IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Paul's Defense Ii

Date: Sep. 1, 2019

Passage

Acts 22:17-29 (ESV)

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’

22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 22:21

And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’

1. Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles (17-21)

Paul was speaking to the crowd after his arrest, giving his testimony of when he met the Risen Jesus. After he received his sight, he went to Jerusalem to the temple to pray. There he fell into a trance, and the Lord told him to leave Jerusalem as the Jews would not accept his testimony. Paul argued that his past life as persecutor of the church would give his testimony more weight. But the Lord had other plans for him. He would send him far away to the Gentiles.

2. Paul, the Roman citizen (22-29)

When Paul quoted these words of the Lord, the crowd went crazy. They wanted to start a riot and kill Paul. The commander was confused as to why the crowd would react like this and wanted to have Paul flogged to find out why. As they were about the flog him, Paul asked if it was legal to flog a Roman citizen. This alarmed the commander and he withdrew immediately. Paul was using his Roman citizenship as a way to get to Rome to preach the gospel there.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, help me to be discerning in using any means at my disposal to preach the gospel to others.

One Word: Go into all the world and preach the gospel

Daily Bread

Hallelujah!

Revelation 19:1-10

Key Verse: 19:1

Rejoicing in Heaven

19:1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

  “Hallelujah!
  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

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