Numbers 8 - 9 & Acts 16

Numbers 8 continues in the revisiting of previous activities, this time the dedication of the Levites. We are told the story of how Moses takes the Levites and sets them aside for their work as the priesthood. With washings, sin offerings and purification rituals, the Levites become able to take up their sacred posts.

One area of difference occurs when it describes the age of service, which now stands at 25. Previously we are told that the ages of service begins at 30. Why the change? Are fewer Levites available for service so the age is lowered? Or has a different standard been created? We do not know, but it makes for interesting speculation.

Numbers 9 tells the story of the first Passover celebrated in the Wilderness. God instructs Moses to lead the Israelites in celebrating the Passover, but some who have touched a corpse ask if they can celebrate the Passover. God relents, really demonstrating that worshiping God and holding fast to certain practices overrides other cultic rituals. When Jesus questions those who criticize him for doing "work" on the Sabbath, it is this sort of tradition that Jesus refers back to in his response.

The rest of the chapters speaks to how God lead the Israelites in the Wilderness. Either as a cloud or pillar of fire, God would remain over the Tent of Meeting. When the cloud moved, then the Israelites would strike camp and follow to where God would rest.

Acts 16

The chapter opens with Paul and Silas traveling back into Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. They meet up with another disciple, Timothy, who we are told has a Jewish mother but a Greek father. Paul has Timothy circumcised, most likely because he was Jewish and while Paul is of the opinion that Greeks and gentiles do not need to be circumcised, he is careful not to lead Jews away from this important and symbolic action. Church tradition believes this Timothy is the one to whom Paul is writing later in the Letter to Timothy.

As Paul and others travel, it would seem they run into some difficulty, for we are told that the Spirit does not allow them to proclaim the Gospel in Asia. In a vision, however, Paul is told to go to Macedonia, which is a northern region of modern day Greece. In Philippi, they encounter a wealthy woman, Lydia, who becomes their sponsor and a leader in the early church in Philippi.

In Philippi, Paul is imprisoned for the first time, for releasing a slave woman from a spirit. The owners of the slave are not happy because the spirit offered tales of the future and the owners were able to make money off of this possession. It would seem the gospel has social economic ramifications and the status quo is not pleased.

In prison, it would seem divine interaction takes place in the form of an earthquake strikes and many of the prisoners are freed. But Paul and his companions remain in place, it would seem this is done to protect the jailer who has done nothing wrong yet will bear the brunt of punishment if Paul were to escape. The jailer upon speaking further with Paul is converted along with his household.

It would seem that word has made its way to the magistrates that Paul is a Roman citizen and fearful of putting such a person on trial, they decide to just release him.