New Testament in a Year

Acts 28:1-31
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Today we finish the book of Acts!  Romans begins tomorrow!  Interesting segment in today’s readings when Paul encounters the snake on the island of Malta.  Everyone first believes that justice is being done, and that Paul will die by the snake.  When he doesn’t die, they then decide he is a god.  Interesting…  They were first cursing him, then suddenly worshiping him.  I wonder if we do this in our lives too?  Do we sometimes curse things one minute and then worship them the next?  Do we sometimes even do this with God?  Let us pray for consistency in our lives and actions, in particular in the area of Who we worship.

We then read in today’s readings about Paul arriving in Rome and beginning to preach the Gospel just 3 days after he arrives!  Paul wastes no time.  He is so focused on preaching the Gospel that he makes it happen no matter what.  I think we would do well to pay attention to Paul’s zeal for the Gospel.  Why do you suppose Paul was so zealous for the Gospel?  Should we be zealous for the Gospel today like Paul was back then?  Are you zealous for the Gospel today like Paul was back then?

Okay, in Acts chapter 28 we have a very important verse for all of us to pay attention to.  Verse 28.  These are Paul’s last words recorded in Acts.  Commentaries suggest that this verse is actually the main point of the book of Acts.  So if you remember nothing else from the book of Acts, remember the book was about this:  “So I want you to realize that this salvation from God is also available to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”  Seems like such a simple verse…  But do you see the weight of it?  Do you believe that salvation from God is available to all?  Have you accepted this salvation?  Perhaps now is a good time for us to remember Paul’s acceptance of this salvation on the Road to Damascus earlier in our Acts readings, as painted by the artist Michelangelo below in the year 1544 –

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Paul in Rome” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of the song by Third Day titled “Call My Name:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEXXUdU–Zg

Have you called God’s Name? Click here to make the call!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 27:21-44
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I love seeing Paul’s leadership in action in today’s readings in Acts 27!  He shows big-time leadership through his encouragement in verse 22: “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.”  And then Paul also shows some leadership in a very simple thing, namely eating, in verses 33 & 34: “As the darkness gave way to the early morning light, Paul begged everyone to eat. “You haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good.”  The best demonstration though of Paul’s leadership I think was when he did what reminded me of his Savior’s Last Supper in verse 35…  “Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.”  Does this action of Paul’s remind you of anyone else you might know?

Julius, the centurion, shows some amazing respect for Paul in the last 3 verses of today’s readings! “The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land, and he told the others to try for it on planks and debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely ashore!” Below is the 19th century woodcut artist Gustave Dore’s take on this very last sentence:

And then it looks like the island of Malta, where Paul and the ship’s passengers were shipwrecked, decided to create a stamp that looks quite a bit like Gustave Dore’s artwork above… 🙂

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “A Biblical Look at Leadership” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of MercyMe’s song “All of Creation:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UADsz7ToO8w

Has Creation evangelized you? Click here to meet the Creator!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 27:1-20
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Today in Acts 27 verses 1 & 2 we read: “When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of an army officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. And Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a boat whose home port was Adramyttium; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province of Asia.”  A great map of Paul’s journey to Rome is below:

In verses 10 & 11 Paul’s wise advice about the storm is not heeded: “”Sirs,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on–shipwreck, loss of cargo, injuries, and danger to our lives.” But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul.” I wonder about this in our lives today – are we like the officer in charge of the prisoners and ignoring Paul’s advice?  Do we hear Paul’s advice to us in his Epistles, and yet are we ignoring it?  Are we instead paying attention to the ship’s captain, or the world, rather than Paul, when a storm is indeed bearing down upon us?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “A Biblical Look at Leadership” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Laura Story’s song “Blessings:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xRNrnh__SE

