Acts 28:17-31

Acts 28: 17-31 (NLT)
17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, "Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, for they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could tell you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come."
21 They replied, "We have heard nothing against you. We have had no letters from Judea or reports from anyone who has arrived here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about these Christians is that they are denounced everywhere." 23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s house. He told them about the Kingdom of God and taught them about Jesus from the Scriptures—from the five books of Moses and the books of the prophets. He began lecturing in the morning and went on into the evening. 24 Some believed and some didn’t. 25 But after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: "The Holy Spirit was right when he said to our ancestors through Isaiah the prophet, 26 Go and say to my people, You will hear my words, but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. 27 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’28 So I want you to realize that this salvation from God is also available to the Gentiles, and they will accept it."
30 For the next two years, Paul lived in his own rented house. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the Kingdom of God with all boldness and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
Devotion (Chris Bunch)
If you are reading this, I just want to start by saying: "Happy New Year." Also, if you are reading this, it means you have gone through Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and now Acts in 2009 (or at least most of these). The Bible is such a life-giving message and I hope you found both the Gospels and the book of Acts to give you encouragement throughout this year. Finally, I just want to say: "I am proud of you for making the effort to grow closer to God through our first year of Journey Through the Bible. And, even more importantly, God is proud of you for engaging with His words." Now, as we close out the year, our scripture for today has a celebration tone as well. Paul has arrived back in Rome, and even though he was under house arrest, he came with the Hope of the world as he said, "I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come." Some of the Jewish people in the crowd came to Christ and accepted him as Lord, and others ignored the message of Christ altogether (just like today).

Yet, Paul was not discouraged or disappointed, rather he was excited that he had the opportunity to proclaim and share the teachings and love of Christ to others (Ironically, this is the time that he wrote his Prison writings of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and a personal letter to Philemon——all of these we will read in 2010).

As we close out this year, I want to challenge you in two ways:
1. Who could you commit to sharing Jesus’ love with in 2010? Who is one person who is disconnected from God that you could pray for daily——-asking God to soften their heart and turn to him? This was the essence of what the people throughout the book of Acts did: they prayed for their friends and showed/shared the message of Christ’s love to them.


2. Will you continue to Journey through the Bible in 2010? Starting January 4th we will begin Romans and continue throughout the year to Revelation. This will get you through the entire New Testament in two years. I hope you will join me in continuing on in the journey. Paul’s hope was in Jesus and as we begin 2010——-our hope must be in Jesus as well. It is his hope that has changed and is still changing my life, and I look forward to how he will bless and change your life in 2010 as well.

Acts 27:13-44

The Storm at Sea
13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a "northeaster") burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale. 16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda,where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind. 18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. 20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. 21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, "Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island."The Shipwreck
27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria,the sailors sensed land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. 30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, "You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard." 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. "You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks," he said. 34 "Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish." 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—37 all 276 of us who were on board. 38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard. 39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. 42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.
Devotional (by Mikey Skoglund):
What a crazy passage! Sounds like quite the storm and adventure here. I love how Paul, though one of the prisoners on this boat, is just calm and collected through this whole storm while the sailors and soldiers are running around in fear for their lives trying to figure out something they can do to save themselves.
This passage makes me think of times in my life that storms approach and really seem to mess up where I wanted my life to go. Hard times in life can do that, can’t they? Like these sailors in this passage, who were pushed off course by strong winds, our lives can be pushed off track by hard times in our lives.
But like Paul in this passage, we can breathe easy because there is One who is always in control, and that’s God. Paul trusted in Him to bring them to safety, and he didn’t worry about the storm or the waters because he knew that God controlled all of those things. So let’s remember that even in the most difficult of times in our lives that God is still in control.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see that You are in control of everything. Even when storms hit my life and things aren’t going as I think they should go, help me to remember that You still hold my life in Your hands. Help me to surrender to You all that worries me in this life. Thank You for Your love and grace and the mercy that You grant me each day. Amen.

