Read: Acts 28:1-31; Ephesians 1:1-2:22
You can’t read this without seeing how fickle man is. Paul’s entourage swam to the island of Malta where the people who lived there went from thinking he had a demon to thinking he was a god in the space of a day. Once he gained their favor he was able to heal all that he prayed for. I long for that day…it’s coming!
They left with gifts and everything they needed. They met believers along the way to Rome that received them into their homes and gave them love and hospitality. Once in Rome, Paul was given freedom to live where he wanted accompanied by a soldier for protection. They put the soldier there to watch over Paul to make sure he didn’t escape, but God put the soldier there to keep him safe. God always turns things around for good!
Three days after he arrived he was able to share his testimony before Caesar and many others. They had all heard rumors of this new religion, and were anxious to hear more about it. Paul was able to explain in detail all the prophesies leading up to Jesus appearance on earth. Some were persuaded to believe and others were not. Then he explained the prophecy from Isaiah about the hard hearts of the Jews and the invitation to the Gentiles.
For two years, Paul was able to stay under house arrest and entertain many who wanted to hear about Jesus and salvation. He wrote the book of Ephesians there as a letter to the church in Ephesus. In his prayer for them he explained that God chose us in advance to be his children. We are part of his plan to bring everything together under the authority of Christ in heaven and on earth. He also reminds the Gentiles of God’s love and mercy toward them. God pulled them out of sin and chose to adopt them into the family of God. We should be thankful.
Lord, thank you for your plan.. Help us to be more zealous toward your plan than ours. May your plan become our plan.
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