SOME WERE PERSUADED
Acts 28:23-25 NKJV
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
We are wrapping up the book of Acts and Paul is continuing to have some amazing adventures. He survives the shipwreck, lands on the shore, and is promptly bitten by a poisonous viper. Paul calmly shakes off the snake and experiences no harm. Paul had strong faith that God was protecting him to be able to witness for Jesus in Rome. I have to say I am very impressed by Paul. I might have been more than a bit freaked out by a poisonous snake hanging onto my hand. Paul was James Bond cool way before the fictitious character was ever conceived.
In our verses for today, Paul is still a prisoner in Rome but with the ability to have visitors. A group of the Jewish leaders have come to his house and from morning to evening Paul is talking about Jesus. Because these leaders had a working knowledge of the scriptures, Paul was able to relate to them on that level. Paul showed these Jewish leaders Jesus from the law of Moses, the first five books of the Bible, and the prophets. The prophets would have also included David and the Psalms. Paul kept up this presentation from morning to evening. Paul’s knowledge of the scriptures had to be extensive for him to be able to talk that long. And the amount of scriptures that revealed Jesus must have been extensive as well. Paul knew he was speaking with people who knew the scriptures. So, he presented Jesus from a scriptural perspective.
With Paul showing from the scriptures that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy, you would think all these Jewish leaders would have bought in. But as is the case with all people, some believed, and some did not believe. Even though Paul was most likely highly anointed by God to preach and teach. He was a strong man with a strong anointing, and yet some believed and some did not. Even though Paul was probably as persuasive as they come, a man accustomed to speaking boldly before Gentiles and Roman rulers, some believed and some did not.
We can learn something from this passage: that regardless of what scriptural proof we lay out and no matter how long or persuasive the argument, some will believe and some will not believe. What is the determining factor? That I am not sure of. Not everyone believed Jesus’ words. Not everyone believed Paul’s words. Not everyone will believe our words. But we do like Paul and speak calmly without backing off, and some will believe, and some will not.
PRAYER
Lord, give me a persuasive way of presenting You. I am well aware that some will believe and some will not. But we keep on proclaiming Jesus and rejoice with those who do believe.