Commentaries
Arabic
- إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير متى
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير مَرْقُس
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير لوقا
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إِنْجِيْلُ المَسِيْحِِِ حسبَ البَشير يُوْحَنَّا
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه) - أعمال الرسل حسب البشير لوقا
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - رِسَالةُ بُولُسَ الرَّسُولِ إِلَى أَهْلِ رُوْمِيَة
(عَبدُ المَسِيْح وزُمَلاؤه) - رسالة بُوْلُس الرَّسُوْل إلى أهْلِ غَلاَطِيَّة
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه) - رِسالةُ بُولُسَ الرَّسُول إِلَى أَهْلِ كَنِيْسَةِ فِيْلِبِّي
(عبد المَسِيْح وزملاؤه) - رِسالةُ بولس الرَّسول إِلَى الكَنِيْسَةِ في كُوْلُوْسِّيْ
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - رِسَالَةِ بولس الرَّسول إلى العِبْرَانِيِّيْنَ
(عَبد المسِيح وزُملاؤُه) - رِسَالةُ يَعْقُوب
(عَبد المسِيح وزُملاؤُه) - رُؤْيا يوحنا اللاهوتي
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه)
English
- The Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to Mark
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to Luke
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to John
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - Acts of the Apostles
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Romans
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues)
German
- Die Offenbarung des Johannes
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues)
PREFACE
PART I – THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE EARLY CHURCH IN JERUSALEM
(ACTS 1-7)
(ACTS 1-7)
1. The Introduction of the Book and the Last Promise of Christ (Acts 1:1-8)
2. Christ’ Ascension to Heaven (Acts 1:9-12)
3. The Select Group That Waited For the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13-14)
4. Matthias Chosen in Place of the Sinful Judas (Acts 1:15-26)
5. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)
6. Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36)
7. Edification by the Ministry of the Apostles (Acts 2:37-41)
8. Spiritual Life in the Believers’ Church (Acts 2:42-47)
9. The Healing of a Cripple (Acts 3:1-10)
10. Peter’s Sermon in the Temple (Acts 3:11- 26)
11. Peter and John Imprisoned and Taken to Court for the First Time (Acts 4:1-22)
12. The Common Prayer of the Church (Acts 4:23-31)
13. Church Members having all Things in Common (Acts 4:32-37)
14. The Death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
15. Revival and many Healings (Acts 5:12-16)
16. The Apostle´s Imprisonment, and their Release by an Angel (Acts 5:17-25)
17. The Apostles before the High Council (Acts 5:26-33)
18. Gamaliel’s Advice and the Whipping of the Apostles (Acts 5:34-42)
19. The Organization of the Church and the Choosing of the Seven Deacons (Acts 6:1-7)
20. Stephen’s Effective Testimony (Acts 6:8-15)
21. Stephen’s Defense (Acts 7:1-53)
a) A Description of the Days of the Patriarchs (Acts 7:1-19)
a) A Description of the Days of the Patriarchs (Acts 7:1-19)
b) The Days of Moses (Acts 7:20-43)
c) The Tabernacle of Meeting, and the Establishment of the Temple (Acts 7:44-50)
d) The Complaint against the Stubborn People (Acts 7:51-53)
e) Stephen’s Gazing into the Opened Heaven and his Stoning; his becoming the First Martyr (Acts 7:54- 8:1)
PART II – THE EXTENSION OF THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION TO SAMARIA AND SYRIA AND THE BEGINNING OF GENTILE CONVERSIONS
(ACTS 8- 12)
(ACTS 8- 12)
1. The First Persecution of the Christian Church at Jerusalem and the Believers’ Scattering throughout Samaria (Acts 8:1- 8)
2. Simon the Sorcerer and the Work of Peter and John in Samaria (Acts 8:9-25)
3. Conversion, and Baptism of the Ethiopian Treasurer (Acts 8:26-40)
4. Christ’s Appearance to Saul near Damascus (Acts 9:1-5)
5. Saul Baptized at the Hand of Ananias (Acts 9:6-19)
6. Saul’s Preaching in Damascus and his Persecution by the Jews (Acts 9:19-25)
7. The First Meeting Between Paul and the Apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30)
8. The Wonderful Works of Christ at the Hand of Peter (Acts 9:31-43)
9. The Beginning of Preaching to the Gentiles through the Conversion of Cornelius the Centurion (Acts 10:1-11:18)
10. The Establishment of a Gentile Church at Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)
11. King Agrippa´s Persecution of the Churches in Jerusalem (Acts 12:1-6)
12. Peter’s Deliverance at the Hand of an Angel (Acts 12:7-17)
13. Herod’s Rage and Death (Acts 12:18-25)
