Having a personal relationship with God

[Gawen]

gsaint, you have a great deal of critical biblical learning to do. But to do it, you have to let Jesus sit by himself every now and then. It's not a healthy thing for someone to have their bff over 24/7, let alone control their lives.

[lundberg500]

If you don't mind would you share your information on how you came to this conclusion (that Acts was not written in the 60's CE).

Acts was NOT written in the 60s CE. There is evidence that Acts makes use of Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities (90’s CE), Acts was written to unify the two opposing sides of Peter and Paul, Acts was written after Marcion of Pontus (140s CE), and NO writer makes mention of Acts until late in the second century CE.

There is evidence that Acts of the Apostles used, as one of its sources, Jewish Antiquities, written by Josephus around 93 CE. Parallels between Acts and Josephus'Antiquities of the Jews have long been argued. Main reasons for this are the circumstances attending the death of Agrippa I, the cause of the Egyptian pseudo-prophet, and the curious resemblance as to the order in which Theudas and Judas of Galilee are referred to.

Here are just a few examples that demonstrate the reliance on Josephus:  

1. In Acts 21:38, a Roman asks Paul if he is 'the Egyptian' who led a band of 'sicarii'  into the desert. In both The Jewish Wars and Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus talks about Jewish rebels called sicarii directly prior to talking about The Egyptian leading some followers. Luke used Josephus as a source and mistakenly thought that the sicarii were followers of The Egyptian. Luke, writing in Greek, used the term sicarii, a Latin word for assassins. Josephus, who also wrote in Greek, seems to have been the first to use this foreign word as a term for Jewish rebels who carried out assassinations under cover of urban crowds.

2. In Antiquities 20.5, Josephus is relating events during the time of procurators Cuspius Fadus (44-46) and Tiberius Alexander (46-48). He writes first of the beheading of a magician called Theudas who had led many astray and then of the crucifixion of the sons of Judas of Galilee. Josephus mentions first Theudas and then Judas, in reverse chronological order â€" and it is precisely that reverse order which is put into the mouth of Gamaliel at the trial of Peter and the apostles in Acts 5.34-39 â€" except that Gamaliel does not realize that the order is reversed nor does the writer himself notice the other anachronism. It is evident that Luke knew nothing of Theudas from Christian sources, but inserted mention of him into the account as a piece of useful history that Luke learnt from Josephus.

3. Josephus used the term sects or 'philosophical schools' (Greek: haireseis), to describe the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes. Luke was the only other author known to have described the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes this way (Acts 5:17, 15:5, 26:5), and he also referred to Christianity as another philosophical school of the Jews (Acts 24:5, 28:22). Luke had Paul call the Pharisees the 'most precise school' among the Jews in the reference at 26:5. Only Josephus and Luke referred to the Pharisees as the 'most precise school'.

There are also several instances that don’t make sense for Acts to have been written during the first century CE. Like in Acts 4:4 when Peter is addressing an audience that results in the number of Christian converts rising to 5,000 people in Jerusalem. Christians converts cannot have numbered five thousand in Jerusalem in the first century CE. There is NO evidence to support that at all. Acts 6:9 mentions the Province of Cilicia during a scene allegedly taking place in mid-30s CE. The Roman province by that name had been on hiatus from 27 BCE and was re-established by Emperor Vespasian only in 72 CE. There are historical inaccuracies ALL through Acts.

Some early proponents of the late dating of Acts were Ferdinand Christian Baur (1800s) who characterized early Christianity as a kind of battle between competing sides with one side being the Jewish Christians led by Peter and the other being Gentile Christians led by Paul. In Acts, as you know, the two perform similar miracles, experience life changing visions, deliver evangelistic speeches, and undergo imprisonments followed by remarkable releases. Matthias Schneckenburger, in the 19th century, was one of the first to develop the theory that the Acts was written about the year 150 CE in order to vindicate against the Judaizers the missionary apostolate to the Gentiles. The Tübingen school extended this hypotheses by suggesting that the writer of the Acts had only one purpose in mind, namely, to compose the differences between the two contending parties in the Church: the Petrine faction that wanted the Church to be Judaeo-Christian, and the Pauline which held out for a universal apostolate to all nations. There prevailed a controversy between these two parties in the church until a fusion took place towards the middle of the second half of the second century.

