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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 334 & 335

Dec1

A NEW Month!

SUNDAY and MONDAY studies are posted together on Mondays

Day 334 – Reading – 1 Corinthians 5 – 8

Day 335 – Reading – 1 Corinthians 9 – 11

Read and believe in Jesus!

SUNDAY – Day 334 –

I Corinthians 5 – 8.

Paul reviews more nitty-gritty problems in the Corinthian church stemming from reports from Chloe’s people or from letters some of the members had written. You would NOT think such problems as these would be found in a church, but we have to remember, these new believers have come out of heavy idolatry with its pagan worship practices.

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Immorality in the Church

Paul is shocked at the level of immorality that these believers were allowing to go unheeded in the church. 

A man was living immorally with his father’s wife (step-mom), and no one said a thing. The deed would have been punished by death under the Old Testament Jewish law, and in fact, was illegal under Roman law.  Paul said such “extreme wickedness” should result in the man being “removed” from the church. It was both a cancer to the body, but a horrible witness to outsiders.

Paul judged the man, and now the congregation needed to act too.  As long as the man remained unrepentant, they were to “turn him over to Satan” for the destruction of the flesh, so his redeemed spirit might be saved. 

  • “Do not associate with anyone in the world, and now especially anyone who bears the name of a Christian who is sexually immoral, an idolater, reviler, drunkard, swindler, or greedy.  Do not even eat with such a person.  Purge this evil person from among you.”

Paul tells them ALL to flee sexual immorality. 

  • “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?”  

He admits that some of them were in deep sin before they trusted in Christ. 

  • “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

And reminds them,

  • “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  And do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” So, glorify God in your body.”

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Lawsuits

Another “worldly” thing they were doing was taking a fellow believer to court for minor and major grievances.  

  • “Don’t you know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters about THIS life.”

He told them they should settle matters between themselves and not do anything that could make the outside world ridicule them, for the sake of Christ.  Or…. if need be, they were to simply suffer the wrong done to them.

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Marriage (or Not)

Paul was not married. His entire life was taken up by the mission God gave to him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. He admitted that a wife to him would be a hindrance, for part of him would want to serve his wife. Now he could wholeheartedly live for Christ, especially as persecution of Christians was escalating.

But it was not wrong to want to be married, and if both parties wanted that, they should go ahead, neither withholding their bodies from the other (except for a brief time for mutual prayer). 

But to the unmarried and widows, Paul says it is good for them to remain single.  As long as her husband is alive, the wife is bound to her husband. But if he dies, she is free to live alone or remarry.  “In my judgment, she is happier if she remains single.”

To the new believer who is married to an unbeliever, don’t be separated, for the spouse and the children are made “holy” by the believer.  However, if the unbeliever wants to leave, that is okay, but the parties should not divorce. 

  • “Let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to Him, and to which God has called him.”

In fact, Paul continues, “it’s best for anyone to remain in the position or condition in which you were called by God.”  Circumcised? Don’t be… er… uncircumcised.  Uncircumcised? Don’t be circumcised.  A slave, don’t be concerned about it, unless you are offered freedom.  A freedman?  Well, you are now a slave/servant of Christ. 

  • “So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 

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Food Offered to Idols

This seems like no big deal to us today. Because what difference is it if the steaks in the deli have been “waved” before an idol or not?  Meat is meat. An idol is nothing.

But for the Corinthians, this was an “iffy” problem.  All their lives, if most of them wanted to eat meat, they would go to the temple and buy it there, knowing these animals had been killed ritually in worship of a false god. And that the ritual worship involved prostitution of both young women and men.  It was all very sordid.  And wild. And fleshly.

Paul knew meat was meat.  But to these new Christians, meat – if they knew it came from the temple – stirred horrid memories of their old life.  When they cut into a steak, perhaps a female prostitute would come to mind… or other things.    If they went ahead and ate it, they would feel contaminated and wretched.

So, Paul says if eating (and serving) that food offered to idols would cause a Christian brother to stumble, THEY WERE NOT TO EAT MEAT.  Hey, veggies and quinoa are healthier anyway!   Of course, if it were possible to NOT KNOW where the meat came from (say they were eating with a shepherd or herdsman), then believers could eat freely.  It was not the MEAT.  It was the CONSCIENCE.

Even if your newbie guest does not partake, YOU might be hurting their conscience if you go ahead and eat the meat. For they couldn’t help but judge you.  So… best not to serve to or eat in front of them. 

  • “Sinning against your brother in this case and wounding their conscience when it is weak, means you are SINNING AGAINST CHRIST.  ‘Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I MAKE HIM stumble.'”

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MONDAY – Day 335

1 Corinthians 9 – 11.

Paul goes on instructing the Corinthian Church in nitty-gritty matters we may not have to face today. But the principles remain the same.  We are Christ’s, and our lives should glorify Him in everything. 

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Paul Surrenders His Rights.

All for Christ and His kingdom is Paul’s motto.  As a verified apostle, he would be free to claim some “rights.” One was to take a wife along with him, as Peter did. Another was the right to be financially supported by the church congregations or by those who originally sent him out. 

We have that today.  We pay pastors and visiting evangelists.  We support the missionaries we send to foreign countries.  We want these workers to focus solely on the ministry.  Nothing wrong with that.  

But Paul wanted to remain above reproach.  Yes, he agreed, as the Law of Moses said, an ox that ground the grain was not to be muzzled (he could munch a bit as he worked).  Also, both the plowman and the thresher should work in hopes of a portion of the crop. 

 And who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some milk?  What soldier serves at his own expense.  Nothing is wrong with all this.

He then asks, “Missionaries “sow” spiritual things among the people; would it be too much to “reap” material things from them?” The answer is it would NOT be too much to ask. 

But Paul has a higher thing.  He will not be obligated to anyone to support him. (When he does collect an offering from these Corinthians, it is for the needy in Jerusalem.)  Wherever Paul goes to preach and “reason” in synagogues, he works at his livelihood; tent-making.

Why?

Because he would rather die than preach the Gospel for reward (or even the semblance of reward).  He wants to present the gospel “free of charge.” He is entrusted with this “stewardship,” and he will be rewarded … later.

And he is free from any obligation to anyone, so that he might win more of them. Jews and Gentiles, the weak and strong.”

  • “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.  And …. I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be ‘disqualified’ as in a  running race.”

