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The stories of the early church in Acts are both informative and inspiring. They prompt us to boldness and initiative in our witnessing, challenge us to greater commitment, and remind us of the potential for persecution in the world. Overall, I find it to be one of the most important books in the New Testament. If you would like to download our entire Acts series of devotions, just visit our Catalog page and click the link. We begin working our way through Titus tomorrow.

“And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” There are few better tactics for Christian witness than giving our own, personal testimony. We see Paul endeavor to do so on a number of occasions in this book. Certainly he had a dramatic salvation experience, that lent itself to the telling perhaps more than our own; but God gives to every man the same glorious salvation. The how of its happening is not nearly as important as the reality of its effect. People want to know that Christ has transformed your life and changed your heart. We know that in the end it is only the word of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit that will move a man to faith. Yet it is the testimony of God’s saints that first reveals the efficacy of Bible truth. Every man that believes is a new creature, whether born again in old age or young. This fact alone is affirmation of God’s promise, and your personal revelation of that new life can have amazing impact on the hearer. Don’t be a person afraid to tell your story because it is not like Paul’s. Shout it out with confidence, focusing on the Christ of the Bible and His magnificent saving power!

“And 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.” We continue to see the persecution of Paul in this chapter. As with all organized oppression of Christianity, the evidence is falsified. How can a power structure justly eliminate the good Christians brings to society? Disciples of Christ, by their very nature, bring improvement to the cultures in which they minister. Therefore trial of the brethren must rely on lies, falsified evidence, and illegitimate witnesses. Just as God takes action in perfect harmony with His character, performing His works in holiness, justice, love, and grace; the enemy operates in an equally authentic fashion. He was a liar from the beginning, ever seeking to undermine the honest and righteous working of God. Paul is enduring the false accusation that is typical of Satan. Those who live Godly in Christ will likely face such wicked treachery. It would be wise for us to keep the tactics of our enemy in mind, so as not to be surprised when they come upon us.

“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. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.” Nothing has sparked more violence throughout history than the preaching of God’s word. We must understand that the enemy has worldly means alone to confront our Lord and His disciples. If men are obedient to Christ, his only recourse is to stop them. There is no philosophy or logic that can compete with gospel truth. This is why servants of Satan turn to intimidation, imprisonment, and murder. What they fail to understand is that God’s message cannot be stopped. They can kill Christians, burn Bibles, and destroy churches, but never prevent God’s will from being carried out in this world. Certainly we do not wish for this kind of violent rage against believers, yet throughout the ages it has served to greatly strengthen righteous resolve, and accelerate church growth. Men of God during Paul’s time in history faced the threat of death and kept preaching. What minor thing stops us from preaching today?

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is a magnificent description of a faithful, thorough, and effective ministry. Keeping nothing back is working systematically through scripture without skipping the difficult parts. Preaching of this kind is both public and private, to every man one encounters regardless of nationality or status in life. It keeps in mind at all times the message of the gospel, and encourages the hearer to turn from sin and embrace Christ. Sounds like Paul did a fairly good job! Men of God today should model their ministries on such an example. Instead, some look to polls, trends, fads, or gimmicks. I hope this is not our legacy of outreach. How sad it would be to have the outline for success spelled out, and yet miss it by wrapping ourselves in the methodology of the world. Let’s hold to the book, proclaim it everywhere we go, to anyone we meet, in faithfulness to its message and the Lord who delivered it. If we do, we can tell a similar story (with confidence) at the end of it all.

“And 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.” It has likely been pointed out a thousand times before, by preachers the world over. Believers we know today would never last through a service like this one. Complaints of all sorts would arise from the congregation about tired school children and sleepy husbands at the office. Even five minutes outside the regular routine is too much for many. Why then were the people of Paul’s day different? The answer is simple; they were not. We have the same living Spirit of God inside us, and can listen, stay awake and learn in the very same fashion. We are equipped, but without appetite, because we are too often without the Spirit’s filling. Total surrender to Christ will make our appetite for His word insatiable. Do we fear a lengthy sermon on Sunday? Perhaps it would be a good idea for us to examine our level of commitment. I’ll not advocate an after-midnight service every week, but thirty minutes extra now and then couldn’t hurt us a bit!

“And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And 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.” The message of Christ will be rejected by many. God does not hold us responsible for the decision of the hearer; He rather observes our faithfulness in the proclamation. Paul had not failed in his ministry to these Jews. His job was to make clear (in words) the Christ of the Bible, and represent (in deeds) the love of God. Paul was not indicating any loss of affection for Hebrews by turning his ministry toward Gentiles. He had simply done all he could to sound out the grace of God through Christ. I am certain Paul departed with much sorrow and sadness. Certainly every rejection of Christ should come with grief and regret; but it should also bring to mind the reality of individual soul liberty. God does not force men to embrace Him. We know that the Lord chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, and that He alone can provide the faith to be saved. At the same time there is an unknown place in time and space where the choosing of God and the free-will of man meet; no human can understand just exactly where (or how) that takes place. We ought to be faithful in preaching, committed in Christian living, and clothed in love for the world. The results of this effort are the responsibility of God alone.

“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening 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.” Ministry is difficult work. The mind, will and spirit must be fully engaged for as long as it takes to get the job done. In this case Paul spent three days proclaiming God’s word to the Jews of the synagogue. He not only displayed proper commitment and enthusiasm, he also proclaimed the proper message. No doubt Paul was one of the most eloquent communicators of Bible truth that ever lived. We, however, do not need the same skill to be effective. It is the commitment and the message that is more important. Get to know your Savior and His word, then become a person committed to reasoning with others from the scriptures. The results of this three day engagement were wonderful. Both men and women believed on the Lord, and became partners in the ministry. No doubt these people touched other lives with the message, and perhaps we will never know what, in total, came from these three days. Let us engage in the work of ministry for any three minute, three week, or three year period God gives!

“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” The next few verses in this chapter are more often quoted. In them, a man comes to Paul by night and asks that he come to Macedonia and help. Paul gathers most certainly that God has called him to preach the gospel in that city. I have highlighted these verses to remind us we cannot apply one passage and ignore the other. Paul’s plan is to minister in Asia and Bithynia, but God does not allow it. We don’t know why the Holy Spirit prevented preaching in those areas, but we can be certain God did not lead Paul astray. Desire to preach the gospel is a wonderful thing. We must be willing to go anywhere the Lord leads, but not be so enthusiastic that we go “just anywhere”. Preach the word at all times, but remember to seek the Lord regarding, how, when and where. The fact that an opportunity for preaching exists is not absolute proof it should be seized upon. This does not mean we hesitate to open our mouths, it merely means we are deliberate, and prayerful in both method and location.