THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ACTS ~ Chapters 19

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO Acts ~ Chapter 19

And it happened while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul (Saul), having passed through the interior districts, came down to Ephesus, where he met some disciples. He asked them, “When you became Believers, did you receive the Ruach Ha’Kodesh?” ‘No’, they answered, ‘we have not even heard that there is a Ruach Ha’Kodesh. “What baptism did you receive?” he asked them. ‘John’s baptism,’ they answered. Then Paul said, “Yes, John baptized with a baptism of repentance, but he told the people also to believe in Him, Who was to come after Him – that is, Yeshua, the Mashiach.”

When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of Adonai Yeshua. And when Paul laid hands on them, the Ruach Ha’Kodesh came down on them and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were in all about 12 of them.

He went into the synagogue and for 3 months he spoke freely, reasoning with them and trying to convince them in matters concerning the kingdom of Elohei. But since some had hardened themselves and would not believe, besides speaking abusively of the Way of Adonai before the people, he left them, keeping his disciples apart, and taught every day in the school of Tyrannus. This he continued for 2 years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the Word of Adonai Yeshua.

Elohei also worked remarkable miracles by the hands of Paul. Thus when handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Then some traveling Jewish exorcists (who practiced casting out evil spirits) tried to use the Name of Adonai Yeshua over those who were demon-possessed by saying, ‘I command you by Yeshua, Whom Paul preaches”. There was a Jewish high priest named Skeva who had 7 sons who were trying to do this. The evil spirit answering said, ‘I know Yeshua, and am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?’ Then the demon-possessed man jumped at them, got the better of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled from the house naked and wounded. This became known to all the residents of Ephesus, bot Jew and Greek. In consequence, fear fell upon all and the Name of Adonai Yeshua was held in high honor. Many Believers came forward to confess their evil deeds and give an accounting of them. And also many who practiced the magic arts collected their books and burned them in public. When they estimated their value they found that they came to about $85,000.

Thus the Word of Adonai Yeshua increased mightily and prevailed. After these events, Paul resolved in the Ruach to go to Jerusalem again by way of Macedonia and Greece, adding, “And after I have been there, I must also see Rome.” So he sent 2 of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed on in the province of Asia a while longer.

At this time a great riot arose in regard to the new Way of life. A man by the name of Demetrious, a silver-smith, had a business of making silver shrines of Artemis (Diana), a business that brought a good profit to the work men. He called his workmen together, and also others in the same trade, and said, ‘Men, you know that it is from this business that we gain our wealth. But now you see and hear that this man Paul has turned away a great many people, not only here at Ephesus but in almost the whole of the province of Asia, by his preaching that the things that are made by the hands of men are not gods at all. There is a real danger, therefore, not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis (Diana) will count for nothing. And so she whom all Asia and the whole world worship will have all her grandeur destroyed.’ The men became furious when they heard this, and shouted, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ The whole city was filled with the uproar. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, 2 of Paul’s fellow travelers from Macedonia, and in a mob rush took them to the theatre. It was Paul’s intention to press the crowd, but his disciples would not hear of it. Some of the town officials, too, being on friendly footing with him, sent word to him requesting him not to venture into the theatre. Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the meeting was in confusion and most of them had no idea as to why they had come together.

The Jews then pushed Alexander to the front, and someone in the crowd asked him to speak. But as soon as he was recognized a Jew, they all cried out with one voice, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ But the city clerk (Alexander) managed to quiet the mob and made a speech: ‘Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of Ephesus is the temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of her image that fell down from the sky? Since these facts cannot be contradicted, you must be calm and do nothing rash. You have now brought here these men. They are not guilty of robbing temples or defaming your goddess. Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen can take legal action if they have any charge to bring against them, for we do have courts and judges; let them go to law. And if you want some other matter cleared up, it should be settled in the regular assembly. We are really in danger of being accused of rioting today and we cannot give any justifiable reason whatsoever for having put on this demonstration.’ With these words he dismissed the crowd.

