[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (GP&C) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
ACTS
21:1-14
—Just
an observation—
v4
They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem
v12
Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with
him not to go up to Jerusalem
v14
So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be
done.”
#
Paul persuaded many people in the book of Acts, but He himself would not be
persuaded! 😂
ACTS
22:7-8
"And
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ So I answered,
‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are
persecuting.’"
Obviously,
Paul never, never persecuted Christ. Even if he wanted, Christ was already up
in heaven.
But
persecution against Christians is persecution against Christ. How wonderful it
is that Jesus chooses to identify with me! 😇
ACTS
23:1
“Then
Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived
in all good conscience before God until this day.’”
A
good conscience before God? Hmm! I agree with Jeremiah even as a Christian, I
do not know my heart. I don’t know my motive even for doing those deeds which
others have perceived to be good.
I
also agree with Paul of 1Cor.4:1-4 that no matter what people, court, or my own
conscience say, I am not justified, unless by God.
But,
again, nevertheless, a declaration "lived in all good conscience before
God until this day" is soul-searching and soul-stirring!
ACTS
24:26
"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."
How
many times had Felix heard the very gospel, its implication, its riches from
the very Apostle Paul? But he never repented, rather expecting money from Paul.
Could Felix be the most unsuccessful un-convert of Paul?
And
Paul obviously continued to press on, only the leaving of Felix stopped their
frequent conversations. It's helpful to see in the Scripture that certain areas
of my ministry could be unsuccessful or unfruitful, nevertheless, I must go on,
because I never know for sure if it will work or not work. After all, I am
called to be faithful not to be successful!
ACTS
25:26
"have
nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have I brought
him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the
examination has taken place I may have something to write."
I
pray that my life will be that of a sincere, lawful, and faithful Christian
that even if I am falsely accused any day, some will say like this verse! 👍
What
a Model, Paul! 😇
ACTS
26
I
have been reading through the book of Acts every single year of my Christian
life. And of course, v29 always stands out to me.
Today,
as I re-evaluate the strategy of Paul in defending himself before all these
rulers and his accusers, I see that Paul is more interested in the conversion
of his hearers than his liberty.
In
other words, Paul’s purpose in defending himself was not to escape prison or a death
sentence but to help his hearers escape from the wrath of God to come.
So,
in reality, the one who really needed to be freed is not Paul but them.
Paul's
life and strategies are totally different from many of us who are fighting for
justice. We often see in India a protest, a slogan, "We want
justice!"
Many
of us wouldn't include the gospel in a fight for justice, they would always
compromise the gospel. To them, justice trumps religious beliefs. To Paul, the
Gospel trumps all! Actually, true justice is met, satisfied, quenched, only in
the Gospel.
ACTS
27:42-43
"The
soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming
away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them
from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard
first and get to land."
Both
the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are written by Luke.
Both
books have identical structures, plots, and narratives. In the gospel of Luke,
he portrays Jesus' life on earth as a perfect life lived. In the book of Acts,
he portrays Paul's life as a faithful life lived
I
love how Luke narrated Apostle Paul determined to go to Jerusalem, was
arrested, was delivered to Romans, and here, in this passage, we see one man
saved the rest. Had it not been for the presence of Apostle Paul, all would be
killed. Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem, was arrested, was delivered to Romans,
and saved the world from the wrath of God. One man saved humanity.
Even
in our real life in this real world, one man often saves the rest. How
wonderful it is if that one man is you or me!
ACTS
28:19
"But
when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I
had anything of which to accuse my nation."
Paul's
love for the Jews despite their persecutions, accusations, and hatred against
him is undiminishing. In Romans, he was willing to even go to hell for their
reconciliation!
Am
I loving my community (especially if they don't like me)? Indeed, Jesus died
for the Jews, who had rejected Him. To hold no grudges against anyone in the
service of the gospel!