Acts

 

The Acts of the Apostles

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 1. For those of you who do not know Acts is the second book written by the author identified as Luke (a later follower of Paul.) Here at the beginning of the second book, we see a retelling of the story at the end of the first book much as we might see at the beginning of a sequel in a television show or a movie. The two stories are similar but there are a couple differences. Here he points out that Jesus was on earth after the resurrection for 40 days – similar to the time in the wilderness being tempted early on in the gospel and the 40 days of rain at the time of Noah and maybe even the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness by Moses and the Israelites. We will celebrate the Ascension of Christ into heaven 40 days after Easter.

   The disciples want to know if now is the time that Jesus is going to “Make Israel Great Again!” I think they are looking for Jesus to take charge and rule as king. But he makes it clear that it is God’s will and God’s timing we follow not ours. He does not promise them the power as rulers but the power of the Holy Spirit. And with that power they will be witnesses and spread Jesus’ message from Jerusalem out to all the world. Then Jesus is taken up into heaven and like what Mary saw at the tomb in a couple versions of the story we find two men in white robes giving explanation to the disciples that Jesus will return in the same way he left.

   Much of this chapter seems to focus on returning the number of disciples from 11 (after the death of Judas Iscarot) back to 12. That number may have taken importance as it seems to coincide with the 12 sons of Jacob which become the 12 tribes of Israel. But speaking of Judas, you may have noticed in this version he does not throw the 30 silver coins on the ground at the feat of the chief priests and go out and hang himself as we read in Matthew 27 but takes the money and buys a field and then falls and dies there!

   This portion of the after Easter story ends with the selection of a thirteenth person to fill Judas’ slot and become the twelfth disciple. Two are nominated and according to the custom back then, they cast lots to select the winner. Remember the soldiers at the cross did likewise to see who would get Jesus’ tunic. It was like drawing straws, flipping a coin, or spinning a bottle. Joseph, who had two other names, was not selected and even though Matthias was, we never hear anything more of either one of them. However, a few chapters later we will be told of seven deacons being added and then a guy by the name of Saul becomes the fourteenth apostle known as Paul!

   This chapter seems to leave us in limbo in the in-between times from Easter to Pentecost or between Jesus’ resurrection and returning. During this season of Easter let us journey through this time after reading the end stories of the gospels by reading the history of the early church in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. As we read about them, might we likewise learn how to act like them today?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 2. We will save the story of the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples and sending them out into the streets with the gift of speaking in tongues for the week before the Day of Pentecost next month. Today I want to focus on the rest of the story after the fact. We pick up the story starting at verse 37 as people in the crowd ask Peter and the other disciples what they should do. The response is profound. Repent – change your ways! And be baptized into new life in Christ. Sins of the old way of life will be forgiven, and new life will be given. Though we may read that this happened two thousand years ago it is still happening today – one believer at a time. Even old believers, like some of us, can hear these words anew when we honestly look around at our own “corrupt generation” and the ways we have always done things and ask the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into us and our community of faith.

   Focus on verse 42. In one of the churches I served there was a small group who identified themselves as the 242 group – based on Acts 2:42. The followed the description that Luke offered there of what was happening in the early church. The did four things: devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (studied the Bible), shared fellowship (a time of honest heart-to-heart accountability), the breaking of bread (a light meal), and the prayers. Each week this group followed those four steps to grow deeper in their faith. I am prayerfully considering that this basic style of ministry and spiritual growth might revive dying churches with the vitality of the Holy Spirit of Acts 2.

   The chapter ends noting how they lived in the early days of the church as a communal community. They cared and shared with one another. They lived the Good News as they gathered daily together at the temple worshipping God. For me it sounds like a prelude in preparation for what they anticipated as life in the reign of God on earth much like in heaven someday. For me this is a glimpse of heavenly life, and they were living it in ancient Jerusalem while they waited for Christ’s return. What might we do to wait and anticipate today. Try Acts 2:42.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 3. Here we have a story of Peter and John changing a man’s life. Like Jesus had done, now Peter and John heal a man who was asking for a different kind of help. He wanted a handout, but they offered him a hand up! After asking him to look at them, maybe he had been looking down in shame as he begged, Peter and John looked intently at him (and his situation). Then Peter offered what he had to offer the man, not silver or gold – something more precious – the name of Jesus. What if we learn from this lesson to really look at people and their situations and find ways to offer them what we have to give in Jesus’ name? Rather than merely sustaining people for a day or two might we help them take a leap of faith into an abundant and eternal life? What do you have to offer today? Look for opportunities to do that.

   As a crowd gathers to marvel at the healing, Peter seizes the opportunity to put in a good word for Jesus. I pray that there are opportunities each day for us to make some difference by our words and actions, but even more so I pray for opportunities to help people change their lives as they become believers. I pray that I have done some of that by offering these posts on various chapters of the Bible. Today I invite you to write a new chapter of your life in what you experience in your faith journey.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY Tues. April 14 – Read Acts 4. Following the healing story from yesterday we find Peter and John here talking about it and about Jesus’ resurrection. They are arrested and jailed until the next day when they are brought before the council to testify. When the high priest asks by what power they did this, Peter is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and speaks boldly about Jesus. If the occasion arises, I pray that you would be thus filled with the Spirit and be able to share your faith.

   The authorities dismiss them and talk among themselves about how to minimize the spreading of the Good News and call Peter and John back in and ordered them not to say anything about Jesus. This time both of them seem to answer and basically say they can do nothing other than share what they have seen and heard. They are released and go back to the other followers of Jesus who pray for the power to speak boldly as Peter and John had done.

   This chapter ends by introducing a new character who will be involved later with Paul but here we meet Barnabas when he sells a field he owns and gives the proceeds to the apostles. There were others doing the same and with the funding the whole community of believers took care of one another. The community of believers acted like the family of God and took care of one another with the family fortune. I was blessed to read that This benefactor was originally named Joseph, but the apostles gave him a nickname (I preached about nicknames on Sunday referring to Thomas as the “Twin” and the “Doubter.”) Here Joseph becomes Barnabas and his name is translated as “Son of Encouragement.” What might we do to be encouragers for someone today. Make a financial donation to a mission or share an encouraging word or support to someone who is struggling. Be a Barnabas!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 5. At the end of the previous chapter we read about a man named Barnabas selling his field and giving all of the proceeds to the apostles. Here we read of a couple who likewise sell a field and then keep some of the proceeds and give some to the apostles while claiming they were giving it all. In the story we see that they were not forced to give it all but to be honest about what they were doing. The consequences were dire. This was not a case of “Liar, liar, pants on fire,” but “Liar, liar, you expire,” as they literally seem to be scared to death. And not only them, but because of this in verse 11 all of the believers were seized by great fear.

