Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 22:23-30.

“And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.  But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”  When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do?  For this man is a Roman.”  The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”  And he said, “Yes.”  The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”  And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.”  Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him;  and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.

But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.”  Acts 22:23-30.

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There are two general parts to a successful witness.  There is the speaker, and there is the audience.

We see God providing three different audiences for Paul in Jerusalem.

In today’s Scripture, we see that God caused the commander to release Paul and order the Council to assemble for Paul to speak to them.  In Acts 21:40, we see God caused the commander to give permission to Paul to speak to the group of hostile Jews.  See Paul’s speech to them in Acts 22:1-21.  In Acts 21:17-19, we see God caused the brethren to receive Paul gladly.

For the elect, God “causes the gospel to be externally preached to them” and more!

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”  Romans 10:17.  In other words, God does not grant it to everyone to hear the gospel and be saved.

Q60:  Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

A60:  They who, having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess;  neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body the church.  Westminster Larger Catechism.  

“election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself”.  Article 9 of FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 22:17-22.

“It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’  And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You.  And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’  And He said to me, ‘Go!  For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”  Acts 22:17-22.

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In the first part of today’s Scripture (first paragraph above, verses 17-21), it appears that Paul is continuing his defense by relaying a prior experience after his conversion, right around the time of the events described in Acts chapter 9:1-30.  In this part, it appears as if Paul was discussing (almost arguing) with the Lord that logically the Jews should accept his testimony because he previously persecuted Christians.

Paul also tried this logical strategy in the beginning of his defense in Acts 22:3-5.

But, as God was not moved from changing his command by Paul’s argument in the first part of today’s Scripture as shown by God’s command in verse 21:  “Go!  For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”, neither were the Jews moved by Paul’s story in verses 17-21 as shown by their exclamation in verse 22:  “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”.

The lesson from today’s Scripture is to trust in the LORD and His Word and not lean on our own understanding nor our own reasoning.

“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”  Proverbs 3:5-7.

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 21:15-26.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+21&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.  And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.  After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.  And when they heard it they began glorifying God;  and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;  and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.  What, then, is to be done?  They will certainly hear that you have come.  Therefore do this that we tell you.  We have four men who are under a vow; take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads;  and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.  But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”  Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.”   Acts 21:17-26.

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Paul followed the advice of the brethren in Jerusalem.  Paul may also have had on his mind the recent prophecy of Agabus (Acts 21:11) who warned him of the Jews in Jerusalem.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”  Proverbs 12:15.

Paul may also have been generally inclined to respect the customs of the Jews that surrounded him in Jerusalem.

“Render to all what is due them:  tax to whom tax is due;  custom to whom custom;  fear to whom fear;  honor to whom honor.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”  Romans 13:7-8.

Or, Paul may have been specifically concerned about weak consciences of Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.

“But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?  For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.  And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.  Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.”  1 Corinthians 8:9-13.