “from close-beside”, and kaléō - to call, make a call. {Who calls? God calls.} Also means “a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close beside”.]

            🌙 P.M. Luke 2:39-52

39 - And when Mary and Joseph had done everything according to the Law of the LORD, they returned to their own town of Nazareth, in Galilee. 40 And the child (Jesus) grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

     41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of Passover. 42 And when he was twelve, they went up as was their habit, 43 but this time, when the festival was over and they were returning home, they didn’t know Jesus had stayed behind. 44 Thinking he was in the group, they went a day's journey, before they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 And when they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

     46 After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and at his answers.

     48 When Joseph and Mary saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said, “Son! Why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 But he said, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know I must be in my Father's house?”

     50 They didn’t really understand what he meant. 51 And he went with them, to his hometown of Nazareth, always obedient to them.

     And Mary treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And the boy Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with both God and man.

     [Luke likely wrote his accounts largely by interview. He was a Greek doctor who met Paul when Paul was on the second of his three missionary travels. Four, if we count the journey to Rome “in chains”.]

           

Tomorrows verses, 06/29

Hebrews 6:19-7:3  Luke 3:1-6

Start/End the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Jesus said he “will draw all” Jn.12:32.

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

06-14 - From Heb-2 Mt-28

N.Testament & Prophecy Advanced CU Study, verses paraphrased  [ ] references { } thots

Hebrews 2:12-14  Matthew 28:16-20

            ☀️ A.M. Hebrews 2:12-14

12 - The scripture also says, “I will tell of your name [onoma - name, reputation, authority, cause] to my brothers [adelphois - brothers and sisters, of same womb]. In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again [palin - (as) oscillatory repetition] “Behold, I and the children God has given me” (Jn.13:3).

     {Note: the word “regeneration” when Jesus said “at the regeneration” Mt.19:28, the word is paliggenesia - from palin - again, and genesis - so palin(again)genesis. After the ReGenesis, “The lion will eat straw like the ox, the bear will graze with the cow..” Is.11:7.}

     14 And since the children share in flesh and blood, he did also, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding/using [echó - having, holding, possessing] the strength [kratos - dominion, power, strength] of death, that is, the devil [diabolos - devil, accuser, slanderer; defamer in order to hurt, malign, condemn, to bring down, destroy]. 

            🌙 P.M. Matthew 28:16-20

16 - Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had said to go to. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him. But some had doubted. 18 And Jesus said to them, “All authority, in heaven and upon earth, has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit{/Presence of God}, 20 teaching them to observe all that I’ve instructed you. And behold, I’m with you always, to the completion of the age.”

     {A new age had begun. The good news began its triumphal march, all while all things are being let to run their course in this Truth proving drama, this ‘quick’ one and done. “God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all” Ro.11:32. “As a plan for the fullness of time” (at the completion) “to bring together all in Christ..” Eph.1:10.}

          

Tomorrows verses, 06/15

Hebrews 2:15-18  Lk.24:49-53, Mk.16:19,20

Start/End the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Jesus said he “will draw all” Jn.12:32.

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

ACTS 2 22-41

 Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased  [ ] ref  { } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

(Review - At Pentecost that year, seven weeks after resurrection, the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) was poured out upon the believers. It came as a wild and rushing wind which caused quite a stir and confusion among those in Jerusalem for Pentecost, so Peter stood up to speak, and concluded with) 22 - “Fellow Israelites, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man, was shown to you by God with many mighty works, wonders, and signs, that God did through him among you — as you yourselves know. 23 This Jesus, was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, when you crucified and killed him by the hands of lawless men.” {The gone astray, lawless world.} 24 “But God raised him up, loosing the anguish of death, because it wasn’t possible for death to hold him. 25 For David [known to be a prophetical ‘type’ of Jesus]  says concerning it, ‘I saw the LORD always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken, 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced! My flesh/body also will abide in expectation. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to hades” [verse 27 is a - word for word - quote of Ps.16:10, only replacing “sheol, where there’s no doing nor knowing/awareness” Eccles.9:10, with the Greek hades - not seen (aka gone)] “nor will you let your holy one see corruption. 28 You make known to me the path of Life! You make me full of gladness with your Presence!’” [Soul is nephesh - soul/psyche, life, self, person, heart, creature, mind, living being. “You will not abandon me ..to (the) sheol.”}

     29 “Brethren! I may say to you with confidence, about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried. His tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, he knew God had sworn with an oath (Ps.45:23) to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne (Ps.132:11). 31 And he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to sheol, nor did his flesh see corruption” (Ps.16:10, according to original word use).

