S – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace

Ephesians 2:4–5 CSB

O – Great nuggets in the commentary:

• In the Greek text God immediately follows “but,” thus placing it in an emphatic position. “God” is the subject of the whole passage.
• He is described as rich in mercy.  In the New Testament eleos means “undeserved kindness” toward sinners. Thus God, who is rich in exhibiting this undeserved kindness, acts on behalf of sinners because of His great love for us.
• The noun for “love” (agapē) comes from the verb agapaō that means “to seek the highest good in the one loved.” Since sinners are spiritually dead toward God, they have nothing to commend them to God. This is why Paul described this love as being “great.
•  God’s love has done three things: (a) made us alive with Christ, (b) “raised us up with Christ” (2:6), and (c) “seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (v. 6). An unbeliever, spiritually dead, is “made … alive” by God “with (in association with) Christ” (cf. Col. 2:13).
• The “us” includes both Jews and Gentiles (cf. “us” in Eph. 2:3–4). The only way a spiritually dead person can communicate with God is to be made alive, and that must be done by the One who is Himself alive. He is the living God, “who gives life to the dead” (Rom. 4:17).
• God is fully aware of the unbelievers’ state. It was clearly described in Ephesians 2:1–3 and is repeated here: even when we were dead in transgressions (cf. v. 1).
• This act of God in making the unregenerate alive is an act of grace: it is by grace you have been saved. Paul elaborated on this last statement, which is actually parenthetical, in verse 8. The verb “have been saved” is in the perfect tense which expresses the present permanent state as a result of a past action. 

     “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Love the richness of the commentary.  It breaks down each component. It brings me to a place of gratitude.  Christ in his love for me, went to the cross, was resurrected and ascended to heaven to be with God.  He sent his Holy Spirit to make his presence known in my life each day. Why?  He loved me before I loved him. 

R – Lord, thank you for all that you have done for me. Your love built a bridge of relationship through Jesus.  Your love empowers me daily with your presence through the Holy Spirit.  Let my life be a reflection of all that you have done for me as I grow with you and with people today.

S – In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed

Ephesians 1:13 CSB

O – Commentary:  The last part of verse 13 is literally, “They were sealed in Him [Christ] with the Holy Spirit of promise.” The word “seal” indicates security (Matt. 27:66; Eph. 4:30), authentication and approval (John 6:27), certification of genuineness (John 3:33), and identification of ownership (2 Cor. 1:22; Rev. 7:2; 9:4). God is the One who seals, Christ is the sphere in which the seal is done, and the Holy Spirit is the instrument of the seal. “The promised Holy Spirit” refers to Christ’s promise to His disciples that He would send the Spirit 

 “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – I love this breakdown of the “seal” and how it relates to each part of the Trinity.  This gives a great foundation to understand how a believer can interact with the different facets of who God is.  The Holy Spirit is the “conduit” to interact with God on a daily basis.

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for the salvation that comes from the resurrection of Christ Jesus.  I invite the Holy Spirit to be in every part of my day through my thoughts, words and actions.  I ask for your wisdom, discernment and empathy so that I may love you and love people.  Thank you for loving me and having relationship with me today.

S – Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. 

Acts  28:30–31 CSB

O –  Commentary: Despite being under house arrest (28:16), Paul boldly proclaimed the Kingdom message. • And no one tried to stop him (Greek akōloutōs, “without hindrance”): This single word in Greek is the last word of the book of Acts and one of the keys to its meaning: God’s word cannot be chained, even when its messengers are (2 Tim 2:9; see Phil 1:12–14). Acts is the story of an unhindered message of Good News, available to all people throughout the world, whether Jew, Gentile, proselyte, rich, or poor. The mission of proclaiming this message is accomplished in the power of the Spirit (1:8); it embraces Jews (3:1–5:42), Samaritans (8:1–25), converts to Judaism (2:11; 13:43), “God-fearers” (8:26–40; 9:32–11:18), and Gentiles (13:1–28:28)

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – Paul’s entire journey of sharing with Jews, then Gentiles, arrests, and trials all culminate in two years of house arrest.  He is never proven guilty.  Yet, it is the vehicle for which a huge swath of the gospel was shared and a large amount of his writing in the NT was done.  God uses it all to accomplish his purpose.

R – Lord, when I focus on my journey, it doesn’t make sense sometimes.  Help me to focus on growing in our relationship, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead me and to submit to your will.  You will get all the glory for all of this.

S – But the centurion kept them from carrying out their plan because he wanted to save Paul, and so he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land

Acts 27:43 CSB

O – God continually preserves Paul’s life through others, personal vision and practical steps.

A – God will use everything at his disposal to accomplish his will.  

R – Lord, help me to stay surrendered to you and your purposes for my life.  Let me see your workings and give you glory for all that you do.

S – Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.” 

Acts 26:32 CSB

O – Commentary:  This appeal had earlier saved Paul’s life (25:3), and now it provides him free passage to Rome (cf. 19:21) and a public forum for the *gospel there.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

Interesting that the appeal that saved his life would ultimately lead Paul to the largest stage to share.  Also, his appeal that saved his life will send him to the place where he would die.  

