Tag: Acts

Scripture Focus: Acts 21.10-14
10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Reflection: Prophecies and Purposes
By John Tillman

Some prophecies are conditional warnings or invitations. “Repent or this disaster will come on you” or “Be faithful in this and I will bless you.” For these prophecies, we have agency. Within God’s sovereignty, we choose between the curses or blessings set before us.

Some prophecies announce what God will do or what will happen. We have no agency in these outcomes. God sovereignly acts, either directly or through others, to bring them to pass. We cannot block the blessings or dodge the judgments of these pronouncements and promises.

Many prophecies told Paul trouble loomed in Jerusalem. “Through the Spirit,” Luke writes, friends encouraged Paul not to go. (Acts 21.4) Agabus came from Judea and dramatically prophesied how Paul would be taken prisoner. Paul’s friends assumed this prophecy was a warning to avoid Jerusalem.

Agabus was from Judea, so the Jerusalem elders may have known about the prophecy. But they didn’t need a spiritual word to see trouble in Paul’s future. Rumors and lies were spreading about Paul and violence was a likely result. They planned a public display of righteousness and orthodoxy that they hoped would disprove the rumor-mongers and liars.

Spiritual and non-spiritual prophecies surround us. Dangerous lies are spreading. Violence is predicted. We are told we shouldn’t “go there.” We are told to placate the violent and demonstrate orthodoxy to avoid conflict. We may think like Paul’s friends at times. “If bad things will happen when we do X, then we should do Y.” But if something is the right thing to do, there we must stand, regardless of the outcome.

Not every bad thing is to be avoided or conquered. Some teach us something. Some accomplish something good. Some are simply to be endured. We don’t always know which is true in each scenario and faithful Christians may disagree about interpretations. 

The friends’ plan to avoid imprisonment failed. The elders’ plan to avoid violence failed. But Paul’s commitment to the gospel never failed, and God’s purpose for Paul’s life never failed. To Paul, the prophecies’ purpose was preparation, not avoidance. (Acts 20.22-24)

What “prophecies” are you, your friends, or your leaders worried about? Are they preparing you for hardship or promising persecution? Are they warning you to turn away or inviting you to be faithful?

Have grace for one another and remember the promises and purposes of the gospel that will never fail. Commit yourself to these things.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
Our God will come and will not keep silence; before him there is a consuming flame, and round about him a raging storm. — Psalm 50.3

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

​Today’s Readings
Isaiah 34 (Listen 2:59)
Acts 21 (Listen 5:55)

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Scripture Focus: Acts 14.11-17
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Reflection: Gods in Our Image
By John Tillman

When people say that humans create gods in our own image, I agree with them.

Human-created gods are easy to spot. They are like humans we know. There are strongman gods like Zeus, trickster gods like Hermes, and a host of other “types.” They mostly look like, think like, and act like us. They aren’t more holy, moral, or wise than humans. They are just more powerful. And with flaws and weaknesses like ours, they are more brutal. One slight brings destruction and curses. One slip-up brings unrelenting pain and suffering.

In Lystra, Paul and Barnabus are mistaken for Zeus and Hermes. Commentor, Conrad Gempf mentions a possible motivation for the crowd’s reaction. According to legend, a nearby town had failed to welcome Zeus and Hermes when they visited. Angered by this, the gods destroyed the offenders. With this story in the background, the cry, “The gods have come down to us in human form,” (Acts 14.11) seems less like a joyful announcement and more like a fearful warning. With gods like these, who needs monsters?

The best we can hope for from pagan gods is a balance of blessing and suffering—some light in the dark. “Perhaps good will hold evil at bay for a season. Perhaps, if we are vigilant, we can avoid offense or quickly make amends.”

Paul and Barnabus deny that they are gods and announce the true God, who is different than any the people know, yet has cared for them all this time. Jesus is a God-man unlike any in mythology. When sharing the gospel, beware of copying mythological ideas.

Jesus did not pretend to be human. He was. He was not a pseudo-human trickster god, conning the Father into loving humans. God does love humans. We are made in his image, not the other way around. The gospel reveals and resurrects this nature in us.

We need to share the gospel by emphasizing the “otherness” of Jesus. Our God is not like humans or easy to understand. He is merciful and gracious, yet punishes the guilty. Our best sacrifices do not appease. Our greatest arguments cannot overcome his wisdom. His gospel promises something completely different.

Jesus does not “restore balance,” or “hold evil at bay.” He completely destroys evil and, in the end, his light will banish all darkness. He will do this ultimately in the universe, but he will start in our hearts.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
With his right hand and his holy arm has he won for himself the victory. — Psalm 98.1-2

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.


​Today’s Readings
Isaiah 27 (Listen 2:16)
Acts 14 (Listen 3:54)

​This Weekend’s Readings
Isaiah 28 (Listen 4:49), Acts 15 (Listen 5:43)
Isaiah 29 (Listen 3:55), Acts 16 (Listen 5:53)

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Scripture Focus: Acts 6.1-7
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Reflection: Behind the Gospel
By John Tillman

New bands, businesses, church plants, countries, and other organizations start with idealism, purpose, and inspiration. But eventually, the world’s ugly realities set in.

Some friends and I used to joke about the storytelling formula of the documentary series, VH1: Behind the Music. Bands always started with hard work and a dream followed by their discovery and big break. Then somewhere around the third or fourth commercial break, conflict started. Jealousy, drugs, power struggles, or relationship problems threatened the band’s unity, quality, and career. Not every band had a happy ending. 

Sometimes Acts seems like a Behind the Gospel documentary of controversies and crises. The unfair food distribution is only the first big one. There are clashes of race, politics, theology, methodology, education, and ecclesiology.

Those who idealize the early church may think this is scandalous. “I thought the early church was supposed to be perfect?”

Leaders embroiled in church conflict might be tempted to despair. “If they struggled, what hope do we have?”

Those disillusioned by arguments and battles within the modern church may want to give up. “If it’s always been this way, what’s the point?”

“Does this mean conflict is just…normal? Is the church just another human institution? Are we a popular “supergroup,” that burst on the scene, had a few big hits and albums, went through bad seasons, and inevitably split up? Do we just move on and focus on our solo careers?”

Certainly not. We have what we need to overcome the world’s ugly realities.

I’ve always found it encouraging, rather than discouraging that the early church had conflicts. If they had no troubles, but we do, we have lost something. It would mean they had access to some supernatural unity that has waned, leaving us with dregs and drips. But that is not the case.

We still have access to the supernatural unity for which Jesus prayed. Through the Holy Spirit, the early church addressed conflict, creating systems and decisions that were both faithful to scripture and fair to all. Are we accessing what Jesus prayed for? Are we listening to the Holy Spirit or human voices of jealousy, power, and strife?

God’s perfect word shows us an imperfect New Testament church, and I’m thankful. We don’t have to live up to perfection or expect it from ourselves or our churches. But we should lean on grace, bear with one another, and bear one another’s burdens. (Galatians 6.1-5; Ephesians 4.2-3; Colossians 3.12-14)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
No good things will the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity. — Psalm 84.11

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

​Today’s Readings
Isaiah 17-18 (Listen 3:44)
Acts 6 (Listen 2:35)

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