Acts 28:23-31 – They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” 27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” And they did. And we did. It seems the biggest hurdle for the common Jewish person was tradition and false doctrine whose origin was of man and not of God. Often, the most honest uninitiated receive the Gospel and its truths much quicker than those who must overcome tradition, culture and wrong doctrine. Perhaps this is a lesson from Matthew 10:37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
“And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.” Sadly it does not say that any gave their lives to Jesus, only that they left arguing. We hope that some did. Yet, we are not unaware that a great ploy of the devil is to have a person honestly and fervently believe something, believe anything, so long as it is not that there is only way to Heaven and that is through Jesus. Only faith in Jesus saves. All other roads lead to perdition. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) To the enemy, he will let people argue for believing in Jesus while never giving their life to Him. Let them feel satisfied to believe as long as they don’t yield. The enemy doesn’t care just as long as they remain their own and do not give their lives to Jesus.
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Paul spent the rest of the time doing what he always did, he loved people enough to share the Gospel with them. He loved the Lord so he obeyed Him. He never stopped sharing and teaching, as was his call. May we be so loyal to the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul stated “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Yes, we have Jesus the perfect model of how we should live our lives. We have the Holy Spirit, God Himself within us to guide us and to open up His Word to us. And the Lord gave us wonderful examples on how to live a life in submission to Christ. I earnestly pray, that we all set the example for those whose eyes are upon us. If we have messed up in the past, well, get up, clean ourselves off, and start on the right path again. That in itself is a great example.
I am sad to be done with Acts. But I am always blessed by it. Surely I will be visiting it often. Love and blessings to all!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”