AN UNDESIGNED COINCIDENCE Between Acts and Archaeology

 I recently learned a new undesigned coincidence while watching a documentary. The documentary ("The Last Apostle"--included with Amazon Prime) features a modern-day William Ramsay named Dr. Mark Fairchild. Fairchild is professor of New Testament at Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana. And the documentary follows Fairchild on a two-week trip through Turkey, following the footsteps of Paul. Very interesting and worth the two hours.

Anyways, in Acts 13:4ff, Paul and Barnabas meet the proconsul Sergius Paulus on the island of Cyprus and he becomes a believer. After they leave Cyprus, they sail to Perga and from there make the 3-4 week trek by foot to Pisidian Antioch. Towards the end of the documentary, Fairchild begins to talk about this event as they head towards Pisidian Antioch. And he says (in a rather matter-of-fact way) that after the proconsul Sergio Paulus is converted, he asks Paul and Barnabas to go to Pisidian Antioch to bring the Gospel to his friends and relatives. 

I didn't remember reading that, so I turned to Acts 13 and found that Acts says nothing about such a conversation--not even a hint. So I'm a little confused at this point. (Maybe I missed something Fairchild said, as I was doing something else as I was watching.) At any rate, after Fairchild reaches Pisidian Antioch, he heads to the local museum where they are housing a recently discovered inscription bearing the name Sergius Paulus! So Fairchild concludes rather confidently that Sergius Paulus is from Pisidian Antioch and that the reason that Paul and Barnabas travel to Pisidian Antioch is because Sergius Paulus pleads with them to do so. This makes good sense in light of the recent find of this inscription of Sergius Paulus at Pisidian Antioch--yet Luke does not even hint at it in Acts.

This is an interesting way in which archaeology fills in information that Acts does not give us but which makes perfect sense in light of what Acts does tell us. This does not happen with fiction. This happens with reliable eyewitness accounts. 

Check out this excellent article from Bible Archaeology Report that not only has a photo of the Sergio Paulus inscription featured in Fairchild's documentary but also another found near Pisidian Antioch and others from Cyprus (where Paul met Sergius Paulus in Acts 13).

Also, here is the link to The Last Apostle documentary where I first learned about this.

To learn more about what an "undesigned coincidence" is, why it is such a powerful evidence of reliable eyewitness testimony and to see many more examples....see my article here.

Elymas the sorcerer is struck blind before Sergius Paulus. Painting by Raphael. Public domain.

ARE THE GOSPELS FACT OR FICTION?: A conversation with three experts

The YouTube video that preserves this live stream event is found here.

............

Don't miss this! I am super excited about this opportunity--as I've been asked to host this interview!

Here's your chance to hear evidence for the Gospels that you likely never heard before....as three experts offer new and creative insights into the Gospels from philosophy, literature, ancient history, and comparative religions.

FREE ONLINE SEMINARY: Course of Study, Phase 3

NOTE: Phase 3 is still partly under construction, but I wanted to make this available since it has been a year since Phases 1 and 2 were made available.

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in Phase 3, you will:

• start building an understanding of systematic theology,
• survey the New Testament, completing an overview of the Bible,
• look closely at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke,
• learn how the Gospel began to spread through the world as seen in Acts,
• take a brief look at the apostolic fathers, their contemporaries and their disciples,
• gain an understanding of the formation of the canon of Scripture,
• be encouraged to be an intercessor for others,
• continue to build on your knowledge of New Testament Greek, and 
• keep working on your major project.

1. SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
*ONLINE CLASS: "Systematic Theology" by Wayne Grudem. Do the first half of this class for this phase and the last half for Phase 4.

*MEMORY VERSES: Don't forget to make note of verses used in the lectures to memorize as you work through this class.
*READING: Choose from the following:

*Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. Cheaper at Ebay. FREE at Internet Archive. (Make sure you get the complete book and not one of the partial editions. The revised edition was published in December 2020, and if you can afford it, you should get that. If not, the first edition will be fine and will save you a lot of money.

*Old Paths: Being Plain Statements of Some of the Weightier Matters of Christianity by J.C. Ryle. FREE at Internet Archive and here. FREE audio here (or Librivox app). One of the great preachers and Christian thinkers of the 19th Century. In this book, he confronts the liberal "Christian" movement (whose heirs today often call themselves "progressive Christians") that was beginning to have great influence and would sadly soon take over the mainline denominations. See a brief biography of Ryle here with links to much more (including an audio biography).

*Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof. (Kindle only $2). Hard copies cheaper at eBay. FREE at Biblical Training's Online Library. A classic reformed work on systematic theology. Theologian Wayne Grudem (whose systematic theology is considered by many to be the best today) has called Berkhof's Systematic Theology "a great treasure-house of information and analysis....probably the most useful one-volume systematic theology available from any theological perspective." (as quoted in the Wikipedia article on Berkhof)

*Introduction to Dogmatic Theology by E.A. Litton. FREE at Hathi Trust. A systematic theology by a 19th Century Anglican that has recently been republished and received a lot of positive reception.

*ASSIGNMENT: Choose an issue of theology has focused your heart on God or helped you greatly in your understanding and create an essay, blog article, sermon, devotional, or YouTube....or perhaps write a hymn.


2. NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY
*ONLINE CLASS: New Testament Survey: Part 1 (Gospels) by Dr. Robert Stein
*ONLINE CLASS: New Testament Survey: Part 2 (Acts to Revelation) by Dr. Robert Stein

*MEMORY VERSES: Choose memory verses from your reading of the New Testament.
*READING: Read the entire New Testament in coordination with the classes.
*WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Keep a notebook or document for writing a brief summary of each book of the New Testament following the class related to that book.
*OPTIONAL READING (but highly recommended as a resource that you can turn to again and again): An Introduction to the New Testament by D.A. Carson and Douglas Moo. Or find it cheaper at Ebay or Addall.
*Also, don't forget that you can find many more FREE resources here: "Bible & Theology Reference Works Online: Massive Selection + My Recommendations"




3. GOSPEL OF LUKE

*INTRODUCTION TO THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS:

*Video: "What Are the Synoptic Gospels and Where Do They Come From?" (9 minutes)

*Article: "Why Four Gospels?" by David Alan Black

*Article: "The So-Called Synoptic Problem" by Brad Cooper. There is a short article followed by lots of resources if you want to study this issue further.

*ONLINE COURSE: "The Gospel of Luke from the Outside In" by Dr. D.A. Carson

*MEMORY VERSES: Choose verses to memorize as you are reading through Luke.
*READING: 

*Read or listen to the Gospel of Luke once. Then read through it again in conjunction with the online course above.

*CHOOSE A  COMMENTARY BELOW TO FOLLOW THE ONLINE COURSE:

*Expository Thoughts on Luke by J.C. Ryle. (After clicking on the link to the FREE PDF version, scroll down in the PDF file to find "Expository Thoughts on Luke.") If you want a commentary that will fill your mind with wisdom, application and fire, this is it. Also FREE in audio in 2 volumes: Volume 1 & Volume 2....or on the Librivox app. FREE PDF at Internet Archive: Volume 1 and Volume 2. Paperback and FREE Kindle version at Amazon. 

*Luke (The IVP New Testament Commentary Series) by Darrell Bock. An excellent and relatively concise, non-technical commentary.

*The Expositor's Greek Testament (General Editor, Nicoll W. Robertson): Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke by A.B. Bruce: Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels & Commentary on Luke. This is a classic commentary and one of the best older technical commentaries for exegesis of the Greek. But you will have to have some knowledge of Greek to make good use of this. Also available in Kindle format for $2.99. Also online here.

**If you have the money to spend (and there are cheap copies of the first one), check out these excellent commentaries:

*The NIV Application Commentary: Luke by Darrel Bock. An excellent non-technical commentary by one of the greatest living authorities on Luke. Also at Ebay.

*Luke (IVP Commentary series) by Darrel Bock. Also at Ebay.

*Luke (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Darrel Bock. An incredible 2-volume technical commentary. My personal favorite. Also on Ebay and Addall.

*Also, don't forget that you can find many more FREE resources here: "Bible & Theology Reference Works Online: Massive Selection + My Recommendations"

*WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Suggested Options: Create a Bible study with questions and answers for teaching a class through Luke, a theme from Luke or a passage from Luke. Write a sermon based on a passage in Luke. Write a blog devotional or even a series of devotionals based on Luke. Write a paper answering a question that  you have concerning the Gospel of Luke.


4. ACTS 

(I recommend that you complete the course on the GOSPEL OF LUKE above first.)

*Timeline for Acts by Brad Cooper
*ONLINE COURSE: "23 Lectures on Acts" by Dr. Craig Keener

*MEMORY VERSES: Choose verses to memorize as you are reading through Acts.
*READING: 

*Read or listen to Acts once. Then read through it again in conjunction with the online course above.

*CHOOSE A  COMMENTARY BELOW TO FOLLOW THE ONLINE COURSE: 

*A Commentary on Acts of Apostles by J. W. McGarvey. A classic. Also here. Several cheap editions on Kindle.

*The Expositor's Greek Testament (General Editor, Nicoll W. Robertson), Volume 2: Commentary on Acts. This is a classic commentary and one of the best older technical commentaries for exegesis of the Greek. But you will have to have some knowledge of Greek to make good use of this. Also available in Kindle format for $5.98. Also online here.

**If you have the money to spend (and there are cheap copies of the first one), check out these excellent commentaries:

*Acts (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by F.F. Bruce. An excellent non-technical commentary by one of the greatest New Testament scholars of the past century. Also at Ebay and Amazon.

*Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Darrel Bock. An excellent technical commentary. Also on Ebay and Amazon.

*Also, don't forget that you can find many more FREE resources here: "Bible & Theology Reference Works Online: Massive Selection + My Recommendations"

*WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Suggested Options: Create a Bible study with questions and answers for teaching a class through Acts, a theme from Acts or a passage from Acts. Write a sermon based on a passage in Acts. Write a blog devotional or even a series of devotionals based on Acts. Write a paper answering a question that  you have concerning Acts.