What if your blessings come through raindrops? Click here for the most amazing blessing you could ever imagine!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 26:1-32
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Today in Acts 26 verses 24 & 25 we read: “At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.””  Have you ever questioned your sanity when thinking about Christianity? 🙂 Don’t worry – I think it is okay if you have. I honestly think that Christianity is the most logical thing of all time – but, I do understand why many in the world may view Christianity as crazy. (or that maybe even we ourselves at times have thought “this is crazy”) The bottom line is this – I believe every human being has faith in something. We may have faith in Jesus. Or we may have faith in a “cosmic being.” Or we may have faith in crystals. Or we may have faith in atheism. (yes, I believe atheism is too a faith – in nothingness – but a faith nonetheless.) Or we may have faith in altruism or government or nature. We all have faith in something. Faith is our human nature. I believe the statistic is that 85%+ of the world’s population believes in something beyond themselves. We are spiritual beings. And if then we are spiritual beings, then I think it is perfectly logical for us to seek out who our Maker truly is. And to seek out whom our Savior truly is. And to seek out what will lead us to Eternal life. I’ve gone through this seeking phase big time in my early life. And I do believe it was the Holy Spirit that led me to Jesus ultimately. And now, once in relationship with Jesus, I believe that Christianity is the most logical faith there is. Do you believe what Paul says to Festus in these verses? Do you believe that Christianity is true and reasonable?  I believe even Spock would find Christianity logical! 🙂

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Paul’s Appeal to Aggripa” is at this link.  Below is an image of Paul´s Defense Before Agrippa by C.F. Vos:

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Tenth Avenue North’s song “Love is Here:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sBuajPzBTw

Do you believe Love is Here?  Click here for Love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 25:1-27
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We see continued incredible wisdom displayed by Paul in today’s readings!  His appeal to Caesar may look like on first glance he was trying to save his life.  Many commentators believe that Paul was actually doing this strategically to get to Rome so he could preach the Gospel in Rome!  Yes, he’d be arriving in Rome as a prisoner, but, if we know Paul at all, we know that being a prisoner will not stop him from preaching the Gospel!  I love this whole scenario.  Paul certainly seems a bit “down and out” on the ways things are going in his life.  He’s been imprisoned for two years, he is barely avoiding being killed or beaten, and yet he’s continuing to think of every way to preach the Gospel and advance the Kingdom of God!  I wonder about this in our lives today?  Are we like Paul in this regard?  Are we constantly thinking of ways to preach the Gospel and advance the kingdom?  My hunch is that most of us are living very nice lives – no real threat of being killed or imprisoned.  And I sometimes wonder if our comfort is maybe the real enemy?  Are we not focused on preaching the Gospel or advancing the Kingdom of God because we are simply too comfortable?  I do think one of the devil’s greatest tricks is to simply distract us.  Not to get us to do evil.  But to distract us.  Make us too comfortable perhaps?  I don’t know…  I’m just so impressed with how Paul was so focused on the Gospel and building the Kingdom, in the midst of all his challenges.  And I worry about why we are not so focused – and I think it might be our comfortable distractions…

Below is a great image of Festus’ conversation with King Agrippa about Paul’s case from verses 21 & 22: “^“But Paul appealed to the emperor. So I ordered him back to jail until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.” “I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said. And Festus replied, “You shall–tomorrow!”

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Paul’s Appeal” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the song “Mighty to Save” sung here by Michael W. Smith:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYZQ6KN13jU

Has our mighty God saved you? Click here for salvation!

Do you believe our God is mighty to save?  Click here for Might!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 24:1-27
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Today we read about Paul before the Roman Governor Felix.  I love this image below of Paul expertly laying out his case!

(image courtesty of https://www.lamp.ac.uk/hogarth/81to100.htm)

The close of today’s readings are interesting.  It seems to me that Felix has a double-edged reason for keeping Paul in prison for two years.  1.  Felix enjoys talking to Paul!  Why do you suppose this is?  Do you suppose Felix was hearing the Truth from Paul?  I’m sure that he was…   2. Verse 27 tells us: “And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison.”  So, Felix gets to hear the Truth from Paul and hopefully keep his job by appeasing the Jewish leaders.  Sounds reasonable, right?  However… it is interesting to see that he is balancing the Truth with the World.  How often in our lives do we try to balance the Truth with the World?  I am afraid this is a tough balance to keep…  Remember always that we are to be “in the world, but not of it.”  Don’t let the World outweigh the Truth in your life…

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Paul Stands Before Felix: The Preacher and the Politician” is at this link.

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of Peter Furler’s fantastic song “Reach:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqrsELRaabo

Do you know that God is reaching for you? Click here and allow Him to reach you!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 23:11-35
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Our readings in Acts today open up with a very encouraging word to Paul from Jesus in verse 11 – “That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome.””  That is awesome that this occurred in the midst of all of Paul’s trials and imprisonment.  Jesus was there with him.  How about in our lives today – think Jesus is always with us?   Is there any circumstance you can find yourself in that Jesus won’t be there?  Is there anywhere on this earth you can go where Jesus won’t be there?

