Today’s Readings – Wednesday of week 6 of Easter - First Reading

Commentary on Acts 17:15, 22

We continue to accompany Paul on his Second Missionary Journey.

After passing through Thessalonica (to whose Christians are addressed two of Paul’s earliest letters) and Beroea (both in Macedonia), Paul’s next destination was Athens, at that time still the cultural centre of the Mediterranean, although political power was now in Rome.

Our reading begins with Paul arriving in the city, with instructions for Silas and Timothy to follow on as soon as possible.

At this time, Athens was really only a shadow of its former self. Some five centuries before Paul it had been at the height of its glory in art, philosophy and literature with a culture which still influences modern life today. In the generations which followed, the … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Tuesday of week 6 of Easter - First Reading

Commentary on Acts 16:22-34

Today we have part of one of the most dramatic events in the story of the Acts.

Paul is still in Philippi. We might wonder at the sudden attack on Paul and Silas with which today’s reading opens. It is such a change from the positi … Continue