Acts 19:3-20:1

DEVOTIONAL READINGS:

The NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2022–2023 This Quarter in the Word

Mon, Nov. 7

The Gospel Threatens Vested Interests

Acts 19:21–31

Tue, Nov. 8

Encouraging Disciples and Saying Farewell

Acts 19:32–20:1

Wed, Nov. 9

The Gospel Bestows an Inheritance

Acts 20:17–21, 26–35

Thu, Nov. 10

The Lord Is My Portion

Psalm 16

Fri, Nov. 11

Be Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1:1–9

Sat, Nov. 12

Rejoice in God’s Salvation

Isaiah 25

Sun, Nov. 13

A Glorious Inheritance

TUESDAY, NOV 8, ENCOURAGING DISCIPLES AND SAYING FAREWELL: ACTS 19:32-20:1, BIBLE MUTAL,

32 In pacl sac tukeni sac arulana fohsak: kutu mwet wowo ke siena ma, ac kutu ke sie pacna, ac pusiyen mwet uh tia etu sripen toeni lalos.

1. Tukeni sac arulana fohsak,

2. Kutu mwet wowo ke siena ma,

3. ac kutu ke sie pacna,

4. Pusiyen mwet uh tia etu sripen toeni lalos.

33 Kutu mwet uh nunku mu Alexander pa sripauk,

1. mweyen mwet Jew uh pahtkolak elan tu meet.

2. Na Alexander el kolak paol nu sin mwet uh in akmisyelos,

3. ac el srike in aketeya nu selos ma orek uh.

34 Tuh ke elos akilenak lah el sie mwet Jew,

1. elos nukewa tukeni wowoyak ke lusen ao luo, ac fahk, “Artemis lun Ephesus el fulatlana!”

Artemis was a goddess of fertility.

She was represented by a carved female figure with many breasts.

A large statue of Artemis (see 19:35) was in the great temple at Ephesus.

The temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world.

supported by 127 pillars each 6 stories tall, the edifice was about 4 times larger than the Parthenon in Athens.

The religious and commercial life of Ephesus reflected the city’s worship of this pagan diety.

35 Na mwet sim lun siti uh el akmisyela u sac, ac fahk, “Mwet Ephesus,

mwet nukewa etu lah siti lun Ephesus pa liyaung tempul lun Artemis fulatlana,

ac oayapa eot saok se ma putatla inkusrao me uh.

36 Wangin mwet ku in lafwekin ma inge. Ouinge kowos in misla, ac tia oru kutena ouiya lalfon.

37 Kowos use mwet inge nu inge, a wangin ma elos pisre in tempul, ku fahk kas koluk ke god mutan lasr uh.

38 Fin oasr mwe tukak lal Demetrius ac mwet orekma lal uh lain kutena mwet, na oasr mwet fulat lasr, ac oasr pac len in nununku. Elos ku in oru tukak lalos we.

39 A fin oasr pac ma yohk liki ma kowos suk, enenu in aksuwosyeyuk ke meeting lun mwet fulat lun siti uh, fal nu ke ma sap lasr.

40 Tukun ma sikyak misenge uh, oasr sensen lasr lah mwet uh ac fahk mu kut pa purakak wowon sac. Ke wangin sripa ma sramtauk fohs sac, oru wangin sripa wo ma kut ac ku in fahk kac.”

41 Tukun el fahk ma inge, el folokonelik u sac.

[20:1], BIBLE MUTAL, “Paul El Sifil Som Nu Macedonia Ac Achaia

1 Tukun fohsak sac, Paul el solani mwet lulalfongi uh, ac sang kas in akku nu selos ac wilkas nu selos. Na el fahsr lukelos ac som nu Macedonia.

PAUL GOES TO MACEDONIA AND GREECE / 20:1–6

This chapter records the conclusion of Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul was heading for Jerusalem, intending to arrive before Pentecost. On the way, he took time in Troas to encourage the believers, then he had a tearful farewell with the elders of the church in Ephesus.

20:1 When it was over referred to the riot in Ephesus (19:26–41). Paul then sent for the believers, presumably those he had been teaching in Ephesus for two years. After he encouraged them, he left for Macedonia to continue his ministry of encouragement.

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Thu, Nov. 10

The Lord Is My Portion

Psalm 16, BIBLE MUTAL

16 LEUM PA MWE USRU LUK

[Psalm lal David]

Sie Pre In Lulalfongi Ku

1 Karinginyume, O God; nga lulalfongi kom tuh kom nien molela nu sik.

2 Nga fahk nu sin LEUM GOD, “Kom Leum luk;

Ma wo nukewa yuruk, ma tuku sum me.”

