Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 24:1-16.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 
 
Acts 24:1-9 (NIV)
1  Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.
2  When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.
3  Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude.

On verses 1-9:  The trial of the apostle Paul in Governor Felix’s court is about to get under way.  The high priest and the Jewish elders decide to lawyer up and retain the attorney Tertullus to bring their case against Paul.  But Paul had an even better lawyer on his side to defend him against these false charges: the Lord Jesus.  His judge and his accusers couldn’t see him, but Jesus was there.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 23:23-35.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

Acts 23:23-33 (NIV)
23  Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
24  Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
25  He wrote a letter as follows:
26  Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

On verses 23-33:  Claudius Lysius, the Roman commander in charge of Paul, wants to make sure that Paul is not killed prematurely and that Paul is taken safely to Caesarea to stand trial before Felix governor of Judea.  To ensure Paul’s safety, the Roman commander mobilizes a huge detachment of soldiers, horsemen and spearmen to accompany Paul together with a formal letter explaining the situation.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 23:12-22.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

Acts 23:12-22 (NIV)
12  The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13  More than forty men were involved in this plot.
14  They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

On verses 12-22:  Growing up as a kid I loved watching James Bond movies.  Not only did James Bond show tremendous skill, heart, and suave as he went about his mission, but he was also extremely lucky.  In every James Bond movie, there would be some crucial moment when his life would be in grave danger and he would be spared not because of his skill, his heart or his suave, but simply because he happened to be in the right place at the right time or because someone else happened to lend him a hand.  That’s what I see happening here with Paul too.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Acts 23:1-11.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Acts 23:1-5 (NIV)
1  Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
2  At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3  Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

On verses 1-5:  Paul appears before the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin.  He tells them that with a clear conscience he can say that he has fulfilled his duty to God, suggesting that those in the Sanhedrin who are upset with him are upset for no good reason.  In response, the high priest Ananias, whom historians describe as a hot-tempered and corrupt leader, orders Paul to be struck on the mouth.  Paul reacts strongly.