Acts 22:17-21<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0\u201cWhen I returned to Jerusalem\u00a0and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance\u00a018\u00a0and saw the Lord speaking to me.\u00a0\u2018Quick!\u2019\u00a0he said.\u00a0\u2018Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.\u2019\u00a0 19\u00a0\u201c\u2018Lord,\u2019 I replied, \u2018these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison\u00a0and beat\u00a0those who believe in you.\u00a020\u00a0And when the blood of your martyr\u00a0Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.\u2019\u00a0 21\u00a0\u201cThen the Lord said to me,\u00a0\u2018Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.\u2019\u00a0\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cand saw the Lord speaking to me.\u00a0\u2018Quick!\u2019\u00a0he said.\u00a0\u2018Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0As Charles Swindoll wrote, Paul could have just stopped his testimony after\u00a0V16<\/b>\u00a0and that would have given them the message that it was in God\u2019s authority that he now ministered in.\u00a0\u00a0However, Paul wanted to present to them truth that they did not know or had not accepted.\u00a0\u00a0So He continued on.\u00a0\u00a0In reality, with the Gospel burning within him and with his great love for his fellow Jews, Paul could not stop.\u00a0\u00a0As Christians, we too have not stopped from telling the Gospel to people because it is alive within us and because what it has done for us we know it can do for them, if only they would humble themselves before God and come to Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0We too love those we witness too and though we know that some may get angry with us for speaking the Truth, we will not, indeed we cannot, stop.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Starting in\u00a0V17<\/b>\u00a0Paul tells them that he had received divine warning to quickly leave Jerusalem.\u00a0\u00a0He was warning Paul that he was in danger.\u00a0\u00a0The Lord told him to get out quickly, to leave now!\u00a0\u00a0Though Paul would have risked \u201clife and limb\u201d for the opportunity to witness to his Jewish brethren, the Lord had much for him to do among the Gentiles.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paul likely could not truly believe that those whom he had broken bread with and shared a great love with could turn so much against him that they would kill him.\u00a0\u00a0God needed to push Paul along for his own sake and for the sake of the ministry that Paul was being called to.\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes the Lord does the same for all of us.\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes we are being blessed and it comes time for us to leave but we are obtuse against that thought.\u00a0\u00a0Though the Lord is blessing us where we are and the ministry is being blessed, still the Lord may call us to something else.\u00a0\u00a0Again this is a reminder that our first calling is not to the ministry in which we serve but to the Lord.\u00a0\u00a0Yes, we are to love the people and the ministry we are called to, but first and always, we are to love our God and love serving Him in whatever capacity or wherever He leads.\u00a0\u00a0Loving what God has us doing is wonderful.\u00a0\u00a0However, we need to remember that our first calling is to love God and that means obeying Him in all ways.\u00a0\u00a0If God says \u201cgo,\u201d then we go, as hard as it may be.\u00a0\u00a0And we know, that God knows best.\u00a0\u00a0The Lord was protecting His beloved Paul and He was also protecting the servant He planned to use further.\u00a0\u00a0He has these same thoughts toward us. Be open to the leading of the Lord however it may come and wherever it may lead.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Lord,\u2019 I replied, \u2018these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison\u00a0and beat\u00a0those who believe in you.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Paul\u2019s reply to the Lord was actually a reasoning with Him to consider that these people were his fellow Jews, his buddies, the people he loved.\u00a0\u00a0Really, haven\u2019t we done the same thing?\u00a0\u00a0We too sometimes want to present our case as we quote to Him the facts as we see them.\u00a0\u00a0Now, honestly, isn\u2019t that silly!\u00a0\u00a0God knows all the facts and what those facts really mean much better than we do!\u00a0\u00a0We are not able to \u201cinform\u201d Him of anything.\u00a0\u00a0Now, it\u2019s good to talk about our lack of understanding with God.\u00a0\u00a0It is good to ask for understanding.\u00a0\u00a0It is silly to try to inform an omniscient God.<\/p>\n Paul was telling his audience that he once believed exactly as they still did.\u00a0\u00a0He did what they are even then doing to him.\u00a0\u00a0He is saying what I was is what you are.\u00a0\u00a0He was trying to build a commonality with them.\u00a0\u00a0If people have hard hearts, having a commonality will not change that heart.\u00a0\u00a0It is only God who can, if the soul is willing.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd when the blood of your martyr\u00a0Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Paul is confessing a great sin to his audience.