   The tone quickly changes positively as the story continues with how many people were being healed. It is noted how people were brought out to the edge of the street that Peter’s shadow might touch they as he passed by and that evidently was close enough. The story takes another twist as the apostles are arrested for preaching about their faith in Jesus. For the first time they are imprisoned. Once again, the story changes as an angel appears and leads them out of the prison and encourages them to keep on preaching which they do the next morning.

  Meanwhile back at the council they prepare to interview the witnesses again only to find out they are not in prison but back out preaching in the temple. So, the guards go to recapture them and bring them back. Peter responds to the council in verse 29 “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” The apostles are then sent out of the room so the council can decide what to do with them. We hear wisdom from Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the law, to let them go and go one speaking about Jesus. His assumption basically is: if this is like other bands of followers who tried to do that after their leaders were dead which all petered out… Maybe Peter, likewise, will peter out. But if this is from God, they will not be able to stop it and may even be found in opposition to God. The council agrees with his wisdom and calls the disciples back in and tells them not to speak about Jesus. And then they have the disciples beaten or flogged and the disciples rejoice that they were considered worthy to suffer for the faith. And emboldened by their experience they go on proclaiming the name of Jesus.

   Like the apostles we may have ups and downs in our faith journey. I trust that the best is yet to come when we do get to the end of our earthly journey, but there may be some suffering before we get there. You may have not been beaten or imprisoned for your faith, but until this chapter neither had the apostles. Whatever comes, keep the faith. And then go share the faith!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 6. Church problems are nothing new. Here we read of one in the early church and we hear the process of resolution of the problem as well. At first Jesus and the disciples were all Jews, but as time went by non-Jews became interested and believers especially after Pentecost when the disciples started speaking their languages and sharing the Good News. Some authors in the New Testament would write about the Jews and the Greeks (or the Gentiles) here Luke writes about the Hellenists and the Hebrews. And the Hellenists are upset that their widows are not receiving the daily food distributions. It seems that the monies collected in the last chapters from people selling their fields were now being used to collectively buy food to be shared with the believers, but some are being left out.

   The apostles (here called the twelve) gathered all the people to resolve the issue. They point out that this is not their job. They were called to share the word of God and pray. So, they asked the assembly to choose seven other men to be appointed to this task. This text is used to show that alongside pastors there are those set aside for specialized ministries. In some denominations these are called deacons based on the Hellenistic work used here. Two things to note are the numbers 12 and 7. Twelve we have seen connects the disciples to the number of tribes of Israel but what about the seven. Could that be representative of the Hellenists somehow? In Revelation we see seven lamps and John writes seven letters to the churches in what we would call western Turkey. In the feeding of the 5000 twelve baskets of food are gathered, and in the feeding of the 4000 on the other side of the Sea of Galilee (the Gentile side) seven baskets are gathered. (Food for thought.)

   The seven are selected and the first two names should stand out. We will read more about Stephen and Philip a little later and in the next chapter. BTW, whereas the others are never heard of again and presumably they just did the job of distributing food, Stephen and Philip seem to take on new roles very similar to the twelve.

   The second half of this chapter tells of Stephen become a preacher and debater as he shared his faith and argued with the Hellenistic side of the Jews. And like Jesus and the disciples before him, Stephen is brought up before the council on charges that he was preaching what they considered to be blasphemies. And this part of the story closes with a physical description. They saw his face was like the face of an angel. Perhaps this is a way of saying what the community had seen when they set aside Stephen to become a deacon in the first place. Back in verse 5 it said that he was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Oh, that we might be so full that it is reflected on each face! Let your faith shine.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 7. Most of this chapter is the speech Stephen gives to the high council about his faith. It begins with a brief yet lengthy synopsis of the Jewish faith from Abraham down through Moses and David to Solomon who built the temple. If you remember from yesterday’s reading of the previous chapter Stephen had been brought up on charges of blaspheming against Moses and saying that Jesus would destroy the temple. For fifty verses he reminds them of their common faith story down through the patriarchs in the end pointing out how they had persecuted the prophets and killed those who told of the coming of Jesus, whom he calls the Righteous One. As you read this retelling of the ancient Israelite story, are there other pieces of that story that you would add that are important to your faith? I am thinking up to the last line the crowd might have agreed and affirmed his story as being close to what they all believed. But when he talks about Jesus as the Righteous one or Messiah – those become “fighting words.”

   Then Stephen has a heavenly vision seeing Jesus “the Son of Man” standing at the right hand of God. This becomes too much for the crowd who drag him out of the city and stone him to death. Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr. And in what we hear as he is dying, we hear similarities to the words of Christ on the cross. Each offered up his spirit and asked that those who killed them would be forgiven or that their sin in killing them would not be held against them. The question in the back of my mind in the stoning of Stephen is why was Jesus crucified? If you remember the story the council brought Jesus before Pontius Pilate because they could not execute him themselves, but this story clearly points out that they could have. That’s one of those questions we may not get fully answered this side of the grave, but I look forward to finding out many things when I get to heaven. (I have a long list of questions, but we’ll have all eternity to find the answers!)

   This chapter ends with an interesting introduction of the man who will become the main character for most of the rest of the book – Saul, who will later be renamed Paul. Saul did not actively participate in the stoning of Stephen, but he guarded the cloaks of those who took them off, presumably to get a better wind up for hurling stones at Stephen. I pause and wonder how this story, this martyrdom affected Paul in the end. Reflect on your own journey of faith. Take time in prayer and confession for the times we may have not actually caused the harm, but we also did nothing to try to stop it and just stood by. Stephen stood up and spoke up. Paul just stood there. But let us read on, for Paul will have his own time to stand up. And if you haven’t yet, your time might be coming soon!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 8. Right after the stoning of Stephen we see Saul taking action and persecuting the Christians and dragging them off to prison. This sets up the reader to learn of his conversion in the next chapter. The story then switches back to the other member of the seven who were set aside to serve – Philip. With the persecutions taking place the believers seemed to have scattered from Jerusalem an Philip went to Samaria and there preached about Jesus as the Messiah and performed miracles of healing.

   A man from Samaria named Simon who seemed to have a following of his own for all of the things he had said and “magic” he had done. He too was impressed by Philip and became a believer in Jesus and was baptized. As the number of believers increased word got back to the apostles in Jerusalem and they sent Peter and John to pray for the people that they might receive the Holy Spirit. It seems that Philip was only baptizing the people in the name of Jesus not the Trinity. When the apostles laid hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit, Simon was so amazed that he wanted to buy this ability from them, like it was another magic trick that could be learned and performed. Then Peter rebukes him and explains that this is a gift of God that cannot be purchased and that Simon should repent. Simon then asks that they pray for him, and the odd thing is that we never hear if they did or if Simon did receive the gift from God. That story just ends with a summation that Peter and John return to Jerusalem proclaiming the good news to the Samaritan villages along the way.

