About the Author of the Blogsite, Not the Author of the Bible:

About the Author of the Blogsite, Not the Author of the Bible: I was uncertain of how to accomplish this, mindful of Revelation 22:18-19, which says that nobody is to add to, or to take away from what was written in the Bible. After lots of prayerful contemplation, the Lord had it on my heart that I’m not to change the meaning of what is written in the Bible. He has also shown ways to add to people’s understating of that meaning, without altering the meaning, by putting that info within [brackets]. This is primarily accomplished with the KJV Bible and lots of prayers, but at times, BibleGateway.com, Biblehub.com, NIV Bible, Webster Dictionary, and other internet resources, as needed. Debra Seiling

About Understanding the Bible:

Understanding the Bible: After reading Isaiah 28:10 many times over the years and not totally understanding it, it recently became apparent to me that the Lord God has this passage as the means for understanding the Bible. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. Isaiah 28:10 KJV. Being prayerful about this passage, and looking up 'precept' in the Webster's Dictionary, it gave this passage a whole new meaning, once 'commandment' is substituted for 'precept'. Within brackets are additional words the Lord had on my heart to aid in understanding the meaning. For commandment must be [built up] upon commandment; commandment upon commandment; line upon line, line upon line; [developing understanding] here a little, and there a little.

The Table Format:

The Table Format: I was overwhelmed with how to explain the process for determining if someone had leprosy in Leviticus 13, which seemed very complicated. After praying, "Lord, if this is difficult for me to understand after reading it many times, how can this be explained to others?" The thought the Lord God had on my heart was for me to put it into a vertical chart to visually see the process. This made it much easier for me to follow the progression. After doing so, I prayed, "Lord, how can this be conveyed to readers, so that they can understand this process?" The thought the Lord God had on my heart was to put it within the lines of a table. Being a stiff-necked, stubborn person, as it's often called in the Bible, I prayed, asking the Lord God if He's sure that's really what He wanted me to do? I reluctantly put Leviticus 13 into a table format. When I read this difficult leprosy process within a table format, it suddenly became easier for me to understand. That's because it builds line upon line, as explained in the Understanding the Bible section. Shortly after that, the Lord God had it on my heart, to put all of The Books of the Bible in Smaller Chunks within a table format, to aid in understanding, line upon line.

Acts 13:1-52 Barnabas & Saul, [a.k.a. Paul,] Preach in the Jewish Temple & to the Gentiles

 

Barnabas & Saul, [a.k.a. Paul,] Preach in the Jewish Temple & to the Gentiles

Acts 13:1-52                    The Acts of the Apostles [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, in the church that was [in] Antioch, there were [some] prophets & teachers, [such] as: Barnabas & Simeon, [who] was called Niger; [plus] Lucius [from] Cyrene; & Manaen, [who] had been brought up with Saul & Herod, the tetrarch, [a.k.a. monarch.] 

As they ministered [for] the Lord, & fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Barnabas & Saul [for] Me, for the work [for which] I have called them. [Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to [Ananias, Go [on] your way. For [Saul,] is a chosen vessel, [a.k.a. instrument, for] Me, to [carry] My Name, before the Gentiles, kings, & the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel. For I will [declare to] him, [what] great things [Saul] must suffer for My Name's sake.] 

And when they had fasted & prayed, [they] laid their hands on [Barnabas & Saul.] [Acts 8:17 Then, they laid their hands on them, & they received the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit.] 

They sent [Barnabas & Saul] away. So, [Barnabas & Saul,] being sent [out] by the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit,] departed to Seleucia. And from [there] they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they also had John, [as] their minister. [Acts 12:25 And Barnabas & Saul took John with them, whose surname was Mark, & returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled, [a.k.a. carried out,] their ministry.] 

And when they had gone through the [islands] to Paphos, they found a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus, [a.k.a. Elymas,] a certain sorcerer, & a false prophet, [who] was with Sergius Paulus, the deputy of the country, & a [wise] man. Who called for Barnabas & Saul, & desired to hear the Word of God.

But the sorcerer, Elymas, (for his name is [this,] by interpretation,) [opposed] them, seeking to turn the deputy away from the faith. Then, Saul, (who is also called Paul,) & [was] filled with the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit, focused] his eyes on [Elymas.] 

