Daily Bible Devotionals

“I speak the truth in (Christ) Messiah – I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit – that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart.  For I could almost wish to be cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my own flesh and blood. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.  The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, praised forever.  Amen.”  Romans 9:1-5 (HCSB)

As a young believer, when I began focusing on Bible reading and prayer, I found myself fighting off profound loneliness. Have you ever felt that way? On the one hand, I was overjoyed to spend time with God and learn from Him. On the other hand, I drifted further and further from some of my old friends, many of whom were professing believers yet hardly ever spent time with God. My pursuit of the Lord even led to complete estrangement from some individuals within that former circle of friends. That distancing was simply the result of the compounding effects of the World’s influence on them, contrasted with the Spirit’s influence on me. Their Worldly pursuits had muddied their “Living Water,” and my pursuit of the Lord was becoming “Anointing Oil” for me…and we all know oil and water don’t mix. Godly, Bible-pursuant Christian community is necessary to sustain a believer long term. Paul is describing that tension.

In moments of fleshly nostalgia, I almost wished I weren’t a believer for a moment, so I could hang out with those old friends again, unhindered by the tension that my faith evoked within our relationships. Of course, we cannot give in to such fantasies, the passionate cries of the flesh to take day trips to “Egypt,” as it were. We cannot go back. At least, we cannot go back and expect to be comfortable. Concerning today’s passage, I wonder if that loneliness and longing to connect with a people who mainly had rejected him hadn’t crept into Paul’s thinking. I wonder if that’s not the emotion prompting him to bear his soul in such a way to the Church in Rome.

And I identify with Paul here. I travel to Israel regularly to lead music on Christian tours and participate in the ongoing day-to-day ministry efforts of Israeli Messianic congregations and humanitarian relief organizations. Whenever I travel to Israel, I tend to go with the flow and disappear into the religious culture. To do this would mean never sharing the truth of the Messiah or sharing in the persecution of Paul and countless other Jewish believers who have come before me. Doing so would be the most selfish thing imaginable, for the most anti-Semitic thing I could do is withhold Messiah from the Jewish people! To paraphrase Paul, to leave behind Jesus is to leave behind God! (v. 5b)

No, we must take our cues from Paul. We will feel the flesh’s pull, and by the Spirit’s power, we will overcome it, standing on the shoulders of those faithful ones who went before us and heeding the higher call to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow.

“And if (Christ) Messiah is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised (Christ) Messiah from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:10-11 (HCSB)

This passage is often thought to mean that only when a follower of Jesus dies will they be raised to live in Heaven. While the promise of resurrection with Jesus is valid for all believers, this passage has more immediate implications.

Paul is also saying that there is a war between your flesh and your will. As far as your flesh is concerned, it’s a lost cause. Your flesh is corrupt. Eventually, all flesh will expire, and we will all physically die—ashes to ashes, dust to dust, as it were.

But, spiritually speaking, we were also all “dead” (along with our flesh). That is, we were spiritually dead before we came to know Jesus in a saving way. When we received Jesus, we received His Spirit in fullness (aka the filling of the Holy Spirit). God’s Spirit gives “new life” to our old “dead” (bound for judgment) souls.

Have you ever considered how Adam was created? God breathed life into a handful of dust. Apart from the life that God imparts, we’re just a handful of dirt! The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is Rucah (pr: ROO-akh). The same word (Ruach) translates “wind” or “breath.” The Greek translation for Ruach is “Pneuma” (pr: NOO-ma). Ever heard of Pneumonia (chronic restriction of one’s airway/breath) or a pneumatic (air) tool? So, when God created Adam, He breathed His breath, His Ruach, into him. We are all (believer & non-believer) alive, sustained because God’s Spirit is allowing it. But do not confuse that “sustaining” work of the Spirit with being “filled” with the Holy Spirit. Our “filling” of the Holy Spirit is a one-time occurrence, which happens at the moment we surrender ourselves to Jesus’ Lordship and ask Him to take control of our lives.

Think about it: every time God fills a new believer with His Spirit, He is, in essence, re-enacting creation. Perhaps, that is why the Bible calls believers “an altogether new creation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) He brings “new life” into our corrupted mortal bodies! When we submit to the Spirits leading, our bodies become vessels of righteousness, whereas they used to be vessels of death.

Martyr Jim Elliott said, “The soul is a vacuum that longs to be filled. It cares not with which it fills itself. It simply longs to be full.” The Spirit living inside a believer does not make flesh incorruptible. But the Spirit living inside an obedient believer enables that believer to control the corrupted flesh to do God’s will. Instead of us being slaves to our flesh, our flesh becomes subject to us, surrendering to the leading of God’s Spirit. If you have committed to following Jesus, He has given you His Spirit, and He dwells inside you. If you heed the Spirit’s guidance, you will experience “newness of life” to the fullest!

“The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me.  For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment deceived me, and through it killed me.  So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.”  Romans 7:10b-12 (HCSB)

Is there a problem with the Law and the Commandments? Absolutely not! They have done (and continue to do) what God intended them to do: they set the standard by which mankind will be judged. There is nothing faulty about the Law.

What is “faulty” is some men’s concept of the “Law,” what it will do for us, and what it means to walk in truth and please God. Far too often, what happens is that people can end up worshiping the Law rather than the Law Giver! Yes, it is possible to be so religious that your “piety” towards God takes the place of God in your life.

Children live by “rules,” and adults live by “principles.” For instance, I give my kids rules, like “Don’t play in the street.” That is because children lack the ability to conceptualize the abstract idea of “getting hit by a car.” They only think linearly, so we give them rules with consequences. Then, they think, “If I disobey the rule, I will get punished.” Adults do not need the rule “do not play in the street” because they understand the overriding principle: playing in the street sharply raises the probability of getting struck by a car.

