#32 - True Witnesses?
#32 - Acts 22–28
BIBLE TEXT SECTIONS:
Acts 22 - Paul and Roman Tribune - Paul Before the Council
Acts 23 - Plot to Kill Paul - Paul Sent to Felix the Governor
Acts 24 - Paul Before Felix at Caesarea - Paul Kept in Custody
Acts 25 - Paul Appeals to Caesar - Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice
Acts 26 - Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa - Paul Tells of His Conversion
Acts 27 - Paul Sails for Rome - The Storm at Sea - Shipwreck
Acts 28 - Paul on Malta - Paul Arrives in Rome - Paul in Rome
Read the Book yourself then…
watch the Bible Project video on Acts
Neil Evans COMMENTS:
The Apostles and followers of Jesus were seeing the Church of Jesus Christ grow dramatically everywhere the truths about Jesus’ Life, Message, and Resurrection was shared. People were realizing that Jesus had paid the penalty that centuries of Temple sacrifices and ceremonies could never pay. They were being set free from the futility of keeping rules to gain God’s approval. So, of course, this gave the Jewish leaders great concern as they sensed their authority and prestige slipping away. When they heard that Paul, the primary preacher of what they considered heresies about Jesus, was in Jerusalem, they immediately had him arrested. They would have killed Paul if a Roman soldier had not rescued him and placed Paul under Roman guard.
Under threat of prosecution by the Jews, as a Roman citizen Paul appealed to Caesar. That appeal led to interviews by local Roman rulers and ultimately in Rome. Paul used every meeting as an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus. Every time he shared the story of his transforming encounter with the risen Jesus, he told the same story of his hateful trip to Damascus, the blinding light, Jesus’ voice and instructions for his near and distant future. Like all the Biblical accounts of Jesus words and deeds, Paul’s testimony was consistent and verified by a multitude of historically reliable sources.
The workbook makes the claim that Joseph Smith’s various testimonies of his encounter with Jesus are similar to Paul’s in that the variations are due to adapting the descriptions to different audiences. On one occasion he said simply that a spirit appeared to him telling of golden plates. It is understandable that on other occasions Joseph Smith could have explained a variety of motives for seeking divine help. It cannot be true to claim that giving different dates (years apart) are consistent descriptions of his claimed encounter with Jesus. Additionally, it is not consistent for him to give different accounts of who appeared to him. In differing descriptions it is claimed that a spirit, an angel, two angels, many angels, Jesus, the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph in that first encounter in the grove. Either it was a very crowed meeting, the date of which is not accurately remembered, or it is a story that evolved over time. Either way, it cannot be reasonably claimed that the descriptions are consistent.
One of the truly amazing things about the book of Acts, and in fact the whole Bible, is its’ historical accuracy and internal consistency. While anyone can dispute the meaning of any ancient stories and documents, it is another matter to truthfully dispute the historical accuracy of the text of the Bible. Archaeology and literary studies have, and continue to, confirm and support the accuracy of Biblical descriptions of real places, events and people. And, wonderfully, if the Bible story of human history is accurate and consistent, the meaning of the Bible deserves very serious consideration as well. No other religious texts even come close to measuring up to the tests the Bible passes.
As was the Apostle Paul, the followers of Jesus were tasked with being “ministers and witnesses” of Who Jesus Christ is and of what He did and does. The Bible book of Acts describes how they began to do just that. The rest of the New Testament is a series of letters written in the context of the events of Acts giving detailed teachings about the Identity, Character and Impact of Jesus Christ as He Heads His Church in proclaiming the Good News of God’s Reconciling, Forgiving Life to a blind world.
~~~~~~~
Paul’s Consistent story: On way to Damascus to persecute Christians.
Bright Light - Fell to ground, blinded - Voice asking “why”? Answered “Jesus” - given instructions for ministry.
LDS Changing story:
-The date / his age — from 1823 (age 16), to 1821 (age 15), to 1820 (age 14) -The reason or motive for seeking divine help — from no motive (a spirit appears with the news of gold plates), Bible reading and conviction of sins, a revival, a desire to know if God exists. -Who appears to him — a spirit, an angel, two angels, Jesus, many angels, the Father and the Son.