Acts 26:24-27:12

24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!" 25 But Paul replied, "I am not insane, Most Wxcellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—" 28 Agrippa interrupted him. "Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?" 29 Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains." 30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31 As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, "This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment." 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar."
Acts 27
Paul Sails for Rome 1 When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the
coast of the province.
3 The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs. 4 Putting out to sea from there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and the mainland. 5 Keeping to the open sea, we passed along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, landing at Myra, in the province of Lycia. 6 There the commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound for Italy, and he put us on board. 7 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. 8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea. 9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall,and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it. 10 "Men," he said, "I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well." 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul. 12 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor—a poor place to spend the winter—most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast of Crete, and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure.
Devotional (by Derek Young): I love the interaction between Agrippa and Paul in Ch. 26:28-29. It seems as though Agrippa is a bit agitated and feels perhaps a bit overwhelmed by what he is hearing from Paul. Paul
senses this defensiveness and agitation, and in return shows love.
Paul says, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains." Paul is not trying to "convert" or "persuade" Agrippa into anything; he is inviting him on the journey he himself is a part of. How powerful is this? The only reason Paul shares the
gospel with people is because he knows first hand what it is like to experience God’s love and grace and knows it as truth.

At one point or another, we have ALL shared in that experience as well. Why wouldn’t we want people to share in that experience with us? When we invite others over to watch the Colts, it is because we ourselves enjoy watching the Colts play. Don’t we want to share that experience with others? How much greater is it to experience God!!!

Prayer: Jesus, we thank you for the grace, mercy, and blessings you have given us. It is because of this and because of who you are that we want to share your love with others. Help us to forget any fears or hesitation that might get in the way of sharing the good news, and let us be reminded of the joy and beauty of what it is like to be in your presence ourselves.

Acts 25:23:26-23

Paul Speaks to Agrippa 23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25 But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. 26 “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. 27 For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!” Acts 26 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently! 4 “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. 6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. 7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! 8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead? 9 “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.[a] 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers[b] there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus.[c] I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. 12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[d] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.[e]’ 15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’ 19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen—23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.” Devotional(Mikey Skoglund) This passage is a very good example of a personal testimony at work. Paul is being accused by Jewish religious leaders and Paul is given the opportunity to defend himself. Now Paul doesn't try to make up some inspiring story to get people to believe his case, he simply uses his personal life story in order to convey the new hope he's found in Jesus Christ. Now granted Paul does have a pretty inspiring story on how God stopped him on the road to Damascus, but the point is that he used what he knew and what he experienced. You see, if we choose to surrender our lives to God and let Him work through us, then our testimonies will be powerful examples of His love moving through us to change the way we live our lives. In defending our faith to people, they can argue about a lot of stances we take on certain things, but as Paul addressed King Agrippa here in this passage, a personal testimony is hard to argue with. Prayer Lord, please help me to give You more control of my life. Help to shape my life more and more into what You have made me to be. Help me to defend my faith in You and help me to form my own testimony of what You've done in my life. Thank You for the powerful changes You've already made in me, and continue to draw me closer to You. Amen.

