| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | ESV (2016) | ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026 |
Leviticus 1-3
Observation & Interpretation
Lev. 1:8-9 – Aaron’s sons, the priests, were to arrange the pieces, the head and the fat of the burnt offering on the altar, but the entrails and legs were to be washed with water.
- While the priest placed most of the sacrifice on the altar, the worshiper had to wash the animal’s hind legs and its entrails, probably to remove the dung (compare Lev 4:11). (FSB)
Lev. 2:9-10 – The memorial portion of the grain offering was to be burned on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD, but the rest of the grain offering was to be for Aaron and his sons, a most holy part of the LORD’s food offerings.
- [The token portion was the] representative amount of the offering that was burned on the altar…The rest was for the priests. (FSB)
Lev. 3:17 – It was to be a statute forever through all the generations of the people that they eat neither fat nor blood.
- Belongs to the LORD applies to the fat that was removed from a sacrifice at the altar (Ezk 44:7) and not necessarily the fat of animals for the common table. The fat of nonsacrificed animals and birds could be eaten but never the blood (Lv 7:22:27; Dt 12:15-16, 20-24; 32:14). Permanent statute and wherever you live show that there were no exceptions to the command. (CSB Notes)
Acts 13
Observation & Interpretation
Acts 13:2-3 – While the prophets and teachers were worshiping the Lord and fasting in the church at Antioch, the Holy Spirit said that Barnabas and Saul were to be set apart for the work He had called them. After fasting and praying, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Paul and sent them off. This rings similar to the commission of the Lord on Saul following his conversion in Acts 9:15 when LORD told Ananias that Saul was “a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
- It should be remembered that Barnabas and Saul had already been in the work of the Lord for about eight years before this time. They were not novices in the service of Christ. They had already experienced “ordination of the Pierced Hands.” Now their fellow-servants at Antioch were simply expressing their identification with them in this special commission to take the gospel to the Gentiles. (BBC)
Acts 13:6 – When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, Barnabas and Saul encountered a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. Bar-Jesus was not only a false prophet, but he was Jewish.
- The name [Bar-Jesus] means “son of Jesus.” Fitting to his name, he is an imitator who is attempting to compete with Jesus Christ. Paul calls him not a son of Jesus but a son of the devil (v. 10). (FSB)
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- Colin Hansen (Editor in Chief), TGC Bible Commentary (Columbia, MO: The Gospel Coalition, 2022)
- Iain M. Duguid (Series Editor), ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018-2025)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- The New American Commentary (Brentwood, TN: Holman Reference)
- Lane T. Dennis and Wayne Grudem (Editors), ESV Study Bible, Crossway, 2008.