**ACTS 18: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-gospel-according-to-acts-chapters-18.html

CHILLING

We had surprise visit from relatives yesterday afternoon, and while showing them around outside I noticed that the creep ron next door (the neighbor alongside us that has been snarkily bitching to the park manager here all summer long about the possibility of ‘future trespass’ from my tomato plants and patio apple trees) had the nerve to lay HIS tomato cages AGAINST MY planter boxes when he pulled all his crappy garden mess: that was TWO WEEKS AGO! And he never even bothered to pick up his cages. The hypocritical jerk is so secure in the knowledge that the manager will do nothing, that he didn’t see the need to cover his trespassing tracks. So, I took a picture of the belligerent infraction (so the manager could not deny and flippantly dismiss the bold violation) and Hubs walked it straight to the manager’s office this morning when the door opened and filed a complaint …

ron's tomato cages propped against MY Planter boxes. Pretty nervy hutzpah!

The manager did try to dismiss our complaint, but Hubs pointed to the picture which made her excuses invalid and backed her into a corner (in a nice way; my gentle giant does not like aggressive confrontation, and when he has to confront people, he is as kind and gentle as possible; but also very firm because by the time a confrontation is needed he has reached his limit with nonsense), insisting it be dealt with today. Good boy ;-) The atmosphere in the office may have been a bit on the chilly side when he left it, BUT the manager needs to understand that we are not going to be jerked around by her or the jerk next door anymore, and it is up to HER to change the atmosphere around here – she wanted the job, now she needs to DO her job and make ron toe the line he is insisting everyone else adhere to. Miserable cretens.

That attended to, we drove to Lexington Park and enjoyed a quarter mile walk there. The walk was invigorating; and the chilling breeze which carried the brisk nip off the river wasn’t too hard to bear when surrounded by all the brilliant Fall colors tucked here and there among the evergreens:

1.4 mile Loop we have been walking this week.

At the junction shown in the pic above, we sat for a couple minutes just enjoying the peace and quiet – and watching the squirrels – before resuming our leisurely walk, and I nearly stepped on this oval mushroom nestled among the fallen leaves …

Toadstool at Lexington Park - looks like a turtle shell. LOL

A TIME FOR BUILDING – A TIME FOR CUTTING

Once again I have separated myself from my sister and her husband. This time, I am thinking the cut will be permanent because their behavior has not changed, but rather worsened.

Both have serious issues with being honest, upright, Christian … despite david supposedly having a ministering license, and ramona acting as a minister’s wife. I say {supposedly having a ministering license} because I, personally, have never seen the license ramona brags about – BUT I HAVE, over the span of 25 years in which they have “been ministering” – seen their mistreatment of those they {help}, heard their own recounts (and the recounting of others) of their ‘persecutions’, and listened to their whining about how they are continually ‘misunderstood’ … ramona even posted on her FB Page a song by that name.

I have known my sister all of her life. I have never known her to be a Christian example. Ever. She talks a good game though. I really don’t know her husband at all, though they have been together for 41 years – I never wanted to know him because he is a self centered and mean-spirited cad, who treats ramona and anyone else in his path terrible. They BOTH like to instigate trouble and whip up flames of self destruction. Doesn’t sound – or look like – Christian behavior to me: or to anyone else, for that matter.

My husband has recently undergone a very serious stint in ER and ICU. They, along with our children and grandchildren, visited him in the hospital and stayed with me off and on at our home. The difference being that ramona and david claim to be Christians ...and claim to be ministers. They act the part; but they are only acting the part: in truth, they are snake oil salespeople selling something they don’t believe in themselves.

And to add injury to insult, they lied to us; boldfaced and continuously. But, you know, liars aren’t very intelligent; and they aren’t as slick as they believe themselves to be. Liars always trip themselves up if you give them enough rope to hang themselves with. And that is exactly what happened here over the weekend. They can’t help themselves. They are hypocritical backstabbing braggarts. It’s sad. And more than a bit angering.

