Additional Thoughts on Acts – Part 4
In the end of chapter 21 the people in the works based religion tried to kill Paul. This has been going on since Cain killed Abel.
Paul then gets to preach to them. There is one main important difference in this sermon from Paul. You do not find anyone getting saved. Many other times Paul’s preaching met with harsh persecution, but you will read about someone who believed. Not here. Not even one.
Why? The reason is that Paul got out of the will of God. He was told not to go to Jerusalem twice but went anyway.
We see an important principal here. Preachers just say the words. It is God that brings conviction in the hearts of men. It is God that speaks to hearts. It is only by His Power and His blessing that preaching will have an effect.
Without God working preaching will accomplish nothing. We need more real God empowered preaching today and then we need to give all the glory were glory is due, and that is to God.
ACTS 22:3 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 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
ACTS 22:5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
Truth cannot be measured by zeal. Paul was very zealous toward his religion of works. This zeal led him to persecute Christians. He persecuted them unto the death. He bound them and delivered them into prisons. He did not care if they were men or women. Out of his zeal he was after all believers in Jesus. And Paul was zealous toward God. He thought that he was doing God a favor. He felt that he was doing the work of God. If truth was measured by zeal, Paul would have been doing a good thing. But the fact of the matter is that truth cannot be measured by zeal and Paul was doing a wicked thing. Even though Paul thought he was doing what God wanted and that he was protecting the faith when he actually was persecuting the faith.
Truth cannot be measured by zeal. If you cannot tell the truth by someone’s zeal, then how do you tell? The answer is simple. The Bible.
Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth.
Psa 119:151 Thou [art] near, O LORD; and all thy commandments [are] truth.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The Bible is truth. Zeal is not the test of truth. The Bible is the test of truth. It does not matter how zealous a man is if what he believes does not line up with the Word of God. Don’t get me wrong. Zeal can be a good thing but only if it lines up with God’s Word.
ACTS 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
God changes lives! Paul was a man out to stamp out Christianity. He turned into a man who gave his all to spread Christianity. He was a man who persecuted others for faith in Jesus. Paul then turned into a man who was willing to endure such persecution because of his faith in Jesus. He went from hurting people to loving people. He went from pride in a works religion to a man of humility. He went from being concerned about self to being concerned about others. What happened? He went from kicking against Jesus to saying what shall I do Lord.
You see Paul met Jesus and accepted Him as Saviour. God then gave Paul a new heart and a new purpose. That is the way it should be with all of us. We should be different than we were. Becoming a Christian will change the heart and that will change your direction.
ACTS 23:12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
ACTS 23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
ACTS 23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
These 40 Jews were so angry at Paul that they made a pact to kill him. They saw that the Romans who had Paul in custody were not going to do it so they were going to take matters into their own hands. Paul made them so upset simply by preaching salvation by faith thru grace. This can be very offensive to people who believe in salvation by works. People who believe in a works salvation have been killing people who believe in salvation by faith all the way back to Cain killing Abel.
These Jews were going to kill Paul for not respecting the law the way they thought he should. The hypocrisy here is incredible because they are breaking the law that they are claiming to protect. The law says thou shalt not kill.
Paul did not respond to them in the same way. While all this hate was being thrown Paul’s way the Lord spoke to Paul.
ACTS 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
The Lord told Paul to be of good cheer. Even while people were planning to kill Paul he was to be of good cheer. The Lord goes on to tell Paul that he must bear witness also at Rome. The Lord was telling Paul don’t worry about it. I am going to protect you. You still have more work to do for me. So Paul just left the matter in the hands of the Lord and he kept on witnessing and preaching for his Lord.
This is a good example for us. When hate is thrown our way just be of good cheer. Don’t let it bother you, and don’t let it stop you. You still have much work to do for the Lord. Keep your eyes on the work. Keep pressing forward. Basically keep your eyes upon Jesus and you can be of good cheer even when you are being persecuted.
ACTS 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
Doesn’t it seem to be a huge contradiction to confess religion and then not believe in a resurrection? If you have no spirit that goes on after death, then why bother with religion. The Old Testament that the Sadducees used is very clear that there is life after death. The soul does indeed go on to live in heaven or in hell. Jesus taught on Hell time and time again. Jesus gives a very vivid picture of Hell in Luke chapter 16. Jesus was very clear in His teaching on Hell. It is a real literal place with real fire. It is a terrible place of real torment. And yet there are many who refuse to believe in Hell. Some groups want to claim the name of Jesus, but refuse His teaching on Hell.