I am of the opinion that Acts was written after Marcion of Pontus introduced the letters of Paul sometime around the 130s-140s CE. Acts characterized Paul as being in line with the Jerusalem apostles rather that acting as the sole apostle as Marcion supposed. It is believed that the letter to the Galatians was in mind when writing Acts 15. Paul’s epistles were not circulated until after Marcion. Acts was written, partially, to disassociate Paul from Marcion.

The dating of Acts well into the second century CE also explains why there is no reference to the destruction of the temple in 70 CE. That would have been almost a hundred years ago when Acts was written sometime in the 140’s to 150’s CE. Also, NO writer confirms the existence of Acts until the second century CE. It is not before the last decades of the second century that one finds undisputed traces of Acts.

Also, Luke and Acts were addressed to “Most Excellent Theophilus”. There is no way that this could have been Theophilus of Israel (37-41 CE) because Acts describes events happening much later than him. This was most likely Theophilus Bishop of Antioch in Syria who served from 167-177 CE. Eusebius stated that Theophilus of Antioch was born a pagan and owed his conversion to Christianity to the careful study of the Holy Scriptures. This could easily have been from the gospels of Luke and Acts that were addressed to him. The word ‘theophilus” in Greek means “friend of god” or “loved by god.” But, because Luke and Acts were found addressed to “Most Excellent Theophilus” then this suggests a person of high authority such as Bishop Theophilus in Syria 167-177 CE.  All of this makes sense when you consider that Luke and Acts were most likely a response to Marcion’s gospel written around the 140-160s CE. It is also curious that Josephus dedicated his Jewish Antiquities to Epaphroditus, a real name that meant 'Touched by Aphrodite' and Luke dedicated both the Gospel and Acts to Theophilus, which means 'Friend of God'.

Also, how can anyone take seriously the Acts of the Apostles with ALL THESE MIRACLES? Why do so many people overlook the fact that Acts is littered with miracles? Christians believe these miracles and then, of course, assume that the historical information given in Acts must be accurate as well. I will never understand the mind of someone who believes in miracles with no evidence. It truly baffles my mind. Since you obviously take Acts to be an accurate portrayal of history, do you also truly believe these miracles and supernatural events in Acts actually happened?