And said, O you child of the devil, full of all [subtlety,] & all mischief, [a.k.a. disobedience,] you enemy of all righteousness, [won't] you [stop] [from] [perverting, a.k.a. leading astray from] the right ways of the Lord? [1 John 3:8 He, [who commits] sin is [from] the devil. For from the beginning, the devil [sinned.] For the Son of God was [made visible,] for this [reason, so] that He might destroy the works of the devil.] 

And, now, [look,] the hand of the Lord is upon you, & you [shall] be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately, a mist & a darkness fell on [Elymus;] & he went [around] seeking [someone] to lead him by the hand. Then, when the deputy saw what was done, believed, being astonished [by] the doctrine, [a.k.a. teaching,] of the Lord. 

Now, when Paul, & his company [set sail] from Paphos, & they came to Perga, in Pamphylia. And John, [a.k.a. Mark, departed] from them, & returned to Jerusalem. 

But when they [left] from Perga, they came to Antioch, in Pisidia, & went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, & sat down. And after the reading [from] the Law, & the prophets, the [syanagouge's leaders] sent to them, saying, You men & brethren, if you have any word of exhortation, [a.k.a. urgent appeal,] for the people, [Continue speaking.]  

Then, Paul stood up, & [motioned] with his hand, & said, Men of Israel, & you, [who] fear, [a.k.a. respect,] God, [pay attention.] The God of this people of Israel, chose our [forefathers,] & exalted the people, when they [lived like] strangers in the land of Egypt, & with [a] high arm, [God] brought them out of it.

And [about] 40 [years'] time, [God] suffered, [a.k.a. endured,] their manners in the wilderness. And when [God] had destroyed 7 nations in the land of the [Canaan,] He divided their land to them by lot. [Isaiah 63:9-10 [God] was afflicted, in all their affliction. And [in] His presence, the Angel saved them. In His love & in His pity, He redeemed them, & He [bear, a.k.a. tolerated,] them, & carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, & [troubled] His Holy Spirit. Therefore, He was turned to be their enemy, & He fought against them.] 

And after that, [God] gave judges to them, [for] about the [time] of 450 years, until Samuel, the prophet. [Judges 2:16-18 [Still,] the Lord raised up judges, [who] delivered them out of the hand of those, [who plundered] them. And [still] they wouldn't [listen] to their judges, but went [unfaithfully,] after other gods, & bowed themselves to them. They quickly turned out of the [path, a.k.a. went astray,] [from] the way [that] their [forefathers] walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord. But they didn't [do] so.] 

And afterward, they desired a king. And God gave Saul, the son of Cis, to them, a man [from] the tribe of Benjamin, [over] the space of 40 years. And when [God] had removed [Saul,] He raised up David to them, to be their king. To whom, [God] also gave testimony, & said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after [My] Own heart, [who] shall fulfill all My will. 

*According to His promise, God [has] raised to Israel, [from] this man's seed, a Savior, Jesus. [Isaiah 11:1-4 *And a Rod shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse, & a Branch shall grow out of his roots. *And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: the Spirit of wisdom & understanding; the Spirit of [advice, & strength;] & the Spirit of knowledge & of the fear, [a.k.a respect,] of the Lord. *And shall make Him of [immediate] understanding in the fear, [a.k.a. respect,] of the Lord. *And He shall not judge [according] [to what] His eyes [see,] & neither [chastise according] [to what] His ears [hear.] *But He shall judge the poor with righteousness, & [repay] the meek, [a.k.a. humble,] of the earth with equity. *And He shall slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.] 

[During that time,] John 1st had preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel, before [Jesus'] coming, [a.k.a. appearance.] [Isaiah 40:3-5 *The voice of him, [who cries] [out] in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, & make a highway straight in the desert for our God. Every valley shall be [raised,] & every mountain & hill shall be made low. And the crooked [places] shall be made straight, & the rough places [shall be made] [smooth.] And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, [a.k.a. made visible,] & all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the Lord [has] spoken it.] 

