Philemon 1:8-16

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (v. 10) and I am sending him back to you… (v. 12a) Yesterday I began the discussion of where Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians, arguing that he might have written Philemon (and Colossians, as we will see later) from the same location. Scholars have argued for Rome or Caesarea, places where we know Paul to have been imprisoned. Today’s reading lends credence to an argument for Ephesus, although we have no record of Paul in prison in Ephesus. It is very likely that Philemon was from Colossae, since Onesimus and Tychicus (Colossians 4:7-9) are bringing this letter and the Colossians epistle to Philemon. (There are also non-Biblical sources supporting Philemon’s residence in Colossae.) It is more likely that Onesimus came to Paul in prison in Ephesus rather than Rome, since Colossae was only 100 miles or so from Ephesus but quite a much greater distance from Rome. Paul is also returning Onesimus to Philemon (see above), again a more likely possibility of a return from Ephesus than from Rome. Where Paul was in prison when he wrote these letters is more important to Bible scholars than to us, but to me it is particularly intriguing.

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to … appeal to you for my child, Onesimus… (vv. 8-10) Paul is playing both ends against the middle here. He first makes the claim that he could command Philemon’s actions, but then he says that he is making an appeal instead of a command. However, by first stating the he could make the command, he is effectively making a demand! Later Paul lightens his tone a bit: I would have been glad to keep him with me, … but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. (vv. 13-14) I especially like his nothing without your consent and of your own accord phrases. With it all, I suspect Philemon bristled a bit at Paul’s verse 8 “bold-and-command” comment.

Paul makes a really good comment in closing today’s reading: For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever … as a beloved brother… (vv. 15-16a) Paul is saying that Onesimus’ salvation is worth the difficulties Philemon may have endured by Onesimus’ escape. Jesus Himself said, I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7) ‘nuff said!

Slava Bohu!

Philemon 1:1-7

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother… (v. 1a) Paul’s intro in this letter – writing with Timothy – is exactly the same as his intro to Philippians. Back when we started Philippians The Chronological Study Bible had Paul writing Philippians from Caesarea and they have him writing Philemon from Rome. I argued back then that Philippians was more likely written from Rome. Here is further evidence to back that up. There are further arguments that can be made that both letters were written from Ephesus; I’ll touch on that in the next few days.

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers… (v. 4) A new thought hit me – trivial for you, maybe, but helpful for me. What does the word “remember” mean? One definition would have to do with calling to mind something that had not been in mind, as in “Do you remember when…?” or “Aha, now I remember!” But another definition would have to do with a constant remembrance, something that is always in mind when a certain topic is raised. For example, when Carol and I pray together at night we always “remember” our children. Please note that we’ve never forgotten them! But we use the word “remember” as I think Paul is using it for Philemon. So why is this helpful for me? I am in touch with a lot of people who are my “friends from afar”. Right now I have in mind our European friends in Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland. I don’t “remember” them each and every time I pray. But I do pray for them irregularly, as a group mostly whenever any one of them comes to mind. This would be the word “remember” as I think Paul is using it. But there are other people who come to mind almost accidentally, a “happenchance” as it were and I will whisper a prayer. These folks I am remembering in the second sense – someone who had not been in mind at all and I am truly remembering them and praying for them. So, is Philemon a “happenchance” prayer for Paul or a regular “remembrance”? I think the latter! Finally, one small item on this topic – I remember each and every one of you in my prayers every day before I begin my daily RTB. And I have not forgotten any one of you!!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 28:17-31

So today we finish the Book of Acts, on the 218^th day after we read Acts 1:1. What a wonderful journey it has been, interspersing the Epistles with Paul’s traveling, preaching, and teaching. But we’re not through with Paul just yet; we’ve still got six more of his Epistles to read – Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and the Pastoral Epistles to Timothy and Titus. We’ve got Paul in Rome now, at least for his next two years. Many scholars argue that Paul left Rome after some time and traveled to Spain, Asia Minor, Crete, and Greece. We’ll cover more on this claim of Paul’s “Fourth Missionary Journey” when we read I Timothy. Stay tuned!!

