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Tag: Gospel

The Gospel is Good News to all who will humbly accept Jesus and listen to His teaching.

We refer to the four books of the Bible which tell the story of Jesus Christ as the Gospels. These books are named for their authors: Matthew, a Jewish Apostle; Mark, a disciple of the first generation who recorded accounts of Peter and the Twelve; Luke, a gentile Physician and disciple of the first century; and John, one of the Twelve Jewish Apostles chosen by Jesus.

Sons of Abraham’s Family – Saul’s Conclusion in the Synagogue
Proselytes, Sojourners and Jewish visitors

Exhortation from the Jew of Jews Saulos Tarseus :שָׁאוּל

“Men of Israel, and you who fear God..” Paul begins his sermon to his brothers.
- Who are we preaching to? (Paul knew.)
- Everyone, of course; but mostly to proselytes, the faithful souls seeking God.
Keep in mind that Joseph of Cypress (Barnabas) and Saul of Tarsus (Paulos to his Greek friends) are visiting Jews to the synagogues of Antioch Pisidia and Jewish towns and cities where they will continue to travel from here.

So as Paulos continues his sermon pointing to the Messiah Jesus he begins:

“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family..

Gatherings of Jews in the synagogues of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Galatia and other communities of Jews throughout the Roman world of the first century commonly included practicing Jews of the local town or city like Antioch, visiting Jews from Jerusalem and other Jewish communities and a third category of worshiper you may well recognize in many worshipers at your local church.

These proselytes were practicing Jews not yet fully accepted into the culture of Judaism until all the requirements of membership of the archisynagōgos have been met. [see intro to Saul’s sermon]

Paul includes these proselytes defined by Scripture, perhaps even from the Law just read in the Torah, which refers to their Jewish brothers calling them ‘sojourners’ or ‘strangers.’
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(Think of the implication of this in Jesus' parables.)
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12:48 וְכִֽי־יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר וְעָשָׂה פֶסַח לַיהוָה הִמּוֹל לוֹ כָל־זָכָר וְאָז יִקְרַב לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ וְהָיָה כְּאֶזְרַח הָאָרֶץ וְכָל־עָרֵל לֹֽא־יֹאכַל בּֽוֹ׃

Masoretic Text

The Error of Jerusalem’s Jews

The largest divide of Jewish worship of the first century may have been that between Hellenists and the Temple of Herod and its politically appointed officials in Jerusalem. Variations of Jewish worship were not only a point of contention between Judeans and Samaritans, but between several parties of worshipers from congregations throughout the Roman Empire.

“The preaching of the gospel was preceded and prepared for by the dispersion of the Jews, and a world-wide propagandism of Judaism.
- In the 5th century BC the Jews had a temple of their own at Syene.
- Alexander the Great settled 8,000 Jews in the Thebais, and Jews formed a third of the population of Alexandria.
- Large numbers were brought from Palestine by Ptolemy I (320 BC), and they gradually spread from Egypt along the whole Mediterranean coast of Africa.
- After the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes (170 BC) they scattered themselves in every direction, and, in the words of the Sibylline Oracles (circa 160 BC), “crowded with their numbers every ocean and country.” – source
There was hardly a seaport or a commercial center in Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, or the Islands of the Aegean, in which Jewish communities were not to be found. Josephus (Ant., XIV, vii, 2) quotes Strabo as saying: “It is hard to find a place in the habitable earth that hath not admitted this tribe of men, and is not possessed by them.” – source: BlueLetterBible.org – Proselyte
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Saul of Tarsus, a leading Pharisee of Jerusalem had just preached [ACTS 13:23-24]:
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“From the seed of this man [King David], according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, after John had preached before the face of His entering a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

Acts 13:26

“Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the word of this salvation was sent.

