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Use Bible Gateway to Read Acts 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Read Acts 22:1-21 Dave Paulson

Today’s reading describes Paul’s speech to the crowd that has tried to kill him.

First Paul describes his background and how he had been zealous in persecuting Christians.

Next he tells of his encounter on the road to Damascus that leaves him blind. Paul’s questions are interesting. First he asks “Who are you Lord?” After hearing it is Jesus Paul asks “What can I do Lord?” A good question and one I try to ask regularly.

Then, he tells how Ananias was sent to heal Paul’s blindness and tell him that God had chosen him to be God’s witness to all the world. Sometimes God uses us as the messenger to help others understand God’s will. A role I am very cautious in filling.

Finally, Paul tells how Jesus appeared to him while he was praying in the temple. He was told to leave Jerusalem and go to the Gentiles.

I think Paul was always trying to do God’s will as he understood it. In has encounter on the road to Damascus he learned what he had been doing was wrong and what he should do. It’s encouraging to me to know that even when we have made mistakes we can find forgiveness and get back into God’s will.


Monday, March 29, 2010

Read Acts 22:22-23:10 Denise and Joe Austin

If we do not act like Christians how will people know that we are?

While Paul was standing in the midst of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he did not recognize who the High Priest was. This is because the High Priest, Ananias, broke the law by assuming Paul was guilty without a trial and ordered his punishment. If the High Priest was acting in accordance with the law, Paul admits he would have known who he was. Paul would have reacted differently in the situation, as he states in verse 23:5, “Brothers, I did not know he was the high priest; for it is written, Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people”. Ananias’ own actions and behavior were contrary to who he was and what he represented.

As Christians, we need to be mindful of how we are acting and being viewed by others. How do we represent Christ in our daily lives? How do we go about loving our neighbors? Do our actions coincide with our beliefs? It has been said that we may be the only gospel that people read. If this is the case, what message are we sending? We must stand firm in our beliefs and in the truth of Jesus’ teachings. These will guide our hearts and actions. If we know the truth about the love and grace of God, we can’t help but be joyous and excited to share this good news. The whole world will then know we are Christians…

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we ask that you help us to:
Continue to seek the guidance of your Son’s teachings; Not judge others; Stand firm in our beliefs, and not be afraid to speak the truth;
Be a good representative of Christ; Keep our hearts pure.
Amen.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Read Acts 23:11-35 Pat Babiasz

In thinking about this passage, I realized that much has not changed in the world since the time of Paul. People still feel God’s direction. Religious leaders still disagree. Political and religious issues are still intertwined and heard in our courtrooms today. We rely on our own national government to back us in global court proceedings.

We are able to see God’s involvement in Paul’s situation. God does not prevent Paul from experiencing the difficult happenings, but He works through many different classes of people to lessen Paul’s circumstances.

Today, may we acknowledge God’s involvement in our own lives, in our church, our country, and our world? Do we see God as not preventing our difficulties, but in many ways lessening the extent of them?

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Read Acts 24: 1-27 Todd Baggett

In the reading for today we see Paul being accused of being an agitator among Jews and a ringleader of the sect of Nazarenes who follow “The Way”. The charges are more politically motivated by the attention Paul was receiving for sharing the story of Jesus , specifically about the resurrection.

After hearing the charges made against him, Paul responds by saying, I am happy to make my defense for I have done nothing wrong. I believe in the same God of our ancestors. “I have a hope in God -- a hope that they themselves (his accusers) also accept -- that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people”... “It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today”.

Think about this passage from the viewpoint of the accusers:

Now look at this passage from the viewpoint of the accused (Paul):


Prayer: God thank you for how much we all have in common. Thank you for our differences as well. Today Lord, give me the courage to stand up for my beliefs and also the tolerance to allow others their beliefs; especially when they differ from mine. For it is you Lord, who created all of us. You died for the forgiveness of all of our sins; not just those who think, look, or speak like me. God, you see what we cannot, and work in ways we often don’t understand. Help me not to judge today; but instead to pray for the resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Work though me God, to shine the light of your love on all the people I come into contact with today. Amen.

Thursday, April 1,2010

Read Acts 25:1-27 Carolyn Bircher

When Governor Festus comes into office, he inherits the problem of Paul. The Jews had him imprisoned by the previous governor and are all worked up, pressing charges and scheming to kill him. But Governor Festus sees no substance in their charges. He’s willing to honor Paul’s request to kick the case up to the emperor, but can’t even come up with a reasonable charge against him.

I couldn’t help but wonder what Festus was thinking about the Jews. They were so agitated and causing him headaches, just because Paul’s beliefs about God didn’t agree with theirs. I see a parallel here with some of today’s conflicts between various religions (who all claim the same God), among Christian denominations, liberals vs. conservatives.

We all claim to believe in a God of peace and compassion, so why can’t we get along? What message does it give non-believers when they see us spitting venom and accusations at each other? Jesus had a way of accepting everyone, seeing into the heart and not fretting about the details of how they worship. Oh, if we could be more like Him! Let’s show the world Jesus’ acceptance and love, not the distrust and hate of Paul’s accusers.

