🗝️’s to riddles, my own New Testament in a yr study, verses are paraphrased Logic [ ] references { } thots
Book of the Acts of the First Believers
[Saul, soon called Paul, made at least three “missionary journeys” - some say as far as Spain - proclaiming the news of Jesus and “the kingdom of God” and establishing ‘churches’ which were groups who met mostly in homes.]
1 - Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work to which I’m calling them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying and laying hands on them, they sent them off.
4 And so, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia on the coast. And from there they sailed to Cyprus, 5 and when they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Hebrew/Jewish synagogues. And they had John Mark as an assistant.
6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of good intelligence, who had summoned Barnabas and Saul in order to hear what they were telling.
8 But Elymas the magician, for that’s the meaning of his name, opposed them, trying to Keep the proconsul away from hearing about the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit/Presence of God) looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil! And enemy of all righteousness, full of deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the LORD!? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred. And he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
13 Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. 14 But Paul and Barnabas, and companions, went on from Perga. And they came to Antioch in Pisidia. And then, on the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and sat down.
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, please say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel, chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt. And then with uplifted arm he led them out of Egypt.
18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 After destroying seven (very wicked and heartlessly cruel) nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.
20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he said, ‘I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do according to MY will.’
23 And now of this man's descendants God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised” {so long ago, in Eden and afterwards}.
24 “And before the savior’s coming, John (the Baptist/Baptizer) proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose I am? I’m not he! No, for behold, after me is coming one, the sandals upon whose feet I’m not worthy to untie!’
26 Dear sons and daughters of the family of Abraham, and all those among you who revere God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation!
27 But those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they didn’t recognize him or understand the words of the prophets - which are read every Sabbath - fulfilled the scripture by condemning him.
28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree (cross) and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead. 31 And for many days he appeared to those who had been with him, and come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. And they are now his witnesses to the people.
32 And so, we bring to you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 he has fulfilled, to us their children, by raising Jesus, as also it’s written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have begotten you.’” {He’s the one, straight out from God one. Begotten, not formed.}
34 “And as for the fact, that he raised him from the dead, no more to see corruption/death, he has declared openly, ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers and saw corruption. 37 But he, whom God raised up, did not see corruption.
38 Let it be known to you therefore, brethren, that through this man, forgiveness of sins [hamartia - missing the mark] is proclaimed to you. 39 And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which no one can be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, however, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about, 41 ‘Look, you scoffers {and oh world} be astounded when you come to ruin. For I’m doing a work in your days, a work that you won’t believe, even if you’re told of it.’” {By witnesses?}
42 And as they were leaving, the people asked that these things might be told to them on the next Sabbath.
Next - 13:43-52
