MINISTRY of Paul

 Acts 20:18

King James Version

18 And when they were come to him, 

he said unto them, 

Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, 

after what manner I have been with you 

at all seasons,

What was apostle Paul like?

How did he conduct himself?

How did he teach the WORD?

Nothing like getting it from the apostle himself:

Acts 20:19

King James Version

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, 

and with many tears, and temptations, 

which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

Acts 20:20

King James Version

20 And how I kept back nothing 

that was profitable unto you, 

but have shewed you, 

and have taught you publicly, 

and from house to house,

Acts 20:21

King James Version

21 Testifying both to the Jews, 

and also to the Greeks, 

repentance toward God, 

and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:22

King James Version

22 And now, behold, 

I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, 

not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

Acts 20:23

King James Version

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, 

saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Acts 20:24

King James Version

24 But none of these things move me, 

neither count I my life dear unto myself, 

so that I might finish my course with joy, 

and the ministry, 

which I have received of the Lord Jesus, 

to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:26-27

King James Version

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, 

that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you 

all the counsel of God.

Acts 20:28

King James Version

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, 

and to all the flock, over the which 

the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, 

to feed the church of God, 

which he hath purchased 

with his own blood.

Acts 20:29-30

King James Version

29 For I know this, 

that after my departing shall grievous wolves 

enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, 

speaking perverse things, 

to draw away disciples after them.

Acts 20:31

King James Version

31 Therefore watch, 

and remember, 

that by the space of three years 

I ceased not to warn every one 

night and day with tears.

Acts 20:32

King James Version

32 And now, brethren, 

I commend you to God, 

and to the word of his grace, 

which is able to build you up, 

and to give you an inheritance 

among all them which are sanctified.

Acts 20:33

King James Version

33 I have coveted no man's silver, 

or gold, or apparel.

Acts 20:34

King James Version

34 Yea, ye yourselves know, 

that these hands have ministered 

unto my necessities, 

and to them that were with me.

Acts 20:35

King James Version

35 I have shewed you all things, 

how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, 

and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, 

how he said, 

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

That was Paul's legacy.

A race he ran.

With flying colors.

Carrying GOD's banner.

Sharing the gospel of JESUS CHRIST.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

King James Version

7 I have fought a good fight, 

I have finished my course, 

I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me 

a crown of righteousness, 

which the Lord, the righteous judge, 

shall give me at that day: 

and not to me only, 

but unto all them also 

that love his appearing.

Related material:

Saul's CONVERSION

How many books of the Bible did Paul write?

BISHOP behavior

DEACON duties

SPIRIT-filled ministers

Verses from Bible Gateway

The HIGH PRIEST's burial

 

JESUS declared:

Matthew 5:17

King James Version

17 Think not that I am come 

to destroy the law, or the prophets: 

I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

We just finished writing "After JESUS died".

As we got to the verses, I became excited.

Several verses caught my attention.

For they spoke volumes.

About the love and care people had for JESUS.

Even after His death.

And how GOD's commands, and Bible prophecy were fulfilled.

What more for His "only begotten Son".

Here are the verses that caught my attention.

With supporting commentaries from my end.

JESUS' body had to be wrapped in clean "linen".

Matthew 27:59

King James Version

59 And when Joseph had taken the body,

he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

COMMENTARY:

JESUS is the "great high priest".

He must be clothed in the finest linen, as Joseph of Arimathea accomplished.

The use of linen was prescribed by GOD for the high priest's "holy garments".

GOD always commanded "purity", even in material for garments.

Leviticus 16:4

King James Version

4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, 

and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, 

and shall be girded with a linen girdle, 

and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: 

these are holy garments; 

therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, 

and so put them on.

Leviticus 16:32

King James Version

32 And the priest, whom he shall anoint, 

and whom he shall consecrate to minister 

in the priest's office in his father's stead, 

shall make the atonement, 

and shall put on the linen clothes, 

even the holy garments:

Leviticus 19:19

King James Version

19 Ye shall keep my statutes. 

Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: 

thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: 

neither shall a garment 

mingled of linen and woollen 

come upon thee.