They show up in people’s lives “to help” when help is desperately needed … and eventually, always, end up causing more harm than the actual situation where help is needed. I, personally know of a situation where a young couple expecting a baby depended on their {help} and was royally shafted, leading to a break with Christians altogether because of the experience they had with ramona and david. This young couple had recently moved to the Grays Harbor area and had no income; ramona’s mother took them in as borders, and ramona hired the young man to help david (david is a cedar beaver – he cuts cedar and makes shingle bundles for a living). This young man was a city boy – never been in the woods at all in his entire life; he was expecting david to help him learn what needed to be done – instead david takes him into the woods, has him aimlessly running up and down through deep gullies an entire week, brings him home exhausted every night, and then REFUSES TO PAY HIM! Why? In david’s own words: “i didn’t hire him – ramona did. I don't owe him anything”. Unbelievable. That young couple depended on that paycheck that was never given; they left the area shortly thereafter and because of the rotten experience they had with rotten {Christians, aka: ramona and david}, they will never trust Christians again. And it is like that with EVERY person david has “working for him”: the only person he has paid to date is his SIL, and that is currently going south.

ramona and david want the praise that goes with being {church leaders} without the responsibilities. They are both incapable of honesty, integrity, and/or accountability – to Christ, or as Ambassadors of the Body of Christ. And they are terrible and disastrous witnesses to the world at large. Their basic behavior has not changed, but rather worsened over the years as arrogant cockiness and a feeling of untouchableness settles over their troubled and troubling lives. Self-righteousness has taken root and they personally absolve themselves of responsibility to treat others with the dignity, grace, and/or mercy they expect to be given them.

Many times, over the years, Hubs and I have tried to accept their parody of repentance and unity, BUT eventually they slip up and are recognized at face value … which is always shoddy and stinking rotten with total disregard for authority – ANY authority – be that authority government or civil level, and even Elohim’s, as they continue their self-serving sinful ways leaving chaos behind in their disastrous wakes.

The main issue continues to be one of trust. Even when forgiveness is open-handedly given by those they callously offend (and angrily rejected by them!), trustworthiness is questionable given their effective team manipulation using many deceptive methods. This continual behavior is evidence of deep moral character flaws; and character does not change overnight. Unfortunately, their flaws have been going on for decades and they see “no reason to change for anyone”. It is my solid conviction, especially after following this weekend’s bold deception, that any further dealings with them would be the height of ridiculous and personal folly. What happened to Ananias and his wife, as recorded in Acts 5 gives an insight into Adonai’s attitude concerning dishonesty.

Their high-mindedness and virulent disdain towards others is obnoxious and smells offensive in the nostrils of Elohim. Respect of persons and Christian behavior has been an obvious flaw in dealing with these 2 for decades. They cut ties with ANY Christian Fellowship because they simply cannot get along with anyone! And after personally experiencing their inexcusable behavior, our recommendation is this: without question, david and ramona (as his helpmate) should be disqualified from ANY extra-local ministry. At present david would not even qualify as an elder or a deacon in ANY Body of Believers. Their personal behavior has proven them untrustworthy with the young and weak. Their lying has proven them untrustworthy. Their high-minded manipulation has proven them to be incapable of unity – be it with leadership or otherwise. One cannot build one’s own ‘ministry’ and the Body of Christ at the same time – it is either one or the other.

Because ramona is my sister and david is my BIL, I held on longer than was wise. I have felt for some time … and recent events have proven to me … that ramona and david put their {ministry} and personal concerns ahead of the welfare of others; I truly believe that IF there is a pastor's license in david's possession, it was gotten as a means of attaining $$$$$ the easy way, and there was at one time a {church} taking place in their home that didn't last long. And their angry responses to suggested Christian disciplines polarize and divide. They will not recognize the need for forgiveness and repentance.

