Devotions

Commit Your Hearts to Yahweh

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Israel has been plagued by their enemies, the Philistines and they have suffered at the hand of Eli’s sons, the “worthless scoundrels” in 1 Samuel 2:12. But it wasn’t just these two, the nation as a whole had fallen away. Israel suffers a huge defeat and the Philistines capture the ark of the covenant. But the hand of the Lord is against the Philistines wherever the ark goes so they return the ark to Israel with a guilt offering recognizing in 1 Samuel 6:5 “you must give glory to the God of Israel”. It takes twenty more years, but Samuel leads the nation of Israel in repentance as he says in 1 Samuel 7:3 “If with all your heart you are turning to Yahweh, remove the foreign gods and Ashtoreths from your midst. Commit your hearts to Yahweh and serve him alone. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” and he did deliver them. 

Let Us Bring the Ark of the Covenant

1 Samuel 4:1-11
Israel had been confronted by the Philistines before and “They had kept the Israelites in some degree of subjection ever since the death of Samson and were determined, by further crushing, to prevent the possibility … (of Israel) to reassert their national independence. At all events, the Philistines were the aggressors”1. It seems here that Israel set themselves at Ebenezer in 1 Samuel 4:1 and then in

1 Samuel 4:2 “The Philistines lined up for the battle to meet Israel, and the battle was prolonged until Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield”.

This was a huge defeat, yet it seems the Philistines did not follow after, but the army of Israel retreated. They, in 1 Samuel 4:3 “came back to the camp” and agreed that they should “bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to us from Shiloh so that it may come into our midst and deliver us”.

But there was no inquiry of the Lord about what they should do, whether to go against the Philistines or not. They just brought the ark in 1 Samuel 4:4 “And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God”.

There was a history of the power of the Lord to save and deliver Israel, but that was always preceded by a prophetic word confirming the Lords will. Here, the Hebrews were not looking the Lord, but to the ark to save them, so when the ark arrived in 1 Samuel 4:5 “all Israel let out a loud shout”. And in 1 Samuel 4:7 “the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come to the camp”. But in 1 Samuel 4:10 “the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated … the slaughter was very great. Thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell” and in

1 Samuel 4:11 Furthermore, the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

The Glory Has Departed From Israel

1 Samuel 4:12-22

The Hand of Yahweh Was Heavy

1 Samuel 5:1-12 

Return it With a Guilt Offering

1 Samuel 6:1-11
Though Israel had been defeated and the ark of God had been taken, every city where the Philistines had taken the ark there was as in 1 Samuel 5:11 “a deadly confusion was throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there”. So after in 1 Samuel 6:1 “seven months” the Philistines wanted to return the ark to Israel in

1 Samuel 6:2 and the Philistines called to the priests and to those who practiced divination, saying, “What should we do with the ark of Yahweh? Inform us how we should send it to its place.”

These pagan priests knew that the ark belonged to Israel and they, in 1 Samuel 6:4 “the rulers of the Philistines” must return it with a “guilt offering”. And it is still true today that when we commit an offense against someone, we should offer restitution. However, while the diviners say in 1 Samuel 6:5 “You must make (gold) images of your tumors and images of your mice that are ravaging the land”, it is their next comment that is what was required in 1 Samuel 6:5 “you must give glory to the God of Israel”.

So, they do prepare the ark for return, but not to the Hebrews, they are returning it to the Lord and they treat it with great respect as they in 1 Samuel 6:7-8 “prepare one new utility cart and two milking cows that have never had a yoke on them … And you must take the ark of Yahweh and place it on the utility cart with the gold objects that you are returning to him as a guilt offering”.

They Made Sacrifices to Yahweh

1 Samuel 6:12-21 

Commit Your Hearts to Yahweh and Serve Him

1 Samuel 7:1-11
The ark is back in Israel, yet the Hebrews must now learn to honor the ark as the presence of the Lord among them. When it was returned, they did the right thing in 1 Samuel 6:15 “Then the Levites took down the ark of Yahweh and … Then the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings, and they made sacrifices to Yahweh on that day”.

But then there were some that looked into the ark and in 1 Samuel 6:19 “He struck seventy men among the men of Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark of Yahweh. So the people mourned”. And in

1 Samuel 7:2 “From the day the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, days multiplied and became twenty years while all the house of Israel mourned after Yahweh”.