A – When God has a plan, it will have good and bad.  It will also accomplish its purpose.  It is our responsibility to be faithful and available in the journey.

R – Lord, help me to be faithful and available for you today.  I desire to do your will and purpose today.  

S – Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.” 

Acts 25:8 CSB

O – Similar to Jesus, the accusations by the Jewish leaders have no basis.  Paul is only guilty of sharing the gospel of Jesus.

Paul is leading from the context of yesterday’s lesson – He strives not to sin against God or man.  Even in accomplishing this (to the best of his ability), others take offense.  Paul cannot control their actions and deals with the consequences of their actions.

A – This part of Acts gives a lot of context of the political and religious organizations.  You see that power and control are central to their structure.  There is a healthy aspect of both of these in any organization.  It can get unhealthy when they supercede the organization and personal gain is involved.  

R – Lord, I can only control me.  I surrender to your will and purposes today.  I exalt you as my Lord and Savior.  I cannot control others.  Help me to walk with wisdom and empathy as I lead today.

S – I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 

Acts 24:16 CSB

O – Commentary:  Paul always sought to keep his conscience clear (cf. 23:1). “Clear” translates aproskopon (lit., “not causing to stumble, or not offending”), used only two other times in the New Testament, both by Paul (1 Cor. 10:32; Phil. 1:10).

“Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The two primary commandments are to Love God and Love People.  Interesting that Paul seeks to not offend or bring disunity with God or with man.  He sought to have no distance with either God or man. He pursued God, through Christ.  He loved man enough, to tell them the truth about Jesus and not waver.   There is something cool about knowing you have done your best with God and with man.

R – Lord, help me today to give you my very best in our relationship.  Empower me to pursue your truth and the way I can live that out.  Also, help me to honor others by being honest and compassionate towards them.  Help me to grow in my empathy while remaining strong in the principles you have given me to live by each day.  

S – The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”

 Acts 23:11 CSB

O – Commentary: The importance of this vision was not only in its comfort and encouragement (cf. 18:9–10) but also in the confirmation it gave of Paul’s plans to go to Rome. The gospel of Christ would literally go from Jerusalem to Rome by means of the Apostle Paul. This was the fourth vision the Lord gave Paul (cf. 9:4–6; 16:9; 18:9–10).

 “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – God has a plan.  With Rome being the most powerful place in the world at the time, the gospel is entrusted to one man.  But the ability to go “to the ends of the earth” just became a possibility.  

God has a plan for you and I.  Where something seems impossible, He bring the “possibility.”

R – Lord, I thank you that you have no limits.  You are full of grace and mercy on me.  You have a plan and purpose for me.  Job 42:2 says “Your purpose will not be thwarted.”  Nothing can stop you.  Help me to align with your purposes today.  Help my faith to grow beyond my comfort zone today.

S – He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” 

²² They listened to him up to this point. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live

Acts 22:21–22 CSB

O – When Paul mentioned his commission to preach to the Gentiles, the mob was moved to instant rage and violence. Preaching to Gentiles could not have caused such a response because the religious authorities of Israel had preached to Gentiles (cf. Matt. 23:15). Paul’s message that infuriated the mob was that Jews and Gentiles were equal without the Law of Moses (cf. Eph. 2:11–22; 3:2–6; Gal. 3:28).

This response is important to the argument of the Book of Acts. It indicates the Jews in Jerusalem had irrevocably refused the gospel of Jesus Christ and had sealed their fate. Less than 20 years later in a.d. 70 the city of Jerusalem became rubble and ruin. (cf. Matt. 24:1–2; 21:41; 22:7)

“Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – There are people today who refuse the gospel of Christ.  There are consequences to rejecting God’s love.  The irony is the rejection in Jerusalem actually pushed the gospel to be preached throughout the world and be accepted by so many more.  

R – Lord, help me to invite you into all of the areas of my life.  By closing you off from any area means I am not totally surrendered to you.  I surrender it all to you.  

S – We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem

Acts 21:4 CSB

O – Through the Spirit the believers at Tyre urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. In view of the phrase, “through the Spirit,” was Paul wrong in pursuing his course to Jerusalem? Probably he was not violating God’s will for several reasons: (1) Acts 20:22 and 21:14 imply it was God’s will for Paul to continue on to Jerusalem (cf. 19:21). (2) The comfort given by God (23:11) implies Paul had not stubbornly refused the Lord’s will. (3) In 23:1 Paul declared he had lived in all good conscience to that day.

Probably, then, the words “through the Spirit” (21:4) mean they knew through the Spirit that Paul would suffer in Jerusalem (cf. 20:23); therefore, concerned for his safety, they tried to dissuade him.

 “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Interesting that the disciples saw the suffering Paul was going to experience in the Spirit and out of love tried to stop him.  This is a right and right challenge.  Both options have the appearance of the correct answer.  We have to go beyond the answer to “what is God’s will?”

R – Lord, there are many challenges I face each day.  Help me to discern what your will is in each one.  Help me see beyond what is safe and brings comfort.  Help me to see beyond what is right.  Help me to be led by your Spirit to follow the path that brings you glory.