And as John fulfilled his [ministry's] [course:] John] said, Whom [do] you think I am? I'm not He. But, [look,] there [comes] One after me, Whose shoes [on] His feet, I'm not worthy to [loosen.] [John 11:2-6 Now, when in prison, John had heard the works, [a.k.a. Miracles,] of Christ, & he sent [out] 2 of his disciples. And [they] said to [Jesus,] Are You He, [Who] should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered & said, Go & [declare to] John again, those things  which you do hear & see: *The blind receive their sight; the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed; the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, & the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, [whoever] shall not be offended in Me.] 

Men & brethren, children of the stock, [a.k.a. descendants] of Abraham, & [whoever] among you [fear, a.k.a. respect] God, the Word of this Salvation is sent to you. [Matthew 20:28 *Even [like] the Son of Man [didn't] come to be ministered to, but to minister, & to give His Life [as] a Ransom for many.]

*For [those,] & their rulers [who] dwell [in] Jerusalem, because they [didn't know] Him, nor the voices of the prophets yet, [that] are read every Sabbath Day, & they have fulfilled them, [by] condemning Him. [Isaiah 53:5-7 *But He was wounded for our [sins,] & He was bruised for our iniquities. The [discipline for] our peace, was upon Him; & with His stripes, [a.k.a. whip marks,] we are healed. *All we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have, everyone, turned to his own [ways;] & the Lord [has] laid on Him the [sin] of us all. *He was oppressed, & He was afflicted, [still,] He [didn't open] His mouth. He is brought [like] a lamb to the slaughter, & [like] a sheep is [mute in front of] [Its] shearers, so He [didn't open] His mouth.] 

And though they found no [reason for] death in Him, [still] they desired [from] Pilate, that [Jesus] should be [killed.] [John 19:4-6 Therefore, Pilate went [out] again, & [said] to them, [Look,] I bring Him [out] to you, [so] that you may know that I find no fault in Him. Then, Jesus came [out] wearing the crown of thorns, & the purple robe. And Pilate [said] to them, [See,] the Man! Therefore, when the chief priests & officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, Crucify Him. Pilate [said] to them, You, take Him, & crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him.]

*And when they had fulfilled all that was written [about] Him, they took Him down from the [cross made from a] tree, & laid Him in a [tomb.] [Isaiah 53:9 *And He made His grave with the wicked, & with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, & neither was any deceit in His mouth.] 

*But God raised Him from the dead. [Psalm 16:10 *For You won't leave My Soul in hell; & neither [will] You [allow] Your Holy One to see corruption, [a.k.a. decay.] 

And [Jesus] was seen many days [by those, who] came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, what are His witnesses to the people. [1 Corinthians 15:3-10 *For first, I delivered to you all of [what] I also received, & how Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. And that [Jesus] was buried, & He rose again the 3rd day, according to the Scriptures. And that [Jesus] was seen [by:] Cephas, & then [by] the 12. After that, [Jesus] was seen at once, [by over] 500 brethren, of whom the greater part, [a.k.a. the majority,] remain [until] this [day,] but some [have] fallen asleep, [a.k.a. died.] After that, [Jesus] was seen [by] James, & then by all the apostles. And last of all, He was seen by me, [a.k.a. Paul, formerly called Saul,] also [like someone] born: out of due time, [a.k.a. like a child past-due.] For I am the least of the apostles, & am not [worthy] to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am; & His grace [that] was bestowed upon me, was not [done] in vain. But I [labored] more abundantly than all [of] them, [still] not I, but the grace of God, which was [within] me.]

And we declare glad tidings, [a.k.a. Good News,] to you, & how the promise which was made to the [forefathers,] & God has fulfilled the same to us, their children. *In that He [has] raised up Jesus again; [like] it is also written in the 2nd Psalm, You [are] My Son, this day I have begotten You. [Psalm 2:7 *I will declare the decree: the Lord [has] said to Me, You [are] My Son; This day I have begotten You.] 

*And [about,] [how] He raised Him up from the dead, now, no [longer] to return to corruption, [a.k.a. decay.] He said this, I will give You the sure mercies of David. [Isaiah 55:3 *[Lean] Your ear, & come to Me. Hear, & Your Soul shall Live. And I will make an everlasting covenant, [a.k.a. contract,] with You, even the sure mercies of David.] 