“For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him. And though they found no ground for death, they asked Pilate that He be executed.
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As a REMINDER: Paul preaches this in about A.D. 47 or 48.
The events of the crucifixion and resurrection took place about fourteen years ago in ~A.D. 33.
Luke records this gospel preached by Paul in Acts and published for the church of persecuted Christians, both gentile and Jew a few years later in the A.D. 60's.
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“And when they had finished all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

ὁ δὲ θεὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν

“But God raised Him from the dead

Jew, Hellenist, Roman — Muslim or polytheist Taoist, Buddhist or Hindu; mortal man or woman of the first century AD or 21st century AD: this is NO ordinary event in history!

Paul proclaims the Gospel, providing proof (intentionally ignored by those whom God rejects) and preaches to the Jews in Pisidian Antioch how God’s grace has gone out into the world beyond Jerusalem.

But God raised him from the dead, and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from the Galil to Yerushalayim, who are his witnesses to the people.
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Those who 'came up with him from Galilee' of course were the Apostles AND many disciples who entered Jerusalem with their Messiah for  the feast of matzah, which is called the Pesach.
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Gospel Good NEWS!

Up to this point Saul’s exhortation has reasonably laid out the facts to this Shabbat assembly of mostly Hellenist Jews in Πισιδία Ἀντιόχεια [Pisidian Antioch] mentioning God – that is, θεός theos.

Paul has not confused any of his Greek audience of ‘Jews and God seekers’ by referring to ‘the LORD,’ or ‘YaHWeH‘ or ‘Y’HoVeH’ so familiar to the Jews from Hebrew Scripture — only God or Theos.

But now in introducing the Gospel the Apostle mentions Jesus by name — Ἰησοῦς – iēsous or Yeshua [yᵊhôšûaʿ in Hebrew; “LORD Savior”]– and immediately provides proofs of fulfillment of God’s promise to Avraham from Hebrew Scripture.

We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Yeshua. As it is also written in the second psalm,

‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’
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Scripture of ACTS 13 from the Hebrew Names Bible
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The Resurrection of Christ

“Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus:

‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’

From horaō diaphthora, some English versions graphicly illustrate the DEATH of mankind’s MORTAL flesh: ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’

Psalm 16:10 כִּי לֹא־תַעֲזֹב נַפְשִׁי לִשְׁאוֹל לֹֽא־תִתֵּן חֲסִידְךָ לִרְאוֹת שָֽׁחַת׃

For you will not leave my soul in She’ol,
Neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10 Hebrew Names Version
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NOTE the reference to She'ol, the place of the dead, as it relates not only to the decaying body which will most certainly see corruption, but its Scriptural connection of DEATH as a penalty of abandonment by GOD of the SOUL of the sinful.
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שְׁאוֹל

Son of David + :בֶּן־דָּוִד

But he whom God raised up saw no decay.

Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,

and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things,

from which you could not be justified by the law of Moshe.

Beware! Therefore:
- Thank you “Men of Yisra’el, and you who fear God..” for asking me for a word of exhortation today.
  - Acts 13:14-16
- God chose our fathers, exalted them, led them from Mitzrayim and for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
  - Acts 13:17-18
- He destroyed seven nations in Kana`an, which our fathers possessed for about 450 years.
  - Acts 13:19
- Our fathers had Judges until Shemu’el the Prophet, but our fathers asked for a King, Sha’ul ben Kish, replaced by David the son of Yishai whom the LORD chose as, ‘a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
  - Acts 13:20-23
From Avraham’s seed:
- salvation according to God’s promise when Yochanan had first preached the immersion of repentance to Yisra’el.
  - Acts 13:24-25
- children of the stock of Avraham who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
  - Acts 13:26
- Yerushalayim, and their rulers found no cause for death and fulfilled all things that were written about him..
  - Acts 13:27-29
- Resurrection: good news of the promise made to the fathers, fulfilled to us, their children, in that he raised up Yeshua.
  - Acts 13:30-37
- therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins, justification for those who believe.
  - Acts 13:38-39
Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
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'Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; 
For I work a work in your days, 
A work which you will in no way believe, 
if one declares it to you.'"
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Some Wisdom for Proselytes & the Unrepentant

Proverbs 1:23 תָּשׁוּבוּ לְֽתוֹכַחְתִּי הִנֵּה אַבִּיעָה לָכֶם רוּחִי אוֹדִיעָה דְבָרַי אֶתְכֶֽם׃
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; But you have ignored all my counsel, And wanted none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; When calamity overtakes you like a storm, When your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come on you.. Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own schemes. For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, And will be at ease, without fear of harm." excerpt from מִשְׁלֵי (Proverbs) 1 ::
Come back and continue..