I am surprised that the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem had not sent word forward of Paul’s coming to Rome. Here are the Jews from Rome speaking: And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.” (v. 21) Since they did not have a predisposition to hate or harm Paul, they seemed to be open to listening to him, much like other Jews in synagogues had been during Paul’s first two missionary journeys. In fact, verse 23 tells us that Paul spoke, From morning till evening… What a change that must have been for Paul!

Paul appears to be under house arrest: …it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain (v. 20b), but he also seems to have quite a bit of freedom. He was allowed to have visitors (vv. 17, 23, 30) and was living in a rented house instead of a jail cell, and he is allowed to continue his preaching and teaching. Verse 31 is especially clear about Paul’s relative freedom: …proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. I daresay that we, ourselves, could preach and teach “without hindrance”, but most of us lack Paul’s “all boldness”. We all need more Holy Spirit fire!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 28:11-16

…and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. (vv. 13b-14a) Puteoli was on the Bay of Naples on the mainland of Italy and (according to my Study Bible) the chief port for Rome, some 75 miles to the north. From Puteoli Paul and his companions and guards could walk to Rome – no more sailing!

That’s why we have these other two stops on the way to Rome: And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. (v. 15a) In our chronological study the only epistle that we have read since Romans was Philippians. Presumably there may have been others, but none have surfaced. For today’s reading, it has been almost three years (or more) since Paul wrote Romans, possibly from Corinth on his third missionary journey. So there has been plenty of time for the Romans epistle to have circulated through the entire area around Rome and the believers in that area have come to know one another. So for Paul, coming to Rome is like a homecoming; he has many friends there even though he’s never been there himself!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 28:1-10

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. (v. 7) I wonder who the “us” is in this sentence. Was it only Paul and Luke and Julius? …or the soldiers or the sailors also? …or all 276 men from the ship? Already the natives were thinking of Paul as a god. Maybe it was Paul who was being honored by Publius and he brought along whomever he wanted? Wondering…

…the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. (v. 8) I had asked a few days ago about “divine intervention” on Paul’s behalf. So here we have more healings. Looking back we have quite a bit of “divine intervention” through Paul: And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul… (Acts 19:11-20) The rest of that passage talks of healings and casting out evil spirits, eventually leading to the riot at Ephesus that was led by Demetrius, the silversmith. So, yeah, the Lord was with Paul in mighty ways!!

When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand… He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (vv. 3, 5) In our local news we often read about snake-handling in parts of Kentucky and West Virginia. Mostly we read of this practice when someone has died. But snake-handling churches do exist and they draw their Scriptural justification from Acts 28. Even though that’s close to where we live, I don’t imagine that I will be joining them anytime soon!!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 27:39-44

So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. (v. 40a) I was Army, not Navy, so I can’t presume to know much about ships. However, my Study Bible guided me a bit. Presumably there were two rudders on these ancient ships, positioned on either side of the stern (the rear of the vessel). During the storm they had been hoisted up and tied so they would not get destroyed in the storm. Also, with no rudders in the water, the ship would go wherever the storm drove it and the rudders being out of the way would not hinder the ship’s free float in the sea. So now the ropes that held the rudders were being loosened so that the sailors could direct the ship to where they wanted to land. Unfortunately they did not foresee the reef (the “place between two seas”) and the ship ran aground and was destroyed.

But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. (v. 43a) A few posts back I had noted how friendly the centurion seemed to be with Paul – Luke even mentioning his name, Julius, twice. Now in today’s reading we see real evidence of that thought, …the centurion, wishing to save Paul… Now it could be that Paul was such a high-value prisoner that he needed to be brought to Rome alive, but I think not. Julius was being nice!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 27:27-38

Paul speaking to people on board the ship: Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. (v. 33b) Going two weeks without food, all the while being tossed about in a storm – I’m amazed that Luke did not report some sickness or death on board! I’m wondering why they went without food. Were they fasting? Was it a management decision? Did they know not to eat during a storm? Wondering…!

