Have you ever been seasick? What happened? How did you recover?
#God #People #Time #Place #Obedient faith #Sin #Key Idea
Acts
27:13-26 (ESV)
The Storm at Sea
13Now when
the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they
weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.14But soon a
tempestuous
wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.15And when
the ship was caught
and could
not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven
along.16Running
under the lee of a
small island called Cauda,bwe managed
with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat.17After
hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they
would runaground on
the Syrtis, they lowered the gear,cand thus they were driven
along.18Since we were violently storm-tossed, they
began the next day to jettison the cargo.19And on the third day they
threw the ship’s
tackle overboard with their own hands.20When
neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on
us, all hope of
our being saved was at last abandoned.
21Since they
had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should
have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and
incurred this injury and loss.22Yet now I urge you to
take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.23For this very night there
stood before me anangel of the God to whom I
belong and whom I worship,24and he
said, ‘Do not be
afraid, Paul; you must
stand before Caesar. And behold, God has
granted you all those who sail with you.’25So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly
as I have been told.26But we must run
aground on some island.”
Hashtags-People
#Paul
#we – Paul and Luke
#Caesar
Places
#Crete
#lee of a small island called Cauda
#aground on the Syrtis
Topics
#ship
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
What in verses 13-20 reveals how severe this storm was? Verse 27 indicates this situation lasted two weeks. How would you be feeling by the end of the first week? What would a page from your ship's diary sound like?
As a sailor on board, how would you feel about Paul's message in verses 21-26?
After being in Caesarea for at least two years. Why would Paul need to hear the promise of 23:11 repeated (v. 24)?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
In terms of a weather report, how would you describe your life at present? Your life five years ago?
In a crisis, Paul reacted with urgent forewarnings, maintaining hope, counseling, common sense, giving thanks, remaining calm, persevering to the end. In comparison, how do you react to a crisis?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
If you could take a honeymoon cruise anywhere, where would you go? Why?
#God #People #Time #Place #Obedient faith #Sin #Key Idea
Acts
27:1-12 (ESV)
Paul Sails for Rome
1And when it was
decided that we should sail for Italy, they
delivered Paul and some
other prisoners to a centurion of the
Augustan Cohort named Julius.2And
embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which
was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to
sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.3The next daywe put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave
him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.4And
putting out to sea from there we sailed
under the lee of
Cyprus, because the winds were against us.5And when we had sailed
across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.6There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing
for Italy and put
us on board.7We sailed
slowly for a number of
days and arrived with
difficulty off Cnidus, and as
the wind did not
allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete
off Salmone.8Coasting along it
with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near
which was the city of Lasea.
9Since much time had
passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fastawas already over, Paul advised them,10saying, “Sirs, I perceive
that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and
the ship, but also of our lives.”11But the centurion paid more
attention to the pilotand to the owner of the ship than to
what Paul said.12And
because the harbor
was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put
out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor
of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
Hashtags People
#Paul
#we – Paul and Luke
#prisoners
# Julius = a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named
#Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica
#the pilot (Owned the ship)
Places
#Italy
#Adramyttium
#coast of Asia
#Sidon
#lee of Cyprus
#along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia
#Myra in Lycia
#Cnidus
#lee of Crete off Salmone
#Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea
#Phoenix, a harbor of Crete
Topics
#ship
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
As Paul sets sail for Rome (consult the map), what points of interest can you locate along the way from Paul's diary?
From verses 1-3 and 43, what do you know about the centurion in charge? How does his concern for Paul indicate the way Paul used his time while imprisoned in Caesarea?
