New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Acts

9

:

38

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us."

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Since Lydda Lydda, a city in Pal. N-GFS H3069 Λύδδας luddas
Analysis:
Read more about: Lydda
was near near (in place or time) Prep H1451 ἐγγὺς engus
Joppa, Joppa, a city of Pal. N-DFS H2445 Ἰόππῃ ioppē
Analysis:
Read more about: Joppa
the disciples, a disciple N-NMP H3101 μαθηταὶ mathētai
having heard to hear, listen V-APA-NMP H191 ἀκούσαντες akousantes
that Peter "a stone" or "a boulder," Peter, one of the twelve apostles N-NMS H4074 Πέτρος petros
was there, in, on, at, by, with Prep H1722 ἐν en
sent to send, send away V-AIA-3P H649 ἀπέστειλαν apesteilan
two two Adj-AMP H1417 δύο duo
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

men a man N-AMP H435 ἄνδρας andras
to him, imploring to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage V-PPA-NMP H3870 παρακαλοῦντες parakalountes
him, "Do not delay to shrink (from doing), to hesitate (to do) V-ASA-2S H3635 ὀκνήσῃς oknēsēs
in coming to go through, go about, to spread V-ANA H1330 διελθεῖν dielthein
to us."      

Locations

Joppa

JOPPAjop'-a (yapho, yapho'; Ioppe): In Joshua 19:46 the King James Version called "Japho," a city in the territory allotted to Dan; but there is nothing to show that in pre-exilic times it ever passed into Israelite hands.1. Ancient Notices:"The gate of Joppa" is mentioned in the Tell el-Amarna Letters (214, 32 f; compare 178, 20), as guarded by an Egyptian... View Details

Lydda

LOD; LYDDA(lodh; Ludda):1. Scriptural Notices:Ono and Lod and the towns thereof are said to have been built by Shemed, a Benjamite (1 Chronicles 8:12). The children of Lod, Hadid and One, to the number of 725, returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:33 Nehemiah 7:37 (721)). The town lay in the Shephelah, perhaps in ge ha-charashim, "the valley of craft... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us."
King James Bible Since And forasmuch as Lydda was near nigh to Joppa, and the disciples, having disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men to him, imploring him, "Do men, desiring him that he would not delay in coming to us."come to them.
Berean Bible Since Now Lydda was being near Joppa, the disciples, disciples having heard that Peter was there, is in it, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do imploring, “Do not to delay in coming to us."”
Hebrew Greek English Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us."