   But Philip’s mission is far from done. An angel sends him south to the wilderness road and there he meets an Ethiopian official of the queen. With this encounter, the good news is spread to Africa! This unnamed black man was reading from a scroll of Isaiah and Philip asked if he understood what he was reading. He does not and asks Philip to join him and explain the prophecy about the suffering servant. Philip uses the text to tell him the good news of Jesus. Then as they rode along, they came to some water, and he asked to be baptized so Philip baptized him (hopefully this time including in the name of the Trinity.) And as soon as that was done the Sprit snatched Philip away to the area around Caesarea where he continued to spread the good news. Watch today how the Holy Spirit might guide you into encounters with people that might lead to holy conversations and new believers. Be a Philip.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 9. This chapter begins with the very familiar story of Saul’s conversion. In that story I am always struck by the conversation between the Lord and Ananias. He is worried and afraid but trusts the Lord and goes and does what is asked of him despite his resistance.

   Immediately after Saul regains his sight he begins to share with others his new found faith in Jesus. And people are amazed and remember he had been a detractor and now was a supporter. Have you ever seen something like that after a conversion experience? It gets to the point where some want to kill Saul, but his new friends help him escape from Damascus by lowering him from the city wall in a basket.

   From there he goes to Jerusalem, but the disciples are afraid to meet with him because of who he used to be as a persecutor, and they could not believe he was now a believer. But Barnabas (the encourager we met back in chapter 4) now goes and encourages them to welcome him. Then he starts speaking in Jerusalem and arguing with the Hellenists. I find this strange as later in his ministry he is a proponent of the Helenists against those who believe the Non-Jewish Christians needed to be circumcised. He may have been arguing with these earlier Helenists who had already been circumcised and were adamant that all others needed to as well. (This is another reason why when I get to heaven I will go over and knock on Paul’s cloud to ask a few questions.)  The Hellenists also attempted to kill him, so his friends once again get him out of the city by sending him by ship from Caesarea back to Tarsus.

   The story shifts back to Peter for the next few chapters before returning to Saul (as Paul) to finish out the book. Peter continues to spread the good news and here we also have a couple healing stories. Aeneas is healed from his paralysis and then Peter brings Tabitha (Dorcas) back to life after she had died. The piece in this story that always touches me is the testimony of the other women showing Peter the items of clothing she had made. For me it is a way for them to grieve their friend’s death. Often at funerals there are items on display along with pictures. Today let me invite you to look around at the things other people have lovingly made and given you. Think of what you might lovingly give to others today. Share the love!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY Tues. April 21 – Read Acts 10. The story of Peter and Cornelius is one of my favorites. It reveals how coincidences might be God-incidences. Both men have visions or dreams that connect them. Cornelius is to send for Peter and Peter is to go with the men who have come for him. But, in-between those two instructions Peter has an interesting vision of a sheet filled with what were known as clean or unclean animals. He is instructed to kill and eat, but Peter objects because he has kept the kosher dietary laws all his life. Three times this vision happens so Peter knows it is not just a one-off vision but an important one. As the story goes on, we see he does not take it literally and start eating bacon and pork chops from the formerly forbidden pigs, instead he goes and speaks with Cornelius who some would have considered unclean as a Gentile.

   When Peter gets to Cornelius’ house he explains the dream and how he now sees that all people are clean and worthy to hear the Good News and receive baptism and the Holy Spirit. He tells them about Jesus. He may have said more that the notes that Luke shares in this chapter, but they receive the word from Peter. Note that the Spirit does not come after their baptism but while Peter is speaking. The believers who went with Peter were amazed that “those people” received the Holy Spirit without being circumcised. This becomes a pivotal story of the early church which will lead in a couple more chapters to Paul going and preaching specifically to the Gentiles. Watch for God-incidences today. What old ways might God be calling us to let go in order to move forward faithfully to do what God wants us to do?

 

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 11. When Peter got back to Jerusalem, the other disciples, here called circumcised believers, wanted to know why he did what they had heard he did. The question they asked was not about baptizing the gentiles but eating with them. The Jews did not sit down at table and eat with non-Jews. So, Peter explains by telling the story that we just read in the last chapter all over again. And once it is explained to them it says they were silenced. I think that may be the key to why this story is told twice. It reiterates the importance not only of the story but its interpretation which is articulated here by Peter in verse 12 about making no distinction between the Jewish and gentile Christians and verse 17 about who are we to try to hinder what God is doing. So, let me ask, do we ever make distinctions between groups of believers today? Do we ever hinder what God is trying to do? Take time to think and pray about these things and if there are things we have been thinking or doing, that we might now be called to change.

   Then we read that after the stoning of Stephen the authorities in Jerusalem dispersed the believers, perhaps so there would be no more killings or riots. But as these went out, they did not go to the gentiles like Peter had done, they went and associated with and talked to the Jews who were already there. That is until some went to Antioch and there, they went and shared the good news with the gentiles or Hellenists. When the leaders in Jerusalem hear this, they send Barnabas, who we have heard a little bit about already in earlier chapters, to go there. He stays there for a while but then as the number of believers grows, he goes to Tarsus and brings Saul back to help him, and they stayed there for a whole year. And the story about Antioch is that is where the believers are first called “Christians.”

   The chapter ends telling of the first famine relief efforts by the early church to send support to Jerusalem. And this relief is sent along with Barnabas and Saul. What relief efforts or mission projects have you and your church been involved with over the years? It all began with this story but has been done again and again down through the centuries. Think about what you might do this year in response to the needs in the world?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 12. Here we read of the violent persecution of the church and of the disciple James being the second Christian martyr. (Later when we read about James it is not this one but sometimes mentioned as James the brother of Jesus who became a leader of the church in Jerusalem.) Peter is arrested for the third time and perhaps there are extra guards for fear of his followers trying to break him out or perhaps remembering the second story of his arrest and how he escaped with the help of an angelic jailbreaker back in chapter 5.

   The piece I like in this story is the note of the church praying fervently for Peter. Who are you praying for today? And how are you praying – haphazardly, occasionally, intermittently? What would it take for us to fervently take up that practice today? How might a prayer group or a whole congregation be fervently in prayer? Let’s fervently pray about that.

   Here the story of the jailbreak goes into great detail including the disappearance of the angel once Peter is safely outside and on his way to the believers gathered at the home the mother of John Mark (the writer of the gospel who will become a follower of Paul and Barnabas as we read on later in the chapter). Peter asks that they share the news of his release with the other James and the other believers.

