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Yeshua and his disciples observed and taught the principles of the House of Tzadok 364-Day solar calendar. Based on my research, it is my understanding that Yeshua and his disciples DID NOTsubmit to the Pharisaic authorities of Jerusalem nor to their Sanhedrin. Yeshua and his disciples considered them as those who appointed themselves to be over all of Israel as Teachers and Interpreters of the Mosaic Written Law (collectively referred to as the “Torah”).
Furthermore, Yeshua and his disciples DID NOTacknowledge nor submit to Jerusalem’s High-Priestly Judges amongst the Sadduceans which included the High Priests of the House of Katros (some academic biblical scholars: Caiaphus? ) and the House of Baitus (also referred to as the “Boethusians”). These Second Temple priests were considered usurpers of the true Yehovah-ordained Priesthood authority of Tzadok, in the family line of Aaron, brother of Moses. Yeshua’s run-ins with the Cohanim or Temple priests of his day were because they were not legitimate.
ACTS 20:6-12 SUMMARY
On Real Israel Talk Radio Episode 106 and PART 10 in this Dead Sea Scrolls/Qumran House of Tzadok series, we studied the following points:
1. Acts 20:6: "Now we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread." We learned that Sha’ul and his physician friend Dr. Luke left Philippi on the 22nd Day of the first Chodesh or the first month in the New Year.
2. Acts 20:6: "In five days joined them at Troas." We learned that they arrived in the Roman City of Troas in time to join the believing community for the 26th Day of the first Chodesh. That 26th Day of the first Chodesh or first month began their 50-Day Count of the Omer, which is HOW the Qumran House of Tzadok Priesthood taught their followers based on the Book of Jubilees and the Qumran Temple Scroll – 11Q19.
3. Acts 20:6: "We stayed seven days." Here, we learned that the whole Yeshua-believing community of Troas counted the Omer until Day 7 and then on that 7th Day, the weekly Sabbath, they came together to break bread.
4. Acts 20:7: "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread." Here, we learned that the English translation from Greek is distorted. Literally, the Greek text says: “Now on the One of the Sabbaths, the disciples came together to break bread.” This is saying that when the Troas community of believers in Yeshua came together to meet on that Second Day of the Second Chodesh (month) then they counted number 1 of the coming 7 weekly Sabbaths. Their counting of the 7 Sabbaths was according to Leviticus 23:16: “Count fifty days to the Day after the Seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to Yehovah.”
5) Acts 20:7: "Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight." This tells us that Sha’ul was ready to leave Troas on the “Next Day.” It was already very late on that Sabbath night, perhaps as late as 3:00 in the morning and yet, it was still called the Sabbath and not “Sunday Morning” or the “First Day of the Week.” Therefore, this demonstrates to me that their Day to Day counting of biblical time was and is based on sunrise to sunrise reckoning.
This fits with the meaning of the “Next Day” which is based on the Hebrew term “Mimacharat HaShabbat,” which means, “Tomorrow” or the “Next Day” when a numbered calendar day advances to the next ascending numbered calendar day. The terminology “The Next Day” in Hebrew substantiates a sunrise to sunrise reckoning of biblical time but does NOT give any standing to a Pharisaic sunset to sunset reckoning.
This said, let us now continue with Acts 20:9.
“…as Paul continued speaking, he (Eutychus) fell down from the third story [loft] and was taken up dead.”
The story narrative says that Eutychus began to sink into a deep sleep and was, in fact, overcome by sleep. Then we learn he fell out of the third story or third loft window and they found that he was dead. There is likely a lot more going on here in this story because “sleep” is a Hebrew expression for dying or for death. Ruminate on the following:
John 11:11-14. These things He (Yeshua) said, and after that, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Master if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Yeshua spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Yeshua said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”
Ephesians 5:13-14. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the Light, for whatever makes manifest is Light. Therefore, He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead and Messiah will give you Light.”
This tells me that it is possible the young man Eutychus may not have actually suffered death because of his fall from that third-loft window. It is more believable and possible that Eutychus actually died from something else moments before he even fell down from that third-story window because he was already sinking into a “deep sleep” as the narrator explains it. We are not told what it was that really took his life. Regardless, the story is not focused on the death of Eutychus but instead, focused on his resurrection, with an emphasis on two things:
A MIDNIGHT JUDGMENT, SALVATION, AND RESURRECTION
In the Bible, midnight is code language for the second or middle watch of the three watches in the night, which is about 10:00 pm to about 2:00 am. This second or middle watch of the night is often linked to judgment, salvation, and resurrection. For example:
Genesis 14-14-15. Now when Abram heard that his brother (his brother’s son) was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night (rabbinically understood to be around the second middle watch of the three watches in the night) and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
Exodus 12:29-30. And it came to pass at midnight (the second or middle watch of the three watches in the night) that Yehovah struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. So, Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Judges 16:3. And Samson lay low till midnight (the second or middle watch of the three watches in the night) then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
Psalm 119:62. At midnight (the second or middle watch of the three watches in the night) I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.