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Warnings Against Idolatry

Paul then turns to the history of Israel and their “love affair” not with God, but with idols.  He says that 1.) all the rescued Israelites went through the Red Sea on dry ground, 2.) all were under the “cloud” of God’s protection day and night in the wilderness, and 3.) all ate Manna and drank water from the Rock.  But God was not pleased with most of them, and overthrew them in the wilderness. 

  • Do not be idolaters, as some of them were, and 23,000 were killed in one day.
  • Do not indulge in sexual immorality.
  • Do not put Christ to the test as some did and were killed by serpents. 
  • Do not grumble as some did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
  • All these things were written to them for our example, our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
  • “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, H will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
  • THEREFORE, flee from idolatry. 

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Do All to the Glory of God.

The Paul reminds them that “all things are lawful (legal), but not all things are helpful.  All things are lawful, but not all things build up. 

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without ASKING any questions.

“If you are invited to dinner and you go, eat whatever is put before you ASKING no questions.

  • “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the GLORY OF GOD.”

“Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.”

“Don’t seek your own advantage.”

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Head Coverings (or Not)?

Should ladies wear hats? Wear their hair down? Cut their hair?  Put ribbons and jewels in it?  Should men cut their hair? Cut off their beards or sideburns? 

SHEESH, these Corinthians were sure bothered by “much ado about nothing.”

At least to us.

But hair stuff was important culture to the Corinthians.  Certain things MEANT certain things to them.  There were ways to honor and dishonor one another with head covering or head uncovering.

Every man who prayed with his head covered dishonored Christ.  (Yikes, what about yarmulkes or “beanies” today?)

Every wife who prayed with her head UNCOVERED, dishonored her husband. (Same, if her head was shaved.)

Short hair on women was disgraceful. Long hair on women is their “glory.”

If a man wears long hair, it is a disgrace.

Okay, is all that settled?

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The Lord’s Supper.

Then Paul turns from hair to a sacred practice in our churches today, to The LORD’s Supper, or as we oldies say, “Communion.”

Paul first warns them about practices that dishonor the sacred memorial.  Greed, discrimination, and divisions among them. They were coming to the “Table” in order to eat, not to remember the Lord. “Straighten up and fly right!”

Then he goes over the order of service.

  • Taking the bread, the Lord gave thanks, broke it, and shared it, saying, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
  • Then He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Then Paul’s warnings.

  • ‘Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.  Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For….. anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks JUDGMENT on himself.”

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have DIED.

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Then before going on to Spiritual Gifts, Paul says… “About the other things, I will give directions when I come.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 333

Nov29

Day 333 – Reading – 1 Corinthians 1 – 4

Read and believe in Jesus!

1 Corinthians 

Paul is back in Ephesus. 

Apollos has come from Alexandria, been taught more correctly by Aquilla and Priscilla, and sent to minister across the Aegean Sea in Corinth.  He’s doing a great job, and the people like him. He’s sooooo eloquent! Some REALLY like him, and an “Apollos sect” is formed. Those originally converted under Paul’s early ministry form another group, loyal to him. Others follow Peter (did HE ever go to Corinth?) and still others, no doubt very “pious, nose-in-the-air” ones, say they follow only …. the Christ.  it became a point of boasting as to who they followed.

The church in Corinth’s main problems were immaturity and worldliness, which Paul addressed firmly.  (And this wasn’t his FIRST letter to them!)  But note that he calls them…

“…to those sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

They were true believers, but so immature in the faith, like young school children.

 

I Corinthians  1.

It’s interesting that Paul had a “spy” in Corinth who reported to him about any difficulties.   

  • “Chloe’s people reported that there was quarreling among these factions.” (Today, there would be phone calls, texts, and emails. Then, they sent messengers.) 

Is there a little jab towards what they loved about Apollos in…

  • “For Christ sent me …. to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross be emptied of its power.”
  • “…we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
  • “God chose the weak things of the world, that no human being might boast in the presence oF God.  Let everyone who boasts, boast in the LORD!”

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I Corinthians 2.

Again, Paul states that when he first came to Corinth to proclaim the Gospel, he didn’t do it ‘with lofty speech or wisdom.’ 

  • “I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Then Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13.  

  • “For who has understood the mind of the Lord to instruct Him?  But we have the mind of Christ.”  (Believers can know the thoughts of the Lord Jesus by the word and the Spirit.) (Luke 24:45)

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1 Corinthians 3.

Paul may have come to the Corinthians in “weakness” and without “lofty speech,”  but it was because they were so immature, infants in Christ.  He had to feed them the “milk” of the word and not solid food.  Even now, Paul says, they were not ready for “meat” because they were still of “the flesh.”

How does he know?  Because there was jealousy and strife among them.  Those “Paul” and “Apollos” sects are evidence of immaturity.   

The Corinthians didn’t realize that both men were “servants” of the Lord, “through whom they were saved,” each preacher doing what God gave him.  Paul planted the seeds of the Gospel, Apollos watered that “seed,” but it was GOD who gave the growth. Neither the “planter” nor the “waterer” is anything, only God.

Then Paul switches to a new illustration: that of construction.  Paul compared himself to a master builder, laying the foundation of Jesus Christ.  Then someone else built on it to make a house.  Paul cautions them about building on their Christ-foundation with inferior materials, for the chief inspector will know.  It will be tested by fire.  What a waste to have all your worldly, fleshly “props” be burned on that last day!.  How much better and wiser, to use strong, tested materials that will pass through fire unharmed!

  • And, hey! you Corinthians, don’t you realize that YOU are the Temple of God, a dwelling place being built for Him. Take care how you build on that foundation (Christ).

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1 Corinthians 4.

  • “And so… this is how you Corinthian brothers should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  And please note, it is required of stewards that they be trustworthy.

And then, something strange.  Paul says that the apostles and preachers live at poverty levels in society.  They labored with their own hands to support themselves, which Greeks considered beneath their dignity. 

  • “We are weak…. we are in disrepute. At this present hour. we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and are buffeted and homeless. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we retreat.  We have become, and still are, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

WHOA!

Paul says he doesn’t write these things to make them ashamed, but to admonish them as children.  They do not have many fathers.  HE became their father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  So, like children, they are to IMITATE HIM.