Because they do not realize they need to repent and begin behaving as they expect others to treat them – and because they refuse and do not understand the need for forgiveness which leads to repentance, I have decided to cull them from my life (which is biblically correct action given the situation and circumstances): they are no longer welcome in my home, they are blocked from my FB Page, and their phone numbers have been deleted from my Contacts Address Book. For all intents and purposes, they no longer exist; though they are, of course, a physical entity on this earth as long as they still breathe.

What they did over the weekend was bad. Very bad. They can’t help themselves. They are hypocritical backstabbing braggarts.

And I'm also thinking she will be on he FB Page whining and crying about how {persecuted} they are.

Typical ramona.

We are done with them. I am thinking permanently.

HURRICANE MICHAEL

The devastation to florida’s panhandle region when hurricane michael hit 5 days ago is reportedly THE worst E.V.E.R. that has hit that region in recorded history – according to the links below …

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-michael-is-the-most-powerful-storm-to-hit-florida-panhandle-on-record/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/09/hurricane-michael-florida-panhandle

It’s hard to feel sorry for the region though ... and the apathetic people that allow evil to take a foothold in that region; it creates a lightning rod effect for bold and arrogant wickedness, according to these ‘prideful’ articles that promote and advocate - and in some cases even demand that evil be welcomed, embraced, and practiced without censor:

PENSACOLA, FL (also where the blasphemous vineyard ‘revival’ took place): https://www.al.com/news/beaches/index.ssf/2015/01/pensacola_church_hosts_more_th.html

PANAMA CITY, FL: https://www.gaytravel.com/gay-guides/panama-city-florida/

MACON, GA: https://www.macon.com/news/local/article210642409.html

SOUTH CAROLINA: https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/South-Carolina-fact-sheet.pdf

NORTH CAROLINA: https://www.ncpedia.org/gays-and-lesbians

VIRGINIA: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/west-virginia/articles/2018-02-20/pastors-stance-on-homosexuality-triggers-consequences

It’s hard to feel sorry for the regions and the people that embrace wickedness. Those who go with ignorant and arrogant {historic} causes need to be reminded that causes have consequences; “historic” or not.

Elohei is speaking – WHO is listening?

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ACTS ~ Chapters 18

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO Acts ~ Chapter 18

After this event, Paul (Saul) left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew name Aquila, a native on Pontus who had but lately come from Italy, together with Priscilla his wife, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul called on them and, because they had the same trade, tentmaking, he lived with them and worked at his trade.

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, was a roman emperor, reigning from 41 to 54 AD. He was a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty; the first Roman imperial dynasty, consisting of the first five emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero; they ruled the Roman Empire from its formation under Augustus in 27 BC, until 68 AD when the last of the line, Nero, committed suicide.

Paul, Aquila & Priscilla

Every Sabbath he was in the synagogue, reasoning and trying to win both Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was hard pressed with teaching the Word, earnestly preaching to the Jews that Yeshua was the Mashiach. But they set themselves to contradict him, even to cursing him, so he shook his coat in protest and said, “Your blood be on your own heads. It is not my fault. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Then he left them and went over to the house of one by the name of Titus Justice, a man who worshipped Elohei. His house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, also became a Believer in the Lord, as well as his whole family. And many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. Then Adonai came to Paul in a vision one night and said, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not keep silent! For I am with you and no one will attack you or mistreat you, for many people in this city belong to Me.” He remained there a year and 6 months, during which he taught them the Word of God.

When Gallio was governor of Greece (Achaia), the Jews made a united attack on Paul by bringing him to trial at court. ‘This man’, they said, ‘is trying to get people to worship Elohei in ways contrary to Law,’ But as Paul was ready to answer, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If this were a matter of injustice or crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable that I should listen to you. But since it is a question as to words and names and your own laws, you will have to settle it yourselves. I refuse to be judge in such cases.’ And he drove them out of court.

Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus or Gallio was a Roman senator and brother of the famous writer Seneca. He is best known for his impartial judgment of a legal case involving Paul the Apostle in Corinth.

