Looking for Paul

[JLG]

95) Personality checkup

Acts 13

- When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met up with a Jewish man named BarJesus, who was a sorcerer and a false prophet. He was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. Calling Barnabas and Saul to him, this man was eager to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is how his name is translated) began opposing them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, also called Paul, becoming filled with holy spirit, looked at him intently and said: “O man full of every sort of fraud and every sort of villainy, you son of the Devil, you enemy of everything righteous, will you not quit distorting the right ways of God? Look! God’s hand is upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sunlight for a time.” Instantly a thick mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, on seeing what had happened, became a believer, for he was astounded at the teaching of God.

- RESOLUTE!

- PROACTIVE!

- Paul goes straight to the point!

- Perfect logic!

- Masterpiece!

- As a consequence, the proconsul becomes a believer!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE

- RESOLUTE (3)

- HUMBLE (1)

- PROACTIVE (2)

 

[JLG]

96) Personality checkup

Acts 14

- Now in Iconium they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a manner that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks became believers. But the Jews who did not believe stirred up and wrongly influenced the people of the nations against the brothers. So they spent considerable time speaking with boldness by the authority of God, who bore witness to the word of his undeserved kindness by allowing signs and wonders to be performed through them.

- RESOLUTE!

- However, the multitude of the city was divided; some were for the Jews but others for the apostles. When both the people of the nations and the Jews with their rulers made an attempt to treat them insolently and stone them, they were informed of it, and they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding country. There they went on declaring the good news.

- RESOLUTE!

- However, when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they ripped their garments and leaped out into the crowd and cried out: “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are humans having the same infirmities as you have. And we are declaring the good news to you, for you to turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them. In past generations he permitted all the nations to go on in their ways, although he did not leave himself without witness in that he did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and filling your hearts with gladness.” And yet despite saying these things, they barely restrained the crowds from sacrificing to them.

- RESOLUTE!

- But Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and persuaded the crowds, and they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, imagining that he was dead. However, when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and entered the city. On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After declaring the good news to that city and making quite a few disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.

- RESOLUTE!

- There they strengthened the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith and saying: “We must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.” Moreover, they appointed elders for them in each congregation, offering prayer with fasting, and they entrusted them to God, in whom they had become believers.

- RESOLUTE!

- I have no words!

- How is it possible to be so resolute in the name of Jesus and God’s word!

- UNBELIEVABLE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (4)

- HUMBLE (1)

- PROACTIVE (2)

 

[JLG]

97) Personality checkup

Acts 15

- Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you get circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” But after quite a bit of dissension and disputing by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was arranged for Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem regarding this issue.

- RESOLUTE: Paul follows Jesus and his teaching and God’s word but not man’s tradition!

- TEAM PLAYER: he accepts to go to Jerusalem to solve the issue!

- At that the entire group became silent, and they began to listen to Barnabas and Paul relate the many signs and wonders that God had done through them among the nations.

- RESOLUTE: no circumcision for the people of the nations!

- Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole congregation, decided to send chosen men from among them to Antioch, along with Paul and Barnabas; they sent Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, who were leading men among the brothers.

- TEAM PLAYER: they will transmit the resolution of the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem to all the disciples they are going to visit!

- But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and declaring, along with many others, the good news of the word of God.

- RESOLUTE: they keep on doing their normal activities of teaching and speaking about God’s word!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER

- RESOLUTE (5)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (2)
- TEAM PLAYER (1)

 

[JLG]

98) Personality checkup

Acts 16

- Paul expressed the desire for Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

- Paul is CAUTIOUS: he knows perfectly well how it is complicated with the Jews!

- As they traveled on through the cities, they would deliver to them for observance the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem.

- TEAM PLAYER: he keeps transmitting the decrees to the disciples!

