During Paul’s first missionary journey, he and Barnabas visited the city of Lystra in the province of Lycaonia. After Paul preached the gospel to the people of the city, he healed a crippled man. They were so impressed that they hailed the missionaries as pagan gods who had come down to them “in the likeness of men” (Acts 14:11).
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (GOD IN HUMAN FORM)
This veil, or curtain, separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. Only the high priest was allowed behind this curtain, and he could go into the Most Holy Place only once a year-on the Day of Atonement-to offer sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people (Lev 16:34).
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS & CURIOSITIES (EQUAL ACCESS TO GOD)
In Ezekiel’s vision, he saw six men from the north arrive in Jerusalem. They probably represented the Babylonian army, whom God had appointed as His instrument of judgement against His people because of their sin and idolatry.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (A MAN WITH AN INKHORN)
This is the first burial recorded in the Bible. Sarah was probably buried soon after she died. In the hot climate of Palestine, a body would quickly begin to decompose.
Continue reading BIBILE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (BURIAL IN CAVES)
The riot inspired by Demetrius spilled over into the entire city. The people gathered at the amphitheater to join in the demonstration.
The Roman theater at Ephesus has been unearthed by archaeologists. Built similar to a modern stadium, it had row upon row of tiered seats built of stone. It could seat about twenty-five thousand people.
Huge amphitheaters like this were built by the Greeks and Roman throughout the ancient world. Others have been discovered at Athens, Corinth, Miletus, Pergamos, and Philippi.
ACTS 19:29 – 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
Psalm 58 declares that wicked people may seem to be flaunting the Lord and getting by with it, but eventually they will pay for their evil deeds.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (THE BITE OF THE WICKED)
It was customary among the Romans to post a sign as the execution site, declaring the crime for which a criminal was being put to death. This sent a message to the people that the same thing would happen to them if they dared to disobey the law.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (A FALSE CHARGE)
This was Haman’s response to the king when he asked how to honor one of his subjects. Haman outlined the highest royal recognition possible because he thought the king intended to honor him.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURISITIES (THE ULTIMATE HONOR)
Paul wrote this letter to his missionary helper Titus, whom he had placed in charge of the church on the island of Crete.
One purpose of this letter was to instruct Titus in how to deal with the false teachers who had infiltrated the church.
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN THE BIBLE (FAITH, NOT FABLES)
This statement from Jesus is what is known as hyperbole-a deliberate exaggeration in order to make a point. We might compare this to the modern statement, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” We don’t mean that actual cats and dogs are falling from the sky. We are saying that the rain is coming down in a torrential downpour.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (JESUS AND HYPERBOLE)