If you were the ship's owner or pilot, how would you react to Paul's warning about the 50-mile trip they wanted to make (v. 10)? Would you have responded any differently than Julius did to Paul's concern?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
When have you felt caught in a "northeaster," driven along by the wind? What happened? What did you learn from the situation?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Synopsis:
The time came for Paul to go to Rome for his appeal unto Caesar. A centurion named Julius of the Augustan band was put in charge of taking Paul to Rome. Paul was treated kindly by Julius and was able to visit his friends there. They sailed by Cyprus and came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There they boarded a ship of Alexandria sailing unto Italy. The sailing was slow because of the wind. They came unto Salmone and then to Fair Havens. Paul urged them to winter there, but the captain of the ship wanted to go on and his opinion prevailed. When the wind was favorable, they sailed and were caught in a storm. The storm grew so bad they had to lighten the ship. Many days went by and most of them lost hope of arriving safely. Paul encouraged them by telling them that an angel of God appeared unto him and told him the ship would be lost, but no lives would be lost. They would be cast upon an island. After fourteen days they came close to land and anchored fearing lest they hit the rocks. The sailors started to abandon ship with the lifeboats leaving the others on ship. Paul seeing this warned the centurion and the lifeboats were cut adrift. Paul re-assured them that no one would be lost and urged them to eat. He gave thanks for the food and ate. The others encouraged by his words and example, also ate. There were 276 people on the ship. They again lightened the ship by throwing off the cargo of wheat. At daybreak, they discovered a creek and sailed the ship as far as it would go. When the ship ran aground, the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so that none would escape, but the centurion would not allow this. They all left the ship and made it to shore and none were lost, as Paul had predicted.
They discovered upon landing they were on the island of Melita. The people were kind to them and made a fire for them to warm themselves. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake as he gathered wood for the fire. The natives assumed he was a murderer because the viper bit him, but when Paul shook off the snake without harm, they changed their minds and thought he was a god. They stayed with the chief man of the island named Publius. Paul healed the father of Publius. After this he healed many others who were ill and had diseases. The people were very kind to them and about three months later they boarded another ship for Rome. They landed at Syracuse and were there three days. They went to Rhegium, then to Puteoli where they found some fellow Christians and stayed a week with them. They journeyed toward Rome and the brethren from Rome met them at Appii Forum and the three taverns. This was encouraging to Paul. He thanked God.
When they arrived in Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to dwell by himself with a soldier to guard him. After three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together and explained why he was there and about his appeal unto Caesar. He spoke to them of the hope of the resurrection. The Jews had not heard about Paul and listened to him. He preached Christ to them; some believed, and some did not. Paul quoted Isaiah 6:9 to show that the people would reject the gospel.
Outline:
Paul the Counselor (27:1-20)
Paul the Encourager (27:21-44)
The time now approaches for Paul to be sent to Rome to make his appeal to Caesar. Paul is placed in the custody of a Roman official named Julius and is accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus, a brother in the Lord from Thessalonica. What follows is Luke's account of their almost disastrous voyage from Caesarea to Rome. Leaving Caesarea, they sail North along the Syrian coast to Sidon, then west along the southern coast of what is known today as Turkey, past the ancient provinces of Cilicia and Pamphylia, to the port city of Myra in Lycia.
At Myra, Paul's entourage obtains passage on an Egyptian ship bound for Italy with both cargo and 276 persons on board. Despite a warning from Paul, that trouble awaits them, the crew set sail and they soon find themselves in difficulty off the east coast of the island of Crete. Attempting to make a safe harbor at Phoenix, on the west coast, the ship is blown off course during a 2-week storm and finally breaks apart as it approaches the small island of Malta (Melita), south of Sicily. By God's grace, however, all lives are spared. During the next 3 months. Paul works among the people of Malta and heals many of their diseases. When it is once again safe to sail, the group sets out for Italy on another Egyptian ship that has been waiting out winter storms in the harbor of Malta. The remainder of the voyage is happily uneventful, and Luke records the warm welcome that they receive from the brethren in Italy.
The Voyage To Rome
(60-61 A.D.)
INTRODUCTION
At long last, Paul is headed for Rome...
As he had wanted to do for some time - cf. Acts 19:21; Romans 1:9-11,15; 15:23-29
As the Lord had revealed in a vision - Acts 23:11
Paul is not going as a tourist but as a prisoner...
