Acts 23:1-11
23: And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Reflection
Paul continues to endure the nearly constant suffering that has marked his apostleship. After Paul has endured yet another violent encounter that threatened his life (Acts 23:10), God encourages him that he will continue to live so that he can testify about Christ in Rome.
It may be easy to think that Paul may be tiring of his calling, but as long as he was still alive, he was fueled by a genuine desire to make Christ known (cf. Phil. 1:21–26). Despite the challenges that may come, the opportunity to testify another day must have given strength to the man who said, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
Revelation 15:1-8
15: Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
Reflection
The judgments that accompany the seven bowls of wrath are called “plagues” in Revelation 15:1 in order to draw our attention once again to the Old Testament story of the exodus. The deliverance that will come to God’s people will resemble the story of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt as God rescues his people while judging his enemies. This new exodus frees people from all nations so that they can come to worship the great Savior God (v. 4; cf. 5:9–10; 7:9–10).
Psalm 105:1-2
105: Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
Many people think of Jesus as a side project that they give attention to on Sunday mornings. In reality, Christ is the main project of our lives, and his glory is the goal of all that we do (1 Cor. 10:31). Pray that you would adopt Paul’s attitude and live ultimately for the sake of the advancement of the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:24).