Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Gospel Saturday Acts 17-18. I’m calling today’s episode “Just Do Your Job.”

Comments on Acts 18

Something that struck me in today’s reading was in verse 5 and 6. Paul had told the Jews that Jesus was the Christ, and he was opposed and slandered. Other translations use the word “blasphemed” or “became abusive” or “insulted.” His response to this treatment was interesting. What do many of us tend to do today when people don’t accept our message? We try to change our approach. We try even harder to convince them that Jesus is who He said He is. But Paul shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” He didn’t seem to fret over saving every last person he delivered the message to. 

Folks, we need to remember that our job is merely to deliver the message as faithfully and accurately as we can. It’s not our job to make them believe. We can’t. It’s the Holy Spirit who convinces. Yes, we must be prepared to give an answer when people ask questions, but we cannot bring about change in the human heart. Once we’ve delivered the message, our job is done.

That’s not to say that we should take too casual an attitude about witnessing, however. Note that in verse 28, we’re told that Apollos “would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate,” and here is the key part of the verse, “using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.”

He defeated the Jews with the scriptures. Not his own human arguments, but with scripture. Very important. Scripture is the living Word of God. My own arguments are just the word of Steve, which isn’t worth much. But God’s Word? That’ll change someone’s eternity.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 17 NCV; Ch. 18 CEB

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00
Scripture is the living word of God.

INTRO S12E325 – 0:10
Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. What’s going on? Today is Gospel Saturday and we’ll read Acts 17 and 18. I’m calling today’s episode, “Just Do Your Job”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e325. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. And I think it’s time we get started.

ACTS 17 (NCV) – 0:44
Acts, chapter 17. (1) Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica where there was a synagogue. (2) Paul went into the synagogue as he always did, and on each Sabbath day for three weeks, he talked with his fellow Jews about the Scriptures. (3) He explained and proved that the Christ must die and then rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I am telling you about is the Christ.” (4) Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, along with many of the Greeks who worshiped God and many of the important women.

(5) But some others became jealous. So they got some evil men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot. They ran to Jason’s house, looking for Paul and Silas, wanting to bring them out to the people. (6) But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers to the leaders of the city. The people were yelling, “These people have made trouble everywhere in the world, and now they have come here too! (7) Jason is keeping them in his house. All of them do things against the laws of Caesar, saying there is another king, called Jesus.”

(8) When the people and the leaders of the city heard these things, they became very upset. (9) They made Jason and the others put up a sum of money. Then they let the believers go free.

(10) That same night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea where they went to the synagogue. (11) These people were more willing to listen than the people in Thessalonica. The Bereans were eager to hear what Paul and Silas said and studied the Scriptures every day to find out if these things were true. (12) So, many of them believed, as well as many important Greek women and men. (13) But the people in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, too. So they came there, upsetting the people and making trouble. (14) The believers quickly sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. (15) The people leading Paul went with him to Athens. Then they carried a message from Paul back to Silas and Timothy for them to come to him as soon as they could.

(16) While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was troubled because he saw that the city was full of idols. (17) In the synagogue, he talked with the Jews and the Greeks who worshiped God. He also talked every day with people in the marketplace.

(18) Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him, saying, “This man doesn’t know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be telling us about some other gods,” because Paul was telling them about Jesus and his rising from the dead. (19) They got Paul and took him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said, “Please explain to us this new idea you have been teaching. (20) The things you are saying are new to us, and we want to know what this teaching means.” (21) (All the people of Athens and those from other countries who lived there always used their time to talk about the newest ideas.)

(22) Then Paul stood before the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens, I can see you are very religious in all things. (23) As I was going through your city, I saw the objects you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: to a god who is not known. You worship a god that you don’t know, and this is the God I am telling you about! (24) The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. (25) This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; he has everything he needs. (26) God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. (27) God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us: (28) ‘By his power we live and move and exist.’ Some of your own poets have said: ‘For we are his children.’ (29) Since we are God’s children, you must not think that God is like something that people imagine or make from gold, silver, or rock. (30) In the past, people did not understand God, and he ignored this. But now, God tells all people in the world to change their hearts and lives. (31) God has set a day that he will judge all the world with fairness, by the man he chose long ago. And God has proved this to everyone by raising that man from the dead!”

(32) When the people heard about Jesus being raised from the dead, some of them laughed. But others said, “We will hear more about this from you later.” (33) So Paul went away from them. (34) But some of the people believed Paul and joined him. Among those who believed was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and some others.

ACTS 18 (CEB) – 5:31
Acts, chapter 18. (1) After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. (2) There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus. He had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul visited with them. (3) Because they practiced the same trade, he stayed and worked with them. They all worked with leather. (4) Every Sabbath he interacted with people in the synagogue, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks. (5) Once Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. (6) When they opposed and slandered him, he shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” (7) He left the synagogue and went next door to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile God-worshipper. (8) Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household came to believe in the Lord. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized after listening to Paul.

(9) One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Don’t be afraid. Continue speaking. Don’t be silent. (10) I’m with you and no one who attacks you will harm you, for I have many people in this city.” (11) So he stayed there for eighteen months, teaching God’s word among them.

(12) Now when Gallio was the governor of the province of Achaia, the Jews united in their opposition against Paul and brought him before the court. (13) “This man is persuading others to worship God unlawfully,” they declared.

(14) Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If there had been some sort of injury or criminal behavior, I would have reason to accept your complaint. (15) However, since these are squabbles about a message, names, and your own Law, deal with them yourselves. I have no desire to sit in judgment over such things.” (16) He expelled them from the court, (17) but everyone seized Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and gave him a beating in the presence of the governor. None of this mattered to Gallio.