- Moreover, they traveled through Phrygia and the country of Galatia, because they were forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in the province of Asia. Further, when they came down to Mysia, they made efforts to go into Bi·thynʹi·a, but the spirit of Jesus did not permit them. So they passed by Mysia and came down to Troas. And during the night a vision appeared to Paul—a Macedonian man was standing there urging him and saying: “Step over into Macedonia and help us.” As soon as he had seen the vision, we tried to go into Macedonia, drawing the conclusion that God had summoned us to declare the good news to them.

- FAITHFUL: Paul does exactly as he told by the holy spirit or Jesus!

- On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate beside a river, where we thought there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. And a woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira and a worshipper of God, was listening, and Jehovah opened her heart wide to pay attention to the things Paul was saying. Now when she and her household got baptized, she urged us: “If you have considered me to be faithful to Jehovah, come and stay at my house.” And she just made us come.

- IMPARTIAL: he is ready to speak to anybody, it makes no difference for him!

- But Paul called out with a loud voice: “Do not hurt yourself, for we are all here!” So he asked for lights and rushed in, and seized with trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them outside and said: “Sirs, what must I do to get saved?” They said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of God to him together with all those in his house. And he took them along in that hour of the night and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire household were baptized without delay. He brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed in God.

- Paul is ALTRUISTIC because he cares for others!

- But Paul said to them: “They flogged us publicly, uncondemned, though we are Romans, and threw us into prison. Are they now throwing us out secretly? No, indeed! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” The constables reported these words to the civil magistrates. These grew fearful when they heard that the men were Romans. So they came and pleaded with them, and after escorting them out, they requested them to depart from the city.

- RESOLUTE: he doesn’t let impressed by others, he keeps going in one direction, he knows who he works for!-

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (6)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (2)
- TEAM PLAYER (2)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (1)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (1)

 

[JLG]

99) Personality checkup

Acts 17

- So according to Paul’s custom he went inside to them, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving by references that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying: “This is the Christ, this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” As a result, some of them became believers and associated themselves with Paul and Silas, and so did a great multitude of the Greeks who worshipped God, along with quite a few of the principal women.

- RESOLUTE!

- Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas to Beroea. On arriving, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them became believers, and so did quite a few of the reputable Greek women as well as some of the men.

- RESOLUTE!

- Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him became irritated on seeing that the city was full of idols. So he began to reason in the synagogue with the Jews and the other people who worshipped God and every day in the marketplace with those who happened to be on hand.

- RESOLUTE!

- So they took hold of him and led him to the Areopagus, saying: “Can we get to know what this new teaching is that you are speaking about? For you are introducing some things that are strange to our ears, and we want to know what these things mean.” In fact, all Athenians and the foreigners staying there would spend their leisure time doing nothing else but telling or listening to something new. Paul now stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said:

- RESOLUTE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (7)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (2)
- TEAM PLAYER (2)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (1)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (1)

 

[JLG]

100) Personality checkup

Acts 18

- After this he departed from Athens and came to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus who had recently come from Italy with Priscilla his wife, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. So he went to them, and because he had the same trade, he stayed at their home and worked with them, for they were tentmakers by trade. He would give a talk in the synagogue every sabbath and would persuade Jews and Greeks.

- RESOLUTE!

- When, now, both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to be intensely occupied with the word, witnessing to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the Christ.

- RESOLUTE!

- But after they kept on opposing him and speaking abusively, he shook out his garments and said to them: “Let your blood be on your own heads. I am clean. From now on I will go to people of the nations.”

- PROACTIVE!

- Moreover, the Lord said to Paul in a vision by night: “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not keep silent, for I am with you and no man will assault you to harm you; for I have many people in this city.” So he stayed there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

- FAITHFUL!

- So they arrived at Ephesus, and he left them there; but he entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

- RESOLUTE!

- After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

- ALTRUISTIC!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC

- RESOLUTE (8)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (3)
- TEAM PLAYER (2)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (2)

 

[JLG]

101) Personality checkup

Acts 19

- In the course of events, while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and said to them: “Did you receive holy spirit when you became believers?” They replied to him: “Why, we have never heard that there is a holy spirit.” So he said: “In what, then, were you baptized?” They said: “In John’s baptism.” Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism in symbol of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the holy spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in foreign languages and prophesying. There were about 12 men in all.

