Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased [ ] ref { } thots
Book of the Acts of the First Believers
(A summary of Paul’s journeys thus far is below.)
1 - And when we had parted from Miletus and the Ephesians who met us there, and set sail, we went by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from Rhodes to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, got aboard and we set sail.
3 We could see Cyprus in the distance to our left as we sailed to Syria, where we landed at Tyre, for it was there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And so we looked up the disciples there, and stayed for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
5 When the week was over, we made ready to depart, and they all, the men, women and children, accompanied us out of the city. And kneeling down on the sand at the shore, we prayed 6 and then we said farewell to one another. We went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 Then from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8 The next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven (worked with Stephen) and we stayed with him.
9 He had four daughters, who prophesied. 10 And after we’d been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And while there, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit/Presence, ‘This is how the leaders at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the nations.’
12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 But Paul answered, “What are you doing? Weeping and breaking my heart? For I am in readiness not only to be imprisoned but even to die! In Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus!” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15 After these days we departed and went on up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of one, Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would lodge.
17 And when we got to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his work. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God.
And then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews (Hebrews) of those who have believed. But they’re all zealous for the law, 21 and they’ve been told accusations that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.” {🤔Who is called “the accuser”? ..Customs to separate them from the nations, one reason being to separate himself, in our understanding, from the ‘gods’ of the nations that had sprung up.}
22 “What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you’ve come. 23 Take our advice. There are four of them who are under a vow. 24 Go with these men and sanctify yourself along with them and bear the expense with them, and shave your head. This will show them there’s nothing in what they’ve been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles, who believe, we’ve sent a letter to them with our judgment that they should abstain from what is sacrificed to idols, from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
Next - 21:26-40
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.
