24:6 Have you noticed how often, when the phrase 'servant of God' is found in Scripture, it refers to Moses? Joshua 1:13 Joshua 22:5 1 Chronicles 6:49 2 Chronicles 24:9 Nehemiah 10:29 Daniel 9:11 Revelation 15:3

There are only two New Testament uses of the phrase which do not speak of Moses Titus 1:1 James 1:1

V.2 Joash was well trained in the things of Yahweh by Jehoiada.  He did many good and valuable things during his reign, only to finally disgrace himself.  After Jehoiada's death, he turned to idolatry and killed Zechariah, who tried to warn him of his error.  This incident reminds us to stay the Godly course (Matt 10:22), for accumulated righteousness is of non-effect if we stray (Eze 33:12).

24:4  We should realise the degree to which the temple had become dilapidated. It required money to be collected from all the land – 2Chron 24:5 Whilst not wishing to draw a parallel between the temple and our meeting room, consider what it would require for the meeting room to become so dilapidated in a few years – it is only 15 years sine the time of Jehoshaphat. Also we have to conclude that not only were people not going to the temple but that doubtless it was being looted by the people. So we have to conclude also that the priests were not fulfilling their duty to care for the temple.

24:2 ‘all the days of Jehoiada the priest …’ marks an ominous point. When Jehoiada was dead Joash turned away from God 2Chron 24:15-18. We all have had spiritual mentors, as did Joash. Do we rely on them so much that we cannot stand on our own feet? We must grow as individuals, rather than relying on the works and faith of others.

24:4 And so we now see the beginnings of the benefits of the careful education of the king by the faithful priest Jehoiada.

24:1 So Joash, the young king, is set on the throne. The planning of Jehoiada which started in chapter 23 has come to fruition.

24:9 Whilst the chest was for the ‘tax’ RV which was ‘according to the commandment of Moses – verse :6 – it would appear that the giving was to be voluntary. Thus the people who knew what God required of them had to exercise their own consciences.

Vs.2,18 call Nebuchadnezzar the father of Belshazzar.  Actually, Belshazzar's father was Nabonidus who was the fourth king after Nebuchadnezzar and the last king of Babylon.  Nabonidus had appointed Belshazzar as regent while he resided in the desert at Tema.  The appellation of father was commonly applied to an ancestor.  For example, Abraham was considered the father of the Hebrews (Luke 1:73; Acts 7:2; Rom 4:12).      

There is a 23-year gap between Daniel Chs. 4 and 5, (between the end of Nebuchadnezzar's reign and the end of Belshazzar's), in which we do not know of Daniel's activities.

5:2  More accurately Nebuchadnezzar was the grand father of Belshazzar as the margin says. See Jer 27:7.

5:21-22 Doubtless Belshazzar knew what had happened to his grand father – it would have been common knowledge. Such a thing could hardly be his. So Belshazzar is simply disregarding God’s majesty, seeking to replace it with his own arrogance.

5:7 Doubtless the king had never seen such a thing as a disembodied hand writing on the wall. However he was so unaware of Daniel even though he had been a very wise counsellor that he sought help form the astrologers who had not been able to help his grandfather.

5:11 Even though Daniel had been appointed over the astrologers – Dan 2:49 - that status seems to have slipped. Probably more accurately had been removed from him.

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There is an interesting difference here in the way Daniel approaches the interpretation of this sign compared to the dream in chapter 2. This time his wording is "I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation". Previously he had not claimed to be able to do any of those things himself, e.g. 2:26 the king had asked "are you able?" to which Daniel replied "there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets" (in other words "I am not able, but God is"). So what was different this time?

Firstly, the text on the wall appears to have been written in Hebrew, thus he could read it quite easily. It would have been un-genuine to make a point of praying to God for a translation when he could just read it. According to the margin of my Bible it meant "Mina, Mina, Shekel, Peres", all of which are Hebrew words. So was the interpretation easy for him too? Probably, because he had obviously heard what was said and done (5:23) and compared it to God's actions previously (5:18-22) to work out what God's likely reason for this sign would be. Also he knew from Nebuchadnezzars dream that the Medes & Persians would take over the kingdom (2:39). He just had to add to this what he knew from Isaiah 47 that Babylon would be taken in a single day for the reason of its pride (Isa 47:8-9). The astrologers and stargazers are also specifically mentioned (Isa 47:13-14) and the fact that they exalted themselves above God (Isa 47:8,10).

5:6 So much for his drunken arrogance! His reaction, however, indicates that he gave some credence to what Daniel had said. Probably because he knew that Daniel’s words had been fulfilled before.

3:1 The 'ninth hour' is 3.00 PM. Maybe Peter and John went to the temple at 'the hour of prayer' because they felt that it would be a good time to preach the gospel. Paul selected prayerful individuals to preach to Acts 16:13 at Philippi.

4:7 The question 'by what power and authority' echoes the way that the same individuals had challenged Jesus about the overturning of the table of the money changers. Matthew 21:23 So the leaders had not learnt the lesson of the risen Lord

Quotations in Acts 3 from earlier Scripture

Notice the quotation from Mark - we should be aware that the New Testament writers quote earlier NT books as well as books in the OT.

