Acts 13:48 –"For so the Lord has commanded us, `I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.' " 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they [began] rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:48 •Is predestination an eternal decree to save some and damn the rest? OR Is predestination God’s eternal choice that all people would know (γινοσκω) Him God had a pre-defined purpose for man But predestination is not a causation Every person in hell are there because they have rejected God’s predestination for them
Acts 13:48 Analyzed •Steps to Analyze: – 1st : Historical-Literary context – 2nd : Word Study – 3rd : Greek grammatical analysis
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 13:5 (NASU) When they reached Salamis, they [began] to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.
1st: Historical Literary Context
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 13:14 (NASU) But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. Paul preached to the Jews there.
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 13:38-39 Through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things Some of the Jews in the synagogue became Christians.
1st: Historical Literary Context •How did the Jews become Christians? –They needed to choose to respond –Acts 13:39 (NASU) and through Him(Jesus) everyone who believes is freed from all things •The message: everyone who believes –Personal responsibility and individual response
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 13:42-43 (NASU) Now when [the meeting of] the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.
1st: Historical Literary Context •How did the Jewish proselytes become Christians? –They needed to choose to respond •Paul and Barnabas taught both the Jews and Godfearing proselytes –urging them to continue –Personal responsibility and individual response
1st: Historical Literary Context Was it the same with the Gentiles? The Jews were opposing the gospel. Acts 13:45 (NASU) But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and [began] contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 13:46 (NASU) Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate (S#683) it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.�
Word Definition: 683 S#683 apotheomai αποθεοµαι (Thayer’s Lexicon) 1) to thrust away, push away, repel 2) to thrust away from one's self, to drive away from one's self 2a) repudiate, reject, refuse
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 13:46 (NASU) Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you (thrust away the word, reject it, refuse it) and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
1st: Historical Literary Context •To the Jews •The message is for everyone who believes –Personal responsibility and individual response •Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed –urging them to continue –Personal responsibility and individual response •Some Jews –Thrust away, reject, refuse the Word –Judge themselves unworthy –Therefore, we are turning to the Gentiles
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 14:1 (NASU) In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 14:1-2 (NASU) In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. But the Jews who disbelieved(544) stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.
Word Definition: 544 544 apeitheo απειθεω (Thayer’s Lexicon) 1) not to allow one's self to be persuaded 1a) to refuse or withhold belief 1b) to refuse belief and obedience 2) not to comply with
1st: Historical Literary Context Acts 14:2 (NASU) But the Jews who 544 apeitheo απειθεω refused to believe and obey, stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.
1st: Historical Literary Context •To the Jews •The message is for everyone who believes –Personal responsibility and individual response •Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed –urging them to continue –Personal responsibility and individual response •Some Jews –Thrust away, reject, refuse the Word –Judge themselves unworthy •Some Jews –Refused to believe and obey
Context of Acts 13 & 14 •Word of “eternal life,” to all v. 26, 44. •Paul calls "everyone to believe." v. 39. •Some respond positively v. 43 •Others “thrust away, reject, refuse v13:46; 14:2 •People divide themselves into two “camps” –Some for, –some against, •by their favorable or unfavorable disposition toward the message
1st: Historical Literary Context •Acts 13:48 (LivingBible) “When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and rejoiced in Paul’s message; and as many as wanted eternal life believed.” –Consistent with •these other verses •in the context of chapters 13 & 14 –Is it translated correctly?