5. WHO ARE THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS?
*ARTICLE: "Who Are The Apostolic Fathers?" by Brad Cooper
*LECTURE: "Apostolic Fathers" by Dr. Ryan Reeves (28 minutes)
*READING: Read or listen to the Apostolic Fathers for yourself using The Apostolic Fathers (2nd Edition) by Lightfoot, Joseph Barber and J.R. Harmer. Edited by Michael W. Holmes. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989. A standard collection of the writings of the apostolic fathers with introductions and commentary. An older edition of this work is in the public domain and is available for FREE! many places. You can find both the text and MP3 audio files FREE! to download here (click on the book icon next to the title you want).  Also available FREE! in ebook here. It may be read online or downloaded as a PDF. A nice online version is also available FREE here.

*ASSIGNMENT: Create an essay, blog article or YouTube explaining the importance of the apostolic fathers or focusing in on just one of them that you find most intriguing.


6. APOLOGETICS: THE BIBLICAL CANON
*MEMORY VERSES: Choose verses from the resources below.
*LECTURE: "How we got the Old Testament Canon" by Mike Winger (49 minutes)
*DIALOGUE: "James White & Michael Kruger on the Biblical Canon" (60 minutes)
*ONLINE COURSE: "The Origins of the New Testament Canon" by Michael J. Kruger (4 sessions)
*"The New Testament Canon: Human Invention Or Divine Gift?" by Brad Cooper
*READING: The Historic Evidence of The Authorship and Transmission of the Books of the New Testament by Samuel Prideux Tregelles. (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, 1881). Available for FREE at Internet Archive.
*OPTIONAL READING (but both highly recommended): 
*Canon Revisited by Michael J. Kruger
*The Heresy of Orthodoxy by Michael J. Kruger

*ASSIGNMENT: Create a paper, blog article, YouTube video or class explaining why we can have confidence that the books of the New Testament are the books that God wanted us to have.


7. PRAYER & INTERCESSION
*SERMON: "
*MEMORY VERSE: Choose verses from the resources below.
*READING:  

*Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds. Paperback version is cheaper on eBay. And FREE here in ebook and audio. "Power through Prayer has been called one of the truly great masterpieces on the theme of prayer." The complete collection of E.M. Bounds on prayer: The Complete Collection of E. M. Bounds on Prayer. FREE here.

*Article: "The Proof Of The Living God As Found In The Prayer Life Of George Müller Of Bristol" by A.T. Pierson. FREE! Optionally read Pierson's biography of Muller. (Free Kindle book). Also FREE at Internet Archive. Also FREE in audiobook (or Librivox app)

*JOURNAL: Continue your daily prayer journal. Make the entries as long or as brief as you want. Write down prayer requests, answers to prayer, thanksgiving and worship, etc.  If you have nothing to write down, then simply make note of that.


8. NEW TESTAMENT GREEK

*READING: A Manual Grammar of The Greek New Testament by H.E. Dana and Julius R. Mantey
*Choose from the FREE resources at my blog page here. I will try to find more advanced FREE resources to post there.

9. MAJOR PROJECT
*By now you should be starting to gain a firm grasp on your subject--perhaps even having gained a certain level of expertise (depending on many factors). 
*Do more reading in this area. Search for courses or videos related to tis area. Continue working on your project.

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THOUGHTS FOR YOUR JOURNEY

COULD THE APOSTLES HAVE WRITTEN THE NEW TESTAMENT IF THEY WERE UNEDUCATED?

"When they [members of the Sanhedrin] saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (NIV)

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The claim is sometimes made that the apostles could not have written the New Testament because Acts 4:13 says that "they were unschooled, ordinary men."

Is that so?

No. And here is why:

First, the relevant passage at Acts 4:13 only refers to Peter and John at a point soon after the resurrection (33AD). It tells us nothing of the education of the other apostles. For example, Matthew was a tax collector and probably had training similar to an amanuensis (that is, a secretary). Nor does it tell us of any education the apostles received in the intervening decades between the resurrection and the writing of the New Testament. 

Second, it does not make any difference if they used an amanuensis (secretary). It was very common in the ancient world for someone to dictate to an amanuensis/secretary whatever they wanted to be written down in a letter, etc. The amanuensis would take notes and then write it all down for them. 

• This was the case with all of Paul's letters (though he was very highly educated). He only wrote the closing greeting (2 Thessalonians 3:17)  
• And in the case of Peter, Mark was the writer of his Gospel account and he almost certainly used an amanuensis for at least one of his letters. 
• In the case of John, he also almost certainly used an amanuensis for his Gospel (which I strongly believe was John's disciple Papias). 

Finally, this comment by members of the Sanhedrin recorded in Acts 4:13 probably has nothing to do with whether they could read or write, but rather with whether they had received training under one of their approved Rabbis or something beyond the ancient world's equivalent of grade school. "Higher education" in the ancient world was focused on rhetoric. And probably they were amazed that in spite of the fact that they had none of the rhetorical skill that came with that kind of higher education, they were still able to speak very effectively.

On the other hand.....

Pointing to their lack of training in rhetoric only brings up a more serious problem for the skeptic, as pointed out by the quote below....and also in the book Too Good To Be False by Tom Gilson.