Having been arrested in Jerusalem two years earlier - Acts 21:26-36
Having defended himself in various trials
Before the mob in Jerusalem - Acts 21:37-22:29
Before the Sanhedrin council in Jerusalem - Acts 22:30-23:10
Before Felix the governor in Caesarea - Acts 23:11-24:27
Before Festus the governor in Caesarea - Acts 25:1-12
Before King Herod Agrippa II in Caesarea - Acts 25:13-26:32 -- Going to Rome because he had exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case before Caesar - Acts 25:11-12; 26:30-32
[The voyage to Rome would not be without trials of its own. Traveling by sea was extremely very hazardous in those days. Paul had already experienced three shipwrecks (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:25-26). He is about to add to his experiences of “perils in the sea”. The first leg of the trip was...]
I. FROM CAESAREA TO MYRA
A. THE JOURNEY BEGINS...
Paul was placed in the care of Julius, a Roman centurion - Acts 27:1
Of the Augustan Regiment, a division consisting of 400-600 men (Barnes)
Perhaps named in honor of the Roman emperor Augustus
Along with some other prisoners - Acts 27:1; cf. 27:42
Paul was joined by two dear friends - Acts 27:1-2
Luke, the author of Acts and “beloved physician” (Corinthians 4:14), as evidenced by the use of “we”
Aristarchus, from Thessalonica of Macedonia
Who had faced the mob in Ephesus - Acts 19:29
Who had returned with Paul to Asia - Acts 20:4
Later described as Paul’s “fellow prisoner” and “fellow laborer” - Corinthians 4:10; Philemon 24
Placed on a ship of Adramyttium - Acts 27:2
A maritime town of Mysia in Asia Minor (Barnes)
Located between Troas and Pergamos
B. ALONG THE COAST OF PHOENICIA...
From Caesarea they sailed to Sidon - Acts 27:3
At Sidon, the Roman centurion allowed Paul to visit friends and receive care
C. AROUND THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS...
From Sidon they sailed “under” Cyprus - Acts 27:4
Because of the winds
Where Paul had gone on his first missionary journey - Acts 13:4-12
They continued off the coasts of Cilicia and Pamphylia - Acts 27:5
Cilicia, where Paul was born, and spent five years after becoming a disciple of Christ - Acts 22:3; Galatians 1:21
Pamphylia, where PerGalatians was located - cf. Acts 13:13; 14:24-25
D. ARRIVING AT MYRA...
A city of Lycia, the province west of Pamphylia - Acts 27:5
At Myra, the centurion books passage on an Alexandrian (Egypt) ship sailing to Italy - Acts 27:6
[The first leg of the trip appears to have been a pleasant one, despite the rough winds they encountered near Cyprus. But those winds were nothing compared to what they would experience on the next leg of their voyage...]
II. FROM MYRA TO MALTA
A. SLOW BOAT TO CRETE...
It was slow sailing for many days - Acts 27:7
They arrived with difficulty off Cnidus (on the coast of Asia Minor, northwest of the island of Rhodes)
The wind forced them to sail westward under Crete off Salmone (on the eastern promontory of the island)
With difficulty they arrived at Fair Havens - Acts 27:8
Near the city of Lasea
On the southern part of the island of Crete
Where they spent “much time” - Acts 27:9
Sailing was now dangerous because the Fast (Day Of Atonement) was over
This would have been around September or October
Paul’s advice is ignored - Acts 27:9-12
He perceived that the voyage would end in disaster
With the loss of cargo and ship
With the loss of their lives
The centurion is persuaded otherwise
By the helmsman and owner of the ship
Because the harbor at Fair Havens was not suitable for winter
The majority prevailed to try for Phoenix (Phenice), a harbor that faced both southwest and northwest
B. STRONG WIND NEAR CLAUDA...
Lured by a soft south wind, they sailed along the coast of Crete - Acts 27:13
They were soon caught up by a strong wind - Acts 27:14-15
Called “Euroclydon” (lit., wind wave), perhaps a hurricane or typhoon
Forced to let the wind just drive the ship
A short reprieve near the island of Clauda - Acts 27:16-17
A small island southwest of Crete
Where they secured the small skiff (boat) onboard
Where they used cables to undergird the ship
They struck sail, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis Sands (quicksands off the coast of Africa)
At the mercy of the winds - Acts 27:17-19
Driven and tossed by the tempest
Throwing ship’s tackle overboard to lighten the ship
Paul’s comforting words, prompted by a visit from an angel - Acts 27:20-26
After many days without seeing the sun or stars, all hope was lost
After a long abstinence from food, Paul addresses those on the ship
Reminding them they should have listened to him
Encouraging them to take heart, for no lives would be lost, only the ship
An angel had appeared to Paul, telling him:
Not to be afraid, for he must appear before Caesar
God has granted the lives of all those with him
Paul encourages them to take heart, though they must run aground on a certain island
C. SHIPWRECKED ON MALTA...
After two weeks in the Adriatic Sea, they run aground - Acts 27:27-44
Sensing they were nearing ground around midnight, soundings confirmed their fears
Sailors attempted to flee using the skiff, but Paul and the Roman soldiers prevented them, letting the skiff fall off the ship
At dawn, Paul encourages them to eat and offers thanks in their presence
They then further lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea
In daylight, they tried to run the ship into a bay with a beach
The prow of the ship ran aground where two seas met, and the stern began to break up
The Roman soldiers planned to kill the prisoners but were prevented by the centurion who wanted to save Paul
All made it land, some swimming, others on broken pieces of the ship
2. Three months on the island of Malta (Melita, 60 miles S from Sicily) - Acts 28:1-10
Where the natives made them welcome
Where Paul amazed the people when he did not die from a poisonous snake bite - cf. Mark 16:17-18
Where Paul healed Publius’ father of a fever and dysentery
Where they were honored in many ways, and provided with whatever was necessary when they departed
[For the fourth time in his life, Paul had experienced a shipwreck. Yet God was with him, and would be with him as he and his traveling companions continued their journey...]
III. FROM MALTA TO ROME
A. ON THE SHIP TO ROME...
After three months on the island, they sail from Malta - Acts 28:11
On an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead “The Twin Brothers”
Which had wintered on the island
They sailed to Syracuse (capital of Sicily), where they stayed three days - Acts 28:12
From there they circled about to Rhegium (a city on the SW extremity of Italy) - Acts 28:13
With the aid of a south wind, they sailed on to Puteoli (8 miles NW of Naples) - Acts 28:13-14
Where they found brethren!
Where they were invited to say seven days
B. ON THE ROAD TO ROME...
From Puteoli they head to Rome - Acts 28:14
Brethren from Rome hear of their coming - Acts 28:15
They came to meet Paul and his companions
When Paul saw them, He thanked God and took courage
Finally, they arrive in Rome! - Acts 28:16
The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard
Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him
CONCLUSION
Several years earlier, Paul had written of his desire and prayers to meet his brethren in Rome - cf. Romans 1:8-10
Paul finally had his desire granted, and for two years remained in Rome...
Yes, it was as a prisoner awaiting his appeal before Caesar
But as we shall see in our next study, it was a fruitful time in which he taught, preached, and wrote much about the gospel of Jesus Christ!
What helped Paul throughout his voyage and the remaining years of his life was “the God to whom I belong and whom I serve” (cf. Acts 27:23). Later, Paul would write:
“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:18)
May the example and faith of the apostle Paul encourage us to serve the same God with the same faith he did!
Paul's Account of His Conversion and Commission
Acts 26:12-32
When have you had to publicly appear before an important or powerful person and put your fate in his/her hands?
#God #People #Time #Place #Obedient faith #Sin #Key Idea
Acts
26:12-32 (ESV)
Paul
Tells of His Conversion
12“In
this connection I journeyed to Damascus with
the authority and commission of
the chief priests. 13At
midday, O king,
I saw on the way a light from heaven,
brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who
journeyed with me. 14And
when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice
saying to me in the Hebrew language,a‘Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is
hard for you to kick against the goads.’15And
I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I
am Jesus whom you are persecuting.16But
rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant
and witness to the
things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,17delivering
you from your people and from the Gentiles—to
whom I am sending you18to
open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of
Satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19“Therefore,
O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to
the heavenly vision, 20but
declared first to those in Damascus,
then in Jerusalem and throughout all the
region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles,
that they should repent and turn toGod,
performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.21For
this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and
tried to kill me. 22To this day I
have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here
testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets
and Moses said would come to pass: 23that
the Christmust suffer and that, by being the first
to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the
Gentiles.”
