Someone please help me with this. In Acts 13:29, They took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. All these years, I was told it was a cross not a tree. And also, in Colossians 4:11, Jesus is call by the name of Jus'tus. Why?

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2003

Answers

The word "tree" in Greek is "xulon".

From Thayer's definitions:

3586 xulon-

wood:
A) what is made of wood

1) as a beam from which any one is suspended, a gibbet, a cross
2) a log or timber with holes in which the feet, hands, neck of prisoners were inserted and fastened with thongs
3) a fetter or shackle for the feet
4) a cudgel, a stick, a staff
B) a tree

It appears that xulon in our passage refers to A1).

Col. 4:11:

Paul isn't talking about the Son of God; Jesus had already gone back into heaven. This Jesus' full name was Jesus Justus.

Sometimes, you were called by your first name, and other times you were addressed by your first name, followed by the name of your father, as in Jesus bar-Joseph ("Jesus, son of Joseph" AKA the Son of God).

Bonus material

In other cases, you were addressed by your first name, followed by your profession, like Simon, the tanner. This particular practice resulted in the formation of many of the European last names. Simon, the tanner became Simon Tanner. Abraham the goldsmith became Abe Goldsmith, or just Abe Gold.

So I guess that King David is one of my ancestors (I'll let that one walk around).

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2003