#paul's conversion

[ifmypeopleza01]

Paul's Testimony

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. (Acts 22:3 KJV)

Paul is in this chapter sharing his testimony. His dark past is that he persecuted the church, some who were handed over to be killed for their faith. But this introduction is that he was a Jew, a Pharisee, taught by one of the most famous teachers of his day. All of this religious upbringing and instruction and influence did absolutely nothing for his salvation. It was not until the Lord himself intervened in Paul's life that he got converted. Reading further, the very people that would have considered him a hero in times past, have now turned against him and actively calling for his death. There are two questions that get raised here. Do you have a conversion testimony? It does not need to be as colourful as Paul's testimony, as long as you have been converted and you now follow the living God. Jesus said that we should expect to be persecuted for our faith. Most of us in the my country do not yet experience persecution, though it is there. I am pretty sure most countries in the west, we see varying degrees of persecution. My point is that the prosperity gospel that we must give our heart to Jesus and everything will turn out well, is a false gospel. If anything, expect the opposite. You can receive your Biblical instruction from a false teacher, or you can check the Bible for yourself. Part of the reason for doing these devotions is not so much to get you to read a bunch of stuff that I have written. What I write is irrelevant. It is only relevant in as much as I am remaining faithful to the scripture, and I can also get things wrong. I hope not, but it is possible. The major motivation is to encourage others to read the Bible too. I have been busy with this series since April / May 2023. We still have a chunk of the New Testament to complete. In the mean time, I have not read through the Bible in a year for quite a long time. I do not have a plan as to when to finish this series, but completing around April would be great. That means that in a quarter of a years time. If we read roughly 14 chapters per day, we will complete the entire Bible in these three months. So, I am going to add to my regular reading these 13/14 chapters per day, 8 OT Chapters, 2 Psalms and Proverbs chapters and 3 NT chapters. All I will do is post the days reading, for example Genesis 1-8, Psalms 1-2, Matthew 1-3 on the group with no comment. Feel free to be encouraged to read along with me, or if you feel it is too much, that is fine. The idea is not to read it devotionally or to spend time on any passage, but to read it at a fairly rapid pace to get an overview of what is in the Bible. I just thought to put the idea out there. When we are finished with this series, we shall start the new series, whatever that series may be. Two Ways to Live? Are you converted and do you have a testimony and are you prepared to share the testimony at any point? Secondly, are you getting what you believe from a faithful teacher of God's word, or from a prosperity preacher, where the only person that truly prospers is himself? Or are you getting what you believe from God's word? Are you prospering in your faith? Father, thank you for working in our lives. I pray that you give us discernment concerning our preachers. I know Lord that the best defense against false teachers is a personal knowledge of your word.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3 especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7 unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? 9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: 31 and when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar. — Acts 26 | Authorized King James Version (AKJV) The Holy Bible: Authorized King James Version; Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK. All rights reserved. Cross References: Psalm 102:8; Psalm 119:46; Isaiah 6:8; Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 42:6; Jeremiah 1:8-9; Jeremiah 18:11; Jeremiah 38:20; Ezekiel 2:1; Matthew 26:24; Luke 12:11; John 15:21; Acts 6:14; Acts 7:51; Acts 9:3-4; Acts 9:7; Acts 11:26; Acts 13:32; Acts 15:15; Acts 21:27; Acts 22:9; Acts 24:3; Acts 24:14-15; Acts 25:11; Acts 25:23; Acts 28:18-19; 1 Corinthians 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:34; Philippians 3:11

[dailybiblelessons]

Tuesday: Reflection on the First Sunday in Epiphany

Tuesday: Reflection on the First Sunday in Epiphany

Hebrew Scripture Lesson (Pentateuch): Exodus 30:22-38

The Lord spoke to Moses: Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, two hundred fifty, and two hundred fifty of aromatic cane, and five hundred of cassia—measured by the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil; and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the covenant, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand; you shall consecrate them, so that they may be most holy; whatever touches them will become holy. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, in order that they may serve me as priests. You shall say to the Israelites, “This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall not be used in any ordinary anointing of the body, and you shall make no other like it in composition; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an unqualified person shall be cut off from the people.”

The Lord said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (an equal part of each), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy; and you shall beat some of it into powder, and put part of it before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be for you most holy. When you make incense according to this composition, you shall not make it for yourselves; it shall be regarded by you as holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from the people.

Psalm 69:1-5, 30-36

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold;  I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

More in number than the hairs of my head  are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me,  my enemies who accuse me falsely. What I did not steal must I now restore?  O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

I will praise the name of God with a song;  I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. Let the oppressed see it and be glad;  you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy,  and does not despise his own that are in bonds.

Let heaven and earth praise him,  the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah;  and his servants shall live there and possess it; the children of his servants shall inherit it,  and those who love his name shall live in it.

New Testament Lesson: Acts 22:2-16

[Paul has been in the temple. There was a riot because the people believed he was teaching Jews not to follow the law of Moses. Roman soldiers came and arrested Paul. He asked the commander for permission to speak and received it.]

When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said:

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.

“While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. I asked, ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’ Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.

“A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there, came to me; and standing beside me, he said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice; for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’”

Year B Epiphany 1 Tuesday

Bible verses from The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All right reserved. Selections from Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright 1995 by the Consultation on Common Texts. Image credit: The Conversion of St. Paul by Nicolas Bernard Lépicié, via Wikimedia Commons. This is a public domain image.