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Acts Reading Plan | Week 18 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present.
Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Thank God as you come to Him today for the people who told you the good news about Jesus!
Bible Reading: Acts 26:24-32
Read these verses three times slowly.
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
“‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
Reflection & Questions
These are the last words we have in the book of Acts. To the end, Paul is proclaiming and trying to persuade people about Jesus. And even though he is under house arrest, we’re told with the last words of the book: “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance!” Paul is not deterred by his circumstances; he knows Jesus is Lord and others need to know!
Looking back to the beginning of Acts, Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” We have seen in these 28 chapters that through the power of the Holy Spirit, the gospel has spread. As we end the book, the gospel has reached Rome, the center of the Roman Empire, and it is now set to explode across the globe.
And if there were an Acts 29 and following, it would be about how the gospel reached further and further, to the point where you are reading this right now today. You are a part of the next chapter, not just in receiving the gospel, but also in being part of its continued spread. You are in Acts 29. What is God calling you to do “with all boldness and without hindrance” to spread His good news?
- What’s your next step in reaching your ONE for Jesus?
- Are you reaching others with all boldness and without hindrance? Why or why not?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
