Acts IV

22:1 This shapes up to be less of a defense, and more of a testimony. Paul's tacit admission of the need for a defense is very shrewd on his part, as is his address of the crowd as "brothers and fathers".

22:12 A very nice spin of Ananias' role in all this: to portray him as a devout Jew, rather than a Christian.

22:21 His only misstep seems to be bringing the Gentiles into it; they were no doubt eating out of his hand up until that point. The Jews' misplaced racial pride trumps their reason again.

22:29 This opens an interesting question. I never really questioned the idea of Paul's Roman citizenship before, but having read a little bit more Tacitus and Plutarch since I last visited the Bible, I remember that actual citizenship was far more rare than one would think of, given the word's modern usage. To be a Roman citizen was something that not even all the residents of Rome were granted, let alone those in the outer provinces. What is it about Paul's background that allows him to make this claim?

23:3 Paul seems emboldened by intimations of his impending death

23:5 So, obviously Paul knew who Ananias was. This lends credence to theories that his eyesight was not the best

23:6 I never noticed this rather brilliant maneuver before. Paul is not going down without a fight!

23:12 Which Jews? The lack of specificity is a bit maddening at times.

23:16 Paul's sister? Never heard of her before this.

23:35 I wonder if the would be assassins are still fasting at this point . . .

24:2 Tertullus' flattery is clearly going to be no match for Paul's superior powers of rhetoric

24:9 I suppose which Jews are meant is clear enough here.

24:21 Paul does not even seem to be making an effort here. He just blandly recounts the facts--although he does make a smooth semantic cover-up in v. 23.

24:27 Is this two years that Paul was in prison, or two years that Felix was governor?

25:6 prudent to delay, in this case. It gives the Jews time to cool down and reflect on their hotheaded plan.

25:8 I'm not sure this was strictly true. Paul, with his semantic skill, could have argued the case, but it would have been disingenuous to do so.

25:12 and of course Paul's motives were more complex than he lets on. He seems resigned to his death at this point, and determined, not to live, but to go out with a bang.

26:2 This is not the first time that Paul begins with something resembling flattery

26:10 I question the translation of the word "saints" here. It seems a bit revisionist. What is the etymology of that word anyway? Was Paul really taking the liberty of calling his peers consecrated before their bodies were even cold?

26:14 This is not what the voice said, according to the earlier account. Which account is correct? One of two things seems likely: that Paul engaged in a rhetorical liberty here, or that Luke's source of this story was something other than first hand.

26:23 By no stretch of the imagination was Jesus the first to rise from the dead.

26:29, 32 Two things here give support to the idea that Paul has resigned himself to his death. He entreats Agrippa, not for his life, but for his belief. Secondly, his appeal to the Emperor is counter to the goal of escaping death.

27:1 Back to first person, indicating Luke's presence on this part of the journey. Was he with Paul under arrest in Judea? Or did he join the party just in time to travel to Rome, and the final curtain?

27:3 In what way did Paul need to be cared for? Is his health also failing as the end draws close? That would explain some of his resignation. Or are they caring for him in the sense of ministering to him?

27:6 So they even have a Roman escort after this point?

27:23 This verse is downright weird. Firstly, Paul says that he belongs to a particular angel. The metaphysical implications of this are significant, somewhat along the lines of a Guardian Angel--for one person, at least. Elsewhere, certain nations are also said to have particular angels. What is the arrangement here? Also, Paul says that he worships the angel. The implications here are even more profound. Is worhip really offered to individual angels? If so, that's a pretty Catholic theology.

27:34 Did the crew refrain from eating because of anxiety, or nausea, or some other reason? Clearly there was food available.

27:42 I guess this answers the question of Paul's escort.

28:6 Paul clearly possesses some power of his own at this point--it is no longer necessary to pray or concentrate for miracles to be performed.

28:8 In some cases, that is.

28:28 Except that they have proven no better.

28:30 what funds did Paul have that allowed him to live thus?