We don’t hear anything about Samuel for these twenty years, but now he speaks out in

1 Samuel 7:3 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If with all your heart you are turning to Yahweh, remove the foreign gods and Ashtoreths from your midst. Commit your hearts to Yahweh and serve him alone. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

And the people respond, and “the Israelites repented in v. 2. Compare Deut 30:8–10; Josh 22:5; Josh 24:23 … (after) The period of the judges (which) was characterized by spiritual defection and idolatry (e.g., Judg 2:12–13; 3:7; 8:33–34; 10:6–13)2.

This time of repentance and cleansing from idols is followed by a day of national prayer and fasting and Samuel says in 1 Samuel 7: 6 “We have sinned against Yahweh!”. But their enemies, the Philistines try to take advantage of this moment and in 1 Samuel 7:7 “the Philistines went up against Israel” so in 1 Samuel 7:9-10 “Then Samuel cried out to Yahweh on behalf of Israel, and Yahweh answered him … and threw them into confusion so that they were defeated before Israel”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Samuel 4:1-22
  • 1 Samuel 5:1-12
  • 1 Samuel 6:1-21
  • 1 Samuel 7:1-11

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 177). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Sa 7:3). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Devotions

Yahweh Came and Stood There

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Hannah and her faithful husband Elkanah are blessed and the Lord gives her five more children. And she still sees her son Samuel in 1 Samuel 2:19 “His mother used to make for him a small robe and take it to him year by year whenever she came up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice”. But the sons of Eli were in 1 Samuel 2:12 “worthless scoundrels” yet in the midst of this, in 1 Samuel 2:21 “Samuel grew up with Yahweh”. The Lords speaks to Eli and says in 1 Samuel 2:30 “those who honor me I will honor” and in 1 Samuel 2:31 “Look, days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of the house of your ancestor”. Then we find what a right relationship with the Lord looks like in 1 Samuel 3:10 ‘Then Yahweh came and stood there and called out as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, because your servant is listening”’.

The Sons Were Worthless Scoundrels

1 Samuel 2:12-17 

May Yahweh Give You an Offspring

1 Samuel 2:18-21
Hannah had given up her dream, her firstborn son in 1 Samuel 1:27-28. And in 1 Samuel 2:18 “Samuel was serving before Yahweh”. This couple, Elkanah and his wife Hannah, were faithful people and in

1 Samuel 2:19 “His mother used to make for him a small robe and take it to him year by year whenever she came up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice”.

Eli blessed them and prayed for her, that she would have more children in 1 Samuel 2:20 and in 1 Samuel 2:21 “she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters, while the young man Samuel grew up with Yahweh”.

Hannah had five children, so years pass. It was certainly more than five years, maybe ten or, since Jesus didn’t begin his ministry until he was thirty, it could have been many more years, but we do know that “Samuel grew up with Yahweh”.

The Report Is Not Good

1 Samuel 2:22-26 

Those Who Honor Me I Will Honor

1 Samuel 2:27-36
As we will read in 1 Samuel 3:1 “The word of Yahweh was rare in those days; visions were not widespread”. And we would not find this surprising as we have read about the sons of Eli who are described as in 1 Samuel 2:12 “worthless scoundrels” and years later in

1 Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel and that they were having sexual relations with the women who were serving at the entrance of the tent of assembly.

This is not the behavior expected of the priestly line that began with Aaron. They engaged in “A grossly sacrilegious act; they also served themselves before serving God. See Lev 3:3–5; 7:22–25, 31”.1 and they did this continually over the years completely contrary to the word and will of God as in

1 Samuel 2:26 “But the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with Yahweh and with the people”.

Now the Lord says to Eli in 1 Samuel 2:30 “those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me, I will treat with contempt!” and in

1 Samuel 2:31 “Look, days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of the house of your ancestor so that no one in your house will live to old age”.

Then the Lord says in

1 Samuel 2:35 “But I will raise up for myself a reliable priest; he will do just according to what is in my heart and in my soul. I will build for him a lasting house and he will walk continually before my anointed one forever”.