Acts 24:1-27

Paul States His Defense 1-4 Within five days, the Chief Priest Ananias arrived with a contingent of leaders, along with Tertullus, a trial lawyer. They presented the governor with their case against Paul. When Paul was called before the court, Tertullus spoke for the prosecution: "Most Honorable Felix, we are most grateful in all times and places for your wise and gentle rule. We are much aware that it is because of you and you alone that we enjoy all this peace and gain daily profit from your reforms. I’m not going to tire you out with a long speech. I beg your kind indulgence in listening to me. I’ll be quite brief.
5-8"We’ve found this man time and again disturbing the peace, stirring up riots against Jews all over the world, the ringleader of a seditious sect called Nazarenes. He’s a real bad apple, I must say. We caught him trying to defile our holy Temple and arrested him. You’ll be able to verify all these accusations when you examine him yourself." 9The Jews joined in: "Hear, hear! That’s right!" 10-13The governor motioned to Paul that it was now his turn. Paul said, "I count myself fortunate to be defending myself before you, Governor, knowing how fair-minded you’ve been in judging us all these years. I’ve been back in the country only twelve days—you can check out these dates easily enough. I came with the express purpose of worshiping in Jerusalem on Pentecost, and I’ve been minding my own business the whole time. Nobody can say they saw me arguing in the Temple or working up a crowd in the streets. Not one of their charges can be backed up with evidence or witnesses. 14-15"But I do freely admit this: In regard to the Way, which they malign as a dead-end street, I serve and worship the very same God served and worshiped by all our ancestors and embrace everything written in all our Scriptures. And I admit to living in hopeful anticipation that God will raise the dead, both the good and the bad. If that’s my crime, my accusers are just as guilty as I am. 16-19"Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do. I’ve been out of the country for a number of years and now I’m back. While I was away, I took up a collection for the poor and brought that with me, along with offerings for the Temple. It was while making those offerings that they found me quietly at my prayers in the Temple. There was no crowd, there was no disturbance. It was some Jews from around Ephesus who started all this trouble. And you’ll notice they’re not here today. They’re cowards, too cowardly to accuse me in front of you. 20-21"So ask these others what crime they’ve caught me in. Don’t let them hide behind this smooth-talking Tertullus. The only thing they have on me is that one sentence I shouted out in the council: ‘It’s because I believe in the resurrection that I’ve been hauled into this court!’ Does that sound to you like grounds for a criminal case?" 22-23Felix shilly-shallied. He knew far more about the Way than he let on, and could have settled the case then and there. But uncertain of his best move politically, he played for time. "When Captain Lysias comes down, I’ll decide your case." He gave orders to the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to more or less give him the run of the place and not prevent his friends from helping him. 24-26A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ. As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him. "That’s enough for today. I’ll call you back when it’s convenient." At the same time he was secretly hoping that Paul would offer him a substantial bribe. These conversations were repeated frequently. 27After two years of this, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Still playing up to the Jews and ignoring justice, Felix left Paul in prison.
Devotional (by Emily Alsobrook): The polar opposite personalities in this Scripture really grabbed my attention: Paul’s dedication and Felix’s complacency.
After reading up to this point in the Bible, we know full well that Paul is a devoted servant of Christ. And what is the result? He’s been flogged (whipped), ship wrecked, stoned close to death, put on trial, etc. His dedication led others to falsely accuse him and put him on trial.
Sometimes, because of our commitment to Christ, people will become uncomfortable and make up stories and accuse us of things we never did, as they did with Paul. I hope that when this happens to me I can respond like Paul, "Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do." Paul stands firm for what he believes and lives with conviction.
Felix, on the other hand, wavers with the public’s opinion and his only conviction is his ego. Felix, a governor of the area, is praised by the prosecution and he soaks up every word. The first four verses are the monologue of the prosecution buttering up the governor. I don’t know about you, but I was thinking, "Oh please! Get on with it and ‘be brief.’"
When it comes to making a decision, Felix hesitates. He wavers on making a political call for Paul’s verdict, and he wavers in making a personal decision about Christ. Talking about Christ was getting uncomfortable for him, and he was hoping Jesus would come at a more "convenient time." But the thing is, Jesus isn’t about convenience. When he comes into your life, He turns things upside down and everything changes, as we’ve see with Paul. I am sad for Felix and his attempt to fit Jesus in with everything else in life. Jesus needs to come first, then everything else in life fits in.

Prayer: Jesus, in this busy time of the year, with traveling, gatherings, gift giving, and barely hanging on, help me to be dedicated to You, like Paul was. I don’t want to be complacent like Felix. Help me to put You first, by reading Your teachings, living them out, and loving others, and then fitting everything else in. Thanks for coming downstairs to this earth, and showing us how it’s done. Help me to follow in your footsteps. I love You. Amen.

Acts 23:23-35

Paul Is Sent to Caesarea 23 Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. 24 Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix." 25 Then he wrote this letter to the governor:
26 "From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings! 27 "This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. 28 Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. 29 I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. 30 But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you." 31 So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. 32 They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. 33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix. 34 He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. "Cilicia," Paul answered. 35 "I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive," the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.
Devotional (by Derek Young):
For Paul, there must be a lot of uncertainty and confusion. He is being taken away to Caesarea to await his fate, all after a recent plot to take his life. Now, at the end of chapter 23, he is being imprisoned. Obviously, this is a really tough time in Paul’s life. Whereas before he had lived a relatively safe life, his life has now been radically changed; and where he once had control over it, he has none.
I am reminded of the first chapter in the book of James. Starting with verse 2, it says, "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."
I feel as though this is definitely an enduring time for Paul. Being imprisoned and having to endure the threat of death would be no easy task, by any means. However, Paul knows that 1) he has Jesus behind him completely and 2) that this enduring time, although hard, is going to help him shape his faith and mature in Christ. It can be hard for us to remember that in the midst of trouble. I know personally that sometimes it is almost impossible. However, we can take this passage from James and be encouraged, knowing that everything that we are going through is leading to something better; it is leading to us growing in faith and in Christ!