  • “But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills.  What do you wish?  Shall I come to you with a ROD, or with LOVE in a spirit of GENTLENESS?”

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 332

Nov28

Day 332 – Reading – Acts 18 – 19

Read and believe in Jesus!

Acts 18.

Paul leaves Athens for Corinth and stays there a long time.

In Corinth, Paul (a tentmaker himself) meets and stays with a Jewish tentmaking couple. Aquila and Prisilla had fled from Rome because of Emperor Claudius. Paul earned a living during the week and “reasoned” each Sabbath in the Synagogue, trying to persuade both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus was the Messiah, slain and resurrected.

Silas and Timothy finally arrived from Macedonia to help in the ministry.  But the Jews were resistant, so the missionaries “shook out the garments,” saying he was on to the Gentiles. 

Next store to the synagogue lived Titus Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, also believed in the LORD with his entire household and was baptized. Paul based his ministry there, and one night had a clear vision from the Lord.

  • “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Paul stayed in Corinth for another 18 months, teaching the word of God among them. 

During the time Gallio was the Proconsul of Greece, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him to court, saying,

  • “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the Law.”

But Gallio had no time for them.

  • “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves.  I refuse to judge on these things.”

The angry Jews then seized Sosthenes, another believing ruler in the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio paid no attention to all of this. 

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Paul visits Ephesus for a short time.

After this incident, Paul stayed in Corinth for many days. Then he said goodbye and set sail for Ephesus, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. He spent a short time reasoning with the Jews in the synagogue, then he left the tentmaking couple there and sailed on to Caesarea.

He traveled up from there to Jerusalem to complete the vow he’d made. After that, he returned to his “sending” church in Antioch and spent some time there.

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Acts 18b.

Paul travels back to Ephesus.

Paul visited the original churches in Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen them, then kept going toward Ephesus.

While Paul was on the way, a man from Alexandria named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker, competent in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in Spirit.  He began speaking boldly in the Synagogue, but not the “whole story.”  Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and “caught him up” about the ‘Way” more accurately.

When Apollos desired to go across to Greece to minister there, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the believers there to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Messiah was Jesus.

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Acts 19.

Paul’s 3-year stay in Ephesus was eventful.

He first ran into twelve converts of Apollos and asked them if they’d received the Holy Spirit when they believed.  They hadn’t, Paul explained that John’s baptism was only for repentance.  Paul explained Jesus more clearly, and they believed.  He then baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus, and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues.

Paul went to the synagogue again and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them.  But when some were stubborn and continued in unbelief, even speaking evil of “The Way,” Paul withdrew and afterwards spoke daily in a community center called the Hall of Tyrannus.  This continued two years, and ALL THE RESIDENTS of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.  WOW!

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Miracles and Exorcists.

Amazing miracles verified the spoken word by the hands of Paul.  Even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched him were carried away to heal the sick and send out demons.  Then, as in Samaria, seven exorcists, all sons of one man, wanted that power.  They tried to cast out devils, too. Their words did not come with Holy Spirit power, however. They said,

  • “We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims, come out.”

The evil spirits said, 

  • “Jesus, we know, and Paul, we recognize, but who are YOU?”

Then the demons attacked the exorcists, stripping them and beating them up.

Seeing the weakness of human spiritualism, many former exorcists and magicians in the city, who had now come to believe in Jesus, came forward to confess and divulge their practices. They brought their books of spells and black arts and burned them in the sight of all. (Worth 50,000 silver pieces!)

So the Word of the Lord continued to increase and prevailed mightily.

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A Riot at Ephesus

The increase in the number and power of believers, along with the witness of the Holy Spirit and miracles, led many devotees to lose trust in the idols they had worshiped.  Ephesus was the center of the worship of Artemis (Diana), and the Silversmiths’ Union was powerful. When fewer people bought their little silver statues and shrines, their business began to hurt. 

The Union leader, one Demetrius, gathered together workmen of similar trades and roused them against Paul and the other believers. With more tradesmen and spectators gathering every minute, a great disturbance rocked the city.  The mob called, chanted, and screamed.

  • “Great is Artemis of Ephesus! Great is Artemis of Ephesus! GREAT IS ARTEMIS OF EPHESUS!!”

For two hours, the rioters shouted, pumped fists, and threatened to rage out of control. Confusion reigned. Then some of the rioters dragged out Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonian men who were traveling with Paul.  Paul wanted to go help them, but the believers there held him back.

A Jew named Alexander tried to make a defense, but they overpowered him with their continuous chanting.  Finally the town clerk was able to quiet them down.

  • “Men of Ephesus, who is it that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?  Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 
  • For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemous of our goddess. If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a complaint, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring a legal charge.  For … we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause to justify this commotion!”

And he dismissed the assembly.

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North to Macedonia.

(After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell, and they departed for Macedonia.)

WHEW!

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 331

Nov27

Day 331 – Reading – 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians (Wow)

Read and believe in Jesus!

1 & 2 Thessalonians

These are the two letters that Paul sent to the churches of Thessalonica. His visit there was cut short after the angry Jews from Philippi came and disrupted his ministry.  But many Jews, Gentiles, and prominent women were saved, and the Bereans made sure their beliefs were correct by checking out all the scripture references Paul stated. (They would make good teachers!)

After Paul was hurried off to Athens for his own safety, he was concerned about these believers. Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens, but were soon sent off to check on the believers – Silas to Philippi and Timothy to Thessalonica.  Paul then went to Corinth. 

When they later joined him there, bringing news and concerns, Paul wrote the first letter of encouragement to the baby church. Then he wrote the second one a few months later, after hearing of some false doctrine that had begun there.

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1 Thessalonians

Paul’s purposes in writing the first letter were many. (I’m sure he wished he were there to tell them in person, but God graciously arranged these letters for OUR benefit too.  Praise Him!

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Encouraging the church.

After sending greetings from all three of them to the new church, Paul jumps right in to encourage them.  He thanks God for them.  He prays for them.  He tells them that God has chosen them and loves them.  He tells them their faith is an example to the other churches.

Oh, how we should encourage other believers like this.

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Answering false allegations

Paul says they are missionaries who came to them to declare the gospel of God.  They came with gentleness. They were NOT a burden to them, but worked for their living.  They did NOT come to please men by flattery. They did NOT seek glory from people.  They did NOT come as a pretext of greed. They came only to share the Gospel.