- ALTRUISTIC!

- Entering the synagogue, for three months he spoke with boldness, giving talks and reasoning persuasively about the Kingdom of God.

- RESOLUTE!

- But when some stubbornly refused to believe, speaking injuriously about The Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples from them, giving talks daily in the school auditorium of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all those living in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

- PROACTIVE!

- After these things had taken place, Paul resolved in his spirit that after going through Macedonia and Achaia, he would travel to Jerusalem. He said: “After going there, I must also see Rome.”

- RESOLUTE!

- For his part, Paul was willing to go inside to the people, but the disciples would not permit him.

- RESOLUTE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE

- RESOLUTE (9)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (4)
- TEAM PLAYER (2)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (3)​

 

[JLG]

102) Personality checkup

Acts 20

- When the uproar had subsided, Paul sent for the disciples, and after he had encouraged them and said farewell, he began his journey to Macedonia. After going through those regions and giving many words of encouragement to the ones there

- ALTRUISTIC!

- but because a plot was hatched against him by the Jews when he was about to set sail for Syria, he made up his mind to return through Macedonia.

- PROACTIVE!

- On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to have a meal, Paul began addressing them, as he was going to depart the next day; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

- PROACTIVE!
- Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to spend any time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to get to Jerusalem on the day of the Festival of Pentecost if he possibly could.

- RESOLUTE!

- You well know how I conducted myself among you from the first day I stepped into the province of Asia, slaving for the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials that befell me by the plots of the Jews, while I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house. But I thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

- RESOLUTE!

- And now look! bound in the spirit, I am traveling to Jerusalem, although not knowing what will happen to me there, except that from city to city the holy spirit repeatedly bears witness to me, saying that imprisonment and tribulations are waiting for me. Nevertheless, I do not consider my own life of any importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God.

- RESOLUTE!

- Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves. “Therefore keep awake, and bear in mind that for three years, night and day, I never stopped admonishing each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and to the word of his undeserved kindness, which word can build you up and give you the inheritance among all the sanctified ones.

- ALTRUISTIC!

- I have desired no man’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my own needs and the needs of those with me. I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way, you must assist those who are weak and must keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said: ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’” And when he had said these things, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. Indeed, quite a bit of weeping broke out among them all, and they embraced Paul and affectionately kissed him, for they were especially pained at the word he had spoken that they would not see his face anymore. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

- ALTRUISTIC!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (10)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (5)
- TEAM PLAYER (2)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

103) Personality checkup

Acts 21

- We searched for and found the disciples and remained there for seven days. But through the spirit they repeatedly told Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem. So when our time there was over, we left and started on our way, but they all, together with the women and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said good-bye to one another. Then we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their homes.

- RESOLUTE!

- But after we had stayed there for quite a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And he came to us and took Paul’s belt and tied his own feet and hands and said: “Thus says the holy spirit, ‘The man to whom this belt belongs will be bound like this by the Jews in Jerusalem, and they will give him into the hands of people of the nations.’” Now when we heard this, both we and those who were there began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered: “What are you doing by weeping and trying to weaken my resolve? Rest assured, I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we stopped objecting and said: “Let the will of God take place.”

- RESOLUTE!

- After hearing this, they began to glorify God, but they said to him: “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the Law. But they have heard it rumored about you that you have been teaching all the Jews among the nations an apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to follow the customary practices. What, then, is to be done about it? They are certainly going to hear that you have arrived. So do what we tell you: We have four men who have put themselves under a vow. Take these men with you and cleanse yourself ceremonially together with them and take care of their expenses, so that they may have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the rumors they were told about you, but that you are walking orderly and you are also keeping the Law. As for the believers from among the nations, we have sent them our decision in writing that they should keep away from what is sacrificed to idols as well as from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

- TEAM PLAYER!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER

- RESOLUTE (11)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (5)
- TEAM PLAYER (3)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

104) Personality checkup

Acts 22

- “Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defense to you now.” Well, when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent, and he said:

- RESOLUTE!

