Paul's Encounters - Sergius Paulus

Acts. To act. Acting like Christ. Acting for Christ. To do something! To be active. To breathe with purpose. What comes to your mind when you hear "Acts"? Do you hear a title to the book of the Bible? Just a word?

The book of Acts is an amazing story book with characters that will amaze, exciting plot twists, and a driving back to back account of miracles and magic and unseen forces. Did I mention it was all true?! One of the many stories involves a man named Saul, or Paul, his companions Barnabas and John Mark, a wizard named Elymas, or Bar-Jesus, and a Roman governor/proconsul named Sergius Paulus. This story is a very short one, found in Acts 13:4-12. Nine little verses, but it's a loaded nine. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark were on their first missionary journey. They found themselves 130 miles from any place familiar on a island known as Cyprus (1). After landing in the port city of Salamis, they traveled and proclaimed the Gospel over the course of 90 miles. We meet them, in verse 6 in Paphos, the capital city of Cyprus. We are introduced to Elymas (Bar-Jesus) there in verse 6 and to the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, in verse 7. Cyprus was a Roman senatorial province, therefore a proconsul was assigned there to act as a deputy consul (2). You can think of it as a kind of modern day Governor or State Representative. The proconsul would typically serve for one year with unlimited military and civil authority (2).

I love the wording in Acts of this encounter. Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, summoned Paul and Barnabas because he sought to hear the word of God. It's almost like God knew that Christianity would be considered a stupid and uninformed world view...wait...it's almost like this "new" Gospel story was already being looked down upon by the educated. So, God added this little phrase to show that an educated, intelligent man was seeking to hear about this Gospel. You should know that in verses 8-11. Elymas tried to keep Sergius Paulus from hearing what Paul had to say and brought a condemnation upon himself akin to the righteous wrath we see from Jesus in the temple back in Matthew 21:12-13. And you know what? The judgment brought upon Elymas combined with the teachings of Paul and his team brought the proconsul to a saving knowledge of and desire for and awe of God!

The really cool part of this story is the archeological evidence tying together the dates and names recorded in the Bible. Did you know that Sergius Paulus was Paul's first recorded convert on this first missionary journey that took place around A.D. 46 (2)?  So, it would be really cool if there were archaeological evidence of this encounter right? Well, here are some really neat facts. Just to note briefly, "Cicero, in a letter to one Sextilius Rufus (c. 50 B.C.), indicated that Paphos was the administrative center for Cyprus" (2). But there's more.

Romans typically had three names: a praenomen, a nomen, and a cognomen. The praenomen was a personal name, the nomen a clan name and the cognomen the name of a particular branch within the clan. Thus, in the name Gaius Julius Caesar, Gaius was the personal name (praenomen), Julius the name of the clan (nomen) and Caesar the name of the extended family or sub clan (cognomen) within the Julian clan. The name Sergius Paulus provides only the nomen and the cognomen. Either of two inscriptions found in Cyprus may relate to the Sergius Paulus named in Acts 13:7. One records that a man named Paulus was proconsul around the year A.D. 50 (probably too late to relate to Paul's visit), while the other designates a Quintas Sergius Paulus as proconsul during the reign of Caligula, from A.D. 37-41" (2).

"An inscription from Kythraia (Chytri), located in northern Cyprus, makes reference to a 'Quintus Sergius' whose last name is missing from the inscription, but could possibly be Paulus. The inscription, found on a blue marble slab indicates that this man must have lived during the reign of either Claudius, Gaius, or Tiberius Caesar. One translation of the inscription which is located in the Metropolitan Museum reads: '[CLAUD]IUS CAESAR SABASTOA ....[Q]UINTUS SER[GIUS PAULUS]' " http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/paulus.htm http://metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/241979?rpp=20&pg=1&ft=*&when=A.D.+1-500&what=Marble&pos=10

"In addition a Latin inscription from Rome refers to a Lucius Sergius Paulus, who held an administrative positions during the reign of Claudius, from A.D. 41-54" (2)

"A boundary stone set up by the Emperor Claudius Caesar was discovered in Rome during 1887 with the inscription 'L. Sergius Paulus'. His name was listed along with several others as being in charge of maintaining the banks and channels of the Tiber river. The inscription reads:

