A Sampling
of the Evidence:
Paul's Trial Before Gallio
Archeologists have discovered a first century inscription at Delphi, in
central Greece, that refers to Gallio as the Roman Proconsul of Greece. The year
corresponds to 52 AD, which is also the approximate date of Paul’s trial before
Gallio in Corinth.
Paul's Shipwreck on Malta
Luke records that the ship drifted for fourteen days in the gale and then
wrecked on the island of Malta, halfway across the Mediterranean. His account reads like a
tall tale. However, the meteorological and nautical evidence demonstrates, and in a rather
spectacular fashion, that these events must have occurred just as Luke records them.
Paul at Ephesus
In the ancient world, Ephesus was known both as a center of magic and as a university
town. However, the city was most famous because it possessed of one of the seven wonders
of the ancient world: the temple of the goddess Artemis, or Diana.
Erastus:
City Treasurer of Corinth
During an archeological excavation of Corinth in 1929, a first century
pavement was uncovered which contains the following inscription: "Erastus, Procurator
and Aedile, laid this pavement at his own expense." Was this the Erastus who
was the companion of Paul?
The Riot at Lystra
According to Acts, the crowd referred to Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as
Hermes. Archeological evidence reveals that this Zeus-Hermes combination was the local
cult of the city of Lystra.
Felix replaced as Procurator
This passage presents an historical difficulty. According to Josephus,
Felix was brought to Rome for trial, but escaped punishment because of the influence of
his brother Pallas. However, according to the Roman historian Tacitus, Pallas was removed
from power by the Emperor Nero in 55 AD, the year before Paul’s Judean trial. Does
this call the Acts' account of Felix' return to Rome into question?
Paul's Companions at Corinth
If the eight individuals named by Paul in his letter to Rome had been
listed by Luke as accompanying Paul to Jerusalem on his final journey to that city, we
would strongly suspect that Luke had simply copied the names from Paul's Roman letter.
However, only two names appear on both lists. In the case of one individual, Sopater, this
is his only appearance in the New Testament.
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