Question for Larry

I have run into references to someone named William Stringfellow a few times recently -- and being suspicious about coincidences I thought I'd see what the issue is with this guy. Sounds like he was doing the Walter Wink thing twenty years before Walter Wink was doing it.

I think you mentioned him once or twice. What can you say about him? What woudl be a good starting place if I wanted to read something by/about him.

If you'd rather answer privately -- my email is kwakersaur@lycos.com. Again I'll be out of town a few days. Take your time.

Acts 8:26-40 (JB Phillips Translation)

Forgive me for posting before anyone has commented on the last passage. I will be out of town and sans internet for the next 3 days and I'm hoping -- in light of previous considerations -- to go back to posting two passages a week to pick up the pace. Given that this is a story of some fellow named Phillip it seemed appropriate somehow to post in the JB Phillips translation.

Philip is given an unique opportunity

8:26 - But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south down the road which runs from Jerusalem to Gaza, out in the desert."

8:27-29 - Philip arose and began his journey. At this very moment an Ethiopian eunuch, a minister and in fact the treasurer to Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, was on his way home after coming to Jerusalem to worship. He was sitting in his carriage reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, "Approach this carriage, and keep close to it."

8:30 - Then as Philip ran forward he heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah, and he said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

8:31 - And he replied, "How can I unless I have someone to guide me?"

8:32-33 - And he invited Philip to get up and sit by his side. The passage of scripture he was reading was this: 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation his justice was taken away. And who will declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.'

8:34 - The eunuch turned to Philip and said, "Tell me, I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this - is he speaking about himself or about someone else?"

8:35-36 - Then Philip began, and using this scripture as a starting point, he told the eunuch the good news about Jesus. As they proceeded along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, here is some water; is there any reason why I should not be baptised now?"

8:38-40 - And he gave orders for the carriage to stop. Then both of them went down to the water and Philip baptised the eunuch. When they came up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away suddenly and the eunuch saw no more of him, but proceeded on his journey with a heart full of joy. Philip found himself at Azotus and as he passed through the countryside he went on telling the good news in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Acts 8:4-25

If you saw my earlier posting of this passage -- consider it not -- or consider it a lame homage to a comment on this blog posting here -- I too found the concept of Swedish Pentecostals in Burundi funny. And if you found this posting helpful when it was entitled Apostagärningarna 8:4-25 (Svenska 1917) -- well its still available at the link (or at Bible Gateway.

Acts 8:4-25
Phillip Preaches in Samaria
The Message

Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God's action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!

Previous to Philip's arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him "the Great Wizard." He had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him.

But when Philip came to town announcing the news of God's kingdom and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simon and were baptized, becoming believers right and left! Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. From that moment he was like Philip's shadow, so fascinated with all the God-signs and miracles that he wouldn't leave Philip's side.

When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn't yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, "Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!"

Peter said, "To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that's unthinkable—trying to buy God's gift! You'll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust."

"Oh!" said Simon, "pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!"

And with that, the apostles were on their way, continuing to witness and spread the Message of God's salvation, preaching in every Samaritan town they passed through on their return to Jerusalem.

Perspective: Spritual Exercises Retreat

Perspective: Spritual Exercises Retreat

Acts 8:1-3 Saul Persecutes the Church

A short passage and so in three versions:

And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

Acts 8:1-3 (NRSV)

That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles. Good and brave men buried Stephen, giving him a solemn funeral—not many dry eyes that day!

And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail.

Acts 8:1-3 (The Message)

AND SAUL was [not only] consenting to [Stephen's] death [he was pleased and entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).

[A party of] devout men with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him.

But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 8:1-3 (Amplified Bible)