Those who try to justify themselves by their personal works of the Law (i.e., “the RULE”) always live with the anxiety of being punished by God for not working hard enough or diligently enough. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Different than having “childlike faith,” people trying to constantly appease God never move beyond “immature faith”; that cause & effect thinking.

The Law has become a “law of death” for the works-based people because deep down, they KNOW they could never do enough good works to justify themselves. Apart from Jesus’ atoning work, they will never fulfill the Law’s requirements. Rather, the more they work and check their tally, the more they recognize how much they are falling behind. This leads to comparing one’s piety against other men and women instead of weighing oneself against God’s revealed standard, the Bible.

Adults live by principles. I don’t play in the street because I know that I might get hit by a car. That said, if someone needs help on the other side of the road, I have the freedom to cross it. Neither my privileges nor prohibitions are motivated by fear of being punished for breaking the rules. I firmly grasp road safety principles and weigh them against the necessity of being a good citizen.

Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He fulfilled the Law on my behalf, so my motivation for living by His Word has changed. No longer under the rules, I am free to live by the principles of the Law: Love God and love people. Therefore, it has become a Law of life to us who believe, but only because of Jesus’ works, not ours.

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.  So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of?  For the end of those things is death.  But now, since you have become liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification – and the end is eternal life!  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ (Messiah) Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:20-23 (HCSB

Several years ago, Bob Dylan sang, “You gotta serve somebody.” I believe he was right. People who claim they don’t believe in a god are lying to themselves. Idols come in many forms, and just because people don’t attach themselves to an organized religion doesn’t mean they don’t worship and serve “something.”

That concept of serving “someone” is the topic of today’s chapter. Paul speaks about being “a slave to sin.” Initially, we didn’t choose to live in sin. We were born into it. The children of slaves are not born as free men. They are born into bondage as a twisted “inheritance” and considered part of their parents’ master’s property. In this same way, we have been born into the bondage of sin.

Consider the apostle John’s gospel:

“Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands CONDEMNED ALREADY because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:18(emphasis mine)

There is no shame in being born into sin because ALL are born into “condemnation.” Since that is true, that means we ALL need the salvation that comes exclusively through faith in Jesus. “SIN” is a club we are all born into.

Here is something shameful: A child who is born into slavery but is given the option to be free and rejects it. What if another Master, One to whom their “former master” must be subservient, offers to purchase them for Himself, yet that slave chooses not to receive freedom? Furthermore, what if that Master says He would consider that slave as if it were His child rather than a slave?

It would be foolish and shameful to reject such an offer! Yet, that same offer is made to us through faith in Jesus. Sadly, most people refuse that offer. Jesus has bought us with His blood, and by the evidence of His resurrection and the powerful testimony of His Spirit, we have more than enough reason to believe!

Because people refuse to recognize they are “slaves to sin,” they consider the option of being a “slave to Jesus” appalling. Sadly, the consequences of their self-denial are eternal. Since you’ve “gotta’ serve somebody,” which master have you chosen? There is still time to choose Jesus. “Today is the day of salvation!” 2 Corinthians 6:2b

“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ (Messiah) died for us!  Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.  For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, being reconciled, will we be saved by His Life!  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We have now received this reconciliation through Him.” Romans 5:8-11 (HCSB)

It has been said that people come to faith in Jesus for three reasons: Past, Present, and Future. We feel guilt over our past, overwhelmed by our present situation, and uncertain of what lies ahead.

In the passage above, Paul addresses each reason and weaves them together. He demonstrates how they relate to each other and how they are inseparable.

Past: We WERE still sinners and enemies when Messiah died for us. He WAS aware of our past yet loved us anyway. His love results not from the abundance of our goodness but from the greatness of His affection and holiness.

Present: We have NOW been declared righteous by His blood. We are NOW reconciled to God through the death of His Son. We NOW rejoice in God because of Messiah’s life (resurrection). With the weight of our past and future being removed, we are free to enjoy life TODAY.

Future: Since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we WILL BE saved, through Jesus, from wrath. If, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, being reconciled, WILL WE BE saved by His Life!

I was receptive to the gospel because my Past had really messed up my Present to the extent that I believed I had no hope for the Future. No matter our particular areas of spiritual struggle, if we are genuinely seeking salvation and the truth, we must all enter into a saving relationship with God through the “door” of Messiah Jesus. He loves you despite your past, will give you hope for today, and secures the future of all true believers with the promise of eternity in Heaven.

“Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares righteous the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5

Let’s say you’re in a bit of debt, and you need to make some extra money to pay it off. You decide to get an additional job digging ditches. (Someone’s got to do it!) So, you’re in the hot sun every weekend, just working away. On payday, the foreman strolls by, hands you an envelope, and says, “Here’s a gift.”

“WAIT A MINUTE!” you reply. “I’ve been working hard for two weeks. That money is not a gift; I’ve earned it!”

If you have a debt that you can pay off, you should work hard and pay it. When your work is finished, you have earned your wages. When your debt is paid, you paid it.

Have you ever felt cheated by God? Do you ever think He misappropriated your “good works” and renamed your righteousness as His “gift” of salvation? Perhaps, you should demand an accounting of all your good works and put God’s character on trial. That’s what Job did. But how did that work out for Job?

The Bible gives us our accounting: “There is no one righteous, not even one.” Romans 3:10

Now, suppose you’re in so much debt you couldn’t possibly pay it off. Your grandkids will still be paying your debt long after you’re dead! One day, the person you owe tells you he wants to cancel your debt, and all you have to do is have faith he’ll do it. You tell him you believe him and want to accept his offer. So he cancels your debt.

Later, you overhear that person needs some ditches dug around his property. In response to what he’s done for you, canceling a debt you could not afford, you commit your life to work for him. You do not work out of any obligation. There is no debt anymore. Instead, you work voluntarily, out of thankfulness.

People who don’t realize the enormity of their sin debt believe they can pay that debt. They think much of themselves and less of God. True believers in Jesus see their debt to God as un-payable. Their “good works” (as believers) are out of gratitude for His having canceled their debt.

“For the wages of sin is death, the free gift of God is eternal life in Messiah Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?  But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.”  Romans 2:4 (HCSB)

On most days, my children are adorable and simply a joy to be around. Other days, not so much.

When I was a teenager, and I expressed frustration, adults would say, “You’re just going through a phase.” I would be so mad at that response! I was like, “You don’t know me!” I hate to say it, but the whole “phase” thing is entirely accurate. Kids have behavioral “seasons,” and observant parents know when we enter and exit our seasons.

A secret to being a good parent (which I do not claim to have mastered) is becoming a student of your children. You study their likes & dislikes, and forecast their “seasons.”

One of the best ways to gauge a relationship is how well people select gifts for each other. Gifting shows how well someone knows you. The value of a gift is not about the expense; rather, how appropriate the gift is because a gift’s appropriateness is based on a person’s knowledge of you.

God watches His children closely. Sometimes He disciplines harshly, and other times He gives us mercy. It’s all based on what His infinite wisdom determines we need for healthy development. Children need to know parents have their best interests in mind. The Lord gives us much more grace than harsh discipline.

A legitimate concern for any parent is that their children will perceive “grace” as a reward for bad behavior. This is precisely what Paul is warning the believers in Rome about. God has ONE thing in mind regarding all people: that they would come unto repentance. His first approach is Grace. To all who would accept it, He freely gives salvation.

But to those who refuse or abuse His grace, He disciplines harshly. Trauma brings desperation. Desperation demands urgent solutions, and Jesus is the ultimate and only solution for humanity’s sin debt to God. The overriding intent for God-directed desperation is that we recognize and worship Him.

Although God knows precisely who will accept or reject Him, He loves us and never stops trying to reach us through both mercy and pain. Nothing is beyond His ability to gain our attention. Skip the unnecessary desperation and surrender your life to Jesus.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek (Gentile). For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17 (HCSB)

A friend told me of the graduate-level negotiating class he took in college. On the first day, the professor handed everyone in the class a list containing contact information for 200 businesses and organizations. The assignment was to call these companies and renegotiate everything from their cable bills to personal credit card percentage rates. The professor said, “The assignment is over when you get turned down 20 times.” My friend was amazed to find the semester ended without filling the “20 rejections” quota.

The point of the professor’s assignment was to condition these young negotiators not to be afraid to ask. My friend renegotiated all sorts of things he felt were “set in stone” by powerful institutions. He overcame his fear of asking, and he is a wealthy man today.

When we share the gospel, we are asking people to reconsider their opinions of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Church. In essence, we are helping them “renegotiate” their spiritual lives.

If anyone knew the consequences of evangelism, it was Paul. Before he believed in Jesus, Paul persecuted Christians. After he came to faith, Paul himself was persecuted, shipwrecked, stoned, and left for dead. But Paul had an intimate knowledge of God’s faithfulness. Paul knew God’s heart towards sinners who repented.

Paul also loved people for who they could be in Messiah, rather than how they treated him at the moment. He loved them enough to expose the sins that kept them from a right relationship with God. To Paul, the persecution he suffered was worth it if he could convince men that salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

Paul was a very successful evangelist. This was not because of his intellect or personal power of persuasion. Paul’s effectiveness came solely from the Holy Spirit…as does yours.

As Jesus faithfully suffered for our sin and was resurrected, Paul also believed God by faith. When Paul believed by faith, the Lord faithfully gave him the Spirit, as He promises all believers. Additionally, as Paul faithfully believed the testimony of the Holy Spirit as it revealed God’s Word to Paul, people’s lives were drastically and eternally changed. And so it went, “from faith to faith.” In short, Paul was not ashamed to negotiate by faith, and neither should we.

Paul’s message to us: Do not be ashamed! Keep faithfully listening to the Spirit, and He will faithfully guide and empower you to accomplish God’s purposes for His glory.

“As Paul gathered a bundle of brushwood and put it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to his hand.  When the local people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘This man is probably a murderer, and though he has escaped the sea, Justice does not allow him to live.’  However, he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.  They expected that he would swell up or suddenly drop dead.  But after they waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”  Acts 28:3-6 (HCSB)

There is an old saying: If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.  Perhaps, the theme of today’s chapter should be: If you don’t stand on the foundation of God’s Word, you’ll fall for anything.  (Although, I prefer the title: “Snakes on a Paul”)

Apart from God’s Word, people filter life experiences through their traditions and feelings.  Neither one of those measures is reliable because their origins are from man.  Consider the people of Malta’s response to Paul’s snakebite.  1) He is a murderer, and fate has caught up with him; 2) He is a god!  Both their omens and feeling-based observations led them to the wrong conclusions.  Apart from the Bible, we have no reliable lens to view life experiences correctly.  (2 Timothy 3:16)

We can learn three things from Paul’s experience: The viper bite deliverance confirms justice, refutes superstition, and fulfills Jesus’ promise that believers can expect miracles.    

“Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you.  However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:19-20 (HCSB)

Back in Acts 14, the people of Lystra had proclaimed that Paul and Barnabas were gods.  This was a notion that Paul and Barnabas categorically rejected.  Perhaps Jesus’ exhortation to His disciples in Luke 10:20 was intended to warn them against the pride that can develop within the ego of His servants through whom His Spirit does great works.  

As long as we remain focused on the fact that our salvation is by God’s grace alone and that any good work we accomplish is actually the Spirit working in and through us, we will better withstand the temptation to exalt ourselves.  Remaining humble and thankful to God allows us to resist Pride’s attempts to steal credit for the Spirit’s work.

