Day 28, Chapter 28

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Donna Wilcher on September 28, 2010 at 6:29pm

v. 3 "when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand" (but it did not kill him)!

The GRACE that was on Paul's life was AMAZING!...and reminds me of Paul's "Thorn", and when he had asked God 3 times to take it from him, the Lord said.."No..because My GRACE is sufficient for you"

Unlike a lot of people, I do NOT believe that Pauls "Thorn" was a physical ailment of any kind whatsoever, but simply what he (Paul) said it was "a messenger (demon) sent from Satan to buffet him" in an attempt to derail, stop, discourage or kill him before he could fulfill his destiny.

When he used the term "Thorn in the Flesh" it was a metaphor, much like the metaphor we use today when we say "A Pain in the Neck" It was his way of describing all the many tests, trials, tribulations and persecutions that he had to endure because of his great revelations (his enormous and arduous task of spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles). They kept him humble and in complete reliance on God, and prevented him from becoming proud.

This viper was one of those "thorns" messengers (tests or tribulatations) sent by Satan in an attempt to kill him, but God's GRACE (protection) was what kept him from dying from it.

Have you noticed that God almost NEVER protected him from the tests, trials, tribulations, and persecutions?, but God did protect him, gave him GRACE to "endure" them, and in this case live through the venomous snake bite.

The GRACE of God is indeed AMAZING! How very sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!!

Permalink Reply by Donna Wilcher on September 28, 2010 at 6:31pm

I have enjoyed this journey to study the book of Acts very much! And hope you guys will start other ones just like it in the future!

Thanks again Thomas Nelson Bibles!

Permalink Reply by mia smith on January 27, 2011 at 11:59pm

Paul jouney became soon over but what he has  work done  for the LORD,  cause by we(gentiles) have a Salvation.

for me, Act28:31 is most remembering veres, 'Preaching the KINGDOM of GOD and teaching the things which concern the LORD JESUS Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.'

it remined me about what he say on the 2Timothy4:7 ' i have fought5 the good fight, i have finished the race, i have kept the Faith.'

also he say on the Hebrews12:1-2 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us RUN with endurance the RACE that is set before us, looking unto JESUS, the  Author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before HIM endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right Hand of the Throne of GOD.' 

 we as Christian time to time we maybe fall, but we getup finish the RACE!!!  <:>< mia