Lessons

The lesson on April 15, 2018 was part 3 of the”Acts 29″ study.  This week Wayne did a short review of last weeks lesson but eventually focused our attention on the codex, especially Papyrus 46.  He is reading the notes around the writing and it is the oldest manuscript that confirms Paul’s writings.  Parts of the texts show Nomina sacra, which are special abbreviations which appear in New Testament texts. Unlike most abbreviations, which are meant to save time, nomina sacra are used to set certain, holy words apart from the rest of the text. This is clear from the fact that these words are abbreviated in their sacral usages but not in profane usages (e.g. ὑΐοϲ, ‘son’ is contracted to υϲ when it refers to Jesus, the Son of God, but the same word is not contracted in other usages).  It is amazing in todays educational circles, we have access to these critical documents electronically.  The evolution of how they have been preserved gives us quite the perspective.  By using these notes, Wayne is trying to piece together the movement of Paul from Acts 28:29-31 and the Ephesians letter.  We took time to look at events in Acts that give really good clues as to what may have happened at the end of those two years mentioned in Acts 28:31.  By looking at these things closely, Paul was not given the revelation of The Mystery until after those two years.  He was preaching the Kingdom of God and was a prisoner for Israel.  The scripture reading was from Acts 28:29-31 KJV

“29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”