'...L.Sergius Paullus ... curators of the river Tiberis ... Claudius Caesar...' " http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/paulus.htm

"The name L. Sergius Paulus was also found in 1912 on an inscription from Pisidian Antioch, a major military and administration base for the Romans in present day Turkey." http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/paulus.htm

http://www.biblelandpictures.com/gallery/gallery.asp?action=viewimage&imageid=14523&text=&categoryid=64&box=&shownew=

"These inscriptions demonstrate that the Roman family Sergius Paulus was prominent during the period of Acts, and it is entirely feasible that a member of that family could have been serving as a proconsul of Cyprus at the time of Paul's first missionary journey" (2).

Works Cited

1. Hughes, Kent. Acts: The Church Afire. Wheaton: Crossway, 1996. 173-90.

2. NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. 1791-1794.

What if, maybe...?

We walked out into the starry night. It was a beautiful night that followed that beautiful day. I had dreaded this moment all day. Aubrey was leaving for Russia the next day to begin missionary work at an orphanage there. We've been best friends ever since I can remember. She is more of a sister to me than a biological sister would be I think. "Eloise," she said into the silence, "I'm so thankful for our time together today." We had avoided getting too serious all day, choosing to reminisce and joke and speak of my own coming adventures instead. "Me too," I thought more than said, feeling the itch of tears tickle at my face. "I'm so excited for this next chapter in both of our lives," I said with more strength, "but I'm nervous too and worried and a little unsure." We both just gazed up at the stars. "Maybe I should be going with you. I mean, what if just living a normal life isn't enough," I continued.

Aubrey turned to look at me. "I know you are worried about me and about where you are; I've been thinking a lot about that." I waited expectantly. When Aubrey had thought about something a lot, it meant she had prayed about it. When she talked about having thought about it, it meant she had carefully pondered and prayed over the exact words she was about to say. "Maybe, I've been thinking, maybe living a life of passion and success doesn't mean a big house and nice things, maybe it doesn't mean moving half way across the world. Maybe being the best we can be, being 'enough' for God, is a lot closer to us than we imagine. What if it's taking each breath with thankfulness that we got another one? Speaking every single word with love and responsibility. Hugging our friends and family with sincerity that runs so deep it might hurt. Earning, really earning, every penny we make at our job. Working with passion at whatever we have to do so that maybe we do deserve higher payment but we finish the day content with what we have. Caring about those around us, asking them how they are and just looking at them like we mean it, because we do...." She trailed off in thought.

I knew I would never forget her words. And I knew then that our worlds would change more in the next few years than we imagined. We looked up one last time then back at each other. We hugged each other for what seemed like forever but it was still far from long enough. As she drove away, I thought I would burst into tears, but they wouldn't fall. Only a single tear fell. I imagined, dreamer that I am, that it was a falling star that fell into my heart and spilled some of the wonder of that moment. I passed Aubrey's words on to my 19 year old daughter today. She would be proud. Not of me, or of her words, but of the way God has spoken through her words to me time and again, and how He now poured into a new generation through her. I miss her, always, but thank our Father for tying our lives together for a short while on this earth and look forward to when they will be once more in eternity.

Knowledge and Wisdom

God is bringing about some incredible changes in my life as of late. He has led me to make decisions that many people do not understand. I understand that they do not understand. But I also understand that I serve a real and an amazing God. I understand that sometimes He asks us to do things that don't make sense to the world. He whispers His words to me in confirmation of these things. He speaks my friends. In the Bible, in those He has called to preach His word, in the words of godly friends, in our own thoughts without us even knowing. The beauty happens, the magic, if you will, when we hear Him. When a feeble human opens her heart to her maker and desires to hear Him. When she waits and struggles and agonizes and feels nothing. When the light breaks through the tiny break in the clouds and bursts through ever so softly. When the first light of day breaks on the edge of the horizon and grows into the full light of day. When there is a moment of peace, even when a storm sits on that same horizon, even when it is inevitable that the sun will sink again below the opposite horizon. When what C. S. Lewis said becomes real to us. "I believe in [God] as I believe the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." 

