And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ” (Acts 23:5)

Paul apologized for speaking poorly of the high priest, even though Paul had been right, and the high priest had been wrong.  Paul won the argument but apologized for his lack of respect for the office.

If Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, was careful when speaking about rulers of Israel (the same rulers who crucified Jesus), we ought to be mindful of how we speak about our government leaders, too. (I’m looking at you, keyboard warriors.)

We need not condone wicked behavior, but we ought to speak circumspectly and with respect.  It’s a matter of Christian character.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 22:30-23:11

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!’” (Acts 22:22)

            When Paul started talking about how God loved the Gentiles, the Jewish mob stopped listening.  It wasn’t that Paul said something illogical.  It was that he said something that challenged their preconceived ideas and their prejudices.

            Christianity has a way of doing that.  It searches for honest hearts by presenting facts which often make us uncomfortable or tempt us to stop listening.  I don’t like having my worldview questioned or my feelings confronted.  Yet, this is exactly what the Word of God does – it pierces the division between soul and spirit and judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts (see Hebrews 4:12).

            The Scriptures are checking to see whether you will stop listening when you get uncomfortable.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 22:22-29

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” (Acts 22:21)

Paul thought he was the right man to preach to the Jews.  God knew better.

Paul thought he was the wrong man to preach to the Gentiles.  God knew better.

Paul was a vessel prepared, but every time he tried to guess what he was prepared for, he seemed to make a mistake.  Our job is to be useful to the Master and then let Him use us how He sees fit.

We need to make sure and be careful that we aren’t trying to decide where we should be used.  That’s not our call. God knows better.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 22:11-21

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women in prisons…” (Acts 22:4)

            Paul had a lot of regrets and sins on his record.  I imagine Paul remembered many of the faces of the men and women who he had led to prison and slaughter.  I can’t imagine having that sort of thing to haunt me.

            Yet, this is where grace comes in.  God was gracious to Paul, and through grace, Paul no longer needed to be haunted by his past decisions – instead, he was driven by the freedom he had been given from them.  The same Paul who killed Christians would someday rejoin them in heaven’s home.  Sin divides us.  Jesus’ grace unites us.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 22:1-10

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.” (Acts 21:31)

The mob that tried to kill Paul was a confused one.  Acts records that they were all shouting different things, and the Roman commander who stepped in to grab Paul had no idea who Paul even was… his first guess was that Paul was an Egyptian!  Way off.

The moral of the story? Mobs aren’t good sources of information.  If you are getting your data from the crowds, you are getting bad intel.  Gather the facts, ask questions, and don’t jump to conclusions about the Bible or about people.  Mobs and gossips are bad guides.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 21:31-40

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“…and when they heard it, they began glorifying God.” (Acts 21:20)

            When Paul retold the events of the last few years of his life, the people who heard it glorified God because the life Paul lived glorified God.  Sometimes, we overcomplicate the process of being a Christian.  It doesn’t have to be complicated; just ask yourself… if the story of my day was told to another, would the tale glorify God?  If not, why not?

            Keep it simple.  To God be the glory.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 21:20-30

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing…” (Acts 21:16)

The only thing we know about Mnason is he was a Christian of consistency.  Long-standing faith doesn’t sit down when the going gets rough.  Long-standing discipleship keeps reaching upward and finding new growth.  Long-standing faith doesn’t come up short – it finishes strong.

Be Mnason – be a long-stander.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 21:10-19

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.” (Acts 21:5)

            There is something beautiful about this scene in Acts.  Paul bound for Jerusalem, aware of the dangers ahead, is surrounded by loving Christians who fear they will never see his face again.  So what do they do?

            They kneel right there upon the sandy shoreline and pray to the God who will reunite us all someday.  At some point, all of our journeys diverge in the woods for a time, but in Christ, we all return to Him and eventually are reunited with each other as well.  Each ship faces different seas, but all the Lord’s ships end up in the same harbor.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 21:1-9

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner, you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

Every day, find a small way to give back.  Jesus has made our cups overflow – let that overflow reach others.

In your life, you will have many opportunities to be a taker, but you will also have many opportunities to give.  But, as Paul said, giving requires “working hard in this manner”.  It takes a special kind of person to understand and see the needs of others and work the extra amount required to meet them.

However, is there anything more satisfying in life than giving?  When we learn to give, we become aligned with our heavenly purpose as servants, and we will often find that the desire to give becomes almost addictive.  The reason it feels good is because we are doing what we were made for.

The devil is a lion who roars and consumes.  Jesus is a lamb who gives Himself as a sacrifice.  Giving is the way of the Lamb.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 20:28-38

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision

“I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable and teaching you publicly and from house to house.” (Acts 20:20)

“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” (Acts 20:27)

Paul didn’t hold back from preaching everything God revealed to him.  Why?  Because whatever is from God is profitable for you.  Notice the parallel between verse 20 and verse 27.  What is profitable is the whole purpose of God.  To declare God’s will is to declare what is profitable for the human soul.

The Scriptures are the manual for your soul. Within them are revealed the wisdom of the Creator to His creation.

Why was Paul so adamant to not hold back on preaching?  Why was he so passionate that he would preach publicly and from house to house?  For the same reason you would be passionate about sharing the cure for cancer if you found it.

Don’t withhold from others what has changed your own life.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Today’s Reading: Acts 20:17-27

Questions to ask:

1. How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
2. How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
3. What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
4. What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?

This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision