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Focus On The Mission That God Planted In Your Heart
As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?” Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.” Acts 21: 37-39, NIV Paul went through persecution, and a commander of the Roman troops tried to stop the crowd from hurting him. At that time, people wanted to kill him because they believed that he was teaching something that…
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When Things Aren’t Easy
The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. Acts 21: 30-31, NIV Paul went to Jerusalem, and people wanted to kill him. But before he arrived there, the Holy Spirit already warned him about the suffering that he would experience. He knew what was waiting for him. But despite all these threats, Paul accepted the truth that things won’t be easy. He embraced his situation and…
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Paul Patiently Dealt With The Disciples According To God’s Ways
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. Acts 9:26, NIV When Saul went to Jerusalem years after encountering Jesus in Damascus, the disciples were hesitant to welcome him. Before Saul met Jesus, he persecuted Christians and threatened their lives. He put them in prison, and many of them suffered because of him. This must’ve been why the disciples in Jerusalem found it hard to accept him. I would have probably felt the same way if I had worn their shoes. Fear would possibly dominate my heart, especially when I recall the…
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Allow God To Use Your Circumstances For His Glory
And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 8:1 &4, NIV When the early church experienced persecution, they were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Jesus talked about these places in Acts 1:8 before He resurrected to heaven, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Because of the persecutions,…
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Acts 21: 35-36, NIV
When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!” Acts 21: 35-36, NIV This is what happened to Paul when He reached Jerusalem. The people persecuted Him and treated Him as if He was a sinner who did things against God’s will. He received harsh words. The crowd followed and kept shouting at him. Soldiers are carrying Him, and He has already experienced violence. Paul’s suffering is not easy. And the amazing thing about this is He knew all about these things. The Holy Spirit already informed Him…
