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Tag: gentiles

Christ – Light to the People and Ethnos
A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,

And for the glory of Your people Israel.”

Gospel of Luke 2:32 LSB

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 BSB

Paul Convicted by the Light of Christ
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I had thought to skip past this story of Paul's too-familiar retelling of the Apostle's conversion by Christ (since Luke has already repeated it with frequency in Acts). 

But just as Paul now witnesses with intensensity to a new audience, so shall I point to the Light of Christ JESUS that changed his life. 
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Who are you, Lord?

ănî yᵊhôšûaʿ

egō eimi iēsous

Acts of the Apostles 26:

Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.

Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20 RSV

The Apostle witnesses the Gospel in his own defence before Agrippa the King and his Herodian sister, as well as the Roman Governor Porcius Festus for a second time.

šā’ûl apangellō [kept declaring]

the heavenly vision,
- to those at Damascus,
- then at Jerusalem
- and throughout Judea,
- and also to the Gentiles
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

To this day I have had the help that comes from God,

and so I stand here testifying both to small and great,

saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

Acts 26:22 RSV
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Paul then quotes Scripture - the Old Testment Scriptures
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that the Christ must suffer

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zechariah 12:10 KJV

the first to rise from the dead,

my flesh also shall rest in hope.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;

neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:9b-10 KJV

Light to the People (of God – the Jews)

The Greeks have no Messiah — nor the Romans — nor did the Persians, the Babylonians or the Egyptians.

ONLY the JEWS. — Only the Jews are the PEOPLE of YHWH — the chosen PEOPLE of God.

When Paul points to the ‘people,’ the Apostle means the Jewish people, like Agrippa, Bernice and many other Herodian guests and officials hearing his argument.
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The Christian Standard Version makes this point clearly:
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“that the Messiah [christos] would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead,

he would proclaim light to our people

and to the Gentiles [ethnos].”

Acts 26:23

JESUS is the MESSIAH or Christ of the JEWS!

Yet the Apostle to the ethnos, Saul (from the Hebrew) or Paul makes clear what the risen CHRIST has done ALSO for the gentiles.

and to the Gentiles.”

To THIS the Gentile Governor reacts!
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Now remember that in addition to what the Governor knows from his predecessor Felix, Festus had already heard Paul's witness at length. 
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Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice,

“Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

“I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
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Now Paul's appeal is to Herod Agrippa, Bernice and the Jews in his hearing.
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For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things;

for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.

Acts 24:26

The Jewish King responds

The Apostle defending the appearance of the risen Messiah of the Jews most certainly turns his own focus to the Herodian king claiming leadership of God’s chosen people.

“King Agrippa,

do you believe the prophets?

I know that you do believe.”
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Again, certainly Paul turns to Herod Agrippa II while the entire room also looks to the Jewish king for his answer. 
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The NIV perhaps catches the tone of Agrippa's meaning more clearly than the NKJV
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Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Acts 26:28 NIV

Herod Agrippa is on the spot. Some of the Jews hearing Paul may be convinced that Jesus appeared to the Apostle. But most of Agrippa’s subjects will not have ears to hear even the Prophets.

The Light of Christ

Why has Luke recorded this third trial of Paul in Caesarea reiterating the Apostle’s same witness of the risen Christ Jesus?

This is Paul’s last appeal to the Jews.

The Apostle witnesses not only his own conversion and the evidence of the risen Messiah Jesus, but supports his new Gospel with the evidence of Scripture.

and God divided the light from the darkness.

the Prophesy of Isaiah [NKJV]
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Prophet to Judah 740-681 BC   
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Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Isaiah 5:20a

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

Isaiah 9:2

“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,

Isaiah 42:6

Indeed He says,
‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Isaiah 49:6

A light shines in the darkness

And Paul said,
“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts of the Apostles 26:29 NKJV

Agrippa’s hearing of Paul adjourned.

When he had said these things, the king stood up,

as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;

and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves saying,

“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

Then Agrippa said to Festus,

“This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
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Luke records: 
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And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.

Acts of the Apostles 27:1
July 29, 2025
šā’ûl servant of the living Yeshua
Saul’s defense of himself and the Gospel

ἀπολογέομαι – apologeomai

To the Greeks the Apostle to the gentiles is Παῦλος – Paulos or Paul. And to Romans encountering this fellow Roman citizen from Tarsus certainly fluent in the Latin of their heritage, the Apostle would be called Paulus.

But to the Aramaic Jews of Jerusalem and Judea this illusive convert to Jesus of Nazareth is well-known as Sha’ul, the same name as Saul, Israel’s first king.

It is now about A.D. 59 or 60. Some thirty years ago JESUS had fore-warned the Twelve:

“Now when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say..