You can’t have it both ways. If you want to claim Jesus, then you need to accept His teachings. The soul does go on after death and will live forever in either Heaven or Hell. There are no other options; only two. And the only thing that separates where you go is belief in Jesus.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
ACTS 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
ACTS 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
God clearly blessed Paul’s preaching here and brought great conviction to Felix. Felix was trembling.
Then comes one of the saddest sayings in the Bible. Felix says, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
That season never came. Felix never called Paul again for salvation and God never called Felix again like He was at this time. Felix was all so close. But close does not count. You have to repent and call upon Jesus.
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
You need to change your mind about your sin, realize that you are on your way to hell, believe in Jesus, and call upon Him to save you. And you have His promise that He will. Salvation really is that simple.
If God is speaking to you about getting saved, do not make the same mistake that Felix did. God might never give you another chance.
2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)
If you are not saved, will you not trust Him now?
ACTS 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
There are two separate resurrections of the dead in the Bible. They happen at different times to two different groups of people for two different purposes. The first one happens when Christ comes in the air. This first resurrection is for all those who have accepted Christ as their Saviour. We will then stand at the judgment seat of Christ and will forever be with the Lord.
The second resurrection happens after the 1,000 year reign of Christ. This resurrection is for all the lost of all the ages. They will stand at the Great White Throne judgment before they are eternally thrown into the lake of fire.
There are two resurrections each followed by a judgment. Every man must stand at one of the two judgments. The first judgment will deal with rewards or lack of rewards and then after the judgment comes eternity with Jesus. The second judgment will end with an eternity in a lake of fire.
The only thing that determines which resurrection and judgment that you will stand at is what have you done with Jesus?
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
What have you done with Jesus? Have you received Him as your Saviour?
ACTS 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Paul was brought before Felix and accused of being a mover of sedition. This of course was not true. Paul says that the heresy that they are accusing him of is simply worshiping the true God and believing all things which are written in the scriptures. The law and the prophets pointed toward Jesus. His coming, His works, His ministry, His going to the cross, His resurrection, and so on. Paul believed the Word of God. In fact he says that he believes all things written therein. Paul really believed it, and therefore Paul really lived it. Paul was being persecuted, attacked, accused, and tried in the courts, for believing the Bible.
We are starting to see more and more of this in America. You are labeled a fanatic or worse if you really believe God’s Word. It was the lost who were attacking Paul for believing The Book. And I can understand that. They are in bondage to sin, they are children of the Devil, the Bible shows forth their sin and they don’t like that. I can understand why the lost will attack a Bible believer. What is harder to understand is why people who claim to be Christians do it. You would think that Christians would like the kind of faith that believes in God’s power to first give us His Word and then preserve it.
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
You would think that Christians would like the kind of faith that is obedient to God’s Word. God says don’t change His Word.
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
God says it is my Word, don’t add to it, don’t take away from it. He also promised to preserve it. When someone says, Ok, God I believe you and will obey you, and therefore I will not change your Word and I will not become a member of the Bible of the month club. What Christians should do is say AMEN. Praise the Lord for faith in God and for someone who believes all that the scriptures say.
Sadly that is not the normal reaction. Usually, like Paul, you get attacked for really believing the book.
How about you? Do you believe all that is written therein? If you don’t believe all of it, are you at least tolerant of those who do believe all of it?
ACTS 25:2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
ACTS 25:3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
Here we go again. Someone who believes in works salvation trying to kill someone who believes salvation is a free gift (which is what the Bible teaches).
This has been taking place since Cain killed Abel.
We see this not only in the Bible but also in history. The Catholics (who believe in works salvation) killed millions and millions of people who believed in salvation by grace. They were called by many different names and lived in many different countries but they were all murdered by the Catholics for the same reason. They refused a false works based salvation.
This went on for hundreds and hundreds of years.
This brutality alone should be enough to convince you which system is right works or grace. You will never see in History grace believers murdering works believers.
And that is your only two choices. All religions can be placed in either the camp of works or the camp of grace.
