Acts 14:13-28

Dear RTB’ers, 

Happy June! Remember our RTB gathering tomorrow after coffee hour.

It’s so strange that Jews from Antioch would come all the way to Lystra (130 miles) just to harass Paul and Barnabas. Iconium was only 20 miles from Lystra, so some Jews from Antioch had probably followed Paul and Barnabas to Iconium and been part of the rabble that drove them out of Iconium. And then in Lystra that harassment becomes deadly!! I’m trying to understand that Jewish mindset. Was it jealousy? Or was it fear? Why did they have such hatred for Paul and Barnabas that they would want them stoned and left for dead? The Jews could only stone people for blasphemy, so Paul and Barnabas talking about Jesus as the Messiah that the Jews had long expected must have set them off. It was a positive message that somehow got fully twisted in their minds.

So Paul and Barnabas flee a short distance further east to Derbe where they make more disciples. Then they re-trace their steps to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch strengthening the believers there. That is, Paul and Barnabas were not willing to leave their new converts (presumably, mostly Gentiles) without further encouragement and guidance. Theirs is a strong message of discipleship. And in the very next chapter we will see Paul and Barnabas desiring to return to these same cities, again to strengthen and encourage them (15:36). I truly admire their dedication to those new converts.

Blessings!

Acts 14:1-12

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, again a short reading, only twelve verses. Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. (v. 3) Luke makes a powerful statement here, that the Lord was personally intervening – that He “was testifying” (or “bearing witness”) to the words that Paul and Barnabas were speaking, allowing “signs and wonders to be done by their hands”. Luke also notes that Paul and Barnabas were speaking “with reliance upon the Lord”. So put these two items together – if we speak boldly with reliance upon the Lord, will He testify to His words with signs and wonders done by our hands? Do we have that kind of confidence in the Lord’s power in this day and age? I daresay that I fail in this regard. I have seen “signs and wonders”, but mostly they have come as a surprise. And I have spoken boldly about the Lord, but probably not with complete reliance upon Him. Speak boldly. With expectation. Signs and wonders. Major steps of faith!

Today we have a third take on the lame being healed. We had the paralytic in Luke 5:17-26 being lowered through the roof by his friends. Luke 5:20 has Jesus “Seeing their faith…”, presumably the faith of the friends and maybe of the cripple himself, but clearly the plural “their” implies faith on the part of the friends. Then we have Peter and John healing the lame beggar (Acts 3:1-10, ff). The lame man was begging, hoping for a handout. But here it was not the cripple or his friends, but Peter’s faith in God’s power that led to the healing. Today we have a third take on the lame being healed – the man himself had faith to be healed: Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well… (vv. 8-9) Paul spoke, the man believed, and he was healed. That is expectant faith! There is no “putting God in a box” as to how He chooses to work!!

My Study Bible had some interesting information on today’s story. Evidently Lystra had a temple dedicated to Zeus and according to legend, Zeus and Hermes (the Roman gods, Jupiter and Mercury) had visited that general area in ages past. Unfortunately, however, they were not recognized by anyone except an old couple. So the Lystra townspeople in today’s incident wanted to make sure that this time they treated “Zeus and Hermes” correctly, thereby glorifying Barnabas and Paul as these gods. So interesting…! Paul’s response to this “glorification” is not his typical “gospel, conversion” speech. Maybe that accounts for the outcome that we will read TOMORROW!! 😊!!

Blessings!

Acts 13:44-52

Dear RTB’ers, 

Today, only nine verses. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. (v. 45) Here we see the Jewish leaders’ jealousy, even though in the previous verse “almost the whole city” had gathered to hear Paul and Barnabas. But rather than listen themselves, jealousy overcomes the Jewish leaders to see that they are losing their crowds. Then they get belligerent just a few verses later (see below).

But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing… (v. 50a). I’ve always been intrigued by this verse, the “devout women of high standing” being recruited by the Jewish leaders to stand against Paul and Barnabas. Why would the Jewish leaders feel it necessary for women to speak up? Did their voices carry greater weight? In a few chapters we will see just the opposite in Thessalonica, that “…a number of the leading women…” were mentioned as converts (Acts 17:4b). Later we will see more women in leading roles in Paul’s ministry.

But the Jews … drove them out of their district. (v. 50) A bit of geography here… Yesterday’s speech and today’s event occurred in Pisidian Antioch in modern-day Turkey, more than 100 miles from the coast where they landed as they left Cyprus. Then in today’s reading, when the Jews drove them “out of their district” (v. 50b), their destination, Iconium is more than 100 miles from Antioch, clearly out of their district! Then in our readings over the next two days, Lystra is twenty miles from Iconium and Derbe is another sixty miles from Lystra. So Paul and Barnabas are doing a great deal of traveling for their missionary activity.

