Acts 26: Are You Almost A Christian?
Verse of the Day: (V28) “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
1. Accused (V1-27)
V2 “I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:”
Apostle Paul, the accused, happily testified before king Agrippa, and Bernice, his wife, and Festus, the new Roman governor, and other leaders present, of his testimony. Paul shared how he was brought up as a Pharisee, and had persecuted the Christians, until one day, God spoke to him on the way to Damascus. The Lord blinded him and then healed and called him to be His preacher of the gospel to the Jews and mainly the Gentiles. In short, Paul obeyed God’s heavenly vision, but was instead falsely accused by the Jews.
V19 “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”
2. Almost (V28-29)
V28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
So near yet so far. king Agrippa almost became a Christian, but he was not a Christian. Why? Agrippa was almost persuaded, but he rejected Christ. Many in this world may have heard the gospel and are almost persuaded like Agrippa, but deep down in their hearts, they have unbelief in them. Paul would be most glad to lead Agrippa and others present to the saving grace of Christ, but he did not have the opportunity to do so. Instead, Paul replied to Agrippa that he desired that he and all who had heard the gospel would totally be persuaded in believing in Jesus. Indeed, though Paul was a suffering prisoner yet he was bound for glorious heaven because he believed in Christ. In contrast, though Agrippa was the glorious king, yet he was bound for fiery hell because he rejected Christ.
V29 “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”
3. Appealed (V30-32)
V31 “And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”
Agrippa and Festus believed that Paul was innocent and should not be in prison or even sentenced to death. However they could not release Paul as he had appealed to Caesar, the Roman emperor. Indeed, it was God’s will that Paul should appear before Caesar.
V32 “Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am a totally persuaded Christian bound for heaven.
Acts 25: Is Jesus Alive?
Verse of the Day: (V19) “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
1. Agrippa (V1-18)
V13 “And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.”
The Jewish King Agrippa, and Bernice, his wife, paid a courtesy visit to Festus, the new Roman governor, and found out the unresolved issue of Apostle Paul, who had been kept in the Roman prison for more than two years. Agrippa then told Festus that he would cross-examine Paul, after Festus told him that Paul’s charges were more on superstition than criminal in nature and he could not sentence him to death as the Jews had expected it.
V18 “Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:”
2. Alive (V19-21)
V19 “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
Festus believed that the Jews’ main charge against Paul was that he kept claiming that Jesus was alive, while the Jews rejected his claim. However, when Festus suggested to Paul that he be sent to Jerusalem to be judged again by the Jews, Paul immediately declined, as he knew that he would be killed on the way to Jerusalem or in Jerusalem. Paul then requested Festus to let him appeal to Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor.
V21 “But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.”
3. Augustus (V22-27)
V24 “And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.”
Festus agreed to let Agrippa cross-examined Paul before he sent him to Caesar Augustus. Indeed, God preserved Paul’s life so that he could share the gospel to all, namely, the leaders of the Roman Empire – the chief captain, the governor, and the emperor. Though the Jews wanted Paul dead, yet God preserved him until His appointed time of death.
V25 “But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in You, and that Jesus is alive forever.
Acts 23: Do You Have A Good Conscience?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
1. Conscience (V1-10)
V1 “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
Though Apostle Paul sincerely shared that he had a good conscience before God, the high priest commanded his people to strike Paul’s mouth. The high priest already judged Paul to be guilty even before the trial because Paul was a threat to their religious power and influence. However, there was a great dispute among the people as some were for Paul as they believed he was from God, while others were against him and plotted to kill him.
V9 “And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
2. Cheer (V11-15)
V11 “And 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.”
The Lord stood with Paul, and cheered and encouraged him, when almost everyone was against him. However, there was a group of Jews who were secretly plotting to kill Paul in order to stop him from hindering their religious power and influence over the people.
V12 “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.”
3. Captain (V16-35)
V16 “And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.”
God led Paul’s nephew to hear of the plot, and he went to the prison to tell Paul. Paul then told his nephew to inform Claudius, the chief captain, about it. Claudius believed Paul’s nephew, and wrote to Felix, the governor, about it. As Paul was a Roman citizen, Felix agreed with Claudius that Paul should be sent to Caesarea to be tried by the Romans.
V35 “I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to have a good conscience before You now and forever.
Acts 24: Do You Believe In Christ’s Resurrection?
Verse of the Day: (V21) “Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.”