1. Jesus is claimed to have ascended to heaven 1:9
2. Violent wind at the Cenacle in Jerusalem causes the apostles to become filled with the Holy Ghost and start speaking in tongues 2: 2-6
3. Many signs and wonders done by the Apostles in Jerusalem 2: 43
4. Peter heals the lame man at the Temple gate 3: 1-16
5. Prayer causes shaking of the assembly building in Jerusalem and all men are filled with the holy ghost  4:31
6. Ananias and Saphira struck dead by God at Peter’s feet for not giving Peter more money 5: 5-11
7. Apostles perform signs and wonders among the people 5: 12
8. Peter’s shadow cures the sick and people with unclean spirits in the streets 5: 15-16
9. An angel opens the prison doors open for the Apostles 5: 19
10. Stephen works great and wonders and miracles 6: 8
11. Stephen reports as truth that an angel of the Lord talked to Moses from a burning bush 7:30-35
12. Stephen looks up to heaven and sees Jesus before he is stoned to death 7:55-56
13. Philip cures the crippled and possessed in Samaria 8: 6-7, 13
14. An angel tells Philip where to go 8:26-29
15. Philip is snatched by the Spirit of the Lord and he disappears and is then transported to a city miles away 8: 39
16. A light from heaven shines down on Paul and he hears the voice of Jesus 9:3-7
17. Paul is struck blind on the road to Damascus for three days 9: 8-9
18. Ananias cures Paul of his blindness 9: 17-18
19. Peter heals the paralytic Aeneas 9: 33-35
20. Peter raises the dead Tabitha 9: 36-42
21. An angel speaks to Cornelius 10:3-7
22. Peter goes into a trance. Heaven opens up for him and a voice from heaven speaks to him 10:10-16
23. The Holy Ghost causes men around Peter to start speaking in tongues 10:44-47
24. Peter is liberated from prison by an angel who raises him up and releases his chains 12: 6-11
25. Herod is suddenly slain by an angel 12: 23
26. The Holy Ghost speaks to some prophets and teachers 13:2
27. Paul temporarily blinds the sorcerer Elymas 13: 9-12
28. Paul talks about God raising Jesus from the dead 13:30-34
29. Miracles worked by Paul and Barnabas on mission journey 14: 3
30. Paul cures the crippled man of Lystra 14: 8-10
31. Paul is stoned and miraculously healed at Lystra 14: 19-20
32. Great signs and wonders done among the Gentiles by Barnabas and Paul 15: 12
33. Paul exorcises a girl possessed of divining spirit 16: 16-18
34. Paul and Silas pray to God in prison then an earthquake causes the prison doors to open and the chains fall from Paul and Silas 16: 25-30
35. God speaks to Paul 18:9
36. Paul lays his hands upon twelve men and they are filled with the Holy Ghost and begin speaking in tongues 19:6
37. Sick people are cured by touching the handkerchief or apron of Paul 19: 11-12
38. An evil spirit speaks about knowing Jesus and Paul and then strips people of their clothes 19:15-16
39. Paul raises the young man Eutychus who fell to his death from a high window after falling asleep listening to Paul 20: 9-12
40. Paul shakes off a viper from his arm and is not affected by the venom  28: 3-6
41. Paul heals Publius’ father of dysentery and others who where sick and diseased 28: 8-9

[TheJackel]

Nobody likes my GOD's Favorite color test

[Gawen]

My criteria for the fact that God does exist

He is able to manipulate things if he wants to

Then all it boils down to is you have no free will.

You can communicate with him through prayer. Answered prayer and provisions.

God has already determined who will have faith and who is hopelessly abandoned. All prayer and good works are inevitably corrupt. Do me a favour? Pray to God and ask him how the afterlife is treating Timothy? Sure, prayer will get you what you ask for...unless it doesn't. Or, it doesn't right away; God answers all prayers, just sometimes it's 'no.' Or 'not right now.'

Blesses his people not necessarily monetary

That is an unsubstantiated assertion.

The people who's lives have been changed

God is not necessary to explain the fact that your ideals changed and then you changed to better suit the ideals you adopted. Why does God reveal himself to different people in such conflicting and contradictory ways? It's almost as if He were many different gods. And why does He always agree with his followers even when His followers disagree with each other?

Prophesies are the next thing.

Others have already tackled the prophecy assertions.

And like I have already said I speak with him daily  like today he wanted me to stand in a certain check out line even though I would have rather gone through the self check out. I ended up talking to a lady becasue of it.

That was a very anticlimactic bit of woo. I can pick any check out lane I wish and talk to any person at it as well....and do not need a god to do so.

There was another time I was traveling from San Antonio TX to Austin TX there was a main walking on the Highway God said pull over and pick that man up. I did and the man told me while I was traveling that he had prayed to God that someone would give him a ride from San Antonio to Austin. He had just recently given his life to Christ.

More woo. But this time it involves another person who claims to have prayed, so this makes it woo woo. How is this any different than I think I'll pick that guy up and when he gets in he says I was just thinking that I wish someone would pick me up?

I think your god is indeed more humble than you. He is sooo humble as to be non-existant, where his followers lack such humility and instead claim to know the attributes of god. More likely though is that followers have imagined a god and now gives them the attributes they has imagined. I always thought it was the height of human arrogance to think that having a personal relationship/revelations means that you have some sort of special hotline to a being that has no other evidence for its existence other than your personal revelations. It is hubris of the highest order.