   The chapter concludes with a focus on King Herod. This is not the one the wisemen met when Jesus was born. He died a few years after that. But when Mary and Joseph returned from Egypt with the young boy Jesus they did not settle down in Bethlehem because Herod’s son (also called Herod) ruled as king in Judea. It is now the death of this Herod that we read about here. There were Caesars who claimed themselves as gods and here as the people proclaim the same to flatter this king, and angel of the Lord strikes him down and he dies. But despite the persecutions the good news spreads and we read about Paul and Barnabas returning with John Mark. Despite all that is going on in the world and in your world. What one thing might you do to spread the good news? You might share this reflection on Acts 12.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 13. Though we have heard a couple of Paul’s stories earlier in this book, the first half is primarily about Peter and other apostles, from here on out the stories are about Paul and his companions on the journeys of spreading the good news. It begins with Saul and Barnabas being called by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by the faith community in Antioch. They first sailed to Cyprus, and it is noted that John was with them. This is not the apostle John, but John called Mark we have already read about (and will read a little more later). Here they encounter a man described as a magician or a false prophet who tried to lead the leader away from the faith being proclaimed by Saul and Barnabas. Notice here that Saul’s name is changed to Paul. Paul rebukes this magician and remarks that he would be blinded for a while (remind you of Paul’s own experience on the way to Damascus)? The leader believes but we never hear about the magician and if he, like Paul, was converted after his blindness.

   They sail on from there to Pamphylia, but it is noted that John left them and returned to Jerusalem. (This will come up again in a couple chapters.) Paul and Barnabas travel on to another community named Antioch and went to their synagogue on the Sabbath and were asked to speak, like we might ask an outside speaker to come and make a presentation today. Paul seems never to be at a loss for words and so he speaks, and reminds them of their heritage as a common basis for their faith from Abraham down through history up to the story of John the Baptist, and then shared his faith in Jesus who died and rose from the dead that their sins would be forgiven. After the service many people encouraged them and so the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear them speak again. But when some of the leaders saw the crowd, they seemed jealous and began speaking against what Paul had said. So, both Paul and Barnabas spoke out against them and remarked that since they rejected the word, they would now turn to preaching to the gentiles. When the gentiles who were there heard this, they rejoiced and praised God and many became believers. And the word of the Lord spread throughout the whole area. This caused the Jewish leaders to become upset and stirred up opposition to Paul and Barnabas who literally shook the dust off their feet in protest and left to go to Iconium.

   This chapter ends noting that the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. I don’t think this refers to Paul and Barnabas as much as to the new believers in Antioch of Pisidia. They had a renewed faith and hope in Jesus Christ that they did not have before. Like here in this story go back and review your faith journey and what you believe from the patriarchs on down to your life journey and the events that have strengthened your faith. May you be filled with the fresh breath of the Holy Spirit and follow its guiding like Paul and Barnabas. See where it might take you today and what good word you might say to someone who needs to hear it.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 14. As Paul and Barnabas move on to Iconium a similar story unfolds as they proclaim Jesus and a number of people become believers which stirs up the Jews to stir up the population to the point where the community is divided. When a plot was made to stone them, Paul and Barnabas fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe. In Lystra they met a man who was crippled, But Paul looked at him and saw he had the faith to be healed and called him to stand up. When the crowd saw the miracle of healing they thought the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes had come and they brought sacrifices for Paul and Barnabas who quickly declared they were mortals and not gods. They shared the good news about the living God.

   Quickly things seemed to turn around as the Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and the crowd believed them and then went and stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city, though the next day Paul and Barnabas went on to Derbe. After a successful ministry there making many converts, they journeyed back through Lystra and Iconium on to the local city of Antioch. Then they encouraged the believers and established elders in each church as they passed through the various communities down to the coast where they sailed back to Antioch where they had begun this first missionary journey. There they gathered people together and shared with them their experience of the work God had done with them in the various communities opening the faith to the gentiles. Take some time to reflect on your story. How has God used you throughout your missionary journey. Did you know you are on God’s mission? What have you done this past week? What mission will God have for you today and the week ahead? Like Paul and Barnabas go where God leads you and do what you can to spread the good news.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 15. Here we read of the first church controversy about whether or not the non-Jewish believers need to become Jewish and be circumcised. Some proposing that come to Antioch and Paul and Barnabas argue against it. So they and others are sent to Jerusalem to discuss it. In Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church, the apostles and the elders. Evidently there was a structure with various leaders in the church in Jerusalem beyond just the original apostles. And a group is identified as being from the Pharisees who shared their belief in the requirement of circumcision.

   Peter speaks up and reiterates his believe that from the vision and his trip to meet Cornelius that God had declared all people clean and that there was no distinction between Jews and non-Jews and that salvation comes through Jesus (and not the old covenant of the law). Then Barnabas and Paul speak of their experiences and the gentiles becoming believers. Finally, James speaks words from Jeremiah and Amos to interpret what was happening in these conversions and makes the bold statement that he has reached a decision! In essence the gentiles do not need to be circumcised and obey the laws of Moses, but he does lay down four laws for them to obey: to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, whatever has been strangled, and blood.

   With the apostles and elders and consent of the whole church (presumably just the church in Jerusalem) they chose Judas and Silas from among them to accompany Paul and Barnabas with an official letter stating that. Paul then wanted to go back to visit the churches where they had been, but when Barnabas wanted to bring John, known as Mark, along Paul objected because he had deserted them on the first journey. It got heated to the point that they went separated with Barnabas and Mark heading off to Cyprus and Paul taking Silas through Syria and Cilicia. Down through the centuries there have been other disagreements and separations. The one over circumcision would lead to the church separating from Judaism. Sometimes like Paul and Barnabas a disagreement can separate a congregation. What separations have you experienced? James listed four rules for the Christians to live by. What are the various rules we live by today and have you noticed different parts of the Christian faith live by different rules? Can you live with those differences, or do they tend to drive the church further apart? What are you doing about it?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 16. There is a lot in this chapter some obvious and some not. As Paul and Silas head out on their journey together they meet Timothy who will become a student of Paul’s. Later he writes two letters to him and mentions the faith of his grandmother and mother. Here only the Jewish faith of his mother is mentioned. The first odd thing I find here is that Paul had Timothy circumcised. After all the debates about circumcision not being necessary for believers in general, it seems somehow important in this case. And it doesn’t seem to be Timothy’s decision as much as it was Paul who had him circumcised. Odd indeed.

   And odder still is something that happens in the next chapter that you might have missed when you read it. Read again verses 7-10. Did you notice anything change? The story goes from them to us. Though it is never noted, like the telling of Silas and Timothy joining Paul on the journey, here it seems that Luke (the author of the story) joins the journey.