1. Ringleader (V1-9)
V5 “For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:”
Ananias, the high priest, engaged Tertullus, a great orator, to falsely accuse Apostle Paul of being a troublemaker among all the Jews throughout the world, a ringleader of the Christians, and one who profaned God’s holy temple by allowing the Gentiles to enter it.
V6 “Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.”
2. Resurrection (V10-21)
V15 “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”
Paul explained to Felix that the one thing that he totally disagreed with his false accusers was their denial of Christ, and His death and resurrection. Paul encouraged them to have hope and belief in God because the holy God shall judge the just and the unjust at Judgment Day. Indeed, Christ’s death and resurrection are the foundation of Christianity. Without Christ’s death and resurrection, there is no Christianity and salvation of mankind.
V21 “Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.”
3. Righteousness (V22-27)
V25 “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
Felix was a corrupt governor, and was waiting for Paul to bribe him so that he could release him. However, Paul did not bribe Felix. Instead, Paul boldly witnessed to Felix and his wife, and pleaded with them to repent of their sins, and believe in Christ and His resurrection, so that they would have Christ’s righteousness and be found as Christ’s followers at Judgment Day. Though Felix trembled upon hearing God’s plan of salvation and judgment, yet he deferred his decision in believing in Christ and His resurrection.
V26 “He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in You, and Christ’s death and resurrection.
Acts 22: Will You See The Just One?
Verse of the Day: (V14) “And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.”
1. Jesus (V1-11)
V7 “And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
Apostle Paul or Saul made a defence before the people because he was falsely accused of stirring trouble in Jerusalem. Paul shared that though he was a Jew born in Tarsus yet he was brought up in Jerusalem as a Pharisee. The Pharisees were against Christ and the Christians as they were the ones who plotted the betrayal, arrest and eventually the death of Jesus. However one day while Paul was on his way to Damascus, God blinded him and told him that he was actually persecuting Jesus Christ when he persecuted the Christians.
V8 “And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
2. Just (V12-18)
V14 “And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.”
God led Paul to Ananias, a faithful Christian, who told Paul that he would receive his sight. Immediately Paul received his sight, and not only saw the Just One, the Lord Jesus, but also heard His voice. Ananias then told Paul that God had chosen him to be His witness and to share the gospel of Christ to the entire world, in particular, to the Gentiles.
V15 “For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”
3. Jews (V19-30)
V21 “And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
The moment the unbelieving Jews heard that Paul was chosen to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, they hated Paul and desired him to die. These Jews failed to understand that God loved the whole world including the Gentiles, and desired them to believe in Him by faith. When the chief captain discovered that Paul was also a Roman citizen, he quickly commanded the chief priests and their council to examine the Jews’ charges against Paul, because he did not desire to condemn a Roman citizen who had not committed any crime.
V30 “On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I see and believe in You, the Just One, my Saviour.
Acts 20: Will You Finish Your Course?
Verse of the Day: (V24) “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
1. Comforted (V1-20)
V9 “And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.”
Before the Bible was completed, God gave the apostles sign gifts, such as healing and raising the dead, to affirm them before the people that they were God’s apostle. Hence when the young man, Eutychus, fell off and died, while hearing Paul’s long preaching, Paul immediately raised him from the dead. When the people saw God’s miracle, they were greatly comforted that Eutychus was alive, and Paul was indeed God’s apostle.
V12 “And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.”
2. Course (V21-27)
V24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
Before Paul left Ephesus, he met the leaders of the church at Ephesus, and encouraged them not to be distracted by crises and even death, but to boldly keep on, keeping on preaching the gospel of the grace of God, and finish their course and ministry with joy.
V25 “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.”
3. Church (V28-38)
V28 “Take 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.”
God’s church is precious to Him, as He bought her with His only Son’s blood. This was why Paul’s last words to the church leaders were not only to feed the church with God’s word, but to ensure that there would be no grievous wolves or false leaders who would deceitfully enter into the church to ultimately divide and destroy God’s precious church.
V29 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to finish my course and ministry with joy.
Acts 21: Are You Ready To Be Bound?
Verse of the Day: (V13) “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
1. Bound (V1-14)
V12 “And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.”
Though Prophet Agabus had prophesied that Apostle Paul would be bound and arrested in Jerusalem, and his disciples discouraged him from going there, yet Paul chose to go to Jerusalem, and even to die there, because he desired to do God’s will and for Jesus’ sake.
