[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
ACTS
22:16
"And
now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,
calling on the name of the Lord.”
Some
people don't require anyone to tell them to baptize, they ask for baptism like
the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8.
Some
people need to be told to be baptized. Interestingly, Paul was asked to, that
too, as if Paul was procrastinating, hesitating, like many of us.
May
the Lord forgive me if my memory is in error, but I do not remember anyone
telling me to be baptized. There was no "Reverend" in my village, and
I grew up in a residential school, I had no opportunity of presenting myself during
a Baptism season [Passion Week].
I
took water baptism after my college graduation just before I went to seminary.
I walked 25 kilometers on foot just to take water baptism because nobody other
than "Reverend" would do the baptism.
I
kind of feel satisfied that baptism didn't come easy for me. I walked 25 km.
Kind of achievement! 😂
If
you aren't baptized yet, or if you know a professing Christian who is not,
"Why are you waiting, delaying, procrastinating? Arise! Be obedient to the
ordinance. Be baptized!"
ACTS
23:1-5
Top
3 observations:
v1.
Paul lived in all good conscience before God until this day. It's
soul-searching and soul-stirring.
v3.
In the words of Greek Scholar A.T. Robertson, "More self-control might
have served Paul better." Indeed, Paul too wasn't immune to sin. [And
there are some Christians who think of themselves sinless😬]
v5
Paul admitted his mistake/sin. In the words of Puritan William Hacket,
"What can surpass the grace with which he recovered his self-possession,
and the frankness with which he acknowledged his error? If his conduct in
yielding to the momentary impulse was not that of Christ Himself under a
similar provocation (Joh 18:22-23), certainly the manner in which he atoned for
his fault was Christ-like"
Btw,
there are some godly Bible teachers who have interpreted v3-5 differently than
I do. Even the great Baptist theologian John Gill seems to not find fault with
Paul and justify Paul.
ACTS
24:25-26
"Now
as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,
Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time
I will call for you.’ Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by
Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and
conversed with him."
Felix
definitely had heard the gospel many times before and even in this trial. Paul
had definitely confronted him about his adultery when he said
"self-control" for Felix lived with somebody's wife.
Felix
even realized the coming Judgement and was fearful of God. He was convicted of
God's holiness, of his unrighteousness, of the need for repentance, and of the
free offer of grace.
Felix
chose to dismiss Paul's reasoning instead of repenting. What a tragedy! He went
through all this painful hearing. He was already at the gate of heaven but
never went in. Like in the story of The Pilgrim's Progress (if you have read, p69)
there are some who have managed to reach heaven's gate but descended to the pit
of hell!
As
a preacher, my prayer is that my hearers will not be like Felix.
ACTS
25:11 " . . . I appeal to Caesar."
Some
of the teachings in the Bible are paradoxical. When we read 1Peter, Apostle
Peter urges us to give up our rights and suffer.
But
in the book of Acts, we have seen Paul appealing for his rights often. Even
here, as a Roman citizen, he appealed to be judged by the Caesar court than by
the compromised governor Festus.
That's
why I am of the conclusion that we Christians must have good lawyers, good
politicians, good judges, good bureaucrats, good officers, etc. Someday, we may
have to fight in the supreme court (not of Caesar) of India!
So,
it's my prayer that our church members become competent scholars, thinkers,
bureaucrats, etc. not just to help the poor but even to defend our cause! 🙏
ACTS
26:2 "I think myself happy, King Agrippa"
Wow!
"Happy!"??
I
thought the word "happy" or "happiness" didn't occur in the
NT😬
I
pulled up my Bible software to investigate further. In NIV, it appears 4 times.
NKJV 2 times. NASB only 1 time. And ESV zero.
And
the Greek word for this is "makarios" which is often translated as "blessed"
as in the Beatitudes. I'd say ESV translators are more accurate and more
consistent in rendering this word. So, I think it's safe to say there's no
"happiness" or "happy" in the NT.
It
matters because word matters. And word matters because theology is developed
from it. Just a linguistic observation I have discovered today!
[14:52,
4/13/2021] S.R: The other time the word "happy" occurs in NKJV is
Romans 14:22.
I
just checked how Legacy Standard Bible translators dealt with that word. As
expected, it's consistent, they render "blessed" instead of
"happy". Waiting for the most consistent and most accurate English
Bible, LSB to be released!
ACTS
27:11
"Nevertheless
the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than
by the things spoken by Paul."
He
thought it was unwise to listen to the Apostle Paul. The helmsman is the
expert. Peter, being the expert in fishing didn't like fishing advice from
Jesus, who BTW is the Creator of fish. Even Christians want to listen to the
worldly experts than the faithful teachings of the Scriptures concerning
anything, yes, even lockdown and Covid19.
Yes,
we have no Jesus in bodily form to listen to. Yes, we don't have the Apostle
Paul. But we do have the word of God, infallible, inerrant, and sufficient for
us to live life in all its fullness. And people, yes, even Christians prefer to
listen to scientists, doctors, and PhDs than to search what the Scriptures say.
Be
merciful to us, O Lord, even in your judgment!
ACTS
28
v2.
"showed us an unusual kindness. . . . made us all welcome"
v7.
"entertained us courteously"
v10.
"honored us in many ways"
v16.
'was permitted to dwell by himself"
v31.
"no one forbidding him"
The
last chapter of Acts is interestingly sweet. Paul had suffered enough
persecutions, trials, and accusations, but this chapter recorded how people
were kind to him, and how he was permitted to teach freely. As if to motivate
us to go as a missionary!
Lord, raise up a missionary in our midst.
Lord, awake our souls to support missionaries!
[05:31,
4/16/2021] S.R: ACTS 29[😶🙃]
Since
there’s no Acts 29, let me exhort . . .
I'd
like to believe that we're reading God's word regularly, even if you're
not updating, keep meditating, friends!
I'd
like to hope that some of us are reading the book of Acts along with me
and maybe, even a few chapters ahead or behind, keep reading at your pace.
I'd
like to think that those updates were edifying, encouraging, and
motivating to you in any way. May they be so!
I'd
like to wish you to join me in reading another book, and also to update
as often as you can. Don't underestimate your thoughts/insight.
I'd
like to thank some of you who have given feedback privately and
publicly. And I thank you for reading them without complaint.
It
is said that it takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days to form a lifestyle.
If we manage to read through the book of Acts regularly, it means we have spent
one additional week, enough to polish our habit! 😇
But
that saying is not from the Bible, so, I can't guarantee it! Hahaha!