Tag Archives: Acts

17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. There is nothing so warming to the heart after a struggle and journey than to be warmly greeted when you arrive. We see it in the news when soldiers return from their combat tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. You see families holding signs andContinue reading “21Nov2009 Acts 21:17”

13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Paul seems to have a death wish, doesn’t he? He gets repeated warnings that he should not go to Jerusalem, but heContinue reading “20Nov2009 Acts 21:13”

4 Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. The Spirit reveals what is going to happen to Paul in Jerusalem and He does this for both Paul and the people. Paul knows what awaits him in Jerusalem and the peopleContinue reading “19Nov2009 Acts 21:4”

1After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara.  Paul is on what he believes will be his final trip to these places where he has preached and people have responded to hisContinue reading “18Nov2009 Acts 21:1”

32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Grace is a powerful commodity. There is no grace in Islam. Grace is a totally foreign concept to the Koran. In fact, in Jesus graceContinue reading “17Nov2009 Acts 20:32”

29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. As Paul gives his final words to this group of Jesus-followers he knows that difficult times are ahead for them. He describes them as savage wolves. We occasionally hear stories in the news about aContinue reading “16Nov2009 Acts 20:29”

28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.  Paul is speaking to the leaders of the early church. They have two responsibilities that leaders still have today. Now before youContinue reading “15Nov2009 Acts 20:28”

24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Reading Paul’s words that he considers his life worth nothing could lead us to believe he was suicidal. ButContinue reading “14Nov2009 Acts 20:24”

21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Beginning a relationship with God requires two things: a turning and a trusting. The first, the turning, is something that we don’t often do in our natural selves. We get trainedContinue reading “13Nov2009 Acts 20:21”

11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. Paul has preached so long and so late that a young man in his audience fell from the third floor window. Sometimes we don’t take hints. God restored the young man and Paul returned to talking. I canContinue reading “12Nov2009 Acts 20:11”