Tuesday - Romans 13 - Liberty & Authority

 

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N addition to the devotion & diligence that we should exude in response to God's good mercy & grace upon us (see Romans 12), we must avoid a major pitfall as well. The very real freedom that we enjoy under the shadow of God's grace can lead us to a place of smug complacency. While we are free in Christ, we are not entirely free in this world. Jesus has saved us from the penalty of sin & there is nothing that can cancel or undo that. However, our testimony among our peers is much less concrete. In fact, it is in a constant state of reevaluation & review. Being free because of God's grace does not remove our responsibility to behave well. There are still men who hold significant power over us & to whom God expects us to show due reverence. Human authority over other humans is a divine institution. Our salvation does not deliver us from this reality.

 

God created three institutions that exercise His authority in their jurisdictions in this world. God made the family unit, secular human government, & the church. While much could be said about the role of parents & pastors in the life of any believer, this chapter is aimed more specifically at secular authorities. The principle of submission taught in Romans 13:1 is very broad, but clearly the kinds of authority figures Paul had in mind were kings & presidents, governors & judges, mayors & policemen, etc.

Monday - Romans 12 - This is What We Do About It

 

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OMANS 12 gives us a good behavior list to use as Christians. Now mind you, this list is only beneficial AFTER we recognize and submit to God's grace. Otherwise, all we would have here is yet another moral code. It’s irrelevant whether the code came from Moses or Paul. We are saved by grace UNTO good works; not through good works. However, the good works are important as an expression of our imputed righteousness.

 

Romans 12:1-2 are marvelously practical verses for Christian living. 1. God calls on us to make sacrifices. We know that Jesus died as the sacrifice for our sin, but He also set an example for all of us in His life & in His death. 2. Our minds are in constant need of renovation. This is where a new pattern of living starts.  If I can learn to yield my mind to God, then my mouth & my actions will follow suit.  Admittedly, disciplining my mouth & my actions are included in learning to discipline my mind.  It's not ok, nor even logical for me to let my outside run wild while I wait on full acquiescence from my inside. But full success will start on the inside (Proverbs 23:7). We must guard our thoughts (2^nd Corinthians 10:5 & Romans 12:3).

 

So, what are the nuts & bolts of Christian behavior? Well: honesty, love, hating evil & grasping good, generosity, humility, diligence, passion, joy, patience, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, empathy, unity, sincerity, peacefulness, faith, & victory. If we all lived with these spiritual traits dominating our lives, the church of the living God would be an incredibly powerful influence in our world.

 

Friday - Romans 11 - God Knew

 

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NE of the most amazing realizations in theology is that, long before God made the world, He knew of every single sin that would ever be committed. And yet, He made us anyway. More personally, God knew of my every desire; He knew of each infraction. But amazingly, I was born. Now, in this chapter Paul is dealing with the plan of God in relation to the Jews and Gentiles. God knew how far away from Him Israel would run, and yet He chose them anyway. And, God knew how many (and who) among the Gentiles will place faith in Him and who wouldn't. With all this knowledge in place, God still hit the proverbial start button. In fact, He designed our world with free will, and even knowing what all the ramifications were, He didn't renege.

 

One of the most important things in prophecy is the fruition of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israel has been on a shelf (so to speak) for a very long time, but God's promise of greatness for the Jewish people has not been forgotten. Now, this tells us less about the Jews than it does about God. The security of my salvation and yours is dependent upon how well God keeps His promises to Israel.  If He doesn't take care of them, why would He take care of us?  We believe and know that He can & will do both.

 

Another lesson in God's foreknowledge is that His infinite characteristics do not negate our responsibilities. Our decisions are our own, but the consequences are part of God's eternal program. He has taken everything into consideration. Everything.