An omniscient God should know what it would take to convince me that it exists. Because this hasn't happened, I can safely conclude that God does not want me to know that he exists or that he does not exist, in which case my atheism is the rational choice. Throw away your bias and nothing in reality appears to come from a god. If you base your arguments on certain axioms such as existence exists then your arguments can be grounded in reality. Can you agree to this axiom or would you prefer to argue that neither you nor your god can claim existence?

[periwinklefish]

Oh, and in your signature, could you please explain what is so tragic about photophobia, be it physical or metaphorical..? Or were you just trying to go for some of that "ancient wisdom" by quoting Plato..?

Photophobia?  My sig says what is says.  The tragedy of existence without God is complete vanity.

I've met more vane Christians than vane atheists...

[KDbeads]

Nobody likes my GOD's Favorite color test lol   I guess he has more than one?

[TheJackel]

Nobody likes my GOD's Favorite color test lol   I guess he has more than one?

Not according to other theists who claim to have that special relationship Everyone trying to be clever with their answers And statistically speaking, the colors given are generally related to said persons own favorite color

[gsaint]

lundberg500 I guess you could have guessed this but i disagree. I would need more than one person's take on history to debunk the writings of the New Testament.

Josephus also talks about Jesus

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly . . . He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had . . . come to love [him] did not cease. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life. For the prophets of God had prophesied these and myriads of other marvelous [things] about him . . ."

â€"Flavius Josephus, in The Antiquities of the Jews

You have heard what I deem to be proof and don't seem to agree with it, so may I ask you what would it take for you to be willing to consider the possibility of a God? What kind of proof are you after? I know some of you have already stated you proof but would you please restate them. Also is it only the fact that you haven't see proof of God the only reason you don't believe in a God? Life for example are people who believe in the existence of a God another reason you don't believe? If it is what is it about those who believe that stops you?

[LegendarySandwich]

lundberg500 I guess you could have guessed this but i disagree. I would need more than one person's take on history to debunk the writings of the New Testament.

You should read this page.

Josephus also talks about Jesus

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly . . . He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had . . . come to love [him] did not cease. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life. For the prophets of God had prophesied these and myriads of other marvelous [things] about him . . ."


â€"Flavius Josephus, in The Antiquities of the Jews

Josephus Flavius, the Jewish historian, lived as the earliest non-Christian who mentions a Jesus. Although many scholars think that Josephus' short accounts of Jesus (in Antiquities) came from interpolations perpetrated by a later Church father (most likely, Eusebius), Josephus' birth in 37 C.E. (well after the alleged crucifixion of Jesus), puts him out of range of an eyewitness account. Moreover, he wrote Antiquities in 93 C.E., after the first gospels got written! Therefore, even if his accounts about Jesus came from his hand, his information could only serve as hearsay.

You have heard what I deem to be proof and don't seem to agree with it, so may I ask you what would it take for you to be willing to consider the possibility of a God?

A good reason.

What kind of proof are you after?

Good proof. What exactly that is, I'm not sure.

I know some of you have already stated you proof but would you please restate them. Also is it only the fact that you haven't see proof of God the only reason you don't believe in a God?

No.

Life for example are people who believe in the existence of a God another reason you don't believe? If it is what is it about those who believe that stops you?

No.

[lundberg500]

Josephus also talks about Jesus

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly . . . He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had . . . come to love [him] did not cease. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life. For the prophets of God had prophesied these and myriads of other marvelous [things] about him . . ."

 :hmm:

[TheJackel]

lundberg500 I guess you could have guessed this but i disagree. I would need more than one person's take on history to debunk the writings of the New Testament.

Josephus also talks about Jesus

About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly . . . He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had . . . come to love [him] did not cease. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life. For the prophets of God had prophesied these and myriads of other marvelous [things] about him . . ."

â€"Flavius Josephus, in The Antiquities of the Jews

You have heard what I deem to be proof and don't seem to agree with it, so may I ask you what would it take for you to be willing to consider the possibility of a God? What kind of proof are you after? I know some of you have already stated you proof but would you please restate them. Also is it only the fact that you haven't see proof of God the only reason you don't believe in a God? Life for example are people who believe in the existence of a God another reason you don't believe? If it is what is it about those who believe that stops you?

