Honour and power

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Acts 28:1-16

At the end of this passage we finally see Paul arrive in Rome. It has been quite a journey, starting in Chapter 22 with his imprisonment. It has literally taken years of slow progress. However even now, so close to that goal, I noticed that the pattern of doing things is still the same. Even […]

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Never too far from salvation!

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Acts 27:13-44

There is no storm too fierce, no pit too deep, and no trouble too great for God’s loving arms of salvation to reach those who are welcoming of them. We must believe this. The world needs to believe this; for it’s the saving light that we crave. You may have come across the words “this […]

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Being ignored now

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Acts 26:24-27:12

Why does Luke use more ink to describe the journey from Caesarea to Malta than Pentecost, or the council of Jerusalem or Paul’s three years in Ephesus? It might be that Luke wants Theophilus to know that Paul is under divine protection.  More likely it is because the story of Acts is about to end […]

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3 trials, 3 testimonies, 3 points

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Acts 25:23-26:23

This is the third of Paul’s trials in Acts, his third testimony and it is a three pointer again! Agrippa, Bernice and Festus arrive to hear Paul in pomp and ceremony, wearing purple robes. Paul is apparently small, balding with a hooked nose and bandy legs! But he dominates proceedings with Spirit filled Christ-like dignity […]

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Turn a delay into a masterpiece

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Acts 25:1-22

It was hot and humid on the platform at Narni, North of Rome. John Sargent and his travelling companions were stuck, having missed the connection North to Siena. While the rest of the party fussed and fumed, pacing the platform, Sargent got out his paints and turned a delay into a masterpiece. What do you […]

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Do it now, not tomorrow

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Acts 24:1-27

  Much like today, Rome was a tolerant society – as long as you believed the same things! Rome was tolerant of many gods so the Jews with their radical monotheism were initially a problem. The Jews had held onto monotheism under lots of different occupiers and wouldn’t change, so Julius Caesar made it a […]

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I will take courage!

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Acts 23:12-35

“Take Courage!” the Lord says to Paul. He needs it – four times he has been rescued by the Romans and this time he is headed finally to Rome. No scheme of man or hell can prevail against God’s will. Forty Jews have made an oath not to eat until they have killed Paul – […]

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Superior living

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Acts 22:22-23:11

  In these days of equality gone mad, it is often frowned upon if you feel superior to someone else. The general sentiment seems to be that everyone is equal. I often wonder where that comes from, as the Bible teaches us exactly the opposite. Yes, everyone is equal in worth: Jesus died for all […]

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