7:1-5 The genealogy presented here shows that Ezra was a direct descendant from Aaron. The implication is that he was the high priest according to the requirements of the law of Moses.

He arrived after the work of building the temple had been completed 7:8 .

Artaxerxes I, called Longimanus (long-handed), was the son of Xerxes I.  He ruled from 465 BC to 424 BC. Therefore, Ezra would have made his trip to Jerusalem in 458 BC; 140 years after the first exiles were taken to Babylon. 

Even though Cyrus had decreed that the Jews were free to return to Judah and Jerusalem in 539 BC, not all were in a hurry to exercise this offer.  Many Jews had prospered in Babylon and were not anxious to return, especially the subsequent generations born in Babylon who had no firsthand experience of their homeland. 

7:6  When we read that Ezra was a ‘ready scribe’ it is clear that he did more than copy out the law. In describing as a ‘scribe in the law’ we appreciate that he not only was able to write out the law but was also able to explain what it meant

7:11-26 The letter Ezra carried was like a ‘letter of commendation’. Ezra did not start his massive work on a whim. He went through the proper channels to ensure that he had authority to proceed. He counted the cost of building – but not simply in monetary terms. He thought about the possibility of opposition and sought to head such opposition off before it came about by taking a letter of authority.

7:27 Even though the work that Artaxerxes set in motion was of God in fulfilment of the prophets thanks and praise are raised to God because He is fulfilling His word. This is rather like, on a later occasion, the angels praising God at the announcement of the birth of Jesus – Luke 2:13

7:1 We should be aware that there is a 70 year gap between these two chapters because we are now going back in time.

7:6 The word ‘ready’ <04106> is actually translated ‘diligent’ here Prov 22:29

8:1 as an eagle Deuteronomy 28:49
8:1 transgressed ... covenant Isaiah 24:5
8:7 if so be it yield ... swallow it up Deuteronomy 28:33
8:13 they shall return to Egypt Deuteronomy 28:68

8:1 'transgressed my covenant' reflects the point we have made from 7:11 - 14. The covenant being spoken of is the one made at Ebal / Gerizim in Deuteronomy 28.

Hos 8:4. From my count, they had 18 kings (from 10 families) in the period of 250 years after the death of Jeroboam, who was not a descendent of Solomon.

Hos 8:5. This of course is the calf set up during the reign of Jeroboam. (1Kings 12:28)

Hosea took many word pictures to Israel. In Hos 8:7 he relays God’s Words, “They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” Just think about that as a metaphor!  Israel have been out to sow their seed, and have planted the wind. But in the time of harvest, everything they own has been scattered and destroyed by the whirlwind – or as we have seen in our days, a hurricane. Their own works have turned on them, and they are severely punished.

8:4 So God, through the prophet, is telling us that Israel had a ‘form of Godliness’ but the substance was not there. They had done things according to their pleasure and it was all a pretence. How often do we justify our actions as if they are done for the Father when, in reality, we are serving ourselves?

8:1 In speaking of Israel transgressing the covenant the prophet echoes the sentiments of the contemporary prophet – Isa 24:5

8:6 The ‘calves of Samaria’ is a references to the two calves which Jeroboam set up at the beginning of the kingdom of Israel – 1Kin 12:28

27:2 Aristarchus was a prisoner with Paul at this time. He first appears in Ephesus Acts 19:29 as clearly had been involved in the preaching work there. He later appears as a travelling companion with Paul Acts 20:4 . He is with Paul when he writes to the ecclesia at Colosse and to Philemon who was also at Colosse.

So we see that when he realised that there were problems with being with Paul he did not seek to escape the situation but associated himself with Paul and this lost his freedom.

The rescue from the shipwreck in chapters 27 & 28 reminds me somewhat of the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. We have repeated mentions of third day and three 27:19; 28:7,11,12,15,17. Paul is unfairly arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans who wanted to release him but the Jews objected 28:17-19. Trial before Caesar 27:24. This event was prophesied 27:25. Mentions of the 14th night or14 days perhaps suggest a symbolic Passover of the 14th day of Nissan 27:33. Paul makes no attempt to escape via a life boat as none would be saved if they took a separate route than what they were told; it was necessary to stay with the wooden ship in the water to the end if they were to survive 27:30-32. At night Paul gives thanks and gives them bread broken by him which they will need to survive 27:33-35. At daylight they cut the anchors loose (might this be cutting loose the weights of sin and death?) 27:39-40. There were soldiers guarding any escape and plans to kill the prisoners but Paul's life and all following him (two groups of people) were spared as they clung to the wood (cross?) and passed through the water (baptism?) and arrived safely on the land 27:42-44.  A poisenous snake (sin?) is shaken off Paul with no ill effects in this new land where the people change and worship him 28:3-6. Paul cures the people of all sickness 28:8-9. Paul paid the price though he didn't own the vessel he lived in (we aren't our own we were bought with a price) and welcomed all who came to him 28:30.

V.19 "we" again an indication that Luke was called upon to help. We feel that Luke mentions these personal things to indicate how serious the situation was during the storm. Normally sailors would not allow non seafaring persons to interfere in any way. On this occasion however, they were quite prepared to receive what help they could and probably asked for it.

27:9 Here we learn something abut general weather conditions in the Mediterranean. Sailing was unsafe after April time due to the possibility of storms.

27:43 Maybe, as it is said that the centurion wanted to save Paul alive and there is no mention of the other prisoners, that he had come to give some credibility to the message of this prisoner.

27:12 The details of the journey and shipwreck might seem superfluous to the gospel narrative. After all Acts is not a travelogue. However there are spiritual lessons for us to learn. The shipwreck was because the sailors put personal preferences above sensible decisions. We likewise can do the same in our walk towards the kingdom.

27:12 It is evident that not all the sailors wanted to continue on their journey as it was ‘the more part’ who did not wish to remain over the winter in ‘The Fair Havens’.

27:18-19 The severity of the storm caused the sailors to fear for their safety. They even threw overboard their cargo – their income from that trip – and the ‘tackling’ which was a necessary part of a sailing boat. So they even threw out parts of the ship, expensive items to replace.