While Samuel is the immediate context and takes his place as Prophet coming from outside of the priestly lineage, “There is a second reference to the anointed one, ‘my messiah’ (cf. v. 1 Samuel 2:10), the king whom the priest will serve.”2

Here I Am Because You Called Me

1 Samuel 3:1-9 

Yahweh Came and Stood There

1 Samuel 3:10-21
Years have gone by as in 1 Samuel 2:21 “the young man Samuel grew up with Yahweh” and in 1 Samuel 3:3 “Samuel was lying in the temple of Yahweh where the ark of God was” which seems to have been his place to sleep and “The setting highlights Samuel’s proximity to God: In this moment, he is the closest Israelite to Yahweh”.3

The Lord has called several times to Samuel but now he has heard the Lord’s voice and responded so in

1 Samuel 3:10 Then Yahweh came and stood there and called out as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, because your servant is listening.”

The Lord is speaking, looking for those that will hear him and recognize his voice. Even more so, for us as he has poured out his Holy Spirit on us as believers in Jesus Christ. This presence that Samuel could only experience as standing next to him, we experience in

Ephesians 1:13 “in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Samuel 2:12-36
  • 1 Samuel 3:1-21

References

  • 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Sa 2:15). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 2. Baldwin, J. G. (1988). 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 8, p. 67). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 3. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Sa 3:3). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Devotions

I Grin Over My Enemies

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Naomi and Ruth suffer great loss and Ruth gives up her family and culture and religion to return to Bethlehem. But God opens a way for them and has Boaz waiting. They are redeemed and the Lord gives them back the love they had lost. Hannah also has great sorrow because she cannot have children. As she cries out to the Lord, Eli the priest hears and prays and she has a son. Hannah has promised her first born son Samuel to the Lord and gives up. She gives to the Lord, the one thing in life she wanted, her son and says in 1 Samuel 1:27–28 “I prayed for this boy, and Yahweh has given me my request that I asked from him. 28 I, in turn, have lent him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is lent to Yahweh.” Then they worshiped Yahweh there”. But there is no sorrow in her, instead she is filled with joy and prays in 1 Samuel 2:1 “My heart exults in Yahweh, my strength is exalted in Yahweh; I grin over my enemies, for I rejoice over your salvation”. 

Before the Elders of My People

Ruth 4:1-7
Elimelech had two kinsmen that qualified as redeemers, two brothers. The name of the second is not mentioned, but he was likely an older brother, so first in line. After Ruth approached Boaz, he goes with intent to take on his right so he finds witnesses in

Ruth 4:2 “And he took ten men from the elders of the city and said, “Sit here.” And they sat”.

Then Boaz approaches the other kinsman who has first right to redemption and offers the land of Elimelech in

Ruth 4:3 And he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who returned from the countryside of Moab, is selling the tract of land which was for our brother Elimelech.

At the thought of gaining land, he responds in Ruth 4:4 “I want to redeem it”. Then Boaz adds, in

Ruth 4:5 “On the day of your acquiring the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of the dead man, in order to raise up for the name of the dead his inheritance.”

At this, the first in line refuses because it seems he already has children. He would have been happy to have added land for them, but does not want the trouble of another wife and half brothers and sisters, as he says in Ruth 4:6 “lest I ruin my inheritance”. Boaz though is not married and does not have children so is very happy to step in and take Ruth as his wife.

Acquire it for Yourself

Ruth 4:8-12

May His Name be Renowned

Ruth 4:13-22

She Prayed to Yahweh and Wept Bitterly

1 Samuel 1:1-10
Hannah was the first of two wives, as was the custom of the time, but she did not have any children. The second wife had children and continually provoked Hannah because she was barren. While her husband loved her and treated her well, she was in 1 Samuel 1:8 “heartsick”. This was a faithful family that in 1 Samuel 1:7 “year after year … went up to the house of Yahweh”. And this year, in 1 Samuel 1:9 “Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh” and saw Hannah as she in

1 Samuel 1:10 “She was deeply troubled, so she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly”.

Yahweh Look With Compassion

1 Samuel 1:11-18
As Hannah wept, grieved that she did not have a child in

1 Samuel 1:11 She made a vow and said: “O Yahweh of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the misery of your female servant, and will remember me, and not forget your female servant, and will give to your female servant a male child then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and a razor will never pass over his head.”

Eli looked on and in 1 Samuel 1:13 “considered her to be drunk”. It is surprising that he would presume drunkenness and not recognize the sobs of heartbreak, but a full reading of the context and an understanding of the trouble in the temple with his own sons will explain his impression. But as she explains her sorrow, Elis prays for her in

1 Samuel 1:17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request that you have asked of him.”

Something happened in Hannah at his word that changed her whole countenance and in

1 Samuel 1:18 And she said, “May your female slave find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went on her way and ate something, and her face did not look sad any longer.

