This is a very long reading, the longest I think we’ve gotten in Forward Movement’s arrangement of Luke and Acts daily readings. The riot at Ephesus is the center of it, and the story of Eutychus dying from listening to a long sermon seems like a strange little coda. But I think that the two … Continue reading Acts 19 – 20.16 Sleep and Riots
I have to admit that this read through of Acts is constantly challenging my thinking about orthodoxy and heresy. In general I hold orthodoxy pretty lightly. I’m glad that generations of Christian thinkers have thought so hard and so deeply, and argued so well, but I tend to think that the variety of their ideas … Continue reading Acts 18:1-28 Orthodoxy and orthopraxis
In his speech to the Athenians, Paul begins to make the unknown God known. Beyond that, he makes the clearest statement of the purpose of human existence in all of scripture. Gerald May writes: As far as I know, only one place in the Bible explains why God created human beings. The apostle Paul, preaching … Continue reading Acts 17:10-34 To an unknown God
Three things immediately stand out to me about the community that gathers in the synagogue in Thessalonica. The first is that they’re open to discussion and debate. Some of their leaders eventually reject Paul and try to stir up the civic authorities against him, but it’s notable that he’s allowed to show up and dispute … Continue reading Acts 17:1-9 The Synagogue at Thessalonica
This is a very strange passage. At the beginning of it, Paul and Silas have what many people would no doubt like - someone who’s made it her job to run around after them announcing how great they are. The slave girl with the spirit of divination seems to be furthering their mission - saying … Continue reading Acts 16:16-40 Controlling the Message
KPB Stevens 