Tag: Paul and Silas

Morning Prayer: 12 May – Acts 16:22-34; John 16:5-11 ~ under conviction

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence and prayer:

Lord, You have kept my soul from destruction. Alleluia.
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Lord God, grant Your people constant joy in the renewed vitality of our souls. We rejoice because you have restored us to the glory of Your adopted children: let us look forward gladly in the certain hope of resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from Acts: Acts 16:22-34 (NLT)

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

Paul and Silas in prison William Hatherell
Paul and Silas in prison
William Hatherell

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
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I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth. (John 16:7,13)
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A Reading from the Gospels:  John 16:5-11 (NLT)

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“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
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Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing:

May the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Prayer: 09 May – Acts 16:1-10; John 15:18-21 ~ they will persecute you

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence and prayer:

Christ died and came to life again to establish His dominion over the living and the dead. Alleluia.
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Son of God, risen from the dead, You are the Lord of life; bless all Your people and make us holy. You are the peace and joy of all who believe in You; help us to live as children of light, rejoicing in Your victory. May Your pilgrim church grow in faith; strengthen us to bear witness before the world to Your resurrection. You underwent great sufferings to enter the Father’s glory; wipe away all our tears and turn our sorrow into joy. Lord, give us Your peace and joy.

A Reading from Acts: Acts 16:1-10 (NLT)

Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.

Monument in Berea
Monument in Berea

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
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If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 15:18-21 (NLT)

persecuted-for-christ

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me.
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Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing:

May the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning Reading: Acts 17:10-15 NLT – Bible study

Reading: Acts 17:10-15 NLT

Women Bow And PrayThat very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.

But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me an open mind tethered to the your Word. May I listen eagerly… and yet test what I’m hearing against Scriptural truth. And may I be a doer of the Word… and not a hearer only. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Word of God speak” – Bart Millard and Pete Kipley

I’m finding myself at a loss for words / And the funny thing is it’s okay / The last thing I need is to be heard / But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak / Would You pour down like rain / Washing my eyes to see / Your majesty / To be still and know / That You’re in this place / Please let me stay and rest / In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You / Beyond the music, beyond the noise / All that I need is to be with You / And in the quiet hear Your voice

I’m finding myself at a loss for words / And the funny thing is / it’s okay

Morning Reading: Acts 17:1-9 NLT – disturbing the peace

Reading: Acts 17:1-9 NLT

Page from Book of Kells Trinity College, Dublin
Page from Book of Kells
Trinity College, Dublin

Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”

The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Your word guides and directs me… your Spirit applies your word to my daily comings and goings… your Son gives me life, abundant and eternal. Help me to integrate your word into every aspect of my life… so that I can explain to lost souls how Jesus can satisfy the longing of their hearts. Give me courage and godly boldness to speak the truth as you have revealed it in your Son… and let the chips fall where they may. And may I honor you in all things. Amen.

Spiritual Song:  “Ancient Words” – Michael W. Smith