Quotations in Acts 4 from earlier Scripture

3:15-16 Here we have a twofold witness to the resurrection. The apostles had seen the risen Jesus and the lame man walking was the second witness. (Deuteronomy 19:15)

4:32 Some might see communal living as the way that the first century believers lived. However this is not necessary in order that we can be like these disciples. A willingness to share our goods as goods that are not our own because they have been loaned to us by God will match the behaviour of these disciples.

3:16 The 'perfect soundness' seen in this man contrasts vividly with the nation who Isaiah describes ( 1:6) as having 'no soundness'.

4:11 In applying Psa 118:22 to Jesus saying 'This is ...' Peter answers the challenge that Jesus had given to the same individuals only a few days earlier (Matt 21:42)

A Lame Man Healed

3:1-10 - At the 3pm time of prayer which is when Jesus died, a man lame from birth (Acts 4:22 - indicates he was 40 and thus the suggested number of trial, testing, probation, chastizement) begged at the temple gate called beautiful Grk horaios (5611) which could mean beautiful or belonging to the right time or season or perhaps the Heb towb (2896) which could mean many things including beautiful or be well favored. He was barred from the temple as he was lame (2Sam 5:8). In vs. 6 he isn't redeemed with silver or gold (1Pet 1:18-19) but by the blood of Christ and in vs.7 now cured he legally enters the temple courts vs.8. In vs.9 there are two types of healing as he was walking (naturally and spiritually) and praising God. V.16 - indicates a complete healing. 4:9 - whole Grk sozo (4982) can mean to save, to deliver or protect, heal, preserve, be (make) whole.

Sharing Possessions

4:32-35 - unlike the man above who had to beg outside the temple the believers shared everything in common as everyone had need.

3:12 In not claiming the glory for the healing of the lame man Peter and John show that they have learnt the painful lesson that they had to learn in the gospels – who is the greatest?

4:32 In saying that the disciples were of ‘one heart and one soul’ we see that they were joined in their feelings and their actions.

When we have a couple of chapters that are so busy with events, it's easy to miss the significance in what Barnabas did in 4:36-37. It seems that he had been carefully studying his bible, and had taken in all Peter's words. In 3:21-24 Peter had quoted Deuteronomy 18, and shown how this prophecy of "a prophet like Moses" was fulfilled in Jesus. If we look back at that chapter, we can see exactly why Barnabas did what he did.

Deut 18:1 Levites were to have no inheritance. Barnabas was a Levite (4:36). Deut 18:2-4 the portion of a Levite was to have what was offered by other worshippers. 18:5 "forever" meant their ministry was an everlasting one - yet their had been no indication of this coming to pass - until now. Barnabas had realised that Jesus was the fulfilment of 18:15-19, and so he deduced that it was also the time of the fulfilment of v5. He realised that now was the time he had been waiting for, that he could go and serve forever. This is why he carried on reading and did what he did. 18:6-7 told him that if he desired, he could leave his home and come to worship in the place "which the LORD chooses". The LORD had chosen the body of believers as the place to come and worhip Him. 18:8 told him that he could go and have an equal portion among them, and that they were to live also from the proceeds of selling his inheritance.

Barnabas was declaring several unmistakable things. 1) I believe that Jesus is the promised Prophet and that I should "hear him". 2) I believe I have been promised an everlasting ministry. 3) I believe God will give me a portion, despite selling my own and having no more means to earn bread. 4) I believe the assembly of believers is the "place" where God dwells and wishes to be worshipped. 5) I desire to cast my lot in with Jesus and to stand and worship before the LORD.

4:6  ‘kindred of the high priest’ highlights that the opposition to Jesus was a family mater based on concern about status rather than Scriptural reasoning.

4:1 The ‘captain of the temple’ was over the military guard of the temple. This highlights that the Sadducees did not rely on words to oppose the preaching – they used force.

Man Mortal (lesson 8 of 20 from "Outline of Basic Bible Teachings" by Wes Booker)

I. Is it important to understand man's nature? Psa 49:20

II. Man is a creature of the dust - mortal, dying:  A. Gen 2:7 - breath of life = spirit. Body + spirit = soul. Compare Gen 7:21-23. Breath of life (spirit) same word used for animals   B. Gen 3:19   C. Ecc 3:19-20;12:1-7 - ALL (whether animals, good or bad people) have spirit or breath that returns to God at death.  D. Gen 3:22-23

III. No consciousness in death:  A. Ecc 9:5-6,10  B. Psa 146:3-4 (KJV)  C. Psa 6:5  D. Isa 38:18-19

IV. "Soul" in the Bible:  A. Gen 1:20,24 (KJV); 2:7 (KJV)  B. Eze 18:4,20 - soul dies  C. Prov 6:30 (KJV) souls eat  D. Num 31:28 (KJV) animal souls  E. Acts 3:23 (KJV)  F. Luke 12:19-20 (KJV)

V. Immortality - something to be sought after:  A. Titus 3:7;1:2 - hope of eternal life  B. Rom 2:7 - seek after  C. Mark 10:30 - the world to come  D. Gal 6:7-9 - in due season  E. Rom 6:23 - a gift  F. Matt 25:31-34,46 - at judgment  G. 1Cor 15:51-58 - mortal puts on immortality after resurrection

3:19 The blotting out of sins echoes Psa 51:1 where David, a man after God’s heart, shows how a sinner can be pleasing to God.