Passage
Acts 22:17-29 (ESV)
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:26-40
Key Verse: 8:35
Paul's Defense (ii)
Date: Oct. 7, 2014
Daily Bread
First, I will send you far away to the Gentiles (17-21). As Paul was praying, he fell into a trance and the Lord told him to leave Jerusalem because his testimony would not be accepted. Paul thought that his previous life as a persecutor of the church would give weight to his testimony but the Lord told him, "Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles." The Lord had other plans for Paul to make him an apostle to the Gentiles.
Second, Paul, a Roman citizen (22-29). This last statement provoked the Jews to insane jealousy and hatred. They were about to kill him but the commander ordered him to be taken to the barracks. The centurion was about to flog Paul when Paul calmly asked if it was legal to flog a Roman citizen. The commander was alarmed to hear that Paul was born a Roman citizen in Tarsus while the commander had to pay for his citizenship. God was using Paul's status as a Roman citizen to carry the gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire.
Prayer: Lord, help me to use all available means to preach the gospel. May your kingdom come.
One Word: Go into all the world with the gospel!