Thursday - Romans 10 - Ignorance

 

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AUL taught that all humanity is trapped under a thick blanket of spiritual darkness.  Truly, it was our own foolish choice to enter this darkness (think Adam and the forbidden fruit), yet the entrapment is still tragic. Paul was particularly saddened by the position of ignorance in which his own Hebrew people stood. God had given them so very much. Yet in ignorance, the Jews were very zealously attempting to establish their own spiritual resume.

 

There is another category of ignorance which could be dubbed "impotent ignorance" (vs. 14 & 18). There are two reasons for this kind of spiritual ignorance. On the one hand, it is a result of a lack of spiritual instructors (or instructions). On the other hand, on some level God has revealed Himself to everyone. Still, due to an inability to do anything about it, the ignorance of this group continues. They might know enough to know that there is more to be known, but they don't know how to go about discovering it.

 

The third and final category of ignorance dealt with here is this so-called "innocent" ignorance. I do not mean to use this word "innocent" in any sort of an absolute moral sense.  The gentiles are lumped together in a category that we might call the irrelevant.  We were on the outside looking in. More accurately, we were on the outside and were not even aware that there was anything to investigate. So, perhaps we should say uninvolved. We were bystanders in a program involving God and His chosen people. We were ignorant of His plan, ignorant of His mercy, and ignorant about our own condition (Acts 17:30 & Romans 10:20).

Wednesday - Romans 9 - The Doctrine of Election

  

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T is always sad to me when I perceive that a good word or a wholesome symbol has been hijacked and redefined. Satan is an expert at polluting good things. Concerning the word "elect" (which is used powerfully in this chapter), God revealed this thing to His children, but sadly Satan has devised a way to use it as a tool to divide believers and smear God's name.

 

Debates about Calvinism aside, unmistakably the Bible teaches the doctrine of election. The verb "elect" means, "to choose." This must not be overlooked. And, the most basic teaching behind the doctrine of election is that God is the initiator in the plan of redemption. It is not my desire to either water down this realty or to make it to appear more rigid than it is. God in His grace chose to move toward sinful men. He has chosen to show love & mercy to an undeserving race. Make no mistake, He could have allowed us all to die & go to hell. This would have been just. He owed no one a second chance. His generosity drove Him to extend clemency to us.

 

Now, to zoom in a little closer on this issue, God not only made a general choice to institute the plan of redemption, He also made some distinct decisions concerning certain groups within the whole of humanity. In fact, this realization is what drove Paul to deal with the issue of election in this chapter.  Zooming in even further, the doctrine of election applies individually as well.  There is not even one single human being who would have any hope whatsoever, were it not for God's spiritual advances toward that individual.

Tuesday - Romans 8 - The Blessing of His Spirit

 

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HIS chapter is a description, not a demand (vs. 4). Paul is declaring our situation. He is not giving us the means whereby we might improve or secure our situation. So, the fact that we walk in the Spirit is universal among believers, right? Yes (vs. 9 & 14)! The context of this chapter demands this interpretation. Some people take Romans 8:1 conditionally. That is, if you and I live in submission to the Holy Spirit then we will be ok, but if we don't then we will be in trouble. Truly there are plenty of verses in the New Testament that can be used legitimately (and in their context) to teach that truth, but that is not the point of Romans 8.  Especially since the word "condemnation" is used here, a preacher should be very hesitant trying to apply Romans 8:1 conditionally to the redeemed (vs. 33-34). We are free. Free from the law; there's no condemnation (vs. 2)!

 

Now, while we do have to wait for our full inheritance, we do not have to wait for the Spirit of God. The Spirit is with us and in us now and helps us continually (vs. 26-27). His infinite wisdom serves to orchestrate every minute detail in our current life in such a way that, in the end, our Father will receive pleasure – and we will receive blessing (Jude 1:24 & Romans 8:28). He knows everything. He knows us. He knows the will of the Father. He knows the process of our sanctification. He is on our side. His effectual love for us is infinite and sure. Our future is secure (Romans 8:29-39). Hallelujah!