Prayer: Lord, I pray that you help me to remember that in times of trouble, You have Your hand upon my life. I pray that You help me to understand that You will give me no more than I can withstand and that whatever it is troubling me will end up helping me grow in You. I put my trust and faith in You and Your word and believe that I can do all things through You. Amen.

Acts 22:1-29

"Brothers and esteemed fathers," Paul said, "listen to me as I offer my defense." 2 When they heard him speaking in their own language,the silence was even greater.
3 Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished. 6 "As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 "‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. "And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me. 10 "I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ "And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’ 11 "I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. 12 A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. 13 He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him! 14 "Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. 15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’ 17 "After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance. 18 I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’ 19 "‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’ 21 "But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’" 22 The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, "Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!" 23 They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship 24 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. 25 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?"
26 When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, "What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!" 27 So the commander went over and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I certainly am," Paul replied. 28 "I am, too," the commander muttered, "and it cost me plenty!" Paul answered, "But I am a citizen by birth!" 29 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.
Devotional (by Derek Young):
I wonder what those around Paul during this passage were thinking at this point. Here is a man that, who not long ago, made a living persecuting Christians. Yet starting in verse 22, Paul is on the receiving end of what he used to call a career. This is truly one of the most remarkable stories in the Bible; it shows Paul’s humility and submission to the Lord, as well as the awesome, saving power of Jesus.
Authored by Paul himself, Romans 5:10 shows the amazing mercy and grace that even he, a persecutor of Christians, has in Christ. It states, "For since we were restored to friendship with God by the
death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life." I tend to believe that while writing this part of his letters to the Romans, Paul is
thinking about the time frame of Acts for inspiration. Paul knows he was saved only by the grace of God and because of this, has put his
complete trust in Him. He went just as far to agree to leave Jerusalem and took a number of whippings, all for the sake of the faith and trust he
had in the Lord.
Fortunately for us, whips are now thought of as inhumane, and we do not face any present danger of being hurt by one. However, when Jesus tells Paul to leave Jerusalem, that is something we can connect a little, or a lot more with. How many times have we felt Jesus tugging on our hearts to do something, despite the thought in the back of our
heads saying "There is NO WAY I could do that"?
It may be as simple as reaching out to a friend, a coworker, or even a stranger and sharing
the Gospel with them. It may be as big and complex as moving to a country across the world for any amount of time. Whatever it may be,
we should rest assured that, in Christ, we have the power to do so. Of our own accord, we can accomplish nothing, but through Christ we can
accomplish all things! If He can set Paul free from his chains and turn him into one of the greatest Christian influences the world has seen, surely he can help me bring that friend to know Him, go on a
missions trip, and do anything else that is in His will.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be open to hear You speaking to me. And give me the courage to do the things You ask me to do and reach out to those around me, especially during this Christmas season. In Jesus name, Amen.

Acts 21:17-40

17 When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly. 18 The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. 19 After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 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. 21 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. 22 What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 "Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. 24 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. 25 "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."Paul Is Arrested 26 So Paul went to the Temple 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.
27 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, 28 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." 29 (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.) 30 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. 31 As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately called out his soldiers and officersc] and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. 34 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. 35 As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. 36 And the crowd followed behind, shouting, "Kill him, kill him!"Paul Speaks to the Crowd 37 As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, "May I have a word with you?" "Do you know Greek?" the commander asked, surprised. 38 "Aren’t you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?" 39 "No," Paul replied, "I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people." 40 The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic.

Devotional (by Greg Gahl):
Persecution— I wonder how many of us stand up for what is right when we are pushed to our limits. Paul, who is doing God’s work, is being persecuted by a crowd who have made assumptions about him and has gone as far as trying to kill him.
It just makes me think how far I would go to spread God’s word. Would I be jailed for it, would I be beaten for it? Honestly, most days I really don’t think I would. I think it is human nature to pick the easy path. But Paul stands his ground and picks the more difficult and honorable path by facing the crowd to help spread God’s word. I strive to be more like Paul each day, to pick the more difficult yet more honorable path in God’s eyes.

