Paul is standing before another judge and he give his defense. This time he tells the entirety of his testimony, how he was once like his accusers, persecuting Christians because of what they believed. He explains that he met the risen Jesus as he was walking towards the city of Damascus.
He then points out how the Old Testament said that the Messiah would suffer and rise again, as he begins to try to convince his new judge to put his faith in Jesus.
At this time he is accused of being crazy. This is the point where Christians are always thought of as crazy. The resurrection to some is an insurmountable issue holding them back from the Gospel. "When people die, they stay dead" they might say. Well the truth is that God is stronger than that. God could bring his Son back from the dead, and he did. We are not crazy, but by faith, we believe this truth, and we tell it to others in the hopes that they will also believe. If we are called crazy because of this belief, so be it.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Acts 25: The judges do not know what his crime is.
Yet another individual hears the case against Paul and they hear his defense. Once against this is an opportunity for Paul to present the gospel.
The Jews just want him to be moved to Jerusalem so that they can ambush and kill him on the way. They realize that in a fair trial he would win and not be executed.
Festus, his judge, realizes that the main different boils down to weather Jesus is alive or not, and does not fully understand why that would be a crime.
Paul appeals to Caesar for his trial, and Festus brings in another man just to figure out what to write to Caesar concerning him.
God is working behind the scenes to insure that the Gospel is spread.
The Jews just want him to be moved to Jerusalem so that they can ambush and kill him on the way. They realize that in a fair trial he would win and not be executed.
Festus, his judge, realizes that the main different boils down to weather Jesus is alive or not, and does not fully understand why that would be a crime.
Paul appeals to Caesar for his trial, and Festus brings in another man just to figure out what to write to Caesar concerning him.
God is working behind the scenes to insure that the Gospel is spread.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Acts 24: Paul Defends Himself.
Paul is put on trial. The prosecution arrived and gave their statement.
They said that Paul stirred up trouble everywhere he went. (Which is only true because they chased him around stirring up trouble against him)
They also said that he defiled the temple. (Which he did not do)
They also accused him of being the "ringleader of the sect of nazarenes." (They were right that he was one of the leaders of Christianity at the time.)
In his response he focus on what he does believe.
He says that he believe in the God of their fathers, that the prophets spoke of. And he says he does what he does in good conscience due to the fact that he believes the just and the unjust will both be resurrected.
The idea behind what he is saying is that the just will be resurrected for eternal reward in heaven, and that the unjust will be resurrected for eternal damnation, and Paul wants to be in the just category. He does also admit to being a follower of "the way". But he argues very strongly that this does not contradict the Old Testament, that God-fearing people will believe in "The Way". His reason for saying this is because Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Paul is arguing that he is in the right, and that since the messiah has come all Jews should believe as he does.
After this Paul was held in prison because the governor was hoping to get money from him, but he had ample opportunity to speak with the Governor concerning what he believed.
They said that Paul stirred up trouble everywhere he went. (Which is only true because they chased him around stirring up trouble against him)
They also said that he defiled the temple. (Which he did not do)
They also accused him of being the "ringleader of the sect of nazarenes." (They were right that he was one of the leaders of Christianity at the time.)
In his response he focus on what he does believe.
He says that he believe in the God of their fathers, that the prophets spoke of. And he says he does what he does in good conscience due to the fact that he believes the just and the unjust will both be resurrected.
The idea behind what he is saying is that the just will be resurrected for eternal reward in heaven, and that the unjust will be resurrected for eternal damnation, and Paul wants to be in the just category. He does also admit to being a follower of "the way". But he argues very strongly that this does not contradict the Old Testament, that God-fearing people will believe in "The Way". His reason for saying this is because Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Paul is arguing that he is in the right, and that since the messiah has come all Jews should believe as he does.
After this Paul was held in prison because the governor was hoping to get money from him, but he had ample opportunity to speak with the Governor concerning what he believed.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Acts 23: Paul is Smart
Sorry that I forgot to update four 6 days. It will not happen again.
Paul has been arrested for preaching the gospel. He is brought before the Sanhedrin, the council of Sadducees and Pharisees that rules in religious matters over the Jewish people.
When Paul realizes that both groups of people are there he uses it to his advantage. They do not agree on much in the way of doctrine.
PHarisees believe in angels and resurrection. They are literalists, where as the Saducees do not believe in these things.
So Paul brilliantly brings up this issue so that the two groups fight amongst themselves so his trial cannot proceed.
AFter this some of the Jews try to ambush him but God foils their plan.
Paul in the end of this chapter is sent to the governor of the area so that he can be tried. His accusers will get an opportunity to say what he did and he will get a chance to defend.
As we continue to follow that life of Paul we will see that God uses this situation for his Glory and so that the gospel can be spread.
