I have been to many countries and cities in my lifetime, and one of them was Rome. I was there for an overnight trip. Arrived in the evening, had breakfast in the hotel, business meeting in the morning, and a sumptuous lunch before my flight out. During this time I saw the outsides of the coliseum. I am reminded of the suffering the early Christians went through under the Roman Empire. Paul the Apostle was about to experience some of that suffering in this chapter.
Paul was repeatedly warned through many prophecies about his imminent arrest in Jerusalem.
When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
Paul was determined to be in Jerusalem. He must have sensed that God wanted him to go to Jerusalem despite the warnings. In fact there was a wonderful outcome of this besides the opportunity to speak to the people of Jerusalem.
So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
Never take suffering and adversity negatively. There is always a purpose and we may not understand it during this time.
Father, the challenges are there but we shall persevere, because all things work together for good.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
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