Amongst the burning timber. One hears chanting from far away... the chant is of many voices... One can hear the boom of slt-log drums.... You see a whirling of action.
(Zoom in on the action) One spies Paul and Barnabas speaking to the elders of the Derbs of Derbe; the elder represntative we will call him Dan the Man of the Derbs of Derbe (or DMDD for short)
Acts 14:1-17
DMDD: The God have come down to us in the likeness of men!....
Zeuss.... (Points at Barnabas)
Hermes... (Points at Paul)
Bring the OXEN!!!! (Sound of Tribal Drumming)
Bring the wreathes!!! Light the fire, for today we feast!!!
Paul: Men, why are you doing these things!
DMDD: We honor, you the Gods, Zeus and Hermes. You desire a pleasing sacrifice, a good aroma?
Paul: You are confused!!!! We don't make God; he makes us, and all of this (picking up a stone, rotating it in his hand) !!!! He made all of this - sky, earth, sea and everything in them. (Peterson 316)
DMDD: We offer sacrifice to you in the name of our Gods to please them...
Paul: We also are men, of like nature with you and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain, useless, things to a living God.
DMDD: We desire to please this God with a sacrifice ... for if we fail there will be no rain... no crops.... People will die, the God will remove his pleasing smile; No?
Paul: Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is is them. In past generations he allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
DMDD: We offer sacrifice? Yes?
Paul: NO!!! Remember all of those great feasts, you made more than you expected, good beyond your doing!!! Turn away, and be blessed forever for the love YHVH has enstore for you. No sacrifice will be required!
Jews end the scene by throwing stones.
All scatter.
All scatter.
1. Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (268-278)
2. Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982. (41-52)
3. Campbell, Joseph Primitive Mythology: The Masks of God New York, N.Y.; 1959. (229-281)
3. Illustration: Marvel Comics
No comments:
Post a Comment
Love to hear from y'all...