Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 28
17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening.
17 Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. 18 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. 19 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 20 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.”
21 They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. 22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening.
Commentary:
28:17–18 The local leaders were probably the elders of the synagogues, of which there were a number in Rome. Paul’s main purpose in this meeting was to explain his presence in Rome. He declared his innocence of transgressing any Jewish law. into the hands of the Romans. Some interpreters think this refers to Paul’s original capture in Jerusalem (21:33–36); others think it refers to his transfer out of Jerusalem into the Roman judicial system to stand trial in Caesarea (23:23–35). wished to set me at liberty. See 26:32.
28:19 no charge to bring. Paul was a loyal Jew not only with respect to the Jews’ charges against him but also in his refusal to accuse them of any wrongdoing.
28:20 The hope of Israel is the coming of the Messiah as attested by his resurrection (see 23:6; 24:15; 26:8, 23).
28:23 The content of Paul’s message was the kingdom of God and Jesus (see also v. 31). The kingdom represents the fulfillment of God’s saving promises to his people (see note on Matt. 12:28 on the kingdom of God). For the OT texts pointing to Jesus, see notes on Luke 24:44; 24:45; Acts 2:31; 3:11–26; 3:24.
28:19 no charge to bring. Paul was a loyal Jew not only with respect to the Jews’ charges against him but also in his refusal to accuse them of any wrongdoing.
28:20 The hope of Israel is the coming of the Messiah as attested by his resurrection (see 23:6; 24:15; 26:8, 23).
28:23 The content of Paul’s message was the kingdom of God and Jesus (see also v. 31). The kingdom represents the fulfillment of God’s saving promises to his people (see note on Matt. 12:28 on the kingdom of God). For the OT texts pointing to Jesus, see notes on Luke 24:44; 24:45; Acts 2:31; 3:11–26; 3:24.
Questions:
- In chapter 28, Paul finally arrives at Rome. He ends up able to speak to a group of Jewish leaders and, once again, lays out the gospel for them. He preaches to this group with all he has. Luke writes that using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning til evening. That's a long time! These people were HUNGRY for the Word of God. They couldn't get enough! Has your hunger for scripture grown in the past couple of years since we've been teaching verse by verse? How has it affected your faith?
- Read this week's City 7 below. How amazing is it that we serve a God that not only WANTS us to know Him, but that has given us His word so that we might do just that? What a treasure we have in the scriptures! What does your study of the Bible look like from day to day? How can you grow in this area?
Pray:
- That God would grow your hunger for His Word.
- That you would be faithful in your study of the Bible.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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