And in 1 Samuel 1:20 “Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son”.

They Worshiped Yahweh There

1 Samuel 1:19-28 

I Grin Over My Enemies

1 Samuel 2:1-11
In the end, Hannah rejoices over the goodness of God in her life. Though there were times of great sorrow, and it seemed she may never find peace and joy, the Lord has brought great blessing into her life so that now in

1 Samuel 2:1 Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in Yahweh, my strength is exalted in Yahweh; I grin over my enemies, for I rejoice over your salvation.

It isn’t that she never had enemies, in this world we do. Now she says, “My strength is exalted … I grin over my enemies”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ruth 4:1-22
  • 1 Samuel 1:1-28
  • 1 Samuel 2:1-11
Devotions

Your God Will Be My God

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Naomi is at the lowest point in her life and decides to send her daughters in law back to their fathers because she has no way to provide for them. Ruth refuses to leave Naomi and instead makes a decision to leave her family, her culture, her religion. She declares in Ruth 1:16 “… For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God”. And after their journey back to Bethlehem, Ruth works in the fields to glean food for them to eat. Naomi sends Ruth to Boaz, a relative who promises to take on the obligation of kinsman redeemer. Boaz will be a provider, protector, and husband to Ruth, father to her children, and son to Naomi.

There Was a Famine

Ruth 1:1-5

To Return to the Land of Judah

Ruth 1:6-14

Your God Will Be My God

Ruth 1:15-22
Naomi’s husband has died and both of her son’s have died, leaving her with two widowed daughter’s in law. There isn’t anywhere for Naomi to turn because “A woman who has lost her husband, an ʾalmānâ, occupied a precarious position … she would have no provision (2 Sam 14:5) unless she was able to return to the house of her father (this is also what Ruth’s mother-in-law urged both Ruth and her sister-in-law to do; Ruth 1; see also Gen 38:11; Lev 22:13)”.1 Naomi is older, her parents not mentioned, perhaps she could go back to Israel, back to Bethlehem where she has some relatives. So, Naomi says to them in

Ruth 1:12 “Turn back, my daughters! Go”

Then in

Ruth 1:14 “Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her”.

In this day, “Nationality in the ancient Near East was closely tied to religion. For Orpah and Ruth, going back to their people included returning to the deities of that land. Conversely, for Ruth, the choice to follow Naomi is also the choice to worship Yahweh (v. 16) The main Moabite deity was Chemosh (see Num 21:29 and note; 1 Kgs 11:7)”.2 So, Ruth makes her declaration not only to stay with Naomi but to follow the Lord in

Ruth 1:16–17 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you! For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. So may Yahweh do to me, and even more, unless death separates you and me!”

I May Find Favor

Ruth 2:1-12

So She Gleaned in the Field

Ruth 2:13-23

Should I Not Seek for You Security

Ruth 3:1-9
Ruth has found favor through Naomi and is accepted as she gleans in the fields of in Ruth 3:2 “Boaz our kinsman” so, in

Ruth 3:1 Now Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek for you security that things may be good for you?”

Naomi is sending Ruth on a mission to present herself to Boaz. But this is not appropriate for a woman to do. So, it requires that Ruth trust Naomi and also that Ruth discretely approach Boaz.

It is the end of the harvest and the men have been working hard in Ruth 3:2 “winnowing the barley at the threshing floor”. Naomi knows, they will work late, eat, drink, and sleep where they have been working. Ruth watches Boaz, and then, after he is asleep, in

Ruth 3:7b–8 “she came in quietly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 And it happened in the middle of the night the man was startled and he reached out and behold, a woman was lying at his feet”.

The two were alone and in the dark, so when he awoke, she made her request in

Ruth 3:9 And he said, “Who are you?” And she said, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your garment over your servant because you are a redeemer.”

