Acts 16:16-40

I commented yesterday that Luke was also preaching the gospel (Acts 16:10). Today, we see him again in Acts 16:16-17. However, it seems that Luke was not as forthright as Paul and Silas in his preaching, in that he was not seized by the owners or beaten by the magistrates: But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. (v. 19) Today is also the last of the “we” verses until we get to Acts 20:8.

Today we have a third account of a miraculous prison release. You may recall that some apostles (Acts 5:17-26) and Peter (Acts 12:6-17) were delivered by angels earlier. Today’s account is different in a number of ways. First, it was an earthquake, not an angel, that set them free. Second, we have a jailer ready to commit suicide upon seeing the prisoners free. Finally, Paul and Silas took their release as an opportunity to share the gospel with the Philippian jailer and his household. I am impressed that Paul and Silas demanded that the authorities come forward to acknowledge the wrong that they had committed in beating Roman citizens without a trial. Paul took every opportunity to evangelize and to strengthen the church.

We need to keep this Philippian account in mind down the road when we read Paul’s letter to the Philippians. It is a letter of true joy – it seems that Paul remembers the many Philippian conversions more than the beating he received!

See also: March 27 / Acts 16:16-24; March 28 / Acts 16:25-40

Acts 15:36-16:16

And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (v. 10) No doubt, upon reading this verse the words “we” and “us” immediately jumped out at you. Yes, this is the first occurrence of the “we” passages in Acts, that Luke had joined Paul on this second missionary journey. We will see quite a few more. I’ve previously mentioned that Luke is widely regarded as a great historian, both in his gospel and even more so for his narrative of Acts. He is now giving us a first-person account, which further strengthens his standing among Bible scholars and secular historians.

Another item in that verse stands out to me today – God had called us to preach the gospel to them. I never think of Luke as a preacher. Clearly Paul and Silas were preachers and teachers, but upon seeing this verse anew I can easily see Luke standing up for the gospel alongside Paul and Silas.

See also: March 25 / Acts 15:36-16:5; March 26 / Acts 16:6-15

James 5:1-20

Come now, you rich, weep and howl… (v. 1a) You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. (v. 5a) Often when I read a New Testament item about the rich I pause and consider the full context, because compared to the rest of the world we in the USA are rich indeed! So what does James say about the rich here? Clearly the rich in this passage are people who are exploiting other people – keeping back wages, condemning and murdering a righteous person. I’m not sure we are guilty here, except that we do have a responsibility toward those in need, both here and abroad. For each of us it’s a personal matter, but I also fear for our nation as a whole…

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (vv. 19-20) I don’t know of any other New Testament encouragement for evangelism (other than Jesus’ own words in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8) that is stronger that what James writes here. A good quote to end James…!!

See also: March 23 / James 5:1-11; March 24 / James 5:12-20

James 4:1-17

I’m thinking again about the profiteering that James discusses in James 4:13-17. I already discussed entrepreneurship in my second post (below) from last year and I see good in a lot of entrepreneurial activities. But there are some that strike me wrong. Right now I’m thinking of housing developments. We live in the country and on a number of these country roads we see the beginning of new housing developments. One that I really like is on the south end of Main Street in Versailles, just as you’re coming in to town on Rt. 33. There is nothing pretentious about it; it’s simply a new development with smaller homes, clearly our modern version of “starter homes”. [As I was growing up a newly-built “starter home” was three bedrooms, one bath!] A number of other new housing developments are quite modest, often just a very nice three-plank fence setting the borders of the development and maybe a brick-built entryway announcing the name of the development. For most of these developments the homes that are being built are beyond being “starter homes”, but don’t seem to be excessive. Others are! They boast a grand entrance and offer huge houses with ten or fifteen roof slopes, clearly designed for someone who has enjoyed a much greater income than Carol and I. Finally, there is one development going up on Rt. 169 between Keene and the Shannon Run intersection that’s worth a drive-by. Its main entrance boast of four gigantic brick pillars, two on each side, crowned with caps that cry out “luxury”. If I go further describing the property I just get more and more judgmental. But I wonder at what the Lord has to say about this level of luxury when so many in this county, this state, this country are hurting and barely getting by. Verse 16 just screams out to me: But as it is, you boast in your arrogance (or pretentions); all such boasting is evil. James offers his summary statement on profiteering one verse earlier: Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (v. 15) “If the Lord wills…”

See also: March 21 / James 4:1-10; March 22 / James 4:11-17

James 3:1-18

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts… (v. 14) and For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist… (v. 16) I wonder what’s going on in James’ world that he would point out jealousy and selfish ambition twice here. Back in Galatians Paul seemed to imply that this was a problem for the Judaizers, that they wanted to boast of their “converts” (Gentiles converted to Jesus, then circumcised). We also see it in the Gospels, with the Pharisees and Sadducees afraid of losing their power and influence with (over!) the people. So if James is writing from Jerusalem, mostly to Jews (the “twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad”, v. 1:1), it’s very likely that he is seeing the same behaviors that Jesus saw in Jerusalem and that Paul was witnessing in his missionary travels.

