Last week we read of the conversion of Saul. How important this was for the church can be seen by noticing what Luke records in Acts 9:31 that after Saul’s conversion the church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. But the persecution that Saul was a major part of actually caused the advancement of the Gospel to Gentile areas (Acts 11:19). God is truly sovereign and things that appear to us as evil and pointless He may be using to bring about His divine purposes.
We run across two different Herod’s in our reading this week. The first is found in Acts 12:1 and refers to Herod Agrippi I. He was a grandson of Herod the Great who died in 4 B.C. and who was responsible for the slaughter of the young boys in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16). Herod Agrippi I, Luke tells us, was responsible for James, the brother of John being executed (Acts 12:2) and having Peter arrested. He died in A.D. 44. The second Herod mentioned is found in Acts 13:1. This is Herod Antipas who was a son of Herod the Great. He is often mentioned in the Gospels and was the ruler over Galilee and Perea until A.D. 39. He had John the Baptist beheaded (Mk 6:14-28) and was involved in the trial of Jesus (Lk 23:7-11). Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias will have information on the Herods.
There are also two Antiochs mentioned this week. The first is of major importance for the spread of the Gospel. Luke mentions it in Acts 11:19. It was the third largest city in the Roman world. The only cities larger were Rome and Alexandria. This Antioch became the ‘home base’ for the missionary efforts of Paul. The early church historian Eusebius said that this city was the birthplace of Luke, but there is no way of knowing if his information is correct. To distinguish it from the many other cities with that name it is referred to as Antioch in Syria or Antioch on the Orontes River. It was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and a Free City which meant they were essentially self-ruled although they still had to pay taxes to Rome. There were temples to many Greek gods and the Greek/Roman culture was everywhere. The main street had colonnaded porticoes on both sides with 3200 polished marble columns.
The other Antioch we read about this week is in Acts 13:14. Luke refers to it as Pisidian Antioch to differentiate it from the one in Syria. It was a Roman Colony. This meant that the citizens of this city were Roman citizens. They were exempt from Roman Taxes. This section of Acts from 13:4 through 13:16 deserves a little comment. We are told that the proconsul of Cyprus was named Sergius Paulus. Roman citizens had three names, a first name (praenomen), a middle name (nomen), and a surname (cognomen). Inscriptions have been found that many scholars believe refer to this Sergius Paulus. They believe his full Roman or Latin name was Lucius Sergius Paullus. What makes this of interest is that archeological records have been found indicating members of this family were wealthy prominent landowners around Pisidian Antioch. The Saul that we have been reading about so far in Acts was also a Roman citizen. His Jewish name was Saul of Tarsus, but he would also have had three Roman names. The only one we are given in Scripture is his surname, Greek Paulus or in Latin Paullus. F.F. Bruce believed that much could be learned if we knew his full Roman name. (See his New Testament History available in the Church Library, page 235). You may notice that ‘Saul’ begins using his Roman name in Acts 13:9. Putting what we know together we notice that Paul sails from Paphos in Cyprus to Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). Perga was a large city that even had a theater that would hold 14,000 spectators. But Luke records no preaching by Paul on this visit through Perga. It’s as if Paul is on a mission to get to Pisidian Antioch as quickly as possible. Could it be that Sergius Paulus had asked Paul to take the message of the Gospel to his lost relatives? Paul will however preach in Perga on his way back from his first missionary journey in Acts 14:25. Maps, Bible Dictionary articles, and Study Bible notes along with photographs and drawings in these resources can enhance your understanding of the Scriptures and make them come more alive as you mediate on His word.
We run across two different Herod’s in our reading this week. The first is found in Acts 12:1 and refers to Herod Agrippi I. He was a grandson of Herod the Great who died in 4 B.C. and who was responsible for the slaughter of the young boys in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16). Herod Agrippi I, Luke tells us, was responsible for James, the brother of John being executed (Acts 12:2) and having Peter arrested. He died in A.D. 44. The second Herod mentioned is found in Acts 13:1. This is Herod Antipas who was a son of Herod the Great. He is often mentioned in the Gospels and was the ruler over Galilee and Perea until A.D. 39. He had John the Baptist beheaded (Mk 6:14-28) and was involved in the trial of Jesus (Lk 23:7-11). Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias will have information on the Herods.
There are also two Antiochs mentioned this week. The first is of major importance for the spread of the Gospel. Luke mentions it in Acts 11:19. It was the third largest city in the Roman world. The only cities larger were Rome and Alexandria. This Antioch became the ‘home base’ for the missionary efforts of Paul. The early church historian Eusebius said that this city was the birthplace of Luke, but there is no way of knowing if his information is correct. To distinguish it from the many other cities with that name it is referred to as Antioch in Syria or Antioch on the Orontes River. It was the capital of the Roman province of Syria and a Free City which meant they were essentially self-ruled although they still had to pay taxes to Rome. There were temples to many Greek gods and the Greek/Roman culture was everywhere. The main street had colonnaded porticoes on both sides with 3200 polished marble columns.
The other Antioch we read about this week is in Acts 13:14. Luke refers to it as Pisidian Antioch to differentiate it from the one in Syria. It was a Roman Colony. This meant that the citizens of this city were Roman citizens. They were exempt from Roman Taxes. This section of Acts from 13:4 through 13:16 deserves a little comment. We are told that the proconsul of Cyprus was named Sergius Paulus. Roman citizens had three names, a first name (praenomen), a middle name (nomen), and a surname (cognomen). Inscriptions have been found that many scholars believe refer to this Sergius Paulus. They believe his full Roman or Latin name was Lucius Sergius Paullus. What makes this of interest is that archeological records have been found indicating members of this family were wealthy prominent landowners around Pisidian Antioch. The Saul that we have been reading about so far in Acts was also a Roman citizen. His Jewish name was Saul of Tarsus, but he would also have had three Roman names. The only one we are given in Scripture is his surname, Greek Paulus or in Latin Paullus. F.F. Bruce believed that much could be learned if we knew his full Roman name. (See his New Testament History available in the Church Library, page 235). You may notice that ‘Saul’ begins using his Roman name in Acts 13:9. Putting what we know together we notice that Paul sails from Paphos in Cyprus to Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). Perga was a large city that even had a theater that would hold 14,000 spectators. But Luke records no preaching by Paul on this visit through Perga. It’s as if Paul is on a mission to get to Pisidian Antioch as quickly as possible. Could it be that Sergius Paulus had asked Paul to take the message of the Gospel to his lost relatives? Paul will however preach in Perga on his way back from his first missionary journey in Acts 14:25. Maps, Bible Dictionary articles, and Study Bible notes along with photographs and drawings in these resources can enhance your understanding of the Scriptures and make them come more alive as you mediate on His word.
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