The natives on the island of Malta are very welcoming to the 276 men who are shipwrecked. And Paul shows the natives the love of God by healing their sick during his 3 month stay on the island.

“Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.” Paul reaches out to the Jewish leaders “to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved…Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

While imprisoned in Rome, Paul writes a letter to the Ephesians. Paul tells them, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Paul goes on to pray that the Lord will give them “wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

Paul says that we were all once dead in our trespasses, conducting “ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

After the fall, back in the garden of Eden, we all inherited Adam’s and Eve’s sin problem. We are born deserving of death. But God, in His love for us, sent His son to take on the wrath that we deserve so that we may be alive in Christ. And we are made alive in Christ not just for the sole purpose of eternal life; we are also made alive in Christ to carry out the good works He has planned for us. So if you are in Christ and you woke up this a.m., that’s your job!

More from Paul to the Ephesians tomorrow so keep reading.

(Acts 28:1-31, Ephesians 1:1-2:22)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

Today Paul, Luke, and a brother in Christ named Aristarchus, along with other prisoners, board a ship to Rome. On the way they encounter severe weather. “Paul advised them, saying, ‘Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.'” But the centurion, helmsman, and the ship owner ignore the warning and continuing sailing into more bad storms which cause damage and loss to the ship.

“But after long abstinence from food, Paul stood in the midst of them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However, we must run aground on a certain island.'”

After 14 days Paul encourages the men to eat. “‘Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.’ And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.” However, when the ship runs aground, the soldiers plan to kill the prisoners to avoid anyone escaping. But the centurion, wanting to keep Paul alive, tells the prisoners to swim or float to land.

We end the reading with everyone safely on the island of Malta. And tomorrow Paul arrives in Rome. Keep reading.

(Acts 27:1-44)

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#chronologicalbibleteaching

While in the barracks, Paul is given permission to speak to the angry mob. Paul says he too ”taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.”

But on that road to Damascus Paul encountered Jesus Christ which changed everything! After the encounter, God sent a man named Ananias to tell Paul, “The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

When the people hear Paul’s testimony they say, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” So back to the barracks goes Paul.

The next day Paul is taken before the high council. After he is struck across the mouth Paul says, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?” Then Paul stirs up dissension between the Pharisees, who believe in resurrection, and the Sadducees, who don’t. “Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.”

Meanwhile, about 40 Jews are plotting to kill Paul. “They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, ‘We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.’” But word got back to the commander. So the commander sends Paul to Caesarea with a letter for governor Felix. In the letter the commander wrote, “I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.”

Tomorrow Paul appears before Felix. Keep reading.

(Acts 21:37-23:35)

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On his way to Jerusalem, Paul stops in Miletus and calls for all the elders of the church of Ephesus to come to him. He tells them that this might be the last time he sees them. ”And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

He warns the elders to ”take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”

When he finishes speaking he prays for them. “Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.”

Continuing on his journey to Jerusalem, Paul and his companions meet a prophet named Agabus. “When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, ’Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’

Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’”

“And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.” However, when the Jews from Asia saw Paul in the temple they “stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, ‘Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.’ (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)”

“And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut…Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.”

Tomorrow Paul goes before the high council. Keep reading.

(Acts 20:13-21:36)

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#chronologicalbibleteaching

Today Paul warns the Corinthians of the false prophets who are preaching another Jesus. Paul says he humbled himself by preaching to the Corinthians for free so that he would be set apart from these false leaders who are all about their own greed and glory. Paul tells them that these false prophets are actually doing the work of Satan. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

Paul rebukes the ones who are boasting in their flesh and not the Lord. But in order to defend his position against these false leaders, Paul goes on to boast in his flesh, or “speak as a fool.” However, Paul’s account of his life looks a lot different than the identity of the high and mighty fake leadership – “I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches…If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.”

Paul says not only will he just boast in his weakness but the Lord actually purposed for him to be weak, or to have “a thorn in the flesh”, so that he stays humble and dependent upon the Lord. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians by telling them to, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” If they believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins and rose 3 days later defeating death; and if they hate their sin which leads to repentance; and if they have a desire to obey the Word of God…then they can be assured that Christ is in them.

Over in Troas, Paul’s current location on his journey to Jerusalem, a man falls asleep while Paul is preaching, falls 3 stories, and dies. ”But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, ‘Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.’ …And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.”

Tomorrow Paul arrives in Jerusalem. Keep reading.