Blessings!

Acts 13:13-43

Dear RTB’ers, 

Today we continue with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, as they move on from the island of Cyprus to the mainland of modern-day Turkey. Today we see for the first time a pattern that Paul follows, to first go to the local synagogue in every city, therein to preach Jesus. And Paul’s preaching in today’s reading takes up 26 of the 31 verses that we read.

And John left them and returned to Jerusalem… (v. 13b) This is a key item in Acts. It will show up later when Paul and Barnabas are ready to go off on their second missionary journey (Acts 15:36, ff.). This “John” is John Mark, also known as Mark, the writer of the second Gospel.

Just over a month ago, in posting about Peter’s Pentecost sermon I pointed out a pattern in his sermon, a common thread that we would see in further sermons in Acts:

1. An explanation of events
2. Jesus’ life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension
3. An exhortation to repentance and baptism/salvation.

We see that today in Paul’s preaching. In addition, as we saw in Stephen’s sermon back in Acts 7, we see Paul also giving his listeners a history lesson, tracing highlights of Jewish history before introducing Jesus and John the Baptist.

A few items from Paul’s sermon… For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize Him nor understand the utterances of the prophets … fulfilled them by condemning Him. (v. 27) It’s always intriguing to me when New Testament people do what has been prophesied in Old Testament scriptures, not knowing that they are fulfilling those prophesies! Finally, Paul connects Jesus with His Old Testament forebears: … what God promised to the fathers, this He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus (vv. 32-33). Jesus IS the long-ago promise of the Father through the prophets!!

Blessings!

Acts 12:25-13:12

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we return to Acts. Thus far in Acts the focus has mostly been on the church in Jerusalem and the apostles’ ministry in neighboring cities. Now the focus becomes the church at Antioch, some 300 miles north of Jerusalem, about twice as far from Jerusalem as Damascus. There are two Antiochs mentioned in Acts, one in Syria (today’s Antioch) and one in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey – we will visit there tomorrow), so we can easily get confused if we don’t keep them straight.

We have not heard much about Saul since his visit to Jerusalem and his going back home to Tarsus (Acts 9:26-30). It’s now been about ten years since his conversion. We saw that Barnabas went to Tarsus to bring him back to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26) and that they have now been there for a year or so, including their trip to Jerusalem to bring famine relief to the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 11:29, 12:25). Now, from this point forward most of the rest of Acts will be devoted to Saul.

But Saul, who was also called Paul… (v. 9) Here we have the first occurrence of Saul’s name being changed to Paul – and Paul never again being referred to as Saul. We also see a change from here on (except while in Jerusalem) of the listing of “Barnabas and Saul” changing to “Paul and Barnabas”.

You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy… (v. 10) I chuckle every time I read Paul’s description of Elymas. I’m sure Paul was referring to his deeds, not his actual person, but he has harsh words, nonetheless! Recall that Peter had met up with a magician/sorcerer named Simon back in chapter 8 and Peter had properly chastised him – much less harshly than Paul’s words to Elymas. And with Simon we saw some hint of repentance; we don’t see any of that with Elymas. He is struck blind and that’s where the text leaves him, being led about by the hand. But Sergius Paulus, the proconsul believed, and Elymas was his friend; maybe Elymas also turned to faith. We’ll never know!

Blessings!

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See also: November 26 (2023) / Acts 13-14

Exodus 19-20

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s continue to pray for Mary G. as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery.

Today, the Ten Commandments. It’s our last day in Exodus for a while; we’ll finish this book after spending more time in Acts.

Put yourself into today’s reading…!! The POWER that God brings, …thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast … [and] Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire… (Ex. 19:16,18). I’m trying to picture this scene. Probably the closest that we can come is horrific thunderstorms or maybe some of us have experienced a tornado or a hurricane. I can well remember (even feel in my mind right now) the power that comes when huge lightning strikes nearby. And I’m always thankful that I’m safely in my house – and even then, wondering how safe I really am!

Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves… (Ex. 19:22). This the first mention of priests that we have seen. Earlier in this chapter Moses calls forth the “elders” (Ex. 19:7). Could these “elders” also be the “priests”? God has not yet installed the tribe of Levi to serve Him as His priests, so these priests are possibly similar to priests in pagan religions who lead the people in worship to their gods.

