Check out all the previous Acts readings here.
Acts Reading Plan | Week 13 | Day 1
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Psalm 3:3-4 says, “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.” As you come to spend time with Jesus, thank Him that He is a King unlike any other. He is your shield and He listens to you.
Bible Reading: Acts 17:1-9
Read these verses three times slowly.
When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
Reflection & Questions
As we begin chapter 17, Paul is continuing his missionary journey. He comes to the town of Thessalonica and plants a church here. It is to this church he wrote the letters 1 & 2 Thessalonians we have in the Bible. It is incredible to see how God is using Paul to spread the gospel!
As he preaches in Thessalonica, we’re told again of the clarity and controversy of Paul’s message. He tells them, “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” The word Messiah means “God’s Anointed King.” In other words, this is THE King and you must give Him your full allegiance. We know this message was heard loud and clear, because even the unbelieving Jews told the authorities, “They are…saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”
However, this isn’t just Paul’s message – this is the one united message of the entire Bible: Jesus is the King and He alone is worthy of all our allegiance. As we think about our lives, there are many ‘kings’ calling for our devotion – these May be people or things. But for the believer, there is one King who gets our devotion, attention, obedience and praise. He is a King unlike any other, in power, love and wisdom. There’s no doubt about it – He is worthy of all our allegiance!
- Do you give Jesus your allegiance? How do you know?
- How can you give Jesus your allegiance today?
Prayer
Pray in response to today’s reading, asking God to search your heart for ways you might be giving your allegiance to others.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
