Hello
Friends!
Welcome
to an all-new Encouraging Concepts
multi-part “topical” Bible study series SEEKING to “rightly” address
the often hotly-debated PASSAGE concerning the “Easter”
celebration – Acts 12:4 ~ Is
"Easter" MISTRANSLATED?
Acts 12:4
~ Is "Easter" MISTRANSLATED? (Part 2 of 2)
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The Greek word "Pascha" which is translated "Easter"
in the Book of Acts chapter 12 verse 4
appears 29 times
in the New Testament and 28 of those times the word is rendered as "Passover" in reference to the “night” when the “Lord”
Himself had “passed
through” the “Israelites”
to Sovereignly “smite” all
the “firstborn” throughout the “land” of “Egypt” thus setting God’s people “free” free from some 400 years of bewildered – BONDAGE!
For I will pass through the land
of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,
both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment:
I am the Lord
– Exodus 12:12
QUIZZING QUESTION: However… Is the English word
"Easter"
as encompassed in Acts 12:4 an actual
MISTRANSLATION
of the Greek word "Pascha"
and thus RATHER to be rendered as
"Passover" accordingly?
~ NO!
In
fact, the Greek word "Pascha"
in this SPECIFIC passage is indeed PROPERLY translated "Easter" as uniquely
appropriate. And it is to this excellent point of which our explorational
serious “study” of the “scriptures” themselves will CHALLENGE and as a result – Clearly REVEAL!
What is “PASSOVER” Anyway?
The
Jewish “Passover” was held in the SPRING time
on the “night”
of the “month
of Abib”
(modern-day month of April) as appropriated by the “LORD thy God”
Himself:
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD
thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of
Egypt by night… – Deuteronomy 16:1
Conversely… The pagan festival of “Easter”
was held LATER in the SAME
month. Therefore, HOW do we KNOW that “King
Herod’s” mention of "Easter" in the book of Acts was NOT referring to the JEWISH
celebration of “Passover” itself? And IF he
indeed WAS referring to the
Jewish “Passover” celebration, the
translation of "pascha"
as the word "Easter"
is indeed – Incorrect as Purported!
However… IF indeed “King Herod”
was actually
referring RATHER to the pagan holyday (holiday) of “Easter”
ecstasy, then the Authorized Text of the King James Bible must TRULY be the very “Words of God”
themselves. WHY? Because it is the ONLY excellent
English Bible in print TODAY of
which contains the carefully constructed – CORRECT Reading!
Therefore,
to unravel
the caustic CONFUSION concerning the
"Easter"
day as declared in Acts chapter 12 verse 4 we MUST carefully consult our FINAL AUTHORITY in
absolutely ALL matters of “faith”
and “life” itself – The
BIBLE itself!
POIGNANT POINT: Incidentally, the collective KEY of
which ultimately UNLOCKS this puzzling “passage”
concerning "Easter"
is actually NOT found within verse 4, but is verified vividly
in the PRIOR text of verse 3…
And because he
saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened
bread.) – Acts 12:3
Thus,
to secure
the ANSWER that
we SEEK we
must FIND the right relationship between
the actual Jewish “Passover” and these
subsequent “days of unleavened bread” themselves. And we MUST keep
in mind
that “Peter” was actually arrested
DURING these
particular "days”
as well… Herein IS the KEY!
Therefore,
our “rightly divided” investigation MUST begin
with the very FIRST poignant “pass over” of which took place
on the “night” in which the “LORD” Himself “smote”
all the “firstborn” throughout the “land of Egypt” abroad. Initially, the “Israelites” were COMMANDED to rightly kill a little “lamb” found to be “without
blemish” and thus strike its beloved “blood” on the two “side
posts” and “upper post”
of their “doors” in kind…
And if the household be too
little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according
to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your
count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first
year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats… – Exodus
12:4-5
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Let us now EXAMINE what the BIBLE has to say concerning the FIRST event of “Passover”
in association
to the multiplied “days of unleavened bread” themselves...
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where
ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be
upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall
be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout
your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. Seven days shall
ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of
your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day,
that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an
holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that
which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe
the feast of unleavened
bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of
the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by
an ordinance forever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the
month at even ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day
of the month at even – Exodus
12:13-18
Here
in Exodus chapter 12 we learn HOW the
Jewish “Passover” had received its actual
name. The “LORD” said that He would
"pass
over" all of the “houses”
of which had the “blood of the lamb” marking
the “door posts” of their homes. Then
immediately AFTER the powerful “pass over” we find that “seven days” shall be fulfilled in which
the “children of Israel” were to eat ONLY the
“unleavened bread” of God’s great decree.