Monday - Romans 7 - Victory Belongs to Us (part 3)

 

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ECAUSE God has decreed that the price of sin is death, then death is the solution for sin. It is the cure. The only two options are our death or Christ's. The death of God has accomplished something that may at first seem to be a little strange. His death has brought about great freedom and victory (in the life a believer). According to Paul (Colossians 2:14), the Law of Moses – which condemned us – was nailed to the cross of Christ.

 

Paul is careful to point out that the problem with the law was not the law itself. The problem is in us. The problem is our fallen condition. The old law reflects the perfect holiness of Jehovah. But it also exposes the tragic imperfectability of fallen men. The good thing about the law is that it humbles us to recognize our desperate need for a Savior & Master (Gal. 3:24 & Romans 7:7). And, having arrived at the cross, we are now free from the law (Gal. 3:25).

 

Paul's old sin nature gave him fits just like yours and mine does. We know that he considered himself to be the chief of sinners (1^st Tim. 1:12-15).  Yet his words in Romans 5-7 are all about victory for believers. The message is "We have been saved, and we CAN live like it (2^nd Tim. 2:19)!" Our victory comes "through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 7:25).  God, who saved us by faith, is now willing to energize our fellowship with Him by that same faith (Gal. 3:2-3).

 

Friday - Romans 6 - Victory Belongs to Us (part 2)

 

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O, God's grace dominates our situation. As a result, we are the inheritors of eternal life. We have a license to do whatever we want to do now, right?  Well, sort of.  The real question is: what do you want to do? When we come to Christ, He gives us a new set of desires.  The old set of evil passions is still in us, but a new set of holy aims also exists in our mind. Good things can't appeal to our old nature (Romans 7:18). Evil things can't appeal to our new nature, because our new nature is the nature of Christ Himself (1^st John 3:9). And we know that He is perfect. The Spirit of Christ in us is incapable of sin. Still, there is a real sense in which we are now free from the penalty of sin, so can't we just forget the law and do whatever is convenient or comfortable in any given situation?  After all, isn't God's grace more magnificently obvious in the salvation of Rahab the harlot, David, or Peter than it is in salvation of Abel, Joseph, or Daniel (Romans 5:20)?

 

Paul's answer to this soteriological conundrum is simple. If we are saved from sin (and if we are now dead to sin), could any reasonable person conclude that God has saved us so that we can now freely return to the filth from which He rescued us (like Judah did foolishly, as is recorded in Jeremiah 7:9-10)? No, God has given us a new nature; new life, which is more than just a possession. Our new life is more than a ticket to heaven. It is more than a pass, or a get-out-of-hell-free card. It is all these things, yes, but He has saved us unto good works.  He has given us the power and ability through His Spirit to walk in the truth; to live daily in spiritual victory (Romans 6:10 & Ephesians 2:10). My old desires and all the punishments which they merit were nailed viciously to the cross.

Thursday - Romans 5 - Victory Belongs to Us (part)

 

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OMANS 1-4 laid a strong foundation of reality for us. Humans are depraved. Apart from God's grace, we are all in a hopeless condition. No religious ritual and no standard of morality can be enough to obtain our acceptability with God.  What more can be said about that?  Now, Roman 5 - 7 presents a glorious portrait of our potential in Christ. Previously we’ve read that no sinner has an excuse that is good enough to circumvent God's holy justice. Now we read that there is no saint who can produce an acceptable excuse concerning why we don't have spiritual victory.

 

Truly marvelous are the glorious possessions of God's children. Through faith in Christ we have obtained peace with God. Our relationship with Him has been reconciled. We have a secure position. We are the recipients a real joy. We now look forward to the full glory of God, which will come. Our current plight is of little consequence as we consider our future. Grace reigns in us. We wear a robe of righteousness that will not be taken away from us. Salvation is a once-in-a-lifetime transaction with eternal benefits. We are on the winning side. We're in. Hallelujah!

