Acts

The final leg of Paul’s journey to Rome begins with an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as a figurehead. The twin gods were viewed as protectors of sea travelers, but it is the Lord who has protected Paul. The late arrival of the twin gods to the narrative highlights their irrelevance. Paul as a light to the Gentiles has the mission of turning the nations from the…

Shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Paul and the survivors are showed unusual kindness. As God had granted Paul favor by the Roman centurion so this theme continues. 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. The islanders anticipate his immediate death as a result. Being drowned at…

Why does Luke record such a long-detailed sea voyage to Rome? In the Old Testament the sea was a symbol of chaos, evil and rebellion against God. In Acts 27 the sea seems to be opposed to Paul’s taking the gospel to the ends of the earth (Rome). Note the following phrases: the winds were against us, we sailed slowly, arrived with difficulty, the wind did not allow us,…

Paul continues his proclamation by recounting his witness of Jesus. He recounts his past opposition to Jesus of Nazareth and of how he sought the death of Jesus’ followers (as had Agrippa’s father). All this changed when on the way to Damascus he encountered a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. Agrippa’s Jewish background would have understood this to being a…

Acts 25:23 begins Paul’s trial before King Agrippa. Previously Governor Festus had acknowledged Paul’s innocence. Festus also confessed in 25:19-20 his ignorance of the religious issues involving Paul. He knew it had something to do with “a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be…

Once again opponents of Paul seek his life. They request of the new governor, Festus, that Paul be transferred to Jerusalem. They plan to ambush Paul on the way to kill him. Interestingly this time no mention is made of an oath not to eat or drink until the deed was done – had they learned from…

Paul is summoned before Governor Felix. Paul’s Jewish opposition who oppose the notion that God is for the Gentiles as well as the Jews ironically hire a Gentile Lawyer to further their interests before the governor. Tertullus refers to Paul as “a plague” who causes trouble throughout the world by…

This passage links with the previous passage by continuing the characterization of Paul’s Jewish opponents as being zealous for the law of Moses. The problem is not their zeal for obeying the word of God without compromising. The problem is that their zeal has become misguided. Without the…

Following the murderous behavior of the Jewish crowd toward Paul, the Roman tribune intended to question Paul by flogging. Paul avoided this by referring to his Roman citizenship which did not allow a Roman citizen to be flogged in this manner. Is this a case of Paul, who was willing to suffer for…

Jews from Asia where Paul had proclaimed the gospel cause a riot in the temple which results in Paul being seized. If it had not been for the intervention of a Roman tribune Paul may very well have been killed. The riot is caused by the Jews from Asia who give the false testimony James had spoken…