Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased [ ] ref { } thots
Book of the Acts of the First Believers
(Paul’s journeys thus far summary is below.)
Persuaded by others, to try to answer accusations against him that he was teaching kinsmen/Hebrews to disregard the {societal preservative} “Laws of Moses”.
26 - Paul went with the men, ritually purifying himself along with them, and they went into the temple, and gave notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.
27 Then when the week was almost over, some Hebrew leaders from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law, Jerusalem and the temple! He even brought Greeks into the temple and has made common this holy place!” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together and seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
31 And as they were looking to kill him, word came to the tribune/officer of the cohort (tenth part of a Roman legion) that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 So the tribune took soldiers and Roman centurions and ran down to them. And when the people saw the officer and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 And the tribune arrested him and ordered him to be bound with not one chain, but two, and asked who he was and what it was he had done.
34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some were shouting another. And as he couldn’t learn the facts because of the confusion, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
35 When they came with Paul to the steps, the soldiers actually carried him because of the violence of the crowd. 36 And the mob followed, crying out, “Away with him!” {Triggered by leaders and Satan the adversary, first gone rogue one.. And they became unreasonable.}
37 And as they were about to go into the barracks, Paul said to the officer, “May I tell you something?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men, called the Assassins, out into the wilderness?”
39 Paul replied, “I’m a Jew (a Hebrew) from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying.. (To be continued..)
Next - 22:1-21
• 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 {imo} 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..
Traveling on, wanting to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost. As they sailed past Ephesus, they stopped and met the Ephesian believers on shore.. There were prayers and tears, they were not going to see each other again. Paul had been there for three years.
On to Jerusalem.. And trying to answer accusations against him that he was teaching kinsmen/Hebrews to disregard the {societal preservative} “Laws of Moses”.
