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NASB | Acts 28:2 The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 28:2 And the natives showed us extraordinary kindness and hospitality; for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold. |
Bible Question:
Hi Kalos, Your opinion contradicts Act 17:23-27 "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; Any pagan, heathen or Muslim who holds the concept of the God who created the universe holds the concept of the monotheistic God. Acts 4:12 refers to salvation which cannot be obtained from the 'generic God' except by His Son Jesus. Muslims hold an inadequate and incomplete picture of the Creator God, but I disagree with you that their God is someone else. Yes, they worship Him in ignorance and they are not saved. Robin |
Bible Answer: Hi, Robin; I think you and Kalos are looking at two sides of Romans 1:18-20. The passage in Acts is an illustration of Romans 1:20 ("For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse"). I think that the Greeks, knowing that none of their all-too-human gods could really account for what "has been made", saw evidence of the God of the Bible, but didn't know Him. The Muslims do not worship an unknown god evidenced by Creation; they worship a god revealed in the Qur'an. Unlike the God whom the Greeks sensed but didn't know, Allah is the creation of Muhammad. He reflects none of the "invisible qualities" that Paul wrote about. Indeed, since the Biblical revelation was complete by Muhammad's time, it could be said that Islam is an illustration of Romans 1:18-19 ("The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.)" Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |