Q. In studying, there is a major difference between the KJV/NKJV and the NASB on Acts 18.21. Why is there a difference?

A. The difference you refer to is where the KJV/NKJV contains the phrase “I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem” where the NASB leaves it out. This is due, in many cases, to the fact that different versions use different manuscripts or if a majority of manuscripts carry the verse or not and so on. This is called “Textual Criticism” and the KJV bases its translation on different reasons than the NASB. However, even though the NASB leaves that phrase out based on their texts, it still does not mean that in other places it won’t tell you where and why he was going. In v22 it says “he went up” to greet the church and “to go up” is a phrase talking about going “up” to Jerusalem. In Acts 20.16 the NASB explicitly says that Paul was hurrying to be in Jerusalem if possible on the day of Pentecost. So, 20.16 basically says the same thing as 18.21. In Acts 24.17 it says that Paul went to Jerusalem at the time of that festival because he was giving alms and to present “offerings” in the Temple. Why would he do that? In Acts 18.18 it says that Paul “cut his hair” because he was keeping a vow, which was a Nazarite vow found in Num 6.1-21 and the offerings he gave are listed there. Acts 21.15-26 tells you he gave these offerings. Now, Pentecost was one of three mandatory festivals that the males were to attend every year (Exo 23.14-17). So, in my opinion, here is what happened. Paul cut his hair ending his Nazarite vow in Acts 18.18 It is the only vow in the Bible that ends when one cuts his hair. It then says in 18.21 in the KJV/NKJV  that he must go to Jerusalem. This was for 2 reasons, he was required to attend if possible (Exo 23.14-17) and he was ending his Nazarite vow and had offerings to give and he had to take his hair to the Temple to be burned (Num 6.1-21, Acts 21.26, 24.17). The scriptures are very clear as to why he went no matter what version you read, but in 18.21 the NASB leaves out the phrase found in the KJV/NKJV probably due to manuscript evidence, but other verses tell you why anyway so the basic truth of God’s word still is conveyed. By the way, I use the NASB myself but it is always good to read other versions as well to get the full flavor of what is being said. There is another thing to keep in mind, the original manuscripts written by the authors themselves were inspired by God, but copies upon copies were made from them  and human error will inevitably happen.  But God’s truth is still there and the concepts are still contained in the Bible. Some Bibles are strong in some areas, and weaker in another so it is always good to look at various versions and to get a working knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek. Also, look up words in concordances and lexicons and  have a basic idea of textual criticism as well. But, remember that the Holy Spirit will lead us to the truth regardless of education and  will help us use the tools mentioned above. We are all students of His word and on different levels so also keep this in mind when sharing.

Q. Prosperity teachers say that Mk 11.22-24 says that whatever we say and believe is going to happen. Is that what that verse is teaching?

A. No, that verse is not teaching that. To understand the verse you have to look at the context, so let’s look at what was going on at the time that prompted the Lord to say what he did. Chapter 11 starts out with his entry into Jerusalem and he comes to Mt Moriah where the Temple stood. He goes in, looks around and leaves. The next day he goes back to the mountain and the Temple and begins to cast out the moneychangers and declares that the Temple has become a den of thieves, quoting Jeremiah. He knows that the chief priests and the scribes want to kill him so he would go out of the city at night. The next day he comes upon the fig tree he cursed a few days before and it had withered. Then fig tree was symbolic of the spiritual state of Israel and how it bore no meaning fruit anymore. His disciples were astonished and he then says “Have faith in God” and then the verses you mention follow. In verse 23 he says you will “say to this mountain.” What mountain is he talking about? It is Mt. Moriah which was the seat of so much corruption that he had to drive the robbers away from his Father’s house, cleansing it. He says that it would be “cast into the sea” and the Temple literally was cast into the sea when it was destroyed because they found pieces of it in the harbor at Caesarea. What he is saying is this. The false teachers, the priests and scribes were keeping people away from the Kingdom of God through their teachings. Yeshua is saying that with faith in God the falsehood of their teachings can be overcome and they will be able to enter into the Kingdom if you stand firm and don’t doubt in your heart what Yeshua was teaching because some of it conflicted with the teachings at the time, especially when it came to who he was, faith and salvation to name just a few areas. He was in conflict with the religious establishment at the time (see verses 1-21).  This has nothing to do with saying and believing something and it has to come to pass. This verse has been twisted into something it was never intended to say. There is so much more to this but I hope this gives you another way of looking at the verse.

