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Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Acts 28 מעשי השליחים

מעשי השליחים
Acts 28  Tree of Life Version (TLV)

From Malta to Rome

28 Once safely ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us unusual kindness. Because it had started raining and it was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed us all.

Acts 28  King James Version (KJV)
28 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

1. Compare the vs. 1 & 2 in the KJV to the TLV – note the “they” vs. “we/us” statements, and what are three explanations as to why both are used in the traditional Greek according to the commentators?

2. Why would the Maltese natives consider Paul a “murderer”; explain their background, what would make them come to the conclusions they did about Paul?

3. How large was this island and who was Publius and what do we know about him, and why would he have hosted Paul and the group for 3 days?

4. What do we know about a common disease found on Malta that could be related to Publius’ father’s condition, what is it, and what do the Jewish sages say about healings in relation to certain sins the victim may have committed?

5. When did the crew now set sail from Malta, with the most possible accuracy what date would it have been most likely to occur; and explain what is the “Twin Brothers” mentioned in vs. 11?

6. What do we know about the city of Syracuse? (not NY)

7. Who were the “brothers” they met at Puteoli, why did they stay 7 days; and explain who the brothers at Rome were and the significance of where they came from and why it encouraged Paul?

8. Who did Paul later call to see after 3 days in Rome, how did he refer to them (what term is used to describe them), and what explanation did Paul give them for his imprisonment and how was that significant?

9. What is interesting about the council’s response to Paul that they’ve received “no news” about him, yet they do know about this “sect” of Jews (i.e. Messianic Jews) and somehow they know it is spoken against?  Explain this…

10. What is culturally “Jewish” in the description of the disagreements that arose among the Jews who later met to hear Paul share the Good News; and should vs. 28 be interpreted to mean that God is now finished trying to reach the Jews with this Good News, and only Gentiles will now listen?

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Shaliach Shaul's Letter to the Congregation in Rome אגרת פולוס השליח אל-הרומיים



Beginning on Shabbat Shuvah morning Oct. 8th @ 9:00 a.m. we will begin a new Sefer of the Brit Chadasha study for Adults.  The Book of Romans from a Messianic Jewish Perspective.  We will us the Commentary on the Jewish Roots of Romans by Joseph Shulam available on Amazon.  Also, you can register for an email update on the weekly study questions on our website at: http://tikvatcleveland.org/our-community  click on “ADULT BIBLE STUDY” enter your email to register.  Class is free and open to all coffee is served.  Let’s study together!


Acts 27 מעשי השליחים

מעשי השליחים
Acts 27

1. Who was Julius, and what do we know about him?

2. Who was Aristarchus, and where have we seen him before?

3. Why did the group stop in Sidon, why is this significant, and why did Julius allow Paul to go to his friends, what does this imply?

4. Describe the conditions after the departure from Sidon, why was it ideal to set down in Myra, and how was Paul connected to that city before?

5. What do we know about the type of ship Julius found, likely what commodity was it carrying and how was that significant in the ancient middle-east?

6. What does sailing for a “number of days” indicate, how long to scholars think this journey to Cnidus took and why?

7. What “fast” is this passage talking about, what time of year would this be referring to?

8. Why did Paul make such a stern warning, what personal experience of his made him qualified to warn as he did, (cite your source); and was Paul successful in convincing the crew, why or why not?

9. Explain what peril the ship and crew experienced, and how did they avoid “Syrtis”, and what was Syrtis known for?

10. What was the “cargo” that was thrown overboard and what multiple reasons were there for doing this; and what challenges were there for such an undertaking?

11. What is significant about Paul’s “I told you so…” message; and how is Paul like Jonah, and how is Paul “not like Jonah”?

12. Bonus: “How is the theme of Jonah connected to this narrative in ch. 27 regarding the time of year these events are happening”?

13. Why did the crew long for daylight to come, and how was this chapter similar to the story of Homer’s Odyssey?

14. Why did Paul warn against the secret escape by some of the sailors, why did he also encourage them to now eat after 14 days, what is significant of the “breaking of the bread” and why is it also very significant that the number of persons was mentioned?

15. Why did the soldiers want to kill the prisoners, and why did Julius ultimately decide against this, what was his motivation for this?

Thursday, September 15, 2016

The Trump Video Every Jew Must Watch


I'm exercising my 1st amendment right to "free speech"...  Here you go fellow Jews...

For the record, as the rabbi, "I'm not endorsing any particular candidate"... just an interesting video...

:)

Enjoy...

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Acts 26 מעשי השליחים

מעשי השליחים
Acts 26
Defense Before King Agrippa

1. What is the meaning of Shaul “stretching out his hand”; what does it mean and why was it worth mentioning?

2. Was it good in Paul’s view to now be testifying before Agrippa, if so, why?

3. What witnesses does Paul now provide for in his own defense; and what character references does he provide?  Does he cites his deeds or his beliefs more than the other, and how does this set a precedent for us today?

4. How exactly does Paul define the accusations against himself, what does he think he’s being accused of; and what is the implication he is making in mentioning the “twelve tribes”, how is this significant?

5. How does Paul portray himself in the narrative, what is his purpose; and what does it mean when it says that he “caused them to blaspheme”; what did he actually do?

6. What is the meaning of “kicking against the goads”; and what other Scriptures do we see this application, and how is this Jewish?

7. What purposes was Yeshua revealing Himself to Paul and how was this a Prophetic calling?

8. Why does Paul indicate that through him Gentiles are called to open their eyes and come out of “darkness into light”, what references are there concerning this in Tanakh (Old Testament)?

9. How does Paul’s testimony of what Yeshua told him regarding the salvation of the Gentiles have something also to do with Israel’s spiritual restoration coupled with their return to the Land out of exile?

10. Why was Paul originally arrested, did he defile the Temple, what does he say about it here as to the real reason he was seized?

11. What is the implication of Festus’ interruption and how does his own cultural background lead him to this exclamation?

13. Was Paul trying to convert Agrippa from being a Jew into now a “Christian”; how should the text be understood in light of the original translation?

14. In light of the whole chapter, was Festus successful in his own adjudication of Paul’s case and was Agrippa helpful to him; why or why not?

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Acts 25 מעשי השליחים The Appeal to Caesar!

מעשי השליחים
Acts 25

1. Who was Festus, what do we know about him; and why did he go to Jerusalem so quickly?

2. Who were these ruling kohanim, and leading Judeans, are these the same guys from ch. 24?

3. Festus apparently did not want to bring Shaul up to Jerusalem to be tried, instead he proposed to take the accusers with him back to Caesarea, why was this problematic for the accusers?

4. What is significant of the “judgment seat” mentioned herein vs. 6, how is this term borrowed from Jewish and rabbinic writings.  Also, what was once again the plaintiff’s problem with their case similar to ch. 24?

5. What did Festus propose to Shaul, why did he propose it, and why did Shaul refuse his proposal decisively?

6. Who was Agrippa and Bernice and what do we know about them?

7. What was the purpose of Festus putting Shaul’s case before Agrippa, and how was his presence a benefit for Festus?

8. How was the way this case with Festus handled differently than the way it was handled before Felix?

9. How is Agrippa’s interest in hearing Shaul’s case for himself reminiscent of the case against Yeshua the Messiah?

10. What was Festus’s apparent real reason for bringing Shaul before Agrippa (and Bernice); and how was Festus’s own competence and career on the line in this matter?