Dear Friends and Visitors,
I found the article below on the web at jesus-is-savior.com. This information is confirmed by Gail Riplinger in her book, New Age Bible Versions. I'd like to share with you first my personal experience receiving the revelation that "Easter" is not a mistranslation found in the KJV (the Authorized Version, aka the King James Version).
Back in 1988 and 1989, when I was a new Christian, I devoured the bible with much daily reading, asking God questions about things I didn't understand. I had come into knowledge somewhere in that first two years that "Easter" was derived from "Ishtar" which was derived from "Ashtoreth" - an ancient pagan sun goddess. When I found the word "Easter" in the bible, I asked God how the translators could have made such a mistake putting "Easter" in the bible, instead of "Passover." God replied, "Who told you it was a mistake?"
Needless to say, this was not the answer I was expecting from a holy God in whose eyes idolatry is abominable! I then proceeded to tell God about Ashtoreth (as if he didn't know!) to see what he could possibly say to that. He then asked, "If you and some other Christians decided to get together to have a bible study on Halloween, would it be a mistake to say "Halloween" to indicate to someone the day you'd had your bible study?" Of course, my answer was, "No." So it was no mistake that the translators used the word "Easter" to specify the day on which an event was intended to take place.
I tell you this for two reasons; first, so that you can be assured that when you have a question about the bible, you can ASK GOD. He will answer, as he promises in his Word:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. -- But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. -- For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. - James 1:5-7
In street language: If you want to know something, ASK GOD. He will answer anyone who asks a question to gain understanding and he won't say, "That is a stupid question." But you have to believe he will answer, or he won't. -- Just so you know, he won't always answer you immediately, but HE WILL ANSWER, so remember to thank him for the answer that you KNOW he will give!
The second reason I shared this with you is to confirm the information found below and in Riplinger's book - this is further glorification of God's infinite wisdom, and a needful reminder that we need to study the Word for ourselves knowing that each and every word was put there in divine order and for a divine purpose.
“Easter” is NOT a Mistranslation
What Was Easter Originally?
The word " Easter" is found ONE TIME in the entire authorized King James Bible:
"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." (Acts 12:1-4)
So here we have a situation in Acts chapter 12. Herod had just beheaded James, it made the Jews happy. Now Herod wanted to kill Peter also, but he wanted to wait until after "Easter" according to the King James Bible. Notice that the NIV bible has the word "Passover" instead of "Easter." I will prove to you from the King James Bible that "Easter" is in fact, the proper word to use.
The word "Easter" here, does NOT refer to " Easter" as we know it nor does it refer to the " Passover" as it is wrongly translated in other Bible versions.
Though many Christians celebrate "Easter" in remembrance of the resurrection, Easter was originally a pagan festival (etymology of your dictionary should confirm this), which is what Acts 12:4 refers to and not the Passover. We will determine this by looking at the passage.
The Webster's New World Dictionary gives the following etymology (origin and development of a word), for the word "Easter":
originally, name of pagan vernal [spring time] festival ALMOST COINCIDENT in date with paschal [passover] festival of the church,
--Eastre, dawn goddess --Austro, dawn
In other words, Easter was originally a pagan festival celebrated in the spring time.
"Easter" is Only Translated Correctly in the King James Bible
The word, "Easter" has been incorrectly translated "Passover" in all Bible versions except for the authorized King James Bible. How do I know this? The Bible shows it. Notice again in the passage of Acts 12:1-4, King Herod killed James. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he also took Peter. Notice that Herod took Peter DURING the DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD and was going to bring him forth to the people AFTER Easter.
" In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread." (Leviticus 23:5,6)
So we learn from this Scripture that the day of Passover fell on the 14th day of the first month, and then the "FEAST of UNLEAVENED BREAD" began upon the 15th day of the first month.
The days of unleavened bread came AFTER Passover! Acts 12:3 tells us that Peter was apprehended DURING the "days of unleavened bread." This means that the day of Passover had ALREADY occurred. "Easter" could not have been Passover, because Passover occurred BEFORE the days of unleavened bread. Passover had come and gone. Herod decided to bring Peter forth AFTER Easter. This is the sequence:
1. PASSOVER
2. DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
3. EASTER
Let's look at it from the book of Numbers as well:
Passover only comes once a year on one day, the 14th of Abib ( Num 28:16). After the Passover comes the days of unleavened bread (Numbers 28:17), extending from the fifteenth day through the twentieth day of Abib. So when Peter was arrested during the days of unleavened bread (Acts 12:3), Passover had come and gone! The Bible says that Herod was going to bring him forth AFTER Easter ( which had not come yet).
When the King James Bible says " EASTER" in Acts 12:4, it is correct; when the other versions say " PASSOVER" in Acts 12:4, they are incorrect. " Easter" in this passage is referring to a pagan festival (remember the etymology teaches that the pagan " Easter" is almost coincident with paschal (passover)....
Needless to say, I don’t do Easter. - Ama