Wednesday - Romans 4 - Father Abraham

 

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'VE heard it said that Abraham was not a Jew. Well, I can see the point. Abraham (who is called "the father of the faithful" and who held a very prominent place in paradise) was not a circumcised man when God accepted him. Above that, not one word of Moses' law had even been written yet. So, the Jews of Paul's day (who had such great reverence for Abraham) really did have things turned upside down. Or, we might say that they had their head buried in the sand. Even if a person tried to extrapolate from Abraham's good works (e.g., leaving Ur, trying to have a son, offering Isaac, etc.) that there was a principle of justification by works by which he was living, we couldn't back it up with the Old Testament record of Abraham's life. Genesis 15:6 teaches plainly that Abraham was justified by faith (a truth that we will certainly revisit repeatedly throughout the epistles). This chapter hits this issue from many angles, but the lesson is always the same: faith (not effort) is the way into God's favor. As much as our fallen nature drives us to think that we can earn our worth by diligence, it still isn't true.

 

Now, Paul was not teaching that circumcision was meaningless. In fact, Romans 4:11 describes Abraham's circumcision as a sign and of his righteousness. He was already a believer before his circumcision. He was already in. But his circumcision represented the reality (kind of like baptism does for believers in our dispensation). If circumcision (or any other good work) were the vehicle of salvation, then faith wouldn't be necessary. But, if God's promise of grace is the only thing that is needed, then faith is infinitely powerful. He can save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). After all, God's power and knowledge are infinite (Romans 4:17 & 21). He raised His Son from the dead physically, so He certainly will have no difficulty in raising our dead spirit back to life.

Tuesday - Romans 3 - Guilty before God

 

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F chapters 1 & 2 weren't sufficient to convince the reader that the human race has a deep sin problem, chapter 3 says it categorically, emphatically, and unmistakably.  Beyond that, Paul begins this chapter anticipating a legitimate question. If everyone is a sinner, and if everyone needs Christ's mercy to make it into heaven, then what is the benefit of being a Jew (and what relevance is there in the Law of Moses)? Paul answers that the law serves to show humanity how desperately sinful we are (bringing us one-step closer to calling out for mercy). Obviously then, if the Jews were the original recipients of the Scriptures, then they really did have a notable advantage in the progressively revealed plan of redemption. On the other hand, having a seat closer to the emergency exit significantly raises one's responsibility and liability.

 

It has been said that sometimes it's easier to get people saved than it is to get them lost.  The point of that statement is that many people don't believe they even need a Savior. Many people think that they are not too bad. Certainly, many would not admit that they deserve eternal torment in hell.  In this chapter Paul says, "Let God be true, but every man a liar." He wasn't promoting deception among men, of course. He was contrasting the perfect holiness of God with the hopeless iniquity that permeates humanity.

Monday - Romans 2 - Inward Jews

 

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HEN we read Romans 1, we might begin to look out the window. Paul tells us that be the wrong response. Instead, we should look in the mirror. The same law that is used to condemn idolatry & homosexuality also condemns every other brand of sin. If we are proud, self-righteous & impatient, then are we ultimately any different than the worst of all heathen? We found entrance into the family of God through God's grace & goodness. It certainly was not due to any merit of our own. Shouldn't we rejoice to see His patience exercised on others?

 

So, the gospel-starved heathen are condemned by the violation their own conscience and by their resistance to the natural revelation of God (Romans 2:14-15), but the gospel-rich civilization is condemned just as well (or more so) by our calloused disregard for God's grace (Romans 2:12). Impenitence is impenitence, regardless of the setting.

 

The Jews of Paul's day had their own idea of what good and evil was. They defined righteousness by their own interpretation of Moses' law. For example, the Jews thought their circumcision (and all that they thought it represented) provided them with spiritual security. Paul taught that anyone could be a Jew, regardless of their heritage and regardless of any physical characteristic. If a Jew is one of God's children, and if it is what’s on the inside that makes you or me a true child of God, then in that sense if our hearts belong to God, we are true Jews (Romans 2:29).

