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Acts 28:26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
Paul, throughout his ministry, continued to use the scriptures to support what he said. What we now call the Old Testament is full of prophecies about Jesus, the Jews and even us.
It seems fitting to end this small study on Acts by using what Paul used to support what has been said.
People will hear the gospel and not believe. People will see miracles and not believe.
Don’t give up telling the gospel just because of that; continue telling it because of the people who will believe and get to know Christ themselves.
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Acts 27:38 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
They were now shipwrecked, just as Paul had said would happen. The soldiers were ready to just leave the prisoners bound up to die, but the centurion had other ideas.
All he had heard from Paul was the truth. He was now thinking of what Paul had said and counted on it being the truth!
Please speak the truth to those around you. Please listen to God and hear the truth. Please spread the truth. Imagine what it would be like to know people talked the truth once more!
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Acts 27:35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
No matter how hard life is or how hard it seems to get, we must always remember God and all He is doing for us.
We may think it is the end of the world because our circumstances are so bad in our eyes, but God is still in control.
Listening to Him and listening for Him is paramount in our lives.
Trust God with every step in your life. Remember He is always with you. Listen to His will. And Obey!
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Acts 27:19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
Have you ever been caught on a boat or ship during a storm? Being in a storm for a few hours is one thing, but being stuck in it for 3 days would be terrible!
God was not going to allow a simple storm to end Paul’s life; God was using the storm to rescue Paul.
We may not recognise things happening in our lives as being help from God. Instead of fighting everything, listen intently to God and follow His instructions.
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Acts 26:24 Now as he thus made his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
Do not be surprised when people turn round to you and say you are mad because you believe in Christ; it is a response we will all face at some time or another.
When people are struggling to believe in something they go on the offensive rather than staying and trying to learn – it’s human nature.
Continue opening up the gospel slowly but surely and allow Christ to work in their hearts.
We need to sow the seeds and continue watering them; Christ will get the seeds to germinate and grow!
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Acts 25:22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
I find it amazing how Paul was able to give the gospel to people in higher and higher places in the Romans society; from centurions to governors, the king and later in Rome as well.
God will use people who are willing to be used; but in doing so we need to be willing to listen to God and continue spreading the Good News.
Paul never gave up obeying God and so was used continually even though he was supposedly in captivity under house arrest.
God will open door as long as we are willing to walk through them!
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Acts 24:25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
What reactions do you get from the people you try to share the gospel with? Do you always get people who turn to Christ without question? I don’t!
When we give people the Good News of Christ, more often than not they will reject Him in some way because it is new and means they have to make a choice.
Felix was probably very used to having his own way as governor and even bossing people around; Paul was telling him how he should answer to God!
Allow Christ to change people’s hearts – continue giving them the Good News.
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Acts 24:16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
When I read through these few chapters of Acts I find myself getting angry that people get angry when we try to speak the truth!
God, through Christ, has given us a command to go out and tell people of the truth He has given us; yet He also wants us to do so diligently.
What use is it if we incite violence and hatred everywhere we go when we are trying to teach people about God’s love?
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Acts 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
Paul was a Jew and a Roman by birth. The crowd treated him like a Jew and the Romans now had to treat him like a Roman.
Did any of this matter to God? No! God used these facts to save Paul’s life and put him in a position where he could be used most effectively.
God can and does use anyone to reach out to everyone; stop fighting Him and allow Him to use you to the fullest!
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Acts 21:29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
What we assume about others can seriously damage their position and health!
When we go about believing our assumptions and judgements rather than finding the truth we are going to be walking on thin ice!
When we spread rumours based on those assumptions rather than telling people facts we are going to find out just how much we damage other people’s lives!
If you cannot say anything good and truthful, then stop speaking!
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Acts 21:21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
Why would the Jews complain about what Paul was doing to the people outside of Israel? Why should they care?
Because they had built up their following based on rules and regulations rather than on God, His Son and His Spirit!
We do not have to follow the old rules and regulations about offerings and sacrifices because Christ is our perfect and complete sacrifice.
Follow God and His rules. Follow Christ. Follow the Holy Spirit.
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Acts 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Why would God choose virgin daughters to be prophets?
Society at that time was all about what men did and said. So, God chose women instead.
Society looked up to what the elders did and said because they should know with experience. So, God chose daughters instead.
They probably had more of an open heart than all the other leaders because they were listening to God and not man. God knows exactly what He is doing!
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Acts 21:4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem
Listening to God does not always mean you will hear directly from Him; sometimes it is what other people are going to be praying about which will trigger God’s words in you.
The Holy Spirit does not have a track record of standing on street corners and shouting to make people hear; rather the opposite, working from the inside with people.
God uses all manner of ways to reach us but we have to be open to those ways otherwise we will miss out on what God is saying to us.
Listen, in all ways, listen.
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Acts 20:35 I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
How many times have you heard people say “it is more blessed to give than to receive” and wondered why?
Christ was not talking about giving presents at Christmas time or Easter eggs or other presents we think of; He was talking about supporting the people who need it most!
Too often we ignore the things going on around us because we are bombarded by news stories which seem more like horror movies than actual news.
Open your heart toward those around who need it most – follow the example given by Jesus.
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Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
One of the hardest things I find as a Christian is leaving a place where I have been involved with the church for a long time.
I know God is in control but I also know I am leaving people who are vulnerable to other people and this verse comes to mind many a time…
We do need to watch out because the evil one is very clever and watches for any chance to come in to break open doubt, fear and anything else he can to gain a foothold.
Always keep on praying for people whether you are with them or not because God listens to your prayers!
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Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul had spent a long time going round many places spreading the gospel; but in almost every place he had the same message being given to him: chains and tribulations await him in Jerusalem.
Does Paul run the other way? No, he continues forward where the Holy Spirit is leading him!
Would you be willing to walk into an effective ambush just because Christ asked you to?
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Acts 20:12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
So many times we are expecting God to do things according to our timetable and according to our wishes!
Sometimes God just wants us to rest in Him and wait for the response with faith.
Christ taught the disciples to have faith in Him, God and the Holy Spirit. That faith does not have time limits and is not limited by man’s imagination or his requirements.
This is the time of us living in God’s Grace; allow Him to work according to His timetable and keep your faith in Him!
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Acts 20:1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.
And then, sometimes, it is time to move on to continue God’s work elsewhere…
God wants to be able to use us to the best of our abilities; it may be to get things going in a new area and pass on the baton to others. It may be staying for the long haul. We must listen to God carefully.
Listening to Him may not be easy because it may go against what we want and may even move us to a different area just when we think we are making a difference; we need to trust God because He does know best!
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Acts 19:38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
How often have you jumped in to try and settle an argument only to make things worse than before?
Sometimes it is hard not to get involved, especially when the people involved are close to you; but sometime it is only our job to stand by and offer support.
God does not want us to change the world – He is already doing that and trying to use us in ways we don’t quite understand sometimes.
Allow God to work – don’t cramp His ways!
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Acts 19:35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
How many of us have rushed into a situation and made it worse by telling people exactly what we thought should happen?
We need to be conscientious about our work for God but we also need to be tolerant of local customs.
Do not think you can change the world just by telling them God is real and they must all change their ways immediately; allow God to work in their lives.
Show compassion to people and find out about them and their beliefs too.