Q. Is there any text to support or refute that Yeshua ever took a Nazarite vow?

A. I am going to give an opinion and hopefully shed some light on your question, based on some rabbinic teachings and Scriptural concepts.  A Nazarite vow is when a person is totally dedicated to the Lord by not consuming anything from the grape, letting their hair grow and not touching the dead.  It comes from the word “nazir” which means to be set apart. This vow is found in the Book of Numbers and it can be entered into voluntarily, like Paul the Apostle in Acts 18.18 or it can be made for them from birth like Samuel, Samson and John the Baptist. The only place there is an indication that he might have taken a Nazarite vow is at the Last Supper when he said that he would not drink from the fruit of the vine until everything was accomplished. This vow can be for whatever time the person wants. It can be for a day, week, months or years, and even a lifetime. Now, if Yeshua took this vow, why would he do it? To understand this, we have to go back to the Garden of Eden. When Adam was in the garden, the Lord told him not to eat from a certain tree. He also had the glory of God as his covering and there was no death. The Bible does not say what the fruit was that Adam was to refrain from, but some think that the tree was the grape vine which may have looked different before the fall. All aspects of the vow goes back to the Garden. To refrain from the grape may be a clue that Adam was not to eat from the grape tree/vine. Also, letting the hair grow had to do with restoring a covering/glory (1Cor 11) that Adam lost after he sinned. And since there was no death in Eden before the fall, one is not to touch the dead. So, in other words, to refrain from these three things was an echo of Eden. No grape products, having a covering and not touching the dead.

How does this relate to Yeshua. He was the second Adam. As Messiah, he was going to restore that which man lost. Look at the crucifixion. It was near a garden (Eden), he had thorns  (the curse) on his head and he was nailed to a tree. If he took a Nazarite vow it was only for a day and it was because he had to restore Eden(symbolic of the Kingdom of God) back to mankind. So, he did not drink the grape and put himself in the same situation Adam had. He sets himself apart to God for the redemption of man (Adam) and refused the wine while on the cross until the end, when he looks around and sees that all things have been accomplished. It is then that he says he is thirsty and they give him something to drink and he takes it. He then dies right after this because his short but meaningful Nazarite vow is over because redemption was now accomplished and he comes out of it by partaking of the fruit of the vine. There is so much more to this but I hope this helps. There is no way to prove this but it is an interesting question, thanks.

In last few articles, we discussed the function of a prophet, but how does that work in the day to day affairs of people. In the Old Testament prophets received what they had to say by direct revelation from the Lord, and some of what they had to say foretold the future and dealt with present concerns of the nation and people. They also revealed doctrine not previously known or understood and they ministered in all areas of life. Some were prophets assigned to the reigning king and some were not. In the New Testament there is no change in the character and focus of their ministry. They still receive direct revelation and 1Cor 13.9 and Eph 2.20 states that prophets are the foundation of the congregation of the Lord and upon which it is built. God built a congregation in the Old Testament and He is building and eschatological congregation in the New Testament. Both buildings need an “architect” who sees the plan of the builder and can put it down so others can bring it into reality. That is the role of a prophet in the Old and New Testament. They “see it” before it is even written down.

Now, the gift of prophecy is not to be confused with the gift of teaching, although they “overlap” somewhat and are related. A teacher takes revealed truth from the Word and expounds on it according to their level of understanding. Their authority only goes as far as their interpretation is correct. One is not obligated to obey or even listen a teacher who is wrong and has a false interpretation of the Scriptures.  Also, a teacher can only take their people as far as their understanding of the Scriptures and so what they say is limited. On the other hand, a prophet has no “script” to go by but delivers new revelation and truth as the Lord has revealed it.  There are many New Testament examples of this, and Agabus in Acts 21.11 and Ananias in Acts 9.10-19 come to mind. Their authority lies in the message itself and they are judged by whether it is correct or comes true. Therefore, prophecy is ranked above teaching (1Cor 12.2-8) and it must be proved. That’s why the gift of discernment is given to the congregation. It is a “check and balance” against false prophecies.

 During the Tribulation period, these gifts will be operating at a level never seen before, and for good reason. As false prophets will increase, so will the true prophets of the Lord increase and they will be anointed by the Lord to counteract the works of the evil one who will try to distort the Scriptures and lead many astray. The enemy will try to use illusion and delusion at an unprecedented level. Now, an illusion is when you think you see something but it’s not really there. A delusion is where you see something, but have the wrong interpretation of it. Delusion will be the main tool of the enemy in the last days, therefore true prophets of God will be needed as never before. There is so much more that can be said about the function and ministry of a prophet, but hopefully you have a better idea about it as a result of these articles. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me at ot.waxahachie @Yahoo .com and I will try and get back to you or use your question in succeeding articles.