by Stushie

Created on: August 24, 2010

Acts 20:3b       Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, Paul decided to go back through Macedonia. 

When I read about the Apostle Paul and all of his escapades in the Book of Acts, I am constantly amazed at how he survives. He's blinded, beaten up, and imprisoned. He's almost lynched and has to escape mobs in various cities. He's hunted down by religious fanatics who take a divine oath to kill him. He survives an earthquake and is shipwrecked. Wow! Any one of those incidents would have wiped me out, but Paul perseveres and continues to preach all across the Mediterranean.

I guess you could call Paul the New Testament's answer to a comic book hero. Nothing brings this man down. He is so confident about his faith in Christ that he is willing to face danger wherever he goes.

It makes me wonder what Paul would be doing today if he was still on Earth. How many escapades would he have to face in order to preach the Gospel? How many times would he upset the Church by not conforming to the culture? Which lands would he dare to take the Gospel to? Israel? India? Saudi Arabia? The USA?

But Paul is not here and so the responsibility of taking the Gospel to the world is in our hands. It makes me wonder what faith adventures and witnessing opportunities God will bless us with this week. Will we accept the mission that Christ gives us, or will it seem too hard or impossible to carry out? Maybe when we are given the chance to share the Gospel, we should ask ourselves inwardly: “What would Paul do?”

Study Questions:        How did Paul become a Christian? (Acts Chapter 9)

What kind of message did Paul preach? (Acts Chapter 12)

How was Paul received by the official Church in Jerusalem? (Acts chapter 15)

What happened when Paul was imprisoned? (Acts Chapter 16)

What caused the mob to riot against Paul's preaching in Ephesus? (Acts Chapter 19)

What was Paul's main testimony to the Roman authorities? (Acts Chapter 26)

How was Paul shipwrecked? (Acts Chapter 27)

How does Paul's life affect us as Christians in today's world?

Prayer to end Study:                        Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of Paul as a pioneer of the Gospel. He led an incredible life and we are so fortunate to have records of his journeys, as well as the letters that he wrote. We know that we can never be totally like Paul, but we pray that we can fulfill the opportunities that You give us to witness to Your Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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