TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
Please Read Acts 22
When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains. The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
Acts 22:26–30
DEVOTIONAL
by Elder Chris Beltran
Paul again narrated his past: how he approved of the stoning of Stephen and how he zealously persecuted and put to death the believers. However, an encounter that radically changed him happened on his way to Damascus; he met the Lord Jesus Christ. From a persecutor, he was turned into a missionary for the Lord. He testified in verse 21: “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'” The Jews believed that they were exclusively God’s chosen people, and to involve the Gentiles in their faith, was blasphemy and intolerable.
Paul showed so much love, mercy, patience, and compassion to a crowd with evil intentions to kill him. The believers were full of the Spirit and full of wisdom. Without the Holy Spirit inside guiding us, no way can any believer endure such persecution without totally giving up. Amid immense pressure from the Jewish religious leaders, we recall Stephen radiating such peace that his accusers likened his face to an angel. He even prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60), echoing Jesus’ words while on the cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Even amid certain death, both Stephen and Paul were full of the Spirit, full of wisdom, full of love, mercy, and compassion; may our testimony always be focused on God alone and not on our circumstances like them.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we’re inspired by the power of personal testimonies. We pray that those still in darkness may hear the message of Your grace and experience the same life-changing encounter that Paul had on the road to Damascus. Help us boldly share our encounters with Your grace, leading others to Your love and salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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