OPENING PRAYER
"Man Shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"- Matthew 4:4- "My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it" - Mark 8:21
Having received this day as a gift, I (We) thank You Holy Trinity, for through Your goodness and patience You were not wrathful with me (Us), and idler (s) and sinner (s), neither have You cast me (Us) down in my (Our)sins...But You have shown Your love towards me (us) and have guided me (us) to keep my (our) daily watch to glorify Your power...Enlighten my (our) mind (minds) to study Your teachings in Scripture...Help me (us) to apply what I (we) learn and to praise You with all my (our) heart and glorify Your Holy Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
Shine within my (our) hearts, loving Master, the pure Light of Your Divine Knowledge, and open the eyes of my mind that I may understand Your teachings...Instill in me (us) also reverence for Your Blessed commandments, so having conquered sinful desires I (we) may pursue a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You...For You, Christ my God, are my light, and to You I (we) give, glory, together with Your Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
CHANT PSALM 23
INTO YOUR HANDS LORD YESHUA (JESUS CHRIST) WE COMMIT OUR SOULS AND BODIES, BLESS US AND HAVE MERCY ON US AND GRANT US ETERNAL LIFE!!!
ACTS 26 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
PAUL'S DEFENSE
ACTS 26:1-23
26:10-18: THIS IS THE THIRD ACCOUNT: in ACTS of Paul's conversion-(see ACTS 9:1-8; AND ACTS 22:1-21- NOTES!!!):
THE TRIBUNAL'S REACTION
ACTS 26:24-32
26:25: GREEK WORD FOR REASON: (sophrosune)- Is better translated as "good judgement"...
26:26: THIS THING WAS NOT DONE IN A CORNER: A proverb meaning something was done publicly and was widely known, a reference to the Resurrection of Christ-(v. 23):
26:27: AGRIPPA: was of Jewish blood and familiar with the OT-(v. 3): if he believed in the OT writings, he would have to take Paul's proclamation seriously...
26:32: THOUGH NOT LEGALLY: necessary at this point, Paul's appeal serves the advancement of the gospel in two ways: (1): IT PROTECTS HIM- from his enemies, and so a teacher of the gospel is kept alive; and (2): IT ALLOWS-the gospel to be preached in Rome- (ACTS 23:11):
ACTS 27 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
THE VOYAGE TO ROME BEGINS
ACTS 27:1-12
27:2: WE: SEE MY NOTES AT ACTS 16:10
27:3: THE TERM FRIENDS: here refers to other Christian believers...
27:9: THE FAST: refers to the Day of Atonement (YOM KIPPUR), which falls late in September or early October...
27:10: I PERCEIVE: Paul gave a personal opinion- (rather than a prophecy), in contrast to the professional opinion of the helmsman- (v. 11), so that others would listen to him later when the ship was being torn up- (vv. 21-25): The fact that the voyage did not result in the loss of LIVES does not mean that Paul was wrong; rather, it indicates that if the natural order of things had not been superseded, men would have died: Instead, God intervenes, and the people are spared- (vv. 30-34):
STORM AND SHIPWRECK
ACTS 27:13-44
27:16: THE SKIFF: A small boat or dinghy pulled by the ship, which could be used for expeditions to land...
27:17: THE SYRTIS SANDS: A sandbank on the north coast of North Africa...
27:18: LIGHTENED THE SHIP: means throwing the most expendable cargo overboard to compensate for having taken on water in a storm...
27:31: SINCE PAUL'S: earlier words had proven to be true-(see v. 10 and my notes), THE CENTURION was now indicated to trust PAUL, resulting in all people on board being SAVED...
27:35: PAUL'S ACTIONS: express both the Jewish and Christian practice of giving THANKS TO GOD before a meal: This expression of thanks in the midst of a terrible storm teaches us to be thankful to God even when circumstances appear hopeless: It also helped those on the ship to have confidence in Paul and to be more inclined to listen to him: See the high level of trust they placed in Paul, for even though there were so many people- (v. 37), they threw out the rest of the food based on his words...
27:41-44: ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, THE DESTRUCTION: of the ship serves several purposes: It shows: (1): THE SEVERITY of the danger, and the power of Paul's prophecy- (v. 22); (2): THAT PEOPLE are ultimately to depend on God rather earthly things, for God saved the men when the ship was unable to; and (3): THE IMPORTANCE of having holy people dwell among us, for they guide us to safety according to the Will of God!!!
PSALM 4 STUDY GUIDE
PSALM 4
PSALM-4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; [b]Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah 3 But know that the Lord has [c]set apart for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
4 Be[d] angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. 8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
PSALM 4: EMPHASIZES THE END- (vv. 1, 2): Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes- (ROMANS 10:4), and He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End- (REVELATION 1:8): He exhorts people not to be SLOW OF HEART, AND NOT TO LOVE VAIN THINGS, NOR TO SEEK AFTER LIES-(v. 3): We should rather realize that THE LORD, who is the Father, has made His HOLY ONE, who is Christ, to be WONDROUS (v. 4) in His death and Resurrection- (v. 9):
END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER-LET'S DEPART IN PEACE!!!
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!