*[For this reason,] He also [said] in another Psalm, You [shall] not [allow] Your Holy One to see corruption, [a.k.a. decay.] *For after David had served his own generation, & by the will of God, fell [asleep, a.k.a. died.] [And in death, David] was laid with his [forefathers] & saw corruption, [a.k.a. decay.] [2 Samuel 7:12-13 *And when your days [are] fulfilled, & you shall sleep with your [forefathers,] & I will set up your seed, [a.k.a. Solomon,] after you, [who] shall [come from] your [body.] And I will establish His Kingdom. *He shall build [a] house for My Name, & I will [establish] the throne of His, [a.k.a. Jesus Christ's,] Kingdom forever.] 

*But He, Whom God raised again, saw no corruption, [a.k.a. decay.] Therefore, [let] it be known to you, men & brethren, the forgiveness of sins that is preached to you, through this Man. [Luke 24:46-48 And [Jesus Christ] said to them, It is written [like this,] & [like this] it [was necessary] [for] Christ to suffer, & to rise from the dead the third day. [So,] that repentance & remission, [a.k.a. forgiveness] of sins, should be preached in His Name, among all nations, beginning [in] Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.]  

And all [who] believe are justified by Him, from all things, from which the Law of Moses couldn't [justify] you. [John 3:16-17 For God loved the world so [much,] that He gave His only begotten Son, that [whoever believes] in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting Life. For God [didn't send] His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.]

Therefore, beware, lest [what] is spoken of [by] the prophets [happens to] you. [2 Kings 17:16-18 And they all left the commandments of the Lord their God, & made [themselves molded] images, even 2 calves, & made a grove, & worshiped all the host, [a.k.a. stars & constellations] of heaven, & served Baal. And they caused their sons & daughters to [go] through fire, & used divination, & enchantments, & sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, & removed them out of His sight. There [were] none left, but only the tribe of Judah.]

[Watch,] you despisers, [a.k.a. those who look down on others,] wonder, & perish. For I [will accomplish] a work in your days. A work [that] you shall in no [ways] believe, [although] a man [declares] it to you. [Isaiah 29:13-15 *[For this reason] the Lord said, [Since] this people draw near Me with their [mouths,] & [honor] Me with their lips, but have removed their [hearts] far from Me, & their fear, [a.k.a. respect,] toward Me, is taught by the [commandments] of men. Therefore, [watch] I will proceed to do a [marvelous] work, among this people, even a [marvelous] work & a wonder, [a.k.a. Miracle.] For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, & the understanding of their prudent men shall be [hidden.] Woe to [those, who] seek deep [holes] to hide their counsel from the Lord, & their works are [done] in the dark. And they say, Who [sees] us? And Who [knows] us?]

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles [begged] that these Words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now, when the congregation was broken up, [a.k.a. dismissed,] many of the Jews & religious [converts,] followed Paul & Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 

And the next Sabbath Day, almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, & [spoke] against those things Paul [had] spoken, [by:] contradicting & blaspheming [them.] 

Then Paul & Barnabas [grew] bold, & said, It was necessary that the Word of God should 1st have been spoken to you. But seeing [that] you put it [away] from [yourselves,] & judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting Life, [look,] we turn to the Gentiles. [Ephesians 3:6-9 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, & of the same body, & [participants in] His promise in the Gospel [through] Christ. [Of which] I was made a minister, according to the gift of grace given to me [from] God, & by the [effective work] of His power. This grace is given to me, who am less than the least of all saints, [so] that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable [richness] of Christ.]

For the Lord [has] commanded us [this,] saying, I have [put] You to be a Light [for] the Gentiles, [so] that You [should] be for Salvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, & glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as were [appointed] to eternal Life, believed. 

And the Word of the Lord was [proclaimed] throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up, [a.k.a. instigated,] the devout & [honorable] women, [female leaders] of the city, & [increased] persecution against Paul & Barnabas, & expelled, [a.k.a. had them thrown out,] of their coasts.

But they shook off the dust [from] their feet against them, & came into Iconium. [Matthew 10:14-15 And [whoever] shall not receive, [a.k.a. welcome or accept] you, nor hear your Words, when you depart out of that house of city, shake off the dust [from] your feet. [Truly,] I tell you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom & [Gomorrah on] the Day of Judgment, than for that city.] 

And the disciples were filled with joy, & with the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit.]