(18) After Paul stayed in Corinth for some time, he said good-bye to the brothers and sisters. At the Corinthian seaport of Cenchreae he had his head shaved, since he had made a solemn promise. Then, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila, he sailed away to Syria. (19) After they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila and entered the synagogue and interacted with the Jews. (20) They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. (21) As he said farewell to them, though, he added, “God willing, I will return.” Then he sailed off from Ephesus. (22) He arrived in Caesarea, went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

(23) After some time there he left and traveled from place to place in the region of Galatia and the district of Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

(24) Meanwhile, a certain Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was well-educated and effective in his use of the scriptures. (25) He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and spoke as one stirred up by the Spirit. He taught accurately the things about Jesus, even though he was aware only of the baptism John proclaimed and practiced. (26) He began speaking with confidence in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they received him into their circle of friends and explained to him God’s way more accurately. (27) When he wanted to travel to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples so they would open their homes to him. Once he arrived, he was of great help to those who had come to believe through grace. (28) He would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate, using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.

COMMENTS – 9:18
Well, something that struck me in today’s reading was in verse 5 and 6 of chapter 18, Paul had told the Jews that Jesus was the Christ, and he was opposed and slandered. Other translations use the word “blasphemed” or they “became abusive” or “insulted” him. His response to this treatment was interesting to say the least. What do many of us tend to do today when people don’t accept our message? We try to change our approach. We try even harder to convince them that Jesus is who he said he is. But Paul did something entirely different. He shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” Paul didn’t seem to fret over saving every last person he delivered the message to.

Folks, we need to remember that our job is merely to deliver the message as faithfully and accurately as we can. It isn’t our job to make them believe. We can’t. It’s the Holy Spirit who convinces. Yes, we have to be prepared to give an answer when people ask questions, but we can’t bring about change in the human heart. Once we’ve delivered the message, our job is done.

Now that is not to say that we should take too casually an attitude about witnessing. Note that in verse 28, we’re told that Apollos, quote, “would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate,” unquote. And then here’s the key part of that verse, quote, “using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ,” unquote.

What did he do? He defeated the Jews with the Scriptures, not his own human arguments, but with scripture. That’s very important. Scripture is the living word of God. My own arguments are just the word of Steve, which aren’t worth much. But God’s word? Well, that’ll change someone’s eternity.

What do you think? Have a comment? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e325. Tomorrow’s Epistle Sunday, and we’ll read the book of 2 Peter.

Boost!

SUPPORTER SHOUT-OUT – 11:24
I just wanted to acknowledge a donation by Anonymous who sent in a $22.22 row-o’-ducks donation. Thank you very much Anonymous, and may God bless you richly. Thank you.

You can also participate in the value-for-value method by supporting the show with time, talent or treasure by making a donation to support the show that comes to you seven days a week, rain or shine. It certainly isn’t free for me to create the show for you. And if it’s something that you look forward to each day, it would be awesome if you would return a portion of that value to me to help with the cost of producing the show. What is the show worth to you? Go on over to lifespringmedia.com/support. Take a look at that page, then pray about it and then do what the Lord leads, lifespringmedia.com/support.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 12:18
On this date in church history, July 23, 1825, Samuel Ajayi Crowther who was kidnapped earlier by Muslim slave traders from his Yoruba homeland in North Central Africa, was rescued by English missionaries and baptized into the church. And in 1864, he was consecrated as a missionary Bishop of the Niger territory. Wow, that’s quite a story.

PRAYER REQUESTS – 12:49
Prayer requests. Some of you might be aware of and listen to the podcast I produce here at Lifespring Media for my former pastor who’s retired. The show is “In the Word with Mel Bennett”. Well, I got this email from him this morning. He said, “Just a note to let you know I haven’t sent any further podcasts. Had another procedure yesterday on both legs. Had three stents and two balloons in my left leg to open arteries that were clogged. And they checked my right leg and found the artery 100% clogged and could do nothing. We’ll keep watching it. Appreciate your prayers.” So we need to pray for my former pastor.

And by the way, for those that might not know, when God called me to podcasting all those years ago, I didn’t have any of the necessary recording gear. So I asked Pastor Bennett, if I could use the church equipment. He didn’t know what a podcast was. Podcasting was brand new at the time. But he said that if God called me to do it, then of course, I could use the church’s microphones and whatever else I needed. So Pastor B was very instrumental in me even talking to you right now. He did send an episode about a week ago that I do hope to get produced and published by this coming Monday. I haven’t gotten to it yet because of my workload, including helping another friend of mine start his own podcast. And I gotta tell you, I’m really anxious to tell you about it. But we’ve got to get our ducks in a row first. So let’s pray for Pastor Bennett.

CLOSING PRAYER – 14:11
Our heavenly Father, Lord as we seek to do your will and share the good news. Help us to deliver the message faithfully. Help us to be compassionate and loving, but then step aside and let you bring the harvest as you see fit. Help us to just be faithful to what you’ve called us to do. And Lord, now we pray for Pastor Bennett, that his healing would be quick and as easy as possible. I thank you for his presence in my life for the past thirty-five or so years, and I pray that you would be with him as he recovers. Touch him, Lord, in Jesus name.

And I thank you for the Lifespring family and ask you to bless them. And I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

If you have a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com, and give me all the information you want me to have, and if you want to remain anonymous, you can do that too, prayer.lifespringmedia.com

OUTRO S12E325 – 15:10
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e325. Send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. And thanks to Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise for all that they do. You guys are awesome. Thanks to Anonymous for their donation today and helping to bring the show to you.

And thank you for meeting me here today. Are you glad the show is here? Are you getting something out of it? Then put something back in. Support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support.

Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise