Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased [ ] ref { } thots
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Book of the Acts of the First Believers
(For a brief summary of Paul’s journeys thus far, scroll down.)
1 - When the uproar (in Ephesis) was over, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and left for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through there and given much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and as he was about to set sail for Syria, he heard a plot was made against him, so he decided to return through Macedonia instead.
4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him. Also Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius and Timothy of Derbe, and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead of us, and were waiting for us at Troas (Luke, the author, with them, like in most of chapter 16) 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread. [The two days, and the whole week, were referred to as both Passover and Unleavened Bread.]
{Easter Lesson, I tried to be brief, but clear - Each day - Passover and Unleavened Bread Day(s) and the whole week was referred to as both Passover and Unleavened Bread. This is why how-very-perfectly Jesus’ 1st brief advent fulfilled the ancient Spring holy days (of Leviticus 23) is often overlooked.
Another reason is, there are three Sabbaths (no work days) of the week, so there’s also three preparation days for them. And each new day begins at sunset, rather than midnight.
Passover is a moveable - as to the day of the week - holy day, 1st Unleavened Bread Day is the day after Passover. Nisan 14 and 15, full moon days of the first (Hebrew calenar) month.
Jesus was executed on Passover. Then as the sun was setting - Passover was ending, and Unleavened Bread Day was beginning - he was put “into the grave” where, as he had said, he was for “three days and nights”. (2Pet.2:5 answers 1Pet.3:19, plus Logic, root word Logos. And Eccles.9:5,10.)
And so he rose exactly 3 evenings later, as the sun was setting. The regular weekly Sabbath was ending. And 1st day of the week, Sunday, and the 3rd holy day, called Firstfruits, was beginning. Firstfruits is not moveable as to the day of the week. It always follows the regular weekly Sabbath of that week.
Summary - (1)Jesus, the “First/Proto” (surely THE prototype) is the only straight out from God one, so close to the Father, both administer God’s Spirit/Presence, same as will saturate and “seal” all creation and humanity. Creation as total ant farm versus total ‘herd’ immunity? To straying/imperfection/entropy, the worm in our ‘apple’.)
(Jesus) was the Passover Sacrificial Lamb/Christ Crucified, strong enough to appease every conscience and psyche. (2)He was in the grave on Unleavened Bread (1st day of). And (3)rose on Firstfruits. (On Firstfruits at barley harvest a sheaf of grain was waved unto God as thanks to the giver, and it represented the entire harvest.)
All three holy days were fulfilled perfectly as though an outline. And prophecy. ..What should we then think of the Fall holy days? Leviticus 23. They span about two thirds of a month. Pentecost is in between the Soring and Fall days, 7 weeks after Firstfruits. It is when God’s (energizing) Spirit was “poured out” to the small band of believers, soon called Christians. [Luke was Greek, not Hebrew.]
In five days we arrived at Troas, and we stayed for seven days. 7 Then on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul was conversing, intending to depart the next day, and was speaking until midnight.
8 We had lit many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead! 10 But Paul went down, bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “It’s okay! His life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone back up and we had broken bread and eaten, he conversed still a long while, until daybreak, and then we left. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were greatly encouraged.
13 We went ahead to the ship, and set sail for Assos, but Paul had decided to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And from there, the following day, we sailed opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we went down to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus (only stopping to briefly meet with the Ephesian believers on shore) so he wouldn’t spend time in Asia, for he was hoping to be in Jerusalem, if possible, by day of Pentecost.
Next - 20:17-38
• Paul’s travels thus far:
On the way to Damascus to arrest Christians he’s blinded by the radiance of Jesus.. He therefor converts, and after a while starts preaching Jesus’ message, and about his death and resurrection, mostly in synagogues. He and Barnabas are sent on a - spread the Good News journey - from Antioch, north of Jerusalem. (At Antioch is where the believers were first called Christians).
They went up around the Mediterranean spending time in some towns north of it. Then after returning through each town the way they had come, they sailed back to Antioch, first “missionary journey” finished.
Soon they went down to Jerusalem to counsel about non Hebrew believers, should they follow Torah/Old Testament Way as if Judean/Israeli? Jesus summed up the ten commandments as Love God. Love fellow person. And that pretty much became the agreed upon answer, diet and days were not required. {Keeping the Sabbath and, or the original holy days of God, as in the Scripture can be a wonderful thing. They’re an outline, for one thing. But Romans 14:5 says - “Let each be persuaded in their own mind”. And to not throw stumblingblocks in front of each other (vs.13). All are saved by grace alone when God gives the faith, “each in their own order” 1Cor.15:22-28 w/ Mt.13:33, key word 3; three harvests, barley, wheat and grape.}
Paul goes on a second journey, this time with Silas.. they go up around the Mediterranean and through the regions north of it, but going further this time, passing through Asia and then over water to Macedonia, north of Greece. Through those regions they are pursued and harassed, beaten/flogged and thrown in jail but while singing the chains break and doors opened.. resulting in believers.. They’re followed and persecuted as they go along, so Paul goes as far as Athens and teaches in Corinth for a year and a half.
After returning to Caesaria (second “missionary journey” completed) and then Jerusalem, he again, in a third journey, rounded north of the Mediterranean, through Asia to Ephesus, teaching for two years at the Hall of Tyrannus.. A two hour riot was inspired by the guild of Artemis idol makers, with many not knowing why, but yelling one thing and others another..