“For many days, neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging.  Finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing.  Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, ‘You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss.  Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship.  For this night, an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me, and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul.  You must stand before Caesar.  And, look!  God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ Therefore, take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told me.  However, we must run aground on a certain island.’”  Acts 27:20-26 (HCSB)

Most of us, who are followers of Jesus, didn’t simply hear the gospel once and believe.  It took time for us to warm up to the idea.  Perhaps, we visited several church services or hung around Christians for a season before we decided to believe.

As for me, I grew up around churches.  I sat through countless sermons and youth group meetings.  They all seemed to say the same thing: If you don’t commit yourself to follow Jesus and repent from your sinful lifestyle, your sins will find you out!  Although I knew I sinned, I laughed at that message.  I figured that God hadn’t judged me thus far, so why should I expect He was going to any time soon, or EVER for that matter?

Without going into too much detail, the night I heard the gospel for the “umpteenth” time, yet finally surrendered to Jesus, it was because my sins had found me out!  On the outside, I probably seemed bulletproof, but on the inside, I was bleeding to death from self-inflicted “sin shot” wounds!  I was hurting and humbled, ripe for the gospel.

If you can relate to my story, you can understand the spiritual state Paul’s traveling companions were in when Paul, a Roman prisoner, took charge and rallied the troops.

Because of God’s revelation to Paul, he could transcend his physical conditions and focus on the greater goal: the salvation of those shipwrecked alongside him.

BELIEVER, have your circumstances run aground, seemingly for no reason?  Look around at those people alongside you and ask the Lord to direct you on how you can parlay your situation into a Kingdom-building opportunity.  He is building “preparedness” into us daily as we read His revealed will, the Bible.  This is so we may be constantly ready to give reason for the hope within us in all seasons.

UNBELIEVER, have you run aground as a consequence of a storm you created with your sin?  Stop rebelling against God’s revealed truth and accept that you need Him.  God has promised salvation to all who, by faith, believe in His Son, Messiah Jesus.  Do it today!

“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?  I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian (Christ follower) Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:27-29 (NKJV)

Paul had guts.  I love the way he just lays out the gospel like he’s their rabbi!  Then there is the abrupt, albeit somewhat humorous, reminder that Paul is in shackles.

Remember the game show “Truth or Consequences”?  Maybe you’re too young.  Contestants answered questions to win prizes.  If they got the answer wrong, they were subjected to some demeaning stunt.  It seems that just when Paul was convincing Agrippa of the truth, the king was reminded of the possible consequences of following Jesus.  Given his pomp and political power, the consequence of dishonor and imprisonment was too much for Agrippa.

I was like Agrippa.  Confronted with the truth, I chose to focus on Worldly consequences for many years and to ignore the eternal one: the certainty of Hell.  I was more concerned with temporary earthly glory than the promise of permanent glory in Heaven.

The Lord persistently pursued me.  He watched as time after time, I made poor choices.  Ultimately, I was convinced the glory of this World is nothing worth having.  Even when you get earthly glory, it quickly fades.  I was empty and tired, and finally, the gospel ceased to be annoying.  It became my shelter.

It was because of a person like Paul that I came to believe in Jesus.  I was like one of the onlookers in the Roman Governor’s palace.  I overheard a guy boldly proclaiming Jesus to another guy.  The guy he was sharing with just laughed at him…but I believed!

Why do we make our Church services open to the public?  Because we want everyone to know the gospel of Jesus, receive it, and belong to the greater Church.  For almost a decade, I have been launching Bible studies in coffeehouses, where there is a high probability that non-believers would “stumble upon” them by God’s leading and grace.  They come to the coffeehouse for a latte, but they leave with a whole “latte” more: Salvation through faith in Jesus!

Paul said, “…but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:29b (NKJV)

Paul understood that God’s target audience, “all who are listening to me today,” might not contain King Agrippa, the particular person whom Paul was trying to persuade.  It is not incumbent upon us believers to produce faith decisions from people.  We cannot make people believe.  Instead, by all means, we faithfully proclaim Messiah Jesus, trusting His Holy Spirit to convince men and women to believe, even though we may be in “chains” at the moment.

“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, “Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.” So I said, “Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.” Then He said to me, “Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.””  Acts 22:17-21 (NJKV)

I was in college when I began following Jesus.  I was also a member of a Greek fraternity on campus.  Shortly after my salvation, I began sharing the gospel with members of my fraternity.  I was zealous and aggressive, which made me obnoxious to everyone!  I truly believed my friends would consider my new life compared to my former “worldly” life, and they would convert based on my transformation.

As it turned out, my friends weren’t interested in my gospel presentation.  Word of my conversion spread, and I eventually found myself the outsider of our “fraternal” social circle.  I had always been in the center of that scene…now, an outsider.  I could not understand why they rejected my testimony about Jesus.  

I began thinking about where things went wrong with my evangelism techniques.  In the words of John Mayer, “Maybe, it’s got nothing to do with me.”  Perhaps, my friends simply didn’t want to be confronted with the truth about Jesus, no matter who delivered it.  

After that experience, I couldn’t imagine leading anyone to Jesus!  But God had a different plan.  

Like the Apostle Paul, the Lord had me leave my “Jerusalem.”   That is, I left college (along with my initial evangelistic experiences) behind.  But those early “seeds” of the gospel did not all go to waste.  Over the years, several of my old fraternity brothers have shared how my testimony played a distinct and eventual role in their salvation.

It is good to be zealous, but zealousness without submission to God’s authority and the Spirit’s direction leads to trouble.  When we place zeal under submission, the Bible calls that “meekness.”  A horse becomes useful to the rider when made meek to the bridle.  Likewise, we become useful to God when we submit to His plan for us.  Paul surrendered to God’s plan, and just look how the Lord used him!  The Lord wants to do mighty things through you as well.  Are you ready to follow His will and His leading?

