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 to me in these two verses is that Paul is even at Troas. If you look at a map, the Galatian cities of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe are in east-central modern-day Turkey, directly north of Cyprus, very far inland from the western coast of modern-day Turkey. In fact, Galatian Antioch is closer to Syrian Antioch than it is to Troas. So, having visited those four Galatian cities where he had preached before, Paul continues northwest through Phrygia and Mysia. Paul had been prohibited by the Spirit to speak further in Asia (modern-day Turkey), so he was intending to go to Bithynia, on the northern coast of modern-day Turkey (the southern coast of the Black Sea), a couple hundred miles east of Istanbul. But he was prohibited by the Spirit to go there also. So his only course was westward, to the west coast of modern-day Turkey, where Troas was located. And at Troas, as fortune (and the Holy Spirit) would have it, he gets the call in a dream to cross the Aegean Sea to go to Philippi, a city in what was then Macedonia and is now in the northeastern strip of land in modern-day Greece.

Why is this strange to me? It took two prohibitions from the Holy Spirit and one dream to get Paul to where the Lord wanted him. That is, Paul had made his plans, but the Lord took over and gave Paul His plans! I look at Paul’s change-of-plans and compare his journey to how Carol and I have found our way to St. Andrew’s. I failed at Texas A&M University – I was denied tenure in 1990. I failed at the University of Delaware even though I was a visiting professor there. And the Episcopal Church failed to follow Scripture faithfully in 2003, leading to St. Andrew’s being formed and forcing us to look for fellowship outside the Episcopal Church. Three major failures and here we are!! Each of those failures was heartbreaking at the time, but the Lord had His plan for us. Blows me away when I really think about it…!!

And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (v. 10) No doubt, upon reading this verse the words “we” and “us” jumped out. Yes, this is the first occurrence of the “we” passages in Acts, that Luke had joined Paul on this second missionary journey. We will see quite a few more. I’ve previously mentioned that Luke is widely regarded as a great historian, both in his gospel and even more so for his narrative of Acts. He is now giving us a first-person account, which further strengthens his standing among Bible scholars and secular historians.

Another item in that verse stands out to me – God had called us to preach the gospel to them. I never think of Luke as a preacher. Clearly Paul and Silas were preachers and teachers, but upon seeing this verse anew I can easily see Luke standing up for the gospel alongside Paul and Silas.

Blessings!

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. And as I ponder this further, I always remember Barnabas as an encourager; even his name translates as the “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). So I see that Barnabas wants John Mark to go along as an encouragement to this young missionary. But Paul is adamant against him going along and they separate. But, Paul and Barnabas going different directions meant a doubling of missionary activity. So, not all bad…

More geography… And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (15:41) Evidently Paul and Silas traveled by land to get to Derbe and Lystra (Acts 16:1). In so doing, they more than likely traveled through Paul’s hometown, Tarsus. Surprisingly, nothing is mentioned of that possibility, even though Paul and Silas went through “…Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (15:41) Presumably there was more evangelism in Asia Minor than is reported in Acts. So, a question – might there have been a church in Paul’s hometown? Interesting!

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. (16:3) I imagine you wonder, along with me, as to why Paul had Timothy circumcised when the Jerusalem Council (yesterday in Acts 15) said there was no need for Gentiles to be circumcised. But Timothy’s mother was Jewish and his father was Greek, so he did not fall fully into either camp. My Study Bible suggested that it was for the sake of expediency, so that Paul’s work among the many Jews in that region would be more effective.

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. (16:4) There has been a lot of discussion among Bible scholars as to when the Jerusalem Council met. I won’t go into all that, but it seems clear from this verse that the Council met sometime between Paul’s first and second missionary journeys. If Paul is bringing the decisions of the Council to these cities, there is a clear suggestion that those decisions had not been made by the first time he visited these cities. Small point…

Blessings!

Acts 15:13-34

Dear RTB’ers,

Although we hail the Council of Jerusalem as a true success, with unity and leadership and some measure of compromise, I am troubled by one item: …we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions… (v. 24). We saw the beginning of this issue in yesterday’s reading: But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1) The issue became an issue when those “men from Judea” went off on their own without the blessing or the covering of their spiritual leaders. Granted, this issue would have come up later (and remained a problem, as we will see later in Acts), but these men created friction within the body by doing what they did. For us today, better to seek council before taking on controversial issues.

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us… (v. 28). This verse has always struck me positively every time I read it – “…to the Holy Spirit and to us…” The apostles and elders clearly had the Holy Spirit first in their lives – individually and corporately. And with that they were able to come to (what seems to be) unanimous agreement on the message that they were sending to Gentile believers. They had already used Scripture to support their resolution of the main issue (vv. 16-18, earlier, quoting Amos 9:11-12) and now Holy Spirit guidance in putting forth their message.

But there was one other item in their message – reality: the reality of life in the Gentile world and the reality of Jewish history and customs. The prohibition on sexual immorality and on sacrifices to idols struck directly at the Gentile world, where idol worship and cult prostitution were common. The apostles and elders wanted to make a strong statement to non-believing Gentiles that these Gentile believers were different, that they recognized only the one true God. The restriction on blood and strangling were targeted to Jewish believers, so that the Gentile believers would not offend their Jewish brethren. Both of these restrictions come from Leviticus 17:11, For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Eating or drinking blood was clearly prohibited. And since there is no blood shed when an animal is strangled, the blood remains within and falls under the same restriction.

Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and reality – a good combination for us to live by.

Depending on the translation that you are reading, the following verse may be absent: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. (v. 34) [NOTE: The ESV has it in a footnote.] But it’s a key verse, as we will see in a few weeks when Silas becomes Paul’s missionary companion.

“Encouragement” shows up twice in the last few verses –in verse 31 when the letter from the apostles and elders is read and in verse 32, when Judas and Silas strengthen and encourage the congregation. And it’s not the first time in Acts that we’ve seen “encouragement”, first and foremost with Barnabas himself, whose name means “Son of Encouragement”. I like encouragement!

Blessings!

Acts 15:1-12

Dear RTB’ers, 

First, a couple of brief geographical items… Paul and Barnabas (and a large contingent of Christians) are based in “Antioch”. This “Antioch” is Syrian Antioch, about 300 miles north of Jerusalem, on the northeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea, as opposed to Pisidian Antioch, which Paul and Barnabas had visited in Acts 13-14, in the heart of modern-day Turkey (Asia Minor). Most mentions of Antioch, with no context or qualifier, refer to Syrian Antioch, the “secondary head” of the church outside of Jerusalem.

The divisive issue is raised in verse 5: But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” And while circumcision is the divisive issue, it is worth noting that we see Pharisees as believers! Some of them have come a long way, no doubt influenced by Peter and John before their Council (Acts 3-4), Saul’s conversion and testimony (Acts 9, ff.), and other events in and around Jerusalem and Judea. Pharisees as believers is a huge step forward for the Jerusalem church!!

This Jerusalem Council, most of Acts 15, is a good lesson in church unity and leadership, often referred to when divisive issues arise within the church. After the issue was presented before them, The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. (v. 6). Then they took the time to hear from the major parties who had been at the forefront of the Gentile missions – Paul and Barnabas reporting on their missionary activity in Cyprus and in Asia Minor and Peter reminding the gathering of his visits to Samaria and Caesarea. But I think that the key item from the Jerusalem Council has to do with listening: And after there had been much debate… (v. 7); And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened… (v. 12). Let everyone speak and let everyone listen.

We’ll see tomorrow how this matter was resolved.

Blessings!

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