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17:32 the resurrection: A strange and scandalous notion to Athenian ears. The Greeks believed only in the immortality of the soul; the body, they thought, was a prison from which the soul would be happily liberated at death (CCC 996). Back to text.
17:34 Dionysius: One tradition identifies him as the first bishop of Athens. Other traditions link him with mystical writings from Syria that probably date to the fifth century A.D. Back to text.
18:1 Corinth: The capital of the Roman province of Achaia (southern Greece) and one of the leading commercial and tourist centers of the Mediterranean world. It was home to numerous Greco-Roman religious cults and at least one Jewish synagogue. The Corinthians had a tarnished reputation for sexual impurity and ruthless business tactics. Paul arrived in the city around A.D. 51 and would later address several letters to the community: 1 and 2 Corinthians, and at least one letter that has not survived (1 Cor 5:9). Back to text.
18:2 Aquila: He and his wife were Jewish Christians recently come from Rome. The couple worked closely with Paul in Corinth (18:3), moved on from there to Ephesus (18:18-19), and eventually made it back to Rome (Rom 16:3-5). They were longtime supporters of his apostolic work (1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19). Claudius: The Roman Caesar from A.D. 41 to 54. He expelled the Jewish population of Rome from the capital in A.D. 49 because of disturbances instigated by a certain "Chrestus". Many scholars take this as a reference to Christ (Lat. Christus) and suggest the commotion was caused by disputes over the messiahship of Jesus in the synagogue communities of the city. Back to text.
18:5 Silas and Timothy: Arrived from Beroea (17:14). It was about this time that Paul wrote his NT letters to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1). Back to text.
18:6 shook out his garments: Paul symbolically refused to bear responsibility for the rejection of the gospel by Corinthian Jews (13:51). Their refusal called down a curse of bloodguilt upon themselves. See note on Acts 5:28. Back to text.
18:7 a worshiper of God: Titius was a righteous Gentile or "God-fearer" attracted to Judaism. See note on Acts 10:2. Back to text.
18:8 Crispus: The leading synagogue elder who was personally baptized by Paul (1 Cor 1:14). Back to text.
18:10 I am with you: The Lord assures Paul of divine protection and success during his Corinthian ministry. • Paul is comforted with words spoken many times to the patriarchs and prophets of the OT (Gen 26:24; 28:15; Ex 3:12; Judg 6:12; Jer 1:8). Back to text.
18:12 Gallio: An archeological discovery in Greece (Delphi) indicates he was proconsul of Achaia from A.D. 51 to 52. He was the older brother of the famous Roman philosopher Seneca. Back to text.
18:13 contrary to the law: Roman law recognized and protected numerous religions in the empire, including Judaism. The Jews, attempting to discredit the Christian message and disassociate the budding Church from Judaism, accused Paul of promoting a new religion that was neither recognized nor authorized by Rome. Gallio dismissed the charge because he considered the matter an intramural debate among the Jews to be settled in the synagogue (18:15). Back to text.
18:17 Sosthenes: Possibly the associate of Paul mentioned in 1 Cor 1:1. If so, he was the second synagogue ruler, after Crispus (18:8), to become a Christian in Corinth. Back to text.
18:18 Cenchre-ae: An eastern seaport on the isthmus near Corinth. A Church was eventually founded there as well (Rom 16:1). he had a vow: A temporary commitment to abstain from cutting the hair (Num 6:5). The vow was probably a gesture of thanksgiving for God's deliverance (18:10), and its completion involved shaving the head. For another example of Paul performing Jewish ceremonial rites, see 21:23-26 (CCC 2102). Back to text.
18:22 he went up: Suggests Paul made a short visit to Jerusalem, which sits 2,500 feet above sea level. Back to text.
18:23-21:15 Paul's third missionary journey, from A.D. 53 to 58. He began his overland travel through southern Galatia (18:23), spent much of his time in Ephesus (20:31), and ended the tour in Jerusalem (21:17). Back to text.
18:24 Apollos: A convert from Judaism whose extensive knowledge of the OT made him an effective Christian apologist (18:28). After a ministry in Ephesus, where his own understanding of the faith was deepened and refined (18:26), he moved on to Corinth to follow up on the work that Paul had begun (19:1; 1 Cor 3:6). Alexandria: A port city on the northern coast of Egypt. It was home to a large settlement of Jews and was the second largest city in the Mediterranean world after Rome. Back to text.
18:26 the way: A code name for the early Christian movement. See note on Acts 9:2. Back to text.
19:1 Ephesus: The most distinguished city in the Roman province of Asia (southwest Turkey). As a cultural, commercial, and religious center, it drew tourists and entrepreneurs from all over the Mediterranean, and by NT times it was hailed the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire. Ephesus was also the guardian of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the temple of Artemis (19:24). Back to text.
19:2 never even heard: Only fragments of the gospel reached Ephesus before Paul's arrival. This small band of disciples knew only the baptism of John and nothing of sacramental Baptism or the gift of the Holy Spirit. Back to text.
19:6 laid his hands: For the distinction between this gesture and Baptism, See note on Acts 8:16. Back to text.
19:9 the Way: A code name for the early Christian movement. See note on Acts 9:2. the hall of Tyrannus: An educational facility or lecture hall for addressing large numbers. Back to text.