     32 “This Jesus, God raised up. And of that - we’re all witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of His Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” {Father and Son are so close, both administer God’s Spirit/Presence, same as will saturate and seal” all creation and humanity.}

     34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens! But he prophesied - ‘The LORD said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’” [1Cor.15:22-28 w/ Mt.13:33, key word 3, barley, wheat, grape. Whereas Mt.13:30 is Rev.16:14-15-16 and, or Mt.25:1-13(10) — Much later completing JN.5:28,29].

     36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

     37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers! What shall we do!?”

     38 And Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins [hamartia - missing the mark] and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, all whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” {Exodus 33:14 - “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”}

     40 And with many other words he bore witness (testified) saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation/what was generated!” {This imperfection/entropy, that “doesn’t quit”. Purposely generated/allowed, because an Ant Farm is no paradise.} 41 So those who received his message were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Next - 2:42-47

05-29 - From 2Tim-2 Jn-19

N.Testament & Prophecy Advanced CU Study, verses paraphrased  [ ] references { } thots

 2 Timothy 2:7-15  John 19:14-22

            ☀️ A.M. 2 Timothy 2:7-15

7 - Think over what I (Paul) am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead! The offspring of David, as told in the gospel [news] I proclaim, 9 and for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect {elected/chosen during this brief lifetime for specific reason, and to keep the message alive and intact} that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with enduring glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy. For if we have died with him {the imperfect human nature.. the flaws .. an exchange!} we will also LIVE {the intended nature} with him 12 if we endure {this wicked, pushy, bullying world and any impediment} then we will also reign with him. {During long second advent? A full scope version of his so brief first one. Helping, called reigning..} But should we reject [arneomai - from rheō - speak, say, flow; and A - not] him, he also will not receive us, 13 {but!} if we are faithless, HE remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

     {God “is Love” LIFE, and “is perfect” so it’s simply that imperfect is this slow gehenna crucible, entropy and life as we presently know it, an unavoidable yet all important contrast. Unavoidable because an ant farm is no paradise, so this ‘quick’ one&done, let the dis-ease run its course. Total ant farm versus total ‘herd’ immunity.}

     14 Remind them (Timothy) of these things (he, Paul, had taught them) and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to shrink back, righTly handling the word of truth.

            🌙 P.M. John 19:14-22

14 - Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover {meal. Which, strangely enough is not on Passover (Nisan 14) the days begin at sunset rather than midnight. The Passover meal is eaten after dark - like the day and events it commemorates. First Day of Unleavened Bread, a ‘Sabbath’ is on Nisan 15. Jesus dies on Passover - which is a “preparation day”. There being three of them during Spring Holy Week, as there are three Sabbaths/strict no work days, and Nisan 15 is one of them.

     The WeeK was fulfilled PERFECTLY by the Lord’s first {so brief} advent. He died on Passover, even at Passover hour. He was put into the grave as 1st Unleavened Bread day was beginning.. And he rose exactly three days later as the regular weekly Sabbath was ending or had just ended, and Firstfruits, the third holy day of the week, is beginning.

     Then seven weeks later, on Pentecost, which also always fell on a Sunday - now Sonday! - God’s Holy Spirit/Presence was poured out upon the believers/followers.

     Jesus, the Son, is the onLy straight out from God one, being so close to the Father, that both Father and Son administer God’s Spirit/Presence. Same Spirit that will saturate and “seal” all of creation (greek kosmos) and humanity. “The lion will eat straw like the ox and the bear will graze with the cow” Isaiah 11:7.}

     It was about the sixth hour, and Pilate said to the people, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him! Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests, the leaders, answered “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

     And so they took him, 17 and he went out carrying his cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is Golgotha. (Hebrew being a dialect of Aramaic.) 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” and he had it put on the cross. 20 Many read the inscription, for it was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests (leaders) said to Pilate, “Don’t write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but write, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I’ve written, I’ve written.”

           

Tomorrows verses, 05/30

2 Timothy 2:16-21  Matthew 27:39-49

Start/End the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Jesus said he “will draw all” Jn.12:32.

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

ACTS 2 1-21

 Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased  [ ] ref  { } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

Brief review/background from chapter one - In the first book (the gospel bearing Luke’s name) ..I (Luke) have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up, having given instructions through the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He, by many proofs, presented himself alive after his suffering, having appeared to them for forty days after it and speaking about the kingdom of God to them. 4 And while he was still there, he told them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. “The promise you heard from me 5 for John baptized with water, but you’ll be baptized with the Holy Spirit (with God’s veRy Presence!) a few days from now.”

     2:1 And so later, when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly! A sound like a mighty rushing wind from above! And it filled the entire house where they were. 3 Flames of fire like tongues appeared above each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.