And in those moments truth holds new meaning. I believe it is a truth that wisdom can only come from God. It is in my nature to seek knowledge. To know a lot is to be successful. Being smart enough to make money with knowledge is the measure of a person's worth. This is an unspoken idea whose shadow I have grown up under. Is this true? Some people will say yes. Some people will say, partly. Some people will say it is all ridiculous. Into this God speaks truth. "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (Prov 9:9-10). And into this truth, God spoke to me. "Release to me your pursuit of knowledge, my child, so that I can give you wisdom."

I share this moment I had with my father because I believe many of us have found ourselves in pursuit of something. Pursuit of something good, but pursuit that we are not seeking alongside Christ. We hold on so tightly to things, wanting to succeed. Sometimes we need to adjust our grip or let go altogether so that we can take hold of Christ. Because with Him, those desires, those talents, those passions will see a new meaning, a new satisfaction and success. I warn you, it can hurt. For God to take control of something we may have to go through more pain than we signed up for because what we are letting Him take may be so deeply rooted in us that He is going to have to do some major surgery. To that I say, pray, read, seek. Sometimes pain is a warning that we are going in the wrong direction. Sometimes pain is a confirmation that we are right where we need to be. You must allow God to speak His truth and reveal this to you for your situation. I pray for you, right now, that whatever you are facing, whatever God wants to do in your life, you will be willing and you will be obedient. To live in His light is worth more than anything. And I mean anything. 

What Field are You Playing On?

Our world is a myriad of information. Access to anything and everything. The ability to have what we NEED then see worthless amounts of things around us and create lists of lists of things we WANT. I went into a couple local bookshops with a friend yesterday; a pastime that is becoming more like going antiquing nowadays. One shop had a section of old science books, from before I was born. Being a scientist myself I couldn't help but stop and think about the implications of the information era. Not just the internet mind you, it also made me think about education. Our access to education is incredible. The ease of getting into college and getting some type of degree is really staggering. Imagine as a woman, 50-60 years ago (probably even less than that), if I were trying to pursue science. It wouldn't be something that I just closed my eyes and picked. I would have to want it bad enough to battle with high standards of excellence, social faux pas, and other things I can't begin to say I know anything about. You know something? I don't think I would've thought for a second, yea, that's what I want to do. Now, you can get into a college, scrape by without learning too terribly much, and graduate with a degree in science before you can blink. Part of me wishes it wasn't like that. I'm not saying we should return to the days of women not being accepted into the science realm, no, I am not even trying to approach femenism here. I am just talking about education and information and how I think it would be beneficial for our society to place more value and take more seriously "higher" education. Then, I thought, what if that's not really the issue I care about here?

For years I have looked around me and seen college kids struggling. Sometimes they want to be in school but can't afford it. Sometimes they don't want to be there, but their parents are paying for it and they "have no choice." Sometimes they don't really care, but it's what society tells them is the next step and dang straight if they aren't going to have a good time and "explore" their humanity while they're at it. I see young adults grasping at truth and settling for social acceptance. I see a broken world. You see, as much as I wanted it to be about our society "nowadays," it is not. Going back in time is definitely not the answer, but social reform isn't either. I was thinking about these things while struggling with my own crisis of where to be and what to be doing with life even after having completed an undergraduate degree. Struggling with my own social norms and expectations. I wanted to blame something, so I decided to be philosophical and blame society for corralling me into a situation which I did not request. That was simplifying the issue in a complicated way. It always comes back to the heart of man (The heart is decietful.... Jer 17:9). Our world is a mess. It's true. Society is just a symptom though. We want desperately to be successful and accomplished and rich and powerful and in control. The more we grasp at these things the more farther removed we are from being fulfilled (Matt 10:39). What our culture needs, what my friends need, what I need...is Jesus. The one we want to put on trial, the one we want to get rid of, the one we want to crucify every single day. He makes us uncomfortable; He makes us not fit in; He makes us give up things we like. He fulfills us. And guess what, the trials, the beatings, the scorn...Jesus can take it...in fact, He already did (John 19:1-16). Not for Himself, but for you and me. So ask Him, get angry at Him, be confused, be afraid. But trust Him and truly desire to understand and you will. He will show you in His time (Isaiah 55:8).

