News

West Coast Bible Study Sunday, May 1st, 11am-1pm PDT Acts 9 - Conversion of Paul For more info, see https://sites.google.com/view/homechristians-net/events?authuser=0 Here's a movie word-for-word from the NIV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5bTIUrUw0M&t=1777s We argued that the stoning of Stephen, in the year 34 CE fulfilled the 70 weeks prophecy in Daniel 9. Stephen, using the covenantal lawsuit pattern of the Hebrew prophets, shows how Israel continuously opposed the Spirit of God and persecuted the prophets. Yahweh and Jesus are seen by Stephen in heaven passing judgement on Israel, represented by the religious leaders. They stone Stephen, and God's favor on Israel is removed and given to the Gentiles. In the very next chapter (8), Philip the evangelizer preaches to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch, confirming God's favor to the Gentiles has arrived. In our chapter (9), Saul, a Pharisee trained by Gamaliel, is persecuting the Christians but encounters the risen Christ on the way to Damascus. He is blinded and converted to a follower of Jesus, his sight is restored, and he becomes the Apostle to the Gentiles (Ro 11:13). Peter will also minister to some Greeks, Aeneas and Dorcas, in the latter half of our chapter confirming that God's favor is now with the Gentiles (and of course any Jews that repent and convert to Christ).