Deuteronomy 22:11

King James Version

11 Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts,

 as of woollen and linen together.

The tomb had to be "new".

Matthew 27:60

King James Version

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, 

which he had hewn out in the rock: 

and he rolled a great stone 

to the door of the sepulchre, 

and departed.

COMMENTARY:

Why should the LORD deserve less?

John 19:41

King James Version

41 Now in the place where he was crucified 

there was a garden; 

and in the garden a new sepulchre, 

wherein was never man yet laid.

The sepulchre had to be "hewn out in the rock".

Matthew 27:60

King James Version

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, 

which he had hewn out in the rock: 

and he rolled a great stone 

to the door of the sepulchre, 

and departed.

COMMENTARY:

GOD was particular about not using "hewn stone", for this reason:

Exodus 20:25

King James Version

25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, 

thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: 

for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, 

thou hast polluted it.

JESUS had to be buried before "sabbath day".

Luke 23:54

King James Version

54 And that day was the preparation, 

and the sabbath drew on.

COMMENTARY:

Keeping the "sabbath day" was a command from GOD.

Exodus 20:8-11

King James Version

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day 

is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: 

in it thou shalt not do any work, 

thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, 

thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, 

nor thy cattle, 

nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, 

the sea, and all that in them is, 

and rested the seventh day: 

wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, 

and hallowed it.

John 19:31

King James Version

31 The Jews therefore,

because it was the preparation, 

that the bodies should not remain upon the cross 

on the sabbath day, 

(for that sabbath day was an high day,) 

besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, 

and that they might be taken away.

The soldiers did not brake the LORD's legs.

John 19:33

King James Version

33 But when they came to Jesus, 

and saw that he was dead already, 

they brake not his legs:

COMMENTARY:

It has been prophesied.

Psalm 34:20

King James Version

20 He keepeth all his bones: 

not one of them is broken.

John 19:36

King James Version

36 For these things were done, 

that the scripture should be fulfilled, 

A bone of him shall not be broken.

The LORD's side was "pierced".

John 19:34

King James Version

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear 

pierced his side, 

and forthwith came there out blood 

and water.

COMMENTARY:

It has been prophesied.

Zechariah 12:10

King James Version

10 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.

John 19:37

King James Version

37 And again another scripture saith, 

They shall look on him whom they pierced.

All that I know now, I learned from SPIRIT.

He guides me each day.

There's actually so much to learn, which I look forward to.

To help me understand the NEW Testament, He made me look into the OLD Testament.

The reverse is also true.

Now, it's time to look into what happened when JESUS was resurrected.

Click here for that post.

Related material:

JESUS the HIGH PRIEST

After JESUS died

On HEWN stone

About the Bible

Image: Free Bible Images

More on SCRIBES and PHARISEES

 Matthew 23:5

King James Version

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: 

they make broad their phylacteries, 

and enlarge the borders of their garments,

The LORD is truly magnificent!

In just one chapter, Matthew 23, He revealed the scribes and Pharisees.

Calling attention to their sins, and atrocities.

Which make people suffer, and are abominations to GOD.

This post is third in the series on scribes and Pharisees.

JESUS tells us more:

Matthew 23:16-22

King James Version

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, 

Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; 

but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, 

he is a debtor!

17 Ye fools and blind: 

for whether is greater, the gold, 

or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, 

it is nothing; 

but whosoever sweareth 

by the gift that is upon it, 

he is guilty.

19 Ye fools and blind: 

for whether is greater, the gift, 

or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, 

sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, 

sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

22 And he that shall swear by heaven, 

sweareth by the throne of God, 

and by him that sitteth thereon.

Matthew 23:33-36

King James Version

33 Ye serpents, 

ye generation of vipers, 

how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, 

I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: 

and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; 

and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, 

and persecute them from city to city:

35 That upon you may come 

all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, 

from the blood of righteous Abel 

unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, 

whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 Verily I say unto you, 

All these things shall come 

upon this generation.