“And Festus said, ‘King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.  But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to (the emperor) Augustus, I decided to send him.  I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him.  Therefore I have 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.’” Acts 25: 24-26 (NKJV)

Have you ever tried to share the hope of Jesus with a stranger?  It can be very uncomfortable because you never know how people will react.  Sometimes people get angry, and other times they’re ready to follow Jesus on the spot.  Sadly, most believers aren’t prepared for either scenario.

Evangelism can be like shark fishing.  In shark fishing, there are two questions: 1) How am I going to catch a shark? Or 2) “What am I going to do with a shark in my boat?!!!

Paul saw a wide variety of responses when he shared the gospel.  Many believed, and the Church, as we know it, was born.  Others wanted to kill Paul.  The Roman Governor Felix protected Paul, but his true desire was for Paul’s money.  Enter Roman Governor, Festus.  Festus inherited the “problem of Paul” from his predecessor.  Stuck between politics and principles, Festus was such a weak leader that he needed a committee to tell him how to accuse Paul.    

The great message of today’s passage is that Festus never found anything wrong with Paul’s character, politics, or theology.  Could that be said of you?

A few years back, I wrote a song that posed a question: “If loving God was a crime, would you be an outlaw?” This was Festus’ dilemma with accusing Paul, and it was Babylonian official’s dilemma when trying to accuse Daniel.  They literally had to make loving God against the law because they could find no other flaws in their characters.  Does your life honor God in such a way that your accusers couldn’t find any evidence of worldliness, so they would have to make your devotion to the Lord illegal to have overwhelming evidence to convict you?

“When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees!  I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!’ When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.  For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel and spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.  The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party got up and argued vehemently:  ‘We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?’” Acts 23:6-9 (HCSB)

It’s easy to think the apostles were always laid back and relaxed amid opposition.  In reality, the scene was often totally terrifying.  “Real-time” seldom gives an account of the future, so Paul had no idea what would happen next.  What he DID have was Jesus’ promise of two things:  1) Persecution and 2) The presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  

Jesus had said to his disciples: “Because people will hand you over to Sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them.  You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations.  But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak.  For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of Your Father is speaking through you.” Matt 10:17-20 (HCSB)

Just because Paul was not standing by when Jesus spoke those words is no indicator that He did not communicate that message of strength and grace through other means.  Jesus could have easily relayed that information through 1) Testimony from people who heard it firsthand, 2) Revelation from the Spirit by dreams and visions, and 3) Direct personal revelation, as He did with Paul on the road to Damascus.  

No doubt, Paul was a brilliant intellectual.  Still, if you asked him, I’m sure Paul would give the credit to God for getting him through this otherwise terrifying situation.

How can we become like Paul?  Right now, you’re on the right track.  You are seeking God’s Word.  You are depositing Scriptural knowledge into your mental “bank account.” Then, as life continues, the Spirit guides you by drawing from that Scriptural knowledge.  The Spirit literally transfers God’s Word from your mental “account” into your Heart…giving it practical context, matched with the motivation to act out and seize ministry opportunities…then to your mouth so you can bear witness.        

It’s kind of like your ATM card: No money in the bank, no withdrawal...lots of money in the bank, no purchase is impossible.  Keep “depositing” God’s Word into your spiritual account!  God wants you to make a few “withdrawals” and see a few more folks enter into a saving relationship with Him through your testimony!

“Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart?  For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’  So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, ‘The will of the Lord be done.’” Acts 21:13-14 (NKJV)

Soon after I decided to follow Jesus, I began attending a Bible study.  One evening the study leader asked if anyone knew any “Jesus songs.”  I owned a guitar, so I started writing songs...something I never knew I could do.  A year later, I was offered a chance to record my songs as a professional musician.  Following that opportunity meant I had to leave college…and the full-ride track scholarship that came with it.

I remember sitting in my car, listening to a cassette tape of John MacArthur preaching, “The Crisis of Decision.”  I had been seeking the Lord for months, and I was confident he was leading me into the “Christian” music business.  I turned left and drove to Memphis, leaving college.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

I wish I could say that all my friends and family supported my step of faith.  They didn’t.  It’s not that they didn’t love the Lord.  It’s just difficult sometimes watching others make faith-based decisions that the Lord hasn’t led them to.  The Lord was asking me to step out in a way that nobody I knew had ever followed Him, so they doubted that I was actually listening to the Lord.

The Bible says there is wisdom in good counsel.  (Proverbs 13:10) It is good to be accountable and downright necessary!  Still, there are times when people’s concern for your well-being may be evidence of their misunderstanding of “calling.”

That was the case for Paul in today’s passage.  The Spirit of God was testifying to the believers about Paul’s suffering, so they were concerned about his well-being.  But they were unaware of the ministry opportunities that would follow Paul’s bondage.

We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.  Paul didn’t know what the outcome of his trip to Jerusalem would be.  But he had enough faith to know the Lord was sending him, and he had the obedience to go.

Is the Lord leading you in an unpopular direction?  Seek Him earnestly and listen to His voice.  If indeed He is leading you, then set your heart to follow Him.  No matter what you go through, He will bring you through it.

As was the case with Paul, we should follow the Lord in such a way that it would be utter foolishness were there no resurrection from the dead.

“And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.  But I count my life of no value to myself so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”    Acts 20:22-24 (HCSB)

Remember Jeremiah 29:11?  “God has plans for us that are not to harm us, but to give us a future and a hope.”  This verse is comforting news, especially when we feel all hope is lost.  But how does that jive with the Lord’s plan for Paul?  Chains and afflictions aren’t positive images.  Could it be that our 21st-century Christian culture has lost what it means to suffer for hope?

We are sure of four things concerning God:  He is all-knowing, ever-present, all-powerful, and His character never changes.  That means there is NO dilemma you’ll experience that God is unaware of, isn’t standing alongside you through, doesn’t have the power to sustain you to the end, or will renegotiate His promises to you.