   Here Paul has a pivotal vision of a man from Macedonia, in what we call Greece in Europe, and this man was calling on Paul to come there. This reminds me of Peter’s vision on the roof and instructions about going to see Cornelius. That one was specific, and we read about what happened when Paul went there. But here there will be no story when Paul gets to Macedonia about meeting that specific man he envisioned. There is a note you might almost miss that Paul and Silas wanted to go to Asia (a small section of modern Turkey not the continent we know today) but the point is that the Spirit (of Jesus) prevented them.

   They cross the sea and end up in Philippi. Paul would later write a letter to the Philippians as well. We read how they met Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. I have read commentaries that lift her as a wealthy businesswoman and also a poor worker in manufacturing of textiles. But the main point is she becomes a believer and is baptized along with her whole household. It will happen to another in this chapter and for me these are stories affirming baptism for children rather than just older children or adults who can make the decisions for themselves based on their faith.

   Lydia presses her invitation for them to stay at her house, which they do. And as they go about the city proclaiming the good news, they get free publicity from a woman who had a spirit of divination who proclaimed that they were servants of God and proclaim the way of salvation. For whatever reason, Paul gets tired of it and finally rebukes the spirit to come out of her and be quiet and it does. But her owners who made money off of her abilities saw the potential loss of income due to what Paul had done, and so they drag Paul and Silas before the magistrates who had them beaten, flogged, and thrown in jail.

   Again, similar to Peter in jail we have read about, in the night something happens. About midnight while they were praying and singing hymns in prison an earthquake shakes everything including shaking off the shackles and shaking open the doors. The jailer woke with a start and seeing the open doors is about to kill himself for letting the prisoners escape when Paul calls out for him to stop because they are all still there. He asks about being saved and then he and his entire household are also baptized.

   In the morning the magistrates send word to have the prisoners quietly released but Paul objects and demands that as Roman citizens unjustly beaten and jailed that the magistrates come and publicly release them. So, they came and apologized and asked them to leave the city, which they do but only after going once more to Lydia’s house and encouraging the believers there.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 17. Paul and Silas journey on to Thessalonica (a community to whom he later wrote two letters.) Here Paul continues to proclaim the good news of Jesus and the resurrection. Some believed and some were opposed and stirred up an uproar. In the end the believers sent Paul and Barnabas on to Berea where the Jews were more receptive to Paul’s preaching. They searched the scriptures to see if what Paul preached was so and many became believers. But when the Thessalonians heard about this, they came to Berea to stir up trouble there. So, Paul was escorted to Athens while Silas and Timothy stayed.

   While Paul waited for them to join him in Athens, he was distraught to see so many temples and idols throughout the city. He went to the synagogue and argued with the people gathered there. He also debated with the Greek philosophers who thought he was talking about foreign deities as he talked of Jesus and the resurrection (Anastasis in Greek). They wanted to hear more about it, and Luke notes that this was precisely what the philosophers loved to do was to spend their days just talking about something new.

   Paul spoke about seeing so many objects of worship and even saw an altar “to an unknown god” which gave him the opportunity to explain to them about the God who created everything and how all people came from one ancestor and so we are all God’s offspring. For all of his efforts many scoffed or just wanted to hear him speak but not to believe it. In the end only a few became believers and two of them are named.

   Two things stick out for me in this story, the antagonism against Paul and his preaching and the response of in essence shaking the dust off his sandals and moving on looking for a receptive community, and walking around Athens and noticing things like a particular altar. We are not called to endlessly debate or argue, but to invite and encourage those who accept the invitation to follow Jesus. Where are you putting your efforts? There is value in walking around and really seeing a community and what they worship or place high priority on and then using that to speak the truth to the misplaced desires. Take such a walk around today and see what you see.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 18. Having not been well received in Athens, Paul moves on to Corinth. Paul would later write two of his longest letters to the Corinthians. He meets fellow tent makers Aquila and his wife Pricilla and stays with them. Every Sabbath he meets with the Jews and Greeks at the synagogue testifying about Jesus. Silas and Timothy finally arrive and then Paul has had it with trying to convince the Jews and shakes the dust from his clothes in protest (not his sandals like Jesus had taught the disciples to do). He continues to speak and has a vision from God one night encouraging him to speak and not be silent for God was with him. So, Paul does and stays in Corinth for a year and a half. Then there is an uprising against Paul, and he is brought before the local authority who dismisses the case when he learns it is about the Jewish law and not the Roman law.

   Then Paul said farewell to the believers and he, Pricilla and Aquila head off for Antioch. (Notice the word “they” is used again as if Luke did not go with them on this portion of the journey.) They stop by Ephesus and as they are leaving Paul says that he will return “God willing.” From there they head back to Jerusalem for a second time. This time he briefly greets the church there and heads back to Antioch, where he does not stay long and keeps moving on to strengthen the disciples.

   Meanwhile, back in Ephesus, another believer Apollos speaks up and begins to argue for people to believe in Jesus. But he only knew of the baptism of John and so Pricilla and Aquila took him aside and explained more accurately the Way of God they had learned from Paul. Apollos begins his own missionary journey to Corinth. (Paul would mention him and his ministry there in 1^st Corinthians 1:12).

   How might you share your faith boldly? You might share a post on Facebook or forward this one. You might go on your own faith journey or hare the words “God willing” to let people you believe in the sovereignty of God. As you are able put in a good word about Jesus!

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 19. Paul travels to Ephesus. (Later he will write to them the Letter to the Ephesians.) Several things happen there. He meets some disciples and learns they were baptized with John’s baptism. John the Baptist’s disciples had evidently still been calling people to repent and be baptized to get ready for the Messiah. When Paul explained that Jesus was the Messiah, notice they were then baptized n Jesus’ name. It seems that Paul did not know of the Great Commission and Jesus sending the disciples out to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit like we do today. Note also that when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them. And like the original disciples on the Day of Pentecost, they began to speak in tongues and prophesy – literally, speaking the word of God not predicting the future.

   Then Paul spoke in the synagogue for three months proclaiming his faith in what is called here – the Way. Because some refused to believe Paul moved on to a lecture hall and continued to speak there for two more years. With the people coming and going, in this time the claim is made that he was able to speak to all of the people of that region which was called Asia. Jews and Greeks heard the word of the Way. Not only that but miracles happened and people were healed through Paul even indirectly. Pieces of cloth that touched Paul had healing properties when brought to the sick or people with evil spirits. Paul became so popular that others began to drive out demons in the name of Jesus who Paul proclaims. And a story is remembered of seven sons of a high priest tried that and the evil spirit acknowledged Jesus and Paul but not them and overcame them so that the fled naked and afraid. As the story spread the name of Jesus was praised.

