Reading
SAA Notes
Very few people were Roman citizens, outside of Rome itself. The Italians had to fight a civil war with Rome to get citizenship rights. Paul was born a citizen. God is active, not passive in this world so that such providences all play their part in God’s path for us to tread.
SJA Notes
* Gracious God, please open our eyes today to see Jesus, please open our ears to hear Your word.
“It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Paul used his knowledge of the factions amongst those opposing him to lob a grenade into the group, splitting them apart.
But Paul does not use a lie to do this.
Our great hope rests in the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, and that we look forward to the same on the final day (1 Corinthians 15).
Paul speaks the truth about why his enemies are fighting hard.
Because the good news of Jesus, that He conquered death and is the ONLY ANSWER for our own mortality – This good news is like poison to the enemies of God and His people.
Let us not be overly surprised when we receive much heat and fire as we tell people about Jesus.
We have a King who conquered death itself! Who through the power of His indestructible life took on the just punishment for our sin and rose back to life.
What a Saviour we have!
* God Almighty,
Please make us more like Jesus today. Please write Your word on our hearts.
Thank You for this passage today, may we find strength in Paul’s example, as he points to You.
Amen.