Acts 1: 15
1) *Jerusalem
23
Joseph called Barsabbas (“Justus”), Matthias (Cp. Luke 3: 24-25??)
2: 5
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
8-11
“And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus (“Aquila”; Cp. 18: 2) and Asia, Phygia and Pamphylia (“Perga”), Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs; we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
4: 36
Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was called Barnabas (“Son of Encouragement”) {Cp. 1: 23; 15: 22??}
5: 1; 9: 10
Ananias husband of Sapphira, Ananias a disciple in Damascus.
6: 1
Hellenistic Jews and native Hebrews
5
Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch
9
Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians and Alexandrians, some from Cilicia [“Tarsus”?? ], and Asia argued with Stephen
7: 58; 8: 1, 3
They began stoning Stephen and the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
8: 1
A great persecution against the church in Jerusalem and they (??) scattered throughout the region of 1) Judea and 2) Samaria; except the apostles (??)
4-5, 12-13, 25
Those who were scattered went preaching the word; Philip proclaimed the word to 2) *the city of 2) Samaria [“Sebaste”] and the people believed and were baptized. Simon the magician, he who was called, the “Great Power of God,” became a believer also
40
Philip preached the gospel at Azotus and from there all the cities until he came to 3) Caesarea (“Galilee”).
9: 1, 10-11, 19
Synagogues of 4) Damascus (“Syria”); a certain disciple named Ananias; the house of Judas ( a disciple, the Galilean {Cp.5:37}, or Iscariot??)
30
The brethren in Jerusalem brought Saul down to 3) Caesarea [“Galilee”] and sent him away to Tarsus 5) [“Cilicia”]
31
The church throughout all 1) Judea and 3) Galilee and 2) Samaria had peace.
32, 35, 38, 43
Peter came down to the saints at 1a) Lydda, all who lived at Lydda and 1b) Sharon turned to the Lord, the disciples in 1c) Joppa send for Peter and many believed in the Lord
10: 1-2, 22, 24, 44-48
A man who lived in 3) Caesarea (“Galilee”), Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort, who was a worshipper of God with his entire household and gave much alms to the Jewish people, became a believer along with his relatives and close friends.
11: 19-21
Those (??) who were persecuted in connection with Stephen came to 6) Phoenicia and 7) Cyprus and Antioch (“Syria”), speaking the word to no one except the Jews alone. Some of them (??) who were from Cyprus and Cyrene (Cp. 2: 10) who came to 7) Antioch (“Syria”) spoke to the Greeks also and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
22, 25
The church in Jerusalem send Barnabas off to Antioch, and he leaves for Tarsus (“Cilicia”) to look for Saul.
NOTE: It was probably smart for the Church to send Barnabas, since he was from Cyrene (Cp. 4: 36) and may better understand the Greeks; but they could have also sent Nicolas, who was actually from Antioch (Cp. 6: 5).
26
Barnabas and Saul spent an entire year in Antioch meeting with the church and the disciples were first called “Christians” in 8) Antioch.
12: 1-2
Herod laid hands on some in the church and he killed James, the brother of John with the sword (why??)
3, 12
Herod saw that it pleased the Jews and arrested Peter also.
After the angel let Peter out of jail he went to the house of Mary (??) the mother of John who was called Mark where many were gathered and praying.
*13: 1*
There were in the church at 8)Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called (“Niger”), Lucius (Cp. Romans 16: 21??) of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch (Cp. Luke 3: 1; Acts 12: 1-3??), and Saul.
NOTE: Saul was not even among the upper echelon or tier of prominent leaders in the Church at Antioch, so how did he become such an influential force in the Christian movement??
“FIRST EUROPEAN MISSION”
Acts 13: 2, 4-6, 9
The Holy Spirit set Barnabas and Saul apart and sent them on the
and Mark went along as their helper; they came to Salamis (island of “Cyprus”) and preached the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews and from there they went through the entire island (“Cyprus”) until they reached Paphos (island of “Cyprus”) . Saul was also called “Paul.”
