The ONE THING you need to know.

Christine DiGiacomo
4 hours ago
5 min read

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1df0cff8/the-one-thing-you-must-know-no-61-acts

There will be no Catholics in Heaven.

No Presbyterians, Anglicans or Methodists either.

In case you are Baptist and feeling pretty good about yourself, there will not be any Baptists either.

Why? Because there will be no division,

no choosing up sides;

there will be no denominations in Heaven.

We will all bear one thing in common.

Paul could well describe that one thing - his faith in Jesus Christ. During his two year stay in beautiful Caesarea Maritima, (all accommodations provided by the Romans), Paul stands trial once again, and compellingly describes how he came to faith in Jesus.

Governor Festus considers having Paul taken back to Jerusalem to be tried before the Jewish officials, but Paul knows better. There is great danger in such an endeavor and so, knowing his rights as a Roman citizen, Paul appeals to Caesar. Festus responds with, To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”1

Then King Agrippa comes out to the beautiful Caesarean port on the Mediterranean to get a look at Paul, and pay his respects to the new governor, Festus. And interestingly, he too wants to hear from Paul. After all, the Jews had successfully gotten rid of the trouble maker Jesus of Nazareth ... and now there is another of his sort wreaking havoc?!

Herod Agrippa? Oh yes, it was his great grandfather who tried to kill Jesus and ended up killing most of the baby boys in the Bethlehem region. His grandfather had beheaded John the Baptist, and his father had executed the apostle James and arrested Peter, who then escaped.2 His family name preceded him wherever he went.

And so Paul once again - but in even greater detail - describes his upbringing as a righteous, educated Jew (a Pharisee, no less) and then goes on to describe his radical transformation when he comes to understand Jesus as the fulfillment of the Jewish prophecies - the very Messiah God’s people have been awaiting! [do not read right past those fulfilled prophecies of Jesus.... how many prophecies were given to your forebears before you were born? Prophecies 500-800 years before Jesus was born? That is a huge thing, a supernatural thing, and deserves our understanding.]

As Herod listens to Paul, he tells him he is close to becoming a Christian... what in the world? How could this man, actually living as 'man and wife' with his sister, be 'close' to believing in Jesus Christ? hmmm.... Like, what would Agrippa have found compelling about Jesus Christ? Clearly, what Paul said was reasonable and it made sense; he cited Hebrew scriptures with which Herod would have been familiar. His articulate manner must surely have been passionate and convincing. Wouldn't you have liked to have been there? Paul concludes with this, "“Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”3 Paul sincerely cared about every lost soul he met . . . hmmm, do you? Do I?

Though on trial there in Caesarea, neither Felix, nor Festus, nor King Agrippa found Paul guilty, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”4 However, Paul has requested a hearing before Caesar in Rome, and so to Rome he must go.

'So, what?' you say. 'What do I care about a reprobate like Herod Agrippa, this trial of Paul's or even what happened to Paul?' Friend, we can glean several valuable things from Acts 25 and 26.

1) Like Paul, we ought be able to speak TRUTH, why we believe in Jesus Christ

--The longer I live > the more I study God's Word, its truth and great impact > study archaeological findings > and then see them with my own eyes, the more I know that Jesus was a historical figure that we must contend with... Jesus IS who he said he WAS, only Son of God. He DID what he said he would DO - die and on the third day, RISE AGAIN. He is ALIVE today, and we can have RELATIONSHIP with him while we live, and forever when we leave behind our earthly selves.

2) We ought talk of Jesus in such a way that people want to hear more! First one and the another of these Roman officials wanted to hear Paul speak. I find that very interesting.

3) We see the historical markers here in Acts which sync Scripture in time and place - the Herodian dynasty/family tree.5 Why, the great harbor and huge amphitheater where Paul was tried stands today - built by Agrippa's grandfather, Herod the Great. see picture below

4) And finally, we do well to ask a question--did Paul make a mistake by appealing to Caesar? [Friends, Paul was neither perfect, nor omniscient, nor sinless] If he had not claimed his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to caesar, he would have been a free man - could have gone home to Tarsus, on to Rome or back to the city he loved. hmmm....

Stay with me now - because here is what we know: God is always at work. In fact, "God works all things together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose."6 Would it surprise you to know that Paul wrote those words just before his arrest/trials? Nothing convenient about trials or jail time, but everywhere Paul went, he shared the Gospel with any and all who would listen. And once again, words the apostle penned ring through my mind, "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."7

Practical application: if you blunder . . . rather, when you blunder...

if you have failed . . . or even if you have sinned big, the grace of God covers all. And what's more, he is not just waiting for you to come to him. Remember the Prodigal Son story that Jesus told to describe how the Father views us?8 Jesus described the Father as running to embrace his errant son. Whoa, that's good.

Yeah, that's my Father. He is a good, good Father. What a great thing to know!

Do not miss this song: YOUR RESPONSE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiNckhkjOLU&list=RDOiNckhkjOLU&start_radio=1

Jesus, Your ONE THING,

Christine

no. 61, Acts