- But when they had stretched him out for the whipping, Paul said to the army officer standing there: “Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman who has not been condemned?”

- RESOLUTE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (12)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (5)
- TEAM PLAYER (3)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

105) Personality checkup

Acts 23

- Looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said: “Men, brothers, I have behaved before God with a perfectly clear conscience down to this day.”

- RESOLUTE!

- Now Paul, knowing that the one part was made up of Sadducees but the other of Pharisees, cried out in the Sanhedrin: “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Over the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am being judged.” Because he said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was split.

- PROACTIVE!

However, the son of Paul’s sister heard of the ambush they were planning, and he entered the soldiers’ quarters and reported it to Paul. Paul then called one of the army officers to him and said: “Take this young man to the military commander, for he has something to report to him.”

- PROACTIVE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE!

- RESOLUTE (13)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (6)
- TEAM PLAYER (3)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

106) Personality checkup

Acts 24

- When the governor nodded to Paul to speak, he answered: “Knowing well that this nation has had you as judge for many years, I readily speak in my own defense.

- RESOLUTE!

- Some days later Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and listened to him speak about the belief in Christ Jesus. But as Paul talked about righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened…

- RESOLUTE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (14)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (6)
- TEAM PLAYER (3)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

107) Personality checkup

Acts 25

- But Paul said in defense: “Neither against the Law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I committed any sin.”

- RESOLUTE!

- But Paul said: “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, of which you are also becoming well-aware. If I am really a wrongdoer and have committed anything deserving of death, I do not beg off from dying; but if there is no substance to the accusations these men have made against me, no man has the right to hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to Caesar!”

- RESOLUTE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (15)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (6)
- TEAM PLAYER (3)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

108) Personality checkup

Acts 26

- Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to say in his defense: “Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself happy that it is before you I am to make my defense this day, especially because you are an expert on all the customs as well as the controversies among the Jews. Therefore, I beg you to hear me patiently.

- RESOLUTE!

- Now as Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice: “You are going out of your mind, Paul! Great learning is driving you out of your mind!” But Paul said: “I am not going out of my mind, Your Excellency Festus, but I am speaking words of truth and of a sound mind. For a fact, the king to whom I am speaking so freely well knows about these things; I am convinced that not one of these things escapes his notice, for none of this has been done in a corner.

- RESOLUTE!

- At this Paul said: “I wish to God that whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who hear me today would become men such as I am, with the exception of these prison bonds.”

- RESOLUTE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (16)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (6)
- TEAM PLAYER (3)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

109) Personality checkup

Acts 27

- A considerable time had passed and by now it was hazardous to navigate, because even the fast of Atonement Day was already over, so Paul made a recommendation to them: “Men, I can see that this voyage is going to result in damage and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives.”

- TEAM PLAYER!

- After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up in their midst and said: “Men, you certainly should have taken my advice and not have put out to sea from Crete and as a result suffered this damage and loss. Still, I now urge you to take courage, for not one of you will be lost, only the ship will. This night an angel of the God to whom I belong and to whom I render sacred service stood by me and said: ‘Have no fear, Paul. You must stand before Caesar, and look! God has granted to you all those sailing with you.’ So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will be exactly as I was told. However, we must be cast ashore on some island.”

- TEAM PLAYER!

- Paul said to the army officer and the soldiers: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

- TEAM PLAYER!

- Now close to daybreak, Paul encouraged them all to take some food, saying: “Today is the 14th day you have been waiting anxiously, and you have gone without taking any food at all. So I encourage you to eat some food; this is in the interests of your safety, for not a hair of the head of any one of you will perish.” After he said this, he took bread, gave thanks to God before them all, broke it, and started eating.