PART III – REPORTS ABOUT PREACHING AMONG THE GENTILES AND THE FOUNDATION OF CHURCHES FROM ANTIOCH TO ROME
(ACTS 13-28)
(ACTS 13-28)
A – The First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:1-14:28)
1. The Separation of Barnabas and Saul for the Work (Acts 13:1-3)
1. The Separation of Barnabas and Saul for the Work (Acts 13:1-3)
2. Preaching in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12)
3. Preaching in Antioch of Anatolia (Acts 13:13-52)
4. The Founding of the Church at Iconium (Acts 14:1-7)
5. The Founding of the Church at Lystra (Acts 14:8-20)
6. The Ministry in Derbe and the Return to Strengthen the Infant Churches (Acts 14:21-23)
7. The Return to Antioch in Syria and Presenting an Account of the Ministry to the Brothers there (Acts 14:24-28)
B – THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM (ACTS 15:1-35)
C – THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 15:36-18: 22)
1. Paul’s Separation From Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41)
1. Paul’s Separation From Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41)
2. The Strengthening of the Churches of Syria and Anatolia: Choosing Timothy for Service (Acts 16:1- 5)
3. The Holy Spirit Prevents the Apostles from Entering Bithynia, in the Province of Asia (Acts 16:6-10)
4. The Founding of the Church at Philippi (Acts 16:11-34)
5. The Founding of the Church in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9)
6. The Founding of the Church in Berea (Acts 17:10-15)
7. Paul at Athens (Acts 17:16-34)
8. The Founding of the Church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17)
9. Paul’s Return to Jerusalem and Antioch (Acts 18:18-22)
D – THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 18:23-21:14)
1. Paul in Anatolia – Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth (Acts 18: 23-28)
1. Paul in Anatolia – Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth (Acts 18: 23-28)
2. Spiritual Revival in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20)
3. The Apostle plans to Return to Jerusalem, and then go on to Rome (Acts 19:21-22)
4. The Riot of the Silversmiths in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41)
5. Paul´s Last Journey to Macedonia and Greece (Acts 20:1-3)
6. The plot to kill Paul in Corinth – the names of traveling companions accompanying him towards Jerusalem (Acts 20:3-5)
7. The Night Sermon, and the Lord’s Supper at Troas (Acts 20:6-12)
8. From Troas to Miletus (Acts 20:13-16)
9. Paul’s Parting Sermon to the Bishops and Elders (Acts 20:17-38)
10. The Sailing From Anatolia to Lebanon (Acts 21:1-6)
11. From Tyre to Caesarea (Acts 21:7-14)
E – PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT IN JERUSALEM AND IN CAESAREA (ACTS 21:15-26:32)
1. Paul arrives in Jerusalem and tells the brothers about his ministry (Acts 21:15-20)
1. Paul arrives in Jerusalem and tells the brothers about his ministry (Acts 21:15-20)
2. Paul’s Acceptance of Circumcision According to the Law (Acts 21:20-26)
3. The Jews attack Paul, the Roman soldiers rescue him (Acts 21:27-40)
4. Paul’s defense before his countrymen (Acts 22:1-29)
5. Paul before the High Council of the Jews (Acts 22:30-23:10)
6. Christ’s Appearance to Paul at Night (Acts 23:11)
7. The zealots’ plot against Paul (Acts 23:12-22)
8. Paul Transferred From Jerusalem to Caesarea (Acts 23:23-35)
9. The First Hearing of the Trial in Caesarea (Acts 24:1-23)
10. Paul Alone With the Governor and His Wife (Acts 24:24-27)
11. The Second Hearing of Paul’s Trial Before the New Governor (Acts 25:1-12)
12. Paul Before Agrippa II and His Royal Retinue (Acts 25:13-26:32)
F – THE SAILING FROM CAESAREA TO ROME (ACTS 27:1-28:31)
1. Moving to Sidon and Then to Crete (Acts 27:1-13)
1. Moving to Sidon and Then to Crete (Acts 27:1-13)
2. The storm at sea, and the shipwreck on Malta (Acts 27:14-44)
3. Wintering at Malta (Acts 28:1-10)
4. Continuing the Journey to Rome in Spring (Acts 28:11-14)
5. The Beginning of Paul’s Ministries at Rome (Acts 28:15-31)
2. Preaching in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12)
The Holy Spirit sent out the two apostles. He guided and helped them because they glorified the name of the Lord Jesus. He first guided the two men to Seleucia, a seaport town about 25 kilometers from Antioch. There the two apostles knelt down and prayed together with their brothers who had come to see them off. They then boarded the ship and sailed to Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas. He knew the island well, and thought their ministry would prosper there, preaching to his countrymen.