Prayer: Lord, help me to go out into the world and go down the difficult path of sharing your word to non believers so that we might bring them closer to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 20:25-21:16

25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ " 36When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.Acts 21
On to Jerusalem 1After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
7We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ " 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord’s will be done." 15After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

Acts 20:1-24

Through Macedonia and Greece When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don’t be alarmed," he said. "He’s alive!" Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

Devotional (by Marilyn Brooks):
Do you live a Christian life everyday? Do you speak the word of God to others as often as you possibly can? Do you sacrificially serve the needs of others on a regular basis? I doubt that many of us measure up to Paul’s faithful and unselfish nature as described in this scripture. He lived to fulfill the mission that Jesus had given him as he traveled from city to city strengthening and encouraging all who believed. He preached the good news of God’s love and grace constantly and led others to believe.
As we come to understand His love for us and the sacrifice He made, we gain a passion to influence others to have the same faith in Him. By unselfishly sharing love and kindness, by having joy and patience, being gentle and good, we build a spiritual faith that shows though our actions. These actions can influence others to seek out a relationship with Jesus.

Prayer: Father, we thank you for your unconditional love and for your forgiveness. May we listen and observe others and hear when they are seeking a peace that only knowing Jesus can bring. Use us to speak and act in a way that others may come to know you and gain an everlasting faith. In Jesus name, Amen.

Acts 19:23-41

The Riot in Ephesus
23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. 25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: "Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!" 28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. 31 Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. 32 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. 34 But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 35 At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. "Citizens of Ephesus," he said. "Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. 36 Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess. 38 "If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. 39 And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. 40 I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say." 41 Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.
Devotion (By Jen Wilson):
In this passage, Demetrius tries to rally the others of Ephesus against Paul and his disciples because Demetrius felt threatened by their spreading the word of Jesus. He feared that as the people came to know Jesus that they would no longer buy the shrines that he made. He selfishly felt that the good news would threaten his own livelihood.
I remember the excitement and passion that I had when I first devoted my life to Christ. I felt a renewed reason for my life and began to look at things differently. I wanted to share my new found faith with those who did not yet know Christ. As time passed, however, things and people from my past tried to chip away at that excitement. I found that not everyone was excited to hear about this change in my life nor were they excited for me and the change that I had undergone. I struggled to understand why this was happening. I came to understand how strong fear can be.
Some of the people that I had known before I devoted my life to Christ were afraid of my decision. They didn’t understand what it meant for me and for our relationship. They also had a fear of the unknown- they didn’t know Christ and where therefore afraid of Him. With the help of more mature believers, I came to know that I was not the only person who had this experience. I also learned that I should pray for these people so that one day they might be able to come to know Christ and share in the excitement.

Prayer: Dear God, We thank you that you are always with us. Help us to not be afraid or feel threatened by the unknown. Help us to know how to share you with those who do not yet know you. Amen.

Acts 19:1-22

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" he asked them. "No," they replied, "we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 "Then what baptism did you experience?" he asked. And they replied, "The baptism of John." 4 Paul said, "John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus." 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. Paul Ministers in Ephesus 8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord. 11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. 13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, "I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!" 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. 17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. 21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. "And after that," he said, "I must go on to Rome!" 22 He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.
Devotion (by Mikey Skoglund):
Have you ever seen a miracle happen? Do you believe that miracles still happen today as they did back when Jesus was on the earth? I love this passage because God’s presence is very evident here with Paul. Looking in verse 11 it says that "God gave Paul power to do unusual miracles."

I think about the miracles I’ve seen in my own life. When I became a Christian in high school I remember the change that took place in my life. Growing up, I had a really hard time coping with the fact that I was a lot different than other people I always noticed people looking at me differently than others. At times this made me pretty bitter towards people and towards God for being made the way that I was; I thought He ‘messed up’ when He created me.

After coming to know Jesus as my Savior, my whole view of life changed. My attitude towards who I am was no longer revolved around my physical size or inadequacies, but is now rooted and identified in who Christ has made me and what He has done for me. I now see my size and ‘inadequacies’ as ways to witness and testify about Christ’s love and what God has done in my life.

As with Paul in this passage, I’ve experienced the transforming power of God through the love of His son Jesus Christ and this passage reminds me that it’s all about God and the power that He has given me that has transformed my life, and not anything that I’ve done on my own. Though not every miracle is a physical change that we can easily see with our eyes, God’s transforming power is as alive and around today as it was in this passage. What miraculous transformations is God trying to do in your life?

Prayer: God, thank You so much for your transforming power and love that You have poured out on me. Help me to remember that its not by my own power that I’ve been changed but its by Your love and grace. Thank You for another new day of Your wonderful love. Amen.