And it is in verse 18 where we FIND the
actual dates for the “seven days”
of right observance for the “feast of
unleavened bread” were indeed – April
14th through April 21st…
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: This “religious”
observance of “Passover” as a “holy
convocation” is stated more clearly in the Old Testament Book of Numbers as
such:
And in the fourteenth
day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this
month is the feast: seven
days shall unleavened
bread be eaten. In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do
no manner of servile work therein – Numbers 28:16-18
In
verse 16 we see that the “Passover” is ONLY
considered to be the “fourteenth day” of the month of “Abib” itself. Then on the NEXT morning, the “fifteenth day” will BEGIN the
"seven
days”
of “unleavened bread" themselves – A Festival of Feasting!
Then
in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy we learn AGAIN that the “Passover”
is somberly “sacrificed” on the FIRST nigh “night”
as necessary:
Observe the month of Abib and keep the passover unto the LORD
thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of
Egypt by night. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD
thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to
place his name there. Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven
days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction:
for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest
remember the day
when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. And
there shall be no
leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither
shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at
even, remain all night until the morning. Thou mayest not sacrifice the
passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: But at
the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou
shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth
out of Egypt. And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy
God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a
solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein – Deuteronomy
16:1-8
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: It is worth noting that the “Passover” was to be celebrated in the
“even”
during the “going down of the sun”
and NOT during
SUNRISE as
we have already “rightly divided” in the Book
of Ezekiel
during our prior study:
He said also unto me, Turn thee
yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then he
brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's
house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he
unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt
see greater abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court of
the Lord's house, and,
behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord,
between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their
backs toward the temple of the Lord,
and their faces toward
the east; and they
worshipped the sun toward the east… – Ezekiel
8:13-16
In
the Book of 2 Chronicles chapter 8 we
also “learn” that the “feast of
unleavened bread” was ONE of the THREE Jewish “feasts”
to be kept during the “year”
as “Moses” had COMMANDED them:
Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the
commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn
feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of
weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles – 2 Chronicles 8:13
Whenever
the “Passover” was “observed”
by “Israel” it had always PRECEEDED the actual “feast of unleavened bread”
itself – NOT the
SAME day!
Incidentally,
later in chapter 30 of 2 Chronicles we also “learn”
that some of the Jewish “priests and the Levites” along with the “children of
Israel” of whom were unable to solemnly “keep” the proper “Passover”
unto the “Lord God of Israel” in the city of “Jerusalem” on the FIRST calendar
“month” were subsequently allowed
to alternatively “keep” it on the SECOND calendar
“month” in kind…
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel
and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should
come to the house of the Lord at
Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God
of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the
congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. For
they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified
themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to
Jerusalem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. So they
established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba
even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem:
for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written… – 2 Chronicles 30:1-5
Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth
day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed,
and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of
the LORD... And the children of lsrael that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven
days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised
the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD – 2 Chronicles 30:15 & 21
And
although the “second
month” was indeed allowed in such determined
cases – The DAY remained the SAME!
Finally,
in the Book of Ezra
chapter 6 concerning
the “seven days” of this “feast of
unleavened bread” we also “learn”
more of the “LORD’s”
sweet Sovereignty through the CHANGED
humble “heart”
that was GIVEN by “God”
to the “king
of Assyria” when the “children” of “Israel”
had rightly REPENTED of their serious SIN
and daunting DISOBEDIENCE unto the “LORD” Himself:
And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the
first month… And kept the
feast of unleavened
bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them
joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen
their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel – Ezra 6:19 & 22
God’s
chided “children
of the captivity” were finally SERVING Him with “joy”
enriched “hands” within in the “house of God”
as they rightly OBEYED the “God of Israel” unto the BLESSINGS as
He had PROMISED them – Praise the Lord!
Putting the PUZZLE together!
We
have “learned” from “studying” to SHOW ourselves “approved”
unto our great “God” what the BIBLE has to “teach”
concerning the “Passover” and subsequent ORDER of
events via TWO very important KEY points:
ONE:
On the 14th of April the
“lamb” was killed: THIS
is the Biblical “Passover”
day itself. Therefore, NO event FOLLOWING the “fourteenth day” of “Abib”
is EVER referred
to as – The
Passover!
TWO:
On the MORNING of the 15th of April was the: BEGINNING of
the “seven days” of “unleavened
bread” themselves. Therefore, the “fifteenth day” of “Abib” begins – The Feast of Unleavened Bread!
It
must also be noted that whenever the “Passover” is mentioned in the New Testament narrative, the reference
is absolutely ALWAYS concerning the meal
eaten on the “evening” of April 14th
and NOT the ENTIRE calendar WEEK.
