The Skeptics Annotated Bible (895 page)

8 And it came to pass, that
the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

(28.8)
“The father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.”

9 So
when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed
:

(28.9)
“When this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed.”

10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.

13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:

14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.

19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.

22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as
concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

(28.22)
“Concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.”
The Jews of Rome refer to Paul’s new religion as a sect.

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that
the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles
, and that they will hear it.

(28.28) “The salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles.”
352 Should the gospel be preached to everyone?

29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
—
Romans 14.5

Paul was a bad influence on Christianity. Nowhere is this more evident than in his epistle to the Romans. Here Paul fully exposes his nastiest belief: that salvation is a completely arbitrary decision on the part of God; none of us has anything to do with it. The only free will that exists in the universe is God’s.

Highlights:

• The existence and nature of God are self-evident; thus, unbelievers are “without excuse.”
  1.20
  
• God abandons those who don’t know him to “uncleanness and vile affections.”
  1.24-26
  
• God will make you gay!
  1.26-27
  
• Paul condemns homosexuals (including lesbians). This is the only clear reference to lesbians in the Bible.
  1.26-27
  
• “The natural use” of women is to act as sexual objects for the pleasure of men.
  1.27
  
• “God gave them over to a reprobate mind.”
  1.28
  
• Homosexuals (those without natural affection) and their supporters (those that have pleasure in them) are “worthy of death.”
  1.31-32
  
• Those who slander (or criticize?) Paul are damned by God.
  3.8
  
• The guilty are “justified” and “saved from wrath” by the blood of an innocent victim.
  5.9-12
  
• God punishes everyone for someone else’s sin; then he saves them by killing an innocent victim.
  5.18-19
  
• God gave the law so “that the offence might abound.”
  5.20
  
• If you have a living body, you can’t please God, and Christ isn’t in you.
  8.8-10
  
• Everyone is predestined by God to be either saved or damned.
  8.2
  ,
  9.11-22
  
• No one can oppose Christians since God is on their side.
  8.31
  
• “He that spared not his own Son” shouldn’t be trusted by anyone.
  8.32
  
• A Christian cannot be accused of any wrongdoing.
  8.33
  
• If you are a child of the flesh, you are not the seed of God. Whatever that might be.
  9.8
  
• God hated Esau. No one knows why.
  9.13
  
• He blinded the Jews so they wouldn’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
  11.7-10
  
• Gentiles used to be unbelievers, but now the Jews are the unbelievers and God saves gentiles through Jewish unbelief.
  11.30
  
• Non-believing Jews will obtain mercy through the mercy of believers.
  11.31
  
• “The powers that be are ordained of God.” Whoever resists them will be damned.
  13.1-4
  
• Paul couldn’t list the Ten Commandments.
  13.9
  
• Only wimps are vegetarians.
  14.2
  
• “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”
  14.5
  
• “He that doubteth is damned … Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
  14.23
  
• Shun those who disagree with your religious views.
  16.17
  

1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

(1.3)
“Jesus … was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”
329 Was Joseph the father of Jesus?

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth
; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

(1.16) “Salvation to every one that believeth”
304 Is Salvation by faith alone?

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

(1.17)
“The just shall live by faith.”
33 Has the ever been a just person?