And often in history we see the works crowd persecuting the people of grace. And it is not going to stop until Jesus comes back.
Oh, I know that the Catholics have stopped it recently. But it is just picked up by others. Most commonly today it is the Muslims. It has been this way since Cain and it will keep happening until Jesus comes back.
Now before you misunderstand me. I know that not every one that believes in works kills those that believe in grace. The point that I am making is that the works system does breed those that kill true believers, whereas the grace system NEVER does.
Why?
The answer is simple. Satan is the inventor and propagator of the work your way to heaven false religious systems. The Bible says that Satan was a murder from the beginning.
Satan hates God, and Satan hates God’s born again saved by grace Christians. So it should be no surprise that some that are in Satan’s work your way to heaven religious systems would take on Satan’s murderous attitude.
ACTS 25:19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Even during one of Paul’s trials he did not back down. He affirmed Jesus to be alive. He did not suggest it and he did not soft petal it. Paul affirmed Jesus’ resurrection as a fact. Paul’s future and even his life was on the line. His accusers wanted Paul killed. There would have been some temptation to say what they wanted to hear or to water down your stand so you could get out of prison. Temptation says ease up after all you can pick your strong stand back up after the crisis. Save your strong witness until after you get out of prison and after the danger of being killed is over. I for one am very thankful that Paul did not back down. I am glad that he did not give in to temptation and kept his testimony.
His stand even in the mist of trial and tribulation is an encouragement to us to keep our witness. His stand also shows us that God does give men the grace to stay strong in the midst of even life threatening trouble. If God ever sends you into a tough situation, He will also be there and give you the grace to deal with it.
ACTS 25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
They hurled many grievous complaints against Paul in court. They wanted the law to shut up this Christian. In fact they wanted him killed. They brought up item after item in court but could not prove any of it. Their attack had no basis in fact. Christianity is light, it is truth. It is honest, it is moral, it is good, and it is loving. Christianity produces solid families which in turn produces solid society. America has been greatly blessed because of Christianity. In fact without it, America would never been founded. And more and more we see that Christianity is under attack in America. From lawyers wanting to remove all traces of Jesus from the public square to heathen teachers who want to indoctrinate our children into their anti-God philosophy. They have many grievous things to say about Christianity, but they cannot prove any of it. Their claims are invalid.
And I believe it is because this nation is rejecting Jesus, that we see this nation on the decline. You can’t have real freedom without Christ.
What Christians need to do is humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways. Only then will God heal this land. I have heard many Christians give lip service to that. Many pastors have preached it, standing in front of the drum set that they use to bring a worldly fleshly attitude into the church with. Christians will say they agree with what is preached and then go out and set wicked things before their eyes.
God can heal this nation. I personally don’t see it happening until Christians pour their booze down the drain, quit watching all the wickedness on T.V., quit gossiping, lying, and all the rest of it. When Churches throw out their drum sets and the worlds music. When they stop preaching only feel good messages, when they throw out their false Bibles. When Christians start being doers of the Word and not hearers only. When you see that happing on a large enough scale, then watch for Almighty God to step in a do a work. Christians need to truly humble themselves and truly turn from their wicked ways and not just give lip service to it.
If we don’t, look for this nation to slip deeper and deeper into a system of bondage. Freedom after freedom will be reduced or taken away altogether.
Christianity has been attacked from the beginning and as we see in the Bible it is even attacked in the courts. And we still see that happening today. We truly need God to do a work.
ACTS 26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
People have been trying to explain away the resurrection for centuries. But it cannot be explained away. Some adhere to the swoon theory. They say that Jesus only fainted and then the coolness of the tomb awakened Him. This theory has no merit.
Christ was pierced in the side with a spear and water and blood came out. The soldier was on the ground and Christ was lifted up on the cross. So the angle of the spear would have been upward. It would have been at an angle that would have pierced the heart. The heart has a sack of water surrounding it. This sack works as a shock absorber for the heart. This sack is where the water came from that came out of the wound with the blood. No one has a spear tear thru this sack of water and the heart and recover.
Christ really did die. He literally died. He had the blood drained from His heart.
He rose again three days later. Referring to this Paul asks a question. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Paul is trying to get this man to understand that it is nothing for God to raise the dead. The God that created all things out of nothing. The God that brought life into existence in the first place can raise the dead with only a thought. It is no effort for Him at all.
There is no reason to try to explain away the resurrection, and the resurrection cannot be explained away.
ACTS 26:16 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;
ACTS 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
ACTS 26:18 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.
ACTS 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Jesus met Paul on the Damascus road and gave him a vision for his life’s work. Jesus told Paul that he was sending him to the Jews and the Gentiles. He was going to use Paul to open their eyes. Thru Paul’s preaching God was going to turn them from darkness unto light. Paul was going to be a tool to deliver people from the power of Satan unto God.
Paul was given a heavenly vision to fulfill. And Paul says, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:” He was obedient when things were going good, and he was obedient when he was being stoned. And here he is being obedient by witnessing while on trial.
If you are saved, then God has some job for you to do. Not everyone is given the scope of work that Paul was. Not everyone is called to be a preacher or missionary. But everyone has something they are to be doing for the Lord. This is not a spectator sport. Every Christian needs to get involved in doing a job for Christ and then he needs to be obedient to it. Don’t ever quit. The road of service has some pot holes in it. Expect them to come and make up your mind now that you will be like Paul and be obedient to the heavenly vision.
ACTS 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
ACTS 26:10 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.
ACTS 26:11 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.
Paul gives testimony of his past before he met Jesus. He was a very religious man. Religious but lost. He tells of how he put Christians in jail, and how when they were put to death that he lifted his voice against them. What a terrible thing! To actively help in putting people to death for faith in Jesus. And not just one or two. Paul was after them all. He persecuted them and chased them to several different cities. Paul also tells of the attitude that drove him to do this. He says that he was exceedingly mad against them. He had an anger that drove him to a mad rage. He could not be tolerant or civil. He could not just say well I don’t agree with you and you have a right to believe. He could not let them be. Paul was exceedingly mad against them.
This attitude still exists today. Every day Christians are beaten for their faith. Some are killed and others are thrown in jail. Their churches and homes are burnt. Families destroyed. It is all done by people who have the same thing driving them that drove Paul before he got saved. They are exceedingly mad against people who believe in Jesus.
The most common groups today that do this are Muslims, Hindus, and Communists. And they have no desire or intentions of stopping. Just like Paul. Paul was not going to stop for anything. He was exceedingly mad. The only thing that stopped Paul is the only thing that will stop the persecutors today. What stopped Paul? He met Jesus. He got born again. When you get to the bottom of the matter that is the only real solution. People need the Lord.
Christian do you realize how much other Christians facing persecution need our prayers?
ACTS 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Here we find Paul in a life threatening storm. And even in the mist of the storm we find Paul ministering to others. He was witnessing of his faith. Paul said “I believe God”.
And Paul’s witnessing during the storm had an effect.
ACTS 27:36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
The storm was still raging. The ship was still in danger. Yet these men were all of good cheer. Paul knew how to behave himself in the storms of life. He kept witnessing for God and it did make a difference.
Too many Christians have some storm come their way and then they start complaining. What they should do is keep in good cheer and witness for God. People will see God working in your life during the storm if you carry yourself the way God would have you to.
ACTS 27:30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
ACTS 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
ACTS 27:32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
They were in a terrible storm and in a real danger of sinking. Every hand was needed to keep them from sinking. Things were not going well. Some of the men were about to flee. They were only concerned about themselves. They had let down the life boat and was about to run for it when Paul told the centurion that if these men left then “ye cannot be saved.” The centurion then cut the ropes and let the life boat go out to sea empty. And with all hands on board they did make it thru the storm.
It is not likely that any of us would be in this kind of storm. However, there is a principal here that does apply to us today. We all go thru storms in life. And we all need others to make it thru. We were not created to be an island unto ourselves. We do need others. We should stick together and help each other get thru the storms of life.
Churches also sometimes go thru troubled waters. And all too often many will abandon ship. They will not be concerned with those that they are leaving behind. They are not concerned about the church making it thru the storm. Churches have had to close over this very thing. Too many people are like those who were trying to flee in the life boat. When the going gets tough, don’t flee. Stick it out. God will see you thru the storm. The storm will not last forever. And after the storm has cleared you will be glad that you stayed in the boat.
In fact it was safe in the boat. God had promised Paul that they would all make it thru, but they had to say on the boat. Those that were trying to flee were actually fleeing the promise and protection of God.
