Acts 23 “Be of Good Cheer”

But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, ‘Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.’” (v.11)

Back in chapter 22 Paul was giving a sermon to a large crowd in Jerusalem. He tells of his Jewish upbringing and background (v.3). He explained how he persecuted Christians (v.4-5). Then he begins to explain the supernatural experience he had on his way to Damascus (vv.6-11), and his response to that experience (vv.12-15). 

However, when Paul told the crowd that Jesus had spoken to him while in prayerful trance to, “leave Jerusalem for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me" (v.18), and "Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles" (v.21). The crowd then raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” Then, they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air and began rioting (vv.22-23).

After this, Paul was placed in a Roman jail (for his own protection from the crowd), and was once again a prisoner in chains where we see a hint that he felt like hope was fading, probably remembering those who had warned him "not to go up to Jerusalem" (Acts 21:12). He had gone, but his decision now seemed less sure, because going had led to confinement and isolation, which left little opportunity for him to speak of His Lord.

It was at this low point in his life that the Lord appeared and told him, “Be of good cheer; you must also witness at Rome.” Loose translation, Paul would not "rot" in that place but instead, would eventually be sent to the capitol of the Roman Empire and witness to Cesar.

This reminds us that the LORD has a plan for ALL his children who are in the difficult circumstances in this life. No matter WHAT happens “be of good cheer.” the Lord LOVES you and will never leave you, nor forsake you! And, He has a plan for your life.

The Truth: “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalm 46:7)

Acts 22 “You Will Be His Witnesses”

“You will be His witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.” (v.15)

Here in chapter 22 we get the story of Paul’s conversion. While not all conversions are as dramatic as his (a great light from heaven shone around him, he heard a voice speaking to him, he had a conversation with Jesus, and he was given a directive from Jesus saying, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do' (vv.6-11), but all have the same effect, a changed life and a desire to tell others about it.

Every Christian has a story to tell. All of us have been rescued from a life of sin and disobedience, set free from the past to live a new life in Him. As such, we are not called to be a well-educated theologians but simply to be His witnesses - to tell others the story of our transformation and thus share the power of the gospel.

The Truth: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

Acts 21 “Thy Will Be Done”

And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” (vv.10-14)

In the spirit of Old Testament prophets, Agabus acted out his message to Paul – that certain danger awaited him at Jerusalem. The prophecy of Agabus was true, and genuinely from the Holy Spirit. But to this true word, a human application was added (they pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem v.21). That additional word was not of the Lord, otherwise Paul would have been disobedient to go to Jerusalem. 

Paul’s insistence on going to Jerusalem despite the dangers predicted by the Holy Spirit was not a result of rebellion, but an obedient response to the command of the Holy Spirit in his heart. He was bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21 and 20:22). The warnings from the Holy Spirit here were intended to prepare Paul for what he was in for, not to stop him. Paul’s companions – including Luke – came to the understanding that God’s will would be done. They came to trust that even if Paul was probably right, and even if he was wrong, God would use it.

This reminds me of how others can unwittingly discourage us from doing the very thing that the Lord has called us to do!  Others can be blinded by their fears over what they think may happen - even if the outcome is known, as in this case (v.11), and potentially pull us away from His will. Paul's answer to his friends concern was, “I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus" (v.13).

Paul’s stand here should be an encouragement for us in times when the LORD calls us to go in a direction that others don’t understand or agree with. In those times, we like Paul need the determination to move forward, even though others may not want us to. The vital test of God’s will for us is, agreement with Him, not others. 

Thy will be done.

The Truth: “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) 

Acts 20 “Work Is A Blessing”

“You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.” (v.34)

Paul WORKED for a living. He was a tentmaker (God gave him that trade), and he not only supported his own needs, but also contributed to the support of others. Just like Paul, many who serve the church today have day jobs, not everyone is “on staff”. Many who are not, have their ministries in the evenings, and on weekends. Either way, ministry is a blessing from God, and so are our jobs.

As a tentmaker, Paul led many to Christ and so can you. One does not have to be on staff to be used by God. Therefore, work as unto the LORD wherever God has you, ministering to your needs and to the needs of others.

The Truth

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-2)

Acts 19 "Ephesian Disciples Receive The Holy Spirit"

And he (Paul) said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (vv.3-5)

Paul was last in Ephesus on his way back from Corinth on his second missionary journey. Now he came from the east, arriving in Ephesus from the region of Phrygia. He came back to Ephesus as he had promised in Acts 18:21. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (v.2). Apparently there was something about these disciples that prompted this question from Paul. We don’t have any indication that it was his custom to ask people if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed.

These Ephesian disciples had only a basic understanding of the Messiah Jesus and His ministry, only what could be gained through the message of John the Baptist. Paul points out that John’s baptism was one of repentance (John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance), not necessarily faith unto salvation. John’s message pointed to Jesus, but did not take men there itself. One can imagine that these Ephesian disciples heard about the coming of the Messiah through John’s message, and they heard their need to be ready through repentance to receive the Messiah. Yet they actually do not seem to have heard that the Messiah had in fact come, and had not heard of their need to trust in His specific person and work.

