I tried
to look into Diana of the Ephesians, but have decided to give this mythological
goddess a miss at this time. The
silversmiths at Ephesus were keen to keep their trade in making silver shrines
to the goddess. Paul’s teaching of the one God would put them out of
business. The town clerk soothes the tensions. Paul moves on.
We find
that the raising of Eutychus happened at Troas which can be easily found on our
little map. It seems that Luke has been
personally in the picture since Acts 16:10, where the “we” is introduced.
That initial mention of him is at Troas.
It is May
23 to-day and I have neglected Paul and Luke for some days. On looking at Dummelow’s One Volume Bible Commentary regarding Chapter 21, I found this
interesting information:
“Tyre -
The greatest maritime city of the ancient world, claiming to have been founded
as early as 2750 B.C. It produced glass and purple dye, but its chief
wealth came from the fact that it almost monopolised the carrying trade of the
world. The Tyrian mariners were so skilled in astronomy, and constructed
such accurate charts, that they sailed by night as well as by day, and made
long voyages out of sight of land. They are known to have circumnavigated
Africa – an extraordinary feat for the small ships of the ancients.”
Paul’s
ship was un-laden of its cargo (wonder what it was?) in Tyre, and Paul and Luke
must have been glad to find Christian disciples there. They stayed seven
days and were warned by the disciples not to go to Jerusalem. These
disciples must have been in touch with the Holy Spirit which Julie wrote
about. Interesting that wives and children were in the farewelling party.
Verse 9
has a passing mention of Philip the evangelist’s four virgin daughters who
prophesied. One is reminded of Science &Health’s Glossary
definition of “Prophet: A spiritual seer; disappearance of material sense
before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth.” Students of Christian
Science are prophets when they exhibit evidence of that definition.
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