 

 

Friday - Romans 1 - Roman Christians

 

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HE Book of Acts ended with Paul in Rome. Apparently, sometime prior to his arrival there as a prisoner, Paul wrote this lengthy letter to the Romans explaining the gospel with wonderful clarity.  Paul was himself a Roman citizen. He had a burden for the Jews, but God had sent him to non-Jews, including Romans. We know that he had more than a few close encounters with Roman soldiers. It is reasonable to conclude that Paul would have fully understood the Roman culture and the typical mindset of the Roman people. Whatever Paul's mindset was, His letter to the Romans begins with smashing intensity.

 

In Romans 1:1-15 we read a warm greeting from Paul to the Romans. But it is more than a greeting.  It is a section replete with references to the gospel & to Jesus Christ.  Verse 16 picks up then with the meat of Paul’s message. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a powerful thing. Those who believe the gospel have a current possession referred to here as "salvation.” Righteousness is the reward for faith (vs. 17). Those who refuse the gospel are relegated to a demise that is described here. The ungodly has only God's wrath in front of them (vs. 18). Those who resist God's revelations and suppress the truth, do so to their own detriment. Paul's unmistakable claim is that God has sufficiently revealed His nature to humanity. And frankly, vs. 22-28 indicate that idolatry & homosexuality are at the end of the path of sin & destruction.

Thursday - Acts 28 - The Last Chapter

 

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E all know that the story of the church is not over. However, as far as the New Testament record of the activities of the church is concerned, this chapter wraps up the straight history presentation. Of course, much more information concerning the first century churches can be pieced together from the epistles that follow this. And, we know that the actual acts of the apostles did continue beyond this, but the book with this title closes with Paul's ministry in Rome. His final trial and his execution are not recorded here. However, it is claimed that Paul was beheaded while Nero was emperor in Rome.

 

In the last chapter we left off with Paul (as well as all the rest of the people on the same ship that he was on) surviving a shipwreck. In this chapter, we find that he & his "companions" were all treated very kindly by the inhabitants of the island onto which they washed ashore. This kindness was a product of God's grace. God also delivered him from a venomous. Even though Paul was in miserable circumstances, he was still full speed ahead in ministry for the Lord, healing Publius' father (vs. 8) & many others on the island (vs. 9).

In Rome, Paul's ministry focus would be gospel presentation and doctrinal teaching (vs. 23). Paul experienced considerable freedom in Rome. He was free to mingle with his Jewish brethren there. To them he faithfully presented the reality of the risen Christ. A portion of the Jews accepted this message, but some did not (vs. 24). Evidently, the Roman Jews considered Christianity to be merely a subdivision of Judaism. They had heard about it, but they counted on Paul to explain it to them (vs. 22).

Wednesday - Acts 27 - Shipwrecked

 

 

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AUL'S last journey through the Mediterranean world was quite a bit different than his first three trips. As a prisoner, he was placed on a boat & sent toward Rome, Italy. There were several landmarks & ports where Paul & his keepers (along with other prisoners) stopped. Along the way the Spirit told Paul that the next leg of their voyage would be a dangerous one (vs. 10). Paul warned his keepers that this was the case, but they did not listen (vs. 21).  As a result, the ship was overtaken by a great storm.

Again, the Spirit put Paul in a position of influence (as he prophesied concerning the next occurrence). Their ship was going to be broken up. They were going to sink. But Paul also assured everyone that they would survive – which they did.

 

Paul was a witness for God even in this horrible circumstance; or maybe we should say "especially in this difficult circumstance." He prayed publicly. He spoke the truth. He expressed his faith in God. He boldly intervened with authority (even though he was just a prisoner). Paul demonstrated unmistakably the Spirit's precious presence in his life as he interacted with the various groups who sailed with him. The sailors, the soldiers, the prisoners: it made no difference to Paul. He understood the value of every soul.