Therefore, these “days of unleavened bread” are NEVER referred to as the “Passover” celebration itself. Also, it MUST be
rightly REMEMBERED that the “Angel of the
Lord” had powerfully “passed over” the nation of “Egypt” on only ONE night – NOT SEVEN nights!
In
closing:
Acts 12:4 – Is "Easter" MISTRANSLATED?
Now
let’s “consider” our poignant “passage” concerning “Easter” from Acts 12 one FINAL time:
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to
take Peter also. (Then
were the days
of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison,
and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him
forth to the people – Acts 12:3-4
As
we have already discussed, verse 3
shows that “Peter” was arrested DURING the
“days of unleavened bread” (April 15th through April 21st). And the BIBLE says:
“(Then were the days of unleavened
bread.)” thus the “Passover”
celebrated on April 14th the PRIOR day
had ALREADY come
and gone. Therefore, “King Herod”
could NOT have possibly
been referring to the “Passover”
in his statement concerning “Easter” itself. WHY? Because the NEXT
celebration of “Passover” was anticipated
an – Entire YEAR away!
Remember… This “King Herod”
was NOT a
descendant of the “Jews” but rather was a pagan
Roman “Gentile” of whom worshipped
the so-coined "queen
of heaven" herself. Therefore, he had NO reason to observe the Jewish
“Passover” itself. However, his greatly
anticipated pagan holiday (holyday) of “Easter” was just a –
FEW days away!
Did King Herod FEAR the Jews?
Some
folks insist that “King Herod”
wanted to “please”
the “Jews” and thus WAITED until AFTER
the Jewish “Passover” celebration to
kill “Peter” for FEAR of
ultimately upsetting them:
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to
take Peter also. (Then
were the days
of unleavened bread)… – Acts 12:3
However,
there are TWO grievous faults found in these
thoughts:
FIRST: The Apostle “Peter” was NO
longer considered as an actual “Jew”
as such. WHY? Because as a converted “Christian” he had repudiated the
damning “religion” of jaundice Judaism. Thus, the “Jews”
would have NO reason to be upset by this “Herod's” actions to – KILL Peter!
SECOND: This “King Herod” could NOT
have been waiting until AFTER the “Passover”
celebration. WHY? Because the “Jews” themselves had NO
PROBLEM indicting “Jesus Christ” during their “Passover”
celebration:
Now the first day of the
feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where
wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? And he said, Go into the city to
such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at
thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them;
and they made ready the
Passover – Matthew 26:17-19
And
the “Jews” were also very “pleased”
concerning “Herod's” mad MURDER of
the “Jewish” early “church”
leader named “James” the of whom was the FIRST martyred
“Apostle” in mention…
Now about that time Herod the
king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of
John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he
proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) – Acts
12:1-3
In
general, a “great multitude”
of pining “people” milling within
a maniacal MOB often possesses the courage
to commit VIOLENT acts of mayhem DURING rank
“religious” festivities – Not AFTER!
Also,
the line of “Herods” were well known for celebrating
as such. In fact, this particular “Herod”
was also quite willing to kill “John Baptist”
during HIS own “birthday”
party:
But when Herod's birthday was
kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon
he promised with an
oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before
instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat
with him at meat, he
commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought
it to her mother – Matthew 14:6-11
It
is an elementary FACT that “Herod” had arrested “Peter”
during the “days
of unleavened bread” of which are celebrated AFTER the
“Passover” itself. Thus, these “seven days”
would END on the 21st of
April and shortly AFTER that would come “Herod's”
personal celebration of the pagan holyday known as the “Easter”
festival…
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to
take Peter also. (Then were the days of
unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in
prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him;
intending after Easter
to bring him forth to the people – Acts 12:3-4
Although
BOTH the
“Jews” and the “Gentiles”
alike would indeed KILL someone DURING one
of their a “religious"
celebrations, “Herod's” opinion seemed that
he was NOT going to let the “Jews”
alone "have all the fun" as such!
Therefore, “Herod” would WAIT until
his own pagan festival of "Easter" had
ensued. WHY? Because we wanted to be SURE that “Peter”
would DIE during the EVIL
envoy of this ecumenical event known TODAY
as the elicit enclave of – EASTER…
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, in this IMPORTANT
investigation of the “Scriptures”
we have “learned” that it was “God's” perfect PROVIDENCE
of which directed the “Holy
Spirit-filled” translators of our Authorized
King James Bible to CORRECTLY translate "pascha"
into the English
word "Easter"
accordingly. Therefore, it most certainly did NOT
refer to the Jewish “Passover” celebration itself.
In fact, to change it as such would indeed CONFUSE
the reader and thus make the TRUTH of the situation – Quite UNCLEAR!
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha ~ Come quickly Lord Jesus!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
