Actually, the word easter does appear in the bible, but only once. Study these verse to reflect on the death of christ for our sins and his resurrection, and remember that we are alive in christ. If easter traditions are all about the christ of the bible, then they should be found within the pages of gods word. In other words, easter was originally a pagan festival celebrated in the spring time. What they did was very seriously disrespectful to god. The days of unleavened bread are never referred to as the passover. Bible verses related to easter from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order luke 24.
However, the 1560 geneva bible actually has passover at acts 12. The book of acts pamphlet is not simply ancient history. Acts with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Easter comes from the goddess named ishtar or astarte2. Audio and manuscripts are available for each lesson excepting audio for 2001. But tindal tyndale and coverdale used the word easter, and hence it has very improperly crept into our king james version translation albert barnes notes on the bible, 17981870, comments on acts 12. Now about that time herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. I have studied the whole issue in depth am convinced thus. Berean study bible he arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Our 1611 translators are heavily criticized for using the word. Do them on your own, or gather a group to study together this easter. Message 11 getting easter right the book of acts youtube. And because he saw it pleased the jews, he proceeded further to take peter also.
T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. With the youversion bible app, you can read, watch, listen, and share on your smartphone or tablet, and online at. In one of the gravest acts of presumption shown in gods word, and one of the largest in terms of the number involved, they took it on themselves to add this to the worship of god. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. Worse yet, the word easter was placed into the book of acts in error, easter is a mistranslation. If he was indeed referring to the pagan holyday holiday easter, then the king james bible 1611 must truly be the very word and words of god for it is the only bible in print today which has the correct reading. A look at resurrections in the bible, a chart of prophecies fulfilled in holy week, an exploration of jesuss final words from the cross, a look at what scripture says about resurrection bodies, and statements of encouragement for believers about what it means to be in christ. To unravel the confusion concerning easter in verse 4, we must consult our final authority, the bible. Is the king james bible translation of pascha as easter in acts 12. Is the easter holiday biblical, how does god feel about it. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. But the original has no reference to that, nor is there the slightest evidence that any such festival was observed at the time when this book was written. The presence and working of the holy spirit is the dominating mark of the book of acts.
While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. This is the 6th installment on a series on the holy spirit. Instead, it repeatedly calls us to reflect upon the work of god, fulfilled in jesus christ, establishing the church by the power of the holy spirit. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. And he killed james the brother of john with the sword. Although passover was celebrated by the early christian church, today it remains a holy day. Its the story of the early church, early missionary work, and the initial move of the holy spirit.
And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the passover to bring him out to the people. There is no doubt that the church in its early days adopted the old pagan customs and gave a christian meaning to them. He was active in the book of acts, and he is active in our lives today. This is a section from the excellent book the answer book. The acts of the apostles scripture for the easter season. The easter story is from our indepth study of the gospel of john. These easter messages were preached at flagstaff christian fellowship through the years.
The king james bible uses the word easter in acts 12. The word easter does not appear in the bible and an easter celebration is not mentioned, though in acts 12. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. The biblical easter story study of easter with commentary. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. The holy bible to give credence to what has already been said, we find inserted in the king james translation of the holy bible acts chapter 12 and verse 4, the term easter, which in reality should properly say passover. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66.
Isnt easter a mistranslation of pascha and should it. Bring the beauty and truth of the bible into everyday life. It must also be noted that whenever the passover is mentioned in the new testament, the reference is always to the meal, to be eaten on the night of april 14th not the entire week. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as. Ross analyzes the use of easter he does so using preking james translations, etymological studies, and exegetical context. A better translation of the greek word pascha used in acts 12.
Excerpts from acts serve as the first reading for every sunday mass from easter sunday to pentecost, as well as for the first reading for every daily mass for all seven weeks of the easter season. If you search your top bibles in logos for easter, you get just one hit. If one were to search for the word easter you could find its mention only in the king james bible, acts 12. Tom constables expository notes on acts this is also available in the net.