   An important thing to note is that besides new believers speaking in tongues they also publicly confessed their past sins and former practices. It is noted that several believed in magic and publicly burned their collections of magic books. Someone evidently calculated the price of the books and noted it was a huge sum. Today, I pray, that the Holy spirit comes on us, to convict us to be followers of Jesus and to follow the Way. To do that let us repent of our old ways and let go of old practices. We may not have books to burn, but do we have bridges? What are those sins and bad habits that try to pull you back? Today join me in prayer, that we confess, and change our ways. In the name of Jesus, you are forgiven, and are called to live into the Way of new life.

   The story in Ephesus ends with a riot when some silversmiths believe that what Paul is preaching about God and Jesus will hurt their idol making industry. Evidently, they made statuettes of Artemis for the pilgrims who came to worship. When the town clerk quiets the crowd, he reminds them that they are the temple keepers of Artemis, the goddess of nature, hunting, and childbearing. It is noted that everyone comes to Ephesus to come to the temple of Artemis (It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world FYI). He quiets the crowd and sends them home noting that if there is a dispute the courts are set up for that, and if they do not disperse the Romans may crack down on them for rioting since there was no real cause for such a commotion.

   Be aware that if you change your life, there will be opposition and possible conflict. Former friends and colleagues may not like the new you. Yes, some might want to come and join you on the Way, others may drop you. Find new friends and a church home to welcome you and encourage you to become who God created you to be, as they help you on the Way.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 20. After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul gathered the disciples and said farewell. At this point it looks like things have changed for Paul and he starts out on what seems like a farewell tour as he travels towards Jerusalem. There is a listing of some of his travel companions and places they stopped along the way. Luke gives us a notice that this was Springtime as they left Phillipi after the days of unleavened bread or the Passover.

   There is an interesting story of Paul preaching all night on his short pass-through visit at Troas. Around midnight while he is speaking a young man falls asleep in a windowsill. (That is always one of my fears is that people would fall asleep during one of my sermons.) Not only does this man sleep but he falls out the window and falls three floors to the ground and dies. But Paul goes down and revives him and then comes back up to eat a little midnight snack and continues preaching until daybreak then Paul and his entourage sail on.

   As they come to Ephesus, given the past uproar, they sail on past because Paul was eager to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost. But he sends a message to the elders of the church in Ephesus to come and see him. He reiterates a bit of their experience and his ministry while he was there. He shares with them the premonition he has received from the Holy Spirit that he will be imprisoned and persecuted when he gets to Jerusalem. But Paul sees this as the way God wants him to go, and he is determined to finish his course faithfully. This reminds me of Jesus’ own determination to go to Jerusalem even he though he knew what awaited him there.

   For a second, and last, time in this chapter he bids well to the followers in Ephesus. He leaves them with a final warning of the difficult days they will be experiencing ahead. He encourages them to be alert and offers again the message of faith that will build them up. Paul reminds him of his example of supporting the weak and closes with an interesting quote from Jesus. I find it interesting because I find it here and not mentioned in any of the gospels! And though we know it and believe it, I find it sometimes gets in the way. Yes, it is more blessed to give than to receive, and so some people are eager to give. But have you noticed some of them are also less eager to ask for help when they are the ones needing it? I tell people at that point it is more blessed to receive than to give, because givers can’t be blessed to give unless the receiver gives them the opportunity to give in the first place.

   Today, do a little giving and receiving with grace. Allow it to truly be a blessing all around. And do a little reflecting on your faith journey. If you are close to the time of your farewell tour, to whom do you wish to say farewell or to set things right? Remember that all’s well that ends well. As with Paul we may not fully know our own end, so don’t put things off too long. When that time comes, may our journeys end well.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 21. The journey to Jerusalem continues by land and sea as they pass from port to port and city to city. Along the way people share warnings with Paul about the danger in his going to Jerusalem, but he continues on, with conviction that this is something he has to do. It reminds me of Jesus going to Jerusalem with Peter objecting and Thomas offering acquiescence in going along and dying with him! Have there been times when people tried to talk you out of doing something you felt you had to do? Welcome to the club!

   In the story of the prophet named Agabus there is a visual prophecy when he takes Paul’s belt and dramatically ties his own hands and feet with it proclaiming that the one who own the belt with thus be tied up and handed over to the gentiles. And then Luke adds his voice by not just claiming that others tried to talk Paul out of going to Jerusalem, but Paul’s companions and the people all urged him not to go. Paul acknowledged that their pleading was breaking his heart, but he was convinced that he had to go. Finally, they stop trying to change his mind by concluding and saying, “The Lord’s will be done.” May it likewise be done in our lives today!

   When they do arrive in Jerusalem, they are warmly greeted by the believers and then go to see James and the elders. James is not the brother of John who had been killed earlier in Acts, but James sometimes called the brother of Jesus. Notice that Peter is not mentioned like he was the last time in Acts 15. Perhaps he had already gone on to Rome. Also notice that there is no mention of the offering that Paul had been collecting for the poor in Jerusalem being given to the leaders. They did give a report of their ministry and the great response of all the gentiles who had become believers. But they also cautioned him about the thousands of Jews who had become believers yet still zealous about keeping the law. They suggested that Paul go through the ritual purification along with four others who were under a vow to do so. They felt this would convince everyone that he was not against the law but living under it himself.

   But when they enter the temple there is an uproar as some of the other Jews who had come from Asia had seen him in the city with a gentile and thought he had brought him into the temple. This was against the law and customs of the Jews. They began to cause an uproar as they stirred up the people against Paul. They dragged him out of the temple and began beating Paul. The Roman authorities come to put down a potential riot, and they arrest Paul and take him away. Paul speaks to the tribune in Greek stating that he is a Jew from Tarsus and that he wished to address the crowd. With the tribune’s permission Paul then addresses the Jewish crowd in Hebrew. (But you must wait until the next chapter to hear what he said!) Ponder this question that I remember from a sermon I heard decades ago, “If it was against the law to be a Christian, could the authorities find enough evidence to convict you?” Act like a believer today and act like you believe it.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 22. Here Paul tells the crowd in Jerusalem of his experience on the road to Damascus. This is the central focus of this book. It is actually told four times in Acts! Back in chapter 9 we read the story, here is the first retelling of it. Paul will retell it twice more when he is brought before those who would judge him and he pleads his case.

   The crowd seems receptive to his back story as he tells of who he was before he met Jesus. He was a Pharisee opposed to the followers of Jesus and admits that he was there guarding the cloaks as others stoned Stephen and that he was on the road to Damascus with an official letter authorizing him to arrest followers of Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial. But then when he told them of what had happened and what he had been told by Ananias and by God, the crowd again erupted in anger.

   I like what Ananias said to him here, that he is to be a witness of all he has seen and heard. And here and later he retells the story and does that. How about you? What have you witnessed? What have you seen and heard, and to whom have you shared it? Where have you seen God this week. Tell someone about it.