Acts 18:1-28

Acts 18
In Corinth 1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
7Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. 9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. 12While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13"This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." 14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." 16So he had them ejected from the court. 17Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos 18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God’s will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. 23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Acts 17:16-34

Athens 16The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, the angrier he got—all those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols.
17-18He discussed it with the Jews and other like-minded people at their meeting place. And every day he went out on the streets and talked with anyone who happened along. He got to know some of the Epicurean and Stoic intellectuals pretty well through these conversations. Some of them dismissed him with sarcasm: "What an airhead!" But others, listening to him go on about Jesus and the resurrection, were intrigued: "That’s a new slant on the gods. Tell us more." 19-21These people got together and asked him to make a public presentation over at the Areopagus, where things were a little quieter. They said, "This is a new one on us. We’ve never heard anything quite like it. Where did you come up with this anyway? Explain it so we can understand." Downtown Athens was a great place for gossip. There were always people hanging around, natives and tourists alike, waiting for the latest tidbit on most anything. 22-23So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. "It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with. 24-29"The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near! We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it? 30-31"God overlooks it as long as you don’t know any better—but that time is past. The unknown is now known, and he’s calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him before everyone by raising him from the dead."32-34At the phrase "raising him from the dead," the listeners split: Some laughed at him and walked off making jokes; others said, "Let’s do this again. We want to hear more." But that was it for the day, and Paul left. There were still others, it turned out, who were convinced then and there, and stuck with Paul—among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.

Devotional (by Emily Alsobrook): There’s a lot we could talk about regarding this section of Scripture: idols in our lives, the background of Epicureans and Stoics, or the culture of Athens. But I think the focal point should be Paul’s statement in verses 24-29. Paul’s words are very encouraging: God doesn’t play hide and seek with us. He’s not remote; He’s near!
God doesn’t play mind games with us, give us the silent treatment and hope we’ll figure out what He wants, or hide. He is everywhere we look, sometimes we just need to open our eyes and look through the lens of faith and hope.
Because, if we’re honest, a lot of people look through the dingy lens of cynicism, skepticism, and doubt. Life can do that to us. There are so many things in this life that are grappling for our attention. We could probably list 10 right now. But we have to make the choice to focus on who God is, and not those "gods chiseled out of stone." Those distractions don’t bring hope and peace, like God can. So this Christmas season, let’s wipe the cynicism and doubt from our lens of life. Let’s look at this world, our lives, with hope, anticipating to find signs of God.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for being near. I’m so glad you don’t play mind games or try to hide Yourself from me. There’s a lot going on my life right now. (Go ahead and list a few of them). Lord, help me to see You in the midst of all this. Help me to look for You with faith and hope. I pray those around me would see You this Christmas too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 17:1-15

In Thessalonica 1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
5But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.In Berea 10As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
13When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Devotional (by Isaac Pellerin):
The story of Paul’s journey definitely has a theme running through it. As more people receive the good news, others feel jealous that such a good thing should be given to people who don’t "deserve" it. In a lot of ways it is a repeat story of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Do you remember that story?
Jesus describes the coming back of the younger brother who had made some foolish decisions. In that moment the Father, with open arms, celebrated his son’s return. What good news, however, the older brother (who had everything the Father would give) became jealous that such forgiveness would be celebrated.
Interestingly enough, Jesus’ story was a little bit of foreshadowing to these moments. When the good news went out to the world, the Jews began to get jealous. It shows how fickle our hearts can be and that we need to guard against feelings of jealousy when others receive a wonderful gift!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of abundant life. As others receive the news of this great gift, help me to rejoice because of the greatness of your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 16:16-40

One day as we (Luke, Paul and their companions) were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed along behind us shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her. "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," he said. And instantly it left her. 19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted. 21 "They are teaching the people to do things that are against Roman customs." 22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 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. 28 But Paul shouted to him, "Don’t do it! We are all here!" 29 Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 He brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." 32 Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. 33 That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. 35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let those men go!" 36 So the jailer told Paul, "You and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace." 37 But Paul replied, "They have publicly beaten us without trial and jailed us—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!" 38 When the police made their report, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 They came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. 40 Paul and Silas then returned to the home of Lydia, where they met with the believers and encouraged them once more before leaving town.
Devotional (by Chris Bunch): Handling Irritations
How do you handle irritations? How do you deal with people who interrupt you? Most of us become very frustrated with irritations and interruptions in our lives. In our story today, Paul and Luke are heading to a quiet place to pray. As they approach this place, they are interrupted by this annoying little slave girl. She was disrupting their ministry.
Furthermore, this didn’t just happen one day, but the scripture says that for many days she would shout out loud, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved." Now, this is not a bad thing to say—-but for it to be shouted constantly for several days would become very annoying. However, even though Paul was filled with frustration, he resisted reacting in a mean way. Paul waited for the right moment and then relied on God’s power to respond to this irritation, which freed this little girl from this demon and honored and glorified God.
This story is a good reminder of how we should respond when we are interrupted or irritated by another person. Rather, than losing our temper, seek God’s power and wait for him to give you a clear sense of how to respond to the situation. When we let him guide our steps, the end result is always better.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, this week when I am irritated or interrupted, help me to seek your power first, rather than going-off on someone. Give me the wisdom of knowing how to wait for you to give me some clarity in the situation. Thank you so much for being patient with me when I have been an irritation. In Jesus name. Amen