Then all the Greeks pounced down on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and gave him a beating right before the governor. But Gallio paid no attention to this. After staying there quite a while longer, Paul took leave of the brethren and took ship bound for Syria, with Priscilla and Aquila also going along. At Cenchrea he had his hair cut short because of some vow he had made. When he arrived at Ephesus, he left them there, but he himself went to a synagogue to talk with the Jews. They wanted him to make a longer stay but he would not consent to that. Still, when he said goodbye to them he said, “I must by all means celebrate the coming festival at Jerusalem, but, Elohim willing, I shall come back to you.” Then he boarded ship again, leaving Ephesus. Landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and, after bringing greetings to the congregation there, he went to Antioch.

After he had spent some time there he set out again. He made an orderly survey of the work in Galatia and Phrygia in order to strengthen all the disciples there. A Jew by the name of Apollos had come to Ephesus. He was born in Alexandria, was eloquent, and had much Scripture knowledge. He had been instructed in the way of Adonai and, being an enthusiastic soul, he spoke and taught correctly what he knew about Adonai, although he knew of no baptism than that of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him home with them and explained to him more fully the Way of Elohei.

It was his intention to journey on to Greece. The brethren encouraged him in this and wrote to the disciples there, asking them to welcome him. And when he came there he was of great help to those who through grace were believers. He was a powerful debater and refuted the Jews in public, providing by the Scriptures that Yeshua is the Mashiach.

**ACTS 17: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-gospel-according-to-acts-chapters-17.html

KNOWLEDGE

“We do not believe the report of men; we believe the report of the Lord” … THAT belief – and the voicing of it aloud – resulted in chaos at the doctor’s office and chaos at home when both the Monday doctor and my sister got a little pissy with us and started praising the benefits of doctors and medical hypothesis according to textbook ‘knowledge”. Mind you, my sister says she is {a Believer} and {rests on God’s promises}; yet she allows medical fears to get the best of her. We expected the blowouts because we understand that they are basing their beliefs in science and not in Elohei. We understand that it is one thing for a person to SAY they believe in the healing of Yeshua … and to actually BELIEVE in the healing of Yeshua: we believe; and EXPECT a good report and a miraculous outcome following all these follow-up appointments, which thankfully, are coming to a close.

The doctors do not – they preach fear and push surgeries, IV’s, and pills.

And my sister and her husband do not – they easily fall into the snare of fear with every single medical guess at what could possibly go wrong, and she believes in {healing} surgeries, refreshing Iv’s, and the magical proprieties of one pill prescription after another.

But they will believe ;-) Because what BOTH are witnessing what Hubs has been going through with the “help of medical ‘men of knowledge’” these past 6-1/2 weeks. There has been a whole LOT of guessing, and not a LOT of medical ‘knowledge’ going on with Hub’s situation! We can do WITHOUT that!! And Hubs fully intends to … Elohei has been showing Himself strong, faithful, and very much real with positive and praiseworthy results. And we are giving HIM – not the medical field, which Hubs is rejecting and untangling himself from asap – ALL the praise and glory.

Aside from the miraculous turn-around while he was dying in ICU a few weeks ago, Elohim, on Friday, honored us with a good report concerning the EKG readings – the reading also was nothing short of miraculous: Hubs has had a “heart flutter” for at least 3 decades, so the big concern the doctors had about the arrhythmia didn’t concern us at all – we KNEW it was there and we were not concerned. We were TRUSTING Elohim’s favor and mercy. And we got it in spades with the EKG readout which led to praising Him before the medical staff :-D There was a loud and contentious show-down between the doc and Hubs, but in the end the EKG results could NOT be denied, and 2 prescriptions were ended; with the other being drastically reduced/weaning to the completion of remaining pills: that will come to a halt in 17 days.

