Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Day 79 of Reading the Bible in 90 Days


Welcome to day 79; this means we are very close to ending our 90 day challenge of not just reading the bible alone; but collecting a vast new understanding of what we have been reading. Let us begin today by asking the Lord to give us wisdom knowledge and understanding of what we read and the openness to receive it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Acts chapter 17


1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.


The term Christian Sabbath, referring to the first day of the week is something that was unheard of to Paul and the early Christians because as we see here Paul, everywhere he travel went into the synagogues on the Sabbath days to reason with the Jews, not about the Sabbath day and which day it was; rather about the Messiah being Jesus who was killed and that he rose from the dead.


Jesus revealed everything to the prophets and confirmed everything the church needed with the apostles. Anything that came after them would be questionable. Constantine is the emperor who really established Sunday worship, and the biggest proof that it was an unofficial move is the fact that Mr. Constantine was not an Israelite but a Roman. Revelations that come from the Lord that are spread to man go to the Jew first; we'll read that in a bit.


As many believed on the teachings of Paul, the local Jews who didn't believe on Jesus caused commotion, even for the Gentile Greeks who believed bearing false witness against them. This clearly let's us know that no matter what nation you are from; when you begin to do what the bible says you will be alienated to a certain degree. Every where in the coast of Thessalonica where Paul was teaching, the local Jews came over to dispute with them (v13).


Paul left and went to Athens


16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.


The city was filled with idol worship. That is worshiping of an object or symbol to represent God. Many people wear a cross to represent Jesus or to commemorate Him; could this be a form of idolatry?


The Athenians were what we call philosophers of the gods with no real doctrine. They were people of "many truths" so they were open to hear what Paul had to say concerning his new doctrine.


22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.


We have many superstitious people today who serve an unknown God ignorantly, however, Paul declares it to them and us today.


24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:


Paul tells them and us plainly that we do not and are not to worship God with things made of hands being that He created the heavens and the earth. In the pass God kind of winked at; but now Jesus has come and died and requires all of us to repent from our sins. Paul spoke on the resurrection from the dead and lost many people at that point. They mocked him because a ressurrection is so far out of human comprehension that it cannot be taken seriously by many, which will be to their own demise.

Acts 18


1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.


Here again he reasoned with the Jews and the Greeks, every Sabbath. If one is going to keep a day of worship, of reading the bible, of prayer to the God of Heaven, the 7th day of the week should be the first pick. Man can give God glory everyday of the week; but the 7th day is the one to put the emphasis on. We've seen the Sabbath mentioned every chapter every book from Genesis onward.


And Paul's teachings and reasonings were of proving and teaching that Jesus was/is the Christ. Paul did not have to convince anyone about the Sabbath day or any other topic, although I'm sure he taught that; but it was mainly for people to accept Jesus Christ as Lord.


6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. When Paul would come into a coast, he would speak and reason with the Jews first. If they rejected him, he would shake off the dust and move forward to the Gentiles. A preachers job is not to convert you! This is your own job. A preachers job is to give you the information, the knowledge, and you make due with it what you will.

The Lord sends teachers where He has people ready to listen (v9-11).


Paul Still Keeps the Feast of the Lord


20When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.


The big job in Paul's day was for the apostles and disciples to show the Jews that Jesus was indeed the Christ (v28).

Acts chapter 19


Some Jews believed on the coming Messiah but perhaps had left Jerusalem during the time of Jesus and were only baptized of John's baptism. When Paul met fellows like this he taught them Jesus and baptized them in the name of Jesus (v1-5).


Mocking the Word of God is Not Wise


15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


Men who were sorcerers or witchcraft attempted to do as Paul and remove evil spirits from people and heal the sick. They laid hands on people and with an evil mind mocking called on the God that Paul preached. The evil spirit let him in on a secret; that he knew Jesus and knew Paul; but didn't know him.
As Paul taught about idolatry, many who are in the business of making a cross started to feel it in the wallet. So quite naturally they made uproars about Paul and what he was teaching in their coast.


24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.


And just like that the whole city was filled with confusion and the word of God was broken up for a moment over a man's desire to make a few bucks. Instead of finding a new craft, he wants to delete his soul and the soul of others by keeping them into their pagan worship and idol worship of the goddess Diana.

Acts 20


6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
7And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.


Here is a first day of the week (Sunday reference), where Paul was eating with the disciples and he spoke with them, insomuch it went into the middle of the night. This was during the feast of unleavened bread. This does not stamp a change in the Sabbath worship. There are reasons they were eating on the first day of the week as Paul preached. During the Sabbath days after the setting of the sun, Jews often sat around and spoke concerning the word. Also it may have been one of the 7 days of unleavened bread feasting and they were there eating and feasting. We do not know fully; but we know that this tiny insert does not denote a change of the Sabbath day worship.


As clear as the Lord is about the 7th day; I know He would have been just as clear about a change to the first day of the week.


Pentecost or Feast of Weeks Still Kept


16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.


Paul tells the preachers to pick up the work he has laid down. Feed the people with knowledge of God and His Christ.


