Talmidim BeHaalotcha

Talmidim BeHaalotcha

Acts 9:1-10:48

Act 9:1 But Sha’ul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the talmidim of Adonai, went to the Kohen Gadol,

Act 9:2  and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Yerushalayim.

“Way” is another means of saying “Walk” or “Halacha.”  Their “halacha” was to observe only the written Torah and the rest of the Tanakh, and to reject the takanot and ma’asim (traditions and precedents) of the Pharisee’s Oral Law.  Shaul was, of course, a Pharisee, and as we know from the events of the Destruction of the Temple, the Pharisees were tight with the Roman authorities and had de facto control of the country.

Acts, continued:

Act 9:3  As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.

Act 9:4  He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why do you persecute me?”

Act 9:5  He said, “Who are you, Adon?” Adonai said, “I am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting.

Act 9:6  But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Act 9:7  The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.

Act 9:8  Sha’ul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

Act 9:9  He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

Act 9:10  Now there was a certain talmid at Damascus named Chananyah. Adonai said to him in a vision, “Chananyah!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Adonai.”

Act 9:11  Adonai said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Yehudah for one named Sha’ul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,

Act 9:12  and in a vision he has seen a man named Chananyah coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

Act 9:13  But Chananyah answered, “Adonai, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your holy ones at Yerushalayim.

Act 9:14  Here he has authority from the chief Kohanim to bind all who call on your name.”

Act 9:15  But Adonai said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Yisra’el.

Act 9:16  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Act 9:17  Chananyah departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Sha’ul, Adonai, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.”

Act 9:18  Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was immersed.

Act 9:19  He took food and was strengthened. Sha’ul stayed several days with the talmidim who were at Damascus.

Act 9:20  Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Messiah, that he is the Son of Elohim.

Act 9:21  All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Yerushalayim made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief Kohanim!”

Act 9:22  But Sha’ul increased more in strength, and confounded the Judeans who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah.

Act 9:23  When many days were fulfilled, the Judeans conspired together to kill him,

Act 9:24  but their plot became known to Sha’ul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,

Act 9:25  but his talmidim took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Act 9:26  When Sha’ul had come to Yerushalayim, he tried to join himself to the talmidim; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a talmid.

Act 9:27  But Bar-Nabba took him, and brought him to the emissaries, and declared to them how he had seen Adonai in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Yeshua.

Act 9:28  He was with them entering into Yerushalayim,

Act 9:29  preaching boldly in the name of Adonai. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.

Hellenists were also collaborators, the political party that sought to make Judea a Greek-style nation and to be a secular world power in the same manner that the State of Israel seeks to be one today, not trusting or obeying Elohim.

Acts, continued:

Act 9:30  When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.

Act 9:31  So the assemblies throughout all Yehudah and the Galil and Shomron had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of Adonai and in the comfort of the Ruach HaKodesh.

Act 9:32  It happened, as Kefa went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the holy ones who lived at Lud.

Act 9:33  There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed.

Act 9:34  Kefa said to him, “Aeneas, Yeshua the Messiah heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.

Act 9:35  All who lived at Lud and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to Adonai.

Act 9:36  Now there was at Yafo a certain talmid named Tavita, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.

Act 9:37  It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.

Act 9:38  As Lud was near Yafo, the talmidim, hearing that Kefa was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

Act 9:39  Kefa got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Act 9:40  Kefa put them all out, and kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tavita, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Kefa, she sat up.

Act 9:41  He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the holy ones and widows, he presented her alive.

Act 9:42  And it became known throughout all Yafo, and many believed in Adonai.

Act 9:43  It happened, that he stayed many days in Yafo with one Shim`on, a tanner.

Act 10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

Act 10:2  a devout man, and one who feared Elohim with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to Elohim.

Cornelious was probably a “god-fearer,” a gentile who adopted the ways of Torah but did not take the final step of being circumcised yet.  The Pharisees shunned such people and would not associate with those who were learning Torah but not yet undergone circumcicision.

Acts, continued:

Act 10:3  At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of Elohim coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

About 3pm, the time traditionally associated with Minchah, the afternoon prayers.

Acts, continued:

Act 10:4  He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Adonai?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before Elohim.