The story of Jesus is hardly even original. That kind of folklore has been around for a very long time, and not just in Christianity. The proof I see is a lot of story telling, and much of it being from 3rd person accounts. Anyways, you can have fun trying to "prove" your position.

The Forbbiden Knowledge: Truth?

Jesus's Rivals:
[youtube:2ss5xfgc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paGZB_G7h0Q[/youtube:2ss5xfgc]
[youtube:2ss5xfgc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbMZURnxQSc[/youtube:2ss5xfgc]
[youtube:2ss5xfgc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lslMrWSq8A[/youtube:2ss5xfgc]
[youtube:2ss5xfgc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n5OSGEaIJY[/youtube:2ss5xfgc]
[youtube:2ss5xfgc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gMmfVjh8Y[/youtube:2ss5xfgc]

Note: I lost the source site to the list below..
Some of these share similar folklore with Jesus.

1. His mother was a virgin woman: Jesus, Attis, Buddha, Dionysus, Krishna, Mithra, Zoroaster
2. He was born on December 25: Jesus, Attis, Buddha, Dionysus, Horus, Krishna, Mithra
3. His earthly (adopted) father was a carpenter: Jesus, Krishna
4. His birth was signaled by a heavenly star: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Krishna
5. At his birth, shepherds presented him with gifts: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Krishna, Mithra
6. He was born in a manger or a cave: Jesus, Dionysus, Mithra
7. As a baby, he is declared a king. Wise men present him with gifts of gold: Jesus, Buddha, Krishna
8. Angels or other good divine spirits sang songs or danced at his birth: Jesus, Buddha, Krishna
9. He was threatened by a king or tyrant who tried to kill him as an infant: Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Moses
10. He was of royal lineage: Jesus, Buddha, Horus
11. He taught at the temple as a child and astounded all who heard him with his wisdom: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Zoroaster
12. He was baptized at a river: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Zoroaster
13. His hapless baptizer is later decapitated: Jesus, Horus
14. He was tempted in the wilderness by the devil: Jesus, Zoroaster
15. He was a traveling teacher of great wisdom: Jesus, Buddha, Dionysus, Mithra
16. His ministry preached a message of charity, peace and love. He lived in poverty and loved the poor: Jesus, Krishna
17. He taught of heaven and hell, revealed mysteries, resurrection, judgment, salvation and the apocalypse: Jesus, Zoroaster
18. He gave a famous sermon on a mountain: Jesus, Horus
19. He had 12 disciples: Jesus, Horus, Mithra
20. He gave his disciples the power to work miracles: Jesus, Krishna
21. He was transfigured in front of his disciples, sometimes described as shining as the sun: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Krishna
22. He healed the sick and the injured: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Krishna, Mithra, Serapis, Zoroaster
23. He cast out demons: Jesus, Horus, Zoroaster
24. He fed hundreds or thousands with magically generated food: Jesus, Buddha
25. He walked on water: Jesus, Buddha, Horus
26. He brought back the dead: Jesus, Horus
27. He turned water into wine: Jesus, Dionysus
28. His followers were admonished to take vows of poverty and renounce worldly desires: Jesus, Buddha
29. He was called such exalted titles as "Lord", "Master", "Light of the World", "Holy One", "Redeemer", "The Way", "The Truth", etc.: Jesus, Buddha, Dionysus, Horus, Krishna, Mithra
30. He is called "Logos" or "The Word": Jesus, Horus, Krishna, Mithra, Prometheus, Zoroaster
31. He was called "the anointed one" (how "Christ" translates): Jesus, Dionysus, Horus
32. He was known to his followers as a Shepherd of Humanity: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Mithra, Serapis
33. He was known as a fisher, associated with the fish: Jesus, Horus
34. He's identified with the ram or lamb: Jesus, Dionysus, Horus, Mithra
35. He's identified with the lion: Jesus, Horus, Krishna, Mithra
36. He came not to destroy but to fulfill the law: Jesus, Buddha, Horus
37. He rode in a triumphal procession on a donkey: Jesus, Dionysus
38. He condemned the clergy for their ambition and hypocrisy. He would later fall victim to their scheming: Jesus, Krishna
39. He crushed a serpent's head: Jesus, Buddha, Krishna
40. Declared the savior of humanity, slain for our salvation: Jesus, Attis, Krishna, Mithra
41. He sometimes is known by a heart symbol: Jesus, Krishna
42. His body and/or blood is consumed through bread/wine in a symbolic ritual: Jesus, Attis, Dionysus, Mithra, Zoroaster
43. He had a sacred cup or grail: Jesus, Zoroaster
44. He died while hung from a cross or a tree: Jesus, Attis, Buddha, Dionysus, Horus, Krishna
45. His good friend, a fisherman named Peter/Petraeus, would desert him: Jesus, Prometheus
46. He was crucified between two thieves: Jesus, Horus, Krishna
47. He was around the age of 30 when he was crucified: Jesus, Krishna
48. At his death, the sun darkened or there were other grim supernatural signs: Jesus, Krishna
49. He went to the underworld for three days: Jesus, Attis, Mithra
50. He was resurrected: Jesus, Attis, Buddha, Dionysus, Horus, Krishna, Mithra
51. He was resurrected during the springtime, the date of which would become a day of celebration among his followers: Jesus, Attis, Dionysus, Mithra
52. His sacred day is Sunday: Jesus, Mithra
53. He is the second part of a divine trinity and/or considered to be one with his father god: Jesus, Attis, Krishna
54. He promises to return one day: Jesus, Buddha, Horus, Krishna, Zoroaster
55. When he comes again, he will ride on a white horse to do battle with the prince of evil: Jesus, Krishna