28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.


Feed the church of God, which Jesus has purchased with His own blood.


Acts chapter 21


Much of the chapter is travelling and going to different coast then they prepare for Jerusalem. However, a prophet tells the disciples that Paul will be arrested and sentenced before the Gentiles if he goes back to Jerusalem. Paul was not scared and proceeded to go saying he was ready to die for the Lord Jesus Christ.


Paul goes to Jerusalem, meets with James and the elders but then goes to the temple where he is recognized and seized, beaten, and arrested. However, he gets a small chance to speak granted by the Greek guard who thought Paul was an Egyptian. The Egyptians today are Arab Muslims who took over the land of Egypt approximately 600 AD. So at this time to be mistaken for an Egyptian is to be mistaken for a child of Ham or what we call today someone from the continent of Africa, someone from a country like Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, etc.


The Greek guard gives Paul chance to address the people.


Acts chapter 22


Paul addresses the Jews in the Hebrew language, which gets their attention and he rehearses the story of how he was blinded while on a mission to arrest and bound Jews who called on Jesus. However, they are not buying his account and are still pursuant to have him killed. Paul then tells them he is a Roman citizen and this gives him more time. Paul being a former pharisee knew that those men, if given chance were going to kill him. Everyone will die for Jesus until death is staring them in the face; then they are looking for ways out of the situation.

Acts 23

1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.


Paul is before the council and they are not playing any games with him because they feel he betrayed them and also let Gentiles into the temple and into the church.


Paul let the high priest know God will slap him too, and he called him a "whited wall" because he has no knowledge because he is to judge by the law; but had someone smitten contrary to the law. Paul saw two sects of groups there, the pharisee and sadducees; and declared himself a pharisee. The oldest trick in the book is to get people mad at you to get mad at each other; and it worked for Paul to buy him more time. He is going through all this when he could of stayed out of Jerusalem. It shows us the power of God.
He was able to get enough pharisees to defend him and they took him out and back into the Roman headquarters in Jerusalem to be held over night.


11And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.


So Paul knew he would not die because the Lord showed him he would have to give the same testimony to the people in Rome; despite a band of 40 men making a vow not to eat or drink until they have killed Paul (v12-13). They planned to have Paul brought out once again to act as if they had more questions for him; then these 40 men would rush him, overbearing the guards and kill him at once. The only thing is God placed Paul's nephew there and heard the plan and he went and told it to Paul.


Paul is then sent with armed men to Felix to hear his trial.


Acts Chapter 24


Paul explains that they are making false claims against him and that he caused no trouble while in Jerusalem, he simply believes all things written by Moses (the law) and the prophets. This includes things concerning JESUS, and the resurrection of life to the just and unjust.


14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.


Felix held Paul up and allowed one Festus to judge by bringing the men of Jerusalem to present their case on why Paul should be killed!


Acts chapter 25


7And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.


They couldn't prove anything; so Festus was going to have it sent back to Jerusalem saying it is a matter between the people. Paul appealed wanting it to go before Caesar since he was a Roman citizen. So King Agrippa was brought in to hear the matter and he wanted to hear about it; and they believed it was a matter for the Jews to judge on but Paul kept appealing.


Acts chapter 26


Paul is given chance to address king Agrippa and he rehearses his life and what took place for him to leave being a pharisee to one who followed Christ. It reminds me, when Malcolm X left the nation of Islam to become a follower of Christ, the nation instantly put it out for him to be killed. It has similar sentiments as Paul's events. Paul tells his matter and let's king Agrippa know this is why they want him killed.


21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:


All Paul ever desired to do was to teach to people what the scriptures says. Festus believed Paul was going crazy by learning to much; but Paul said he's not and that Agrippa was understanding of his words.


27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.


Agrippa was almost converted on Paul's story. They allow Paul to go to Italy.

Acts 27


1And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
The sea was violent and Paul suggested that they should not have set sail; but the sailors felt they knew better than Paul.


11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.


They were caught up in what we call a hurricane and they could no longer control the ship and they just let the wind take it to where it was going to go.


21But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
23For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.


God sent His angel to comfort Paul and deliver him and the men of the ship.


Acts chapter 28
The ship finally crashes

Acts 28


They come across barbarian people who treated them kindly; and Paul was bit by a venomous snake. I read in the paper the other day that a woman who was suppose to be on the flight that crashed in South America, she missed the flight and obviously preserving her life; but the next week, she was in a car crash that took her life. The barbarians thought the same of Paul, thinking he was a murderer who's life was been sought for him to survive the boat crash; but then get bit by a poisonous snake. Paul just shook the thing off and wasn't poisoned nor did his hand swell up. So then the barbarians believe he was a god.


18Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.


Same story of the Jews doing more persecution than other nations; the Gentiles wanted to let Jesus go; but the Jews put on the pressure; same thing they did with Paul.

However Paul read the scriptures to them to reason with them.


23And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.


Peter remained there teaching the word of God to all who would hear.
This finishes our reading for today; we will resume tomorrow.


-
Peace & Grace



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