   Paul tells of his first trip back to Jerusalem and having a vision of Jesus sending him out to the gentiles because the people in Jerusalem will not believe him. In essence, as he says this, the words become solidified as the crowd rejects him and his testimony. To get to the bottom of this, the tribune orders him to be brought into the Roman compound and be tortured to get the truth out of Paul. Then when he asks the legitimacy of flogging a Roman citizen before his trial and condemnation, they all react in fear that they may already have misjudged and mistreated a fellow Roman citizen. Perhaps this is a good reminder to speak up when we believe our civil rights are being denied. In a contentious world it is good to be prepared. The chapter ends with a new solution is found for getting to the truth. Tomorrow, in the next chapter, we will see what happens when the tribune tries to get to the truth by investigating both sides of the disagreement. As often is the case, it sounded like a good idea at the time. What conflicts might you try to resolve today and how might you best do that?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 23. As soon as Paul begins to address the council, the high priest Ananias ordered that those standing near Paul to strike him on his mouth. This provokes Paul to cry out for God to strike him for violating the law against such actions and even calls him a whitewashed wall. Then those near by question Paul for daring to insult God’s high priest, which causes Paul to apologize noting the law that forbids speaking evil against a leader of God’s people. What may this say to us about name-calling and speaking to those in authority in a world where horrible things are being said every day by those disagreeing with others? How might we disagree without being disagreeable?

   Then Paul notices the crowd is made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees and he takes advantage of their disagreement over the resurrection by speaking about being a Pharisee and about his hope in the resurrection. And so, the group is divided with the Pharisees agreeing with him while the Sadducees did not. Luke notes that the dissention became violent perhaps with more name-calling or face-slapping to the point where the tribune steps in and orders that Paul be removed before there is bodily harm done. He was taken into the compound – probably locked up in a cell – where the Lord appears to him and proclaims that he is to bear witness in Rome just as he has done in Jerusalem. It had been Paul’s plan to go spread the goon news in Rome but not as a Roman prisoner. I believe this experience is what will lead to Paul’s appealing to have his case tried in Rome later on.

   Next, we hear of a massive plot by forty Jews (probably Sadducees) to kill Paul, since they missed their chance the day before. But somehow Paul’s nephew heard about it and came and told Paul. Paul alerted the centurion about this and that the young man (or maybe even teenager) be taken to the tribune with this information. When the tribune hears this he quickly decides to get Paul out of Jerusalem and gathers a large contingent to escort him to Governor Felix in Caesarea. He quickly writes a letter to the governor, and sends them off under the cover of darkness.

   Paul’s story might have ended here if it wasn’t for one young man who heard something and said something. Be careful with the information you see and hear. Is there someone you might need to share it with? It may not be a matter of life or death, but it may help change someone’s life! Put in a good word and share the good news today.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 24. I don’t know that it was a trial but five days later when Ananias the high priest and others including a lawyer named Tertullus come before Governor Felix they seem to make their case against Paul as an agitator and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. That term shows up in Matthew 2:23 when Mary AND Joseph return from their flight to Egypt they do not settle in Bethlehem but Nazareth and the chapter noting that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.

   Paul then gets up and acts as his own lawyer in his own defense. I find flattery of the governor in both speeches perhaps to stay on his good side as he is judge, jury and could be executioner. Paul self-identifies as not being in a sect but living according to the Way. I like his comment in verse 16 of doing his best to have a clear conscience toward God and all people. Oh, if only we all strived for that. And thank God, when we do not there is a way to repent and seek forgiveness of God or others. Perhaps to stir up dissention among the Pharisees and Sadducees he brings up the issue of the resurrection of the dead. Felix had hear of the Way but I can’t tell if that is favorable or unfavorable. He decides to pause the trial until the tribune comes then the case will be decided. Paul is remanded into custody, but it is almost like a house arrest with more freedom than being in prison.

   A few days later Felix comes back with his wife who is Jewish (Felix probably is not). He, or maybe she, wants to hear more but as Paul teaches about justice, self-control, and the coming judgement Felix is frightened and ends the session. I think there are some in authority today that might not want to hear it either! There is also a note that perhaps he thought he would receive some money from Paul for his freedom. I think there is some of that going on today as well. Two years go by, and Paul is still imprisoned when Porcius Festus becomes the new governor. So much for the speedy trial Felix had mentioned a couple years earlier in the chapter.

   Have you ever been involved in a trial or on a jury? Have you ever been on trial by a jury of your peers who were judging you for something you did or said. Welcome to Paul’s world. This will go on beyond the two years mentioned here. It will go on for the rest of this book and until Paul is finally executed in Rome. What do you find helpful here for all of life’s trials and tribulations? I return to verse 16.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 25. Three days after Festus became governor he went up to Jerusalem. (Literally it was up as Caesarea was on the Mediterranean Sea and Jerusalem was up on Mt. Zion.) There the Jewish leaders gave him a report about Paul and requested his transfer to Jerusalem presumably to be put on trial there. But Luke indicates the real reason was, like before, another plot to kill him in transit was planned. Since Luke wrote about it, I expect Paul had gotten wind of it just like the last time. Instead of yielding to their request Felix invited them to come to Caesarea to conduct the trial there.

   When they gathered the Jewish leaders accused Paul of many serious crimes but could not prove any of them. Paul defended himself to say he had not offended three things: the Jewish law, the temple, nor the emperor, which must have been the charges brought against him. In  the end, Luke notes that Festus wanted to please the Jewish authorities by asking Paul if he would allow the trial to be moved to the court in Jerusalem. Again, because of the plot to kill him before and perhaps hearing that there was another one, Paul appealed as a Roman citizen to be tried in Rome by the emperor. Festus had no other option but to decree it so and begin plans for the change of venue.

   A few days later King Agrippa and his wife came to welcome the new governor, and while they were there Festus talked with the king about the case against Paul. It seems to have been a troubling case for the governor and perhaps he was seeking advice from the king. He boiled the disagreement down to the Jewish authorities claimed Jesus was dead and Paul asserted that he was alive. This may be the theological take away - some think Jesus is dead and gone while others of us believe he is alive and with us!

   Agrippa was intrigued and desired to see and hear for himself. So, the next day amidst the pomp and circumstance Paul was brought into the court as Festus articulated that the Jewish authorities wanted Paul put to death, but the governor found nothing deserving a death sentence. And since Paul had appealed to the “Imperial Majesty” Festus was compelled to send him, but he needed to write a letter to explain the charges and why he was being sent. His hope was that Agrippa would help him to write the letter after his own investigation.

