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NASB | Matthew 24:14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 24:14 "This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come. |
Subject: Every NATION or every PERSON? |
Bible Note: Hello brother Steve, Thanks for reading my post and responding. This is one of those passages (like so many others) that require some word study and context to really get a grip on. In Acts 9:7 we might have a common use of language that is misinterpreted (according to which version you are reading). The KJV for example, agrees with you in using the word "voice" to describe what those with Saul heard. The NIV, on the other hand, translates the word "sound". this would not necessarily be inaccurate on either translation nor a contradiction. For example. If we were in a room togther and you heard a knock on the door and recognized it as a knock, yet I heard it but did not recognize it as a knock at the door; you might later explain that we both heard the knock at the door. I maight report that I heard a "sound". In any case, here is how Strong's explains the word in question here. NT:5456 NT:5456 phone (fo-nay'); probably akin to NT:5316 through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language: KJV - noise, sound, voice. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.) So the word might rightly be interpreted in the English as "noise", "sound", or "voice". As for biblical context: We have a clue why voice may not be the best choice of interpretation. Acts 22:9 9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. KJV So when considering this event in light of what else scripture (and Paul himself) has to say about it specifically, we find that, in fact, those with Paul did not hear what Saul heard. They did hear a sound, whether it was recognizable as a "voice" is not what is important regarding the essence of my previous post. What we do know, is that whatever they heard, there was no communication to them in the hearing. They did not understand it. This should sufficiently answer your last question regarding whether these others were called or not. They were not, at least at that time, as Paul articulates in Acts 22:9. We might note, however, that these same men escorted Paul to Damascus and very likely continued with him for a time. It's possible that some or all of them were eventually called and saved (this may be referred to in scripture but I am unaware of it). Hope this helps clarify my understanding. Jeff |