Acts. The early church. So much to learn. Love it!
The scripture reading for this week:
Feb 14: Acts 7-8
Feb 15: Acts 9-10
Feb 16: Acts 11-13
Feb 17: Acts 14-15
Feb 18: Acts 16-17
Feb 19: Acts 18-20
Feb 20: Acts 21-23
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4 comments:
Psalms 1:1-3
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Hey BGOers continue to read the Word of God. Meditate on it night and day.
God Bless
Andrew
I am playing a bit of catchup here - reading Acts 16:1-4. Any insight as to why Paul had Timothy circumcised here?
Phill
Great question! In the preceding chapter, the question of circumcision and adherence to the law becomes an issue of contention regarding Gentile believers of the Way. Christianity was originally viewed as an extension of Judaism-a fulfillment of scriptures. In Acts 15, the Apostles and Jewish elders got together to decide upon what parts of the law the Gentile believers should follow. They were instructed to abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled and sexual immorality. A
As Chapter 16 arrives Paul circumcises Timothy who is the son of a Jewish Mother and a Greek Father. "Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew his father was Greek." (Acts 16:3) Paul did so in order to appease the Jews who were there. Each time he evangelized, he went to both the synagogues to reason with the Jews as well as to the streets of the Gentiles. It seems that he fulfilled the legal requirement of circumcision because Timothy was part Jewish and could hence claim heritage, but also to prevent him (Timothy) from becoming a stumbling block to Paul's ministry to the Jews.
Special emphasis is made to show that Paul is not leading others to forsake the Law but in fact to uphold it-this is for the benefit of Jewish believers.
Acts 15, Paul is counselled by other Jewish believers, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law," vs. 21..."There do what we tell you: we have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law" vs. 23-24
Thanks for the booster Andrew, though I am a bit behind in my reading of the Word, I continue to read and meditate upon God's Word. I also receive the blessings outlined in Ps.1
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