So, why do Kingdom-pursuant believers suffer?

You might recall that Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master.  If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” John 15:20  (NIV)

There’s a promise we seldom claim with boldness!  No rational person wants to suffer.  To paraphrase General George S. Patton, “No fool ever won a war by dying for his country.  You win wars by making the other guy die for his country!”  No disrespect to General Patton or our fallen heroes, but Patton spoke of earthly wars.  We are engaged in spiritual warfare, and our battlefield stretches into eternity.  Death is not the end game.  It is the ultimate beginning, and “Where will we spend eternity?” is a more important question than “How will we preserve our quality of life on earth?”

Jesus conquered death so we might serve Him with our whole lives, even unto and beyond death.  The hope of the resurrection fuels the servant’s willingness to suffer in this life.  Sacrificial service fuels revival.

Jesus promised, “…I am going away to prepare a place for you.  If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.”  John 14:2b-3 (HCSB)

With confidence that Jesus is prepared to receive us into His heavenly kingdom, and without regard for this World, let us focus our sights on the mission at hand: To know God and make Him known so that others may know Him too.

“While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus.  He found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’  ‘No,’ they told him, ‘we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’  ‘Then what baptism (immersion) were you baptized with?’ he asked them.  ‘With John’s baptism (immersion),’ they replied.  Paul said, ‘John baptized (immersed) with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Messiah).  And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak with other languages and to prophesy.” Acts 19:1-6 (HCSB)

There was a well-intended preacher named Apollos, who had formerly been a follower of John the Baptist.  After Jesus’ crucifixion, and certainly after the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost, Apollos started putting his facts together and decided that Jesus was indeed Messiah.  So, he began preaching.  

“A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the Scriptures arrived in Ephesus.  This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John’s baptism.”  Acts 18:24-25 (HCSB)

The problem with Apollos was that his understanding and preaching consisted solely of fragments of the Gospel.  That meant that his belief and his “converts” fell short of the actual Gospel…as evidenced by their lacking the Holy Spirit.  All true believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit upon receiving Messiah Jesus.  This meant that, while Apollos and his “converts” knew who Jesus was, they didn’t “know” Him personally in a saving way.  I believe Jesus was speaking of such people when He addressed the end times in Matthew’s gospel:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.  On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?  Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you!  Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’  Matthew 7:21-23  (HCSB)

Priscilla and Aquila explained the Gospel in full, which led to Apollos’ salvation.  Then, Apollos’ preaching was correctly established.  But it was Paul who restored rightness to those who assumed a false sense of salvation from Apollos’ (previously) errant preaching.

Today’s chapter is, perhaps, an appeal for us to examine our spiritual lives.  Have we accumulated intellectual knowledge and facts about Jesus without actually surrendering our lives to Him?  Or have we truly surrendered our lives to follow Jesus?  As we labor to build His kingdom, are we sharing the WHOLE Gospel, or are we withholding essential parts that may lead to decisions but not result in salvation?

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, where he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla because Claudius (the Roman Emperor) had ordered that all Jews leave Rome.”  Acts 18:1-2 (HCSB)

The expulsion of the Jews from Rome is generally connected with the remark of Suetonius, “Since the Jews were continually making disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome.” (Claudius 25:4)

Some theologians believe that the unknown name “Chrestus” was a misspelling of the word “Christos,” meaning Christ.  (Of course, the original Hebrew word, from which the Greek translators chose “Christos,” is Moshiach.)  “Christos” seems to make more sense in light of the trial of Jesus and subsequent uproars concerning fights between Messianic and non-Messianic Jews.  Today’s passage certainly deals with such an incident.

It only makes sense that the Romans would grow tired of religious Jews and their accusations and riotous actions toward the Messianic Jews.  We must remember that at this time, the greater “Body of Messiah” was considered a sect of Judaism, and Gentile conversions were few and far between.

This growing anti-Semitism among Roman officials is seen first in Acts 18, with Gallio’s attitude towards Paul’s accusers.

“While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack against Paul and brought him to the judge’s bench.  ‘This man,’ they said, ‘persuades people to worship God contrary to the law (Torah)!’  As Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, ‘If it were a matter of a crime or moral evil, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you Jews.  But if there are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves.  I don’t want to be a judge of such things.’”  Acts 18:12-15 (HCSB)

Fast forward several hundred years: By the time Emperor Constantine declared that all Roman citizens were to be subsequently “Christians,” it is easy to see how Christianity quickly began to lose its Jewishness.  An empire, full of anti-Semites, was suddenly mandated to reckon with worshipping the Jewish Messiah and leave their paganism.

At least two good things happened due to Gallio’s lack of patience and sympathy for the Jewish case against Paul: 1) Paul was allowed to continue preaching, and 2) Synagogue leader Sosthenes was publicly rebuked and beaten by his own people.  Acts 18:17

In 1 Corinthians 1:1, we read that Sosthenes became a follower of Jesus.  Because of this particular incident, Sosthenes felt the bitter heartless cruelty of his own congregation.  Perhaps, that is when he decided to follow his former synagogue ruler, Crispus (Acts 18:8), and follow Jesus himself.

“The jailer reported these words to Paul: ‘The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released.  So come out now and go in peace.’  But Paul said to them, ‘They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail.  And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly?  Certainly not!  On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!  Then the police reported these words to the magistrates.  And they were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.”  Acts 16:36-38 (HCSB)

In the Bible, believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) are called upon to be servants to others for the sake of the Gospel.  Often, it feels like we are called to be “doormats,” letting others trample over us.  We are not to sue each other (1 Cor 6:1-8), and we are to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile (Matthew 5:39-42).