Matthew 23:37-39

King James Version

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 

thou that killest the prophets, 

and stonest them which are sent unto thee, 

how often would I have gathered thy children together, 

even as a hen gathereth her chickens 

under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

39 For I say unto you, 

Ye shall not see me henceforth, 

till ye shall say, 

Blessed is he that cometh 

in the name of the Lord.

If you are born again, you will appreciate all that JESUS is teaching.

It is for all, whether we be scribes, or Pharisees.

Whether we be in government, or are civilians.

Whether we be from the past, or live in the present.

We are all under GOD's law.

WOE unto HYPOCRITES

 Matthew 5:20

King James Version

20 For I say unto you, 

That except your righteousness shall exceed 

the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, 

ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

In the previous post, JESUS described the scribes and Pharisees.

What more does the LORD want us to know about them?

What other traits did they have that was not acceptable to the LORD?

Let's find out from Scripture:

Matthew 23:13

King James Version

13 But woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: 

for ye neither go in yourselves, 

neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Matthew 23:14

King James Version

14 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye devour widows' houses, 

and for a pretence make long prayer: 

therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Matthew 23:15

King James Version

15 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, 

and when he is made, ye make him twofold 

more the child of hell than yourselves.

Matthew 23:16

King James Version

16 Woe unto you, 

ye blind guides, which say, 

Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; 

but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, 

he is a debtor!

Matthew 23:23-24

King James Version

23 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, 

and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, 

judgment, mercy, and faith: 

these ought ye to have done, 

and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, 

and swallow a camel.

Matthew 23:25-26

King James Version

25 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, 

but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, 

cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, 

that the outside of them may be clean also.

Matthew 23:27-28

King James Version

27 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, 

which indeed appear beautiful outward, 

but are within full of dead men's bones, 

and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, 

but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 23:29-32

King James Version

29 Woe unto you, 

scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 

because ye build the tombs of the prophets, 

and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, 

we would not have been partakers with them 

in the blood of the prophets.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, 

that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

What did "Woe unto you" mean?

What were the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees facing?

Matthew 23:33

King James Version

33 Ye serpents, 

ye generation of vipers, 

how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

You think JESUS is done?

He still has much more to say about scribes and Pharisees.

Head over to the next post.

Scribes and Pharisees

 Matthew 5:17

King James Version

17 Think not that I am come 

to destroy the law, or the prophets: 

I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

JESUS often spoke of them.

We refer to the scribes, and Pharisees.

Who hung on the LORD's every word.

That they may hang Him.

They waited in every corner, in ambush.

Challenging JESUS about His teachings.

Which they say doesn't conform to the law.

What did JESUS teach us about them?

Matthew 5:20

King James Version

20 For I say unto you, 

That except your righteousness shall exceed 

the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, 

ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 16:6

King James Version

6 Then Jesus said unto them, 

Take heed and beware of the leaven 

of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Why did the LORD specifically point these out?

Who were these scribes and Pharisees?

Why did JESUS warn us about them?

How did He describe them?

Matthew 23:1-4

King James Version

23 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, 

and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees 

sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid 

you observe, that observe and do; 

but do not ye after their works:

for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens 

and grievous to be borne, 

and lay them on men's shoulders; 

but they themselves will not move them 

with one of their fingers.

Matthew 23:5-7

King James Version

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: 

they make broad their phylacteries, 

and enlarge the borders of their garments,

6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, 

and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 And greetings in the markets, 

and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

How did JESUS correct these scribes and Pharisees?

Matthew 23:8-12

King James Version

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: 

for one is your Master, even Christ; 

and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: 

for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: 

for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among 

you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; 

and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Of course, JESUS had much to tell us about them.

We're just warming up.

Scripture has much to say.

SPIRIT has much to teach.

All in testimony of the LORD's teachings.

And I'm on it.

We are not to be be like scribes and Pharisees.

JESUS could not stand their hypocrisy.

And that's for the next post.