- TEAM PLAYER!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / TEAM PLAYER

- RESOLUTE (16)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (6)
- TEAM PLAYER (4)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (4)

 

[JLG]

110) Personality checkup

Acts 28

- It so happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed sick with fever and dysentery, and Paul went in to him and prayed, laid his hands on him, and healed him. After this occurred, the rest of the people on the island who were sick also began to come to him and be cured. They also honored us with many gifts, and when we were setting sail, they loaded us up with whatever we needed.

- ALTRUISTIC!

- However, three days later he called together the principal men of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them: “Men, brothers, although I had done nothing contrary to the people or the customs of our forefathers,g I was handed over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

- RESOLUTE!

-They now arranged for a day to meet with him, and they came in even greater numbers to him in his lodging place. And from morning to evening, he explained the matter to them by bearing thorough witness concerning the Kingdom of God, to persuade them about Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Some began to believe the things he said; others would not believe.

- RESOLUTE!

- So he remained there for an entire two years in his own rented house, and he would kindly receive all those who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God to them and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with the greatest freeness of speech, without hindrance.

- RESOLUTE!

- RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and HUMBLE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / CAUTIOUS and TEAM PLAYER and FAITHFUL and IMPARTIAL and ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE and FAITHFUL and ALTRUISTIC / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / ALTRUISTIC and PROACTIVE and RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and TEAM PLAYER / RESOLUTE /RESOLUTE and PROACTIVE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / RESOLUTE / TEAM PLAYER / ALTRUISTIC and RESOLUTE

- RESOLUTE (17)
- HUMBLE (1)
- PROACTIVE (6)
- TEAM PLAYER (4)
- CAUTIOUS (1)
- FAITHFUL (2)
- IMPARTIAL (1)
- ALTRUISTIC (5)

 

[JLG]

111) Personality checkup

- The results of the personality checkup shows how Jesus was right in choosing Paul!

- It seems to be that Paul was the best man to work for Jesus and go for the people of the nations!

- He is so resolute, so proactive and altruistic!

- So he chose a Jew because it was the only possibility at the time!

- And he chose a Pharisee because he would have a good knowledge of the Law!

- And he did not look for a disciple!

- But for a man who was sincere yet walking in the wrong way!

- For many people, it seems strange!

- But once again there is a difference when you try to see with God’s eyes rather than man’s eyes!

- And as men, we are limited and it is difficult to rise to a higher level!

- That’s why we need to read and study and exchange and think about the Bible!

 

[JLG]

112)


Where does it come from?
How does it grow?

Chapter 8

- This chapter starts by this sentence:

“Saul, for his part, approved of his murder.”

- Saul was a Pharisee and thus was ready to kill religious opponents according to his religion!

- Through the Gospels and Acts, Jewish religious leaders showed they were ready to kill religious opponents!

- Thus we can call them religious extremists!

- We can also call them religious terrorists because they were ready to achieve their ideological goal through violence, assassinations and spreading fear in society through various means!

 

[JLG]

113)


Where does it come from?
How does it grow?

Chapter 8

- Saul, though, began to ravage the congregation. He would invade one house after another, dragging out both men and women and turning them over to prison.

- Yes, religious extremists!

- Yes, religious terrorists!

- And in fact, it has been so for so long in human history!

- And always in the name of God!

- And it still happens in some parts of the world!

- And Saul thought he was doing the right thing!

- And he was sincere!

- Of course, it has always been a mixture between religion and politics!

- To defend the interests of a minority!

- To defend their power on others!

 

[JLG]

114)


Where does it come from?
How does it grow?

Chapter 9

- And the Chapter 9 starts like Chapter 8:

- But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women.

- It was so different from Jesus’ message!

- Yet, Jesus chose him!

- Then he appeared to Saul and put him on the right track!

- And Jesus spoke about him as a “chosen vessel”!

- To bear his name to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel!

- “For I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name.”