\u00a0\u00a0He is confessing that he was a willing accomplice in the murder of Stephen.\u00a0\u00a0It is important to remember that Paul had been talking to God and He called Stephen a martyr who belonged to God.\u00a0\u00a0Therefore the great sin that Paul was confessing to was being an accomplice to murder of one of God\u2019s own children.\u00a0\u00a0Paul had sinned directly against God and if Paul had, then so did those who still believe the same.\u00a0\u00a0In fact, there was a good chance that some, if not all, who had participated in Stephen\u2019s murder were in the audience before Paul, and wanting to kill Paul in the same way they had killed Stephen.\u00a0\u00a0So Paul was telling his audience that they were fighting against the God whom they claimed to serve.\u00a0\u00a0Their blood was then approaching the boiling point.<\/p>\n \u201cThen the Lord said to me,\u00a0\u2018Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.\u2019\u201d<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0Then Paul told His audience that he was sent by the Lord to be a witness to the Gentiles.\u00a0\u00a0He was essentially telling them that the job that they formerly had, to be a witness to the Gentiles, was taken from them and given to the church, specifically, though not only, to Paul.\u00a0\u00a0So Paul was telling them that because of their hatred for Jesus and all those that follow Him, God would do through the Gentiles what their hard hearts would refuse to do.\u00a0\u00a0Of course, being in a prideful and hardened state, they became very indignant.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paul was telling them not only that God had then given him the responsibility that had belonged to the Jews, but that meant that when the Gentiles became believers they were also ordained to be the ministers of God to the world.\u00a0\u00a0Previously, God had ordained the Jews to share the knowledge of God to the world.\u00a0\u00a0They were the keepers of the Holy Scripture.\u00a0\u00a0But now, because of their unbelief in Jesus, they were no longer able to spread the Word because they did not believe in the incarnate Word who came to them first, but whom they rejected.\u00a0\u00a0Very sad.<\/p>\n The Jews were now in a rage.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Yet, is this so unlikely to happen in the church today?\u00a0\u00a0Many churches now follow rules and policies that they themselves, and not God, have declared.\u00a0\u00a0If God were to bring forth someone to tell them the error of their ways, would they suddenly repent and weep, or would they instead turn upon and accuse the messenger of God.\u00a0\u00a0Sadly, too often, though certainly not always, the latter rather than the former would be true.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Family, we all, including all church hierarchy, must remain humble.\u00a0\u00a0We, pastors, elders, deacons, commission leaders, and lay believers all should be open to receive admonishment from God even if it comes from what is regarded to be a less educated, or even a neophyte believer.\u00a0\u00a0As we know God can use anyone or anything for His purpose, ask Balaam.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s be humble.\u00a0\u00a0Israel became proud and suffered great loss because of it and Paul warns us to keep that fact in consideration lest we also become proud (Romans 11:17-21<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0Praise God who loves all, whether Jew or Gentile.\u00a0\u00a0Let us not become proud by looking at others, but rather stay humble as we consider and gaze upon the greatness of our God.\u00a0\u00a0Romans 11:33-36<\/b>\u00a0\u201cOh, the depth of the riches\u00a0of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!\u00a0\u00a034\u00a0\u201cWho has known the mind of the Lord?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Or who has been his counselor?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a035\u00a0\u201cWho has ever given to God, that God should repay them?\u201d\u00a0\u00a036\u00a0For from him and through him and for him are all things.\u00a0\u00a0To him be the glory forever! Amen.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0Yes, amen and praise God!<\/p>\n Psalm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/i><\/p>\n Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; And what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God<\/i>.<\/p>\n Numbers 6:24-26<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Acts 22:17-21\u00a0–\u00a0\u201cWhen I returned to Jerusalem\u00a0and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance\u00a018\u00a0and saw the Lord speaking to me.\u00a0\u2018Quick!\u2019\u00a0he said.\u00a0\u2018Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.\u2019\u00a0 19\u00a0\u201c\u2018Lord,\u2019 I replied, \u2018these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison\u00a0and beat\u00a0those who believe…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,94,1874,17,10],"class_list":["post-2058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-psalm","tag-romans"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2058"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2059,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2058\/revisions\/2059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}