24And
as he was saying these things in his defense,
Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul,
you are out of your mind; your great learning is
driving you out of your mind.” 25But
Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most
excellent Festus, but I am speaking true
and rational words. 26For
the king knows about these things, and to him I speak
boldly. For I am persuaded that
none of these things has escaped his notice, for
this has not been done in a corner. 27King Agrippa,
do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28And
Agrippa said to Paul,
“In a short time would you persuade me
to be a Christian?”b29And
Paul said, “Whether short or long, I
would to God that not only you but also all who hear
me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
30Then
the king rose, and the governor
and Bernice and those who were sitting with
them. 31And
when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is
doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”32And
Agrippa said to Festus,
“This man could have been set free if he had not appealed
to Caesar.”
Hashtags #Paul (aka-Saul) (along with those who were with him on the journey) #Jews ‑ the whole Jewish people #Festus #chief priests #Agrippa the king #Bernice #Gentiles #the prophets and Moses #the saints #Caesar
Places #Jerusalem #Damascus #region of Judea
Topics # Servant – vs. 16 #Mission and calling for Paul #Salvation (Repentance) #defense vs. 24 #believe #persuade
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
Compare 26:20 with 20:21. How could you tell someone what it means to be a Christian from these two verses?
How does faith in Jesus relate to a repentant change in lifestyle? Would you describe Paul's speech as a legal defense or a personal testimony? How are the two related? Do you think Paul's primary goal in this speech is to convince Agrippa of his innocence, or of the truth of Christianity's claims? Why?
From 25:19 and 26:24, how convinced is Festus regarding the resurrection of Jesus? How might Paul's response In verses 25-27 surprise Festus?
If you were in this hall, what impressions would you have of Paul as he concluded his speech?
Up to this point, the Romans considered Christians and Jews as basically one and the same. From this speech, can the Romans begin to see some differences?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
How does verse 18 fit as a description of your spiritual journey? Which other images describe what coming to faith was like for you?
In verse 14, Paul adds a comment not found in his conversion story in chapters 9 or 22. When has God pointed out to you that your struggle has been against him all along? How has he redirected you since then?
Paul considered himself a servant and a witness. In what way is God's call to you similar to or different from his call to Paul?
Paul's obedience to Jesus resulted in a trial very similar to Jesus' trial. How has your obedience to Jesus resulted in similarities to Jesus' experience?
How has Christ brought light into your life? How can you pass on that light to someone else this week?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
About the year 621 BC Josiah, the young king of Judah, began a comprehensive renewal of religious practice under the Law of Moses. He ordered the purification and refurbishment of the Temple, including removal and destruction of all kinds of idolatrous gifts that earlier people had installed. This included statues of horses located near the room “of an official named Nathan-Melech” (2 Kings 23:11). Less than a generation later, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and burned the Temple and official buildings.
For years archaeologists have been digging in the City of David, on the east side of Jerusalem. Last October, they uncovered a small “signature stamp” from about 600 BC that reads, “of Nathan-Melech Servant of the King.” This little blue stone seal was found within the remains of a two-story administrative building that was destroyed by an intense fire. The writing, the pottery fragments nearby, and the level of destruction all point to the same time period recorded in 2 Kings. It seems reasonable to conclude that the seal served as the official “signature” of the same Nathan-Melech mentioned in the Bible. As the discoveries continue, it seems that the events of the Bible—astonishing though they may be—are true and founded solidly in demonstrated fact.
“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner” (Acts 26:25-26 NIV).
As Paul explained himself to the Roman governor and to King Agrippa, he naturally mentioned Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This was such an “impossible” idea that Festus accused him of madness. Paul’s response pointed toward the facts that were widely known and reported. Since all the supporting information was available, it seemed clear that everything Paul said was true and reasonable—even if it were startling and contrary to all expectation.
