Morning Reading: Acts 23:12-22 NLT – murder conspiracy

Reading: Acts 23:12-22 NLT

The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”

But Paul’s nephew — his sister’s son — heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul. Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.”

So the officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information. But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

“Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Once again we hold onto your promise that everything will work together for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose for them. Thank you for friends and family who love us and would support and protect us. Thank you for those in authority who do what’s right whether or not it’s popular. Holy Spirit – Deliver us from evil… and guide us. Give us a balance between human wisdom and prudence and godly trust and obedience. May we always count the cost and make wise choices that honor you. Lord Jesus – We are yours… lead us in your righteousness… make your way plain before us. All to the glory of God. Amen.

Hymn: “Lead Me Lord”

Morning Reading: Acts 22:30-23:11 NLT – high council divided

Reading: Acts 22:30-23:11 NLT

The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”

“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’”

Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”

This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees — for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him.” As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the wisdom and humility to respect duly appointed authorities… and yet speak the truth whether they like it or not. Thank You for those who are committed to maintaining the rule of law. And thank You for Your promise that everything will work together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose for them. Fill my heart with love for You… and give me the courage to trust You in all things. Amen.

Hymn: “Trust and Obey” – Hillsong Kids

Morning Reading: Acts 22:24-29 NLT – rights of citizenship

Reading: Acts 22:24-29 NLT

The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious. When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”

When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”

So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.

“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!”

Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”

The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You have made us all different and scattered us among the nations of the earth. We are all equally made in your image… with intrinsic value and dignity… deserving of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But the nations of the world are not equal… socio-economincally, politically, religiously, militarily. Citizenship matters… passports matter… and some of your children are stuck where they are in fear for their lives… while others wander the earth as refugees looking for a safe place to live. Protect your children, Heavenly Father. May they know your bounty as citizens of your Kingdom… and may they live as children of their Heavenly King… regardless of their personal circumstances. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “The Pilgrim’s Song” (Children of the Heavenly King) – John Cennick (1743)

Children of the heavenly King, As you journey sweetly sing. Sing your Savior’s worthy praise, Glorious in his works and ways!

Ye are traveling home to God, In the way the fathers trod: They are happy now, and ye, Soon their happiness shall see.

O ye banished seed be glad! Christ your Advocate is made; Us to save our flesh assumes, Brother to our souls becomes.

Shout ye little flock and blest, You on Jesu’s throne shall rest; There your seat is now prepar’d, There’s your kingdom and reward.

Fear not brethren joyful stand, On the borders of your land; Jesus Christ, your Father’s Son, Bids you joyfully come on.

Lord, obediently we go, Gladly leaving all below; Only thou our Leader be, And we still will follow thee!

Morning Reading: Acts 21:26-36 NLT – mobbed in Jerusalem

Reading: Acts 21:26-36 NLT

So Paul went to the Temple [in Jerusalem] the next day with the other men. They had already started the purification ritual, so he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them.

The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple — and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.” (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)

Paul bound in chains — Paul bound with chains

The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.

Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Counting the cost… paying the price for Christian witness… and running afoul of our cultures and communities… it’s not for the faint of heart. Holy Spirit – Make us people who are “fit for the Kingdom”… people who don’t look back but press on, even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances. Lord Jesus – Give us the courage and equanimity to take up the particular crosses you have given us… and follow you daily. May you be glorified in us and through us. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Take Up Your Cross” – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Morning Reading: Acts 21:15-25 NLT – respecting differences / preserving unity

Reading: Acts 21:15-25 NLT

After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.

The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.

After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said, “You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously. But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

“Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws.

“As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – you love variety… you infused variety into every aspect of creation. You made us all wonderfully different from one another… different languages, cultures, races, statures, and religious traditions. Lord Jesus – you have broken down the walls that separate us from one another through your death on the cross. Bring us together in a unity of faith… believers who repent of their sins, receive your forgiveness and mercy, and live life to the full according to your grace. Holy Spirit – fill us anew with your presence and power. Produce your good fruit in us and manifest your gifts among us that we might experience the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… and so respect and rejoice the wonderful variety among us. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “We Are United in Jesus Christ” – Carol Cymbala

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