Tuesday - Acts 26 - Paul before Agrippa

 

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F all we knew about Paul was what we read in the Acts of the Apostles, then this chapter would perhaps be the climax of his life & ministry. What a marvelous testimony for Christ Paul shared on this day in Agrippa's presence. Of course, we have many of Paul's letters. As such, although we are almost through with the book of Acts, the bulk of the information which we possess, concerning Paul lies ahead of us in our study of the whole Bible. Still, this sermon is something special.

 

In this oration, Paul makes much of the resurrection. The Jews had originally reacted to Paul's ministry among the uncircumcised. However, once Paul stood before the Sanhedrin, he brought up the resurrection & was immediately in peril again. Beyond that, obviously if Christ had never been raised from the dead, then Paul's conversion & ministry wouldn’t have occurred.  It was the resurrected Christ who spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus, & who then commissioned him to bear the good news of salvation to the whole world. Everything hinges on the empty tomb.

 

The other thing that is particularly noteworthy in Paul's speech is the constant reminder that Jesus was the Savior of both the circumcised & the uncircumcised. This was, after all, the original dispute which led Paul into chains. It is fitting that Paul addressed it. First off, Paul was very careful; extremely careful to give respect to the Jewish people. He reviewed his own deep heritage as a devout Jew, but beyond that, he gave a lot of credit to his people (Acts 26:6-7). But, even in his pointed & purposeful presentation of his own conversion, Paul included both the Jews & the Gentiles in his little list of enemies and targets (Acts 26:17).

Monday - Acts 25 - Paul before Festus

 

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HEN Porcius Festus took over the governorship of Caesarea from Felix, Paul stood before him for yet another trial. The details of this trial are not included in this text, but it is rather clear that the proceedings followed along the same lines as had the previous trial under Felix's eyes. However, in this case, Festus moved to take Paul back to Jerusalem for another trial there. Paul resisted this motion and instead demanded that he be allowed to stand before Caesar for trial in Rome. As a Roman citizen, he had this right. Festus agreed.

 

In the intervening time, King Agrippa came to see Festus. Paul was brought before Agrippa by Festus so that Agrippa could help him to know what to write to Caesar.  As things stood, Festus didn't have much of a reason to give to Caesar concerning Paul's detention. Ironically, once Agrippa had heard Paul's case, Festus would end up with even less of a reason to send Paul to Rome.

 

It is evident that God was bringing a steady stream of sinners before Paul so that he could continually give the gospel & true doctrine to them. The general population in Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin court, Claudius Lysias, many Roman soldiers, Felix, Tertullus, Drusilla, Porcius Festus, the principle men of the city of Caesarea, King Agrippa, & Bernice: all of these people (& many others) were exposed to Paul's testimony while he was a prisoner. And, we have only just begun this account of Paul's last journey.

 

Friday - Acts 24 - Paul before Felix

 

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HEN Paul stood for his trial in Felix's court, he faced a strange set of accusations from the prosecuting attorney, Tertullus. Acts 24:5-6 records the meat of Tertullus' case, "We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also has gone about to profane the temple..." No specific accusation there, just general slurs.

 

Paul did use specifics in his defensive rebuttal. And, as we would expect from Paul, he carefully made it clear to Felix that the real reason he was standing in Felix's court was because he (Paul) was a loyal follower of Christ. Paul identified himself with the Scriptures, with God's power to raise the dead, and with his own clear conscience as a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:14-16).

 

To Paul's advantage, Felix did understand what was going on (Acts 24:22). To Paul's disadvantage, Felix also knew what it took to keep the Jews happy. Also, Felix was a crook (Acts 24:26-27). So, Paul remained a prisoner, the trial was put on hold, Paul was given some leeway, and time began to elapse. Interestingly, Felix called for Paul to return to his court later as well (more than once), and he listened (at first intently) to Paul give more detailed explanations of his faith in Christ (Acts 24:24-25). He didn’t convert, but he listened.

