PT-2 "The Commencement of Paul's Testimony" (Acts 26:1-18)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/16/2018 5:49 PM

 

My Worship Time         Focus:  PT-2 “The Commencement of Paul’s Testimony”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                        Reference:  Acts 26:1-18

 

          Message of the verses:  As in yesterday’s SD we only looked at the verses that we comment on, today we will begin with Acts 26:4 “4  "So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem.”  Paul was reminding Agrippa of the things that are found in this verse, as Paul knew that Agrippa knew much about Paul’s life both before and after his conversion.  As we move to verse five it reinforces what it was that Paul was telling Agrippa in verse four:  “5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.”  What Paul is saying here is certainly true as even before coming to Christ he did adhere to the straightest was of the Pharisees.  Paul explained his way of life when he wrote to the Philippines “5circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless (Philippians 3:5-6).” 

 

          6  "And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7  the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews (Acts 26:6-7).”  When Paul was talking to Felix he said things similar to what he is saying here in verses 6-7, and that is that he was committed to the teaching found in the Old Testament.  What Paul had been teaching were the things that are found in the OT that speak about the promises that were given by God to their fathers, that is the patriarchs along with Moses and the rest of the prophets.  That hope can be summed up in what he wrote to Titus 2:13” looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”  If it was the promise of the hope of the return of Jesus Christ that Paul was speaking of then Paul certainly was also speaking of the first coming of Christ too.There are some who think that ten of the twelve Jewish tribes are lost, but Paul certainly was not one of them as he mentions the “twelve tribes” in verse seven.  John also mentions them by name in the book of Revelation.

 

          We will finish our Sunday SD by giving a quote from John MacArthur’s commentary:  “The incongruity of his being condemned for believing what the Jewish people had always believed caused Paul to exclaim, ‘Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?’  By raising Jesus from the dead, God validated the Old Testament promise of resurrection, at the same time demonstrating that Jesus was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah.” 

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The wise men” (Matthew 2:2).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “In what section of Egypt did Jacob settle?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

9/16/2018 6:16 PM