Science is a pagan practice based on guess work that totally leaves Elohei OUT of the equation. Why on earth would WE put our hope and trust in something that relies on nothing more than {higher education} guesswork having shamanistic (aka witch doctor) background? It makes more sense to us, as Christians, to put our trust in F.A.C.T. rather than letting {educated} doctors speak fear and questionable assumptions into our lives/or make place in our lives for labs to “work their magic”/or to live our lives filling our bodies with toxic pharmaceutical garbage. Like Hubs told Friday’s doctor: “Being here goes against everything I believe in – my wife brought me to ER against my wishes (I did ... I gave in to fear when I saw the vomit 6-1/2 weeks ago; I WON'T do it again!), and you guys held me here for days against my will nearly killing me with all your unwanted help. I already know what your advice and prescriptions DID to me while I was in the hospital – I am STILL suffering the fallout of all that ‘help’. Why would I want to continue that?”

The explosions voiced by both the doctor at the hospital appointment … and later voiced at home by my sister, was expected; and Hubs weathered them both well. My sister even asked my husband … while I was in the back bedroom making the bed … “is this decision YOUR decision – or are you making your decision because of Val’s input?” Hubs assured her that any decision he makes about his life are HIS decisions. If she knew him as well as I do, she wouldn’t have asked the question: Hubs does what HE wants to do … he is NOT a pushover or easily persuaded to do ANYTHING. He gathers information from every possible source, thinks on EVERYTHING for at least 2 weeks be for making a final decision, and when he has made his decision – it’s made – like cast in stone. Even my opinions and/or suggestions do not move him once he makes up his mind While it is true that Hubs and I are a team and work as one, it is also true that we make our decisions for our lives separately and the other supportively stands by: sometimes we are in total unity, and sometimes we are in opposition. BUT we are ALWAYS a TEAM. We are one … as Biblical marriage is supposed to be. And we also understand that Lucifer will USE one or the other to undermine Elohei’s Will. So, when facing life altering decisions, we take into account the other’s concerns and opinions when we need to make joint decisions; BUT after everything is said and done, we stand alone in our personal decisions when it comes down to Elohei’s Will concerning our spiritual, physical, and emotional health and well-being … and the other stands alongside offering moral/prayer/and physical support; whether or not they agree: we are a team and we stand in unity. That is also as it is to be Biblically.

And Hubs reminded her that we are supposed to speak to each other in psalm and words of Gospel encouragement as I have been doing when Hubs and I discuss things that affect our life together – not to sway one or the other to a specific opinion, but more to strengthen and bring to mind the Words of Life so necessary to stand firm in the promises of God in fearful circumstances (she should KNOW this!). Though we were expecting my sister’s objections because we know how she thinks and feels about medical intervention (all for it; preaches it like it’s gospel), we were a little taken aback by her objections to consulting the Scriptures for encouragement and wisdom! THAT is WHAT Christians are TOLD TO DO! Not only by Elohim, but plainly said BY Yeshua. If today’s Christians do not want to take the Old Covenant into consideration, there are PLENTY OF INSTANCCES in the New Covenant where the Disciples were TOLD BY Yeshua to look to the Word of God for inspiration, faith, and wisdom. And the Apostles TAUGHT that the Word coupled with faith in Yeshua was SUFFICIENT unto health and well-being. The Early Church LIVED by the Gospel grounded IN the Holy Scriptures, and they put the Word of God INTO PRACTICE.

As we said to my sister, “If you can SHOW us IN the Scriptures … ANYWHERE in the Scriptures … WHERE it SAYS that we, as Believers, are encouraged or flat out told to run to a doctor and put our faith in a doctor, then we will change our way of thinking. But UNTIL you can DO that … we do not rely on men, but rather on Elohei.”

We do not believe that the {men of knowledge} she is referring to are doctors or hospital staff; we believe she and her husband are misrepresenting the Scriptures with that assertation.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7)

“The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feeds on folly” (Proverbs 15:14)

“Teach me knowledge and good judgement, for I trust Your commands” (Psalm 119:66)

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him; the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge …” (Isaiah 11:2)

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. As the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

“… that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself …” (Colossians 2:2-3)

CLEARLY Scripture speaks of the knowledge OF ELOHEI … not of men … that we, as believers are to adhere to. We do not believe the report of men; we believe the report of the Lord. And on that we rest our case and expect a good outcome when the dust from this ordeal settles. Amen

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ACTS ~ Chapters 17

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO Acts ~ Chapter 17

Now Saul (Paul) and Silas journeyed through Amphipolis and Appollonia until they came to Thessalonica.

