Tag Archives: Acts

21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” The Early Church faced an early theological crossroads. Some of the Jewish believers felt that the non-Jewish believers needed to have the outward signs of being Jewish in order toContinue reading “27Jan 2011 Acts 15:21”

1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” As I read this statement of Paul made to the religious leaders of his day I am baffled. These leaders had tried to have Paul arrested and their hope was heContinue reading “30Nov2009 Acts 23:1”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. Sometimes you just have to ask the right question. So often we get an ambiguous response because we make an ambiguous statement. A parent once told me that they told their children to not openContinue reading “29Nov2009 Acts 22:27”

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, Every culture has its own ways of showing distress. We start riots burning cars, buildings, destroying property, shouting demonstrations, banners and police riot gear. All these are ways to publically display distress. This was a riot scene that wasContinue reading “28Nov2009 Acts 22:23”

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ he said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ Each time Paul has had this experience of a trance God used it to warnContinue reading “27Nov2009 Acts 22:17-18”

12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. This man named Ananias was respected in his community because his character reflected his Master. He obeyed the Law and had become a believer in Jesus. His life reflectedContinue reading “26Nov2009 Acts 22:12”

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. As I read this passage I thought about the system of schools in MuslimContinue reading “25Nov2009 Acts 22:3”

38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?” A terrorist training camp! And they thought they had just captured the leader. That would have been a good day and a positive statement to put in his job performance review. The guards haveContinue reading “24Nov2009 Acts 21:38”

28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.” Guilt by association. It can happen with things and with people. Someone can think theyContinue reading “23Nov2009 Acts 21:28”

24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. This is cultural accommodation. Paul has returned from his mission’sContinue reading “22Nov2009 Acts 21:24”