This study started on January 10, 2021 and looks at the book of Acts from a perspective of the Apostle Paul's epistles. It will establish when the Pauline book was written during the Acts timeline and answer why it was written in relation to the context of the Acts. This study will provide a roadmap to properly understanding the doctrine of the Acts period and how the transition to the Gentiles is observed but always in the relation to Israel and the Kingdom of God.
The lesson on February 21, 2021 was part 5 of the "Acts - When and Why?" study. This week Wayne worked on dating refinements, using the reference of “The sikarion” where Paul was mistakenly identified as “That Egyptian” in Acts 21:38 KJV where Josephus recorded the "sikarion" peaked during the time of Nero. As we learn how the secular dates of the recorded history allows us to put dates when parts of Acts were written, this will provide the context for when other Acts period epistles were written. The importance of this exercise is to find out what doctrine was written to whom and more importantly compare that scripture that we revealed to us after Acts 28. Wayne has almost authenticated the dating of when in Acts 1,2 (A.D 29-31) the date of the Crucifixion and of Pentecost. Acts 3 to 11, 12, and 13-20 (A.D. 56 or A.D. 58) the date of Herod's death. Acts 21 to 27 (A.D. 56 or A.D. 58) the date of Paul's arrest at Jerusalem. Acts 28 (A.D. 59 or A.D. 61) the date of Paul's arrival in Rome. Finally, Acts 28 (A.D. 61 or A.D. 63) the date of the conclusion of the "two years". We saw a drawing of the Castel Antonia where Paul stood and addressed the people before he was taken to Ceaseria. The scripture reading was from Acts 25:9-12 KJV
The lesson on February 28, 2021 was part 6 of the "Acts - When and Why?" study. We reviewed a portion of the last lesson and then proceeded to look at three clues looking at another date in Acts 18:1-23 Gallio (12 deputy of Achaia) – which is a significant date in the life of Paul. When and where did Paul write the “ACTS” epistles? Then, specifically, when did Paul write “Galatians”? Wayne took us through the three recorded missionary journeys of Paul. When Paul journeyed from Jerusalem to Rome (Acts 22:1-28:22) we get recorded events in history with Claudias Lysias Acts 23:29, Festus: Acts 25:25, King Agrippa (governor and Bernice with him): Acts 26:31 synchronizing with Paul’s own statement: Acts 28:17,18. A key piece of these travels was the the Romans saw in him "nothing worthy of death". In Acts 18, we read specific events in history that were recorded: Acts 18:1-3 KJV "1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers." In Acts 18:11 it's recorded that Paul taught them for three and a half years. Tacitus says the Jews were banished from Rome in AD 52. The Reign of Claudius was from AD 41 - 54. So, pulling it all together, when dating Galatians, there are two major issues: 1 What is Galatia? (at least two visits Gal. 4:13) , Northern view: Late date necessary (after acts 18:23) or Southern view: No need for late date – Acts 16:6 is a revisiting. 2 Was Galatians written before or after Acts 15 and the Jerusalem council? Wayne answers these issues and explains why. The scripture reading was from Acts 18:12-17 KJV
