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.

S – But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. 

Acts 20:24 CSB

O – Paul states that his life is for the Gospel and not any aspirations of his own.  He wants to finish this journey well.  Knowing Jerusalem poses danger, he is moving towards it.

A – Paul has an amazing resolve to continue forward on the journey toward Jerusalem.  Most would plot another course that would allow one to continue for a greater period of time.  Paul’s focus on obeying God’s leading allows his words about the gospel to have even greater strength.

R – Lord, please help me to have the fortitude to move towards your will.  I want to finish strong in the things you call me to do.  I want my words and actions to bring strength and peace as people encounter Your love.

S – But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus

Acts 19:9 CSB

O – Commentary:  After he led the believers out of the synagogue he taught daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Apparently, Tyrannus made his lecture hall available to traveling teachers. One Greek manuscript adds that the school was available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. when most people would have their noon meal and an afternoon “siesta.” This tradition is probably correct. The rest of each day Paul worked with his own hands (20:34)

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

* Fascinating to think that the person responsible for writing a majority of the New Testament and pillar in the early church was a daily lecturer.  Then, to support himself, do some type of job.

A – When the call to share is so strong, you will leave what is comfortable (Synagogue, position in church) to do what is uncomfortable (lecture, support yourself).

R – Lord, I want to continue to learn what it means to be comfortable being uncomfortable.  Do not let me rest in my role or position.  I want people to know you as their Lord and Savior.  I want people to grow in that relationship.

S – He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately

Acts 18:25–26 CSB

O – Commentary: His doctrine regarding Jesus was accurate but deficient. Probably this means Apollos did not know about the Holy Spirit’s baptism. John’s baptism symbolized cleansing by God because of repentance toward God. But Christian baptism pictures union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection by means of Spirit baptism

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

A – Apollos continued to grow from the power of repentance to a fuller knowledge of God’s presence and power through the Holy Spirit.  I want to keep growing.  I have known the Lord a long time.  I still feel like I have a long way to grow.

R – Lord, help me to continue to grow in my relationship and understanding of you.  Through the Holy Spirit, reveal to me more of your character, love and heart.

S – For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

Acts 17:23 CSB

O – “Ignorance” – agnŏĕō, not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by impl. to ignore (through disinclination)

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words.

Commentary:  The Athenians, who feared they might overlook venerating some deity they did not know about, dedicated an altar to an unknown god. When Paul referred to this, he did not emphasize the altar but their ignorance of the true God.

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

A – Hard to imagine someone worshipping something they did not know, but they didn’t want to miss out.  Fear will drive people to do things that don’t make sense. In doing so they ignore the true God.  This is true in culture today.  Fear drives people who don’t want to “miss out.” They “idolize” things they do not know or have no personal relationship with in their life.  And God, who wants a personal relationship with them, stands at the door knocking.

R – Lord, I pray for people who don’t know you because their focus is on other things.  Help me to be a light to shine that you desire relationship with them and you are the true God and they can have peace.

S – They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷ When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them

Acts 16:6–7 CSB

O – There is no evidence of how they were prevented by the Holy Spirit.  It is one of those times he said, “No.”  Even trying a different route, they were still stopped.

A – This is why it is important to invite the Holy Spirit into our day and to listen to his prompting.  Sometimes, He says “no” and it is just as important as a “yes.”  But why did the Holy Spirit stop the disciples stop them from something as good as sharing the gospel?  Were those people not important to God to receive His Word and salvation?  How can a loving God not share eternal life with them?

I don’t know.  Yet, when you look at where God took them next and the people he interacted with, God moved powerfully.  We see God’s purpose and plan in action.

R – Lord, I invite your Holy Spirit into my day.  I want to be so in tune with you that I hear your promptings – the “yes” and the “no.”  Let my will align with yours today.

S – The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. ⁷ After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days, God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe

Acts 15:6–7 CSB

O – The early church had to make decisions on a lot of things because it was new.  Great to see the gathering of minds and hearts.  Interesting that Peter, who is often characterized as the “hot-headed, impetuous” disciple, is now the one who speaks the verdict and displays wisdom.

A – It is wise to collaborate and debate when taking new ground.  It is great to know that as we grow as a leader, our need for action moves into the desire for wisdom and best outcomes.

R – Lord, there are a lot of things going on in my life and in my church.  Continue to bring the best people together to bring Holy Spirit-inspired thoughts and decisions.  Let those actions bring people closer to you.