And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. (v. 35) I’m sure we are all touched by this verse. Look at the verbs: …he took bread, and giving thanks … he broke it and began to eat. So reminiscent of the Last Supper, with shades of the Road to Emmaus and the Feeding of the 5,000. There is something about “breaking bread” that is special to us! GLORY! But also JOY!!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 27:13-26

Again, Luke’s “we” passages – verses 15, 16, 18, 20. It’s completely intriguing to me to be reading these words from Luke’s own hand, having been through it all personally. Certainly he had the same fears for his own safety as all the others on board, but he could look to Paul for leadership in a way that the others could not.

Twice each Paul speaks of “no loss of life”, but “loss of the ship”. That must have been some consolation to the men on board – and even some measure of hope to the owner if he was on board.

For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I worship… (v. 23) I was trying to think of other times that Paul (or Luke) had reported on “divine intervention” in Paul’s life. Beyond his road to Damascus experience and his time in the wilderness, I could only think of his time with Silas in the Philippian jail and his “thorn in the flesh” as times when God spoke to or miraculously intervened in Paul’s life. No doubt he felt the presence of God in his prayer time and in his preaching and teaching, but as for “divine intervention”, that’s all I can think of. Anyone else? Any other times?

Slava Bohu!

Acts 27:1-12

Luke is back to his “we” and “us” writings. It’s intriguing to have this first-hand account of Paul’s ministry. As we begin the trip to Rome in today’s reading, I recall my first time reading through Acts and feeling like I was on board ship with Paul and Luke. Sweet…!

And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. (v. 3b) Because Luke is on this journey with Paul, we are able to see this more intimate relationship between Paul and his centurion keeper. Luke even calls him by name, Julius, in verses 1 and 3, and mentions him as “the centurion” in verses 6 and 11. What’s interesting in verse 3b is the trust that Julius has for Paul. Presumably there’s no reason for Paul to escape – since he appealed to Caesar and he had already wanted to go to Rome he’s getting a free ride! But still, Julius letting him go off on his own is nice.

And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix… (v. 12a) The distance from Fair Haven to Phoenix was only about 40 miles. Earlier Paul’s ship had traveled from Caesarea to Sidon in one day, a distance of 70 miles. So with good weather the ship could have made it to Phoenix and harbored there for the winter. However, in tomorrow’s reading…!! Stay tuned!

Slava Bohu!

And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (v. 24) I have long remembered this verse. (See below.) It’s a small item, but what surprised me in reading this verse this time was that it is Festus who is speaking to Paul, even though Paul is directing his comments to King Agrippa. Festus has not been governor very long, but he seems already to know Paul pretty well. But just that – it surprised me that Festus was the one who interrupted Paul’s comments.

But as to the verse itself… I have always remembered it as “…your great learning is driving you mad.” Back in the early summer of 2003 I was Assistant Treasurer for the Diocese of Lexington (Episcopal) and the Diocesan Convention was just weeks or months away. I was walking with Bishop Stacy Sauls after a meeting at the Cathedral Domain, talking about homosexuality and the upcoming ordination of the gap bishop from New Hampshire. I was citing Scripture to him, arguing against homosexuality in general and this upcoming ordination in particular when he said, “Fred, I can give you dozens of books on this topic in support of homosexuality.” I recall my response, “If it’s that complicated, I don’t think it’s from God. Jesus’ message was much simpler than that.” Our conversation continued, but I remember thinking, “Stacy, your great learning is driving you mad!” Sometimes I wonder if my great learning is driving me mad, but my most intense “great learning” has been the Bible, so I don’t dwell on the question!

For the king knows about these things, and … I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. (v. 26) This verse takes me back to the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), where Jesus joined two men who were walking along the road discussing Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection – specifically, … about everything that had happened. (v. 14). When Jesus asked what they were talking about, One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (v. 18) That is, as with Paul in the decades following his conversion, the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection … had not been done in a corner!

Slava Bohu!