Reading Acts: 26, 27, 28
My Verse: "And as Paul thus proceeded with his defense, Festus, called out loudly, Paul, you are mad! Your great learning is driving you mad! But Paul replied, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but I am uttering the straight, sound truth." (26:24,25)
The gospel was so amazing it sounded like madness to Festus, but truth it was. Paul spoke Your Truth, Lord, with amazing surety, compassion and boldness.
As a young person I was into fantasy. Loved Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien's Hobbit and his trilogy. At the time this was the greatest of literature to me. The odd thing is that I looked at the gospel also as fantasy, truthful fantasy. I know truth and fantasy are contradictory. Yet, I delighted in the reading of it and the knowledge of this fantastic truth - for my entire being sensed the truth of Your Word!
These final chapters of Acts show Paul's utter dependence on and trust in the truth of the gospel. Some of the events are fantastical. For example when they were looking at sure disaster for the ship Paul was able to assure his shipmates. "For this very night there stood by my side an angel of the God of Whom I belong and Whom I serve and worship. And he said, Do not be frightened, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you all those who are sailing with you." (27:23) And sure enough they all survived the shipwreck. Another event occurs while they were on the island on which they shipwrecked. Paul gets a poisonous snake on his hand that he calmly shakes off. The locals were sure of his death but nothing happens to Paul and Paul knew this so was able to be calm about it all. He knew nothing would happen to him because God had told him several times that he would reach Rome to proclaim the gospel there.
Yes, Paul's life is like a blockbuster movie. It is filled with intrigue, murder plots, violence, miraculous unexplainable events, a wide array of curious individuals, hurried escapes in the dark of the night, international travel, many near death experiences and through it all a strong storyline.
The saying "Truth is stranger than fiction" surely fits the story of Acts. It is pretty hard to make up such an amazing story. "The sum of Your Word is Truth; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever." (Psalm 119:160)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "And as Paul thus proceeded with his defense, Festus, called out loudly, Paul, you are mad! Your great learning is driving you mad! But Paul replied, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but I am uttering the straight, sound truth." (26:24,25)
The gospel was so amazing it sounded like madness to Festus, but truth it was. Paul spoke Your Truth, Lord, with amazing surety, compassion and boldness.
As a young person I was into fantasy. Loved Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien's Hobbit and his trilogy. At the time this was the greatest of literature to me. The odd thing is that I looked at the gospel also as fantasy, truthful fantasy. I know truth and fantasy are contradictory. Yet, I delighted in the reading of it and the knowledge of this fantastic truth - for my entire being sensed the truth of Your Word!
These final chapters of Acts show Paul's utter dependence on and trust in the truth of the gospel. Some of the events are fantastical. For example when they were looking at sure disaster for the ship Paul was able to assure his shipmates. "For this very night there stood by my side an angel of the God of Whom I belong and Whom I serve and worship. And he said, Do not be frightened, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you all those who are sailing with you." (27:23) And sure enough they all survived the shipwreck. Another event occurs while they were on the island on which they shipwrecked. Paul gets a poisonous snake on his hand that he calmly shakes off. The locals were sure of his death but nothing happens to Paul and Paul knew this so was able to be calm about it all. He knew nothing would happen to him because God had told him several times that he would reach Rome to proclaim the gospel there.
Yes, Paul's life is like a blockbuster movie. It is filled with intrigue, murder plots, violence, miraculous unexplainable events, a wide array of curious individuals, hurried escapes in the dark of the night, international travel, many near death experiences and through it all a strong storyline.
The saying "Truth is stranger than fiction" surely fits the story of Acts. It is pretty hard to make up such an amazing story. "The sum of Your Word is Truth; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever." (Psalm 119:160)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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