Act 10:5  Now send men to Yafo, and get Shim`on, who is surnamed Kefa.

Act 10:6  He lodges with one Shim`on, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside. “

Act 10:7  When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.

Act 10:8  Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Yafo.

Act 10:9  Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Kefa went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.

Act 10:10  He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.

Act 10:11  He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,

Act 10:12  in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

Act 10:13  A voice came to him, “Rise, Kefa, kill and eat!”

Act 10:14  But Kefa said, “Not so, Adonai; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

Act 10:15  A voice came to him again the second time, “What Elohim has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”

Act 10:16  This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.

This passage is almost universally taken out of context by Christians in order to claim that they do not have to obey the laws of Kashrut (food laws of the Torah).  However, as Peter himself clearly interprets, this vision has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with eating unclean carcasses.

Acts, continued:

Act 10:17  Now while Kefa was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Shim`on’s house, stood before the gate,

Act 10:18  and called and asked whether Shim`on, who was surnamed Kefa, was lodging there.

Act 10:19  While Kefa was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.

Act 10:20  But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

Act 10:21  Kefa went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”

Act 10:22  They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears Elohim, and well spoken of by all the Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”

Act 10:23  So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Kefa arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Yafo accompanied him.

Act 10:24  On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

Act 10:25  When it happened that Kefa entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

Act 10:26  But Kefa raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”

Act 10:27  As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.

Act 10:28  He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but Elohim has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.

Here Peter is telling them the Pharisee’s Oral Law, which most people did abide by who wanted to be accepted into synagogues and homes of Pharisee believers and non-believers.  Peter himself obviously was in the habit of observing this tradition, and occasionally (as we will read later) had a lapse in judgment concerning it.  But we see here that it is exactly this precedent which Elohim wished to be overturned – learners and seekers were to be welcomed in the homes and services of Believers (except for the uncircumcised at Passover, which is a Torah commandment and not just a tradition of the Rabbis).  Elohim intends for gentiles to be socially acceptable to the community of observant believers.

Acts, continued:

Act 10:29  Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”

Act 10:30  Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Act 10:31  and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of Elohim.

Act 10:32  Send therefore to Yafo, and summon Shim`on, who is surnamed Kefa. He lodges in the house of Shim`on a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

Act 10:33  Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of Elohim to hear all things that have been commanded you by Elohim.”

Act 10:34  Kefa opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that Elohim doesn’t show favoritism;

Act 10:35  but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

Act 10:36  The word which he sent to the children of Yisra’el, preaching good news of shalom by Yeshua the Messiah–he is Adonai of all–

Act 10:37  that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Yehudah, beginning from the Galil, after the immersion which Yochanan preached;

Act 10:38  even Yeshua of Natzeret, how Elohim anointed him with the Ruach HaKodesh and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for Elohim was with him.

Act 10:39  We are witnesses of everything he did both in the countryside of Judea, and in Yerushalayim; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.

Act 10:40  Elohim raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,

Act 10:41  not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by Elohim, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42  He charged us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by Elohim as the Judge of the living and the dead.

Act 10:43  All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”

Act 10:44  While Kefa was still speaking these words, the Ruach HaKodesh fell on all those who heard the word.

Act 10:45  They of the circumcision [party] who believed were amazed, as many as came with Kefa, because the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh was also poured out on the nations.

Those who believe that a person must be circumcised immediately upon professing faith in Elohim (or Yeshua, if they are Believers) and only then be allowed to associate and fellowship with others and learn Torah.  Paul spends a great deal of energy and effort over the rest of his life fighting this party, because Yeshua commanded us to “count the cost” before deciding to commit to Elohim and a Torah lifestyle.

Acts, continued:

Act 10:46  For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying Elohim. Then Kefa answered,

Act 10:47  “Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Ruach HaKodesh as well as we should not be immersed?”

Act 10:48  He commanded them to be immersed in the name of Yeshua the Messiah. Then they asked him to stay some days.

We learn from this passage that if living waters are not immediately available for a miqvah immersion, a person is still nonetheless endowed with the Ruach HaKodesh and becomes a grafted-in heir of the House of Israel.  However, as we see, even though they clearly had received the Spirit and clearly were believers they still needed to be immersed, as soon as was practical.

Next:  Epistle BeHaalotcha.