Paul has been arrested for preaching the gospel. He is brought before the Sanhedrin, the council of Sadducees and Pharisees that rules in religious matters over the Jewish people.
When Paul realizes that both groups of people are there he uses it to his advantage. They do not agree on much in the way of doctrine.
PHarisees believe in angels and resurrection. They are literalists, where as the Saducees do not believe in these things.
So Paul brilliantly brings up this issue so that the two groups fight amongst themselves so his trial cannot proceed.
AFter this some of the Jews try to ambush him but God foils their plan.
Paul in the end of this chapter is sent to the governor of the area so that he can be tried. His accusers will get an opportunity to say what he did and he will get a chance to defend.
As we continue to follow that life of Paul we will see that God uses this situation for his Glory and so that the gospel can be spread.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Acts 17: The Bereans
Some people argue and ignore the gospel, and even react violently to it.
Other accept it.
The people from the city of Berea are a model for us all.
When we hear teaching in church or some other Christian we should just not openly accept it we should instead check with the word of God to make sure that what we have heard is true.
The Bible is our foundation and it tells us everything we need to know about God and living the Christian life.
The Bereans according to verse 11 because "they received the word with all eagerness examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
They did not take Paul word for it, but they listened to what he had to say intently and checked with the word of God to make sure he was right.
I tell you this, any Pastor or preacher would be very happy to hear that this is what you are doing with their sermons, and you would also be blessed by doing it, because it would put you into deeper study of the Bible.
Other accept it.
The people from the city of Berea are a model for us all.
When we hear teaching in church or some other Christian we should just not openly accept it we should instead check with the word of God to make sure that what we have heard is true.
The Bible is our foundation and it tells us everything we need to know about God and living the Christian life.
The Bereans according to verse 11 because "they received the word with all eagerness examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
They did not take Paul word for it, but they listened to what he had to say intently and checked with the word of God to make sure he was right.
I tell you this, any Pastor or preacher would be very happy to hear that this is what you are doing with their sermons, and you would also be blessed by doing it, because it would put you into deeper study of the Bible.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Acts 16: Singing in Prison
Paul and Silas are arrested as they continue on their missionary journey. They are then thrown into prison.
What would we do if we were in their position?
We would probably complain, moan, call out to God and ask him why, but this is not what they were doing.
They were singing praises to God. They were worshiping God as they were in prison.
This shows tremendous faith. They were praising God because they knew he was in control. They knew that no matter what God was there, whether they stayed in prison or were freed, or even if they were to die, they rested in the love and sovereign will of God.
God does in the end release them from jail, and because they do not run away, and because they were singing as they were in prison they are able to tell the Jailer himself about Jesus.
They celebrate in the midst of a trial and because of this they are able to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What would we do if we were in their position?
We would probably complain, moan, call out to God and ask him why, but this is not what they were doing.
They were singing praises to God. They were worshiping God as they were in prison.
This shows tremendous faith. They were praising God because they knew he was in control. They knew that no matter what God was there, whether they stayed in prison or were freed, or even if they were to die, they rested in the love and sovereign will of God.
God does in the end release them from jail, and because they do not run away, and because they were singing as they were in prison they are able to tell the Jailer himself about Jesus.
They celebrate in the midst of a trial and because of this they are able to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Acts 14: Sorry I skipped it.
So I did acts 15 on the 14th, and I am doing Acts 14th on the 15th to catch up. It seems as if I momentarily forgot how to count
The crowd of people in the town of Lystra appear to be a very fickle group.
Paul heals a lame man, who has been unable to walk since birth, and they want to sacrifice a bull to him and worship him as a god. Paul and Barnabas are able to stop them before they are able to sacrifice the bull. This is in direct contrast to Herod who accepted worship as a god and was struck down by God because of it. The Jews from two cities that Paul had already been too followed him to Lystra to stir up trouble. They succeeded. Paul, just shortly after he was almost worshiped as a god, was dragged out of the city and stoned. They left him for dead, though he gets up and walks back into the city.
The Gospel is offensive to some and causes them to react harshly and negatively. Others respond in a manner that accepts the truth of the Gospel. This is still true today.
The crowd of people in the town of Lystra appear to be a very fickle group.
Paul heals a lame man, who has been unable to walk since birth, and they want to sacrifice a bull to him and worship him as a god. Paul and Barnabas are able to stop them before they are able to sacrifice the bull. This is in direct contrast to Herod who accepted worship as a god and was struck down by God because of it. The Jews from two cities that Paul had already been too followed him to Lystra to stir up trouble. They succeeded. Paul, just shortly after he was almost worshiped as a god, was dragged out of the city and stoned. They left him for dead, though he gets up and walks back into the city.
The Gospel is offensive to some and causes them to react harshly and negatively. Others respond in a manner that accepts the truth of the Gospel. This is still true today.
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