13
Paul and his companions (who are these??) put out to sea from Paphos, John left them and returned to Jerusalem (why ??).
14-15
Arriving at Pisidian Antioch 9) [“Galatia”], on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them and asking if they had any words of exhortation.
48-49
The Gentiles began glorifying the word of God and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed 9) Pisidian Antioch [“Galatia”], and the word of the Lord was spread throughout the region.
14: 1
At 10) Iconium (“Galatia”) they entered a synagogue of the Jews and a great multitude believed, both Jews and Greeks
6-7, 19-20
They fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe (“Galatia”) preaching the gospel. The Jews from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium, won over the crowds and stoned Paul, dragging his body out of the city [“Lystra”], supposing him dead. The disciples (??) stood around him and he arose and entered the city 11)[“Lystra”].
14: 20b -15: 1
Paul and Barnabas (not “we or they”??) went to 12) Derbe, preached the gospel and made many disciples *(Gaius; Cp. 20: 4; 19: 29b??, I Corinthians 1: 14)*
14: 23
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in every church (Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch; Cp 14: 21)
26-28
Paul and Barnabas returned back to 8) Antioch (“Syria”) where they had been commended to the work, and reported all the things that God had accomplished through them and about the window of faith that had been opened to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas spent a long time with the disciples.
“FIRST EUROPEAN MISSION COMPLETED”
“INTERVENING EVENT”
15: 1-3
Paul and Barnabas, along with certain others from Antioch went up to Jerusalem to settle the issue of Gentiles being required to observe the Law of Moses. On the way they passed through 6) Phoenicia and 2) Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles; bringing great joy to all the brethren.
22, 32
The Church at 1) Jerusalem along with the apostles and elders chose Judas called “Barsabbas” (Cp. 1: 23??) and Silas, leading men among the brethren who were also prophets to accompany Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch.
33-35
From Antioch, they were sent back to those who sent them (in Jerusalem), [but it seemed good to Silas to remain]. Paul and Barnabas stayed in 8) Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.
“SECOND EUROPEAN MISSION”
Acts 15:36-40
Paul told Barnabas about returning back and visiting the brethren in every city [in “Europe”] where they proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they were doing. Barnabas wanted to take Mark [his cousin; Cp. Colossians 4: 10), but Paul didn’t want to because he deserted them in Pamphylia (Cp. 13: 13). They had a major disagreement; Barnabas took mark and sailed to 7) Cyprus and Paul chose Silas and departed.
16: 1-2, 4-5
Paul was traveling through 8) Syria and 5) Cilicia (“Tarsus”) strengthening the churches and came to 12) Derbe and 11) Lystra where he found Timothy, the son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father. And they (??) were passing through and delivering the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the Gentiles to observe (Cp. 15: 19-20).
12
And from there to Phillipi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we (??) were staying in this city for some days.
13-15, 27-33
And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we (??) sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabric, a worshipper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized as well as a jailer and his household after Paul and Silas spoke the word to him [in 13) “Philippi”].
40
Afterwards they went out of the prison, entered the house of Lydia, saw the brethren [in 13) “Philippi”] and encouraged them then departed.
17: 1-2, 4
Now when they came to Thessalonica (Macedonia) where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths, reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Cp. 16: 2; II Timothy 1: 5; 3: 15). And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks (Aristarchus, Secundus; Cp 19: 29b; 20: 4) and a number of the leading women [in 14) “Thessalonica” of Macedonia].
8
And they stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. And when they had received a pledge [“bribe”] from Jason (Cp. Romans 16: 21) and the others, they released them.
10-12, 14
And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea (Macedonia); and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men (Sopater; Cp. 20: 4; Romans 16: 21) [in 15] “Berea” of Macedonia]. Silas and Timothy remained there.
15-16a
Now those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens (“Achaia”); and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens. . .
32-34
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” So Paul went out of their midst. But some of the men joined him and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them
[in 16) “Athens” of Achaia]. NOTE: There was no Jewish antagonism in Athens; and it appears no synagogue either??