Acts 13:48 •Question –Who does the appointing? –Living Bible says: the people themselves, •by choosing to believe –Others refused to appoint themselves •Refused –Refused Belief –Refused Obedience –Refused To conform to God’s will
Now 2nd: Word Study •What does it mean to be "appointed?“ •When is the appointment? •Under what circumstances? •Who does the appointing? •Appoint: Τασσω S#5021
Appoint: Τασσω S#5021 •Definition one: place •Luke 7:8 “For I also am a man placed under authority –By a commanding officer •Ro. 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. –By God
Τασσω S#5021 Word definitions: • place
Τασσω S#5021 •Definition 2: appoint •Acts 22:10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ –By God –Refers to ministry, not salvation –Paul’s choice necessary •Acts 26:19 “King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision.” •Was not determinism
Τασσω S#5021 Word definitions: • place • appoint
Τασσω S#5021 •Definition 3: designate •Mt. 28:16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated (AMI – Aorist middle indicative) Jesus himself designated. –By Jesus
Τασσω S#5021 Word definitions: • place • appoint • designate
Τασσω S#5021 •Definition 4: set •Acts 28:23 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them . . . about the kingdom of God. –By the Jewish leaders in Rome –Middle voice: set for themselves, (designated for themselves, chosen for themselves)
Τασσω S#5021 Word definitions: • place • appoint • designate • (designate for themselves, choose for themselves)
Τασσω S#5021 •Definition 5: determine, purpose, resolve •Acts 15:2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined (purposed, resolved) that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. –By the Antioch church
Τασσω S#5021 Word definitions: • place • appoint • designate • (designate for themselves, choose for themselves) • determine (purpose, resolve)
Τασσω S#5021 •Definition 6: devote •1Co. 16:15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints) –By the household of Stephanas –Appointed, purposed, committed themselves –They τασσωed themselves
Τασσω S#5021 Word definitions: • place • appoint • designate • (designate for themselves, choose for themselves) • determine (purposed, resolved) • Appoint, purpose, commit themselves
Τασσω Summary 1. 2. 3.
Sometimes τασσω by God Sometimes τασσω by people Not always about human salvation. May involve one or more alternatives
Τασσω in Acts 13:48 •1. •2.
The hearers’ responses to Paul’s message. Close relationship between τασσω and “believed,” a choice of will. v.39. •3. Τασσω is directly related to "eternal life," seen to require human decision. v.43,46, 14:2. •Conclusion:
Grammatical Analysis (Acts 13:48) •1. When the Gentiles were hearing
– εξαιρον they were rejoicing(V3PIAI) – εδοξαζον they were honoring(V3PIAI) the Word – επιστευσαν they believed(V3PAAI) – as many as ησαν(V3PIAI)τεταγµενοι(VRM/PPMPN) they were appointed (devoted, resolved) –to eternal life
Grammatical Analysis •1. May be either passive voice or middle voice τεταγµενοι(VRMPMPN or VRPPMPN) –If Passive (VRPPMPN): were (appointed, devoted, resolved, committed) either •By God or else •By themselves –If Middle (VRMPMPN): were (appointing, devoting, resolving, committing) themselves
Grammatical Analysis •1. Middle voice:
–"The middle voice describes the subject as participating in the results of the action...the subject participates in the outcome. While the active voice emphasizes the action, the middle stresses the agent... never used without some sort of reference to the subject.” –(Dana & Mantey Intermediate Grammar, 156-158.)
• 2. ησαν (IAI) τεταγµενοι (perfect participle) –
Imperfect tense with the perfect participle (an imperfect periphrastic construction)
Periphrastic Construction • Periphrastic Construction: Imperfect tense used in conjunction with a perfect participle and with the middle voice: • V3PIAI V_ _ RMPMPN • ησαν τεταγµενοι •They were (something) themselves •Appointing themselves •Devoting themselves •Designating themselves •Committing themselves
Periphrastic Construction •1. Emphasizes continuous “recurring actions.” •2. Therefore “appointing” not a one time event not done in eternity past. •3. The appointing is an ongoing action consistent with the Imperfect tense of the passage
Periphrastic Construction
Hearing Rejoicing Honoring Appointing
Periphrastic Construction •1. What does "appointed” mean? – Not an eternal decree – Happening in the time of the context – Middle voice carries an active sense – • Options from the word study of τασσω •(placing themselves, appointing themselves, designating themselves, choosing themselves, determining themselves, purposing themselves, resolving themselves, committing themselves) – Perhaps “committing themselves” fits best.
Periphrastic Construction •1. When? – The "appointing" is at the time of the passage. •2. Under what circumstances? – Continuous action, – “recurring incidents,” – not once for all, – matches the continuous interaction of the whole chapter. – They were hearing, rejoicing, honoring, and committing themselves, and this led up to •“they believed” (ariost tense – sudden instant action
Conclusion •1. Reflecting upon: – (1) the context with its
• continuous activity, • emphasis upon human choice – (2) the semantic range of tasso (τασσω) – (3) the use of imperfect periphrastic construction with the middle voice –(4) the emphasis of the Bible (Rev.3:20, as a summary verse)
•2. Acts 13:48 would read:
Acts 13:48 (God directed Paul to the Gentiles), `I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.' " 48 When the Gentiles were hearing this, they were rejoicing and honoring the word of the Lord; and as many as were committing themselves to eternal life, believed.