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Comforting the persecuted flock

Paul thanks God constantly for them, because when they HEARD the word of God preached, they ACCEPTED it as coming from God, and not men.  And like their brethren in Judea, they suffered the same persecution.

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Expressing joy in their faith

Paul says he was desperate to come to them personally, but was hindered.  He views them as his hope, his joy, his crown of boasting before the LORD at His coming. He was so eager to learn about them that he sent Timothy.  And when Timothy returned with the news that they were standing fast in the LORD, he overflowed with thanksgiving and joy. 

He sends them a mini prayer – “Now may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, so He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, at the coming of Jesus.”

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Reminders of the importance of moral purity

Then Paul urges them to continue and do more to walk and please God.  For the will of God is their sanctification (growing in holiness). They are to abstain from immorality, for God has called them to holiness and has given them the Holy Spirit.

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Condemning the “sluggard” lifestyle

He tells them they have been loving one another as they were taught, but to do so more and more.  And also to: aspire to live quietly, to mind their own affairs, and to work with their hands, as he taught them.  This is so they may walk properly before unbelievers  (and be dependent on no one).

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Correcting their understanding of prophetic events.

Then Paul approaches the false teaching they have received about the second coming of Jesus.  He tells them not to grieve those believers who have died.  They have NOT missed Jesus, but will rise again, as He did, at His Coming.  Living believers will not precede them.  They will rise first, meeting those still alive, and both shall arise in the air to meet Jesus, and so all believers will always be with the LORD.

Then he addresses the false teaching that Jesus has ALREADY come, and they missed Him.  He tells them that NO ONE WILL KNOW Jesus has come until the very moment of His coming. There will be a command, the voice of an archangel, the sound of the trumpet of God.  They will KNOW.

“God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are AWAKE or ASLEEP, we might live with Him.

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Defusing tensions within the flock

Paul also addressed their attitude towards the ones he’s left in charge as their teachers and overseers. He tells them to “respect them who labor among you and are over you,” and to “esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

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Exhortations on the basics of Christian Living.

Then, he gives a series of short exhortations: “Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all!”  “Don’t repay evil for evil, but always seek to do good.”   “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”    “Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophecies, but test them.” “Abstain from every form of evil.”

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Benediction

“And may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and my your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.”

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2 Thessalonians

Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonian church was shorter and may have served as a postscript, summarizing what he had heard and wanted to add to their instruction after the first letter. 

The first two chapters contain a lot of prophetic material about Jesus’ second coming, because this was the main issue the false teachers were preaching. Some said Jesus had ALREADY come. Others said that believers who had died would miss out on Heaven.

Paul comforted the persecuted believers.

And again, Paul gives thanks for the believers in Thessalonica, for their faith and love for one another, even though suffering. Those who afflict God’s people, will be punished in eternal destruction from the Lord.  Paul prays that the name of Jesus will be glorified in them.

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Paul corrected the believers who had been taught falsely and were frightened.

He tells them not to be “shaken” thinking they missed the coming of Jesus.  “Let no one deceive you that the day has come!”  Paul assures them that it won’t happen until the “Antichrist” (the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction) appears and does his despicable work. 

Paul had told them about this when he was there, now he tells them to remember.  This lawless one, whom the Lord will kill, is the activity of Satan for those who are perishing.  God is sending to these condemned people a strong delusion that they will believe the lie. 

BUT, Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians, because God chose them to be saved, through the sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.  They will obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.  So stand firm and hold fast to what you were taught in our spoken words and this letter.

And he prays for them, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our father, who love us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

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Paul confronted the disobedient and undisciplined believers.

Paul asks that they also pray for him and the others that they be delivered from wicked and evil men who oppose the Gospel.

Again he exhorts them against idleness.  Waiting for Christ return does not mean doing nothing.   They are to work, and not eat if they don’t work.  Even as they preach and minister to each other, they are to hold jobs and labor, just as Paul had done, and not be a  burden to anyone.

They are also to not grow weary in doing good.  If anyone of you does, take note of him and I’ll deal with it when I come again.

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Benediction

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.”

 

Then Paul signs the letter in the typical way he does, with large letters. Some say his eyesight is failing.

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 329

Nov25

Day 329 – Reading – Galatians 4 – 6

Read and believe in Jesus!

Galatians 4.

Paul continues his letter, urging the new believers in those four churches in Galatia to hold fast to their faith. He first scolds them, calling them foolish,  and then pleads with them not to go back into the “slavery” of justification by good works.

  • “STAND FAST in the liberty in which Christ has set you free. BE NOT ENTANGLED with the yoke of bondage.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for ANYTHING.”  Only FAITH in Christ’s atoning work on the Cross.”

Paul gives an example from the Old Testament of believing in God totally VS depending on our own strength for righteousness.”  Abraham’s son, Ishmael, was conceived by Hagar from Abraham (and Sarah’s) own self-will.  But Isaac was the son whom God planned and promised. He was conceived and born way after the time Sarah could naturally become pregnant.  Hagar represents receiving the promises of God by the “flesh” (Paul says, Mount Sinai and the Law), while Sarah represents “faith” and the Heavenly Jerusalem.

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Galatians 5

Don’t go back to a system that put a heavy yoke on you, and it didn’t work to make you righteous! 

  • Walk by the Spirit of God. 
  • If you are led by the Spirit, you are NOT under the law. 
  • The WORKS of the flesh are impure, sinful, evil, mean, argumentative, divisive, and selfish. If you do those things, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 
  • Live by the Spirit. 
  • The Spirit’s fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and against all of these there is no law.
  • Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 
  • If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  

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Galatians 6.

Paul writes further, illustrating how a person lives by the Spirit in all goodness.

Restore a brother who is caught in a transgression … in a spirit of gentleness. 

Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the “law” of Christ (which is love).

Do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

  • “Be not deceived.  God is not mocked.  Whatever you sow, that is what you will reap. The one who sows to his own flesh, will from the flesh reap corruption.  But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

And remember, those who want YOU to be circumcised want it so THEY can boast in you.  THEY don’t keep the law; they just want YOU to so they can boast. 

As for me, I “boast” only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.   Circumcision doesn’t matter!! Only being a new creation in Christ matters. 

And to all of you who think this way, “Peace and Mercy” be upon you, and upon the Israel of God. 

