Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Paul asked to speak to the Jews. Acts 21:37-39  And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?  38)  Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?  39)  But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. Paul asked to speak with Lysias before he was taken inside the Roman fortress and the captain asked Paul if he could speak Greek. Paul knew Greek so the captain asked Paul if he was a certain man from Egypt who created a civil disturbance.  Jewish historian Josephus preserved a record of the actual insurrection that Lysias is referencing below. "An Egyptian, whose name is not known, pretended to be a prophet, and told his followers that the walls of Jerusalem would fall dow...

Psalm 119:9-15  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.  10)  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  12)  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  13)  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  14)  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  15)  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  Delighting in God's holy statutes. Psalm 119:16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  We are wrapping up the second eight verse segment of Psalm 119 by learning about what it means to delight in the statutes of God.  The word "delight" in this text literally means to have your eyes smeared over and blinded with the sweetness of o...

Jews riot against Paul by making false accusations.  Acts 21:27-29  And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,  28)  Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.  29)  (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)  Jews from Asia  pursued Paul with the most deliberate and persevering malice in every place. They were the source of false reports about Paul's ministry that were circulated through Jerusalem. As they recognized an Ephesian named Trophimus, this means that these Asian Jews were from Ephesus. Jews in that city were very resistant toward the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul prea...

Psalm 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  Taking heed to the scriptures is the Psalmist's answer to how a young man can be cleansed from the pollution of sin. Psalm 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  Taking heed to the scriptures involves seeking God with all of our heart and praying for strength to stay on the path of seeking Him that way. Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Hiding God's Word in our heart involves reading and re-reading it, meditating on it and committing it to memory. It has a purifying and restraining power that will help us flee from sin. Psalm 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  God is eternally blessed in and of Himself and He is ready and willing to share His blessing with believers in Christ. We can ask for God's help in studyi...

The brethren at Jerusalem were glad to see Paul. Acts 21:17  And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. After a long period of time, Paul finally arrived in Jerusalem. He had not been there since the Jerusalem conference held many years earlier (Acts 15). Paul was full of anxiety about this visit to Jerusalem, because God sent numerous prophetic messages of danger awaiting him. He had every reason to expect that the same Jews who sought for his life, would attend the feast that he came to observe. However, the Jerusalem church people were very glad to see Paul again, and they gave him a warm reception of love and hospitality. James and the elders were blessed to see Paul. Acts 21:18,19  And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.  19)  And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.  This text refers to James the son of Mar...

Psalm 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  This question sets the stage for the "BETH' section of Psalm 119. How can a young man or any person, be cleansed from the stains of sin? By taking heed to the Word of God.  Psalm 119:10-14  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  12)  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  13)  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.  14)  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  Benefits of meditating on God's Word. Psalm 119:15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. We receive many benefits from meditating upon the Word of God. One of the best is that meditation on scripture imprints God's truth on our minds and f...