So it came to pass after they launched they went straight to Coos, then Rhodes (no Colosses there at the time) and onto Patara, then a new ship to Phenicia, onto Cyprus, where they exited form the left side, and sailed to Syria, landing at Tyre because it wastime to unload the ship. They stayed there for seven days when the Spirit told Paulie not to go to Jerusalem.
After that they departed on their way and the disciples brought their wives and kids. When they were out of the city they knelt of the shore to pray. Then it was time to go home again. So they went from Tyre to Ptolemais saluting the brethren, and staying with them for a day.
The next day they let Paul’s company, and went to Caesarea to say with Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven and stayed with him.
Wait, what? Who are the seven? What seven? I’ve heard of the twelve… I’ve heard of the seven dwarves. As usual I don’t know what they are talking about.
Phil the E has four virgin daughter who prophesied. They stayed with Phil long enough that they got to meet a certain prophet named Agabus. When he came he took Paul’s girdle and bound his hands and feet, because the Holy Ghost had said that the Jews in Jerusalem, would bind the man wearing this girdle, and deliver him to the gentiles. Well, they tried to convince Agabus that this wasn’t a good idea.
So Paul asked Agabus “Are you trying to break my heart and make me cry? I am ready not just to be bound but to die in name of Lord Jesus” Okay, first off I can’t believe that I hadn’t phrased it this way yet, but Paul totally has Jesus complex.
Second, I don’t remember what bible has to say about suicide. So far in the New Testament, there’s no mention of it and Jesus actively pursues his own death. It’s not really mentioned in the Ten Commandments. I mean it could fall under murder if you counted it as a murder of yourself. But I’m not entirely sure what the cultural views on suicide were at the time. So really should you seek your own death? Even in prophesy shouldn’t you at least attempt to avoid it.
I guess that’s part of what bothers me about Christianity, there isn’t a big focus on enjoying the gift that is life. How amazing and wonderful it is to be alive. They focus a lot on what happens after we die.
Life isn’t really seen as a gift in the church unless you are the unborn. Don’t use prophylactics, birth control and think about the views of menstruation. I mean really the natural process of menstruation is frowned upon. At one point you couldn’t even take communion when you had your period. Is that because your body was murdering the potential unborn? Sorry I’m babbling here.
They couldn’t convince Paul that he should avoid this death and he just told hime the will of the Lord will be done. They took up their carriages and went to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples of Caesarea like Mnason of Cyprus, who they lodged with came with them to Jerusalem where the brethren received them gladly.
Paulie went with James, and saw the elders were present. When he saluted, the told them specifically what God has done among the gentiles by his ministry.
When they hear it they, glorified the Lord and told him “Look at how many Jews believe, Brother, they are enthusiastic about the law, they know about you, that you teach the people to forsake Moses, saying not to circumcise their children and don’t follow the customs.
What is it the consequence ofthat? The multitude needs to come because they will hear that you came. Do this because this is what we’re telling you. We have four men who have vowed… something I don’t know what they vowed. Take them and purify yourselves with them, and you should pay, to have their heads shave, may see that you’ve done that, so they’ll know that you are orderly and keeping the law. Concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and noticed that they observe no such thing, but they do manage to keep themselves from offering things to idols, and from blood, from the strangled, and from fornication. “ I am a little unsure what the purification rituals were all about. So that got a little confusing to rephrase there.
Then Paul took the men, and purified himself the next day with those who entered into the temple, to show the accomplishment of the day of purification until an offering could be made for each of them.
When the seven days had almost passed, the Asian Jews saw Paul in the in the temple, they stired up all of the people and laid hands on him crying out “Men of Israel! Help! This is the man you teaches all men everywhere, teaches against the people, the law this place! He even brought Greeks into the temple! He polluted this holy place! They has seen him with an Ephesian, in Trophimus who they thought Paul had brought into the temple.
All of the city was moved and the people ran together and took Paulie out of the temple, and shut the door. As they were about to kill him, the chief captain of the band heard about how all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the captain and the soldiers they stopped beating Paulie.
The captain commanded them to be bound with two chains then asked him who he was and what the heck had he done. Everybody started telling him different things, but he couldn’t tell what was true, so he commanded that Paulie be taken to the castle.
When he came to the stairs, the soldiers had to take him up because they people were violent. And they followed him shouting “Away with him!”
As Paul was being led into the castle, he asked the captain if he could speak to him. The captain asked him “Can you speak Greek? Aren’t you that Egyptian who made an uproar and led four thousand murderers into the wilderness?”
Paul told him “Dude, I’m Jew from Tarsus in Cilcia, a citizen of no mean city and I’m asking you to let me speak to the people. “
So this dope lets Paul up onto the stirs, were he beckoned to the people. When it finally got quiet he started to speak to them in Hebrew saying….
No seriously it just ends there. Where is the editor in this book? Is that a cliff hanger or something. Okay, whatever.
Love the cliffhanger. No seriously, I do. I mean at least it's kind of interesting rather than just incessant babble like in Romans. I don't get most of what happened in this chapter, but Paul definitely had a Jesus complex. It's so irritating. I'm sick of all these people wanting to suffer through life to get their reward in heaven. Life is your reward folks... sorry, but it's as good as it gets so learn to enjoy it!
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