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.21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
Amazing! All through the OT God promised to bless all the nations that blessed Israel. In other places he sent prophets (Jonah) to pagan nations. Yet the Jews never picked up on God's intention.
God may want to do something we don't expect in our lives – I wonder how we will react?
v.21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
Amazing! All through the OT God promised to bless all the nations that blessed Israel. In other places he sent prophets (Jonah) to pagan nations. Yet the Jews never picked up on God's intention.
God may want to do something we don't expect in our lives – I wonder how we will react?
v.17-18 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
There is a time "to plant and a time to uproot". A time to stay and a time to go. And always time to listen to God's direction.
v.17-18 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
There is a time "to plant and a time to uproot". A time to stay and a time to go. And always time to listen to God's direction.
v.15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.
8:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."
The Lord told Ananias that Paul would speak to Gentiles and to the people of Israel. Paul initially relays this as "all men" and it wasn't until he said Gentiles (v.21), that the crowd got upset. Persumably they didn't consider Gentiles as part of "all men"!!
The real problem was that Paul was inviting Gentiles into relationship with God without them becoming Jews. This would mean Jews and Gentiles would have the same standing before God and this is what really upset them.
v.15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.
8:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."
The Lord told Ananias that Paul would speak to Gentiles and to the people of Israel. Paul initially relays this as "all men" and it wasn't until he said Gentiles (v.21), that the crowd got upset. Persumably they didn't consider Gentiles as part of "all men"!!
The real problem was that Paul was inviting Gentiles into relationship with God without them becoming Jews. This would mean Jews and Gentiles would have the same standing before God and this is what really upset them.
v.24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
(From Constable’s Commentary)"The trials, even though extended over much more time and depicted in fuller scenes, resemble Jesus' trials. Both Jesus and Paul must appear before the Jewish council, the Roman governor, and a Jewish king. Both are repeatedly declared innocent yet not released."
v.24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
(From Constable’s Commentary)"The trials, even though extended over much more time and depicted in fuller scenes, resemble Jesus' trials. Both Jesus and Paul must appear before the Jewish council, the Roman governor, and a Jewish king. Both are repeatedly declared innocent yet not released."