Acts 21-26 • Experience God’s Goodness on the Adventure

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Acts 21-26 Experience God's Goodness on the Adventure-Melanie Newton
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AI was not used to generate this post.

How good are you at waiting for something? Most of us do not like to wait for God to work. And we certainly don’t like a “No” answer! Be honest here. We say to each other, “God is good all the time,” but do we really believe it? In the last blog, we looked at how following Christ on adventure will certainly test our loyalty. This is post #11 in the Radical Acts blog series. We will look at how to recognize God’s goodness on our adventure with Jesus even in the most difficult and painful times.

Listen to this post as a similar podcast from our Radical Acts Bible Study covering the book of Acts in the New Testament. (11 lessons)

Willingness to Follow Jesus No Matter What

Danger! Would you have risked returning to Jerusalem when everyone who loved you was warning you to stay away? Paul did not know what awaited him there, but he felt compelled by the Spirit to go.

After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” (Acts 21:10-14)

Just like his master Jesus Christ felt compelled to go to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-34), Paul was willing to follow no matter the threat.

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:22-24)

Soon he was seized, dragged, beaten, and bound. Yet through it all he felt completely carried by the Spirit, who gave him multiple opportunities to do exactly what Paul wanted—to share his story with crowds and kings alike (Acts 20:24).

Yet, Paul was arrested, falsely accused by the religious leaders he once respected, taken to Caesarea, and held in bondage for two years. This must have been a painful time for this man who was so totally sold out to Jesus Christ and followed Him with every breath and step he took. Why was God letting that happen to Paul?

We ask that same question today. Have you ever endured a season when you had little or no control over your circumstances? When each day brought new and unexpected challenges? When life seemed to be spinning out of control? When you had a narrow escape from danger or death?

During those times, the Holy Spirit sustains you and carries you. Did you feel it? Amazingly, it is often those times when we are weakest and rely on His strength most that give us a story to share with others later—our story of His faithfulness as we are carried by the Spirit’s fire.

Have you shared your “story” with anyone lately? Could you share it with someone who might harm you?

God Is Good All the time

I was in a Bible study several years ago talking about how pain affects our lives and our perspective of God’s goodness to us. We were studying Mark chapter 5, specifically the account of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Our discussion question was, “Describe any of your own painful circumstances that have driven you to Christ. What did you learn about His goodness through that experience?”

As each woman shared her story, it was obvious that some could recognize God’s goodness to her at the time, but others were still struggling with God’s goodness because the pain has not gone away or been resolved to their satisfaction.

Most of us do not like to wait for God to work. And we certainly do not like a “No” answer! Be honest here. We say to each other, “God is good all the time,” but do we really believe it?

This is what the Bible says about God,

You [God] are good, and what you do is good. (Psalm 119:68 NIRV)

The Bible says that everything about God is good. He is good in Himself. And, what He does is good. That means God allows nothing to happen to His children—to those who love Him—that is not for their good. God gives to His children only that which is good. God is good all the time, and He is at work in our lives for good.

Over the years, I have learned through personal Bible study and my faith walk that God’s goodness has three aspects that apply to our times of fear and pain.

  1. He is good even in the tough times;
  2. He is good in different ways to each of us, and
  3. He is good in what He allows or does not allow into our lives.

You can read more about these in my blog, “Trust God’s Goodness in Addressing Your Pain.”

Let us look at how God was good to Paul just in Acts chapters 21-26.

God’s Goodness to Paul through Others

God used the Roman commander to give Paul protection from an angry, vicious mob.

The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul … The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. (Acts 21:30-32; 23:10)

Paul’s nephew was in the right place at the right time to overhear the plot against Paul.

The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.” But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. (Acts 23:12-16)

The commander listened to the nephew and took action to protect Paul.

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?” He said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.” The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.” (Acts 23:17-24)

The commander wrote a letter to the governor basically declaring Paul’s innocence.

Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. (Acts 23:26-30)

Roman representatives confirmed his innocence.

Throughout chapters 21-26, you see a number of impartial Roman representatives who repeatedly confirmed the innocence of Paul and his message regarding Roman Law—the commander, Governor Felix, Governor Festus, and King Agrippa.

God’s Goodness to Paul through His Own Presence

The Lord Himself came to Paul while he was in the prison cell and spoke to him to give him encouragement. Notice what Jesus said to Paul—his instrument, in the center of His will, doing what He wants Paul to do.

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

Notice what Jesus did not say.

