ACTS 10 21-33

 N.T. in a year reading & study, verses R paraphrased [  ] references {  } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

21 - So Peter went down from the roof, and greeted the men saying, “I’m who you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion (Roman soldier or general) an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you and have you come to his house in order to hear what you have to say.”

     23 So he invited them in to be his guests, and the next day he, and some brothers from Joppa, went with them. 24 And then on the following day they arrived at Caesarea.

     Cornelius was expecting them and he had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet so as to worship him. 26 But Peter lifting him back up, said, “Stand up, I am but a man like yourself!”

     27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found those Cornelius had gathered. 28 And said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew (Hebrew) to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation” (separated for the sake of birthing Messiah, the “savior of the world” from death and its cause). “But God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. So then, I ask why you’ve sent for me.”

     30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing! 3 And he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayers have been heard and your gifts and charity have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who’s called Peter. He’s lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you’ve been kind enough to come. Now therefore we’re all here in the presence of God to hear everything the LORD has instructed.”

Next - 10:34-48

ACTS 10 1-20

 N.T. IN A YEAR READING & STUDY [ ]REFERENCES { }THOTS, VERSES R PARAPHRASED

      The Acts of the First Believers

1 - At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of a Roman military guard. 2 He was a devout man who revered God along with all his household. He gave alms generously to the people, and he prayed daily to God. 3 At about the ninth hour on a certain day, he saw in a clear vision, an angel of God come in and say, “Cornelius.”

     4 Which frightened him. And he said, “What is it, Lord?” And the angel of the LORD said, “Your prayers and giving of gifts have risen like incense before God. 5 Send some men to Joppa and bring the man Simon who’s called Peter. 6 He’s staying with a leather tanner, whose name is Simon and whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel had left, he called two of his hired servants and a devout soldier, 8 and relating everything to them, he sent them off to Joppa for Peter.

     9 On the next day, as they were nearing the city, at about the sixth hour, an hour of prayer, Peter was on the housetop. 10 While praying he became hungry and was waiting for something to eat, while they were preparing the meal. He fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened. And saw something like a great sheet descending. It was being let down by its four corners onto the earth. 12 And in it were all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds of the air.

     13 And there came a voice, saying, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “No LORD! For I’ve never eaten anything that is common or unclean!” 15 And the voice came again, saying “What God has made clean, don’t call common [koinoó - common, not special].”16 This happened three times. And then the sheet was taken up the way it came.

    17 While Peter was puzzled as to what the vision might mean. Meanwhile the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked kn town where the house of the tanner by the sea was, were standing at the gate. 18 And they called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was there. 19 Peter was still pondering the vision, and the Spirit of God said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Go down and accept them without hesitation, for I’ve sent them here to ask for you.”

     {Hebrews were supposed to remain “separated” (called out) from the nations/world - to preserve their own (righteous) culture - in order to birth into the world, the “savior of the world” somewhat in context, as opposed to being born among strange customs?}

Next - 10:21-33

ACTS 9 21-43

A reading & study, verses R paraphrased

N.T. in a year [  ] references {  } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

21 - And all who were listening to Saul, later called Paul, were amazed! They were saying, “Isn’t this the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call upon the Lord Jesus? And didn’t he come here to arrest and drag more believers in chains before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and was confounding the Synagogue leaders who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

     23 Then, after many days, they plotted to kill him! 24 But their plot became known to him. They were watching the gates day and night, 25 so some disciples led him out by night and lowered him in a basket, through an opening in the city wall.

     26 Then when Saul (Paul) came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples there. But they were afraid of him, and didn’t believe he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas befriended him and brought him to the apostles. Then he explained to them how on the road he had seen the Lord. How he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly the name of Jesus. 28 After that Saul went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

     29 He would also speak with and dispute with the Hellenists (Greek culture Hebrews). But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.

     31 So the church {brotherhood and sisterhood} throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and the faith was growing. And walking in the reverence of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit {Presence of God} the faith was multiplying.

     32 Meanwhile, Peter too was going in and out among them all. And then he went also down to Lydda and the believers who lived there. 33 While there he came across a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight long years. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Rise up and pick up your bed!” And immediately he did. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him as healed, and they turned to the Lord.

     36 Now in Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated is Dorcas. She had done many acts of charity and good works. 37 But in those days she had become ill and died. They had prepared her, and laid her in an upper room.

     38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without waiting.” 39 So Peter went with them and when he was there, they took him to the upper room. All the widows were standing there weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and then he knelt down and prayed. And turning to her he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes. When she saw Peter she sat up, 41 and he took her by the hand and helped her to stand up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her to them alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner who lived by the sea.

Next - 10:1-20

WeekLy BooK oF Acts 10 1-20

 A paraphrased study

1 - At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Roman centurion of a military guard, 2 a devout man who revered God along with all his household. He gave alms generously to the people, and prayed habitually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision, an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he looked at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And the angel of the LORD said, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send some men to Joppa and bring the man Simon who’s called Peter. 6 He’s staying with one Simon, a leather tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his workers and a devout soldier, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa to get Peter.

     9 On the next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop at about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and was waiting for something to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners onto the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice saying, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, LORD! For I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again, saying “What God has made clean, don’t call common [koinoó - common, not special].”16 This happened three times, and then the sheet was taken up to heaven.

    17 While Peter was perplexed as to what the vision might mean, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate. 18 And they called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit of God said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” [Hebrews were supposed to remain separated from the nations - to preserve their own (righteous) culture - in order to birth into the world, the “savior of the world” (somewhat in context).]

 🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, facts, cross references, etc.

      (  ) - thots

WeekLy BooK oF Acts 9 21-43

 ⭐️  a paraphrased study

21 - And all who heard Saul/Paul were amazed and said, “Isn’t this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon the name of Jesus? And didn’t he come here to arrest and bring them in chains before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and put to confusion the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

     23 When many days had passed, the leaders plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to him. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket, through an opening in the wall.

     26 Then when he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they were afraid of him, and didn’t believe he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So then he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists (Greek culture Hebrews). But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.

     31 So the church/faith throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the reverence of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the faith was multiplying.

     32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he went down also to the believers who lived at Lydda. 33 And there he came across a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Rise and take up your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him as healed, and they turned to the Lord.

     36 And there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She had done many good works and acts of charity. 37 And in those days she became ill and died, and when they had prepared her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood there weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and then he knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes. When she saw Peter she sat up, 41 and he took her by the hand and helped her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her to them alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner who lived by the sea.

 🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, facts, cross references, etc.

      (  ) - thots