Wednesdays are for the New Testament
5/29/24
Bruce, F.F. (1988). "Recently Planted Churches Revisited (15:36-16:5)." In The Book of Acts (Revised). (301-305). William B. Eerdmans Publishing,
In Acts 15:36-41 Paul, with Silas rather than Barnabas, visits some churches which were recently planted. Bruce emphasizes that Luke's description of the conflict between Paul and Barnabas which resulted in their separation is made without any indication of one or the other being in the right (Bruce 1988, p. 301). Rightly or wrongly, Paul didn't consider Mark to be someone who should travel with him. Mark became the companion of Barnabas, to whom he was related. Bruce suggests that there was ongoing bitterness, evidenced by Paul's comment in Galatians that "even Barnabas" withdrew from gentiles with Peter. The collaboration of Barnabas and Mark, as well as the collaboration of Paul and Silas, bore fruit and spread the gospel effectively.
Acts 16 finds Paul and Silas in Galatia, where they are joined by Timothy. Bruce notes that the churches they visit "had been evangelized by Paul and Barnabas two or three years previously" (Bruce 1988, p. 303). Paul's decision of Timothy as a companion from Lystra and Iconium is significant in Bruce's opinion. Timothy's mother was married to a gentile. This suggests to Bruce that the Jews of Asia Minor were more willing to mix with gentiles than were those in Palestine. In verse three Paul has Timothy circumcised. Bruce notes that in Jewish law Timothy, the son of a Jewish mother, was a Jew. His lack of circumcision marked him as an apostate (Bruce 1988, p. 304). Paul's move to circumcise Timothy paved the way for reception in the synagogues. This could well seem a purely pragmatic move, yet there are times we engage in pragmatism, at least on a small scale. Silas and Paul passed along the decrees from the council in Jerusalem. Bruce notes that in Acts 16:4 the decrees were passed along with Silas as the main messenger. Bruce suggests this is related to the fact that Paul had recently communicated with these churches through his letter to the Galatians so it would be preferable for the news from Jerusalem to come through Silas (Bruce 1988, p. 305). In Acts 16:5 we have a brief progress report of the churches being established and increasing, a typical transition statement.
5/29/24
Bruce, F.F. (1988). "Recently Planted Churches Revisited (15:36-16:5)." In The Book of Acts (Revised). (301-305). William B. Eerdmans Publishing,
In Acts 15:36-41 Paul, with Silas rather than Barnabas, visits some churches which were recently planted. Bruce emphasizes that Luke's description of the conflict between Paul and Barnabas which resulted in their separation is made without any indication of one or the other being in the right (Bruce 1988, p. 301). Rightly or wrongly, Paul didn't consider Mark to be someone who should travel with him. Mark became the companion of Barnabas, to whom he was related. Bruce suggests that there was ongoing bitterness, evidenced by Paul's comment in Galatians that "even Barnabas" withdrew from gentiles with Peter. The collaboration of Barnabas and Mark, as well as the collaboration of Paul and Silas, bore fruit and spread the gospel effectively.
Acts 16 finds Paul and Silas in Galatia, where they are joined by Timothy. Bruce notes that the churches they visit "had been evangelized by Paul and Barnabas two or three years previously" (Bruce 1988, p. 303). Paul's decision of Timothy as a companion from Lystra and Iconium is significant in Bruce's opinion. Timothy's mother was married to a gentile. This suggests to Bruce that the Jews of Asia Minor were more willing to mix with gentiles than were those in Palestine. In verse three Paul has Timothy circumcised. Bruce notes that in Jewish law Timothy, the son of a Jewish mother, was a Jew. His lack of circumcision marked him as an apostate (Bruce 1988, p. 304). Paul's move to circumcise Timothy paved the way for reception in the synagogues. This could well seem a purely pragmatic move, yet there are times we engage in pragmatism, at least on a small scale. Silas and Paul passed along the decrees from the council in Jerusalem. Bruce notes that in Acts 16:4 the decrees were passed along with Silas as the main messenger. Bruce suggests this is related to the fact that Paul had recently communicated with these churches through his letter to the Galatians so it would be preferable for the news from Jerusalem to come through Silas (Bruce 1988, p. 305). In Acts 16:5 we have a brief progress report of the churches being established and increasing, a typical transition statement.
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