Historical
Accuracy of the Account
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Notice the
following evidence that demonstrates the historical accuracy of this account:
(This is summarized from Bible and Spade, fall, 2016, "Cypriots,
Sorcerers, and Sergius," Rob Sullivan,www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2016/05/31/Cypriots-Sorcerers-and-Sergius.aspx; see also The Popular Handbook of Archaeology and the Bible by Holden and Geisler, pp 351-353.)
Correct terms for
political offices
***************************
"One of the
most remarkable tokens of (Luke's) accuracy is his sure familiarity with the
proper titles of all the notable persons who are mentioned ... Cyprus, for
example, which was an imperial province until 22 BC, became a senatorial province
in that year, and was therefore governed no longer by an imperial legate (a
Propraetor) but by a Proconsul. And so, when Paul and Barnabas arrived in
Cyprus about AD 47, it was the Proconsul Sergius Paulus whom they met..."
(F.F. Bruce)
Inscription
confirming the existence of Sergius Paulus
********************************************
Luigi Palma di
Cesnola, who later became the first curator of New York’s Metropolitan Museum,
led an archaeological dig near ancient Paphos on Cyprus in 1877. He located the
following inscription from the first century:
"Apollonius...consecrated
this enclosure and monument ... on the 25th of the month Demarchexusius in the
13th year [of the reign of Claudius]. He also altered the senate by means of
assessors during the time of the Proconsul Paulus."
The 13th year of
the reign of Claudius would be 54 AD. So this confirms that a man named Paulus
served as proconsul in Paphos around the time that Paul and Barnabas visited
there.
Evidence from the
Roman historian Pliny the Elder
*****************************************
Pliny the Elder
lived from 23-79 AD. His work Natural History served like a Roman encyclopedia.
He discusses Cyprus at length and twice cites among his sources "Sergius
Paulus."
Pliny also
describes the prominence of magicians in Cyprus: "There existed different
groups of magicians ... And in fact many thousands yearly follow after
Zoroastrian ways especially during recent times on the Island of Cyprus."
Inscription near
Antioch of Pisidia
***************************
An inscription
displayed in the Yalvac Museum in Turkey was found near Pisidian Antioch. It
contains the word "Paulii" and portions of "Sergii." Though
this was not found on Cyprus, it is probable that the family of Sergius Paulus
had an estate in this area. The inscription may be found here:
Conclusions
>>>>>>>
Bible records of
events are intended to serve as history.
*********************************************
Although the
Bible was written primarily to reveal spiritual teaching, it is written in a
historical background. When it discusses past events, it is intended to be an
accurate historical record. It describes real events involving real people in
real places. When people dismiss Bible accounts as myth or legend, they
demonstrate that they do not really believe the Bible to be inspired by God.
The Bible is
historically accurate.
**************************
Sullivan
summarizes:
“Luke pays
remarkable attention to detail and has yet to be proven incorrect in any facet
of his work ... Luke references 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands. Every
one of these has now been located archaeologically with certainty, with the
possible exception of [one].”
Sir William
Ramsay placed "the author of Acts among the historians of the first rank
... a great historian" (St. Paul the Traveler and Roman Citizen, pp.
11,17).
When people
criticize the Bible as being historically inaccurate and unreliable, they
demonstrate, not just a lack of faith in the Bible, but also a lack of
knowledge of the facts.
However,
historical accuracy does not of itself prove the Bible is inspired.
******************************************************
A book may be
historically accurate and yet not be from God. It may not even claim to be
inspired. But if a book claims to be inspired by an infallible God, then we
would expect it to be accurate when it touches on historical events.
The evidence on
which we base our faith that the Bible is true is the eyewitness testimony that
it contains regarding the prophecies, miracles, and the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. This evidence is the basis of our confidence the Bible is from God.
What historical
accuracy does accomplish is that it confirms and reassures our faith, and it
demonstrates the error of those who claim the Bible is simply myth or legend
but not history.
Like Sergius
Paulus, we should be astonished at the Lord’s teaching and believe.
*****************************************************
Sergius Paulus
believed on the basis of the miracle that Paul did. We too can believe and
receive eternal life.
John 20:30,31 –
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which
are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His
name.
Do you believe?
Have you dedicated your life to Christ and received forgiveness through His
blood?
(c) Copyright
David E. Pratte, 2017
You are free to keep copies of this material on computer and/or in printed form for your own further study. If you have any other requests about the use of this material, please read our copyright guidelines at www.gospelway.com/copyrite.htm.
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