V13 “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
2. Believe (V15-26)
V19 “And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.”
When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he gladly shared with the church that many Gentiles from Asia had believed in Christ. The church learned that God loved the Jews and the Gentiles, and desired that all be saved from fiery hell and be promoted to pearly heaven.
V20 “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:”
3. Beating (V27-40)
V28 “Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.”
However, there was a group of unbelieving Jews from Asia, who hated Paul and God’s truth of reaching out to the Gentiles, and began to stir up trouble, and accused Paul of going against Moses’ law and polluting the holy temple by allowing the Greeks to enter it. The people believed these Jews, and began to chase Paul out of the temple, and almost beat him to death, before the chief captain and his soldiers intercepted and arrested him.
V32 “Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating Paul.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be ready to be bound and also to die for You.
Acts 19: Are You Sharing God’s Word?
Verse of the Day: (V20) “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
1. Word (V1-20)
V19 “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
In Ephesus, many came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, as they heard not only the preaching of Apostle Paul, but witnessed how Paul cast out the evil spirits. Many new believers began to burn all their expensive books of magic arts, fortune telling, etc., as they knew that these were of the devil. Therefore God’s word grew mightily in Ephesus.
V20 “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
2. Worship (V21-34)
V24 “For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;”
As a result of Paul’s preaching, many believed in Christ, and hence there was a sharp decline of demand of the idols of Diana which they had been worshipping for years. Demetrius and the craftsmen, whose income was mainly from idols making, resorted to violence and murder in order to stop Paul and his disciples from preaching God’s word.
V27 “So 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.”
3. Worshipper (V35-41)
V35 “And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?”
God led the town clerk to restore order in Ephesus when he told Demetrius and the craftsmen to seek their grievances in a lawful manner. The town clerk explained to them that though they were worshippers of Diana, yet Paul and his disciples did not blasphemed Diana, but they only shared God’s word to the people of Ephesus. The choice was still for them to decide which God they would choose to believe and worship.
V39 “But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to share Your Word that many shall come to know You.
Acts 18: Are You Afraid?
Verse of the Day: (V9) “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:”
1. Aquila (V1-6)
V2 “And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome :) and came unto them.”
Though Apostle Paul was God’s preacher yet he was also a tentmaker as he did not want to financially burden the church. When Paul was at Corinth, God led him to meet Aquila and Priscilla, a godly Christian couple. Aquila was also a tentmaker, and Paul decided to stay with him and his wife. Let us follow the Lord and He shall lead and provide for us.
V3 “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”
2. Afraid (V7-17)
V9 “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:”
Though Paul kept preaching the gospel of Christ, yet sometimes he was afraid as there were people who persecuted him, and even plotted to kill him. However, the Lord encouraged Paul that He was with him, and He shall protect and preserve his life as he preached the gospel of Christ that many shall come to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus.
V10 “For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”
3. Apollos (V18-28)
V24 “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.”
Though Apollos was a great preacher, yet his understanding of God’s Word was limited to John’s baptism. Hence Aquila and Priscilla taught him more of God’s Word and the gospel of Christ. Apollos humbled himself and learned from Aquila and Priscilla who were more knowledgeable of God’s Word. Let us humble ourselves and keep learning God’s Word, until the day the Lord calls us home, or He returns to bring us to His glory.
V26 “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am not afraid because You are always with me.
Acts 17: Are You Worshipping The Known God?
Verse of the Day: (V23) “For 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.”
1. World (V1-9)
V5 “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.”
The unbelieving Jews conspired with wicked men and arrested Jason and the new converts, and accused them before the rulers that they had turned the world upside down. Though the Christians did not turn the world upside down, but they turned the world right side up, as lives were transformed when they repented their sins and believed in God.
V6 “And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”
2. Word (V10-21)
V11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
The new converts did not blindly follow Paul and Silas, but they diligently searched their teaching, and affirmed that it was God’s Word. However Paul and Silas and the new converts still faced persistent persecution from the unbelieving Jews from Thessalonica.
V13 “But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.”
3. Worship (V22-34)
V23 “For 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.”
Paul discovered that the people of Athens were ignorantly worshipping the unknown God. He then preached to them that there was a known God, who was not only the Creator, but also the Saviour of the world. Anyone who believes in God shall live with Him forever.
V24 “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I only worship You, the known God, my Saviour.
