Timothy Joins Paul and Silas
Timothy was a good man and a disciple but his father was Greek. He wanted to join Paul and Silas so they circumcised him "because of the Jews who were in those places" then they let him join them.
Are the Jews going to check that he is circumcised? Society sure has changed in 2000 years.
The Macedonian Call
They went through a bunch of places that the holy spirit forbid them from preaching at, they were forbidden from speaking the word in Asia. Then the holy spirit told them to go to Macedonia.
Is this perhaps a justification of the authors of the Bible for why Christianity is not present in Asia. It seems out of place to me.
The Conversion of Lydia
They came to a city and were talking to a group of women. God opened the heart of a woman named Lydia and she became a believer. She and her family were then baptized and she invited the disciples to stay with her.
What does it mean that God opened her heart? Is this breaking free will or anything? I guess it depends on what that really means. If she needs to have her heart opened to listen to the word of God and become saved, why wouldn't God open everyone's heart? Doesn't really seem fair.
Paul and Silas in Prison
A slave girl had a spirit who let her do fortune telling and brought much profit to her owners. He was following around Paul for days shouting to everyone about who they are and what they are doing. Paul got annoyed so he cast the spirit out of her. But her owners got pissed about it and had them thrown in jail.
More people being infected by spirits. I just don't like it.
The Philippian Jailer Converted
While they were in prison, there was an earthquake which opened all of the doors and broke all of the shackles on the prisoners. The jailer woke up and was about to kill himself because he thought that the prisoners had all escaped, but Paul cried out that he should stop because they were still there. So he asked them how he could be saved and they told him, he converted and was baptized with his family. Then the magistrates sent word that they should be let go from prison. But Paul said that he has been publicly humiliated and now is being let go in secret, he says he won't leave until they get a proper apology. When those in power heard they were Roman citizens they were afraid so they came and apologized and let them go.
This story is less believable than the resurrection story. First an earthquake not only opens the doors to the cells but breaks their bonds, then the jailer tries to kill himself before even looking if the prisoners have run away. Then later they get pardoned and complain that they didn't get a nice enough apology and stay in prison until they get one, and those in power actually comply. Are you kidding me?
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Note: I am out of town for about a week. There will not be a disruption is posts as I have front-loaded enough content to fill the void while I am gone, however, I will most likely not be responding to any comments until I get back. If any comments do come from me this week please excuse typos as it means I am posting from my phone.
In the very beginning, Paul had Timothy circumcised. Makes you wonder why he did it when you read Galatians 5:2 "Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you." I'd be kind of pissed off if I found that out.
ReplyDeleteWhy did God forbid the gospel to be preached in Asia? It reminds me for some reason of that verse about how there were representatives of all the nations of the world present when the holy spirit came down. (I can't remember where that was at).
It's also probably good to point out in verse 31 it says "Believe in Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household." First, does this mean that if the husband believes, that his wife and kids will be saved? And when asked this question before, Jesus gave a different answer. Matthew 19:17