Paul in Rome – Part One

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 15, 2021

Paul in Rome – Part One

When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

Acts 28:16

Read: Acts 28:11-22       

Three things stood out to me in today’s reading. First, Paul, ever consistent, after arriving in Rome, waited only three days before inviting the local Jewish leaders to meet with him. If these leaders had been alerted by officials in Jerusalem to work against Paul, he wanted to try and defuse the situation. More importantly, as he had done countless times, Paul wanted to present Jesus as God’s promised Messiah to these local leaders.

Secondly, in our world of instant gratification, where everything seems to move at high speed, Paul’s pace of travel was much slower. He spent three months on Malta, and arrived in Rome at least one year, if not longer, after he first began his journey. Luke closed the Book of Acts by noting Paul remained in Rome for two years. As I ponder my speed through life as compared to Paul’s, I recall something Paul Young, the author of The Shack, said when he visited our church several years ago: “Don’t out-pace grace.”

Lastly, I marvel at all the people, followers of Jesus, who went out to greet Paul and provide for his needs as he approached Rome. The Gospel had arrived and was flourishing in Rome!

My Takeaway: One of the keepsakes I purchased when I was in Israel is a Jerusalem Cross that I wear on the lapel of my blazer.

 

It is a Latin cross, with four smaller crosses in each quadrant. It symbolizes that the Gospel has gone out from Jerusalem to the four corners of the earth. Indeed, just three decades after Pentecost, the Gospel was well on its way! May I continue to participate in spreading the Good News of Jesus!

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.

Paul Ashore on Malta

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

NOTE: To coincide with the conclusion of my ZOOM Sunday School class which has been using my meditations on the Book of Acts, this week my mediations will include Saturday and Sunday, May 15 & 16. On Monday, May 17^th, I will begin a series on the Book of Philippians.

May 14, 2021

Paul Ashore on Malta

They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Acts 28:10

Read: Acts 28:1-10

There were two miracles on Malta. First, the snake bite which caused no harm to Paul even though the islanders expected him to die. They took the snake bite as a sign their goddess of justice was judging Paul. When Paul was unharmed, they decided that Paul was a god. Two things pop out in this episode. No ill effects from the snake bite is a way of revealing once again that Paul was blameless. And we see that the New Creation that God birthed through the resurrection of Jesus is more powerful than the forces of nature. God will not be denied. The sea and wildlife had aligned against Paul, yet Paul stood tall and continued his assignment.

The second miracle was the healing of Publius’ father, followed by the healing of the rest of the sick on the island. Publius and the islanders provided for Paul, and all of his fellow travelers’ needs and reminds me of the beautiful benediction Paul wrote after he arrived in Rome: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

My Takeaway: The events in Malta lead me to pray that by God’s grace, may my commitment to the cause of Christ arise to that of our ancestors in the faith.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

The Shipwreck

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 13, 2021

The Shipwreck

After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.

Acts 27:35

Read: Acts 27:33-44       

Sometimes, as we journey through life, it may seem as though we are at one of three places: in the calm just before entering a crisis; in the midst of a crisis; or coming out of a crisis.

Of course, the definition of a crisis is relative to our individual lives, but the truth is that we all experience the ebb and flow of life with its joys as well as with its stress and strains. In our reading today, Paul, when faced with a crisis, took bread, gave thanks to God, broke and ate it. Then the others were all encouraged and ate some food, all 276 of them.

The greatest gift we can offer those around us is to model how to live when we know who we are in Christ. We may not be facing a ship wreck, but we do face our own crisis. When faced with a crisis, what we do next reveals what we believe about God. Paul’s response was a source of comfort to those around him. Are the people around us comforted by our response to the stresses and strains of life?

My Takeaway: Paul’s response to the crisis inspires me to make his words real in my life: “Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

The Storm

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 12, 2021

The Storm

Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.