There are other obvious problems with the bible:

Genesis only makes semi-logical sense if you take it into context of the day/night cycles of a 24 hour period.

  Magical Unicorns!:
Deuteronomy 33:17.

"His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends."

Further possible Plagiarism or unoriginality:

http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/Embryo/BiblecopyGreek.html

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=18212437&blogId=513421273


CHRISTIANITY IS THE WORSHIPING OF A SUN GOD?

[youtube:2ss5xfgc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNf-P_5u_Hw[/youtube:2ss5xfgc]


CONCLUSION:

After reading and watching the videos, is Christianity a copy paste religion? Is it's story even original?

[TheJackel]

Damn the youtube vids on National Geographic's documentary on Jesus's Rivals have been taken down

http://www.google.com/#q=National+Geogr ... 14e6107c47

[gsaint]

having 55 things in common with other ideas about gods does not show me that Christianity has picked and pulled form other religions. If you are going to make a statement like that please show me when and where the similar ideas became a part of the christian faith

son in greek-  huios, ( hwee-os' )
sun in greek-helios,  hay'-lee-os

son in hebrew-ben,  bane
sun in hebrew-shemesh,  sheh'-mesh

Just because son and sun sound the same in English didn't mean they sounded the same in Greek or Hebrew.

Acts is not a forgery. It has been tested and proven with archeological findings time after time
Luke accurately uses titles names and locations correctly through out the book of acts.

Acts specifically mentions people by name their place in society.
Gallio  Acts 18:12-16  governed  Achaia brother of Seneca, the famous Roman philosopher and tutor of Nero
In ancient Delphi a letter of the Emperor Claudius indicates that Gallio must have become Proconsul of Achaia in A.D. 51.35 Achaia was a Senatorial province from 27 B.C. to A.D. 15, and also from A.D. 44 onward. Luke accurately calls Gallio by his official title, "proconsul of Achaia." By doing this, Luke departs from his usual custom of calling countries by their general titles and instead of referring to the province of Achaia by the more ordinary name of Greece he does not call Gallio the proconsul of Greece but of Achaia

Archaeology has shown the book of Acts to be accurate in its references to commerce. For example, Acts 16:11-15 records how at Philippi, Paul and his companions converse with some of the cities local women, one of whom is specifically named as "Lydia...a purple merchant from the city of Thyatira..." The woman's name is a reminder that Thyatira was situated in the ancient kingdom of Lydia; a place that was well known for the manufacturing of purple dyes extracted from the juice of the madder root.40 In addition to this, there is also inscriptural evidence to show that the trading in purple dye was prevalent in Philippi at this time.41

