sastark
Puritan Board Graduate
This passage has always puzzled me, and I'm hoping some of you can give me some insight on it:
What are we to make of this book burning? Is it something that should be done in the church today? If so, why? If not, why not?
It seems to me that the progression of events in this passage is:
1. Preaching of the Gospel to both Jews and Greeks by Paul in Ephesus (for two years).
2. Attempted imitation of Paul's miracles by Jews.
3. Conversion of many, including magicians.
4. In response to their conversion, the magicians willingly give up/burn their books.
5. The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
What say you?
Edited to add: I should make it clear that my question is not related to the news item about that "church" in Florida that will be burning Korans on September 11th. I will be leading a Bible study through Acts in a few weeks, and this passage has always interested me, so in preparation for leading that study, I'm asking about it.
18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:18-20)
What are we to make of this book burning? Is it something that should be done in the church today? If so, why? If not, why not?
It seems to me that the progression of events in this passage is:
1. Preaching of the Gospel to both Jews and Greeks by Paul in Ephesus (for two years).
2. Attempted imitation of Paul's miracles by Jews.
3. Conversion of many, including magicians.
4. In response to their conversion, the magicians willingly give up/burn their books.
5. The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
What say you?
Edited to add: I should make it clear that my question is not related to the news item about that "church" in Florida that will be burning Korans on September 11th. I will be leading a Bible study through Acts in a few weeks, and this passage has always interested me, so in preparation for leading that study, I'm asking about it.