Tag: Paul

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

Morning Reading: Acts 16:25-40 NLT – what must I do to be saved

Reading: Acts 16:25-40 NLT

chainsAround 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.

The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”

But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”

When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give us a spirit of worship in every circumstance and show us your power. Set us free from the chains that bind us and the prisons that hold us captive. Make known the power of your name throughout the world… that all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. To you be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “There is power in the name of Jesus” – Jesus Culture

Morning Reading: Acts 16: 16-24 ESV – discernment of spirits

Reading: Acts 16:16-24 ESV

image
Philippian Slave Girl

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.

She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days.

Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Give me the gift of discernment that I might know which spiritual manifestations come from you… and which do not. And give me the courage to speak the truth in Jesus’ name… regardless of the cost.  All to your glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Mission’s Flame” – Matt Redman

Morning Reading: Acts 16:6-10 NLT – help us

Reading: Acts 16:6-10 NLT

Modern mosaic, “Vision Telling Paul to Come over to Macedonia,” in Veroia (ancient Berea), Greece
Modern mosaic, “Vision Telling Paul to Come over to Macedonia,” in Veroia (ancient Berea), Greece

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.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Quiet my heart… clear my mind… calm my spirit – so that I can hear you when you guide me. Give me the discernment to distinguish your voice from the noise within and about me. And give me the will to obediently follow where you lead me. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Here for You” – Matt Redman

Morning Reading: Acts 16:1-5 ESV – ouch

Reading: Acts 16:1-5 ESV

timothyPaul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – remove whatever stumbling blocks there are in my life that would prevent you from living in me and through me. And may I look to you for approval and not to any thing or any one else. To you be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “All to Jesus I surrender” – Judson W. Van De Venter (1896)