Acts to Paul (1)
Pray Psalm 119.17-19.
Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
Sing Psalm 119.17-19.
(Open My Eyes: Open My Eyes, That I May See)
Open my eyes, LORD, let me see wonderful truths to transform me.
I am a stranger here in the earth; hide not from me Your glorious worth.
Deal with Your servant graciously that I may live obediently.
Open my eyes, LORD, let me see glory divine!
Read Acts 4.8-20; 24.24, 25; 26.12-18; meditate on Acts 26.12-18.
Preparation
1. What mandate did Jesus give to Paul?
2. What would Jesus do for the Gentiles?
Meditation
While Peter would open the door of salvation to the Gentile world (Acts 10), Paul was appointed by God to carry that mission forward. It only makes sense for Peter to have been the first. His was the first voice to declare the salvation which God was making available through Jesus the Messiah. He who was so bold, convicting, and effective among the Jews would be God’s instrument to show how that same Word and power would bring salvation to the Gentiles as well.
The apostles proclaimed Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. He is the long-awaited Messiah, just as He Himself had said (Jn. 3.16). The first preachers of Good News—Peter and the other apostles, as well as the first Jewish believers—gladly and effectively proclaimed the salvation of God in Jesus throughout Jerusalem in those early days. So effective were they, that a great company of the priests began to believe in Jesus as well (Acts 6.7).
The Lord used Paul—Saul at the time—to begin the expansion of the Gospel to the Gentile world, but at first by threats and violence (Acts 8.1). Some of those Paul drove into the Gentile world paved the way for
his ministry (cf. Acts 9.10, 23-25; 11.22-26). What irony! Our God does all things well.
And even as Paul stood before the highest courts of the world, he testified that Jesus Who had been received by many Jews like him as the Messiah of the Old Testament was also the Savior of the world, Who had sent Paul to the Gentiles “to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified”.
By Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior of the world and our Savior and God.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits,
afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father,
when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15.19-26).
The Promised Messiah completed this majestic work.
Without His work we are the most pitiable of all people.
But with His work we are saved from the wrath to come.
“‘But let him who glories glory in this,
that he understands and knows Me,
that I AM the LORD,
exercising lovingkindness and judgment,
and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,’ says the LORD” (Jer. 9.24).
As we take on the work of Christ—Peter, John, Paul, et al—we must preach the same Gospel they did.
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other Name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4.12). JESUS only.
It is a Gospel with a Black Box warning. It is not some easy-peasy, quick pray this prayer, whew! now you’re saved, go your way, have fun gospel. It is the Gospel that Paul was explaining to Felix and Drusilla: “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come…” (Acts 24.24, 25).
Not that they needed to be righteous or self-controlled to be saved; but that this new way of life demanded change once the gift of salvation had been received. Following—with the power of the Holy Spirit—came righteous and self-controlled living.
Then comes the joyous excitement of living in the Kingdom: serving our King and Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Regardless of our education, status, or lack of same, we are His, saved to do His work. Just like Peter and John. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4.13).
Being with Jesus, in His Word, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, empowers us to do what these men did.
How amazing is that? We, too, have been called to open the eyes of people in our Personal Mission Field, “in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in [Jesus the Promised Messiah]” (Acts 26.18). “A tried Stone, a precious Cornerstone, a sure Foundation” (Is. 28.16).
The Risen Christ. Our Hope and Life.
Reflection
1. How will it be clear to others today that the risen Christ is your hope?
2. Why are “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” so important to the Gospel?
3. Whom will you encourage today to grow in their relationship with Jesus?
A world that lies in wickedness must be sanctified and reformed; it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed; not enough to be turned from darkness to light, but they must be turned from the power of Satan unto God. All who are turned from sin to God, are not only pardoned, but have a grant of a rich inheritance. The forgiveness of sins makes way for this. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Acts 26.12-23
Pray Psalm 119.20-24.
Thank the Lord for opening your eyes to His saving Good News. Pray that He might use you today to help someone in your Personal Mission Field take another step closer to Him.
Sing Psalm 119.20-24.
(Open My Eyes: Open My Eyes, That I May See)
My soul with longing breaks for You; all of Your judgments I would do.
For You rebuke the proud and the cursed, who from Your Law have strayed, and worse.
Take from me all contempt, O LORD, for I have kept Your holy Word.
Lift all reproach from me, O LORD—my soul renew!
Princes oppose me day by day, for I continue in Your way.
I will Your statutes hold in my mind. What great delight in them I find!
LORD, let Your testimonies be light on my path to counsel me.
LORD, what delight You bring to me out of Your Word!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast takes up the book Understanding the Times to help us in knowing how to live and proclaim the Kingdom. Our twice weekly column, Crosfigell, is well into a series on the life of Brendan the Navigator, one of the great saints of the 6th century. Our ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, continues this week with today’s teaching on the mission of the Kingdom. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