The Bible is a book that is rooted in genuine history. Real places, real people, real times and real events are recorded as God interacted with His people. Everywhere we can test the Bible, it is revealed to be true and accurate. That gives us immense confidence in the reliability of the Scriptures, just as we would trust any witness who was proven to be truthful and credible. People who slander the Bible as a collection of fanciful tales of wishful thinking have clearly never examined the facts. There has never been a book so thoroughly scrutinized by skeptics trying to find fault as the Bible has been. And no book, ancient or modern, has been so completely vindicated again and again by demonstrated fact. Even the resurrection of Jesus is found to be true and reasonable—and that undeniable fact demands our attention. If He is raised from the dead, He is the Son of God and actually has all authority in heaven and on earth. That’s not ignorant delusion; that’s true and reasonable, a fact we all must deal with.
=============
“SIGHT TO THE BLIND”
Lewis G. Hale
When Jesus visited his hometown synagogue in Nazareth, he stood up and read from the prophet Isaiah. He said the Spirit of the Lord had anointed him to preach to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, “and recovering of sight to the blind.” Luke 4:18-19.
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be blind? What a great blessing for a blind person to receive the gift of sight!
When the blind man of Jericho heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” When Jesus asked, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?”, the blind man said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Jesus immediately healed him. He must have experienced unspeakable joy. Can you image a blind man who would refuse to accept the gift of sight? I seems to me that no person in his right mind would say, “I prefer to remain blind.”
Yet, there is another kind of blindness that is even more serious - spiritual blindness. Our sin and ignorance of God is called blindness. When Christ called Saul to be an apostle, he said he would send him to the Gentiles “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light (from blindness to sight), and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me,” Acts 26:17-18. This the true sight which Christ came to give.
In spite of the fact that Christ came to give us sight, many deliberately choose to remain blind. When the disciples of Jesus asked why he spoke in parables, he said it was because some did not want to hear nor see, so parables concealed the truth from them. He then quoted from Isaiah, “By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time the should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them,” Matt. 13:14-15.
This means they would have no forgiveness of sins and would have no inheritance. How sad. How unnecessary.
===========
ACTS 26:28
evn ovli,gw me pei,qeij Cristiano.n poih/sai
In little me you persuade Christian to
make
KJV:
Almost
thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
RSV:
In a short
time you think to make me a Christian.
NASB:
In a short
time you will persuade me to become a Christian.
NIV:
Do you
think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?
ASV:
With but little persuasion thou
wouldest fain make me a Christian.
LAMSA:
With
little effort you almost persuade me to become a Christian.
LO:
You almost
persuade me to be a Christian.
Spanish:
Por poco
me persuades a ser criastiano.
HEB:
עוֹד מְַעַט וּפתּיתַנִִי לְְהְיוֹת
נְצְִרִי
============
Acts 26:28
By
Mark Moore
NIV: Do
you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?
Literal: In a little you are persuading me to
make a Christian
This is a difficult passage to
interpret because of three questions which we may never be able to answer.
First, does the word little refer to time, the number of words Paul spoke or
some other factor? Second, what was Agrippa‘s tone? Was he serious or
sarcastic. Third, is this a statement of fact or a question? The following
paraphrases suggest a few possibilities.
Sarcasm:
ØWhat is
this? Do you think that you can convert me in just 30 minutes?
ØWhat is
this? Do you think that I‘m going to become a Christian on the basis of such
meager evidence?
ØCome on
Paul! You've hardly expended any effort on me. You‘ll have to do better than
this if you want me to convert.
Serious:
ØPaul, you
almost had me. With just a little more evidence I could accept what you are
saying.
ØPaul, I‘m
pretty close to becoming a Christian. If I let you keep talking a little longer
I would probably convert.
ØWow! You've
drawn me in quickly. Is it possible that I would change my mind so soon?
ØYou are an amazing
man! With such little effort on your part, I've come so close to accepting your
position.