When they arrived in Salamis, a city on the east coast of Cyprus, they did not stop at its marketplace and speak to the Gentiles. Instead, they immediately went into the synagogue of the Jews and presented to them the word of God. The members of the Old Testament were numerous on this island, which is located in the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet we do not read of any Jewish people in Cyprus believing in Jesus Christ or rejecting him angrily. It seems that none of the inhabitants there paid any attention to them. They were used to many other travelers coming to this island with strange thoughts.
Thus they continued on their way, accompanied by John Mark, Barnabas’ nephew. He had not been called by the Holy Spirit to this service, but joined them as their attendant and traveling companion. They passed through the entire island, which is about160 kilometers in length, preaching the kingdom of God and calling people to repentance. We do not read that anyone answered their call, believed, or was baptized. No church was founded there. Thus the service of those who were chosen by the Holy Spirit appeared not to be prosperous at first consideration.
At last they arrived in Paphos, the capital of Cyprus in Paul’s day and the residence of the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus. He was the absolute governor of that island, unanswerable to the high council of the state. This governor was intelligent, prudent, and wise to the times. When he heard about the new doctrine on his island, he sent for the preachers to inquire from them about their doctrine.
Strangely enough, a Jewish sorcerer named Elymas lived in his palace. This Elymas pretended to have the gift of prophecy, and had employed it in the service of Satan. Thus he became a false prophet, taking it upon himself to tell the governor some fActs.about men and the future. In reality he was deceiving him through lies, so as to get money from him. This false prophet prevailed over the governor and the island through his evil spirit.
He warned the governor about Barnabas and Saul, who were bringing a new spirit to the island. Yet when the governor heard these two men he was pleased with their gospel. Thus he who was possessed by the spirit of hell made it his business to withstand Barnabas and Saul, with all craftiness. He used all his power of persuasion to stop the kingdom of God from coming into his region. He desired, at all cost, to prevent his patron from giving any adherence to the new faith, else the whole island become Christian. This is, in most cases, the reason for failure in preaching. In some countries an unclean spirit sits, dominantly opposing the entrance of the spirit of the gospel. The Spirit in heaven is not in agreement with the spirit on earth. All combinations of religions are ultimately superficial lies.
Barnabas and Saul soon realized that the spirit in Bar-Jesus, the magician’s Jewish name, was the opposite of Jesus Christ, who was anointed with the Holy Spirit. This magician was full of the spirit of Satan, perverting the truth of the Old Testament. He deviously employed his religious knowledge to further support his lies. His boasts were filled with deceptive wisdom, which was clear deviation and defiance of that which is right and truth.
It happened that the governor had the same name as the apostle, while the sorcerer had the same name as Jesus. Therefore, the apostles thought this might be a preparation for the coming of the kingdom of God to the island, and possibly to the whole Roman Empire through the proconsul. But their dreams soon evaporated, and a clash ensued between the deception of Satan and the truth of Christ. Saul, called Paul, publicly exposed and removed the veil of lies from the face of the false prophet and sorcerer. Paul did not preach repentance to the sorcerer, nor did he offer him forgiveness. Instead, he condemned him in the name of Christ and overcame his evil spirit through faith in the working hand of the Lord. Led by the Holy Spirit, Paul stabbed the false prophet through his innermost being. He did not bring the deceiver to bodily death, but Christ Jesus had empowered him to work a miracle. He inflicted the sorcerer with blindness that he might have a chance to repent, just as he, too, struck with blindness on the road to Damascus, had had a chance to reflect on his sin. With Paul, however, it came to the realization of who the true Lord is, to belief on him, and to salvation.
Jesus showed himself in Cyprus to be the Lord over all spirits and the Victor over devils, through the testimony of Paul, His servant. Those who were present felt the triumph of the great God. Afterwards Paul is mentioned first in the records of the Acts of the Apostles, for the last and “little one” had become first. He, who was zealous for the glory of Christ received power to magnify the name of the Savior. This glorification was the complete aim of the Holy Spirit.
Unfortunately, the governor believed in the living Christ only because of the miracle, and not wholeheartedly. He dared not ask for baptism. Though his name was “Paulus”, he did not become a preacher of Christ, as the true Paul had done. In spite of his faith he remained neutral. Through his lukewarmness he became a reason for the delay in timely spreading the kingdom of God. He did not, however, object to preaching on the island, having himself called on the name of Jesus, whose name he feared. We read nothing further regarding Sergius Paulus in the history of the church.
Paul and Barnabas experienced anew that the Lord’s doctrine was not an empty thought, but power from on high. The Lord Himself was accompanying these men in His triumphal procession. In this first leg of the journey, however, there appeared no great number of repentant believers, in Cyprus, the homeland of the faithful Barnabas.