Paul gets to speak again The whole procession of important persons has entered the place and the hearing begins for Paul.
Faith in God, Love for People
'Suffering' Tagged Posts (Page 2)
What should I write? Paul had appealed to Caesar, exercising his right as a Roman citizen. While that helped Festus out of a jam in trying to upset neither the Romans nor the Jews, he still had to send a report to Nero that would explain the case and the appeal. Agrippa came to visit the new governor and agreed to hear…
New Governor and New Trial Paul had been imprisoned for two years. Felix was succeeded by Festus as governor in Caesarea. The Jews from Jerusalem were still trying to kill Paul and seeking extradition to execute their plan. Festus did not grant that request, but does have another trial for Paul.
How did we get here? The accused Paul responds to the charges against him. His defense speech turns the issue away from the political and back to the real heart of the issue, which is theological. His words had an effect on Felix.
That didn’t help After Paul addressed the mob of Jews in the outer court, they were once again worked into a frenzy. Claudius, the Roman tribune, thought they would kill Paul and he still had no clearer understanding of what the issue was.
All Shook Up Paul and Silas pray and sing and an earthquake opens the way for them to escape. But they didn’t. Instead, they preached the Gospel to the jailer.
How about suffering? God had revealed to Paul that he was chosen to suffer great things for Christ’s sake. Paul came to Iconium and Lystra and met with great persecution. He was stoned at Lystra and left outside the city supposed to be dead.
What about when suffering is extended? Suffering well and bearing up under afflictions doesn’t mean we cannot, or should not, pray for deliverance. It does mean that we don’t turn back from following Jesus. It means we recognize the good in it and submit to God’s judgments. We can and should pray for deliverance. In…
How can our suffering benefit others? Afflictions benefit us personally when they correct us or keep us from straying, and when they are for our growth in the word and way of God. The tenth stanza of Psalm 119 focuses on how our sufferings can benefit or others around us. Our suffering cannot atone for…
How can suffering be good? It’s hard for us to comprehend any positive aspect of innocently suffering affliction. God’s word assures us that sometimes afflictions are chastisements to correct us for wrong and sometimes afflictions are not for particular wrongs, but rather for our good. The latter afflictions humble us, teach us, and glorify God.…