مطالعه کتاب مقدس

Today we read Acts 21. Again, Paul’s teachings about Jesus cause unrest–even a riot. Indeed, Jesus sometimes turns the world upside down–but even if He does, it is always for the better.

Today we read Acts 20. Remarkably, Paul raises a young man from the dead. This miracle occurs not because of any special power of Paul’s, but because of Jesus Christ working *through* him. Our Lord says: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Today we read Acts 19. A riot erupts in the Greek city of Ephesus. One of the main sources of income in that city had been the manufacture of idols for the local pagan goddess Artemis (also known as Diana). But so many people left paganism to become Christian that sales of the Artemis statues dropped and the manufacturers lost money. This caused them to riot against Paul. Sometimes, old (fake) religions are a huge source of income for certain individuals, and so Christianity becomes a threat to them. Is that the case as well where you live? May the Lord bless the growth of Christianity in your religion–despite opposition that you may encounter!

Today we read Acts 18: Paul continues to preach and teach that Jesus is the long-awaited Christ (= Messiah). Paul experiences much persecution for this. But the Lord says to Paul that he should go on speaking and not be silent. The Gospel eventually spread around the world and two thousand years later it has come to our generation as well. And the Holy Spirit will continue to use people to share the Good News about the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus until He returns. How wonderful!