     5 Now there were in Jerusalem Hebrews/Jews, devout men from many nations. 6 And at the sound of the mighty wind, a crowd came together, and they were bewildered, because everyone was hearing them speak in their own language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear them, each in our own language? 9 Parthians and Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia! From Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome! 11 Jews and proselytes both, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongue the mighty works of God!”

     12 And they were amazed and puzzled, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They’re filled with wine!”

     14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, spoke up, saying “Men of Judea! And all who are here in Jerusalem! Understand this, and listen to what I say. 15 These are not drunk. It’s only the third hour of the day! 16 But this is what was prophesied by the prophet Joel when he said, ‘In the last days - God says - I will pour out my Spirit upon all the living. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 On my male servants and on my female servants, in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. 19 I’ll show signs in the heavens above, and signs upon the earth below. And there will be fire, and blood, and vapor of smoke 20 the sun will turn to darkness {from the smoke?} and the moon to blood {reflecting red of fires?} before it is the day of the Lord - the great and magnificent ‘day’! 21 And all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved [sozo - saved, healed, preserved, rescued].’”

     {Saved from what? From the dangers at hand? And ultimately from death (& its cause).. “the wage/result of sin - greek hamartia - missing the mark - is death” (beginning with entropy “which does not quit”) Romans 6:23. This is unavoidable because God iS life and “is perfect” Mt.5:48, Jn.12:32. So the remedy was built in from the beginning/foundation, Rev.13:8.} {And part of the “good news of the kingdom” is, life, creation, has to be perfect. And God has each person’s highest blueprint.. “beneath us are the everlasting arms” Deuteronomy 33:27, a word/message/logos to every human being there is and ever has been and will be. Like footprints in the sand.. And sand through the hourglass..} ..was waxing poetic in the 2025 study, lol.

Next Week - 2:22-41

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

05-08 - 1Pet-1 Jn-12

N.Testament & Prophecy Advanced CU Study, verses paraphrased  [ ] references { } thots

 • 1Peter 1:8-12  John 12:37-50 and, separately, a quick summary of Paul’s travels. The new annual study through Acts begins 3rd week in May (around Pentecost).

            ☀️ A.M. 1Peter 1:8-12

8 - Though you’ve never seen him, you love him. Though you don’t see him, you believe [pisteúō - from pístis and peíthō - (are) persuaded, faith, trust, believe] in him, and rejoice with a joy inexpressible and filled with glory! 9 This is the fruit and result of your faith [pisteúō] the salvation of your soul.

     10 And concerning this salvation, the prophets of long ago, prophesied about the grace that is now yours! For which they diligently searched, 11 looking for what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating, when he predicted his sufferings and the subsequent glory. 12 It was revealed to them that they were prophesying not about their own time, but were prophesying things that have now happened to you, which happened because the good news was told to you by those who proclaimed it by the Holy Spirit {God’s Spirit/Presence} having been sent from heaven. Things into which angels long to look into.

            🌙 P.M. John 12:37-50

37 - Though Jesus had done so many signs before the people, they still didn’t believe [pisteuó - believe, have faith, trust, be persuaded].

     38 So the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled - “LORD, who has believed his report? And to whom was the arm of the LORD revealed?” 39 They couldn’t believe. For Isaiah had said (prophesied), 40 “HE has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.

     42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they didn’t admit it, fearing they would be put out of {polite society} the synagogue, 43 for they esteemed the glory {and opinion} of man {and society of the day} more than the {opinion of and} glory that comes from God. {The real and final standard.}

     44 {John had heard him when} Jesus had cried out proclaiming, “Whoever believes in me! Believes not in me but in he who sent me!”

     {The Son, being the only straight out from God one, so close both administer God’s Spirit/Presence, same as will saturate thus “seal” humanity and creation.}

     45 “And whoever sees me, sees he who sent me. 46 For I came into the world as light - so whoever believes in me will not have to remain in darkness” {not understanding and knowing}. 47 “If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I don’t judge them. For I didn’t come {and wasn’t sent} to judge the world, but to save the world.

     48 Whoever rejects me, and doesn’t receive my words has a judge. The word [truth, logos - “reasoning”/logic] that I have spoken will judge them in/during the last ‘day’. 49 For I have not been speaking on my own authority. The Father who sent me, has himself given me the words I say and speak. 50 And I know that his instruction is enduring [aionion] Life. So what I have said, is what the Father has told me to say.

     {In the last day” - IN, is en, a preposition – meaning, properly - in, inside of, within, figuratively - in the realm/sphere of. Translated - “during” - seven times. During the last day, it being the “8th” ‘day’ which follows what’s called “the” millennial, a Sabbath rest from enmity and the adversary.