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 326

Nov22

Day 326 – Reading – James 1 – 5

Read and believe in Jesus!

James 

Nope, this is not the brother of John who was beheaded by Herod Agrippa.  THIS James is the 1/2 brother of Jesus, the oldest in the list of Jesus’ 1/2 siblings, according to Mark 6:3.  Another of Jesus’ 1/2 brothers was Judas, who wrote the New Testament book of Jude.

While Jesus was alive, His brothers did not believe in Him, and even mocked him. But after His death and Resurrection, at least these two believed, and saw Jesus alive before His Ascension. See 1 Corinthians 15:7.

James became the leader of the Jerusalem Church and was close to Peter and John. He led the first and most important Jerusalem Council, which established once and for all what a person must do to be saved. (Acts 15) 

His book was written to Jewish believers who were scattered after the persecution by Herod Agrippa.  James is the earliest written book in the New Testament, written about 44-49 A.D.  It has more than 40 references to the Old Testament, and more than 20 to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  James was martyred in 62 A.D.

James 1.

Testing your Faith.

  • “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you KNOW that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
  • “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

Hearing and Doing the Word.

  • “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
  • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
  • “The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts – he will be blessed in his doing.”

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James 2.

The Sin of Partiality

  • “Show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”
  • “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He has promised to those who love Him?”
  • “Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?  Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable Name by which you were called?”
  • “If you love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. But if you show partiality, you are committing a sin.”

Faith Without Works is Dead

  • “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can THAT faith save him?”
  • “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and fed,’ without giving them the things they need, what good is that?”  THAT faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
  • “Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith BY my works.  Faith, apart from works, is dead.”
  • (James gives the example of Abraham, who believed God and that faith was counted to him as righteousness.  But this same Abraham was also justified by his works, when he obeyed God and offered up his son Isaac on the altar.)

(Wouldn’t you have loved to see James and Paul sparring on this subject, both being in the right?

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James 3.

Taming the Tongue

  • “Not many of you should become teachers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (Teachers use their “tongues” often and must be very careful.)
  • “The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.”
  • “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.  The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”
  • “No human being can control the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it, we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  These things ought not to be so!

Wisdom from Above

  • “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This wisdom is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”
  • “But the wisdom from above is first pure, the peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
  • “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

And from James 1:5-7

  • “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting.  THAT person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”

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James 4.

Warning about Worldliness

  • “What causes quarrels and fights among you?  Is it not your passions that war within you?”
  • “You desire and do not have, so you murder.”
  • “You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”
  • “You do not have, because you do not ask.”
  • “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions.”
  • “Adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”
  • “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
  • “Submit yourselves therefore tooo God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
  • “Be wretched and mourn and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord ….. and He will exalt you.”

Boasting about tomorrow

  • “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit….'”
  • “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?  You are a mist that appears and vanishes!”
  • Instead, you ought to say, ‘IF the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'”  All such boasting is evil”

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James 5.

Warning to the Rich

  • “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.”
  • “Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.”

Patience in Suffering

  • “Be patient, therefore, until the coming of the Lord.”
  • “Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
  • “Do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is at the door.”
  • “As an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”
  • “You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how He is compassionate and merciful.”

The Prayer of Faith

  • “Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray.”
  • “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”
  • “Is anyone among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church and let they pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
  • The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.”
  • “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (and forgiven).”
  • “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”  
  • (Elijah as an example.)
  • “And if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering, will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.”

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 325

Nov21

Day 325 – Reading – Acts 13-14

Read and believe in Jesus!

Acts 13 – 14

These two chapters tell of Paul’s first Missionary Journey.

Note the circumstances of his name change in 13:1-13.

In the Antioch church, there were five main prophets/teachers. Barnabas, Simeon (a black man), Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen (of Herod Antipas’s court), and Saul, the ex-persecutor of Christians. (Wow, what an eclectic group!)  A perfect combo to lead and grow the Gentile church at Antioch.

During one worship service, the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work. The group prayed and fasted, and then laid their hands on these two men to send them off.  Barnabas took along his young cousin, John Mark, even though the Holy Spirit did not call the young man. 

The Holy Spirit leading them, the men went down to the port of Seleucia and sailed to Cyprus, Barnabas’ homeland. 

In the town of Salamis, SAUL proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the JEWS.  When the men had visited synagogues throughout the island, they came to Paphos and happened upon a certain magician or sorcerer. He is described as “a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.”  It seems he may have been an adviser to the Roman Proconsul, Sergius Paulus. 

The Proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul, because he wanted to hear the word of God. However, the sorcerer opposed them, seeking to turn Sergius away from the faith. 

SAUL, now called by his Roman name, PAUL, looked sternly at the man and proclaimed, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?  Now, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.”

Immediately, darkness fell on the man, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand.

Then the Proconsul BELIEVED the message of salvation, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

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Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga.  (Did you notice that now Paul is leading the group and not Barnabas?)  Also, this “missionary business” with all the travel, and maybe especially the cursing of sorcerers, was too “heavy” for the young John Mark, and he left the team at Perga and went home to Jerusalem. 

(This could be a warning that believers are to wait for the definite calling of the Lord in their lives before starting out. Jesus had told his followers to “count the cost.”)

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From the port town of Perga, Paul and Barnabas went on to Antioch in Pisidia.  There, they attended a synagogue service. And as was the custom, after the reading of the scriptures, they were invited to give a “word of encouragement” for the people.  So Paul stood up and began … preaching.

He started with the history of Israel (like Stephan had).  The patriarchs, the time in Egypt, the wilderness wanderings, conquering the Promised Land, the time of the judges, the prophet Samuel, and the first king. He ended with King David, a man after God’s heart. THEN came the “main point.”   

“Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as He promised.”  And then, “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this savior/salvation.”

Paul goes on to describe that, although He was sinless, Pilate executed him. And this was according to the scriptures.  And how this Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, again according to the scriptures.

“And we bring you the Good News that what God promised to our fathers, this He has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus.”  “Let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by Him, everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses.”

Whoa, Paul!! 

But as they left the synagogue, the people begged that these things might be told them again the next Sabbath.  And after the meeting, the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas.

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The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. BUT… when the Jews saw the crowds… they were FILLED with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul said.

Paul enraged them more by saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you FIRST.  But since you thrust it aside, you judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life.  Behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.”

