Questions tagged [acts]
The second half of Luke's history of the church, which was commissioned by Theophilus. It covers the actions of the Apostles from Christ's ascension to heaven to Paul's imprisonment in Rome.
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Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit?
Act 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat ...
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What is the most gramatically sound translation of εἰς in Acts 2:38?
Is there any grammatical justification for translating εἰς as causal, i.e, "because of" anywhere in either scripture or in any classial use of the first century?
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In Acts 13:48 -“ τεταγμένοι” (appointed- YTL), What the Luke's narration implies to, “middle” or “passive ”voice?
Apparently, Luke simply narrates the event describing how "people throng" to Paul and Barnabas to hear the message, and with conscious volition "they" responded. Therefore, the "middle voice" would ...
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Does the bible support the 100% man and 100% God concept? [closed]
John 8:40 of the Aramaic Bible in Plain English says
“But now, behold, you are seeking to kill me; I am a man who have spoken the truth with you, which I have heard from God; this Abraham did not do.
...
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In Acts 22:5, what authority did Paul have to destroy Christians?
[Act 22:5 NLT] (5) The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the ...
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1answer
44 views
Who was indicated as the Creator, the Christ and holy servant in the prayer of Jesus' disciples in Acts 4:24-30?
Acts 4:24-30 of the English standard Version says 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and ...
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2answers
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In Acts 5:3, what does it mean for Satan to fill the heart of Ananias?
[Act 5:3 NLT] (3) Then Peter said, "Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.
[Act 5:3 MGNT] (3) εἶπεν δὲ ὁ ...
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Is the gospel narrative hidden in the narrative of Acts 12? [closed]
Close reading Acts 12, it appears the text parallels the gospel narratives. Can anyone flesh-out a verse by verse comparison?
In Acts 12:1 we read, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth ...
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70 views
What does the position of Jesus indicate in Acts 7:55? Is there a third person next to God in this account?
Acts 7:55 of the American Standard Version says, But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. What ...
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Acts 2:44,45; Acts 4:32, Does Acts say that Christianity teaches a form of Communism?
Acts 2:44,45 (DRB):
44And all they that believed were together and had all things common. 45Their possessions and goods they sold and divided them to all, according as every one had need.
Acts 4:...
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Acts 10:2, 1 Timothy 3:16 What is the accurate difference between godliness and fearing of God?
I do good and avoid evil because I love God, not because I fear God.
What is the accurate difference between "godliness" and "fearing of God"?
Can a man be godly and fearing of God in the same time?
...
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1answer
22 views
Divided house of Israel united in Acts 8? [closed]
Acts 8, when the apostles come from Jerusalem and lay hands on the Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Spirit; I can’t shake the thought that this is connected to the division of the Kingdom in ...
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44 views
In Acts 1:25, what is an apostle?
[Act 1:25 NLT] (25) as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs."
What is an apostle?
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852 views
In Acts 2:6, was the miracle in the speaking or the hearing at Pentecost?
I have a few questions about tongues during the Pentecost event in acts. Here is the main verse :
And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every ...
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3answers
113 views
Was it Peter or Paul who first revealed that the gospel would be announced to the gentiles?
Paul is preaching to the gentiles in Acts 9 and Peter has his vision in Acts 10. So why does Peter say that the Lord chose him to preach to the gentiles and that Cornelius was the first of the ...
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434 views
“We are not permitted to put anyone to death,” Why then, was Stephen stoned to death? Acts 7:59-60 [duplicate]
When the Jews delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate , Pilate said to them:
John 18:31 (NASB)
31" So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him
according to your law.” The Jews said to ...
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1answer
97 views
Why did Moses claim he was not eloquent when the Lord called him?
Ex 4:10: And Moses said unto the Lord, o my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue
This was Moses ...
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Question regarding “baptism for the remission of sins” in Acts 2:38
The Nicene Creed declares: “We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.” However, while doing research into this subject, I found this quote from the Lion Book of Christianity regarding ...
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Why/How Peter and James didn't know about Paul but Barnabas knew it?
From this link
Who are those apostles in Jerusalem? Paul himself states that during
his visit to Jerusalem, he saw only Peter and James, the Lord’s
brother, but none of the other apostles (Gal. ...
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2answers
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Would men include boys in the New Testament?
"Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation
under heaven"
- Acts 2:5, NASB
Men translates Aner (Strong G435) which means Male according to Greek lexicons.
"So then, ...
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2answers
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Should οἰκοδομέω be interpreted literally or metaphorically?
οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō), with the lexical entry STRONG NT 3618, is the Greek verb for "edify." In the gospels it often has the normal meaning of building a physical structure.
But in Acts and the rest ...
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1answer
106 views
Why has μετανοήσατε been translated as “repent” in Acts 2:38?
So far as I can tell, this Greek word means something like a change of mind, or a change of heart.
Then the Vulgate says "pœnitentiam agite" which seems to mean do penance, something like a punitive ...
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In Galatians 2:11 what is meant by “I opposed him to his face”?
[Gal 2:11 NASB] (11) But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
[Gal 2:11 MGNT] (11) ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν Κηφᾶς εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῷ ...
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In Galatians 2:11 what does Paul mean when he says that Peter “stood condemned”?
[Gal 2:11 NASB] (11) But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
[Gal 2:11 MGNT] (11) ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν Κηφᾶς εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῷ ...
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1answer
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According to Acts 21:17-26 are the Jews who are under the New Covenant bound to keep the law of Moses for any reason?
1. According to Acts 21:17-26 are the Jews who are under the New Covenant bound to keep the law of Moses for any reason?
2. Did this incident in verse 26 happen before or after writing the epistles ...
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3answers
500 views
In Acts 15:13-21 who is James and why does he seem to be the one who needs to be convinced about the gentiles?
