Day 35
As they worshipped the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2 MEV
Note the order in which the Holy Spirit calls them.
“Therefore, brothers, let it be known to you that through this Man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39 MEV
Forgiveness os sins. No condemnation in Christ Jesus.
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52 MEV
Joy because Salvation had come, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life acceptable to God.
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” Acts 15:11 MEV
This point must never be overlooked. We are a new creation in Christ.
but that we write to them to abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. Acts 15:20 MEV
This changes through the books of the NT as the heart of God is revealed more.
Then there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. Acts 15:39-40 MEV
If you ask me, I side with Barnabas not only because I can relate to Mark but also because we serve a God of second chances.
Day 36
Then he came to Derbe and then to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek. Acts 16:1 MEV
The Lord had commanded Jews not to marry non Jews in the OT, and yet here was Timothy, a product of an unlawful marriage; a result of what the world calls love but what we know as lust; the consequence of thinking with the natural heart instead of obeying the Holy Spirit. Here God used what would have been unlawful, a failure before, because of His lovingkindness and tender mercies, because of Jesus Christ, and gave us Timothy, an example of devotion, faithfulness and dedication to the Lord, gave us all a new hope in Jesus Christ.
When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them. Acts 16:7 MEV
Safe and secure in the rock of all ages. Exodus 13:17-18 NLT When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” [18] So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.
During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:9 MEV
God still speaks and communicates through dreams and visions constantly. The Holy Spirit closed a door to Bithynia but opened another door to Macedonia. Trust Him at all times, this we must learn.
She did this for many days. But becoming greatly troubled, Paul turned to the spirit and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out at that moment. Acts 16:18 MEV
It is to be noted that Paul spoke to the spirit and not to the human.
When her masters saw that the hope of their profits was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace to the rulers. Acts 16:19 MEV
The love of monetary profit, be it through reasonable excuses or even through obvious demonic methods, still rules in many a heart that identify as Christian. Put your hope in Christ.
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your household will be saved.” Acts 16:31 MEV
I beleive in this principle.
But Paul said to them, “They have publicly beaten us, who are uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they secretly throw us out? Certainly not! Let them come themselves and bring us out.” Acts 16:37 MEV
Paul pulled rank on them. Was it in the flesh or in the Spirit?
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The brothers immediately sent Paul away to the sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there. Acts 17:10, 14 MEV
A couple of principles to learn from the response of the Bereans; from this whole episode which starts by making Paul look like he is a glutton for punishment.
Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to there. Acts 17:17 MEV
An error, a typo? How do I report this? Do it if you figure out how.
Then some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What will this babbler say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection to them. Acts 17:18 MEV
It is ironic that the word babbler is used here when it was the incident at the time of building the tower in Babel that gave rise to this need for Paul to preach Jesus Christ through Psalm 48:14.
He has made from one blood every nation of men to live on the entire face of the earth, having appointed fixed times and the boundaries of their habitation, Acts 17:26 MEV
Lest we forget, selah!
God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent. For He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, having given assurance of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31 MEV
The Gospel.
The Lord spoke to Paul in the night through a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one shall attack you and hurt you, for I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10 MEV
The Lord has spoken to me through this word in the past, and used this to bring comfort and strength to others. Psalm 56:3-4 NLT But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. [4] I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him and explained the way of God more accurately. Acts 18:26 MEV
Among other things that was taught by Aquila and Priscilla, the need for Apollos to be filled and guided by the Holy Spirit was explained, because without Him any orration, no matter how eloquent, will be in the flesh and will never glorify God or bear fruit according to John 16:8.