At this, the Gentiles rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.  And the Word spread through the whole region. 

BUT THE JEWS incited devout WOMEN of high standing, and the leading MEN of the city, who stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out.  At the city line, the missionaries shook off the dust of the city of Antioch in Pisidia from their feet (as Jesus had instructed his apostles)  and went on to Iconium.  

And, the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

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Acts 14.

In Iconium, they again FIRST entered the synagogue and spoke “in such a way” that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

But again, the unbelieving Jews stirred them up and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

However, Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who granted them signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

Eventually, the unbelieving Jews stirred up some people to attempt to stone the apostles.  They learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding country. And … they continued to preach the Gospel.

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Now at Lystra, a crippled man who had NEVER walked, listened to Paul speaking, and faith was built up in him.  Paul looked at him, seeing the faith, and said aloud, “Stand upright on your feet.”  The man, crippled from birth, sprang up and began walking! 

WHOA!

When the crowds saw this miracle, they immediately thought Paul and Barnabas were the Greek gods, Zeus and Hermes, come to visit them.  The priest of Zeus brought out garlands and oxen and wanted to offer sacrifices. 

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! 

When Paul and Barnabas saw what they were about to do, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, saying. “Men, why are you doing this? WE are men like you, and have brought the Good News that you should turn from these things to THE LIVING GOD, Creator of Heaven and Earth.”

But even with these words, they were scarcely able to restrain the people from offering sacrifices to them!

About then, the men from Antioch and Iconium came and persuaded the roused crowds to stone Paul.  They did!!!  And they dragged him out of the city as dead.

But, when the new believers gathered about him (did they pray?), Paul rose up and entered the city again.  (FEARLESS!)  

The next day, Paul and Barnabas went on to Derbe.  They preached the Gospel there and many were made disciples. 

Then the pair circled back through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, strengthening the new disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  Paul also appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting.

Then the missionaries continued back through Pisidia, and to Pamphylia, and Perga.  There, they caught a boat back to the home church in Antioch, where they had been commissioned.

And, as missionaries do today, they gathered the church together and told them all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 

Then they rested for a while.

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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 324

Nov20

Day 324 – Reading – Acts 11 – 12

Read and believe in Jesus!

Acts 11.

Chapter 10 tells of Peter going to the home of a Roman Centurion whose heart God had prepared to receive the Gospel. Cornelius and his whole household believed the Good News that Peter preached, and – just as had happened “at the beginning” with Peter and the other 120 disciples, the Holy Spirit came on this house.  They also spoke in other tongues as evidence, and Peter realized that if God gave them the same gift, who was he to object?

Well, that incident had spread throughout Judea, and the Jewish believers began to question what had happened.  How could they believe in the Jewish Messiah if they were uncircumcised Gentiles? Shouldn’t they convert to Judaism first? 

So Peter carefully explained – in detail – what had happened, from that first appearance of a sheet filled with unclean animals, and God’s order to “Kill and eat” to the extraordinary act of the Holy Spirit in coming upon these “uncircumcised” Romans and giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

“Who was I to stand in God’s way?” asked Peter.

Silence.

Then, “Praise God!” and then, “Hallelujah!” And many other words to praise and glory to God, who had “given to the Gentiles also repentance that leads to life.”

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Now, after Stephen’s death and Paul’s persecution, many believers spread beyond Judea, Samaria, and Galilee.  They returned to their homes in Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch.  As they went, they spread the Good News, but ONLY to Jews.  BUT … SOME who went to Antioch spoke to the Hellenist Jews (Gentiles converted to Judaism).  And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great many believed and turned to the Lord.

When this news came to the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived, he saw the “grace of God” and was glad.  He exhorted them to remain faithful to the Lord.

More and more came to the Lord, and Barnabas needed help.  He went to nearby Tarsus and grabbed Saul.  He brought the now seasoned Gentile preacher to Antioch.  For a whole year, they met as a church and taught a great many people.

(It was here in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”)

And then, a group of prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. One man, Agabus, prophesied a worldwide famine.  So the disciples in Antioch determined to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

And they did, sending their offering with Barnabas and Saul. (The famine did happen in the days of the Roman Emperor Claudius.)

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Acts 12.

Back to Jerusalem and the apostles.  About the time of the huge evangelism in Antioch, Herod Agrippa, the king of northern Samaria and Galilee, laid “violent hands on some who belonged to the church.”  He thought that doing this would win his favor with the Jewish leaders. 

He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword (beheaded him). (This was the first of the initial disciples of Jesus to be martyred.)   

When Herod saw that it pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter as well. He put Peter in prison with four squads of soldiers to guard him, thinking that after Passover, he would kill him.  

(Did that threat of death make Peter think of that Passover when Jesus had been crucified?)

But Herod did not account for the power of prayer.  While Peter was in prison, the church made EARNEST PRAYER for him to God.

The night before Herod was to bring out and execute Peter, the apostle had a visitor in prison.  As he slept between two soldiers, bound with chains, with two more soldiers standing guard at the door … an angel of the Lord came to him and struck Peter on his side. (Was he sleeping so soundly??)

“Get up quickly,” the heavenly being said. Instantly, the chains fell off Peter, but without waking the soldiers.

“Dress yourself and put on your sandals.”  Peter obeyed.

“Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter obeyed, thinking he was dreaming it all.

When they came to the city gate, it opened for them of its own accord (think grocery store doors!), and they went out and walked along the street.  Then the angel disappeared, and Peter “came to himself.”

“Now I am sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter then went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were meeting and praying through the night for Peter’s release.

Peter knocked on the door, wanting to get out of public view.

The maid, Rhoda, came to answer.  Hearing Peter’s voice, she was so thrilled that she left him there, waiting outside, while she ran to tell the others.  (Okay, we’ve all been as excited and done something so dumb!)

“You are out of your mind, Rhoda,” they told her when she came running into the prayer meeting.

But Peter kept knocking!  They finally came, opened the door…. and were AMAZED!

“Tell James and the others that I’ve been set free by God’s angel,” Peter told them, then went out to another place. 

The next morning, the guards discovered that Peter was missing.  Herod was furious, and after examining all the (innocent) soldiers, he had them all put to death for “dereliction of duty.”

Then Herod left Jerusalem and went down to the Roman city of Caesarea. 