So when the Yehudim went out of the synagogue, the Goyim begged that these words might be preached to them the next Shabbat.

Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Yehudim and of the devout proselytes followed Sha’ul [Paulos] and Bar-Nabba [Barnabas]; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
ACTS of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas 13:43 – Hebrew Names Version

The next Shabbat almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
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The Missionary Journey of Paul and Barnabas into all the world.. TO BE CONTINUED...
God-willing...
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October 19, 2022
Exhortation from the Jew of Jews Saulos Tarseus :שָׁאוּל
Saul’s sermon in the synagogue of Antioch

We must leave behind us any notion that Paul’s exhortation to the Jews in Antioch Pisidia would have much effect by proclaiming the Gospel as Paul had to the Roman ruler Sergius Paulos in Paphos Cypress or to the faithful ‘Christians’ of the church at Antioch in Syria. And Saul’s sermon most certainly would not have been identical to those preached to the well-heeled Jews of Jerusalem of Judea governed by Roman Syria where Saul was educated.

Hellenist Influence of Alexander the Great 336 BC & even after annexation of Greece by Rome in 146 BC

The Jews here in Antioch Pisidia for the most part are Hellenist (Greek) Jews distinctly different from the more orthodox Jews returned to Judea from captivity centuries ago from the eastern empires along the Euphrates.

Saulos Tarseus is a Roman citizen, born not to far across the Tarsus mountains in the Roman capitol of Cilicia along the Mediterranean coast. But this ‘Jew of Jews, Sha’ul [שָׁאוּל] of Ταρσεύς [Gk. Tarseus or Latin Tarsus] knows his listeners.

Saul’s Sermon:

An Invitation to Exhortation

‘Men, brethren, if there be a word in you of exhortation unto the people — say on.’ – Acts 13:15 YLT

Exhortation for their Jewish Brothers

Sha’ul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said,

“Men of Yisra’el, and you who fear God, listen.
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It is a Jewish history from Jewish Scripture, an encouragement for a congregation of Hellenist Jews which Luke's account in Acts of the Apostles outlines in Saul's sermon which follows their traditional Scriptural readings.

In order to give us first century Jewish 'ears to hear' I will share Scripture from the Hebrew Names Version of the Bible translated from Paul's original native Greek. 
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Acts of the Apostles 13: Saul’s Sermon in the synagogue

17 The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Mitzrayim [Egypt], and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it. For period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.

When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Kana`an (Canaan), he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years. After these things he gave them judges until Shemu’el [Samuel] the prophet.

Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Sha’ul [Saul] the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Binyamin [Benjamin], for forty years. When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified,

‘I have found David the son of Yishai [Jesse] , a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
Acts of the Apostles 13:22b Hebrew Names Version
- Where does Saul’s sermon begin?
  - AFTER the reading of the Law and the Prophets, Paul begins from Jewish Scripture.
  - It is a shared Biblical history beginning with:
    The God [theos] of this people..
    pointing to their captivity in Egypt (relating to the Pentateuch just read).
- Saul then points back to previous disobedience of God’s chosen people the LORD led out of Egypt, perhaps even specifically using a passage from the reading of the Law.
The children of Yisra’el ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate the manna until they came to the borders of the land of Kana`an.
Exodus 16:35 HNV

Is it good encouragement [exhortation] to point us to Scripture critical of behaviors and acts of previous generations against God?