"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (v.5) Having been completely prepared by their response to the preaching of John the Baptist, they were ready to embrace Jesus fully, and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Then after they were baptized, Paul… laid hands on them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and received His gifts. 

An often-debated question is, “Were these 12 Ephesian disciples actually Christians before this remarkable filling of the Holy Spirit, or not?” On the one hand, they were called disciples – and appeared to be part of the company of Christians in Ephesus, things that would not usually be said of them if they were not actually Christians. On the other hand, they knew so little about Jesus; and they were baptized in water again, this time in the name of Jesus. It is difficult to say with certainty if they were already Christians or not, but one can say with certainty that Paul perceived they lacked something of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

These Ephesian disciples sensed their need to get right with God, and knew the answer was in God’s Messiah – but they had gone no further than that. They need to go all the way, to trust in everything Jesus is and everything He had done, and to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

If someone doesn’t seem to know if they have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their life, it’s fair to assume that they don’t have it. If you have it, you should know it. Concerning the Holy Spirit Spurgeon writes, “Give a man an electric shock, and I warrant you he will know it; but if he has the Holy Ghost, he will know it much more.”

The Truth: And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) 

Acts 18 “Search And Verify”

“They received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (v.11)

Today's text tells us that the Bereans were students of the WORD who studied scriptures to verify the truth. "They received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." In other words, the Bereans didn't simply believe what someone else was telling them. They also verified it on their own-on a daily basis.

That's important for us to consider as well. Whether we receive our Bible teaching through church, Sunday school, radio, or TV-we need to test what we hear against God's inspired Word (2 Tim.3:16-17). We are to "be diligent to present [ourselves] approved to God, rightly dividing the Word of truth" (2:15). If we do this, we won't become prey to those who teach "a different gospel," and those who "want to pervert the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:6-7), false teachers who come as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15).

This simple principle can be used in any situation in life. Remember, knowing what's true, is the first step in knowing what's false. Search and investigate the truth. Do not be fooled by sound bites or words that sound correct. Search and verify for truth, in both scripture and life. 

The Truth: "Examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Acts 17 “Seek Me”

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising." (vv.24-29)

In today’s passage, Paul is giving a speech in Athens, a city filled with idols (v.16). He got the attention of some local philosophers–Epicureans and Stoics, and stressed to them the distinction between being religious and knowing the true God. Paul recognized that these philosophers had to change their ideas about God. They had to move from their own personal opinions to an understanding of who God is according to what He tells us about Himself in the Bible. He detailed how the “Unknown God," which they built an altar too, was the one true God who created the heavens and the earth (vv. 23-24).

Paul told them we are all descended from Adam through Noah, and that there is one God who created us all and to whom we all are obligated. Since God created us all, we should seek the Lord… though He is not far from each one of us. Why? Because in Him we live and move and have our being…For we are also His offspring: These two quotations Paul used from Greek poets are attributed respectively to Epimenides the Cretan [600 B.C.] (who Paul quotes again in Titus 1:12) and Aratus [310 B.C.]. Paul did not quote these men because they were prophets or because all their teaching was of God. He quoted them because these specific words reflected a Biblical truth, and by using them he could build a bridge to his pagan audience.

This God, he continued, is not “served by human hands” (v.25). In other words, God does not need us in order to survive. He made us and made the world—what could He need? Yet, in this passage, Paul revealed what God desires. God made all of this “so that men would seek him” (v.27). God loves us but He does not manipulate our minds and hearts. He made us with the capacity of choice, and it is His desire that we would want to know Him, to find Him, and to have a relationship with Him of our own free will. 

Our heritage, from the beginning, is directly linked to the divine Creator. It is natural, then, that since we are God’s offspring, we will want to find our image in Him. Only in God, not in our own accomplishments, can we find the source of our true identity. For we are His children, His handiwork, His poem. “For in him we live and move and have our being” (v. 28). And, Since we are His offspring, we are responsible to have right ideas about God, and therefore must reject the wrong idea that gold or silver or stone could represent God (v.29). 

In building an alter to the unknown God, the Athenians were acknowledging their ignorance to God, and Paul here has been giving them evidence of their ignorance, and now he declares (in the next few verses) such ignorance to be culpable, and boldly confronted them with the reality of coming judgment and the resurrection (vv.30-31). 

As you can probably imagine the reaction was mixed, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” This is His desire that man would hear more of Him, and truly seek Him. For the cure for all mans troubles is found in His desire, "Seek Me."

The Truth: “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” (Psalm 14:2) 

Acts 16 “Salvation Is Simple”

Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v.30a)

The Philippian jailer asked one of the most significant questions in Scripture: “What must I do to be saved?” And Paul and Silas gave one of the most significant replies: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (vv. 30-31). 

It’s that simple!

The Truth: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10: 9-13)