Devotions

The Progress of the Gospel

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Paul lived his life for the gospel since he encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus. And now, after all of his missionary journeys, he went back to Jerusalem knowing this trouble was waiting for him. But Paul was in God’s perfect will. A great Christian man went to be with the Lord this weekend at ninety three and I found myself reading Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. This passage is as much about our future hope as it is about the power of God working in us in this life. Paul led to this statement by saying in Philippians 1:12 “Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have happened instead for the progress of the gospel,” and it is true in life, things don’t always happen the way we want them to. But Paul ends in Philippians 1:25-26 with “for your progress and joy in the faith” and “so that what you can be proud of may increase in Christ Jesus”. There is a prize, a high calling, and we are to, in Philippians 1:27 “lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ … standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel”. 

I Saw A Light From Heaven

Acts 26:9–18
Paul describes, in Acts 26:9, how he was “opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene” and the actions, in Acts 26:10-12 against the believers including pursuing, punishing, and executing them. But these acts were not in the name of God, as Paul describes them they were “because I was enraged at them beyond measure” and “pursuing them even as far as to foreign cities” so you might expect some reaction from Festus or certainly from King Agrippa. Paul had been persecuting and abusing the believers but this didn’t seem to bother them. “(See on Ac 9:1, &c. and compare Ac 22:4, &c.)”1

Paul describes the encounter he had with the Lord in Acts 26:13-18 in vs. 15 “And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting”. Then the Lord commissions him in vs. 16 “I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both to the things in which you saw me and to the things in which I will appear to you” which makes it clear that Paul had already been a witness of many things, but this was not the end, Jesus told him he would appear to him as his life’s work unfolded. And finally, in vs. 18, is the message, the goal, which is

Acts 26:18 (LEB) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision

Acts 26:19–32
In Acts 26:19 Paul refers to his heavenly vision which happened to him, as he mentions in Acts 26:20, on the road to Damascus. This is the authority he has to speak. And the message is “repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance”. It is, in

Acts 26:21 On account of these things the Jews seized me ind the temple courts* and* were attempting to kill me.

Paul says he has this message from “the Lord” who, in the vision in Acts 26:15 said “I am Jesus”.

Acts 26:22 “and I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen”.

This is always Paul’s approach to the Jews, that God has spoken to them through the Law (Moses) and the prophets. And this is his message, the gospel of Jesus Christ:

Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.”

This is why Paul was here. This is why Paul had subjected himself to chains for these two years. And Paul was doing all he could to bring these leaders to a place of accepting Christ.
Sadly, Festus reacted badly in

Acts 26:24 (LEB) And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!”

Paul assures Festus, in Acts 26:25 (LEB) “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality”. Then Paul reached out to King Agrippa saying Do You Believe The Prophets? in

Acts 26:26–27 (LEB) For the king knows about these things, to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced that these things in any way have escaped his notice, because this was not done in a corner. 27 Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.”

Agrippa then responds in

Act 26:28 (KJV) “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”.

Paul makes one final plea, as Acts 26:18 said, “to open their eyes so they may turn”, to bring these men to faith in Jesus

Acts 26:29 (LEB) And Paul replied, “I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such people as I also am, except for these bonds!”

Then the moment was gone: (see the message You Almost Persuade Me)

Acts 26:30 Both the king and the governor got up, and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.

And their conversation turned to Paul’s situation and in Acts 26:31 they say “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment” and then in Acts 26:32, Agrippa says, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.” But Paul was not looking to be released, he was on a mission to declare the gospel in Rome as Jesus had said to him. 

The Progress of the Gospel

Philippians 1:12–30
Many Christians quote this phrase from Paul in

Philippians 1:12 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

but we seldom read it in context. Paul begins in Philippians 1:12 to tell us that what seemed like a set back, his imprisonment in Jerusalem and then later for two years in Caesarea not only didn’t hurt him personally, but it helped spread the gospel. He says in

Philippians 1:12 (LEB) Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have happened instead for the progress of the gospel,

When we read Philippians 1:12 on its own, we might put our focus on going to be with the Lord. And we would agree, and many would go on to quote

2 Corinthians 5:8 so we are confident and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

and we could go on with

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forever.

Certainly, we will enter in to perfect peace, and perfect love and fullness of joy when we leave this mortal body. But here and now, Paul also said in

Philippians 1:24–26 But to stay on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 And because I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that what you can be proud of may increase in Christ Jesus because of me through my return again to you.

There is a progress in our faith and we work together so that “what you can be proud of may increase” and this is the proving of our faith that is highly valued. As it also says in

1 Peter 1:7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

They Handed Over Paul

Acts 27:1–12
Paul, in Acts 27:1-2 is on a ship to Italy. His time in Caesarea is over. Though Paul was in custody, it seems he had good favor as it says, “Aristarchus” (who was a traveling companion in Acts 19:29) “was with us” which also indicates the writer was traveling with Paul. then in Acts 27:3 it goes further saying “And Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for”.

However, as the trip became difficult in Acts 27:4-9 because of the late time of year as in vs 9 “the Fast was already over”, Paul speaks a warning in Acts 27:10 “I perceive that the voyage is going to end with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives!”. Whether the centurion thought Paul was just wanting to delay or he felt his own pressure to deliver Paul quickly, he, in Acts 27:11 “was convinced even more by the shipmaster and the shipowner”. And the shipowner and shipmaster had their own desire to deliver cargo sooner, because that is how they would be paid.

We often find ourselves in the hands of others as decision makers, and they are not always making the best decisions. Even in these situations, we may find ourselves right in the middle of God’s will and plan, just as Paul did, he is on the way to Rome.

All Hope Was Abandoned That We Would Be Saved

Acts 27:13–20
In Acts 27:13-17 we find seamen at work, doing what they must to weather the storm. This is not likely their first, and though in vs. 15 “they were driven along”, in vs. 16 it says “we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control”.

But in Acts 27:18-20, they were again “driven along”, “violently battered”, “jettisoning cargo” (what they were paid to deliver), and in vs. 19 “they threw overboard the gear of the ship” (the very tools they needed to run the ship under normal circumstances). And still, in vs 20, there was “neither sun nor stars for many days” and “finally all hope was abandoned”.

You Ought To Have Followed My Advice

Acts 27:21–26
“I told you so”, in Acts 27:21 may not have been the best thing for Paul to have said, but it was the truth. They had lost the cargo and lost the tackle (gear) and now were likely to lose the ship and their very lives. Paul does go on to assure them in Acts 27:22-25. It doesn’t say that Paul was praying, but he must have been because in Acts 27:24 it says, “God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you”. This sounds like a request that Paul made to the Lord, that was granted. Paul does encourage them, and shares the angelic visitation he had in Acts 27:23-24.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Acts 26:9-32
  • Acts 27:1-26
  • Philippians 1:12-30

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 215). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.