Paul’s Defense

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 6, 2021

Paul’s Defense

Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

Acts 26:8

Read: Acts 26:1-11

In this first part of Paul’s defense, Paul makes it clear that the ground of his hope is the resurrection of Jesus. Paul’s testimony reveals the foundation of Christian witness. Paul is not reluctant to own his past. That may seem a bit unusual since Paul had completed three missionary journeys. Shouldn’t his past be behind him? If God can forgive and forget our sins, why can’t Paul forget his sins? Because when he acknowledges and takes responsibility for his past, he can then point to the change Jesus has made in his life.

The change in our lives that Christ makes is the basis of Christian testimony. Sometimes the change is in our turning away from sin. Sometimes the change is in how we choose to think and live as compared to the world’s standards. But always, our personal testimony is grounded in the change that Christ brings to our lives.

My Takeaway: Paul remembered putting disciples of Jesus in prison and casting his vote for their execution – just for faith in Jesus as God’s Messiah. Reading of this persecution gives me pause to examine my own life. How easy is it for me to be deterred from keeping the faith and finishing the race God has set before me?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.