QT 05/06/2024 Wed. Acts 25. No stopping the way. 前途无阻。
QT 05/06/2024 Wed. Acts 25.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Acts+25/
Look at Acts. Should Rome accept this "religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive"? (Acts 25:19)
Yes! Luke hoped to persuade Theophilus (Luke 1:3 & Acts 1:1) that the superpower of those days (Rome) should look favourably upon "the Way" (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 19:23, 24:14).
Whereas the opponents petitioned to the authorities that Paul "ought not to live any longer" (Acts 25:24), Rome's representative in Caesarea (Festus) found nothing deserving death (Acts 25:25).
"The Way" was maligned in Acts. But The Way continued unstoppable on the way to the ends of the earth. Jesus was nailed to the cross at Jerusalem by Rome's representative. But now, in Acts 25, Jesus' apostle Paul, is starting on a journey TO Rome!
Chief priests and Jewish leaders in Acts 25:2-3 were "preparing an ambush to kill him along the way", but Paul appealed to Caesar (25:11), thus escaping their clutch.
Festus, sensing the opportunity to quickly rid himself of Paul (the hot potato), declared: "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go." (Acts 25:12) Festus' hot potato was God's important witness.
REFLECTION: In all these, did you sense that God is LORD over history, where (somehow) His plans punched through all the opposition and schemes of the opponents in Acts 25? Look out for the next 3 chapters where Paul journeyed to Rome in totally unexpected and unthinkable ways.
APPLICATION: God might lead you on exciting and challenging paths. Do not lose hope as we participate in the preaching of The Way to the ends of the earth. God is in control even when you do not sense it. Trust Him to work out the best for His purposes.
星期三 2024年6月5日 今日读经：使徒行传25章。道路途无阻。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Act/25/
听音频
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/act.25.cnvs
且看使徒行传。罗马是不是应该接受这个“宗教和这一位已经死了的耶稣，保罗却说他是活着的”?(徒25:19)
是的！路加希望能够说服提阿非罗(路1:3和徒1:1)，那时候的强权(罗马)应该看重“这道”(徒9:2,19:9,19:23,24:14)。
尽管反对者向掌权的人请求，说保罗“这个人不该活着”(徒25:24)，罗马在该撒利亚（非斯）的代表却查明他没有犯什么该死的罪(徒25:25)。
“这道”在使徒行传里被污蔑。但这道却无法阻挡地向地极前进。耶稣就是在耶路撒冷被罗马的代表钉死在十字架的。但是现在，在使徒行传25章，耶稣的门徒保罗，却启程去罗马！
祭司长和犹太领袖在使徒行传25：2-3正“埋伏在路上杀死他”，但保罗却在遇到了凯撒(25:11),逃脱了他们的魔掌。
非斯都，趁此机会摆脱保罗(烫手土豆)，大声宣告：“你既然要向凯撒上诉，可以到凯撒那里去。”(徒25:12)。非斯都的烫手土豆正是神重要的见证。
反思:在这当中，你是否意识到神是历史的主宰，祂在徒25章的计划(总能)胜过所有的对抗和对抗者的阴谋诡计？注意看接下来的3章，保罗是如何在完全无法预料和想象的情况下去到罗马的。
应用：神或许会引导你走在刺激和充满挑战的道路上。我们参与传讲这道到地极时，不要灰心。即使你自己没有意识到，神仍然掌权。信靠祂，祂必会以最好的方式成就祂的旨意。