Before we start feeling too sorry for ourselves, let’s be reminded of Jesus’ humility and sacrifice.  He left the glory of Heaven to be born in a stable.   He was brought up in the obscure town of Nazareth, hung around the poor and lowly, insulted and beaten by the proud pseudo-spiritual religious leaders, and willingly suffered a criminal’s death, all on our behalf.

But there is one situation in which we are expected to stand, adamantly refusing to give ground, and this is where the Gospel itself is at stake.  In the words of Bible commentator David Stern, “If the Gospel can be served better by fighting back, we should fight back – the fighting, of course, to be conducted ethically and by spiritual means (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:10-18).”

In today’s chapter, we see Paul using several legitimate means: he mentions his Roman citizenship, points out the officials’ illegal behavior, and demands public redemption for public insults.

Paul does all this to ensure proper treatment, but not because of personal pride.  His concern is not just for the Gospel only; he wanted to ensure that no one in Philippi would come away from the incident with the misimpression given by Paul’s accusers (Acts 16:20-22), that the message of Messiah is not for the Romans.

Bottom line: we are not called to be “doormats” for Messiah, letting people always trample on us.  We are called to know God through a saving relationship with Messiah Jesus and to spread the “Good News.”  There are times to be a suffering servant, and there are times to stand up and fight!  In both instances, the goal is the furtherance of the Gospel.

“Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man [Jesus] forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you, and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything, which you could not be justified from through the Torah of Moses.  So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you: ‘Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you.’ As they were leaving, the people [the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles] begged that these matters be presented to them the following Sabbath.  After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout Gentile proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.” Acts 13:38-43 (HCSB)

Today’s chapter marks a distinct change in Paul’s ministry.  He (along with Barnabas) begins fulfilling his calling as “the Apostle to the Gentiles.” Henceforth, in Scripture, Paul ceases to be referred to as “Saul.”

In Acts 10, we were presented with the first recorded Gentile, who converted to follow Messiah Jesus after His resurrection: the Roman Centurion Cornelius.  Cornelius was described as a “devout man.” This terminology describes a Gentile who had not converted to Judaism but devoutly followed the Jewish religion’s forms.

There is an assumption among most “Christians” that Jews were not allowed to associate with Gentiles on any level.  While close affiliations and friendships with Gentiles raised suspicions among the Jewish community, Gentiles “seeking God” were welcome in synagogues.  The Temple in Jerusalem had a “Court of the Gentiles.”  

David H. Stern, in his “Complete Jewish New Testament Commentary,” describes Paul’s method of reaching Gentiles: “Besides Sha’ul’s [Paul’s] conviction that it was right to present the Gospel first to Jews, he knew that it was in the synagogues where he would find the Gentiles most likely to be responsive, since ‘proselytes of the gate’ were already interested in the One true God.  One aspect of communicating the gospel consists of determining which people are likely to respond favorably to it.”

Some Christians believe that the Church is only “preaching to the choir.” They would suggest we take a more radical strategy, abandon the traditional congregation, and go deeper into the world with more extreme ministry endeavors.  While noble at the outset, I believe this strategy neglects an obvious truth: non-believers attend churches!  And they are seeking to believe!  In the church where I presently serve, hundreds of people come to faith each year in our various weekly services.

That is a challenge to ANY church seeking to share the gospel of Jesus.  They are using Paul’s method, which works in today’s world.  He went first to the places where people were already asking the right questions: the places of devout worship.

“So on the appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them.  The populace began to shout, ‘It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!’ At once, an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died.  Then, God’s message flourished and multiplied.” Acts 12:21-24 (HCSB)

Reading today’s chapter reminds me of an instance involving a flight attendant and boxing champion Mohammed Ali.  Known as much for his pride as his boxing skill, Ali was never at a loss for words!  Moments before take-off, a flight attendant noticed the champ hadn’t fastened his seat belt.  When she told Ali to comply with the seat belt rule, he snapped, “Superman don’t need no seat belt!” She replied, “Superman don’t need no plane either!”

Herod Agrippa 1st was the grandson of Herod the Great.  As was the case with the other Herods, Agrippa 1st was devilishly keen and overtly proud of his wicked accomplishments.  A year earlier, a Galilean insurgent named Jesus of Nazareth had been executed during Passover.  (Acts 12:1-3)  Jesus’ death seemed to please the Romans and the Jewish leaders.  The Apostle James’ death seemed to appeal to the populace of Jerusalem, who were most affected by the preaching of the Apostles.  Happy people mean smooth sailing for a king, so on the anniversary of Jesus’ crucifixion, Herod Agrippa 1st planned to kill the Apostle Peter.

God turns Herod Agrippa’s plans around.  In the end, Agrippa perished for his blasphemies while Peter continued spreading the gospel.  Here is Jewish historian Josephus’ account of that day:  

“Agrippa came to Caesarea, for there was a festival for him.  On the 2nd day, he put on a garment made entirely of silver and came into the theater early in the morning, at which time the silver of his garment reflecting the sun’s rays shone so resplendently as to spread a horror on those gazing at him.  Presently, his flatterers exclaimed that he was a god, adding, ‘Be merciful to us; for although till now we have referenced you only as a man, henceforth we will regard you as superior to mortal nature.’ But the king neither rebuked them, nor rejected their impious flattery.  However, as he looked up, he saw an owl and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings.  Suddenly and violently a severe pain arose in his stomach.  Therefore, he looked at his friends and said, ‘I, whom you call a god, am commanded now to leave this life; while providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me.’ After five days, exhausted by the stomach pain, he died, aged fifty-three.” Adapted from “Antiquities of the Jews” 19:8:2

We may achieve great things and be revered as great men and women, but one day we all must bow to the Lord.  There is no one greater than our God.

“In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.  Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world.  This took place during the time of Claudius.  So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea.  This they did, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.” Acts 11:27-30 (HCSB)

When I was almost 21yrs old, I vowed my heart to Jesus.  A year later, against the counsel of nearly everyone I knew, I left college to pursue what I believed was God’s call on my life.  I moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to pursue a career in the “Christian” music business.