And if you are a Christian, realize with me today that the issues we face, they are often not what they appear. The heart of the issue is almost always about Jesus. Evolution, popularity, stem cell research, money, abortion, success. We must think about them on a different level because we are not playing on the field we see in front of us. We must pray for each other as we stand on trial with Jesus every day. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Working to Qualify? or to Serve?

I come back to this blog, year after year, at sporadic moments of life's quandaries or elations (my computer is determined that elations--with that 's'--is not a word, but I will make up words if I want to!). It would seem that God has placed this outlet heavy on my mind the last few days. I therefore, sit indian-style before the computer, typing what you now read. It is funny, don't you think, that we find ourselves where God wants us when we least expect it? Like me, here now, alone in an apartment, waiting for life to change again. And you too, if you are seeking His will, are right on the edge or smack in the middle of it. Yes. I would submit that fact as quite the quandary! And so it is that I came to type an entry tonight.

How is it that God's will comes to pass? How is it that we humans dare to think we know His will? How, indeed, do we suppose ourselves to actually hear His voice or feel Him moving us? How do those who do not believe in God play in all of this? How is it that we presume to assign the nobility of a task or the value of a certain qualification? Could making a yummy scone not equal the skill and importance of a scientist on a team who is working to help treat or cure a disease? Oh, but I must be careful, because you see I have no answers to any of these questions. I will only set your mind on the circular, rather tangled path that mine is on. No. I do not seek to answer life's mysteries tonight. Perhaps tomorrow.

What I would like to present to you is an excerpt from a book I am reading called No Graven Images by Elisabeth Elliot. I have encountered this first hand, what she describes in her novel. I have witness and experienced it. It is a curiosity and a simplicity of who we are as followers of Christ. So, tonight, whether your mission field is across the ocean, on a college campus, in a factory, in a cubicle, or in the corner office of a big city high rise, read and revel in the fact that we all question and wonder at who we are and where we are and why we are. Know that wherever you are, if you are trying desperately to "qualify" or questioning anything, it is okay (Isaiah 41:10). God is working (Philippians 1:6). God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). He has already qualified you and He loves you with much more desperation than you will ever succeed at feeling, let alone imparting!

You can read the book and find for yourself what happens after this moment in the missionary's life. I will just supply you with her own little moment of puzzling and perhaps it, by itself, left unanswered, will encourage you as it has me. The following is written from the perspective of a young, single woman missionary in Ecuador working to translate the Bible.

"But then there was still my lack of spirituality, of which, God knew, I had plenty of evidence every day. Why, the very evening of the day I had first visited Rosa I had come home elated, praising God for progress, and as I turned the key in the lock a fingernail snapped. Damn it all! was my immediate response, followed by shock in thinking how shocked everyone would be to know that such a word was even a part of my vocabulary. Of course I had not said it aloud--the word was forbidden at home, was not so much as admitted to though--but I had thought it, and I thought it again when, a minute later, as I was searching for a nail file to repair the damage, the bureau drawer stuck first on one side, the on the other, and suddenly jerked our and dropped to the floor with a bang.
"Missionaries are human beings, after all,"was a phrase I had heard, and at that moment it struck me as being so patently ridiculous that I wondered if anyone had ever really uttered it. Human beings! Dear God, what else could I or anyone else have though? Could we have imagined that there were superhuman, perhaps, or ex-human? People who had turned into something else, subject no longer to human passion and temptation, invulnerable to the ordinariness of living? My mind jumped back to the missionary homes I had visited since coming to Ecuador--the squalling babies, rickety ironing boards, endless discussions of hepatitis and maid problems and customs difficulties. But, I argued with myself, God wants more than this. He offers us something higher and richer, and by His grace I will appropriate what He offers, I will be spiritual-minded, even if I am a human being. Now and then my thoughts dwelt on a suitably spiritual level (it seemed easier when I was with the Indians than when I was at home) but I was not the missionary my friends hoped I was, of that I was certain, and I wanted desperately to qualify."