 

Are we willing to endure false accusations & unjust hardships for the sake of Christ? If we stand for Christ, we will also be considered pestilential like Paul. If we declare the gospel without apology, there will be many who will call us troublemakers. We will also encounter spiteful statements about our Lord. Will we stand our ground if we face similar opposition? Contrary to what we wish, America is moving steadily away from Biblical morality, & rapidly away from the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Pluralism, hedonism, materialism, secular humanism, moral relativism, liberal tolerance & selfish individualism is mushrooming & eclipsing truth. How much longer will evangelical believers be tolerated in our society?

Thursday - Acts 23 - Paul in Jerusalem (part 3)

 

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S we have already seen, Paul made no headway with the general population in Jerusalem. In this chapter, we discover that on the day after Paul had been arrested (essentially for his own protection); he was brought to trial before the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem. If he didn't get far with a large faction of the Jerusalem church, he made even less headway with the unbelieving religious/political leaders of the city. He was slapped on the mouth after his very first sentence (in which essentially all he said was that he wasn't guilty).

Realizing that he would get nowhere with these buzzards, Paul intentionally divided the court by declaring that he was on the side of the Pharisees. He recognized that there was a deep political, philosophical and religious division in the court. Some of the council members were Pharisees and some were Sadducees. It was certainly more advantageous for Paul for them to fight each other than for him to try to fight all of them. However, his opportunity to testify in this setting ended as quickly as it had begun. And again, the Roman captain had to rescue Paul from the violence of this crowd just as he had from the city mob only 1 day earlier.

The captain's efforts to protect Paul were not yet ended either.  A group of over 40 fanatic Jews plotted to murder Paul. If Paul's nephew hadn't gotten wind of this conspiracy and told Paul and the captain, he would have surely died the next day. But God had more ministry in mind for Paul. In fact, Jesus personally told Paul about this (Acts 23:11). Paul was destined to preach in Rome. But he had some places to stop along the way.  His first stop would be in the court of Felix the governor.  That's the one to whom the captain (Claudius Lysias) sent Paul. This was just the beginning though. As a prisoner, Paul would encounter so many people with whom he could share the gospel (folks to whom perhaps he could have never witnessed under any other circumstance). Consider the 470 men who transported Paul to Felix in the middle of the night. They must have been curious about why Paul demanded so much attention.

Wednesday - Acts 22 - Paul in Jerusalem (part 2)

 

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N in an attempt to defend his former ministry among the uncircumcised gentiles, Paul spoke in Hebrew to his Jewish persecutors. Simply put, Paul gave his testimony of salvation & of his call into the gospel ministry. However, he did specifically emphasize his Jewish heritage, speaking plainly about what he had in common with his Jewish persecutors. He shared with them how Gamaliel had trained him in all matters of the law. He gave credit to the Jews for their religious zeal (vs. 3). He admitted that (prior to his salvation) he had been exactly where they were. He understood their perspective. But something had happened which had changed his life. Obviously, he wanted them to go through that same transformation; not just salvation, but also an acceptance of the broadness of God's grace to the gentiles, without the law.

It is significant that the crowd did not erupt when Paul spoke of his vision of Jesus of Nazareth (from when he had been on the road to Damascus). Note that at least a part of this crowd was comprised of Messianic Jews, having believed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Remember, when Paul had arrived in Jerusalem he had been warned by the elders of the church that a large portion of the church there was still zealous concerning the Old Testament law, and that they were violently intolerant of Paul's doctrine concerning liberty from the law (Acts 21:20-22). As such, it wasn't Paul's faith in Christ that bothered them. Paul continued with his testimony about being healed by Ananias (another law keeping believer), and about being baptized and forgiven in the name of Christ the Lord (Acts 22:16). The crowd remained quiet and attentive throughout this narrative. But, when Paul got into his calling; when he told the crowd that he had been called of Christ (while praying in the temple, no less) to minister (as he had) among the uncircumcised heathen, the Jews' patience evaporated. Immediately, they demanded his death (Acts 22:21-22). At least some of these people were followers of Christ; or claimed to be (see the entire book of Hebrews)! Isn't it amazing that they could be so full of vitriol and hatred for this good apostle!? Yet, they were.

