For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Acts 18:18-28
Our beliefs about Jesus are not based on empty claims. God laid a lot of groundwork before Jesus came. He did a lot of things to show us what would be. The Scriptures are full of prophetic declarations and real life parables, all designed to let us know His Plan and Promise for our salvation. Thus, people like Paul, Apollos, and the apostles did not have to rely on eye-witness testimony and personal experience to declare the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. All they had to do was point to Scripture and show how it all points to Jesus. The same is so for us. We know what is true because God first declared it would be and then caused it to happen. Even Jesus said, “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.” (Jn. 13:19).
Acts 19
I almost have to laugh at this all too familiar scene. Evil’s response to truth is always the same! An instigator, based on some kind of lie, stirs people to mob riots and chaos. The masses join in without even understanding why. And when you dig to the bottom of it all, you typically find somebody working to protect their own power or money. Demetrius most certainly did not care about the people. He may or may not have cared about Artemis, but what he absolutely did care about was his lucrative business. Knowing that others weren’t likely to rally behind his business, he stirred them up over Artemis and their personal beliefs. Unlike truth, evil is seldom peaceful and never honest.