Matthew 25:2. And at midnight (the second or middle watch of the three watches in the night) a cry was heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!”
Acts 16:25-26. But at midnight (the second or middle watch of the three watches in the night) Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
A model of the same paradigm found in Yeshua’s resurrection narrative. For Eutychus, his resurrection happened at about the same time as that of Yeshua meaning late in the middle or second watch of three watches of the night or what was said to be “midnight.” In other words, both Yeshua and Eutychus were raised in the lateness of “Sabbaths” (plural) meaning the Day was still called “Sabbath” when these resurrections happened.
An example is drawn from Matthew 28:1 telling us that Yeshua’s resurrection was NOT “after” the Sabbath, which very much distorts the Greek grammar as it has been transmitted to us. Based on some of the very best in the software parsing tools that I use for a deep investigation into Greek grammar, here is what the narrative appears to be saying to me:
Matthew 28:1. Now late (as relative lateness regarding a point in time that follows another point in time), as one [of more than one] Sabbaths was moving towards [or growing towards] daybreak, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
Thus, we learn that The Day was still called The Sabbath even while the time was still very late in that Sabbath hour, just before the daybreak of the next day – the first day of the week – “Sunday.” This narrative is expressing a biblical day is assumed to still be the same day until sunrise. Therefore, this narrative is showing us a sunrise to sunrise reckoning and it perfectly matches with what took place in Acts 20:9 when Eutychus was raised to life in his resurrection. This is so stunning because of the theological principle that is baked into the story. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20.
1 Corinthians 15:20. But now Messiah is risen from the dead and has become the bikkurim (firstborn) of those who have fallen asleep (just like Eutychus).
So then, we should read these passages to bring more clarity to the Eutychus story:
Psalm 145:14-16. Yehovah upholds all who fall And raises up all (resurrection) who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of all the living.
Psalm 27:13. I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of Yehovah in the Land of the Living.
The phrase, “Land of the Living” is an ancient Hebraic euphemism for the promised Last Day Messianic Resurrection into what Judaism calls the “Olam Haba”; that is, the World to Come. Let us now continue with this Eutychus resurrection narrative in Acts 20:10.
Acts 20:10. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for HIS LIFE is in him.”
This is a seriously compelling statement from Sha’ul or Paul. Do not think for a moment that this is telling us about that young man Eutychus. Not at all. Notice, Sha’ul said: “Do not trouble yourselves, for HIS LIFE IS in him.” In other words, Messiah’s Life was put into that young man because of Yeshua’s Third Day resurrection. And Yeshua taught the principle in precisely that same way.
John 1:4. In Him was The Life, and The Life was the Light of men.
John 1:9. That was the True Light who gives The Light to every man coming into the world.
Colossians 1:27. Messiah in you, the HOPE OF GLORY (resurrection glory)
And therefore, given this teaching that our Life is in Messiah who is our Hope of Glory, it is based on His Third Day resurrection, which is why Sha’ul was able to say so boldly:
1 Corinthians 15:20. “…and he has become the bikkurim (A Shavuot Feast of Weeks term for the firstborn in Yehovah’s Last Day resurrection for those who come to him in the Name of Yeshua) of those who have fallen asleep.”
Here is the basis for Paul’s teaching theology.
Philippians 3:8-11. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Master (Hebrew: Adonee) … that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
So, what exactly did Sha’ul do for the dead young man Eutychus? Acts 20:10 tells us that he went down to the young man and fell on him, and embraced him. He followed the pattern for what took place in the days of Elijah and Elisha.
2 Kings 4:32-35. When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. He went in, therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to Yehovah. And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
1 Kings 17:20-23. Then he (Elijah) cried out to Yehovah and said, “Yehovah Elohei, have you also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to Yehovah and said, “Yehovah Elohei, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then Yehovah heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”
Let us now go on to the last statement of this resurrection narrative in Acts 20:11.
Acts 20:11 – Now when he (Sha’ul) had come up, he broke bread and ate and talked a long while, even till daybreak, [and then] he departed.
For Paul and his ministry team, their biblical reckoning for a day was sunrise to sunrise. For Paul and that ministry team, daybreak or sunrise carried the meaning of a brand-new day according to 2 Peter 1:19.
2 Peter 1:19. And so, we have the Prophetic Word confirmed, which you do well to heed as to a Light that shines in a dark place until the Day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
That sunrise in their calendar week clicked over to the “Next Day” which was now:
1) Day 1 “Sunday” of the coming new week of 6 days until the next Sabbath.
2) Day 8 in the 50-Day Count of the Omer leading up to Shavu’ot in Jerusalem.
3) Week 1 and Day 1 towards completing the 7 Sabbaths in the Count of the Omer towards Shavuot or Pentecost.
4) Day 3 of Month 2 or Chodesh 2 (the second month) in the counting of the 12 chodeshim or 12 months until the beginning of the next new year.
