Many think Paul “blew it” but getting philosophical among philosophers at the Areapogas (Mars Hill), rather than “just preaching the Cross,” as he did in the synagogues. In reality, Paul did preach the crucified and risen Messiah on Mars Hill, just with a different starting point.
Author: Jeff
After Paul and Bar-Nabbas part ways for a journey to visit the congregations they reached the first time, Paul seemed to contradict his teachings on circumcision by circumcising Timothy. In Philippi, Paul shut up a demon that had possessed a girl and was haranguing him with truth. Paul and Silas were shut up in prison, then led the jailer to salvation by their rejoicing during their incarceration.
The Shabbat of the seventh day of each week is a memorial that God is the Creator [Gen. 2:2–3; Ex. 20:11] and Redeemer from bondage [Deut. 5:15] and Sanctifier [Exod. 31:13–15], or the One Who sets apart His people from the ignorant or rebellious world. One of the great last messages to the whole world is to “worship Him Who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” Yet today, most children are learning — in school and/or from popular culture — to doubt God because His people are increasingly more afraid of appearing intellectually backward by accepting His testimony of being the Creator than being strong and standing by the only testimony that makes intellectualism possible.
Acts 15 recounts a “watershed” moment among believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) — should believers among the nations be allowed into the assembly of Israel and how. These events didn’t happen in a vacuum. Events from Acts 1–14 — Peter’s encounter with Cornelius and Paul’s first tour of Asia Minor — led to this momentous ruling by the elders. The passage from Amos 9 of restoration of a tabernacle for all believers is important. The Yerushalayim council ruled that we mustn’t “trouble” new believers as they learn Torah.
Paul presents the good news about Yeshua (Jesus) as Mashiakh (Messiah) in Pisidian Antioch and splits the synagogue apart. The pattern of persecution he experiences here is a pattern of things to come. First to the synagogue, then to the Gentiles.
Apostle Sha’ul the Asked For becomes Paul the Rest-maker in his first missionary voyage, stopping in Cyprus. There he meets a truth-seeking official and a “truth”-peddling Jewish sorcerer. How could a Jew be involved in the occult, and where do we see such corruption of the truth today?