Ruth’s request was a legal one because the “KINSMAN Usually refers to a blood relative … Certain obligations were laid on the kinsman … to raise up a male descendant … his redeemer (Gen. 38:8; Deut. 25:5–10; Ruth 3:9–12)”.3

Ruth made it clear what she wanted from Boaz as “She had already drawn part of the mantle over her; and she asked him now to do it, that the act might become his own. To spread a skirt over one is, in the East, a symbolical action denoting protection … synonymous with saying that he married her”.4

All That You Ask I Will Do

Ruth 3:10-18
Boaz is an honorable man and he recognizes that Ruth is also an honorable woman. Boaz mentions her first kindness in Ruth 3:10 which is likely her staying with Naomi through her transition back to Bethlehem and he daily work in the fields to provide for the two of them. Then Boaz say she is blessed by the Lord because she in Acts 3:10 “did better in this last kindness” because he understood that “Ruth could have pursued remarriage with other, younger men. Instead, she looked for a marriage that would benefit Naomi and the family of her late husband (see note on 4:5; note on 4:6)”5 Boaz then makes a promise to Ruth in

Ruth 3:13 Stay tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good; but if he is not willing to redeem, then as Yahweh lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

Then Boaz does one more thing. He seals their contract by giving her grain which is also to let Naomi know that he understands she is part of the deal as Ruth explains in

Ruth 3:17 And she said, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, ‘You shall not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ruth 1:1-22
  • Ruth 2:1-23
  • Ruth 3:1-18

References

  • 1. Blois, I. (2014). Protected Classes. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 2. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ru 1:15). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
  • 3. Bonner, G. (2003). Kinsman. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 994). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
  • 4. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 174–175). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 5. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ru 3:10). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Devotions

Because of the Hope of Israel

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During what seems to be a certain disaster, as the ship Paul is traveling in is driven by a storm for fourteen days, the Lord uses him to maintain hope and in Acts 27:35–36 “And after he said these things and took bread, he gave thanks to God in front of them all, and after breaking it, he began to eat. 36 So they all were encouraged”. After wintering on the island of Malta, they find their way to Rome where Paul in Acts 28:30-31 “stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance”. But there comes a point, where people have heard and made a decision so Paul brings the book to a close in Acts 28:28 “let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!”. 

I Believe God That It Will Be

Acts 27:27-38
They had been driven by the storm for “many days” in Acts 27:20 and an angel of the Lord brought a message to Paul that he shared with the men of the ship in

Acts 27:24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.’

Paul continues to encourage them all asking them to trust God as he does in

Acts 27:25 “Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will be like this—according to the way it was told to me”.

They are still driven by the storm and more days pass and “when the fourteenth night had come” in Acts 27:27 “the sailors suspected they were approaching some land”. There was a chance some of “the sailors” could make land by a lifeboat in Acts 27:30 but Paul knew, either by the message he had received from the angel or by word of wisdom in the middle of this situation, that they all needed to stay together in Acts 27:31. Paul now takes charge and speaks to them all in

Acts 27:33 “And until the day was about to come, Paul was urging them all to take some food, saying, ‘Today is the fourteenth day you have waited anxiously, and you have continued without eating, having taken nothing’”.

So, Paul stood before them all in

Acts 27:35–36 “And after he said these things and took bread, he gave thanks to God in front of them all, and after breaking it, he began to eat. 36 So they all were encouraged and partook of food themselves.”

They Held Course for the Beach

Acts 27:39-44

The Local Inhabitants Showed Extraordinary Kindness

Acts 28:1-10

After Three Months We Put Out to Sea

Acts 28:11-16 

Because of the Hope of Israel I am Wearing This Chain

Acts 28:17-22
Paul has arrived in Rome and while he is still under guard, what we might call house arrest, Paul is free to have visitors. Paul “called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews” in Acts 28:17 to explain what he was doing in Rome and what had transpired in Jerusalem. As Paul recounts that “I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers” and that in Acts 28:19 “I was forced to appeal to Caesar” then Paul says in

Acts 28:20 “Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!”

It was reasonable for Paul to assume the Jews in Rome had heard his story, he had been in prison in Caesarea for two years, but they had not heard anything in

Acts 28:21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.

So, they were open to hearing what Paul had to say in Acts 28:22. 

This Salvation of God Has Been Sent to the Gentiles

Acts 28:23-31
So, as Paul has established himself in Rome, he begins teaching in

Acts 28:23 “And when they had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets”.

and he continued from his house in

Acts 28:30-31 “So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance”.

and as is always the case as the gospel is preached, in

Acts 28:24 “And some were convinced by what was said, but others refused to believe”.

