Day 38
“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’Acts 22:17-18 MEV
No evil shall befall me -becausehe has known My Name. Psalm 91.
Then Paul, knowing that one sect were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried out among the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged for my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” Acts 23:6 MEV
I heard there was now a debate about whether Paul was Gamaliel’s student and about whether He was a Pharisee. This is at best in the name of academics, basically legalism rearing its ugly head, and at worst trying to prove the Bible and God wrong. This insolence is absolutely not acceptable, but give reason for the hope that is in you. Speak the truth in love.
Then Paul, knowing that one sect were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried out among the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged for my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” Acts 23:6 MEV
A principle that is derived from God’s wisdom can be learned from Paul’s tactics. Be wise and yet shrewd.
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of the treachery, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Acts 23:16 MEV
This statememt about Paul’s family piques my interest.
When he was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and your foresight is bringing reforms to this nation, Acts 24:2 MEV
Note the usage of the word “accuse”. This carries the same meaning as “prosecute” legally, meaning the lawyer Tertullus was the prosecutor. This vocation is shared by Satan, who is the accuser of the brethren (Zechariah 3:1-6, Revelation 12:10). Blessed be God that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1Jn2:1).
Day 39
‘But they had disagreements with him about their own religion and about a Man named Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted was alive. ‘ Acts 25:19 MEV
I find humour in this!
‘“I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ‘ Acts 26:15 MEV
“Who are You, Lord?” This reveals Paul’s genuineness.
‘So as he made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are mad. Much learning is turning you to madness.”’ Acts 26:24
True, accumulation of false knowledge does that very thing, only we humans give names and degrees like Masters and PhDs to this. Not that I’m against this, no, not at all, but no matter how misguided, that is not a pursuit of God, moreover, the devil uses this to deceive. Psalm 119: 9-11.
‘The next day we landed at Sidon. And Jul¬ius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be given care. ‘ Acts 27:3 MEV
Julius, whom I used to minister with, was glad to find his name in the Bible. I remember this incident well because I saw how much he delighted in that fact, somehow it served as a validation of his existence. Our validation comes from God, not from our namesake in the Bible translation we use. Foe example, Rani is princess in Sanskrit and some other Indians languages, try finding “Rani” if that is your name! Murad, another common name, is “light” in Arabic, try finding Murad in the Bible. By the way, Julius read the Indian name “Surendar” as “surrender” and thought to himself “What a wonderful Christian name?”
‘After they had long abstained from food, Paul stood in their midst and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete, incurring this injury and loss. ‘ Acts 27:21 MEV1
Men, humans, including me, would do well to listen to the Lord and His people. Psalm 127:1
‘So I urge you to eat. This is for your preservation, for not a hair shall fall from your head.” ‘ Acts 27:34 MEV
Not only is “food” and eating for preservation, there is more to it that we understand. Why is the tongue one of the most sensitive, if not the most, organ in our body? The Bible says in Proverbs and in James that it directs our life. Not only that, tasty is good! Two aspects. Selah!
‘It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, placing his hands on him, prayed and healed him. When this happened, the rest on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They honored us in many ways. And when we sailed, they provided us with necessary supplies.’ Acts 28:8-10
Not only is God being glorified thus, there are earthly benefits as well.