Gospel of Luke 12:11 LSB

Two years later the Jews had stoned Stephen to death for proclaiming the risen Christ Jesus. Saul had been a young witness to this unjust execution and a leading authority in bringing many followers of The Way to justice for five years – that is, until the Lord met him on a road to Damascus.

Saul disappears for a time and then makes his own defense to Peter and those in Jerusalem.

And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were attempting to put him to death.

Acts 9:29 LSB
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All this prior to the Apostle being sent out to all the world of the gentiles on three missionary journeys for ten years. 
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So now back in Jerusalem by intention, the Apostle has already been detained by the Jews and held by the Romans.

Most Excellent Felix – Tertullus for the Prosecution

And when the governor [Felix] had nodded for him to speak, Paul answered:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make G626 [apologeomai] my defense G626

Acts of the Apostles 24

Two more years and another administration – Porcius Festus

“.. while Paul said G626 in G626 his own defense G626 [to Festus {who is also present here}], “I have committed no sin either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Acts of the Apostles 25

Saul’s third apologeomai before Herod Agrippa

Agrippa said to Sha’ul,
“You may speak for yourself.”

Then Sha’ul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.
Acts of the Apostles 26:1 Hebrew Names Bible

Saul addressing King Herod Agrippa –

Jew to fellow Jew
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continuing in his complimentary introduction: 
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Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

Acts 26:3 KJV
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Remember, Paul is speaking of events beginning some twenty years ago. 
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My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Acts 26:4-7 KJV
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Paul addresses the "Jewish" king caught in the middle of controversaries between the Saduccees, Pharasees and pagan Romans not part of the promise of the One God to Abraham. 
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Testimony of the Resurrection

The Apostle now confronts Herod Agrippa with the politically divisive question concerning the Messiah Jesus.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Acts of the Apostles 26:8 KJV

“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Acts 26:9-11 NKJV

What’s Paul doing here?

The Apostle is confessing that as a leading Pharisee he was one of them – agreed with them – as zealous to put to death these blasphemers of Yahweh as now they seek to have Paul killed for his witness of the risen Messiah Yeshua.

Herod Agrippa knows the Jesus controversy well. And Paul’s defense now presents evidence of why he has turned from his former disbelief (in the resurrection of the Messiah Jesus of Nazareth). So šā’ûl of Tarsus recounts his journey to Damascus and life-changing encounter with the risen Lord Jesus, the crucified Messiah.

Saul sent out as the Apostle Paul
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Luke has previously recorded Paul's account (Acts 9:1–19; 22:6–16).
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- I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
- At midday I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun,
- We all fell to the ground
- I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew dialect:
‘Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Acts 26:14b Hebrew Names Version

Herod Agrippa would understand the significance of the Voice from heaven Who communicates with Paul in Hebrew. Sha’ul asks what any man might ask of an unknown person speaking:

Τίς εἶ κύριε

(tis ei Kyrios) Who are you, Lord?

And He said (in the Greek of Luke’s account of Acts of the Apostles)

egō eimi iēsous
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Or in the Hebrew šā'ûl likely heard from the Lord: 
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ănî yᵊhôšûaʿ

“He said,

‘I am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting.

Acts 26:15 b Hebrew Names Version

Yeshua, the risen Son of God, commissions Paul
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As Paul knows, Herod Agrippa II, with his Roman and Jewish cultural upbringing, will full-well know and understand the implication of what he is about to say. (And note that this Voice from heaven commands Saul as a King (like Herod Agrippa) would command any subject. 
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And He said,

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

But rise and stand on your feet;

for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Acts 26:14-15 NKJV
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Remember, Paul has already been witnessing Christ crucified and risen on three missionary journeys since about AD 47 (more than ten years after Christ's crucifixion in Jerusaalem) until now (~AD 59) for some twelve years.
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‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

Acts 26:17-18 NKJV – account to Agrippa of the commissioning of Paul by the risen Christ Jesus

It is significant that in sending Saul to the Gentiles that the Lord mentions their redemption – Gospel Good News!

The Lord Jesus also points to our deliverance from original sin and Satan.

And do not overlook His mention of holiness and how Jew and Gentile will now receive sanctification.

Sanctification
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Just a reminder of God's HOLINESS and that of CHRIST JESUS
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ἁγιάζω – hagiazō –
- to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
- to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
  - consecrate things to God
  - dedicate people to God
- to purify
From hagos G40 (an awful thing) – sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint.

Source: Lexicon :: Strong’s G37 – hagiazō – BlueLetterBible.org

21st century Common Era christians tend to overlook Jesus’ role in sanctification of the redeemed saints of Christ, therefore missing the mark of showing ourselves saved from the sin so common in all of us.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

OPEN YOUR EYES – SEE the implication of what the Lord says to Saul of Tarsus that changed him for all eternity:

to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God,

that they may receive forgiveness of sins

and a place among

those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:18 RSV

Are YOU, like Saul, a SAINT — a most HOLY thing —

by FAITH in the LORD CHRIST JESUS?

