Paul is in a Pickle

N.T.#872 "Paul is in a Pickle"

Oct. 12, 2026 

Acts 22-Part 2 

LET IT GLOW

You will recall, Paul was giving his testimony before the Sanhedrin. Paul had returned to Jerusalem.

It was illegal to whip a Roman citizen, as Paul was, uncondemned by a lawful trial. Yes, it was. The chief captain was fearful because he had even bound Paul. in the first place. Paul had his hands unbound.

What happened next?

• The high priest Ananias had Paul punched in the mouth. Really guys. Paul was a Pharisee and he let it be known. You don't slap him to shut him up. (verses 1-2)
• Paul called the high priest a whitewashed wall, looking clean on the outside but actually dirty on the inside, and condemned his unlawful actions. (verse 3) Man alive Paul, you are asking for it.
• In verse 5, Paul said he didn't know the guy was a high priest. Hmm. (That wasn't Paul's high priest because Jesus is.
• Paul tried to still up the Pharisees and Sadducees dividing them. 
• His message was Jesus is the Messiah who had risen from the dead. 
• Finally they said, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. (verse 9)

The Pharisees found Paul innocent and turned him loose.

LET IT GROW

The commander took Paul away again to the barracks. (verse 10) That night Jesus came to Paul and told him he was going to Rome.

Paul's nephew heard the religious ones plotted to kill Paul with an ambush, went to him and shared the news. Paul sent the nephew to the chief captain. They moved Paul that night to Caesarea protected by 470 armed soldiers. 

Did the Lord have the nephew at the right place at the right time? Yes, he found out the plot. We are going to leave the story there. You can read on to find out what happened to Paul.

Wasn't Paul a brave witness for Jesus? How brave are we?

LET IT GO

Isaiah 60:22 (NLT) says, When the time is right, I the Lord, will make it happen. 

What are you trusting God for today?

• 
  
• 
  

 

A Changed Heart

N.T.#871  "A Changed Heart"

ACTS 22

LET IT GLOW

In the latter chapters of Acts we find the most extensive personal references to Paul's life and experiences. It is an extensive biography of this early church leader. Paul made his defense on the same Roman stairway where Pilate had condemned Christ to death some 26 years earlier. (Falwell)

Paul tells of his earlier life:

• He was born in Tarsus.
• He learned about the law under Gamaliel.
• He was zealous toward God. (verse 3)
• He persecuted Christians putting them in prison and to death. (verse 4)
• He was traveling to Damascus to bring believers to Jerusalem to be punished. 
• At noon, a great light shone and Jesus asked Saul why he was persecuting Him. (verse 7)
• He asked who it was.
• I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. (verse 8)
• Those with Paul saw the light but those with him didn't hear Jesus speak. (verse 9)
• Paul asked what he was to do. 
• Paul was blinded by the light of Jesus.
• Go to Damascus and it will be told him all things which are appointed for Paul to do. (verse 10)

Do you have a testimony for Jesus?

LET IT GROW

What happened in Damascus?

• Ananaias was a devout man in the law, went to Paul. (verse 13)
• Ananias spoke for Paul to receive his sight and it happened. (verse 13)
• His message to Paul was God chose Paul to know His will and see Jesus, that Paul was to be a witness to all men of what he had seen and heard. (verses 14-15)
• Arise, be baptized, and call on the name of the Lord. (verse 16)
• Paul went into the temple in Jerusalem and Jesus told him to leave for they would not receive his testimony of Jesus. (verse 15)

Paul knew he had done wrong when he put Christians to death.  Now he had a changed heart. Paul's message was that Jesus is the Messiah and is alive!

LET IT GO

What do you and I need to let go of so we can do all the things we are appointed to do for God's glory?

• God to damascus and it will be told him all things appointed for him to do.

Suffering for the Gospel

 N.T.#870 "Suffering for the Gospel"

Oct. 8, 2026 

Acts 21-Part 2

I'm sorry folks for the inconsistency of posts. My husband has been preaching a revival since Sunday and we are worn out at our age. God is good.

Paul met with the leaders of the church at Jerusalem. He reported to them what God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry. (verse 19) Some Jewish Christians were overjoyed to hear this. However, some living among Gentiles said Paul told them to not circumcise their children or follow Jewish customs. Yet, it was a false accusation. This became a contriversy.

Paul's instructions for life was:

• Keep themselves from things offered to idols,
• from blood,
• from strangled,
• from fornication.

Rejecting Jewish customs amounted to nothing as long as the Gospel mess wasn't compromised. (verses 22-25)

LET IT GROW

When some Jews saw Paul in the Temple, they flew into a rage, grabbed him, saying he was guilty of speaking against the Jewish people, the law, and Temple. (verses 26-28) They dragged Paul out of the Temple.  accused him of bringing Gentiles into the Temple. They beat Paul and chained him up until he was rescued.

A Roman commander and his soldiers rescued Paul and took him to barracks. (verses 34-36) (They assumed Paul to be a criminal.)  The commander thought Paul was an Egyptian starting a revolt. Once Paul explained he was a Roman citizen and a Jew from Tarsus. he was allowed to address the crowd. (verses 39-40)

Paul had suffered emotionally and physically for Christ. He had genuine love and was obeying King Jesus' agenda. (verse 40)

LET IT GO

What can we learn from this? Listen to God and obey Him, not people.