The idol that bore the inscription "to an unknown god" (v. 23) is of interest. Although this inscription has not yet been discovered in Athens,48 Pauanias, who visited the city in 150 A.D. gives a thorough account of the religious activity of the Athenasians in his book Description of Greece and mentions "alters of the gods named unknown."49 The practice of exorcism is another area for consideration. Thomson observes how Luke's description of attempted exorcism by the Jewish Seven Sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-16 is in accordance with Jewish practices prevalent in the first century.50 Often, the practice was associated with various magical rites and practices whereby the sacred name of God would be pronounced.51

I received my information from this website http://www.spotlightministries.org.uk/acts.htm this website also give references of the data presented
The Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History by Colin J. Hermer also goes through historical proof of the book of acts

I am here to share my beliefs. I also want to know what your beliefs are and why.

[DJAkuma]

having 55 things in common with other ideas about gods does not show me that Christianity has picked and pulled form other religions. If you are going to make a statement like that please show me when and where the similar ideas became a part of the christian faith

That's really exactly what it shows...

son in greek-  huios, ( hwee-os' )
sun in greek-helios,  hay'-lee-os

son in hebrew-ben,  bane
sun in hebrew-shemesh,  sheh'-mesh

Just because son and sun sound the same in English didn't mean they sounded the same in Greek or Hebrew.

Kinda missed the point, someone else can deal with that one

Acts is not a forgery. It has been tested and proven with archeological findings time after time
Luke accurately uses titles names and locations correctly through out the book of acts.

Acts specifically mentions people by name their place in society.
Gallio  Acts 18:12-16  governed  Achaia brother of Seneca, the famous Roman philosopher and tutor of Nero
In ancient Delphi a letter of the Emperor Claudius indicates that Gallio must have become Proconsul of Achaia in A.D. 51.35 Achaia was a Senatorial province from 27 B.C. to A.D. 15, and also from A.D. 44 onward. Luke accurately calls Gallio by his official title, "proconsul of Achaia." By doing this, Luke departs from his usual custom of calling countries by their general titles and instead of referring to the province of Achaia by the more ordinary name of Greece he does not call Gallio the proconsul of Greece but of Achaia

Archaeology has shown the book of Acts to be accurate in its references to commerce. For example, Acts 16:11-15 records how at Philippi, Paul and his companions converse with some of the cities local women, one of whom is specifically named as "Lydia...a purple merchant from the city of Thyatira..." The woman's name is a reminder that Thyatira was situated in the ancient kingdom of Lydia; a place that was well known for the manufacturing of purple dyes extracted from the juice of the madder root.40 In addition to this, there is also inscriptural evidence to show that the trading in purple dye was prevalent in Philippi at this time.41

The idol that bore the inscription "to an unknown god" (v. 23) is of interest. Although this inscription has not yet been discovered in Athens,48 Pauanias, who visited the city in 150 A.D. gives a thorough account of the religious activity of the Athenasians in his book Description of Greece and mentions "alters of the gods named unknown."49 The practice of exorcism is another area for consideration. Thomson observes how Luke's description of attempted exorcism by the Jewish Seven Sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-16 is in accordance with Jewish practices prevalent in the first century.50 Often, the practice was associated with various magical rites and practices whereby the sacred name of God would be pronounced.51

I received my information from this website http://www.spotlightministries.org.uk/acts.htm this website also give references of the data presented
The Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenistic History by Colin J. Hermer also goes through historical proof of the book of acts

You may want to read the book of mormon and the koran, they make the same claims and there's hundreds of websites just like that one that claim to be able to prove the historical accuracy of both books. Just like the one you posted they present "evidence" that is not corroborated. Where's the names of the archaeologists who found said evidece? Can any of it be found in peer-reviewed journals? I'd bet that you don't have to dig far to find their evidence to be not much more than hearsay and speculation or outright fraud. A few historical facts don't make something true. In washington state there is indeed a town called forks (I've been there), the weather is crappy, and there's native americans there. There's actually tons of historical accuracy and accurate names and places in twilight but it's still fiction.