This takes us to Acts 20:16.
Acts 20:16. For he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Shavu’ot).
Including the morning of their departure from Troas, Paul and his ministry team had 42 Days before Shavuot or Pentecost terminating on the 15th Day of the 3rd Month based on the Tzadok calendar of the Qumran House of Tzadok teachings. For that day will always fall on the Fifteenth (15th) Day of the Third Chodesh (Month) – a “Sunday.” But according to the official rabbinic lunar calendar of Jerusalem, Shavu’ot would have already come and gone, falling about ten days earlier on the fifth (5th) or sixth day (6th) of the Third Chodesh (Month), referred to as “Sivan” 5/6.
LAG B'OMER AND YESHUA'S ASCENSION (Acts 1:3 and Acts 1:9)
Now, all of this is very important to reflect upon because it has a tremendous impact on how to follow the chronology of Yeshua’s last week beginning with his Passover meal; then, when he and his disciples cross the Kidron Valley and he is arrested in the garden; which is then followed by his trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin, which was a daylight/daytime trial NOT a nighttime or “during the night” trial; which is then followed by his crucifixion, his death, his burial, and finally, his Third Day resurrection.
If one reads this whole chronology as it is reported across four gospel narratives, it will make no sense if one tries to understand it only through the Rabbinic/Pharisaic lunar festival calendar. The whole chronology will only make good sense when the narratives are seen through the eyes of two different calendars: the Qumran House of Tzadok festival solar calendar AND the Pharisaic festival lunar calendar. In other words, the writers of the gospel narratives present the chronology of Yeshua’s Passover, Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, and Resurrection from both perspectives.
What I mean to say is that Yeshua’s Crucifixion and Third Day Resurrection took place according to a completely different calendar – a solar sunrise to sunrise calendar. But, while all this was going on, there was, at the same time, yet another calendar chronology; that of what the Pharisees were observing. Between the two different festival calendars, there was a variance of about two days or 48 hours. So, stick around for my future podcasts on this very issue. I think you will find the chronology interesting and challenging, even as it was for me when I first began drilling down deep into the whole matter.
But, I’ll let you in on a little secret from scripture. Turn to the Book of Judges chapter 13. The father of Shimshon or Samson was Manoach. He was given a little visitation from the Mashiach or Messiah the Word who is always identified in scripture as the “Messenger” or “Angel of Yehovah.” So, we read this:
Judges 13:15-21. Then Manoah said to the Angel of Yehovah, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?” And the Angel of Yehovah said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful? (Hebrew: Peh Lamed Alef – see Isaiah 9:6 = a Son will be given to us and his name will be called Pey Lamed Aleph or wonderful).” So, Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it upon the rock to Yehovah. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on— it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of Yehovah ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground.
This is a narrative about Messiah the Word who appears to Manoach and his wife, who has the Name Pey Lamed Aleph – “Wonderful” which is linked to Isaiah 9:6 and the Wonderful Son and Counselor that will be given to all Israel. Well, that Wonderful who was a manifestation of the Word, he ascended IN the flame on the altar. And my assumption is that there was some wood on that altar because that IS the pattern in the Torah at Leviticus 1:7
Leviticus 1:7. The sons of Aaron the Cohen (the priests of Tzadok) shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in order on the fire.
Now, turn to Acts 1:3.
He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
And then Acts 1:9
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
From Yeshua’s appearance to his disciples in that Upper Room of Jerusalem to his ascension in Acts 1:9
1) It was 40 Days
2) It was 33 Days from the beginning count of the Omer according to the Zadok calendar on the 26th of the First Chodesh
3) It was the Jewish Day of Lag B’omer or Day 33 when even to this very day, bonfires of wood are built all over Jerusalem
So, Yeshua ascended into a cloud on Day 33 of the Omer, which was also Day 40 from his first appearance to his disciples in that Upper Room. And I’ll have to save the rest of what I would like to say, for later. The point is, Yeshua did everything according to the Zadok solar calendar of Qumran and the Book of Jubilees. For example:
John 18:19-23. The high priest then asked Yeshua about His disciples and His doctrine. Yeshua answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret, I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed, they know what I said.” And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Yeshua with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Yeshua answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”
Then, there is this from the ancient Jewish writings of Pesachim 57a in the B.Talmud.
Woe is me due to the High Priests of the House of Baitos (beitusim) woe is me due to their clubs. Woe is me due to the High Priests of the House of Chanin; woe is me due to their whispers and the rumors they spread. Woe is me due to the High Priests of the House of Katros; woe is me due to their pens that they use to write lies. Woe is me due to the servants of the High Priests of the House of Yishmael ben Piakhi; woe is me due to their fists. The power of these households stemmed from the fact that the fathers were High Priests, and their sons were the Temple Treasurers, and their sons-in-law were Temple overseers [amarkalin]. And their servants strike the people with clubs and otherwise act inappropriately.