Saturday, March 20, 2010

Luke's purpose and Paul's trip

Discuss Paul's final trip to Jerusalem in the context of Luke's purpose in the book of Acts.
In Acts 22 Luke focuses on Paul’s roman citizenship and how the provided protection for him. In chapter 23 Paul is presented and taken to the Jewish Council and couldn’t see the high priest or recognize who he was. In verse 33 of chapter 23 we read that he leaves Jerusalem to be held captive in prisons for years in Caesarea.
In Acts 24 verse 5 we read that the Jews at this point sill considered (Jewish) Christians as Jews. Later in that chapter we are also acquainted with Felix who married a Jewish woman names Drusilla.
In Acts 25 when Paul goes to Felix to Festus to Caesar to Agrippa (the grandson of Herod) he fulfills Luke’s prophecy in Acts 9 verses 15-16. “15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a achosen vessel unto me, to bbear my cname before the dGentiles, and ekings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must asuffer for my name’s sake.”
When Paul visits with the different kings and magistrates in Acts chapter 25, he is fulfilling Luke’s prophecy in Acts 9.

Paul’s conversion story is told 3 times, two of which are in Acts 9 and Acts 26 respectively. There are differences in the different telling, but the key points (who, what, when, where, etc.) are the same. The core material is the same in all 3 versions. This is important as we focus on the essential we will be better able to understand that which we do have.

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