I am here to share my beliefs. I also want to know what your beliefs are and why.

I'm atheist, I don't believe any gods exist and that includes yours. Until someone proves empirically that ones does exist I'll continue to not care about worshiping any of them. (if any omnipotent being is reading this and really wants me to believe send me cash, you know my address already, just drop a cashiers check in the mail slot)

[lundberg500]

Acts is not a forgery. It has been tested and proven with archeological findings time after time

Gsaint, please show evidence for all these miralces and supernatural events in Acts:

1. Jesus is claimed to have ascended to heaven 1:9
2. Violent wind at the Cenacle in Jerusalem causes the apostles to become filled with the Holy Ghost and start speaking in tongues 2: 2-6
3. Many signs and wonders done by the Apostles in Jerusalem 2: 43
4. Peter heals the lame man at the Temple gate 3: 1-16
5. Prayer causes shaking of the assembly building in Jerusalem and all men are filled with the holy ghost  4:31
6. Ananias and Saphira struck dead by God at Peter’s feet for not giving Peter more money 5: 5-11
7. Apostles perform signs and wonders among the people 5: 12
8. Peter’s shadow cures the sick and people with unclean spirits in the streets 5: 15-16
9. An angel opens the prison doors open for the Apostles 5: 19
10. Stephen works great and wonders and miracles 6: 8
11. Stephen reports as truth that an angel of the Lord talked to Moses from a burning bush 7:30-35
12. Stephen looks up to heaven and sees Jesus before he is stoned to death 7:55-56
13. Philip cures the crippled and possessed in Samaria 8: 6-7, 13
14. An angel tells Philip where to go 8:26-29
15. Philip is snatched by the Spirit of the Lord and he disappears and is then transported to a city miles away 8: 39
16. A light from heaven shines down on Paul and he hears the voice of Jesus 9:3-7
17. Paul is struck blind on the road to Damascus for three days 9: 8-9
18. Ananias cures Paul of his blindness 9: 17-18
19. Peter heals the paralytic Aeneas 9: 33-35
20. Peter raises the dead Tabitha 9: 36-42
21. An angel speaks to Cornelius 10:3-7
22. Peter goes into a trance. Heaven opens up for him and a voice from heaven speaks to him 10:10-16
23. The Holy Ghost causes men around Peter to start speaking in tongues 10:44-47
24. Peter is liberated from prison by an angel who raises him up and releases his chains 12: 6-11
25. Herod is suddenly slain by an angel 12: 23
26. The Holy Ghost speaks to some prophets and teachers 13:2
27. Paul temporarily blinds the sorcerer Elymas 13: 9-12
28. Paul talks about God raising Jesus from the dead 13:30-34
29. Miracles worked by Paul and Barnabas on mission journey 14: 3
30. Paul cures the crippled man of Lystra 14: 8-10
31. Paul is stoned and miraculously healed at Lystra 14: 19-20
32. Great signs and wonders done among the Gentiles by Barnabas and Paul 15: 12
33. Paul exorcises a girl possessed of divining spirit 16: 16-18
34. Paul and Silas pray to God in prison then an earthquake causes the prison doors to open and the chains fall from Paul and Silas 16: 25-30
35. God speaks to Paul 18:9
36. Paul lays his hands upon twelve men and they are filled with the Holy Ghost and begin speaking in tongues 19:6
37. Sick people are cured by touching the handkerchief or apron of Paul 19: 11-12
38. An evil spirit speaks about knowing Jesus and Paul and then strips people of their clothes 19:15-16
39. Paul raises the young man Eutychus who fell to his death from a high window after falling asleep listening to Paul 20: 9-12
40. Paul shakes off a viper from his arm and is not affected by the venom  28: 3-6
41. Paul heals Publius’ father of dysentery and others who where sick and diseased 28: 8-9