   When you have a difficult situation, from whom do you usually seek help? There may be some higher authority like a supervisor or wise colleague who can help you. The bigger question might be, do you tend to ask for help when it might be most helpful or after the mess becomes messier? Here, Festus asks the king’s advice. As we will discover in the next chapter, Paul might have been set free if Festus had asked for the king’s help sooner rather than later.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 26. King Agrippa gave Paul permission to testify on his own behalf. He relates that he was raised as a Pharisee and believed in the resurrection of the dead. At first, he had strongly opposed all things about Jesus of Nazareth. He helped capture, imprison, and even voted in favor of the death penalty for what he termed “the saints.” I wonder if he was thinking about St. Stephen. Though he did not throw the stones he guarded the cloaks of those who did.

   Here once again we hear him retell the story of his conversion on the way to Damascus. We have already read the story and hear him tell it once. I believe Luke is repeating it here not so much for King Agrippa in the story but for the original reader Theophilus to whom Luke wrote this book and the prequel gospel of Luke. He was Theophilus to hear again and again Paul’s testimony. So, we read it again today.

   This retelling of the story has more words from Jesus than the ones before. It reveals more of Paul’s mission and the negative response that he encountered from the Jews and the Gentiles. His call was to open people’s eyes, perhaps including Agrippa and Theophilus and us! He goes on to sum up his missionary journey and spreading of the Good News and calling people to repent and change their ways and follow God. He testifies that the Messiah was to suffer and rise from the dead in accordance with the word of Moses and the prophets. At this point Festus speaks up and declares that what Paul is saying is insane. But Paul counters that what he is speaking is the truth, and he believes that King Agrippa has a good grip on what he is saying. Agrippa questions whether Paul is trying to convert him to Christianity. And Paul answers that he prays that not just the king but all who are listening to him preach might become a follower like him, except for being chained up for believing.

   Luke closes this chapter with words from Agrippa that declare Paul’s innocence of the death sentence and that he could have been set free except for the fact that Paul had appealed to the emperor. It seems like Paul is writing this whole book and the gospel to plead Paul’s case to Theophilus. Perhaps he will later be involved somehow in Paul’s appeal to Caesar. We never find that out. But with that idea in mind let’s read the rest of this story and then go back and read Luke’s gospel to see what further light it sheds on the subject.

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 27. Luke affirms that he is accompanying Paul on his journey to Italy to appear before the emperor. We get a brief travelogue of the various voyages and ports of call on this perilous journey. There is no sense of how long this journey took, but it seems to have been slower than expected and they get caught up in a winter storm called a northeaster. The only reference is in verse 9 to the Fast having past. This would have been Yom Kippur in September.

   There are a couple times during the voyage where a decision has to be made and it is interesting to see how those are made. Paul offers his advice as he sees it, the ship, cargo, and their lives will be lost. But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and ship owner and they sail on. But it also notes that the majority was in favor of this. When the storm hits the sailors seem to know what to do to secure the ship and try their best to reach a safe harbor.

   But in the end the storm seems to have been too much. Luke notes that they saw no sun or stars for two weeks during the storm and all hope was lost. This might remind us and other readers of Jesus asleep on the boat when the frightened disciples woke him up and he calmed the storm. That same fear was here, but this storm was not calmed. However, Paul speaks up again and calms their fears. He tells of an angel visiting him the night before to tell him he must go and be able to stand before Caesar, and that God granted them all safe passage though the ship and cargo would be lost. This was similar but different than the earlier prediction that indicated the passengers and crew would go down with the ship.

   As the ship got closer to shore, Paul seemed to be aware that the sailors were going to abandon ship and leave the rest of them to their own peril. When he told this to the centurion, he had the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboats, so they all stay aboard together. Then he told everyone to have something to eat to fortify them for what laid ahead and Luke described it like Jesus at the Last Supper as Paul took the bread, gave thanks to God, and broke it. And Luke gives us a count of those on board – 276.

   In the morning they saw a bay ahead and tried to run aground but got hung up on a reef with the waves battering the stern of the ship. Here the soldier’s come up with a plan to kill all the prisoners (probably more than just Paul). The centurion wanted to save Paul (what about the others?) and kept them from carrying out their plan. The centurion orders everyone to abandon ship by sending those who could swim to go first and then the rest to go carrying planks or parts of the ship as floating devices. And Luke concludes this first leg of the journey with his version of “a good time was had by all” by simply noting that they all were brought safely (verses perilously) to land.

   As you look back on your life journey have you had times of rough sailing through difficulties? What all helped you get through those times? How have you helped others who have been in similar situations? How might you prepare yourself for the next perilous situation?

 

A CHAPTER A DAY – Read Acts 28. Today we finish up the book of Acts with the rest of Paul’s journey to Rome. It starts with the story after the safe arrival on the island of Malta and a peculiar story of Paul being bitten by a poisonous snake while tending a fire to help the survivors get warm and dry. He shakes off the snake into the fire and the islanders watch to see Paul die, thinking that he must be guilty of murder or other grave sin if after escaping being drowned, he survives only to be bitten and die. But Paul does not die. Then they begin to view Paul as a god. Now, I would have expected Paul to explain that he was not a god like he and Barnabas did back in chapter 14 when they healed a man, but here he says nothing to correct them. I also wonder here about the symbolism of the snake and fire and punishment for a supposed major sin. Is it a reference to the devil and hell?

   Publius, the leading man of the island, invites them to come and Paul heals his father and then it seems he set up a clinic and healed all the people of the island. Once again there is no mention of Paul preaching. But in gratitude for the healings the people bring provisions for the voyage when they prepare to set sail three months later. Luke continues the travelogue with a few names and places they stopped as they sailed along their way. Finally, when Paul gets to Rome, he is allowed to live there under house arrest rather than being imprisoned.

   And then three days later he calls together the Jewish leaders and pleads his innocence. They seemed to be unaware of Paul or any controversy back in Jerusalem. But they would like to hear from him because they have heard about this “sect” and that is spoken against everywhere. A day is set and great numbers of people come to hear Paul preach from morning to evening and some seemed to believe what he was saying and others refused to believe. At this Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, who had people back in his day who did not believe what he was saying either. Then Paul affirms that though some of them won’t listen the gentiles will. Have you had experiences where some people believed something different than what you believed. After a while did it cause some disassociation and realignment with like-minded believers? Is it happening today?

   The book ends with Paul still being alive. Paul was martyred for his faith in Rome in 64 or 65CE. (I use CE for Common Era rather than AD for Anno Domini - the year of our Lord.) So, Luke evidently wrote to Theophilus while Paul was still awaiting trial rather than a biography after his death. In the conclusion we read proclaiming God and Jesus but not the Holy Spirit. Paul does speak and write in his letters about the Holy Spirit, but as of this time the full understanding of the Trinity does not seem to have been formed.