We were able to get through three chapters (Acts 23-25) in our overview of the book of Acts. Remember, our intention is to get a clear understanding of the transition from a Jewish gospel centered in Jerusalem, led by Peter, James, and John, to a Gentile gospel centered in Antioch, led by Paul. We could have spent quite a bit of time carefully mining out all that was in these chapters, but that is not our intention.
As we were walking through the scriptures this morning, I was really comforted when I read Acts 23:11: And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. Even though Paul was being attacked by the Jews in a very physical way, with a band of over forty men vowing to kill him, the Lord appeared to him and comforted him, encouraging him that his journey is not over until his mission is finished. This is a great comfort for all of us! Your journey on planet earth is not over until you finish the race that God has set before you. King David served his generation, and then passed into eternity.
Acts 13:36: For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
Paul, at the end of his imprisonment in Rome, wrote to Timothy these words in 2 Timothy 4:6-8: For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
A dear college friend and faithful minister of the gospel, Mark Trotter, slipped into eternity last night, after dealing with several kinds of cancer. He died on his birthday, February 20, 2021, at age 64. His dear wife, Sherry, wrote of his last day on Mark’s FB page. It brought home the truth that was lived out by David and Paul. You do not leave this terrestrial existence until you have finished your course, and served your generation. Please take a moment and look up Mark Trotter on FB, and read the last post.
Paul must face Agrippa, and take his journey to Rome, as we complete our overview of Acts next Sunday. We will be back online on March 14th. Please make a note that Karin and I will be out of town on March 7th. Remember, our privilege and our duty is to pray for one another!