BIBLE TEXT SECTIONS:
Acts 22 - Paul and Roman Tribune - Paul Before the Council
Acts 23 - Plot to Kill Paul - Paul Sent to Felix the Governor
Acts 24 - Paul Before Felix at Caesarea - Paul Kept in Custody
Acts 25 - Paul Appeals to Caesar - Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice
Acts 26 - Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa - Paul Tells of His Conversion
Acts 27 - Paul Sails for Rome - The Storm at Sea - Shipwreck
Acts 28 - Paul on Malta - Paul Arrives in Rome - Paul in Rome
Read the Book yourself then…
watch the Bible Project video on Acts
Neil Evans COMMENTS:
The Apostles and followers of Jesus were seeing the Church of Jesus Christ grow dramatically everywhere the truths about Jesus’ Life, Message, and Resurrection was shared. People were realizing that Jesus had paid the penalty that centuries of Temple sacrifices and ceremonies could never pay. They were being set free from the futility of keeping rules to gain God’s approval. So, of course, this gave the Jewish leaders great concern as they sensed their authority and prestige slipping away. When they heard that Paul, the primary preacher of what they considered heresies about Jesus, was in Jerusalem, they immediately had him arrested. They would have killed Paul if a Roman soldier had not rescued him and placed Paul under Roman guard.
Under threat of prosecution by the Jews, as a Roman citizen Paul appealed to Caesar. That appeal led to interviews by local Roman rulers and ultimately in Rome. Paul used every meeting as an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus. Every time he shared the story of his transforming encounter with the risen Jesus, he told the same story of his hateful trip to Damascus, the blinding light, Jesus’ voice and instructions for his near and distant future. Like all the Biblical accounts of Jesus words and deeds, Paul’s testimony was consistent and verified by a multitude of historically reliable sources.
The workbook makes the claim that Joseph Smith’s various testimonies of his encounter with Jesus are similar to Paul’s in that the variations are due to adapting the descriptions to different audiences. On one occasion he said simply that a spirit appeared to him telling of golden plates. It is understandable that on other occasions Joseph Smith could have explained a variety of motives for seeking divine help. It cannot be true to claim that giving different dates (years apart) are consistent descriptions of his claimed encounter with Jesus. Additionally, it is not consistent for him to give different accounts of who appeared to him. In differing descriptions it is claimed that a spirit, an angel, two angels, many angels, Jesus, the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph in that first encounter in the grove. Either it was a very crowed meeting, the date of which is not accurately remembered, or it is a story that evolved over time. Either way, it cannot be reasonably claimed that the descriptions are consistent.
One of the truly amazing things about the book of Acts, and in fact the whole Bible, is its’ historical accuracy and internal consistency. While anyone can dispute the meaning of any ancient stories and documents, it is another matter to truthfully dispute the historical accuracy of the text of the Bible. Archaeology and literary studies have, and continue to, confirm and support the accuracy of Biblical descriptions of real places, events and people. And, wonderfully, if the Bible story of human history is accurate and consistent, the meaning of the Bible deserves very serious consideration as well. No other religious texts even come close to measuring up to the tests the Bible passes.
As was the Apostle Paul, the followers of Jesus were tasked with being “ministers and witnesses” of Who Jesus Christ is and of what He did and does. The Bible book of Acts describes how they began to do just that. The rest of the New Testament is a series of letters written in the context of the events of Acts giving detailed teachings about the Identity, Character and Impact of Jesus Christ as He Heads His Church in proclaiming the Good News of God’s Reconciling, Forgiving Life to a blind world.
~~~~~~~
Paul’s Consistent story: On way to Damascus to persecute Christians.
Bright Light - Fell to ground, blinded - Voice asking “why”? Answered “Jesus” - given instructions for ministry.
LDS Changing story:
-The date / his age — from 1823 (age 16), to 1821 (age 15), to 1820 (age 14) -The reason or motive for seeking divine help — from no motive (a spirit appears with the news of gold plates), Bible reading and conviction of sins, a revival, a desire to know if God exists. -Who appears to him — a spirit, an angel, two angels, Jesus, many angels, the Father and the Son.
Check out these LINKS:
Watch Bible Project video about Acts
Read "Bible Words to Ponder" related to this week study
Read "The Gospel"