Tuesday - Acts 21 - Paul in Jerusalem (part 1)

 

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AUL was warned about the danger which he faced in going back to Jerusalem. He had enough sense to know that it was dangerous, but he was also told this by revelation. In fact he was told at least twice (Acts 21:4 & 10). It seems obvious that Paul was not obligated to go back to Jerusalem. Then again, it certainly does not appear that he was forbidden either. In fact, once Paul had accomplished his aim, God encouraged him emphatically in a personal revelation (Acts 23:11).  Anyway, back to the beginning of this story: when Paul got to Jerusalem, he reported to the leaders of the church there concerning what God had been doing among the Gentiles. The core of the church rejoiced at his report, understanding what God was doing. However, they also anticipated that there was tremendous potential for trouble from some of the other believers in town (Acts 20:21).  Note that it was believers that threatened Paul initially. How sad! And, how hard that must have been for Paul!  He loved his Jewish brothers so intensely. But he had been preaching liberty among the gentiles and to the Jews who lived among the Jews. So, Paul and some of the church leaders made what preparations they could to try to offset the danger. Basically, they wanted to send a message: Paul was still orthodox in his practice of Judaism. They failed. That is, they failed in their attempt to pacify all the Jews.  They did not fail to honor God though, and they did not fail in their attempt to continue to propagate the gospel.

 

About a week after Paul had arrived in Jerusalem, some Asian Jews started a riot. This lead to Paul being removed forcibly from the temple. In fact, they prepared to kill him (Acts 21:31). As they were beating him, he was rescued by a captain with soldiers and centurions (Acts 21:31-32). Even with this rescue/arrest, the soldiers had difficulty transporting Paul to a secure place where he could be detained while inquiry was made concerning the riot and his role in it (Acts 21:35). Miraculously, just as the soldiers got Paul to the safety of a castle, he obtained permission from the captain to speak to the mob.

Monday - Acts 20 - A Long Sermon & Real Love

 

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HE Apostle Paul was a man of deep compassion. He certainly was not just some stodgy old scholar with his nose in a book and his head in the clouds. Don't get me wrong, he certainly was a scholar, did read extensively and encouraged others to do the same (1^st Timothy 4:13). But he was not disconnected from his students. He loved them. They loved him (Acts 20:37-38). His relationship with other converts was deep and intense. In reading the book of Acts (as well Paul's epistles), it is impossible to ignore the constant display of affection from Paul toward individuals in each church. It's almost like he was the pastor of every single church he visited (or started).

Acts 20 begins with Paul embracing the believers of Ephesus as he departed from them. Then notice how a few verses later we see that he was not alone in his travels. He literally had an entourage of loyal supporters and assistants who traveled with him. But perhaps the strongest demonstration of the depth of the devotion of Paul's friends to him (and his devotion to them) is seen in how they sat and listened to Paul as he preached till midnight, and then they talked with him further until the sun rose. It's hard to imagine that happening in most church settings today. Admittedly, we don't have resurrections in the middle of our sermons either.  Paul did. He preached so long in Troas that a teenager named Eutychus fell out of a third story window (in which he was sitting) and died. Paul stopped his sermon and went down to raise him back to life. Notice again though that Paul embraced him, which represents something significant about the apostle (Acts 20:10).

 

Without renaming all the cities, which Paul stopped in as, he traveled; I think his habit of visiting everyone also says something about his deep compassion. While he did have places to go and things to do, it seems that he almost always had time to stop in another place to minister to the people there (Acts 10:14-16). In one case (recorded here), Paul didn't take the time to stop in one of the cities, but he still called the pastors of the church in that city (Ephesus) to come to him and he instructed them passionately. He loved them. He cared. Even in his parting challenge, he spoke openly of his deep love for them and of his continual display of emotion in his ministry to them (Acts 20:19).