18:1-2
After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth (“Greece”) And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome [when was this edict??], He came to them.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY NOTE:
Suetonius (Claudius 25) mentions a certain Chrestus and states, “Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus (impulsore Chrestus), he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome. Suetonius may have been speaking of Christians in Rome who were followers of Christ and were not distinguished from Jews. Tertullian says that the term Christianus was sometimes mispronounced Chrestianus. (Apol. 3)
18: 8-9, 11
And he departed from there and went to the house of a certain man named Titius Justus, a worshipper of God whose house was next to the synagogue. And Crispus (Cp. I Corinthians 1: 14), the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household and many of the 17) Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent. And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
17
And they took hold of Sosthenes (Cp. I Corinthians 1: 1), the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. And Gallio proconsul of “Achaia” (18: 12) was not concerned about any of these things. NOTE: Was there more than one leader of the synagogue(Cp. 18:8??).
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY NOTE:
Seneca was brother of Gallio, proconsul of Achaia at the time when Paul (Saul of the Gospels) preached there, yet never mentions anything about Paul or Christ.
18:18-21
And Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for “Syria” and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea (”Greece”) he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow [Cp. 21: 21-24, 26??] And they came to Ephesus (“Asia”), and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. And when they had asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent [why not??]. But taking leave of them and saying, “I will return again to you again if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.
22
And when he had landed at 3) Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to 8) Antioch (“Syria”).
“SECOND EUROPEAN MISSION COMPLETED”
“THIRD EUROPEAN MISSION”
18: 23
And having spent some time there [“Antioch”??], he departed and passed successively through the Galatian region {#'s 9, 10, 11, 12} and 18) Phrygia [Colossae, Hierapolis, Laodicea, Miletus] [“Asia”]strengthening the disciples.(Cp. 16:6).
24-28
Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandria by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wanted to go to Achaia (“Corinth”; Cp. 19:1), the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples [which churches??] to welcome him; and when he arrived, he helped greatly those who had believed through grace.
NOTE: Priscilla’s name is mentioned before her husband’s, so she must have been a woman of prominence.
19:1-2
And it came about while Apollos was at Corinth (“Greece”), Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus (“Asia”), and found some disciples. And he said unto them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said unto him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
8-10 And he entered the synagogue and continued and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of ‘the Way’ (“Ha-Derekh”) before the multitude, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks (Tychicus, Trophimus; Cp. 20: 4??).
NOTE: Why is there persecution this time around and not previously??
19: 21-24, 26
Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia [Cp. 16:11, 12], saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (why??) And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus (Cp. II Timothy 4: 20), he himself stayed in Asia for awhile. (Cp. 16: 6; 19: 27??) NOTE: Paul probably wrote the Galatian, Corinthian, and Roman letters at this time.
23, 24, 26-27, 29
And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning ‘the Way’ (“Ha-Derekh”). For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.
29
And the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
20:1, 4-5
And after the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he departed to go to Macedonia (“Philippi”). And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea (Cp. 17: 10-12), the son of Pyrrhus; and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians (Cp. 17: 1-2, 4), and Gaius of Derbe (Cp. 14: 20-21), and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. But these had gone on ahead and was waiting for us (??) at Troas.
“THIRD MISSIONARY COMPLETED”
20: 6-7
And we (??) sailed from Phillipi (Cp. 16: 15, 29, 30-33) after the days of Unleavened Bread, and we came to them at 19) Troas (Cp. 16: 8) within five days; and there we stayed seven days. And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. NOTE: The first time “FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK” MENTIONED IN MEETING WITH DISCIPLES OR BELIEVERS. This is probably with Gentile believers exclusively because a synagogue is not mentioned, the Sabbath, nor is there any preaching or reasoning from the Old Testament Scriptures.
6-17 (Miletus ["ASIA"])
EVENT: Paul called together the elders of the church Ephesus [“Asia”] (Cp. 19: 1, 8-10; 20: 28-32) and admonished them to guard the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers. He also said that they would not see him again and reminded them that *for three years* he cried day and night warning them about the troubling times ahead for the church.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
February 2, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