AND could these things that happened historically hundreds of years ago speak to our need to ACT now as followers or seekers of God’s will?
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Of course. Rome now ruled Antioch Pisidia and Galatia, Cilicia and even Egypt. AND as you are aware Rome ruled Judea which technically was no longer a kingdom of even a puppet King like the Herod's.

So is the preaching of Saul's sermon to Jews in the Hellenist world of Paul's journeys of interest to Luke's gentile readers? More importantly is it personally relevant?
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This is NOT how Paul would preach later to those who had NO idea of what God has said through the Holy Scriptures just read in the synagogue.

And he [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Gospel of Mark 16:15 English Standard Version

ACTS of the Apostles will be published by Luke (as I have pointed out previously) around A.D. 62 about fifteen years after these sermons when persecutions of Jews and Christians has increased considerably.

Most gentiles know little of this history of Jewish Kings like David or Judges or Prophets and especially not anything about the many sins of God’s ‘chosen people.’ BUT they will come to suffer persecution for their new-found faith in the time since Paul’s sermon to the Jews.

“But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.
“And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations.
the Good News of (John) Mark (cousin of Barnabas) 13:9-10 CSB + a prophesy of the Lord Jesus Christ
- Paul’s sermon then proceeds to the Prophet Samuel.
“Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s house, so that none in your family will reach old age. You will see distress in the place of worship, in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age.
1 Samuel 2:31-32 CSB

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל עַד־מָתַי אַתָּה מִתְאַבֵּל אֶל־שָׁאוּל וַאֲנִי מְאַסְתִּיו מִמְּלֹךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלֵּא קַרְנְךָ שֶׁמֶן וְלֵךְ אֶשְׁלָחֲךָ אֶל־יִשַׁי בֵּית־הַלַּחְמִי כִּי־רָאִיתִי בְּבָנָיו לִי מֶלֶךְ׃

Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you be grieving over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I see among his sons a king for Me.”
1 Samuel 16:1 LSB [WLC above]

Saul’s Sermon connects the Kings of Israel to their Messiah
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Worshipers in the synagogue honored King David, though the kingdom had been destroyed.
Israel and the Judeans had returned from centuries of captivity warned by the Prophets. 
And first century Judeans sang the Davidic Psalms as part of their worship.
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.. ‘I have found David the son of Yishai, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

23 From this man’s seed, God has brought salvation to Yisra’el according to his promise, before his coming, when Yochanan [John] had first preached the immersion [βάπτισμα baptisma of repentance to Yisra’el.

As Yochanan was fulfilling his course, he said,

‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.

But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
- John the Baptist, who preached a baptism (cleansing) of repentance, a permanent change of a heart (soul) returning to God, was thought to be a Prophet by first century Jews. AND many had heard of John.
Saul’s sermon then turns to explanation of the Jewish Messiah to his brothers, fellow Jews who had invited him to provide an exhortation. Paul will proceed to proclaim how the Gospel of Jesus Christ applies directly to these Jewish worshipers in a synagogue in their Roman capitol of Galatia, Antioch Pisidia.

To be continued…

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
October 17, 2022
James – a Greater Thunder and a lesser king
We know this about Jesus’ Apostles: twelve followed the Lord Jesus for three years .. everywhere. One of the twelve betrayed Him, but three Apostles were closer to Jesus than any man or woman born of this world

Peter, James the Greater, and John

– an inner circle of the Twelve.

You probably already know this about James and John:

and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”)
Gospel of Mark 3:17 Legacy Standard Bible

Thunder, Wild Horses & Swords

We know little about James the Greater, the older son of Zebedee, but as one of three leaders appointed by the Lord Christ Jesus, Herod will soon set his sights on all three of these Apostles.
- Peter led the Apostles and the Church after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.
- John was the youngest Apostle and the younger brother of James; perhaps by a year, five years or maybe more; but John outlived them all until about A.D. 100.
- James and John had also both been disciples of John the Baptist before Christ took them in as part of His inner circle.
Now about that time Herod the king [Agrippa I] laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them.
Acts 12:1 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Today we look back at a context of Acts 12 with an old connection to John the Baptist and Herod.

