In this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, Daniel Mikkelsen sits down with Paul Wilson—PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh and associate lecturer at the Scottish Baptist College—to explore how the Book of Acts comes alive when viewed through the lens of migration. As both a migrant himself and a scholar of ancient texts, Paul brings a unique perspective to the question: Was the early church a migrant church?Together, Daniel and Paul unpack how forced movement, resettlement, and mobility shaped the growth of the early Christian movement. Through detailed examples from the Greek text—like the meaning of “strict” in Paul’s self-description as a Pharisee, or Luke’s unusual vocabulary for belts and aprons—they reveal how biblical languages expose nuances that challenge modern assumptions. From scattered believers to multicultural churches, they explore how Acts presents a church on the move, shaped by migration and mission.Whether you’re passionate about biblical Greek, interested in the early church, or simply want to see the Book of Acts through fresh eyes, this conversation offers rich insight into the theological and missional power of movement in Scripture.Don’t Miss the Next Episode: Next time Seth Postell is back with a second and more in-depth episode on the Goal of the Torah. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and Opening Remarks 01:34 – Meeting Paul Wilson 03:58 – Struggling into Greek: How Refugee Ministry Sparked Language Study 06:34 – Seeing Scripture Anew Through The Biblical Languages 09:29 – Translation Choices, Authorial Style & Why It Matters 12:22 – Was Paul "Strict" or "Accurate"? Rethinking a Key Greek Word 18:46 – Apron or Belt? Latin Loanwords and Luke’s Deliberate Vocabulary 24:36 – Why Migration is Central to Human—and Biblical—Story 29:10 – Why Acts is the Perfect Text for Migration Studies 32:09 – Scattered but Sent: Migration Patterns in Early Christianity 40:06 – Migrant Missionaries: Barnabas, Aquila, Paul & More 46:52 – What Acts Teaches Us About God’s Work Through Migration 53:43 – Reading Acts from a Migrant’s Perspective 57:24 – How Biblical Languages & Migration Can Shape Your Walk with ChristMusic Credits:Music from #UppbeatPlease, let us know what you thoughts on the episode.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode of Exploring the Language of Scripture, please consider becoming an Explorer! Your support helps keep the podcast ad-free, allows us to bring in more guests, and enhances the content we create. By joining our Explorer community, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including Q&As, priority for Greek tutoring applications, and discounts on tutoring. Explore more and join the Explorer programme here: Become an Explorer. Podcast Keywords:biblical languages, New Testament, Old Testament, Christ, bible study, Relationship with God, learn biblical languages, Biblical Theology, Christianity, Covenants, New covenant, old covenant, language acquisition, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew.

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