The Skeptics Annotated Bible (885 page)

29 That ye
abstain
from meats offered to idols, and
from blood
, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

(15.30-31) When they read the no-need- to-get-circumcised epistle, everyone rejoiced. I bet.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and
when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

(15.30)
“When they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.”

31
Which when they had read, they rejoiced
for the consolation.

(15.31)
“Which when they had read, they rejoiced.”

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

(15.36-41) Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go visit all the places we’ve preached at before and see how they’re doing.” Barnabas said, “OK, but let’s take John called Mark with us.” Paul said that he wouldn’t go anywhere with that John called Mark guy. So they split up. Paul went with Silas and Barnabas with John called Mark.

36 And some days after
Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

(15.36)
“Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.”

37 And
Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

(15.37)
“Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.”

38
But Paul thought not good to take him with them
, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

(15.38)
“But Paul thought not good to take him with them.”

39 And
the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

(15.39) “The contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.”

40 And
Paul chose Silas, and departed
, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went
through Syria and Cilicia
, confirming the churches.

(15.40-41)
“Paul chose Silas, and departed … through Syria and Cilicia.”

(16.1-3) Paul circumcised Timothy, thereby making it impossible for him to be saved, according to his own words in Galatians 5.2.
54 Is circumcision required?

16
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named
Timotheus, the son of
a certain woman, which was
a Jewess
, and believed;
but his father was a Greek
:

(16.1)
“Timotheus, the son of … a Jewess … but his father was a Greek.”

2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

3 Him would
Paul
have to go forth with him; and took and
circumcised him
because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

(16.3)
“Paul … circumcised him.”

4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

(16.6-7) Paul and the newly circumcised Timothy were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach in Asia. (God just doesn’t like Asians, I guess.) Then they tried to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit wouldn’t let them do that either. Shucks!

6 Now when
they
had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and
were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia
,

(16.6)
“They …. were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”
352 Should the gospel be preached to everyone?

7 After they were come to Mysia,
they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

(16.7)
“They assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

(16.9-12) A man appears to Paul in a dream telling him to go to Macedonia. So Paul, who was a big believer in dreams, did as the dream-man requested.

9 And
a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia
, and prayed him,
saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

(16.9)
“A vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia … saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

10 And
after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia,
assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

(16.10)
“After he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia.”

11
Therefore
loosing from Troas,
we came
with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

12 And from thence
to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia
, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

(16.11-12)
“Therefore … we came … to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia.”

13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

(16.16-18) Paul expels a soothsaying spirit of divination. (God I hate those!)