One by One

Day 183: Acts 21:18-36

“On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.” - Acts 21:18-19 ESV

As he promised, Paul finds his way to Jerusalem. The experience starts with a strong report of what God had been doing among the nations (Gentiles). This positive report will be interrupted by a concern for the "zealous for the Law" Christians in the city. Things won't end well.

Until then, let's focus on the language Paul uses to describe what was happening among the non-Israelites.

First of all, he itemizes what God had done (one by one). Each story mattered because they represented individuals that Jesus deeply loved. The church is comprised of many individual souls with stories.

Second, it wasn't Paul's ministry that was proprietary. We won't be able to do things exactly the way he did throughout the first-century Mediterranean world, but we do worship the same God that worked through their efforts. This means we can be assured that a hopeful movement is still possible in Jesus' name today.

Do you have at least one person you're actively praying for to receive Christ as their Savior? If so, look for the windows God is providing to share the gospel.

God, help us reach one soul at a time, and please do what only You can do (as You have done) in our point of history. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
"It was a noble account to render. Since he had saluted the Church (ch. 18:22), when he had probably seen James last, he had laboured at Antioch, in Galatia and Phrygia, and had wrought a mighty revolution in Asia. He had consolidated his work in Macedonia and Achaia; he had held his visitation of Gentile elders in Miletus; he had visited Tyre, Ptolemais, and Cæsarea, great Gentile cities, and had seen everywhere astonishing tokens of the grace of God which was with him. And now he pours his tale into the ears of the chief pastor of the mother Church of Jerusalem, and those of the Jewish elders. A tale of wonder indeed!"- Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). Acts of the Apostles (Vol. 2, pp. 172–173)