Here there was a Jewish synagogue. According to custom, Paul went in among them, and on three successive Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures. He opened up the Scriptures, trying to show that it was necessary for the Mashiach (Christ) to suffer and to rise up again from the dead, and he said, “The Yeshua (Jesus), Whom I preach to you, is the Mashiach!” Some of them became believers and joined Saul and Silas. There were many Greeks among the worshippers, and several prominent women.

Now the Jews who refused to believe, stirred by jealousy, got some wicked rowdies to join them, then gathered a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked the house of Jason, hoping to find Saul and Silas there and bring them out to the people. When they did not find them there, they dragged Jason and some other brethren before the city magistrates and shouted, ‘These fellows who are creating confusion all over the world have come here, too! And they have been at Jason’s. They say that there is another King – Yeshua – and they are thus acting contrary to the orders of the emperor.’ When the mob and the city fathers heard this, they were troubled. As to Jason, and the others, they put them under bonds to keep the peace, and then let them go.

The brethren at once sent Saul and Silas away by night to Berea, and on reaching there they went to the Jewish synagogue. The people there were more noble-minded than those at Thessalonica, for they were more eager to hear the Word and searched the Scriptures to see if these things were so. In fact, many of them therefore became believers, including some very respectable Greek women as well as men. But when the Jews at Thessalonica heard that the Word of Elohei (God) was being preached by Saul in Berea, they also came there to stir up the crowds against him. The brethren then at once sent Saul away towards the coast, but both Silas and Timothy remained there.

Those who accompanied Saul brought him as far as Athens, then went back, taking along orders from him that Silas and Timothy should come to him as soon as possible.

Then, while Saul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him was painfully provoked as he saw that the city was given to idol worship. He discussed the matter with the Jews and their fellow worshippers in the synagogue, and likewise daily in the marketplace with people whom he met there. Then he ran up against some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Some of them said, ‘What do you suppose this chatterbox has to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be preaching some strange gods.’ They noted that he was preaching to them the Gospel of Yeshua and the resurrection.

They then took him and brought him up to the Areopagus (Mars Hill), and said, ‘may we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? For you are surely bringing some strange things to our ears. So we want to know just what these things may mean.’ The Athenians and visitors from abroad likewise spent their leisure time in nothing more than telling something new or hearing about it. Then Saul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, spoke to them: “Men of Athens, I see that you are in every way very religious. For as I was walking about and taking note of the things you worship, I came across an altar with this inscription [To an Unknown God]; though you do not know Him, still you hold Him in reverence, and it is he Whom I no proclaim to you. The God Who created the world and everything in it is Lord of heaven and earth and does not dwell in temples made of human hands. Nor is He served by the hands of man as though He needed anything, for He has Himself given all life, breath, and every good thing. From one blood He made all the races now living on the whole face of the earth, after having beforehand determined when and where they should live. They were to seek Adonai. Though He is never far from any of us, yet they might perhaps be groping for Him, hoping they might find Him. Yes, it is in Him that we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘for also we are His offspring’. Now since we are Elohei’s offspring, we ought not to think of the Deity as being like gold or silver or stone, shaped by man’s artistry and imagination. Elohei has indeed overlooked such times of ignorance, but now He calls on all men everywhere to repent. Now He has set a day on which He will judge the people of the world with justice, through a Man Whom He has appointed, and to all He has furnished proof of this by raising Him from the dead.”

Some scoffed when they heard him mention the resurrection of the dead, but others said, ‘We shall hear you again about that.’ And with that, Saul went away from the meeting.

There were some, too, who became believers and joined him, among whom were Dionysius – a member of the Areopagus Council; and a woman by the name of Damaris, and also some others.

**ACTS 16: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-gospel-according-to-acts-chapters-16.html