PS: Maundy Thursday worship at 7:30 pm

Friday, April 2, 2010

Read Acts 26:1-31 Paul Boehm

Paul, for the third time, makes his defense before the authorities. Again, he confesses to having persecuted Christians, condemning them to death. Again, he recounts his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. But even before his appears in court with King Agrippa (king of the Roman province of Abilene, Galilee, Iturea, and Trachonitis), Paul knows the outcome of the testimony. As we read in Chapter 23:11, the Lord will protect him; he will eventually go to Rome to bear witness to Jesus.

This account shows Paul working within the political hierarchy. He had discerned that the King was, unlike Governor Festus, more open minded towards Christians. Throughout his defense in front of the King, Paul declares that he has broken no law. The final verse indicates that he successfully persuaded the King. “Agrippa said to Festus, ‘this man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the Emperor’”. (v32)

Paul’s defense is Paul’s testimony. I imagine Paul preaching with this testimony to hundreds of audiences. His defense, his testimony, starts with a confession. Paul’s confession of having persecuted the Lord is similar to Peter’s acknowledgment of having denied the Lord. It must have grieved him greatly. Confessing his sin is the first step in atoning for it. His actions after conversion represent another part of his atonement.

Lord, I acknowledge my wrong behavior, and I’m sorry. I trust you to guide me, Lord, to know where and when to boldly testify of my love for you.

PS: Good Friday worship at 7:30 pm

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Read Acts 21:1-44 Peggy Busick

“Paul took some bread and gave thanks to God”

This is Paul’s response in the middle of a shipwreck?? Have you ever been in the middle of a storm? Literally or figuratively? I haven’t experienced a storm on a ship but I have been through stormy times in my life. Plagued by age-old questions such as ‘What on earth am I here for?’,‘What is God’s purpose in my life?’,’What is my calling?’,’Where do I belong?’.

When ever I encounter a stormy situation in my life, I thank God for Paul’s example (and others after him) of maintaining hope, giving thanks, remaining calm and persevering to the end. If after all Paul that had endured prior to the shipwreck and beyond he was not tempted to bail out and sneak away in a lifeboat, then I feel there is hope for me. I, too, want to strive to be like Paul, calm under pressure, and to remain steadfast to the Lord in all circumstances. I pray that this Lenten season God will grant us the assurance that he is always with us, in storms and clear skies.

Gracious and loving God. When the storms of life are raging stand by me; when the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea; thou who rulest wind and water stand by me. Lord, I thank you for always being there with me even through the stormy Times. Amen

 

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Read Acts 28:1-31 John Brawn

At first blush, these final chapters of Acts read like the travel log of a super hero. Paul predicts and survives a shipwreck, shakes off a lethal snake bite, heals people, preaches, teaches and makes new friends, all while traveling to Rome over a period of many months. Even the end is like a super hero movie, leaving plenty of room for a sequel.

When I read chapter 28, everything that I know about Paul is along with me for the ride. I somehow expect that people will be welcoming to him, and treat him deferentially. After all, he's Paul! He's a super hero!

But when I read it again with a view toward the people he meets, the story takes on a somewhat different character.

Paul, along with 275 other people had been subject to a devastating storm which has pushed their sailing ship downwind, out of control and off course. For 14 days the storm forced the soldiers, sailors and prisoners on that
ship to go mostly without eating. I think it's also a fair guess that the folks on the boat let personal grooming slide for a while. Then their vessel finally breaks up and they make their way to the closest island by clinging to wooden planks, railings, masts and other debris broken off from
their boat.

The people who lived on the island of Malta only had what they could see to use as a reference for deciding who Paul was: A ragged, stinking, water-logged man -- one of a couple hundred ragged, stinking, water-logged folks.

By the goodness of their basic nature, the islanders welcomed the survivors and set about to meet their basic needs; fire, food, a place to sleep -- and not just over night, but for 3 months until arrangements could be made for them to sail on again toward Rome!

The relationship between Paul and the islanders started to become special and extraordinary from that very first evening. They observed Paul as he was bitten by a deadly snake. And yet it didn't seem to affect him. Soon after that Paul healed the father of the island's leader. Word spread and people from all over the island came to Paul to be healed, and they were.

We read that Paul and his companions were honored in many ways, and given everything they needed when it was time to leave.

So I wonder... Was there anything the islanders could have seen in the drenched, hungry, desperate and shipwrecked men who washed up on the shore of Malta that would hint at the importance to the island that one of them
would make? There were sailors with their captain and soldiers with their centurion, and prisoners. And yet the islanders must have welcomed and paid attention to everyone in order to notice Paul's encounter with a viper. And as Paul continued to speak and act, they related to him based on those things, rather than his appearance, possessions, occupation, or status. How else could they learn that Paul the shipwreck survivor is also Paul the
teacher and Paul the healer?

For me this is a challenging thought. As we continue to welcome people into our church life through service projects, special events and worship, there is no way to estimate who among them may have a profoundly positive
influence on our lives by looking at their appearance, or noting their age, occupation, status, wealth, or by any other "normal" measure. If I "mind my own business" and let them "fend for themselves", then I have surely cut myself off from God's efforts to enrich my life and increase my
understanding and faith.

Prayer: Lord, build in me a Maltese-like spirit of care and welcoming. Help me look for you in the people I meet. Teach me to respond to people's words and actions and ignore social measures of worth. And remind me to be
generous. Amen.