    A main outline, the week plus one.. beginning from the biG bang into the universe that is, theN was set in motion.. no option to stray in Eden would be humanity as an ant farm, so things run their course for six millennial days, then a Sabbath millennium,  followed by an “8th day”. Otherwise when does the fieRy defeat of the adversary occur? AfteR gathering descendants of mortal survivors of the apocalypse to war once again. And, then the GWT judgment (the total discernment plus full closure for all) ‘day’ — veiled by Rev.20 being as though describing the crests of waves and not much of the in between. ..Father loves a good riddle? An outline within the first outline of - the week plus one - is the holy days of Lev.23, Spring and Fall, prophesying 1st and 2nd advents. Surely!?}

           

Tomorrows verses, 05/09

1 Peter 1:13-25  Matthew 26:14-19

Start/End the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Jesus said he “will draw all” Jn.12:32.

have a great day! ☀️🕊️

ACTS 21 1-25

Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased  [ ] ref  { } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

(A summary of Paul’s journeys thus far is below.)

1 - And when we had parted from Miletus and the Ephesians who met us there, and set sail, we went by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from Rhodes to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, got aboard and we set sail.

     3 We could see Cyprus in the distance to our left as we sailed to Syria, where we landed at Tyre, for it was there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And so we looked up the disciples there, and stayed for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

     5 When the week was over, we made ready to depart, and they all, the men, women and children, accompanied us out of the city. And kneeling down on the sand at the shore, we prayed 6 and then we said farewell to one another. We went on board the ship, and they returned home.

     7 Then from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8 The next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven (worked with Stephen) and we stayed with him.

     9 He had four daughters, who prophesied. 10 And after we’d been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And while there, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit/Presence, ‘This is how the leaders at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the nations.’

     12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 But Paul answered, “What are you doing? Weeping and breaking my heart? For I am in readiness not only to be imprisoned but even to die! In Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus!” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

     15 After these days we departed and went on up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of one, Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would lodge.

     17 And when we got to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his work. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God.

     And then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews (Hebrews) of those who have believed. But they’re all zealous for the law, 21 and they’ve been told accusations that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.” {🤔Who is called “the accuser”? ..Customs to separate them from the nations, one reason being to separate himself, in our understanding, from the ‘gods’ of the nations that had sprung up.}

     22 “What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you’ve come. 23 Take our advice. There are four of them who are under a vow. 24 Go with these men and sanctify yourself along with them and bear the expense with them, and shave your head. This will show them there’s nothing in what they’ve been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles, who believe, we’ve sent a letter to them with our judgment that they should abstain from what is sacrificed to idols, from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

Next - 21:26-40

Paul’s travels thus far:

On the way to Damascus to arrest Christians he’s blinded by the radiance of Jesus.. He therefor converts, and after a while starts preaching Jesus’ message, and about his death and resurrection, mostly in synagogues. He and Barnabas are sent on a - spread the Good News journey - from Antioch, north of Jerusalem. (At Antioch is where the believers were first called Christians).

     They went up around the Mediterranean spending time in some towns north of it. Then after returning through each town the way they had come, they sailed back to Antioch, first “missionary journey” finished.

     Soon they went down to Jerusalem to counsel about non Hebrew believers, should they follow Torah/Old Testament Way as if Judean/Israeli? Jesus summed up the ten commandments as Love God. Love fellow person. And that pretty much became the agreed upon answer {imo} diet and days were not required. {Keeping the Sabbath and, or the original holy days of God, as in the Scripture can be a wonderful thing. They’re an outline, for one thing. But Romans 14:5 says - “Let each be persuaded in their own mind”. And to not throw stumblingblocks in front of each other (vs.13). All are saved by grace alone when God gives the faith, “each in their own order” 1Cor.15:22-28 w/ Mt.13:33, key word 3; three harvests, barley, wheat aNd grape.}

   Paul goes on a second journey, this time with Silas.. they go up around the Mediterranean and through the regions north of it, but going further this time, passing through Asia and then over water to Macedonia, north of Greece. Through those regions they are pursued and harassed, beaten/flogged and thrown in jail but while singing the chains break and doors opened.. resulting in believers.. They’re followed and persecuted as they go along, so Paul goes as far as Athens and teaches in Corinth for a year and a half.

   After returning to Caesaria (second “missionary journey” completed) and then Jerusalem, he again, in a third journey, rounded north of the Mediterranean, through Asia to Ephesus, teaching for two years at the Hall of Tyrannus.. A two hour riot was inspired by the guild of Artemis idol makers, with many not knowing why, but yelling one thing and others another..

     Traveling on, wanting to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost. As they sailed past Ephesus, they stopped and met the Ephesian believers on shore.. There were prayers and tears, they were not going to see each other again. Paul had been there for three years.