3 Fuka woiyen mwet su inse pwaye nu sin LEUM GOD!

Mwe engan lulap nu sik tuh nga in welulos.

4 Elos su kena suk god saya,

Elos use mwe ongoiya pus nu faclos sifacna.

Nga ac fah tiana welulos in oru mwe kisa lalos;

Nga ac fah tia alu nu sin god lalos.

5 Kom, LEUM GOD, kom mukena God luk, ac mwe usru luk,

Kom ase mwe enenu luk nukewa;

Moul luk uh oan inpoum.

6 Arulana wo mwe kite lom nu sik;

Yoklana woiyen ma inge!

8 Nga pula na mu LEUM GOD El oasr yuruk pacl e nukewa;

El apkuran, ac wangin ma ac fah mokleyu.

I. In verse [1-8], David reviewed, HOW HE HAD COME TO TRUST IN THE LORD.

2. Fus [v.1] akkalemye kacpin Psalm soko lal David inge; 1 Karinginyume, O God; nga lulalfongi kom tuh kom nien molela nu sik.

Ac nga muta in moul misla,

Na sang nu sel David pacla se lal in liki nunak lal elan liki tuh LEUM GOD Elan an in molela nu sel.

[v.2] David el akkalemye in yok lupan lulalfongi lal sin LEUM GOD.

Kihsen fahk lal ke lulalfongi fahk mu, “Kom God Luk; fin kom wangin yuruk, wangin ma mwo sik nu sik [34:10; 84:11).

B. [vv. 9-11], THE LORD WILL PRESERVE HIM.

9 Ke ma inge nga arulana engan ac sang kulo,

10 Ke sripen kom karinginyu liki ku lun misa.

Nga oaru na in kulansupwekom,

Ac kom ac fah tia sisyula in facl lun mwet misa.

11 Kom ac fah akkalemye nu sik inkanek in moul;

Ke kom apkuran nu sik, insiuk arulana engan —

Ac mwe insewowo nu sik nwe tok ma pahtpat.

[vv. 9-11], THE LORD WILL PRESERVE HIM.

1. DAVID WAS ASSURED THAT THE LORD WOULD PRESERVE HIS LIFE IN THE FACE OF DEATH.

2. HE REJOICED BECAUSE GOD ENABLED HIS BODY TO REST SECURELY EVEN WHEN CONFRONTED WITH DEATH.

3. THE REASON HE COULD REST IS THAT GOD WOULD NOT ABANDON HIM TO THE GRAVE, NOR...

4. LET HIS HOLY ONE SEE DECAY.

5. THIS VERSE REFERS TO DAVID,

WHO DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS GOD’S “HOLY ONE,”

ONE OF GOD’S SAINTS (V.3),

HE TOOK COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT GOD WOULD NOT,

AT ANY TIME, ALLOW HIS BODY TO DIE AND DECAY IN THE GRAVE.

iN FACT GOD HAD CAUSED HIM TO KNOW THE PATH OF LIFE,

SO HE ANTICIPATED EXPERIENCING FURTHER JOY IN GOD’S PRESENCE.

6. Verses [8-11] were cited by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:25-28) Bible Mutal,

7. And [Psalm 16b] was quoted by Paul at Antioch (Acts 13:35-37) in reference to Christ’s resurrecction.

8. Preservation from the decaying grave is the idea behind both David’s and Jesus’ experiences,

but with David it came through a deliverance from death,

whereas with Jesus it came through a resurrection from death.

9. DEATH POSED NO THREAT TO DAVID BECAUSE HE ENJOYED GREAT BLESSING AND FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD.

10. GOD WOULD NOT PERMIT DEATH AND THE GRAVE TO INTERRUP THAT MARVELOUS FELLOWSHIP.

11. SO IN A FULLER SENSE THIS IS TRUE OF BELIEVERS TODAY, WHO HAVING THE FULL REVELATION ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION, CAN SAY THAT WHEN THEY DIE,

GOD WILL NOT LET DEATH DESTROY THAT FULL FELLOWSHIP THEY ENJOY WITH THE LORD [2 COR. 5:8; PHIL.1:23).

12. THIS EXPRESSION OF FAITH IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE CHRIST CONQUERED DEATH (LUKE 24:6) AND ROSE TO BECOME THE FIRSTFRUITS OF ALL WHO SLEEP (1 COR. 15:20).