(2 Corinthians 11:1-13:14, Acts 20:7-12)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

Today Paul warns the Corinthians of the false prophets who are preaching another Jesus. Paul says he humbled himself by preaching to the Corinthians for free so that he would be set apart from these false leaders who are all about their own greed and glory. Paul tells them that these false prophets are actually doing the work of Satan. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

Paul rebukes the ones who are boasting in their flesh and not the Lord. However, in order to defend his position against these false leaders, Paul goes on to boast in his flesh, or “speak as a fool.” However, Paul’s account of his life looks a lot different than the identity of the high and mighty fake leadership – “I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches…If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.”

Paul says not only will he just boast in his weakness but the Lord actually purposed for him to be weak, or to have “a thorn in the flesh”, so that he stays humble and dependent upon the Lord. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians by telling them to, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” If they believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins and rose 3 days later defeating death; and if they hate their sin which leads to repentance; and if they have a desire to obey the Word of God…then they can be assured that Christ is in them.

Over in Troas, Paul’s current location on his journey to Jerusalem, a man falls asleep while Paul is preaching, falls 3 stories, and dies. ”But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, ‘Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.’ …And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.”

Tomorrow Paul arrives in Jerusalem. Keep reading.

(2 Corinthians 11:1-13:14, Acts 20:7-12)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

Today Paul tells the Corinthians sorry but he is not sorry for sending them the harsh letter because it led them to godly repentance. “For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Worldly sorrow is just being sorry because you got caught and have to suffer the consequences but it does not result in a real change and turning from sinful behaviors which lead to death. However, godly sorrow leads one to true repentance for sinning against the Lord resulting in a genuine change in a person’s life.

Paul goes on to ask the Corinthians to complete the collection they started for the needy in Jerusalem. He tells them how the churches of Macedonia, even in their affliction, gave abundantly by grace – “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”

Paul encourages the Corinthians to give generously and joyfully with great anticipation that the Lord will use it to accomplish His awesome purposes. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

Paul explains that his authority and boldness as an apostle come through the power of the Holy Spirit, not his flesh. ”For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Tomorrow we wrap up the reading of 2 Corinthians, so keep reading.

(2 Corinthians 6:14-10:18)

#bibleliteracymovement

#chronologicalbibleteaching

We have a real enemy out there, Satan, whose goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) Therefore Paul exhorts the Corinthians to follow his example and forgive the ones in the church who offended them so Satan doesn’t have a chance to work his schemes of division and destruction. ”For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Paul and others are equipped to do the work of the ministry through the Holy Spirit and not by anything they are humanly capable of doing. He says, “our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” And the Lord made them ministers for the purpose of reaching others. “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

Paul explains that both the old covenant and the new covenant are glorious but the new covenant is more glorious because it changes people’s hearts and lifts the veil of darkness from their eyes. “But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The ones veiled in darkness, who don’t accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, are controlled by Satan, the god of this world.

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them…For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Although this world is controlled by Satan, the ruler of darkness, Christians don’t lose heart because what is happening in the spiritual realm far exceeds what our eyes can see in the earthly realm. Everyone’s earthly body is perishing but for the Christian ”the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Paul lives his life to please the Lord, walking by faith with a mind set on eternal things. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

As a new creation reconciled to God through Christ, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation; that is to share the good news of the gospel with others so that they too may have hope of eternal life with Christ.

Keep reading.

(2 Corinthians 2:5-6:13)

#bibleliteracymovement

#chronologicalbibleteaching

Reading God’s Word daily nourishes our soul and gives us hope. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Paul says that he has been called to preach the gospel in places that have no church. This is why he hasn’t visited the Romans sooner but he hopes to see them on his way to Spain. And Paul ends the letter by greeting 29 people in Rome (of which 10 are women) who labored in ministry with him.

The next letter we read is a second letter from Paul to the Corinthians. “Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia, sometime after sending 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in response to news Titus brought him of the church in Corinth and to further his collection for the poor in Jerusalem.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” God uses our suffering to draw us nearer to Him for our good and so that we may better know how to comfort others during their trials.

Paul defends himself to the Corinthians on why he changed his travel plans. He says it wasn’t because he was untrustworthy or indecisive but for their own good. “Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth.”

Apparently there was some tension the last time Paul visited them so Paul decided not to return. Instead he sent Titus to the church with a “severe letter” from Paul. ”And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.”

More to the Corinthians tomorrow so keep reading.

(Romans 15:1-16:27, 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4)

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#chronologicalbibleteaching