God's Will Be Done

N.T.#869  "God's Will Be Done"

Oct. 5, 2026 

Acts 21

LET IT GLOW

The end of Paul's ministry was coming. He knew it. However, his friends did not accept it. 

Paul and his group traveled:

• by ship from port to port until they arrived at Tyre along the Mediterranean Coast. (verses 1-3)
• The spent 7 days there visiting with believers.
• They kept telling Paul to not go to Jerusalem in fear of his life taken. (verse 4) However, Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. (20:22) 
• They traveled on, staying with Philip at Caesarea. 
• While there, a man named Agabus prophesied to Paul, that he would be captured in Jerusalem.(verse 11)
• In verse 13, Paul said he was ready to be bound and die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 

LET IT GROW

People with Paul realized they could not talk Paul out of going, said, The will of the Lord be done. (verse 14)

Things happen which we may never understand why. Although, we must submit to our King's will for our lives. (Evans)

LET IT GO

Help us let go of what prevents us from doing Your will.

Let Go

 N.T.#868 "Let Go"

Oct. 2, 2026 

Acts 20-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

It is hard to say bye to friends at churches. You work together, pray together, love them and serve them. Paul was having to let go and follow Jesus.

Paul is finishing his last farewell to the Ephesians. He shared his life with them, his course, and ministry. Paul ran the race as a faithful believer of Jesus, fulfilled his call to the ministry, 

• He finished his race as a runner for Jesus.
• He was a good steward of his possessions.
• He was the witness of the grace of God.
• He preached the truth.
• He was a watchman warning danger to come for believers and unbelievers. (Wiersbe)

 Can we say the same about our walk with the Lord Jesus?

LET IT GROW

Paul warned the leaders of the church of wolves, carelessness, covetousness, shallowness, laziness, and selfishness. 

Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (verse 35)

God wants to work through you so that you will be a blessing to others. If we have the capacity to address a need be used by God to give to and meet that need. God will return the favor. (Luke 6:38) 

Tony Evans

LET IT GO

Follow Jesus and let Him live through us.

Faithfully Serving

N.T.#867 "Faithfully Serving"

Sept. 29, 2026 

Acts 20-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Let me say that my Christian walk has been a challenge, not a bed of roses. And so it was for Paul. We think of him as a fantastic witness and missionary, but he spent a lot of time in prison, where he wrote most of the New Testament. How about you? Is life challenging you today. Join me as we take a closer look at Paul's ministry as he faithfully served the Lord Jesus.

Here we have Paul's farewell address or sermon to the Ephesian elders. 

First, Paul reviews his ministry in Ephesus (verses 18-21)

He overcame the test of:

• laziness (verse 18)
• pride (verse 19)
• discouragement (verse 19)
• fear (verse 20)
• inefficiency. (verse 20)

 Next, Paul's immediate future. (verses 22-27) He wasn't sure what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. Jews and Greeks want to kill Paul. He shared the grace of God with them. 

Last, Paul shared the future of the church in Ephesus. 

He warned them of the danger of:

•  personal compromise. (verse 28)
• external attack of false teachers (verse 29)
• internal corruption by apostasy. (verse 30)

[Resource: Swindoll's Living Insights on Acts]

LET IT GROW

Here are some things Paul told the elders:

• He served the Lord with all humility, many tears, and temptations. 
• He taught them publicly.
• His messages were of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 
• He was determined to finish his course with joy. 
• He used every occasion to witness to those he came in contact with in his extensive travels.
• He challenged them to feed the church. (verses 19-31)       

What a challenge Paul gives to us. 

LET IT GO

What do you and I need to let go of so we can serve the Lord Jesus in the same way as Paul?

 

Paul's Travels

N.T.#866  "Paul's Travels"

Sept. 28, 2028 

Acts 20

LET IT GLOW

After the riot had ceased, Paul was convinced of the stability of the Ephesian church and was free to depart into Macedonia to revisit and strengthen the churches there. After spending 3 months in Greece, Paul prepared to sail for Syria when he found out a plot by the Jews was to kill him. 

Paul rarely worked alone taking a team of evangelists and ministers with him. They spent Ddare 7 days in Troas. They met on the first day of the week as Paul preached and they broke bread together. (verse 7)  This is when Eutychus fell out of a 3story window and died. Paul went down to him and he was revived alive. (verse 12)

How exciting it would have been to have witnessed this!

LET IT GROW

The people gathered on the Lord's Day, Sunday, had the Lord's Supper, heard the Lord's message, and witnessed the Lord's power. Dare I say this guy did not sit in a window during worship service? Probably he didn't fall asleep during a service again either. 

The thing is, folks don't have trouble staying awake during fishing trips, lengthy sporting events and concerts, or late-night TV specials. Yet staying awake during a one-hour service they do.

You can read of Paul's travels earlier in the chapter. Sometimes we have to go to plan B. We can see that God wanted Paul to pick up Luke in Philippi. 

Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, which meant he may not see his friends at Ephesus again. His enemies were waiting for Paul there. 

LET IT GO

Help us be listening for Your leading, Jesus.

Grow our faith through obedience.

I know you can breakthrough anything, God.

Your will be done.