| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 49 secs | 0 Comments
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 […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 35 secs | 0 Comments
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 […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 50 secs | 0 Comments
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 […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 17 secs | 0 Comments
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 […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 17 secs | 0 Comments
“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 – […]
| By Andy Moyle | 3 mins 16 secs | 0 Comments
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 […]
| By Andy Moyle | 2 mins 21 secs | 0 Comments
Paul is in Jerusalem with the church there which is, uniquely, mostly made up of thousands of Jewish believers. He has told them of the Gentile mission, for which they glorified God. But they are not too happy that Paul has not being getting the Gentiles to follow the law (even though the Jerusalem council […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 38 secs | 0 Comments
I believe the Scriptures are infallible as originally written and yet in this passage we have a clear example of a prophetic word that wasn’t 100% correct. The Spirit is giving us an example of the nature of New Covenant prophecy. We know in part and we prophesy in part (1 Cor 13:9-12). Prophecy was […]
| By Andy Moyle | 2 mins 43 secs | 0 Comments
I love the smell of the New Testament! Today’s passage exudes a beautiful aroma of friends on mission together, encouraging one another, spurring one another on and praying and imparting courage for the tough times ahead. There’s no dull lifeless formality – there’s such camaraderie that elders will travel 50 miles to see Paul one […]