Acts 23: Paul is Spared

Paul is Spared

In Acts 23:1-5, we see Paul get punched while being held down. The command to punch him came from the High Priest Ananias. Paul's response was an insult to whoever commanded the punch, but according to Exodus 22:28, Paul was wrong to insult a ruler of people. 

Then in Acts 23:6-11, Paul knows that the Sadducees and the Pharisees were divided on their stance of Paul's innocence and guilt, he lets the crowds know that he is a Pharisee. Because he believed in the resurrection of Christ (the dead being a risen is believed possible by Pharisees and not Sadducees), then he aligns himself with the Pharisees saying that he is one of them. The disagreements became violent and in order to keep Paul from being harmed he was moved. The next night he was told by God “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome (Acts 23:11).”

There was a plot to kill Paul and the Jews made an oath to not eat or drink until Paul was dead. Paul's nephew (his sister's son) found out about this and told Paul who had his nephew taken by the centurion to tell the tribune of what was waiting for him. Paul was then sent to Felix the Governor. A letter was accompanied with  Paul and those he was sent with explaining Paul's situation including his possible innocence (Acts 23:28-30). After the arrival, Felix decided not to charge Paul with anything until the accusers arrived and he could hear them out.

I learned from Paul's trials that when you are led by the Holy Spirit, keep going. I see Paul as an example of courage in the Spirit of God to keep pressing on even when it seems hopeless. I see God's hand guiding Paul the whole way. Have you ever taken the time to look back at life and see where God's hand was guiding you in accordance with the Bible?

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Acts 4:34-35- Give What You Have

Give What You Have

Early in the chapter, we see in verses 1-4, that the Pharisees and Sadducees (once again) were against the resurrection of Christ being taught. They had Peter and John arrested for spreading the gospel, the truth. But, before they were arrested (and let out the next morning), about 5000 people came to believe in Christ. That right there is amazing and says to me, can you do what needs to be done for the Kingdom selflessly even if it meant that you would be arrested and had to sit in a jail for a night?

Later in the verse we see more selflessness. In verses 32-37 we see that everyone was of one heart and one soul. No one claimed anything that had been theirs to still be their own. People were willfully sharing with others. Nobody was needy. People were taking care of one another. People sold homes and land and lay it before the apostles (Peter and John). This unity and selflessness was needed from people so that they could show their dedication to Christ and not let "things" get in the way of their faith and following Christ's example. Pure selflessness. Let this display serve as an example of how we can give up possessions in order to serve others. Are you willing to even buy a homeless person food? Or give them a drink of water?

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Matthew 26- Betraying Jesus

Betraying Jesus 

 Matthew 26:49 "Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him." commentary- Jesus knew Judas was going to betray. him. Judas (in verses 14-16) plotted to point out Jesus to the high priests for Jesus to be arrested. The high priests wanted Jesus gone due to all the "problems" he had been causing to the established governmental rule. Jesus did God's will and did not follow the Pharisees and Sadducees. They saw it as a split in leadership and the established leaders wanted the power back for themselves. The needed help from Judas and he says in verse 48 that the man he kisses is the one that is Jesus. But Jesus knew this was going to happen. He makes mention of this in verses 20-25 and then he again confirms it after the confirming kiss in verses 47-50.The bottom line, Judas did this out of greed. Hold that thought and I will connect the next section in the final paragraph.

In verses 34-35 Jesus predicts Peters betrayal as well. Peter tried to defend himself and says that he would die with Jesus and never disown him. But it comes true after Jesus is captured. Jesus said that Peter would deny Jesus three time before the rooster crowed. After Jesus was captured, others tried to see who else was connected to Jesus. Peter wanted to save himself. He could have been saving himself from embarrassment (people attacking his character and associations) or physically saving himself (they may have wanted to beat and kill him along with Jesus). Either way, Peter did not stay true to his word and Jesus knew it. The bottom line, Peter denied Jesus out of fear.

To wrap it up, we deny Jesus all the time. Yes. WE. We are associated with Christ and do not stand up for his name and his words when he is attacked. We are associated with him, but when people are antagonistic we refuse to defend Christ. We just let people attack him and who he is. We are far more likely to stand up against people who talk bad on our favorite sports teams. We wear jerseys from the teams we love or the colleges we attended and graduated from, we defend those to the death. Yet, we become mouse like in defense of Jesus. Just like Peter, we get scared to speak up and defend him and defend what you believe in. 

WE (yes WE) also allow other "things" to get in the way of our relationship with Jesus. Just like Judas, we sell out Jesus for money. Have you ever skipped church due to work? was it just one time? Is it often? Yes you need to make money to live, but just as man cannot live of bread and water alone, man also cannot live without getting fed spiritually. Just like Judas, we trade Jesus for things as if they are more important than the relationship that we have with him.

Matthew 22:40- The Most Important Commandments

Matthew 22:40 "The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” commentary- The Pharisees (religious leaders) did not believe Jesus was the messiah or even a prophet so they constantly tried to ask him trick questions in order to trap him and say he was wrong in hope to discredit him. They asked him which of the commandments was the most important. In asking this they were thinking that whichever commandment he picked would then almost nullify the others or at least create a ranking order therefore depreciating the value of the other Mosaic commandments. When he told them how important it was to love God with all your heart and mind he also followed up with loving others as yourself.

When you have lost your way in life and don't know which decision to make, a lot of times our decisions on how to handle people and relationships and our own path is going to be based on these two commandments. If you look at the other 8 commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17, then you can see how love for others and love for God is the primary focus of the Christian walk. If you love God and love others (as yourself) you would not lie to people, or covet what they have (appreciate what you have instead). You would not murder, nor dishonor your father and mother. You would not use the Lord's name in vain (use His name inappropriately) nor would you steal. You would not make an idol of to worship nor would you have another god before God (notice the difference between little g and big G).

No matter what you do in life, love for God and love for people are your priorities if you follow Christ.

Matthew 16:26- Take Up Your Cross

Matthew 16:26 "For what will it  profit a man if he gains the whole world & forfeits his soul?" commentary-  How beneficial is it have everything the world has to offer but never become who you are supposed to be? Jesus wants us to take up our cross and follow him. Taking up your cross meant (in his day) being willing to die a humiliating death. The cross is what criminals had to carry and later be hung from. Many of us aren't even willing to face questions about our faith so we sure would not be willing to die a  physical death. Christ wants total surrender.

Christ wants us to obey him. He doesn't want us to fall for the false teachings of Pharisees and Sadducees (verses 6-12). These were the religious leaders that sought obedience from people for their ways as opposed to God's ways. If we keep hanging on to our old lives and we don't die to ourselves (stop focusing on all of our wants and start focusing on God's) then how can we be useful for God?


For further explanation on taking up your cross, you can find this link useful: http://www.gotquestions.org/take-up-your-cross.html