  • He did not say, “I’m getting you out of this mess you created for yourself.”
  • He did not say, “Walk out of the barracks with me. You’re free to go on your way.”
  • Jesus also did not say, “I’ll make sure you stay comfortable while this is going on.”
  • He did not say, “I’m done with you.”

No, instead our Lord Jesus who was also Paul’s Lord Jesus stood by him. Stood by him. He was present with Paul. Then, Jesus said, “Take courage!” That word in the Greek literally means “be of good courage, have confidence, be of good cheer.” Be of good cheer? Really?

It is the same word Jesus used in John chapter 16 when He said this,

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Take heart. Be of good cheer. Have confidence. I (Jesus) have got this. It is what Jesus told Paul in Corinth when there was such an uproar against the preaching of Christ. Jesus spoke this to Paul,

Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you … (Acts 18:9-10a)

Paul’s experience in Acts chapter 23 is about 8 years later. Jesus has not changed His mind about Paul. After telling him to be courageous and feel comforted, Jesus goes on to basically say, “I have seen you testify for Me in Jerusalem with boldness and conviction. Do the same for Me in Rome.”

In those words, Jesus is relating to Paul, “I see you. I have confidence in you. I will not fail you, and I know you will not fail Me because I am with you. Be of good cheer. You can trust My goodness in what I am doing here for you.”

As I read this verse and meditated on it, tears flowed from my eyes. Why? It is because of the personal nature of our personal Savior. Jesus is with me through everything.

Jesus is with you through whatever you are facing. He is on your journey with you.

If Jesus told Paul that he could trust His goodness in the manner in which Jesus got Paul to Rome, you know we can trust His goodness in whatever He chooses to do in our lives as well.

Trust God’s Goodness in Whatever He Chooses to Do

This is the sticky part, isn’t it? I have an idea of what I think His goodness to me should look like! We are all good at praying solutions to whatever is challenging us. “Wouldn’t that be a good idea, God?”

Do you believe that God has the right to choose what He brings into your life? Do I? I know God is good. I must choose to trust His choice of how to be good to me. Remember this verse you probably memorized at some point in your life.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)

The day before my dearest friend died of breast cancer, she softly spoke to me these words, “God is good.” I finished her sentence with “all the time” because I had heard her say that repeatedly. She replied, “I don’t understand all of this.” And most of the time, we just do not understand. But, we have to count on God’s goodness and trust His choosing.

That is dependent living

Human parents raise their children to be more independent as they grow up. God raises His children to be less independent of Him and more dependent on Him as we grow up to maturity. Anything that teaches us how to depend on Him is good for us. You can learn more about dependent living from our study of 2 Corinthians—The God-Dependent Woman.

Jonathan Evans, the son of Bible teacher Tony Evans, recently gave the eulogy for his mother who died of cancer. So many had prayed for her healing and were disappointed thinking God had not answered their prayer. In reflecting on this, Jonathan felt the Lord telling him this,

There were always only two answers to your prayers—either she was going to be healed or she was going to be healed. Either she was going to live or she was going to live. Either she was going to be with family or she was going to be with family. Either she was going to be well taken care of or she was going to be well taken care of. Victory belongs to Me because of what I’ve already done for you. The two answers to your prayer are yes and yes. Because victory belongs to Jesus.

Can you think of a narrow escape you have had with serious trouble, even death? How was God good to you through that time? In what ways did He rescue you from what you perceive might have happened to you?

That is life in the extremes

If you read the blog on “Life in the Extremes,” you learned that joy requires releasing our expectations of acceptable outcomes. When you release your expectation of acceptable outcomes, you can rejoice at what our Lord does instead of complaining about what He does not do. You look at everything with the Lord’s perspective.

Dear sweet friends, we have a big God. Yet, God may not choose to rescue you from everything that is threatening you or from poor decisions made by you or someone close to you. You may face what seem like insurmountable circumstances in your life. You may have to give up something that gives you security. You may be waiting for God to answer a desperate prayer. Are you willing to accept the answer He wants to give?

In any and all situations, you can count on the fact that God is good all the time, and you can trust Him in whatever He chooses to do. Take heart. Be of good cheer. Have confidence in that!

That is the fruit of a transformed life that is more interested in bringing glory to Jesus than to yourself.

Our last post will look at living on adventure with Jesus in God’s protective hand.

Let Jesus satisfy your heart with His Spirit’s transforming power. And say yes to a life of adventure with Him!

All of the above information is covered in the Radical Acts Bible Study of the book of Acts.

AI was not used to generate this post.

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