Acts - Week 73

Week 73 Acts 23 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 23:6 

6 Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!” 

As Paul stood before the religious leaders in the Sanhedrin, he thought of an idea to divert attention. Knowing that the Pharisees, which he was one, believed in the supernatural and that the Sadducees did not, he raised the issue of the resurrection. This would surely begin an argument between these two groups. 

REFLECT 

Have you been able sometime to divert an argument to something else when you realize your questioner is confronting you about something? Sometimes humor can be effective in changing the subject. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about what it’s like today. In many ways there are two groups who strongly differ in their opinions: believers of the supernatural and unbelievers of anything above their heads. Think how these opposing viewpoints might be used if necessary when facing persecution. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 23:7-10 

7 This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees— 8 for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. 9 So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him.” 10 As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress. 

Strangely, now the Pharisees began to defend Paul. The Sadducees, who did not believe in the supernatural, were opposed to him and the Pharisees. The commander saw this violent argument by the religionists and thought he should get Paul away from them before they tore him apart. God provided protection for Paul and got him out of a life-threatening situation.   

REFLECT 

Have you ever been in a dangerous situation that someone had to get you out of? Did you consider the deliverance came from God who sent the person? 

RESPOND 

Read Psalm 34:3-5 to see that the Lord can deliver from fears. Talk with your disciple about any fears either of you have and pray for the Lord to give you peace about them. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 23:11 

11 That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” 

Paul seemed to always have the desire to go to Rome, the capital of the empire. Now he is assured by God Himself that he will preach the Good News there. The importance of this is that whatever was done in Rome would be known throughout the empire. Although Paul had the Lord’s assurance he would go to Rome, he did not know the events that would occur to get him there. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been confident of what the Lord wants you to do even though you don’t know all the steps involved in getting to that point? Have confidence in the Lord to work out the details—or even to change the goal if necessary. 

RESPOND 

Some have said Christians attempt too much in one year, but don’t accomplish as much as they should in five years. Talk with your disciple about future goals and steps necessary to get there. Read Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 to know about spiritual goals that he desired for believers. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 23:12-15 

12 The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. 14 They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.” 

When the term “Jews” is used, the reader must determine from the context whether they are unbelievers or believers. Many Jews believed in Jesus but the religious leaders did not. Now these unbelievers plot to kill Paul and ask for the cooperation of the Sanhedrin in their plan. The Sanhedrin was opposed to Paul and his message about the resurrection of Jesus, so it was sure to agree. 

REFLECT 

Does this continue to impress you that sometimes the religious leaders are the greatest enemy of the resurrected Christ? Be wise about those you follow. 

RESPOND 

Visit with your disciple how to counsel others who may be looking for a church home. Regrettably, some who stand behind the pulpit do not believe in Jesus’ virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, or His resurrection from the dead. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 23:16-19 

16 But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul. 17 Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.” 18 So the officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?” 

This passage raises questions the Bible does not answer. Did Paul’s sister live in Jerusalem? If so, why was he not staying with her? Was the nephew a believer? How did he hear this plot? The main thing is the nephew heard about it and told Paul. Then Paul asked for his nephew to be taken to the commander. Thankfully, the commander was willing to listen to him in private.   

REFLECT 

Do you marvel as you read the Scripture how God works? This is called the “sovereignty” of God. It is God working behind the scenes to accomplish His will.  

RESPOND 

An example of God’s sovereignty is seen in the book of Esther. When the king was deceived into allowing a plot to be carried out against the Jewish people, they cast lots on the first month and it fell on the 12^th month as a time to carry out the plan (see Esther 3:7). This gave time for all the events in the book to occur so the Jews were spared. The lot was called “Pur” and this was the basis for the feast of Purim (read Esther 9:26-28).