The Big Read – Daily Read
Acts 13
v1-3: Pastors and teachers are gifts of Christ to His church. They minister to the church by praying and by preaching which explains the Scriptures and opens up the message of Christ with suitable application. When they do this they honour Christ and “pursue the interests of his kingdom.”
v4-13: Satan does not want leaders or people who are in positions of authority to believe in Jesus because of the potential good they can do for the gospel, and so is busy with them. “He knows that their example… will influence many others.” His desire is that they drive people away from “the truths and ways of Christ.”
v14-41: “We must acknowledge that God has been like a tender father to us over all the years each of us has lived in this world. He has supplied our needs, has fed us all our life long unto this day , has taken care of us” – as He provided for Israel in the desert, keeping them from starving. “He has been a God of forgiveness… and not kept a record of what we have done wrong” – as He was for Israel not dealing them as they deserved. “We have tried his patience, but we have not yet exhausted it” – as He was with offensive, complaining, and unfaithful Israel.
v42-52: Those who have been appointed for eternal life, will be given by God grace to believe, because all whom God has predestined, He will call. If God gives grace to believe, those whom He gives grace to, will believe.
Quotes from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)