Acts 20:17-38 Dear RTB’ers, Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians. The timing of this particular farewell meeting is strange. Paul had been with the Ephesians for more than two years (Acts 19:10). Then he had gone north to revisit churches in Macedonia, south for the same ministry in Achaia, then back north and a final sea …
Author Archives: Fred
June 13 / Acts 20:1-16
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) …
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 …