The Ten Commandments in chapter 20 are repeated in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Many other rules and regulations are given by God to the Israelites in Leviticus and Deuteronomy and as we continue in Exodus. Jesus presents a much shorter version of God’s commands for us, His “Two Commandments”, which we read every Sunday: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40. See also Mark 12:29-31 and Luke 10:27.) Clear, concise. Go and do.

Blessings!

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See also: January 23 (2023) / Exodus 19-22:15

Exodus 18

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s continue to pray for Mary G. as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery.

It’s easy to forget that Moses was a family man, with a wife and two sons. We first met Zipporah when Moses had exiled himself to Midian after killing an Egyptian. There he married Zipporah. However, after Moses was commissioned at the Burning Bush incident, I don’t recall that Zipporah came to Egypt with Moses. Presumably he sent her back to her father, Jethro. We see her again today, coming with her father and Moses’ two sons. Then we don’t hear of her again. However, there is mention later of Moses (second?) marriage: Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married… (Numbers 12:1) Scholars disagree as to whether this is a second marriage for Moses or simply a translation issue. One other item of note – in the New Testament we know that Peter was married (Luke 4:38-40), but we never hear of his family. So these two men who are leading God’s people, did they have normal family lives?

Moses’ father-in-law offered good advice, creating a sound judicial system, a pattern that we see in our country even today, with smaller local courts, then district and state courts, then federal courts leading all the way to our Supreme Court. It’s also a pattern in our military, with Armies, brigades, battalions, companies, and squads.

It’s surprising to me that STS has this chapter set off by itself instead of being combined with chapter 17. But, we move on.

Blessings!

Exodus 17

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s continue to pray for Mary G. as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery.

More grumbling (Ex. 17:2-3), this time for lack of water and them “dying of thirst”. Previous grumblings have been fear of death from Pharaoh’s army (Ex. 14:10-11), bitter water (Ex. 15:24), and hunger (Ex. 16:3). Do we also find so many things to grumble about? The Lord takes care of His people this time by having Moses strike a rock with his staff and water flowed. Many years later, with more grumbling over lack of water, Moses will again strike a rock to bring forth water – but he will strike the rock twice instead of just once, and for that one failure he will not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:2-12).

So Moses said to Joshua… (v. 9a) A small observation here. This is the first mention of Joshua. He will go on to become Moses’ right-hand-man, will be one of the two “faithful spies” who surveyed the land of Canaan (Numbers 13-14), and will succeed Moses as leader of the Israelites, leading them into the Promised Land.

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands … (I Timothy 2:8). No doubt Paul had Exodus 17 (Moses, Aaron, and Hur) in mind when he wrote this letter to Timothy. See also Leviticus 9:22; Deuteronomy 32:40; I Kings 8:22, 54; Nehemiah 8:6; and Psalms 28:2, 63:4, 134:2; and other verses. It’s what we do as an Anglican people, both clergy and laity, lifting our hands in prayer and worship.

Blessings!

Exodus 15:22-16:36

Dear RTB’ers, 

Let’s continue to pray for Mary G. as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery – for her, for Len, for her medical team, and for her recovery.

Today, wilderness wanderings, grumbling, quail, and manna. Yesterday we saw the first incident of the people grumbling against Moses (Ex. 14:10-11). Today we see two more: So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” (Ex. 15:24) and The sons of Israel said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger!” (Ex. 16:3) We will see more! I couldn’t help but notice the word “grumble” and its derivatives – it appears eight times in eleven verses (Ex. 16:2-12), spoken by the narrator, by Moses and even by the Lord. Moses has the bottom line, that should have shut the people up, “Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.” (Ex. 16:8b)

Quail and manna. Although the Lord provides both quail and manna for the people to eat, it is manna that becomes symbolic as the Lord’s provision for his people. We’ll see it mentioned again in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and even quoted by Jesus in John 6:31 and John 6:49. It shows the peoples’ disobedience when they gather more than necessary and it becomes foul (Ex. 16:20), then it remains edible when it is held over for the Sabbath (Ex. 16:24). It is described in detail (Ex. 16:31), and a jar of it is saved (Ex. 16:33) and later placed into the tabernacle. Even today manna is a common term, well known as a reflection of God’s provision for our needs. Finally I particularly like Paul’s quote referring to Ex. 16:18, “…your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, ‘Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.’” (II Corinthians 8:14-15) Manna, bread from heaven…!

Blessings!

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See also: January 22 (2023) / Exodus 16-18