Which brings me to our church today… As I look at ACNA leadership, I do not see jealousy and selfish ambition. In Archbishops Duncan and Beach I see humble servants, desirous only of serving the Lord and guiding His people to the best of their ability through the grace of the Holy Spirit in their lives. And even as Archbishop Beach and Bishop Frank offer their guidance in our search for a new rector, it’s not a “control” issue with them, nor do we feel negatively subjected to their leadership – they are looking to our future and using their wisdom and experience to guide us. This was not so in the Episcopal Diocese from which St. John’s (St. Andrew’s) members departed. From my position as a member of the leadership team of that body I clearly saw control as a driving force coming from the top. Which brings me to the verse in between the two that I cited above, This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (v. 15) Clearly (I believe) there were unspiritual, demonic forces at work in the Episcopal Church in 2003/2004. But from that turmoil sprang St. Andrew’s! I’m reminded of Joseph’s comment to his brothers, …you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good… (Genesis 50:20). GLORY!!

See also: March 19 / James 3:1-12; March 20 / James 3:13-18

James 2:1-26

James writes that in keeping the Law but failing in one point a person is guilty of the whole Law. He uses an example: If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (v. 11b) For our 21^st-century society that example needs to be flipped: “If you commit adultery but do not murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” Adultery is altogether too common in our society, even among those who claim to be believing Christians. Jesus said “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Matthew 19:5) To me Jesus was ruling out all sexual activity except that between a husband and a wife. This includes heterosexual activity outside of marriage as well as homosexual activity. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but Hollywood and the media have so glorified sexuality that many in society see nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, people living together, homosexual marriage, or any other activities that violate God’s simple standard of marriage between a man and a woman. I truly don’t mean to be personally judgmental, but I am afraid for God’s judgment on our American society.

Faith and works – I comment on that in the second link below.

See also: March 17 / James 2:1-13; March 18 / James 2:14-26

James 1:1-27

Welcome to the Epistle of James!

Sin, with a number of verses (seemingly?) reflecting temptations from outside and from inside… First, from outside: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds… (v. 2) and Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial… (v. 12) [I’m sure brothers and man includes sisters and women!] Verse 2 seems especially to refer to trials from outside, since the following verses have trials (testing) leading to endurance (steadfastness) and endurance having its “full effect”. By contrast, later verses refer to temptations (lust?) instead of trials and testing: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin… (vv. 13-15a) Verse 14 refers to “his own desire”, reflecting temptation (or lust) beginning from within. It’s helpful to see that temptations arise from outside and from inside – and even more helpful to consider the source and to be able to fight the temptation, with help from the Holy Spirit, our “Helper”.

See also: March 15 / James 1:1-11; March 16 / James 1:12-27

Galatians 6:1-18

My daily pattern is to read through two translations and notes and sidebars of our scheduled reading, then to read my comments from last year, then to read a third translation and post new comments. With this pattern it is often the case that in my first readings I do not understand a particular verse. Then I often find in my comments from last year (see the links below) that I had searched out that verse and came to a better understanding. That was the case today – verse 12 was initially confusing to me until I read my Study Bible notes and my comments from last year; then upon re-reading the verse it was much clearer. So my perspective to you is this – last year’s in-depth study of the epistles helped me/us to gain a greater understanding of what Paul and the other writers were saying, especially with particularly difficult verses. And it’s not just my comments that I am encouraging you to read; last year’s RTB team members also added a number of clarifying and illuminating comments. Perhaps John S. can find the time to show you how to access all the comments from last year. (That access is confusing to me!)

As for new comments on today’s reading… A couple of days ago I suggested that “flesh” and “world” often have negative spiritual meanings in Paul’s writings. We see that today: For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption… (v. 8a), “flesh” here relating to money, sex, power, etc. (See also my second paragraph comments in the first link below.) Then today we also see Paul’s use of “world” in a negative spiritual sense: But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (v. 14) Finally, what is often the case is not always the case: …they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. (v. 13b) Here “flesh” does not have a negative meaning – it simply refers to a person’s being, with the Judaizers boasting in their influence over another person’s circumcision decision.

And so we finish our first epistle with Paul’s appropriate closing: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers [and sisters]. Amen. (v. 18)

See also: March 13 / Gal. 6:1-10; March 14 / Gal. 6:11-18

Galatians 5:16-26

When we did our “Three Streams” series at St. Andrew’s last March during Lent it was Archbishop Foley Beach who spoke on the third “stream”, the Pentecostal/Charismatic stream – the Spirit-filled life. And as he spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, he was clear in distinguishing the manifestations of the Spirit (speaking in tongues, healings, lifting hands, etc.) from the fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Today we have Paul’s famous listing of the fruits of the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… (vv. 22-23a) See my comments in the link below and note that “fruit” is singular, not plural. That is, these nine characteristics are part and parcel of every believer’s life. It’s what God does for us as we actively seek Him – as we ask daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As for the gifts of the Spirit, Paul lists a number of those gifts in at least three places – and in no particular order anywhere. Check out these lists in Romans 12:6-8, I Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11-12. We don’t imagine any of those lists to be as complete and comprehensive as Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit that we read about today.

BTW, ask Carol to recite the fruit of the Spirit in Czech – this listing of the fruit of the Spirit was our memory verse for our Czech and Slovak kids the very first English Camp that we did with Mark Bruner. Memories…!!

See also: March 12 / Gal. 5:16-26