An interesting note on verses 12 & 13 in today’s readings – “The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath to neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them.”  It is believed by some scholars that these 40 men may have been part of the Zealots – the group that later led the revolt against Rome in A.D. 66-70.

Paul is taken to Governor Felix at the end of today’s readings in Acts.  Felix is in the same position that Pontius Pilate was.  I find it kind of interesting that both Jesus and Paul were brought before the same-positioned Roman ruler.  It reminds me of Jesus’ words in John 15 verse 20 to his disciples – “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” If Jesus was brought before a Roman governor, it’s no surprise that Paul was too.  I think you and I should remember Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John as well.  I know oftentimes we don’t seem persecuted at all – maybe most of the time really.  But, I think we need to remember, it can happen.  If we are truly living our faith and truly following Jesus, persecution will come in some form or another.  No servant is greater than his master… Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? Are you willing to be persecuted for your faith?

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the terrific CeCe Winans song, “Believe For It:”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd24fpsF1Qw

Do you believe God? Click here to Believe in Him!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 22:17-23:10
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Today at the end of Acts 22 Paul threw out this incendiary statement that shocked the crowd:  “”But the Lord said to me, `Leave Jerusalem, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”  This reminds me that the Gospel today still shocks people.  The Gospel is still moving forward in our world to people that we sometimes may not think “deserve” it, like this crowd didn’t think the Gentiles deserved relationship with “their” God of Israel.  God is bigger than we think He is.  God is pursuing the whole world.  Let us pray he continues to shock crowds like he did in Acts 22…  It’s so interesting – looking at this image below of Paul’s presence and words creating chaos in a crowd and the Roman guards being there in the midst.  This is so reminiscent of Jesus’ final day in Jerusalem before he walked up the hill to Golgotha.  Think Paul was emulating his Savior?  How about you?  Are you emulating your Savior?  Or are you playing it safe?

We can see Paul’s wisdom at work in today’s Acts readings!  First he shares at the appropriate time that he is a Roman citizen – by birth – which means he cannot be punished until proven guilty.

Then, before the High Council he wisely throws out in Acts 23 verse 6 – “”Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were all my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”  This instantly divides the Pharisees and Sadducees at the council – and allows things to get heated enough that the soldiers take Paul out of the council for his safety.  Bible.org’s fantastic look at “Paul’s Trial before the Sanhedrin” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of the song “I’ve Always Loved You” by Third Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nYmMlrbCL8

Do you know One who has always loved you? Click here for Love!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 21:37-22:16
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We get some classic Paul in today’s Acts readings!  You’ll recall from yesterday’s readings, the crowd in Jerusalem got riled up against Paul and the crowd was beating on Paul.  Then, some Roman soldiers come to try to keep the peace and end up arresting Paul and putting him in chains. But what does Paul do?  Go quietly into that good night?  No way!  He speaks to the Roman commander in Greek – which surprises the commander.  (It is thought that Paul spoke 4 languages – Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew & Latin)  And then he speaks to the crowd in Aramaic.  The crowd that was just beating on him!  He turns around and speaks with Love and Truth.  So amazing…  What do you think you or I would do in this type of situation today?  Could we continue to speak Love and Truth to people that were just beating on us?  I am not so sure that I could… I pray that I could!  I pray that I would…  Below is an oil on canvas painting by the Spanish painter El Greco from the year 1614 of “St. Paul”:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Paul’s Defense to the Jews in Jerusalem” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Forrest Frank’s song “Your Way’s Better:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1LRsp8qBY0

Is God’s way better than your way? Click here for His way in your life!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 21:18-36
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New Testament – Wow… tough week for Paul in today’s readings.  Scary how the readings end today – with the mob chanting “Kill Him!  Kill Him!”  Does this remind you of anyone else?  Perhaps Paul’s Savior?

You might be asking why did Paul agree to take part in the Jewish purification ceremony in today’s readings?  I think you’ll find the answer to this question in Paul’s own words from his first letter to the Corinthians, verses 19 through 23 – “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”  How about you in your life today?  Do you make yourself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible?  Do you become all things to all people so that by all possible means you might save some?  Below is an image of the Apostle Paul, by Rembrandt, from 1657:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “The Giving and Taking of Advice” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Jordan St. Cyr’s song “Fires:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOrSj9w01xw

Have you been through fires? Click here for Holy Water!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!