ACTS 27:3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
Sometimes we are reading along in the Bible and don’t slow down enough to see so many of the simple truths that are before us.
Paul is allowed to go unto his friends while they are taking a break in their trip to Rome to hand Paul over to the Roman authorities. But notice the reason. Paul is going to see his friends to refresh himself. Everyone is human. We all have feelings. As close as Paul was to God he still needed friends. He was facing a trial in his life and it is a good thing to have friends at times like those. And notice that the friends were to refresh Paul. They were not to lay blame on Paul. They were not to tell him that there must be some sin in your life for this to be happening. No one needs “friends” like Job had.
Pro 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Friends are to be a help, a support, they are to encourage us in the faith. Friends are to be there to refresh us when it is needed.
Well if we are to expect this kind of friendship from others, then we need to be that same kind of friend to others.
Pro 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
Be the right kind of friend because sooner or later you will need the right kind of friend.
Much of what happens in the book of Acts centers around the preaching of God’s word. Preaching has been at the forefront thru the entire book. And the last verse is about preaching.
ACTS 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
And in this last verse Paul says what and how he preached.
Paul preached the kingdom of God. He preached how to get saved. I know that there will one day be a literal kingdom. But today that kingdom is in the hearts of men. A person gets added to the kingdom when he gets saved.
Paul also taught those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.
The main things that are to be preached and taught are first salvation and then all things about Jesus.
There are people who go to what they call churches that never give a clear presentation of the gospel. That is wrong. Telling people exactly how to be saved should be a regular occurrence at a church.
Paul also taught all things about Christ. Many today do not do this either. Oh they put the name of Jesus in their lessons, but when you look at what they are teaching you find that it is really not about Jesus. What it really is about is what can I get. How is God going to bless me and my business. I call it the health and wealth, tickle the ears crowd. The focus that this crowd has is all wrong. There focus is on me. The focus needs to be on Jesus and not on us.
Paul also tells us how he preached. He says with all confidence. That is the way it should be done. Expounding the word of God should be done with confidence and boldness.
If a preacher does not have confidence that the Bible is the word of God, then he cannot preach with confidence. If you believe that there is more than one Bible saying more than one thing, then you cannot have confidence in it for which one is right. Multiple Bible versions only brings confusion and doubt and not confidence.
Preachers are to preach like Paul, with confidence. The weak kneed, man fearing, ear tickling, Bible unbelieving preacher should just step down from the pulpit.
ACTS 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
ACTS 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Paul is now under house arrest in Rome. He is allowed to stay in his own hired house instead of having to stay in the prison. And for these two years Paul kept busy for the Lord. He taught and preached the Word of God while he was under house arrest. He taught about Jesus with all confidence. Who did he teach? It says that he received all that came to him. During this time Paul was not allowed to go out door to door. But many people came to him. And Paul received them all. He did not reject anyone who came and wanted to learn. He did not only accept people of certain criteria. It did not matter the age or the social status. How much money they had or did not have was not an issue. Paul would receive and teach Jews and he would receive and teach Gentiles. Color, race, nationality, and culture did not matter.
We should do likewise. It would seem like just common sense. But all too many don’t get it. There is no room in Christianity for racism of any kind. We all came from one pair. And then at the flood the world was reduced to Noah’s family of 8. Every person on the earth came from the same family. All were created in the image of God. Everyone has an eternal soul that is worth more that the entire world. Jesus proved His love for all by coming and dying for all.
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
We should never look down upon anyone as inferior. There is absolutely no room for racism in Christianity.
ACTS 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
The entire Bible has one main theme and that is Jesus. Paul had many Jews come to hear him while he was in prison in his own house in Rome. They called Christianity a sect and said that everywhere it is spoken against. They wanted to hear what Paul had to say about it. Paul then used the Law of Moses and the prophets to persuade them concerning Jesus. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Jesus was talking about the Old Testament because that is all they had at that time. Jesus said that the Old Testament testified of Him. And in Acts 28:23 we get an idea of just how much they do. Paul taught them about Jesus from the Old Testament from morning until evening. He went at it all day! Paul had plenty of verses to go to teaching Jesus. If you don’t see Jesus when you read the Old Testament, then you are missing the main point.