Acts 27:14

Read: Acts 27:13-32       

The message of the Lord to Paul that we read in Acts 23:11 was; ““Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” I think there is a tendency to expect Paul would have been flowing in God’s favor, with God’s provision providing all he needed. A metaphor of traveling down life’s highway as if we were on an Interstate with cruise control comes to mind. But that is certainly not what Paul experienced. As we have been reading, Paul languished in jail for years.

Then, as we read today, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” (v.20) That was Luke and the others who gave up all hope of being saved. Not Paul.

Paul’s response was different, “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” (v.22) Paul could make that assertion because God was still leading and speaking to him. God had a plan for Paul, and He was going to see it through to its conclusion in Rome.

My Takeaway: Paul was a prisoner. Yet he was the leader on this ship in the time of crisis. No matter where we are, no matter our circumstances, as followers of Jesus, God can and will use us to further His Kingdom.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

Paul Sails for Rome

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 11, 2021

Paul Sails for Rome

“Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”

Acts 27:10

Read: Acts 27:1-12

The Jews were not seafaring people. They thought monsters inhabited the sea. Paul was an exception as he spent considerable time sailing in his missionary journeys. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he wrote, “. . . three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,” (2 Corinthians 11:25) Through his experience, Paul knew the dangers of sailing during the winter season. By noting they were sailing after the Day of Atonement, Luke allows us to date this trip as being in mid-October when winter was indeed approaching. Most ships would be seeking a safe harbor for the winter. Paul warned the ship’s company, but as we shall see tomorrow, to no avail.

My Takeaway: This brief travel log is a reminder that God most certainly takes us out of our comfort zone. Through our weakness, God will show Himself strong so that, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 1:31)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

This Man Could Have Been Set Free

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 10, 2021

This Man Could Have Been Set Free

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Acts 26:29

Read: Acts 26:24-32       

Fetus thought Paul was crazy. Not much has changed. Nevertheless, we press on proclaiming our message of hope.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:18)

Agrippa’s response, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (v.28), intrigued John Wesley who preached an entire sermon on this verse. In the sermon, The Almost Christian was someone who acted honestly, morally and with sincerity, holding to a form of godliness, but without true love of God and neighbor, nor saving faith in Jesus.

”Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”” (v.32) Did Paul make a mistake by appealing his case to Caesar? I don’t think so. In chapter 25, we read that Festus offered to take Paul back to Jerusalem to stand trial there. Paul knew that in Jerusalem, he might be assassinated, or that the Jews would put so much pressure on Festus he would be found guilty. Paul’s only chance to be released from prison was his appeal to Caesar.

My Takeaway: Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2) He displayed that same focus as he gave his defense to Festus and Agrippa. May I be so like-minded.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

‘It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

May 7, 2021

‘It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Acts 26:14b

Read: Acts 26:12-23       

The first thing I noticed today is the verse quoted above. It does not appear in Acts 9, which records Paul’s Damascus Road experience, nor does it appear in Paul’s testimony about that experience in chapter 22. A ‘goad’ is like a cattle prod and, in this context, refers to Paul kicking against God’s will.

Secondly, this is the third time Paul’s experience on the Road to Damascus is recorded in Acts. The Book of Acts is not just a chronological listing of the events in the early life of the church. Luke is very intentional about what is included. If an event is included three times, it is worth contemplating. In today’s reading, Paul includes an expanded account of what Jesus told him on the Damascus Road and then responds, “I obeyed” God. That little statement puts Paul in the same position as Peter and the other Apostles when they affirmed that their ministry was a response of obedience to God. (See Acts 4:19 & 5:29) I think Paul’s response begs the question to all followers of Jesus: who are we obeying?

My Takeaway: Paul says his message was that people needed to repent, turn to God, and prove they have changed their lives by the good things they do. (v.20) I think a very good question I need to ask myself, every day, is whether there is evidence that my life has changed. Am I more like Jesus, or still pretty much the same as the ways of the world?

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.