Acts 21:37-22:16
37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?"
"Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?"
39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people."
40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:
Acts 22
1 "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?'
8 " 'Who are you, Lord?' I asked.
" 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10 "'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked.
"'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14 "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
As we went through the western hilly portion of Kansas with vast wind farms, wheat farms, cattle farms and an amazingly hilly terrain, we realized the wind farms are placed very carefully away from mostly frame, Kansas house farms. Kansas is still farm families. And Kansas still has huge storms.
When Jesus appeared to Paul, Jesus did something different than He did with the Disciples. Jesus appears to Paul to explain to Paul alone (on a mission from The Temple) what Paul is going to do with his life. The men around Paul understand God is at work, yet Paul alone is given the clear understanding of Paul's new life in Jesus Christ.
None of the men with Paul sit with him until his sight is restored. God is not requiring the companions of Paul to be Paul's disciples. We are in the New Testament. Men do not disciple John the Baptist, they do not disciple Paul of Taurus. Instead, Jesus has released the Holy Spirit to live and dwell with the people who have asked Jesus to live within them.
The Bible goes on to explain there are various gifts and they are all given by Father God. Various parts of the Body of Christ and all are needed.
Paul calls God the God of Encouragement and God of Hope. We are called to love one another. And the Body of Christ tested the Spirit to see if Paul was still on his original mission to kill Christians and this is also of the Bible - Test the Spirit.
Just like the Wind Farms, Father God allows room to find the Way, Truth, Life of the Holy Spirit. The Way, Truth, Life is Jesus Christ our God.
We Thank You, Abba, we rest all of our cares with You, Father God.
Thank you for the Hotel help we have had in Fort Morgan, Colorado!!!
Abba, You have taught us to look what is around us and Rejoice. When in Rome do as the Romans. Speaking Greek as Greek is called for. Rejoicing in what we have. Thanking You for the goodness of the pond at home, the young man staying at our house, the concern over our shoreline and the great help we have had and hope to find. Our sons traveled safely. Thank You Father God. Resting my injured eye and toe. Continued healing for all who have asked for prayer.
Expecting each morning to see Your Mercies Renew. Seeing life unfold Goodness of being Your Creation. 11 Times You said Life is Good. So many times - we will believe, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - You and Your Father are at work. And we will work to see the good around us and Bless You for what You bring into our Life.
We rest all in the Love Jesus gives us. And rejoice. Amen in Christ Jesus.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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