I hoped God would honor my step of faith by giving me success.  To my dismay, two years passed, and I was still making minimum wage, brewing coffee, and taking out the trash at a recording studio.  All my college friends had good jobs, nice cars, and bought houses.

I decided to drive to Nashville to see if I could jump-start my career with some record company meetings.  I didn’t have a credit card at the time, so I pulled all my cash out of the bank…just in case.

It was a horrible trip.  Nobody wanted to record my music.  On the way out of Nashville, my car broke down with a flat tire.  I opened the trunk, and the spare tire was flat.  Cell phones were rare and expensive back then, and I didn’t own one.  So I hiked two miles to find a tow truck.  With the flat fixed, I paid the tow truck driver, only to discover my car wouldn’t start.  I opened the hood and immediately found the problem.  While I had been looking for a tow truck, someone had stolen my battery!

After flagging down (and paying) another tow truck, I got a tow to an Auto Zone.  It was closed for the night, so I had to spend the night in a hotel…more money.  The following day, once my car was squared away, I had $1 (and some change) left, which I spent on two bean burritos at Taco Bell.

All the way to Memphis, I let God know how I felt about my “step of faith”!  My rent was due, and I didn’t have any money.  Then, I opened my mailbox.  Inside was a letter and a money order from some folks in Alabama who had seen me in concert.  The letter simply stated: God put you on our hearts.  The check enclosed was written for more money than I needed to get through the month.  The lesson? Where God guides, He provides!

Today’s chapter is a beautiful example of God providing for our needs before we know we have needs!  Is the Lord calling you to step out in faith?  Do it!  Is He prompting you to help those in need?  Do it!  Whether you are being “called” to those in need or “sent” to be a benefactor, listen and obey the Lord’s leading.  God can be trusted! And if He has chosen to send you, He will also equip you to accomplish His purposes.

“Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days.  Immediately, he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: ‘He is the Son of God.’  But all who heard him were astounded and said, ‘Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name, and then came here for the purpose of taking them prisoners to the chief priests?’  But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is Messiah.  When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple.  Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.”  Acts 9:19b-22, 26-27 (HCSB)

The apostle Paul epitomizes the term “radically saved.”  In a complete 180-degree turn, Saul, a persecutor of the Church for saturating Judaism with Gentiles and apostates, became “Apostle to the Gentiles.”

In Luke’s telling of the Acts of the Apostles, there is what writers call a “condensation of time.”  That is, Luke often lumps together events to prove a greater point; he condenses time.  The downside of this literary approach is that readers can be led to believe events and occurrences happened faster than normal.  A more reliable real-time account of Paul’s conversion and ministry comes from Paul’s own words:

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.  But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.  (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)”  Galatians 1:15-20 (NKJV)

I mention this because verse 22 of today’s passage says, “But Saul grew more capable.”  His growth was not attributed to his Pharisee education or the Apostles’ teaching.  It was directly from the Lord as He revealed the Scriptures to Paul.  

Our understanding of the Gospel, ability to articulate, and discernment of how and when to share is a process.  Don’t be discouraged if you’re not the most eloquent evangelist today.  Be encouraged to know that even great leaders like Paul had to grow into greatness.  Simple prayer and Bible study diligence, matched by the revelation of God’s Word by the power of His Spirit, is the leadership catalyst for all believers.  Perhaps, that is why Paul said,

“Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy [sharing God’s Word as revealed to you].” 1 Corinthians 14:1 (HCSB)

Ask God to reveal something from His Word to you today and give you someone to share it with!

“There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, and a high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury.  He had come to worship in Jerusalem and was sitting in his chariot on his way home reading, the prophet Isaiah aloud.  The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go and join that chariot.’  When Phillip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you’re reading?’  ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone guides me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”  Acts 8:27-31 (HCSB)

I have heard pastors teach that the Ethiopian eunuch was the first Gentile convert.  Because the man was from Ethiopia and had a powerful position in the kingdom, many believe he must have been a Gentile.  That way of thinking disregards the stories of Joseph, Daniel, Moses, Esther, and Nehemiah, all of whom were Jews who held influential positions in foreign governments.  I believe this Ethiopian was most likely a Jew.  

First, he had gone to Jerusalem to worship.  The fact that a Gentile would worship in Jerusalem was not uncommon.  There was even a Court of Gentiles in the temple complex.  But there are other factors to consider.

The Ethiopian had a copy of the book of Isaiah with him, and he was reading it.  There was no such thing as “Barnes & Noble” or “Amazon.com” in Jesus’ day.  Torah scrolls were very rare, and they weren’t given to just anyone.  Consider Isaiah’s prophecy:

“And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 2 Kings 20:18 (NKJV)

Most likely, this Ethiopian was a descendant of the dispersed Jews, and he had traveled to Jerusalem for Passover and stayed the additional 50 days for Shavuot (Pentecost).  He would have likely been present when Jesus was crucified and was probably nearby when the Holy Spirit fell.  Leaving Jerusalem, he had stopped and pondered the significance of Isaiah 53: The Suffering Servant.  (You should read that entire chapter.)

In addition to explaining that Isaiah was prophesying of Jesus in chapter 53, Philip most likely continued reading in Isaiah and shared God’s promises to foreigners and eunuchs.

“No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord should say, ‘The Lord has excluded me from His people’; and the eunuch should not say, ‘Look, I am a dried up tree.’  For the Lord says this, ‘For the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths and choose what pleases Me, and hold firmly to My covenant, I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters.  I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.’”  Isaiah 56:3-5 (CSB)

Whether this Ethiopian was a Jew or Gentile, he was saved by faith in Jesus.  Furthermore, he was immersed (baptized), and now his name is “remembered” in God’s Kingdom and His Word for all eternity!