With the youversion bible app, you can read, watch, listen, and share on your smartphone or tablet, and online at bible. Your credit card wont be charged until the trial period is over. A better title would be the acts or the workings of the holy spirit, because he is the real main character of the book. The book of acts also describes the work of the two apostles peter and paul. However, one english translation of the bible does use the word. The book of acts was originally written in the greek language by the christian gentile and. The word easter now denotes the festival observed by many christian churches in honor of the resurrection of the saviour. The acts of the apostles is the fifth book in the new testament. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy.
The celebration of easter is not based on the bible. Jan 02, 2020 the emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Bible verses about easter celebrate the risen savior, jesus christ. Oct 27, 20 warnings of the last days from god christian short film the days of noah have come duration. Here are our top bible studies for the easter season. H opefully, it will help bring meaning and understanding to the easter season there are a total of six segments of scripture and commentary that can be read, one each day in just a few minutes, or all at one reading. One english bible on the kjvonly views line has a different rendering than the kjv at acts 12. Read the ultimate guide of gods word on verses about the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of jesus. Pascha meant easter to luke, the narrator of acts 12. Our lord didnt leave us a book, but he did leave his church in the. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and.
Acts was written by the same author who produced the gospel according to luke, yet there is no hard evidence about exactly who this person was. It will shock most christians to discover none of the easter traditions are biblical. The new king james version of the bible was translated over a period of seven years and was completed in 1982. The next step is to enter your payment information. Audio audio download options what does the bible say about easter. If the word is used by a jew, then the word would mean passover. Coming to the word easter in gods authorized bible, they seize upon it imagining that. Keep the passover to the lord your god, as it is written in this book of the. This fantastic bible study pamphlet provides loads of information at a glance. The acts of the apostles is used at mass during the easter season more than any other book of the bible.
For more than 35 years, the bestselling arch books bible story series has captivated children. It comes directly after the four gospels and before the letters of paul. This book of acts bible study pamphlet shows that god is active. If you look into its history, though, you will see the true meaning of easterit is a tradition based on ancient fertility rites. Top 10 bible studies for easter christian bible studies. Some also suggest there are remnants of the concept of easter in 1 cor 5. It is found in the book of acts in reference to when herod the great. Jul 10, 2014 the book of acts does not primarily provide us with human patterns to emulate or avoid. David cloud claimed that all of the english bibles from tyndale to the kjv 1611 the cranmer, coverdale, matthews, bishops, geneva, great use the word easter in acts 12. Warnings of the last days from god christian short film the days of noah have come duration. It covers the lives of peter, paul, barnabas, silas and the other christians who took the gospel far beyond jerusalem.
It is found in the book of acts in reference to when herod the great killed james and was seeking the life of peter as well and he killed james the brother of john with the sword. Again, easter in this passage is referring to a pagan festival. For several months we have been journeying through the book of acts. T he word easter is not in the original scriptures. The temple in this book called acts was the third temple. Youre already logged in with your bible gateway account. The book of acts was originally written in the greek language by the christian gentile and physician luke. The word easter occurs just once in the entire bible. As a matter of fact, the word easter is the name of a heathen goddess, a word found only one time in the king james bible. The bible warns against worshipping god by following traditions or customs that displease him. We have discovered that the followers of christ have been powerful in spreading the good news because after jesus ascended into heaven god sent the gift of the holy spirit. Funtoread rhymes and bright illustrations make this an enjoyable book to read to your children, or have them read on their own. Starting your free trial of bible gateway plus is easy. Navigate deeper into the acts of the apostles with rose publishings 14page bible study resource, the book of acts.
The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. This wellloved series captures the attention of children, telling scripturally sound stories that are pleasurable. The american book of days well describes the origin of easter. About the kjv bible code, it will likely come as a surprise to you that i in no way believe that the kjv is any more inspired than any other version of the bible. The word easter you are referring to appears only once in the king james bible. It is our story, the story that informs who christians are. Easter is a time to think about the new life that we have in jesus surprisingly, the word easter only appears in the kjv bible one time in the verse acts 12. Getting easter right part 11 in the sermon series titled the book of acts delivered by pastor chris brown. For christians, easter is all about the death and resurrection of our. Arnold, james brolin, dean jones, and bruce marchiano. Indeed, luke himself made it clear in his gospel that this is how he. The use of the word pascha in early christian writings dealt with the celebration of easter, and not just the jewish passover. Is easter a mistranslation in the king james bible in.
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