We continue focussing on the passages in Acts, and for Easter 6 in Year C the reading is Acts 16.9–15. This starts half-way through a paragraph, so we should really start reading at verse 6.
We are now in the second half of Acts, focussing on what the Spirit is doing through the ministry of Paul. In this passage, the Spirit is most clearly active, constraining and directing Paul and his companions—who now appear to include Luke, since he starts using ‘we’ to describe their action and decisions.
Their approach to mission follows the pattern that Jesus has offered in Luke 9, seeking out a ‘person of peace’. The gospel comes to rich and poor alike, and the Spirit has directed them to cross over and take the gospel to Europe, another major stage in the apostles being witnesses ‘to the ends of the earth’.
For written commentary on this passage, see the previous blog post here.
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Winged victory is in the Louvre at the top of a staircase – very dramatic!
Yes it is!
The Preparation of /for the Gospel.
Jesus said “all things are prepared by my Father”.
“He has prepared good works for you to walk in”
He prepares the way and the place and the table.
He prepares the way for the Gospel.
An interesting diversion pro tem; Eusebius’ own Praeparatio Evangelica work does not adopt the common notion (which occurs at least as early as Clement of Alexandria) of Greek philosophy as a “preparation for the Gospel.”
Eusebius instead offers a lengthy argument for the wisdom of the ancient Hebrews becoming a preparation for Greek philosophy (at least Platonic philosophy, see Praep.ev. 11–13). For Eusebius, the Greeks stole any truths they possessed from the “more ancient” Hebrews.
It was begun about the year 313,[1] and attempts to prove the excellence of Christianity over pagan religions and philosophies. It was dedicated to Bishop Theodotus of Laodicea.[2]
“Opened her heart” [opening and open are a fascinating word study]
Jesus opened the {understanding of } the Scriptures.
G od opens the door 1 Cor 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
2 Cor 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
Acts 14:27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles
Colossians 4:3
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:[even in places of restrictions]
Perhaps the take away from this might be that we pray for openings of doors ears, eyes ,minds, understandings hearts etc. etc.
It seems to me that this was God & Paul’s Mission strategy; being led of the Spirit.
I suppose the early church really believed they had been led into the ‘Althing’ of God.
Nice discussion, as always. Luke seems to be careful to avoid giving the impression that Paul sought the company of women, lest his readers got the wrong idea.
1) Hesitancy to accept Lydia’s invitation, as you mentioned.
2) Luke says that they “supposed there was a place of prayer” rather than that they “knew there would be some women there”.
3) Acts 18:2 says that Paul met Aquila, and that he met Priscilla through Aquila. Priscilla was the relevant person, since she is always listed before Aquila by Luke (and by Paul? There is evidence that Paul named Prisca before Aquila at 1 Cor 16:19 (see my 2024 JSNT article online)), so it seems that Luke is going out of his way to say that Paul met Aquila first.
4) The NT mentions Aquila only when it mentions Prisca/Priscilla. It may be that Aquila is mentioned only to avoid giving people the wrong impression. Perhaps Acts 18:18 needs to mention Aquila, otherwise readers would think that Paul travelled with only Priscilla. Perhaps Acts 18:26 needs to mention Aquila, otherwise Priscilla took Apollos aside.
Perhaps Paul also chooses his words carefully for the same reason:
1) In 1 Cor 16:19 Paul says that Prisca and Aquila send greetings with (sυν) the church in their house. Prisca is not sending greetings alone to the men in Corinth. Rather, she and her husband and the congregation are sending greetings together. Perhaps Aquila would not have been mentioned at all in the NT if it had not been for Prisca.
2) Those in Rome should greet Phoebe “in the Lord, as is fitting for the saints”.
3) Prisca and Aquila sends greetings “in the Lord” (1 Cor 16:19).
Has anyone studied ways in which writers in the ancient mediterranean were cautious in describing male-female interactions? Such a study is needed, I think.
is it needed?
?? “Althing” Steve;The Althing (Icelandic: Alþingi) is the national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest legislature in the world.
It was the phrase “all things” that triggered ‘althing’-parliament. It seemed an interesting way of seeing the early believers as a parliament presided over by the Spirit in the Temple of the Lord waiting for direction.. we have all things in Him etc
Having read several versions including Literal texts I cannot detect
anything of your conjectures Richard.