Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

I find it fascinating that Paul reached out to the Jews here to address them first and share the gospel. Paul was very cognizant of God’s plan of salvation, how he historically delivered it, and how he wanted it delivered in Paul’s time.

Paul approached the Jews with a lot of unknowns here: he did not know if they had heard from the other Jews who were persecuting him, he did not know what they had heard in general, and he did not know how he would be received. Instead of worrying or being anxious about these very real potential threats to his reputation, work, and person, he focused on what his God-given task was. This mission was to spread the gospel, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.

I am sure Paul might have been tempted to try to reason with God. This might have sounded like this: “God, I know you want me to share the gospel with the Jews first, then the Gentiles. However, I have already done this before and have paid a dear price. Can’t I just skip this step this time and avoid the potential harm. I could just live a life that compels them to ask me about the way I follow you. Would that be OK?”

Instead, Paul relentlessly and bravely marched into a potential hornet’s nest, and spoke to the Jews first, in obedience to God. And he was rewarded by some believing him. Anytime one new person follows Jesus with their life, angels rejoice in heaven. So this was a cause of rejoicing, for sure!

Obedience requires us to trust first. Paul implicitly trusted God with his life. He also trusted his brothers and sisters to take care of him. And he trusted God’s ability to move the hearts of the leaders he was under at different times in his life. Trust is a choice, sometimes earned. With God, he always deserves it, though our fellow man may not.

What areas of life am I not trusting God in and instead stubbornly doing my own best plan? How can I surrender these areas to him and more fully trust him today?

Lord, you have a plan for me every day. You have a purpose and mission to accomplish and I have a role in it. Teach me to set aside those things that detract from your mission and focus on serving you first and foremost! I can trust you. You always have good in store for me!