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The discontented king had a quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon to the north.  They came to Herod asking for peace, for during this time, they depended on the king for food. 

Herod put on his robes and came out to them. He gave a pompous speech as he sat on his throne. 

The sycophant people, wanting to massage his ego, said, “Oh…the voice of a god, and not of a man.”

Herod gloried in the praise, thinking it very appropriate, but…. an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give GOD glory.

And…. immediately he was eaten by worms and breathed his last!  Yikes!!

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But the Word of God increased and multiplied.  And Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch from Jerusalem after delivering the relief offering. 

And… they brought back John Mark with them.

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 323

Nov19

Day 323 – Reading – Acts 9 – 10

Read and believe in Jesus!

Acts 9.

Have you ever stood up and given your “testimony?”  You know, the story of how you were saved? Paul tells the story of his conversion two other times (Acts 22 and 26), including different details in each, depending on the audience. (Jews or Gentiles). He also tells portions of it in his letters.

This account in chapter 9 is told by Luke, probably after he interviewed Paul sometime during their travels together. In all the cases, Paul has no problem stating how sinful he was.  In fact, in other of his letters he claims to be the vilest of all sinners because he murdered believers.  YES, Jesus can and will save the the worst of the worst for His Glory.

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Luke’s story begins and describes Saul (his Hebrew name) as “still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.”  In fact he had even obtained letters from the high priest (Caiaphas) to go as far as Damascus to root out believers (men and women) and bring them to Jerusalem for trial and possible execution.  (He reminds me of the stories of the Nazis rooting out Jews  during WW II and carrying them off to concentration camps and the gas chambers.)  Saul was definitely FEARED everywhere.

  • Why so vile? He was a very strict Pharisee, a keeper of the minute letter of the Law to the extreme.  He falsely believed he was protecting God’s Law by killing these “heretics”. (Jesus had predicted that some would believe they were doing God a service by killing Christians. See John 16:2)  And of course Satan stirs evil in our hearts, always against Jesus and those who love and serve Him)

As Saul came near to Damascus, a bright light flashed from heaven around him.  Whether walking or riding, Saul fell to the ground, cringing at the power of that Light.

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  came a voice like thunder. The men with him heard a “voice” but saw no one.

“Who are you, Lord?” the terrified Saul asked.

“I AM Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  Now arise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Saul got up, staggering, his arms flailing because he could see nothing.  The men with him led Saul by the hand into the city. (What a curious sight – this dusty, finely-dressed Pharisee being led like a blind beggar into the walled city.)  On the main street, a man named Judas (innkeeper?) lodged Saul (and the men?).  Saul remained there in darkness, neither eating or drinking for three days.

  • What were his thoughts, do you think?  Was he fearful of his future, as a blind man?  Was he thinking about Jesus’ words…and his recent horrific actions against believers…. and this Jesus? It’s even possible he had been among the self-righteous Jews who called “Crucify Him!” at Jesus’ trial.
  • During that time, Saul prayed.  Was it a prayer of confession, godly sorrow, and repentance?  Did he turn his heart to the Lord?  Was he now willing to do … anything?
  • And then God gave Saul a vision.

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Meanwhile, across town, there was a faithful disciple named Ananias.  God gave him some curious and frightening instructions.  “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold he is praying, and he has seen a vision of a man named Ananias come in and lay hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

Saul? Of Tarsus? Ananias was afraid. “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem.  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on his name!”

“Go (Ananias), for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much HE must suffer for the sake of my name.”

So Ananias obeyed.  He went to Judas’ house, and then laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul (wow!), the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Then, what seemed like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and ate and was strengthened.

For some days, Saul was with the disciples at Damascus.  He immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”  (This so-called “blasphemy” is what he had arrested hundreds for, but now he believes it himself.)

Those who heard him, asked, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name?  And has he not come HERE for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus WAS the Messiah.

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Well, this was NOT what the Jews in town thought was going to happen.  Where was their “hit man?”  And so, like with Jesus, they plotted to kill Saul.  They watched the gates day and night in case he tried to escape.

But the plot became known to our newly-converted man of God, and the disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a hamper.  (How embarrassing!)

  • Then… there is a part of Saul’s partial testimony in Galatians 1:11-17, that reveals his next step.  He tells the Galatians that after Damascus, and before going to Jerusalem he…..  “I did not immediately consult with anyone, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned to Damascus.
  • After THREE YEARS, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and remained with him for fifteen days.  I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 
  • Then I went into the region of Syria and Cilicia (Paul’s hometown). I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea, although they heard of my conversion and glorified God.”

I’m thinking that during those three years in the desert, God took Saul over the entire Law and Prophets and Psalms, even more, perhaps, than with those two on the Emmaus Road, and revealed Himself through scripture.  And Saul, who knew the scriptures in detail, had his eyes opened.

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Back to Acts 9:26.

When Saul finally went up to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples.  THEY were afraid of him, for they didn’t believe he was a disciple.  But Barnabas, that big encourager, took Saul under his wing.  He brought Saul to the apostles, and repeated the details of his conversion on that road to Damascus, and how afterwards he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

So Saul was able to be with the apostles, and at one point, he even disputed with those Hellenists whom he’d been with when they accused Stephen.   But… ah oh!  Saul’s previous buddies now turned on him, and threatened to kill him.

It was then that the apostles sent him off to Tarsus (his home country).  Saul ministered there among his own people – gaining experience in dealing with Gentiles – for seven years, until…..  See Acts 11:25-26.

Meanwhile, “the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up.  And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”

  • It took Saul’s vicious persecution to scatter them out of Jerusalem to Judea, Galilee and Samaria (as Jesus said).  Now, for a time they could evangelize these areas in peace.  But more persecution would come, after King Herod martyrs the Apostle James, John’s brother……

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In this peace time,  Peter went “here and there” to evangelize and minister.  At Lydda, he, through the power of the Holy Spirit, healed a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed for 8 years.  And many came to the Lord.

In Joppa, a faithful disciple, a woman named Dorcas (or Tabitha) died.  Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit raised her to life.  And again, many in Joppa believed in the Lord.

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Acts 10.

Peter stayed at the home of one Simon, a tanner, while in Joppa…

Meanwhile, a day’s journey up the coast in Caesarea (a Roman occupied town), there lived a godly Centurion named Cornelius, who feared God with all his household.  He was a generous man and gave alms to the people.  He also prayed to God continually.

