Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
v.20 You know tht I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Paul had not hesitated to preach the challenging, the convicting, the comforting, anything that would be helpful. Sometimes we are not quite so brave and steer away from telling people everything that would be helpful.
v.20 You know tht I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Paul had not hesitated to preach the challenging, the convicting, the comforting, anything that would be helpful. Sometimes we are not quite so brave and steer away from telling people everything that would be helpful.
v.24 However I consider my life nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
The most important thing to Paul was to complete the task God had given him. This was more important than life itself. I wonder if we feel this way? Are God's tasks primary or secondary in our lives?
v.24 However I consider my life nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
The most important thing to Paul was to complete the task God had given him. This was more important than life itself. I wonder if we feel this way? Are God's tasks primary or secondary in our lives?
v.22-23 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem even though he knew he would face suffering. Furthermore he was in hurry to get there: "Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost" (v.16). Paul ran towards difficulty much like David ran towards Goliath (1 Samuel 17:47-49).
Later Agabus (21:11) would warn Paul about the difficulties he would face but, of course, he already knew this.
v.22-23 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem even though he knew he would face suffering. Furthermore he was in hurry to get there: "Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost" (v.16). Paul ran towards difficulty much like David ran towards Goliath (1 Samuel 17:47-49).
Later Agabus (21:11) would warn Paul about the difficulties he would face but, of course, he already knew this.
v.35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
(From Constable’s Commentary)"The precise saying of Jesus to which Paul referred here (v. 35) is not in Scripture. It may have come down to Paul by oral or written tradition, or he may have been summarizing Jesus' teaching."
v.35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
(From Constable’s Commentary)"The precise saying of Jesus to which Paul referred here (v. 35) is not in Scripture. It may have come down to Paul by oral or written tradition, or he may have been summarizing Jesus' teaching."