Acts 16:1-15

1 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. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers[a] in Lystra and Iconium, 3so 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. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.
A Call from Macedonia 6 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. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia,[b] but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 9 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!" 10 So we© decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.
Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus 11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we agreed.

Devotion (by Mikey Skoglund):
I like to read about Paul’s journeys and the things that he accomplished for the Lord. This passage makes me think about the call on Paul’s life and how he would have visions and had extreme boldness to do what God asked of him. In verse 9, Paul has a vision to go to Macedonia, so he just picks up and heads to Macedonia. Sometimes when I read these passages of Paul’s travels and other accounts of Christians going near and far to spread the gospel, I feel like I’m not doing much here in central Indiana. But then I think again to the vision that Paul had to go to Macedonia, and I think ‘God has called me to be here in Indiana, and that’s where I need to be to spread His good news to the people around me.’
As much as I long to be adventurous at times and as much as I believe that there’s people that are supposed to go ‘to the ends of the earth’ to proclaim the Gospel, I feel like at this time in my life I’m where God has called me to be. Have you prayed lately about where God has called you to be? Sometimes, like in Paul’s case in this passage, God will tell us to pick up and go somewhere else to share His love with people, and sometimes God wants you just where you are. The point is, even when reading some accounts in the Bible of Christians going to faraway places or traveling all over to spread God’s love to others, its important to remember that they were just being obedient to what God wanted them to do. So I’m challenged by this passage to seek God’s wisdom and direction in my life to make sure that what I’m doing right here in Muncie, Indiana is pleasing to Him and is in accordance to His will.

Prayer: Lord, please give me direction and vision for my life like You did with Paul when you told him to go to Macedonia. Lord, I seek Your will for my life and ask that You would give me the strength and boldness to be obedient to You. Thank You for Your love and forgiveness in my life.
Amen.

Acts 15:22-41

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. 30The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas 36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Devotion (by Jana Goebel):
So often when I’ve read the list of restrictions in verse 29, I think about the specifics of each item. For the people in the church at Antioch, I think the specifics were important. The apostles knew that they couldn’t focus on a huge list, so they chose a few of the most important things that were personally and culturally relevant to their readers.
For us, I think we can look at these restrictions in a much broader sense. To me, they show that as sinful people we are far too often ruled by our physical appetites- both for food and physical pleasure. It is not the specific food that is unclean, nor are sexual desires in their proper context wrong; however, when we allow our physical desires to control us or to become more important than our desire to follow God’s will, we have a problem. So I must ask myself, what physical appetites do I allow to control my actions and decisions? Do I place greater importance on these appetites than I do on Christ?
How would you answer those questions? How can you (and I) begin to take steps to allow God to control me instead of my physical appetites?

Prayer: God in heaven, help me to submit my life to your will and to control my physical appetites. Help me to see when those physical appetites take on greater importance than you, and help me commit to a plan that will diminish their control in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 14:21-15:21