Wow.  (So opposite from Saul!)

Cornelius had a vision in which an angel appeared to him. (So different from Saul).

Cornelius:  “What is it, Lord?” he cried in terror.

Angel: “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.  Now, send to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.  He’s staying at the tanner’s house by the sea.”

Cornelius immediately obeyed, sending a couple servants and a devout soldier on the mission.

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Meanwhile, in Joppa, Peter was getting hungry.  Simon’s servant said lunch would be ready soon.  Meanwhile Peter also had a vision.  It was weird.  A sheet, caught up by its for corners descended from heaven.  One corner was let down revealing all kinds of animals and reptiles, and birds of the air.

A voice:  “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.”

Now Peter was hungry, but not THAT hungry.  He had never ever eaten anything unclean and he was not about to now.

Peter: “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten ANYTHING that is common or unclean.”

A voice: “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

Before Peter could think about the vision, it happened again.  And a third time!  What in the world was happening?  And just as he was about to ask about lunch, the men from Cornelius came to the door asking for him.

The Spirit:  “Behold, three men are looking for you.  Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

Peter to the men:  “I’m the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

And the men explained to him about Cornelius and his vision and summons.  “You are to come to his house where he can listen to what you have to say.”

They all ate lunch at the tanner’s home, then the next day, they set off for Caesarea.  Peter took some of the believers with him (as witnesses).

The arrived and Cornelius was expecting them.  He’d invited a bunch of his relatives and close friends too, to come and listen to what Peter had to say.

Peter (often with his foot in his mouth) began by saying, “Um.. you know that’s it’s unlawful for a Jew to associate with Gentiles, BUT God has show me that I should not call any PERSON common or unclean.  So….”  

And after hearing Cornelius’ story, Peter opened his mouth and preached to their eager hearts the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, ending with, “…everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

And while he was still talking, the Holy Spirit fell on them with power.  They began speaking in other languages and extoling God.

Peter, and the brothers with him, were utterly amazed.  He said, “Can anyone refuse water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?

And they all were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  And Peter stayed with them for some days, teaching them about Jesus.

WOW.

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Can you see you God working?

Saul – a Jew thoroughly knowledgeable in the scriptures – practicing how to reach and teach Gentiles in Tarsus.

Peter – a dyed in the wool Jew,  – having his eyes, mind, and heart opened to the fact that Gentiles can also believe and receive salvation.

These two would be coming together soon….. and the whole world would explode with the good news of Jesus, the Messiah, and salvation for all who would believe!

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 322

Nov18

Day 322 – Reading – Acts 7-8

Read and believe in Jesus!

Acts 7.

(Remember yesterday that Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, aggravated some Jews in the Greek synagogue (including possibly Saul), with wise and powerful words about Jesus.  They tattled to the religious leaders, and he was seized.  Today, Stephen stands before the council whose members are a little unsettled by his face, glowing like an angel’s.)

“How do you plead?” asked the high priest.

Stephen begins his defense, or really his defense of Jesus.  It’s 53 verses long and full of Old Testament quotes and the history of the Jews, starting with Abraham, highlighting Moses, and ending with Stephen’s harsh indictment of THEM. 

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.  As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?  And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom YOU have now betrayed and murdered, YOU who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Whoa!  The council was enraged!  They ground their teeth at him!

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.   And he TOLD THEM what he saw.

The Council cried with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and then rushed at him. They grabbed him and dragged him outside the city and threw him down.  Then they stoned him to death.

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!  Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”  And Stephen fell asleep (and was received into Heaven).

The garments of the Jews who stoned him were laid at the feet of Saul for safekeeping.  Saul watched as Stephen was mercilessly killed, and he “approved of his execution.”

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Acts 8.

And so we see how a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem. Stephen was the first martyr.  Devout men buried him, and there were great lamentations over him. Maybe for the first time, the believers seriously “counted the cost” of their faith in their living Lord.

After approving of Stephen’s death, Saul ravaged the church, and, entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 

Believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, fleeing his rage while preaching the message of Jesus. Only the apostles stayed in Jerusalem.

Philip, another of the deacons, went to Samaria and proclaimed Christ with signs and wonders. Many heard and saw and rejoiced. 

A sorcerer named Simon lived there and observed the healings and casting out of demons, and “was amazed by that power.”  Verse 13 says that “Simon himself believed the good news and was baptized, and stuck with Philip.”  However, when Peter and John came from Jerusalem to check out this revival and pray for the believers to receive the Holy Spirit as they had, old Simon approached them with his wallet open.

“Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”  I’ll pay you!

Peter responded harshly, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have no part in this, for your heart is not right before God.  REPENT of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord, if possible, that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity!”

Simon responded, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you said may come upon me.”

But was his heart sincere?  Had he truly believed and misunderstood?  Or was his heart always full of guile?  Was there repentance?  Or was his response only to escape Peter’s words?  We don’t know.

Peter and John then returned to Jerusalem, preaching along the way in the towns of Samaria.

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Philip was next called to a barren road along the Gaza Strip, where he saw a chariot heading south.  In it was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her treasure. (This was revealed to Philip by the angel, for he couldn’t have discerned it by seeing the man.)

The Ethiopian had been to Jerusalem to worship, so he was a converted Jew. He was now returning, seated in his Chariot, while the driver kept the horse(s) steady, reading from the prophet Isaiah, in chapter 53. 

The Spirit told Philip to approach the man, so he ran over to the chariot, jogged alongside, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  

“How can I unless someone guides me? ”  He didn’t seem surprised at a man appearing next to his chariot and talking to him, but invited Philip up into the chariot to sit by him.

Then he pointed to verses 7-8 and asked Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about another?”

And Philip, beginning with this scripture, told him the good news about Jesus. And the Ethiopian believed.

“See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

Nothing!  He ordered the chariot stopped, and they both went down into the water.  Philip baptized the Ethiopian as Jesus had commanded.

And then… Philip was whisked away by the Spirit. He next found himself in Azotus (still wet?), where he continued to preach the gospel to all the towns, along the coast, clear up to Caesarea. 

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian went on home, rejoicing in his newfound faith.   Did he ever wonder about Philip’s amazing appearance and disappearance?   

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See what can happen if you earnestly study and seek to understand God’s Word??