Paul asks the Lord’s question of Agrippa and of Portus Festus.

The Apostle asks JESUS’ question of you who seek forgiveness of your sins somewhere else than by faith in the Person of Him – the risen Christ Jesus.

Next: Agrippa and Festus reject Christ

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
July 24, 2025
What God Hath Wrought 2
Paul’s Mission – 2 REPORTS
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A.D. 57

Previously:
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TO James and the Church:

And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Acts of the Apostles 21:19 – ASV – Paul’s account of his third mission to th

What God Hath Wrought

“Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed..” – Acts 21:20b ASV

James and the leaders of the church in Jerusalem then put forth a plan for Paul to prove his faithfulness to the LAW of Moses to the thousands of Jews in the Temple.

TO Jewish Worshipers including Proselytes in the Temple courts:

Followers of the Way of Jesus Christ are convinced, yet through the Spirit Paul will proclaim Christ to the larger multitudes of the Temple courts divided for Jews and separately set-apart areas for God-seekers among the Hellenists and pagans.

Acts of the Apostles 21: ASV

and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
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James, of course, does not receive the murmuring of those influenced by the anti-Christs among the temple leadership; however the issue at hand is for Paul and the Apostles to proclaim CHRIST TO JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE.
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The Lord Jesus had received the same sort of reception in the Temple as the Apostles do now.

John 5:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
Gospel of John 5:39-40 LSB – witness of the Lord Jesus to the leaders of the Temple

“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God?

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.
Gospel of John 5:46 – The Lord Jesus challenging leaders of the Temple

“But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
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James knows how these same Temple officials some twenty ago had falsely convicted and then crucified his beloved half-brother, JESUS.

These will not believe Paul either.

Yet by God's grace some will believe the Apostle when Paul once again proclaims Christ in Jerusalem's Temple.
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What God hath Wrought through MOSES
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a Scriptural sample from the Torah from which PAUL or any of the Apostles could have preached on this or any day.
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מֹשֶׁה
מֹשֶׁה (mōšê), occurs 766x in 704 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses^H4872 hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

– Exodus 3:6

Then Moses H4872 answered and said, “What if they will not believe me and will not listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’”

– Exodus 4:1

So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their weakness of spirit and hard slavery. – Exodus 6:9

Therefore the people contended with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.”

And Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”

But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to put us and our children and our livestock to death with thirst?”

– Exodus 17:2-3 LSB

the Tabernacle & the Temple

Now it happened, in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected… He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and he put up the screen for the gateway of the court.

Thus Moses finished the work.

– Exodus 40:17,33 LSB

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.
40:34 וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה מָלֵא אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן׃
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Paul could have preached of MOSES and the Tabernacle. 

The Apostle could have witnessed SCRIPTURE recalling THE GLORY OF THE LORD filling the Temple during its dedication by Solomon.
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Paul legitimately could have asked Judea's leaders,
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‘WHEN HAS THE GLORY OF THE LORD EVER FILLED THIS TEMPLE REBUILT BY HEROD UNDER ROME? ‘

Yet Paul had no need to reiterate this truth that leading Jews under ROME seeking the Apostle knew all too well.

AND the Apostles knew all-to-well that ‘circumcision’ (the mark of the Jew) was NOT the real issue.

‘forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children..’
FALSE WITNESS against the Apostle to the gentiles, Paul.

Nor was Moses, against whom many had been stiff-necked.

περιτομή – Circumcision
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Earlier in Paul's missionary journeys:
(the matter settled by James and the A.D. 49 Council of Jerusalem)
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But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

Both the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.
Acts of the Apostles 15:5-6 LSB

ACTS 21

Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

27 Now when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon noticing him in the temple, began to throw all the crowd into confusion and laid hands on him, crying out,

“Men of Israel, help!

This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place;

and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

MORE false accusations and lies

This latest stirring of the CROWDS in ROMAN JERUSALEM resembles earlier riots and controversies ignited against the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST which Paul and many disciples of The Way have now proclaimed throughout much of Asia and Europe.

Paul, a Jew among jews, has abandoned an old Covenant broken by the Jews many centuries Before Christ.

“So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.
Deuteronomy 10:16 וּמַלְתֶּם אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם וְעָרְפְּכֶם לֹא תַקְשׁוּ עוֹד׃
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“Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh
And remove the foreskins of your heart,

Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

Lest My wrath go forth like fire
And burn with none to quench it

Because of the evil of your deeds.”

Jeremiah 4:4
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NEXT God-willing, we will return to the controversy unraveling in the Temple.

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
May 10, 2024