Acts 26: Permission to Speak

Last updated on: June 10, 2011 at 11:35 am By Dillon Burroughs

In Acts 26, Paul is given the opportunity to defend himself before King Agrippa. The chapter begins with, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Most read on, missing the significance of these words. Paul had endured patiently, was not mean-spirited, and patiently waited for the opportunity to speak at the appropriate time. Paul could have ranted about his religious liberties, his authority as an apostle, or some other issue, but he didn’t. Instead, he prayed and prepared to address... Read more

Acts 25: Points of Dispute

Last updated on: June 9, 2011 at 6:00 am By Dillon Burroughs

American Christians are unfortunately often known for what they are against rather than who they stand for. This has not always been the case. When Festus prepared to hold a hearing regarding the arrest of the apostle Paul, he wrote in Acts 25, “When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead... Read more

Acts 24: Enough for Now

Last updated on: June 8, 2011 at 6:22 am By Dillon Burroughs

Many parts of the Bible are inspiring. Others are simply convicting. When Paul made his defense before Governor Felix in Acts 24, this area of conviction stood out as a contributing factor to Paul’s prison time. In verse 25, we read: As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” What was the concern? Fear. Why?... Read more

Acts 23: It’s about the Resurrection

Last updated on: June 7, 2011 at 12:10 pm By Dillon Burroughs

When the apostle Paul stood on trial in Jerusalem in Acts 23, he appeared before a mixed audience. Some were Pharisees who believed in the resurrection from the dead and others were Sadducees who did not. Knowing this, Paul appealed to a central and dividing belief, stating in verse six: “I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” It’s interesting to me that Paul did not make it about religious freedom or politics. He... Read more

Acts 22: Tell Your Story

Last updated on: June 6, 2011 at 12:27 pm By Dillon Burroughs

In Acts 22, Paul defends himself against the crowd in Jerusalem. Interestingly, though he was quite able to provide details regarding the evidence for Christianity, Paul started with something else–his story. He began with his personal background and continued with how Jesus had radically changed his life one day on the road to Damascus. It would have been great to have a conclusion where the crowd all converts to Christianity, but they did not. Unfortunately for Paul, the crowd grew... Read more

Acts 21: Willing to Die

Last updated on: June 3, 2011 at 11:15 am By Dillon Burroughs

Acts 21 offers an insight into the radically changed life of Paul. He began his life committed to the Law, including the persecution of Christians. We are told he even stood watch over the cloaks of those who killed the first Christian martyr, Stephen, meaning he approved of his death. But something changed. In verses 13-14, a prophet warns Paul not to go to Jerusalem because of harm that would come to him. The text reads: 13 Then Paul answered,... Read more

Acts 20: The Blessing of Giving

Last updated on: June 2, 2011 at 12:14 pm By Dillon Burroughs

In Acts 20, the apostle Paul shares one saying from the life of Jesus that is not shared in any of the four Gospels. What is it? 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.’ Paul modeled hard work that helped the weak based on this teaching of Jesus. Rather than being... Read more

Acts 19: Moving On

Last updated on: June 1, 2011 at 12:03 pm By Dillon Burroughs

As Christians, we are called to share the good news of Jesus, but we are also given a method for doing so. The work of the apostle Paul in Acts 19 offers a window into one method he used in Ephesus: 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them.... Read more

Acts 18: The Way of God

Last updated on: May 31, 2011 at 6:43 am By Dillon Burroughs

What is the way of God? Acts 18 shares the following on this issue: 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla... Read more

Acts 17: Beyond Religion

Last updated on: May 30, 2011 at 5:18 pm By Dillon Burroughs

Athens was a highly religious community. Paul recognized this in his time there reported in Acts 17 which reads: 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you... Read more