Acts 22 (excerpts)
1 (Paul said...)“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”
2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
...“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
...The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
Praise God!
Praise God!
How did you react after reading and contemplating on this passage?
Apostle Paul gave a detailed explanation why now he chose to believe and live for "the Way," that is Jesus Christ, from being His #1 persecutor to being His #1 advocate. It is a change of heart, his eyes were enlightened, he now sees the truth.
But others are still in the darkness, holding on to their crooked beliefs, being stubborn and unrepentant, to the point of letting Apostle Paul be condemned to death :)
Point to Ponder:
If we search our hearts thoroughly today, have we let Jesus Christ enter it, or are we still clinging to our stubborn and unrepentant hearts?
God bless to all (".)
InTouch Impact Team Prayer Partnership:
Apostle Paul gave a detailed explanation why now he chose to believe and live for "the Way," that is Jesus Christ, from being His #1 persecutor to being His #1 advocate. It is a change of heart, his eyes were enlightened, he now sees the truth.
But others are still in the darkness, holding on to their crooked beliefs, being stubborn and unrepentant, to the point of letting Apostle Paul be condemned to death :)
Point to Ponder:
If we search our hearts thoroughly today, have we let Jesus Christ enter it, or are we still clinging to our stubborn and unrepentant hearts?
God bless to all (".)
InTouch Impact Team Prayer Partnership:
Please pray with me,
WEEK 4: Please lift up our Foundation Department this
week as they help partners invest in the Great Commission,
leaving a godly, lasting legacy. Pray for God to anoint
members of this team, granting them joy and peace as they
minister. Also, ask Him to protect them as they serve.
Glory to GOD!
WEEK 4: Please lift up our Foundation Department this
week as they help partners invest in the Great Commission,
leaving a godly, lasting legacy. Pray for God to anoint
members of this team, granting them joy and peace as they
minister. Also, ask Him to protect them as they serve.
Glory to GOD!
May Jesus' love abounds in us all everyday (".)
Bible in a Year:
Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)
Read with me; God speaks to us through His words :)
November 22, 2011- Leviticus 26-27
Today is the day :)
If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)
"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." (ref prayer by: Mr. Charles Stanley)
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