So, in Acts 28: 26-27 Paul quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 and makes a powerful statement in

Acts 28:28 “let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!”

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Acts 27:27-44
  • Acts 28:1-31
Devotions

Do You Believe The Prophets?

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Paul has been sent specifically, as we are all sent generally, to take the gospel in Acts 26:20 “to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles”. And he has faithfully discharged his mission which has brought him now before the king of Israel, Agrippa and the “Roman procurator (governor) of Judea”1, Festus. In fact, Paul says, in Acts 26:22 “I have experienced help from God until this day, and I stand here testifying to both small and great”. Though others see Paul in chains, for Paul, the only confinement on him is obedience to in Acts 26:19 “the heavenly vision”, so Paul boldly asks the question we must each individually answer in Acts 26:27 “Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa?”. Then, as Paul is taken in bonds to Rome, the Lord confirms to him in Acts 27:24 ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.’ Know that you can be right in the middle of Gods will even as you go through what to the world looks like the darkest persecution. And if you are, then, let it be said of you as Paul said of himself in Acts 26:20 “I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance”.

Listen to Me With Patience

Acts 26:1-8

I Saw A Light From Heaven

Acts 26:9-18 

I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision

Acts 26:18-24
Paul was a man that was well educated, taught by Gamaliel, one of the most respected of his time but Paul is not talking about what he has learned through leaders of men. Here, Paul introduces another kind of knowledge, a revelation that comes from God. It is this revelation that is directing Paul when he says in

Acts 26:19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision“

and the vision instructed Paul to take the message of the kingdom to the Gentiles in

Acts 26:20 “but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance.“

Then, Paul makes a statement, as he stands imprisoned, that doesn’t make sense to the natural man. How can he be in prison if God is helping him? Paul says in

Acts 26:22 “Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, and* I stand here testifying to both small and great“

In God’s economy, preaching the word to king Agrippa, and governor Festus, and the leaders of the city, and the Roman soldiers all around is far more valuable than a few misguided accusations. And Paul knows, he could walk out any time, yet as he did with the jailer in Acts 16:25-40, he chooses to remain as a witness before them. 

Do You Believe The Prophets?

Acts 26:25-32
The governor, Festus, is new in his position and questions Paul’s sanity but Paul assures Festus, in

Acts 26:25 “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality”.

King Agrippa though, is well acquainted with the law and the prophets so Paul turns to him saying 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”.

We present-day Christians sometimes forget that when Jesus opened the scriptures to his disciples, it was the Old Testament, it was the law and the prophets that spoke of him. Our New Testament confirms what was written about him. And while there is no greater image than Moses standing with the children of Israel between two mountains saying in

Deuteronomy 11:26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: “

it is still every person’s choice to be persuaded to be a Christian or not.

They Handed Over Paul

Acts 27:1-12

All Hope Was Abandoned That We Would Be Saved

Acts 27:13-20 

You Ought To Have Followed My Advice

Acts 27:21-26
Travel by sailing ship in Paul’s day was close quarters for everyone. Yes, there would be the separation between crew and passengers but they are struggling for their lives for “many days” in Acts 27:20 so they shared not only in fear for their lives but in fatigue, so much so, that in

Acts 27:21 “And because many were experiencing lack of appetite, at that time Paul stood up in their midst and said …”

Well, after reminding them that he had warned them about this trip in Acts 27:21 “ “Men, you ought to have followed my advice not to put out to sea from Crete, and thus avoided this damage and loss!”. Paul gives them all a promise the Lord has given him in

Acts 27:22 “And now I urge you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life from among you, but only of the ship”.

They needed an encouraging word, but Paul was not speaking empty words. It doesn’t say this, but we can easily understand that Paul was praying. The Lord had said Paul would testify in Rome and it looked like the ship and all hands would be lost. Paul has an angelic visitation in Acts 27:23 and the message is in

Acts 27:24 ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar, and behold, God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you.’

Granted is a word we would use when someone has made a request and “The language here (v. 24, kecharistai soi, has graciously given you) suggests a granting in response to prayer for the safekeeping of all.58 The implication is that Paul has been asking for deliverance on behalf of the whole ship’s company (like Abraham interceding for the people of Sodom in Genesis 18:23–33).2

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Acts 26:1-32
  • Acts 27:1-26

References

  • 1. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Festus, Porcius. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 790). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
  • 2. Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 690). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.