Plenty of Hard Times 21-22After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core of disciples, they retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn’t be easy: "Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times."
23-26Paul and Barnabas handpicked leaders in each church. After praying— their prayers intensified by fasting—they presented these new leaders to the Master to whom they had entrusted their lives. Working their way back through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia and preached in Perga. Finally, they made it to Attalia and caught a ship back to Antioch, where it had all started—launched by God’s grace and now safely home by God’s grace. A good piece of work. 27-28On arrival, they got the church together and reported on their trip, telling in detail how God had used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in. Then they settled down for a long, leisurely visit with the disciples.Acts 15
To Let Outsiders Inside 1-2 It wasn’t long before some Jews showed up from Judea insisting that everyone be circumcised: "If you’re not circumcised in the Mosaic fashion, you can’t be saved." Paul and Barnabas were up on their feet at once in fierce protest. The church decided to resolve the matter by sending Paul, Barnabas, and a few others to put it before the apostles and leaders in Jerusalem.
3After they were sent off and on their way, they told everyone they met as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria about the breakthrough to the non-Jewish outsiders. Everyone who heard the news cheered—it was terrific news! 4-5When they got to Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas were graciously received by the whole church, including the apostles and leaders. They reported on their recent journey and how God had used them to open things up to the outsiders. Some Pharisees stood up to say their piece. They had become believers, but continued to hold to the hard party line of the Pharisees. "You have to circumcise the pagan converts," they said. "You must make them keep the Law of Moses." 6-9The apostles and leaders called a special meeting to consider the matter. The arguments went on and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated. Then Peter took the floor: "Friends, you well know that from early on God made it quite plain that he wanted the pagans to hear the Message of this good news and embrace it—and not in any secondhand or roundabout way, but firsthand, straight from my mouth. And God, who can’t be fooled by any pretense on our part but always knows a person’s thoughts, gave them the Holy Spirit exactly as he gave him to us. He treated the outsiders exactly as he treated us, beginning at the very center of who they were and working from that center outward, cleaning up their lives as they trusted and believed him. 10-11"So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don’t we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?" 12-13There was dead silence. No one said a word. With the room quiet, Barnabas and Paul reported matter-of-factly on the miracles and wonders God had done among the other nations through their ministry. The silence deepened; you could hear a pin drop. 13-18James broke the silence. "Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets: After this, I’m coming back; I’ll rebuild David’s ruined house; I’ll put all the pieces together again; I’ll make it look like new So outsiders who seek will find, so they’ll have a place to come to, All the pagan peoples included in what I’m doing. "God said it and now he’s doing it. It’s no afterthought; he’s always known he would do this. 19-21"So here is my decision: We’re not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master. We’ll write them a letter and tell them, ‘Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not serve food offensive to Jewish Christians—blood, for instance.’ This is basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath."
Devotional (by Emily Alsobrook): Have you ever felt like an outsider, even in a small way? Co-workers talk about a game you missed on TV. Friends discuss and quote a movie you haven’t seen. Family talk about that relative you never met or that trip you had to miss. And you feel like an outsider.
This is how some of the Jews made non-Jewish people feel in Peter’s day. They wanted the non-Jewish people to behave and subscribe to the Jewish rules. But what Peter and his fellow disciples were trying to communicate was that Jewish did not equal a Christ follower. And when someone became a follower of Christ, they didn’t have to follow the rules of Jewish customs. God’s message, God’s son Jesus is for everyone, regardless of their culture, heritage, or background. And while there are certain behaviors and attitudes that followers of Christ should live by, they are determined by God and his teachings in the Bible, not by people and their ideology.
So the next time you feel like an outsider, remember that God is for everyone and His message of hope is for everyone. And if you’re anything like me, sometimes we can make others feel like outsiders. Again, remember that God is for everyone, including those on the outside.

Prayer: God, thanks for reaching out to everyone equally. Thank You that You love all people, even those who feel like outsiders. Help me to remember You when I feel like I’m on the outside and help me to love others so they don’t feel that way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 14:1-20

1At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. 2But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. 5There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 6But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7where they continued to preach the good news.
8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10and called out, "Stand up on your feet!" At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." 18Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. 19Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Devotional (by Isaac Pellerin):
If there is one thing for sure, it’s that it can be very hard to predict how people will respond in any given situation. Here we have Paul and Barnabas full of zeal, going out healing and proclaiming the good news of Christ’s love and forgiveness. Because the people of Lystra worshiped Zeus and expected only such healing power to come from a god, they turned Paul and Barnabas into gods. When Paul and Barnabas take that opportunity to explain that their power came from the true, living God who wants to be known, they have a hard time comprehending that.
In the moment, Paul’s enemies do their worst and cause the people to turn on him and have him stoned.
What I take from this is that even when all are against you, it doesn’t mean you should stop representing Christ for who He is. People desperately need to know that there is a God of Kindness who reveals himself to us when we take the time to seek Him.

Prayer: God, help me to have this zeal. Help me to see you as a God of Kindness and to best represent that kindness in who I am. In Jesus’ name. Amen.