19:10 two years: Paul's longest missionary stop in Acts. Adding the previous "three months" of preaching in the synagogue (19:8), his work in Ephesus extended just beyond the years A.D. 53 to 55 toward a third year (20:31). He wrote 1 Corinthians at some point during his stay (1 Cor 16:8). all the residents of Asia: Prolonged evangelization led eventually to the founding of Churches in numerous Asian cities during NT times, such as Collosae, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia (Col 1:2; 4:13; Rev 1:11). Back to text.
19:11 extraordinary miracles: Divine power flowed so powerfully through Paul that even his work clothes were used to drive away demons and diseases. He wore the "handkerchiefs" around his head, and the "aprons" he tied around his waist (19:12). • According to Catholic tradition, the bodies of the saints and even their belongings can occasion great miracles in the presence of faith. This perspective on the efficacy of holy relics is corroborated by other biblical passages (2 Kings 13:21; Mt 14:36; Mk 5:27-30). See note on Acts 5:15. Back to text.
19:13 Jewish exorcists: The profession was recognized in Judaism, sometimes in connection with the power over spirits given to Solomon, the son of David (Wis 7:20; Mt 12:22-27). Back to text.
19:14 Sceva: Otherwise unknown. His sons were overpowered by the demon (19:16) because they made unauthorized use of a Christian exorcistic formula, i.e., they wielded the name of Jesus without faith in him or a commitment to his teaching. See note on Acts 4:12. Back to text.
19:19 burned them: The Ephesian believers threw their magical and superstitious books onto a bonfire as a public act of renunciation. pieces of silver: With each coin equivalent to a single day's wage, the value of the library was worth 50,000 days' earnings. Back to text.
19:21 I must also see Rome: Paul is magnetically drawn to the imperial capital in Italy (23:11), finally arriving there at the climax of Acts (28:14-31). Back to text.
19:23 the Way: A code name for the early Christian movement. See note on Acts 9:2. Back to text.
19:23-41 The riot at Ephesus shows how the good news of the gospel was bad news for the idols and idol manufacturers of antiquity. Here Demetrius and a guild of tradesmen turn the city against missionaries whose promotion of one God dishonored the cult of Artemis and led to a sharp decline in the sale of miniature Artemis statues. The impression comes through that Demetrius was zealous not only to preserve the honor of the goddess (19:27), but even more so to protect his source of income (19:25). See note on Acts 14:15. Back to text.
19:24 Artemis: A goddess and huntress of Greek mythology whose cult was widely followed throughout the Roman world (19:27). In Ephesus, which was the center of Artemis worship and the home of her magnificent temple, she was closely associated with the ancient mother goddess of Asia Minor and was revered as a patroness of fertility. Figurines unearthed in recent times depict her as a woman with multiple breasts. Back to text.
19:29 the theater: Archeologists estimate that the Ephesian amphitheater seated nearly 25,000 people. Gaius: Possibly mentioned in Rom 16:23, but this is uncertain. Aristarchus: Accompanied Paul on his trips to Jerusalem (20:4) and Rome (27:2). He apparently stayed with the apostle during his first Roman detainment (Col 4:10; Philem 24). Back to text.
19:33 Alexander: He hoped to disclaim Jewish responsibility for the grievances of Demetrius. Once identified as a Jew, however, he was drowned out with two hours of shouting by the clamorous mob (19:34). It was no secret among pagans that Judaism was just as intolerant of idolatry as Christianity. Back to text.
19:35 town clerk: The city secretary of Ephesus and the local official who mediated public relations with Rome. temple keeper: An official title given to cities that hosted shrines associated with the Roman imperial cult. the sacred stone: A meteorite in the Artemis temple thought to resemble the goddess. Back to text.
19:40 charged with rioting: The mob was on the brink of disturbing the Pax Romana (Lat. "Roman Peace"). To preserve this worldwide stability and social order, Roman authorities were known to stamp out civil upheavals with swift and violent measures. Back to text.
20:1-6 Leaving Ephesus, Paul makes a final sweep through northern and southern Greece before setting out for Jerusalem. Information about his activities during this time can also be gleaned from his NT letters: (1) Paul was collecting donations to help the poor Christians of Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-27; 2 Cor 8-9); (2) he had written two more epistles along the way, 2 Corinthians and Romans; and (3) he may have ventured into new missionary territory as far west as Illyricum, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea (Rom 15:19). Back to text.
20:5 waiting for us: The shift in perspective ("us") indicates that Luke, who had stayed behind in Philippi (16:12), met up with Paul and sailed with him to Troas (20:6). See note on Acts 16:10. Back to text.
20:6 Unleavened Bread: A religious festival that began with Passover and was celebrated in Jerusalem every spring. Although the adult men of Israel were required to make an annual pilgrimage to the city at this time (Deut 16:16), Paul no longer felt bound by this requirement of the Old Covenant and so did not attend the feast. For another example of this, see 1 Cor 16:8. Back to text.
20:7 first day of the week: The day following the Saturday Sabbath (Gen 2:3). This passage provides the earliest evidence that believers assembled on Sundays for catechetical instruction and sacramental worship. It was soon called the "Lord's day" (Rev 1:10) to commemorate the day Jesus rose from the dead (Lk 24:1; CCC 1343). • The sequence of apostolic preaching (20:7) followed by a eucharistic celebration (20:11) reflects the essential structure of Christian liturgy, where Christ comes to us in word and sacrament. See note on Lk 24:30. Back to text.
20:10 bent over him: Or, "laid upon him". Paul revives the boy Eutychus just as Peter revived the young girl Tabitha (9:40). • The prophets Elijah and Elisha both resuscitated youths to new life by lying down upon them (1 Kings 17:21; 2 Kings 4:34). Back to text.
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