Who is James in Acts 15? What authority if any did he have in this ad hoc consultation with the apostles?
[Act 15:13 NASB] (13) After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, "Brethren, ...
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2answers
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What does the anointing with power mean in Acts 10:38?
δύναμις (from 1410 /dýnamai, "able, having ability") – properly, "ability to perform" (source).
In the New Testament, Jesus is shown to have His own divine power (δύναμις) (2 Peter 1:2-3, 16, ...
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In Acts 15:12-19 what in Amos convinces James about the gentiles not needing Torah?
[Act 15:12-19 CSB] (12) The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. (13) After they stopped ...
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In Acts 15:17 are the “remnant of men” and the “gentiles who are called by name” identical?
In the CSB it appears that they are:
[Act 15:17 CSB] (17) "so the rest of humanity may seek the Lord -- even all the Gentiles who are called by my name -- declares the Lord who makes these things
...
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1answer
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What are the interpretive options for Acts 15 and Galatians 1-2?
In Acts 15 a dispute between Paul and Peter is described. Here are the details, as I understand them:
Peter was denying table fellowship to new Christian converts who were not circumcised and who did ...
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In Acts 26:23 what does it mean that the Messiah will “proclaim light”?
[Act 26:23 ASV] (23) how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
[Act 26:23 MGNT] (23) εἰ ...
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Does Acts 2:7 suggest that all of the 120 of Pentecost were part of the lost sheep of the northern kingdom of Israel?
Galilee was "the northern kingdom" of Israel though that kingdom was no longer God's people. The scattered sheep were referred to as "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" aka "Ephraim".
[Acts 2:7 ...
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Who are “them” and “the brothers” in Acts 22:5?
In Acts, Paul is giving a defense before the people of Jerusalem. In verse 5 Paul says "from them I received letters to the brothers" (ESV). I've seen two understandings of this.
The first is that "...
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Why does Jesus say Judas had perished when he was still alive?
It seems that Jesus is suggesting that Judas had already died before he commits suicide, which we know happens after the betrayal.
For some context let me start the quotation from John 17:6.
“I ...
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Did Paul quote Habakkuk 1:5 out of context in Acts 13:41?
Acts 13:40 - 41 (NKJV)
"Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the
prophets come upon you: "Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days, A work which you ...
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2answers
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Why do some translations of the Bible say 'Spirit of Jesus' in Acts 16:7?
Whilst comparing a number of different versions I noticed that in Acts 16:7, some translations like the NIV, NLT, ESV say 'Spirit of Jesus', where as Young's Literal and the KJV just say 'Spirit'.
...
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270 views
How does the author of Acts say Moses was a man of power in words and deeds in Acts 7:22?
Acts 7
[22]Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
But when had been called upon to go to Egypt to proclaim God's message Moses ...
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2answers
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I know that you acted in ignorance. Acts 3:17
Whilst giving a sermon in the temple, Peter said to people:
Acts 3:17 NASB
“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your
rulers did also."
Why did the Jews act in ...
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How did authorities know that Paul was really a Roman citizen?
A previous answer to a different question ventured into the territory of my question here, quoting from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (which in turn, cited from some commentaries) that ...
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4answers
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How does Acts 15:21 link to Acts 15:20?
Acts 15:19-21 (NIV) “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food ...
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1answer
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Translating & interpreting the text of Acts 2:41
The text of Acts 2.41. The verse has two independent statements: They were baptized ... and Souls were added. Seems to me that this verse says nothing about how many actually received Peter's message ...
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In Acts 11:17 is Peter referencing when he and the 120 believed or Cornelius?
I'm confused about how to interpret Acts 11:17, especially because of Bible translation differences.
The Bible in Basic English (translation)
If then God gave them, when they had faith in the Lord ...
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Acts 18:17: Why did the Greeks start beating the ruler of the synagogue?
Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue,
and beat him before the judgment seat (Acts 18:17, KJV)
Why did the Greeks start beating the ruler of the synagogue? Does the ...
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1answer
283 views
In Acts 13:22, does “a man after my own heart” refer to David or Jesse?
After comparing 1 Samuel 13:14 with Acts 13:22, I have often wondered if Acts 13:22 means that Jesse rather than David was a man after God’s own heart.
1 Samuel 13:14
14 But now thy kingdom shall ...
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2answers
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In Acts 26:1 why does Paul stretch out his hand before beginning his defense?
In a courtroom setting and facing serious charges before King
Agrippa II Paul is permitted by the king to make his defense. Luke says "Paul stretched out his hand" and began his defense:
[Act 26:1-...
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In Acts 1:6, what is the significance of the particle εἰ?
In Acts 1:6, it is written,
Ϛʹ Οἱ μὲν οὖν συνελθόντες ἠρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες· κύριε, εἰ ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ ἀποκαθιστάνεις τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ Ἰσραήλ; NA28, ©2012
What is the function/meaning of εἰ in ...
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Is it a written law or an oral law that Peter says is violated when a Jew associates with a non-Jew?
"You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, (Acts 10:28 ESV)
Can someone offer a citation from Torah or other Jewish works that may have ...
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1answer
555 views
Was the power they received in Matthew 10 different from the one they received in Acts 2?
Christ gives power to the disciples to cast out demons and heal the sick which was prior to the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 10:1 KJV
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, ...
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1answer
166 views
Who is this “Unknown god” that Paul talked about in Acts 17:23?
What was the Unknown God did Greeks had and if it is unknown God, why it is written in Capitel Letters in the Acts?(Acts. 17.23) "I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you ...
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2answers
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Could the symbolic gesture of shaking off dust in Matthew 10 and Acts 13 have been steeped in some Jewish culture?
Matthew 10:14 NASB
14 Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
Acts 13:51 NASB
51 But they shook off the dust ...
