How many days did the believers wait in the upper room before the Spirit came upon them?

Sincerely,
Checking The Calendar

Dear Checking The Calendar,

The Bible never specifically says how long the believers waited in Jerusalem for the Spirit to come, but we can deduce it was about seven to ten days.  Jesus died on the Passover (Jhn 13:1, Jhn 18:28).  After rising from the dead on Sunday morning (Mk 16:9), Jesus appeared to various disciples over a course of forty days (Acts 1:3).  Near the end of those forty days, Jesus told His apostles to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:4-5).  The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).  Pentecost is exactly fifty days after the Passover.  So, with a little quick math, we find that they must have waited a week to ten days (depending on how Jesus’ three days of burial are counted).

What does the word ‘for’ mean?  Example: for forgiveness, for remission of sin, etc.

Sincerely,
Looking ‘For’ Answers

Dear Looking ‘For’ Answers,

In English, the word ‘for’ can mean ‘because of’ or ‘in order to receive, acquire, or achieve’… but in the Greek language, it can only mean one of these things (more on this a little later).  For example, if someone said, “I went to the store for my wife”, they probably mean that they went to the store because their wife asked them to.  On the other hand, if I said, “I went to the store for milk”, I probably mean that I went to go and get milk… not that the milk asked me to go to the store!  In the English language, the word ‘for’ can be used with either definition, and context has to decide which is the more appropriate use of the word.

However, the Greek language (the original language of the New Testament) is much more precise.  The word used in the phrase “for forgiveness of sins” in places like Acts 2:38 is a word that specifically means “that you might receive, acquire, go towards, unto”.  The Greek word translated most often as ‘for’ in most modern translations is ‘eis’ (pronounced the same as ‘ace’), and it always means the same as “I went to the store for milk”… never “I went to the store for my wife”.

According to Revelation 8:13, an eagle talked.  Did the eagle really speak like the serpent of Eden and Balaam’s donkey?

Sincerely,
Dr. Dolittle

Dear Dr. Dolittle,

The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation and said that it was a book of signs and symbols (Rev. 1:1).  The context states over and over that things are not what they seem.  Candlesticks representing churches (Rev 1:20), a lamb representing Jesus (Rev 5:5-6), white linen representing the righteous saints (Rev 19:8), and a dragon representing Satan (Rev 12:9) are just a few examples of how we would really miss the whole point of the book if we took it literally.

The eagle in Rev. 8:13 isn’t a literal eagle.  It is part of the symbolic language that is used to describe the struggle between christians and Rome.  Revelation dealt with the coming persecution that the church of the first century was about to face.  It is a figurative and symbolic book (Rev 1:1 – notice the word ‘signified’, that means ‘symbolic’) that God used to prepare those saints for the trials they had ahead of them.  If you would like to better understand the book of Revelation, we have a series of classes on the book.  They can be found here.

I have a friend at school who attends an Anglican church, and when referring to the mother of Jesus, she says the "blessed virgin Mary".  I attend a "Bible-only" Christian church and have never heard Mary referred to in this way.  I also follow many evangelical services on the radio and television and have also never heard any pastor call Mary "blessed".  When I asked my friend about this, she showed me Luke 1:48 "all generations shall call me blessed".  It was surprising to realize that if it weren't for my friend's faith tradition, and those like it, this Scripture would go unfulfilled!  No christian I have ever known, other than my friend, has ever called Mary "blessed".  Has anyone in your congregation ever called Mary "blessed" in a sermon or conversation?  If not, why not?

Sincerely,
Ready To Bless

Dear Ready To Bless,

The word ‘blessed’ simply means ‘to count happy, good, or with favor’… and that is something that all generations have thought of Mary.  The point of Lk 1:48 isn’t that mankind will use those exact words, but that people will for all generations look upon Mary as a favored woman.  Anytime someone reads the Bible and realizes the value and faith of Mary, Lk 1:48 is fulfilled.

It is also important to note that many of the churches that emphasize using the exact words “blessed virgin Mary” do so because of their ties to the Catholic theology that Mary was a perfect woman who lived without sin.  Many Anglican churches treat Mary with so much appreciation that it turns to worship and veneration – this is wrong (Lk 4:8).  Mary is a favored woman within Scriptures, but she shouldn’t be worshipped.

Can you explain John 15:2?

Sincerely,
Verse Vexed

Dear Verse Vexed,

John 15:2 is part of Jesus’ vine metaphor.  Jesus compares Himself to a vine that provides life to all of its shoots and branches (Jhn 15:1).  Jesus provides life to all of those who are in Him (Rom 6:23)… the branches of the vine are christians.  In addition to Jesus being the vine, the Father is the one who trims and tends the branches (Jhn 15:1).  Jhn 15:2 points out that God cuts off certain branches and trims other branches, so they can grow.  The branches that are cut off represent christians that turn away from Christ.  Those that fall away from God will be cut off from God (Heb 6:4-8).  The branches that are trimmed for further growth represent how God disciplines us and makes us better people through the various trials and circumstances of life (Heb 12:9-11).  That discipline and punishment are what Jesus is talking about in Jhn 15:2.