The Gospels, of course, proclaim the Good News that is to come out of all this conflict.

Ἡρῴδης – Herod – ‘a hero’
- †Ἡρώδης Hērṓdēs, hay-ro’-dace; compound of ἥρως hḗrōs (a “hero”) and G1491; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings:—Herod. – source: Lexicon :: Strong’s G2264 – hērōdēs
Let’s bring to mind some recent history etched in the minds of the Jews and the Herod’s; an awareness of John the Baptist and his disciples James and John, a relevance of national significance I will contemporize from this first century context.

Ἀγρίππας – [Herod] Agrippas – “Hero like”
- Apparently from ἄγριος (G66)
  - of men and animals in a moral sense, wild savage, fierce
- and ἵππος (G2462); a horse
To the Jews, Herod Agrippa is a ‘hero-like wild horse’, wielding a Jewish king’s sword against Rome (but also his enemies) with a desperate hope of restoring the glory of David’s kingdom a thousand years before, as his grandfather (Herod the Great) had begun to rebuild.

a 21st c. look at James the Greater
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Never forget that ALL Twelve of Jesus' Apostles (a Greek word of the common language of the Roman Empire) were Jews. Even in Galilee and Samaria Jews looked for a Messiah and hoped for a return of their kingdom. 

Faithful worshipers of the LORD knew Scripture in an anticipatory sense. Jews chosen by the One God in every captive Roman outpost of the A.D. first century looked longingly for their Messiah (Christ, in Greek) who will finally establish the Kingdom of the Lord in all the heavens and earth.
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ANY man who might stand against ANY king Herod (who is NOT the Messiah) or Caesar (who faithful Jews would not call, Lord) is a threat to the Roman Peace attained by Judea’s first family.
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Once again we will look at events preceding ACTS 12 as if it is today's date, in the year of our Lord, A.D. 2022. 
[All first century dates are approximate from various sources.]- RH
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- 2022 – Beginning of Acts 12
  - AD 44
- 2018 – Peter shares the Gospel with gentiles in Caesarea (James & John presumably would have continued to lead the church in Jerusalem during Peter’s mission trip.)
  - AD 40
- 2017 – Herod Antipas of Galilee, who had John the Baptist beheaded about ten years earlier, died.
  - AD 39
- 2015 – Saul of Tarsus comes to the Apostles after his conversion.
  - AD 37
- 2010 – Stephen, a leading disciple of The Way, sentenced by the Sanhedrin to death by stoning, after which Herod and the Jews authorize relentless persecution of disciples of Jesus’ Apostles.
  - AD 33
14 Years ago + An Eventful Year.
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A.D. 30 would have been fourteen years ago and might linger in the collective memory of the church like these contemporary memories:
Actual Events of 2007: iPhone announced;  Mitt Romney, Rudi Giuliani, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and many others are running for President of the U.S.; 
or Actual Events of 2008: President Bush signs the $700 billion bailout / Rescue package bill; Fidel Castro steps down as president of Cuba; Iraq war costs $3 trillion.
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- 2008 + Jesus Christ interrogated by the Sanhedrin and scourged by Romans, crucified on a Cross, raised from death, left a sealed tomb and appeared to the Apostles and hundreds of other disciples!
  - The risen Lord Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to believers on Pentecost.
  - Peter and disciples of Jesus proclaimed the Gospel in the Temple and
  - Accompanying signs and miracles sent by the Lord confirmed their teaching.
  - Therefore many Jews follow the Apostles’ teachings and believe in Jesus as the Messiah of God.
  - ALL this in ~AD 30!
James the Greater, of course, was in town [Jerusalem] to witness all of this recent history along with the other Apostles.

During JESUS’ earthly ministry:
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~AD 2006-2008 in our contemporized scenario:
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- 2006 – A great new prophet John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. Then Jesus calls Twelve Apostles to “follow Him.” James and John, already disciples of John the Baptist, follow Jesus.
  - AD 28 {3 years before Jesus was crucified}
Luke 9:

And calling the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. .. And departing, they were going from village to village, proclaiming the gospel and healing everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead..

And Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
Gospel of Luke 9:9 LSB – Herod inquiring about miracles of the Messiah Jesus and his Apostles

JESUS was confrontational in the mind of Herod, just as John had been before the king had the Baptist beheaded.

James the Great vs. an unbelieving Samaritan village

[Some disciples of Jesus] ..entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him..

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them..
Gospel of Luke 9:54-55a LSB

Why would James the Greater believe that he could command such judgment on an entire village?

Because Peter, James and John had witnessed that Jesus IS God in flesh and blood!

James the Greater, like Peter or like King Herod for that matter, is the kind of imposing man who wants to take charge.

Gospel of the Apostle Matthew 20:

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”
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Mark records in his Gospel:
Then James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” - Mark 10:35
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But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
Matthew 20:22-23 LSB – Jesus’ answer to the sons of thunder..
Remember our Lord’s assurance to James the Greater and to John: “My cup you shall drink..”

James the Greater – a closeness to Jesus

Peter and James and John all held close their friendship of Jesus, their Lord and Master Teacher, during those three years of Christ’s earthly incarnation.

The Gospel of Luke 9:

Now it happened.. that taking along Peter and John and James, He went up on the mountain to pray.
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Mark adds some detail in his Gospel: *brought them up on a high mountain alone by themselves. 
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And it happened that while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and [flashing like lightning].
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James, John and Simon Peter were the only mortal men on that mountain with the Lord.
But then:
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And behold, two men were talking with Him, and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in [splendor], were speaking of His [exodus] which He was about to fulfill at Jerusalem.
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Note here a similar failing of the flesh of Jesus' three closest friends, their inattention to the prayers of this Son of Man even as they would later fall asleep in Gethsemane. After the Lord's death and resurrection the three Apostles would confess their mortal limitations on both occasions.
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Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.
Gospel of Luke 9:32 LSB
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Jesus, with a face like lightning! The Prophet Elijah and Moses the LORD's shepherd of the Hebrews during their forty year exodus from slavery in Egypt appear with Jesus! 
All witnessed by Peter, John and James.

As if that wasn't enough GOOD NEWS on the mountaintop, similar to the sign at Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, the LORD speaks!
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.. a cloud [occurred] and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
Gospel of Luke 9:34b-35 LSB
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James the Greater, along with his brother and Simon, kept silent about this in those days, Luke records later. 
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Fulfillment of Fourteen Years in Jerusalem

In the minds of the Jews (including Herod) James was a likely successor to Jesus.

Ἰάκωβος – James

Did you know that James is a common name in Israel? i.e. James the Great AND James the Less are both Apostles

It’s the same as Ἰακώβ, which even in Greek looks like the name of its Hebrew root:: יַעֲקֹב

Jacob, who the LORD renamed, Israel.

Along with Simon Peter (when he was not on a journey of his own) and his brother John, James the Greater proclaimed the Gospel of the risen Christ Jesus in Jerusalem.

James proclaimed the Gospel in the Temple courtyards and streets of Jerusalem and led the daily lives of so many new followers of The Way. He worked in the leadership of the Twelve, which now included Mathias in place of Judas Iscariot.

“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
Luke 9:54b – [likely the words of James the Greater]

And this Greater Apostle of the inner circle of the Messiah of Israel would have recalled the rebuke of the Lord in a newfound daily humility in serving his risen Lord, the Christ Jesus.

But He turned and rebuked them, and said,

“You do not know what kind of spirit you are of,

for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

And they went on to another village.

.. whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me;
for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
Gospel of Luke 9:48b – invitation of Jesus Christ & humility in following Him

Acts of the Apostles 12:

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them.

And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.
Acts of the Apostles 12:2 LSB – Herod Agrippa I executes James the Greater

To be continued…
August 9, 2022