Acts 20:1-16 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s third missionary journey continued, today with a lot of travel. First, a bit of geography reminder – Macedonia is part of Greece today, but back then, with reference to Paul’s travels it referred to Philippi and Thessalonica. Achaia is a synonym for Greece, which (again, with reference to Paul’s travels) …
Author Archives: Fred
June 12 / Acts 19:21-41
Acts 19:21-41 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s third missionary journey, at Ephesus. Here we see more people challenging Paul, but this time it’s not the Jews, instead it’s the local Ephesians, led by a silversmith named Demetrius. Surprisingly, even the Jews are considered “enemies” to the locals who worship Artemis/Diana. Paul wants to venture into this riotous …
June 11 / Acts 19:1-20
Acts 19:1-20 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s third missionary journey. We had the beginning yesterday in just one verse (Acts 18:23), but only that he had begun traveling. The Apollos-Priscilla-Aquila-Paul-Holy Spirit connection is a bit confusing in chapter 18’s ending and chapter 19’s beginning. When he came to Ephesus Apollos knew only about the baptism of John …
June 10 / Acts 18:18-28
Acts 18:18-28 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s second missionary journey continued and ended, from Corinth to Ephesus to Caesarea to Jerusalem (likely) to Antioch and on to his third missionary journey – to Galatia and Phrygia. Paul takes Priscilla and Aquila with him to Ephesus and leaves them there, which turned out to be a good move, …
June 9 / Acts 18:1-17
Acts 18:1-17 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s second missionary journey continued, in Corinth. Two leaders/rulers of the synagogue are mentioned, Crispus in verse 8 and Sosthenes in verse 17. More on each of them below. Paul rejects the Jews and says that he’s going to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6). Then we see Crispus, the leader of the …
June 8 / Acts 17:16-34
Acts 17:16-34 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s second missionary journey continued, Athens. OK, the critical me coming out…, with repentance! In the past I have criticized Paul’s preaching in Athens (today’s reading). Yes, who am I to criticize Paul??!!! Moving on… Paul’s sermons to date (and Peter’s and Phillip’s) have been “kerygmatic”: […the preaching of the gospel …
June 7 / Acts 17:1-15
Acts 17:1-15 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s second missionary journey, continued, from Philippi to Thessalonica and Berea. Two things stand out for me today – first, so many conversions and then, Jewish anger. As to that first item, conversions in Thessalonica, And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many …
June 6 / Acts 16:16-40
Acts 16:16-40 Dear RTB’ers, June 6, D-Day, 80 years since the Allied landing in Normandy and the beginning of the end of World War II. Less than a year later the European war was over. D-Day. A real Memorial Day memory. Paul’s second missionary journey continued. In Acts 16:16-17 we have more “us” pronouns. We …
June 5 / Acts 16:6-15
Acts 16:6-15 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s second missionary journey continued, from Asia Minor (Turkey) to Macedonia/Greece. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (vv. 8-9) What’s strange …
June 4 / Acts 15:35-16:5
Acts 15:35-16:5 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s second missionary journey. I’ve always been troubled by Paul and Barnabas separating over the issue of John Mark going along. But you may recall that Barnabas was John Mark’s cousin (Colossians 4:10, translated as “uncle” only in the KJV), so family ties would have prompted Barnabas to have Mark along. …