Justin Houtz

Leviticus 25, Acts 26

DateVersionReading Plan
April 25, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Leviticus 25

Observation

The chapter recounts what Moses was given by the LORD as instruction on Mount Sinai to speak to the people. The LORD told Moses to tell the people that the land they were to possess was to have a Sabbath year of rest. In this year, no fields were to be sown nor vineyards pruned. They were also to count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that it gave them forty nine years and fiftieth year would be a Sabbath, the Year of Jubilee. “It began on the Day of Atonement following seven sabbatic-year cycles (forty-nine years). Slaves were to be set free, the land was to lie fallow, and was to revert to its original owner.” (BBC)

Moses was also given commands regarding land to be sold. Selling land was permissible but not permanently because God is ultimately the Owner. “There were three ways in which land could be “redeemed” (revert to its original Jewish owner): The nearest relative could buy it back for the seller (v. 25); the seller (original owner), if he regained financial solvency, could redeem it, paying the purchaser for the years remaining until the Year of Jubilee (vv. 26, 27); otherwise, the land automatically reverted to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee (v. 28).” (BBC) Instruction is also given around houses in a walled city and redemption parameters around the cities of the Levites (Lev. 25:29-34).

The focus then narrows and becomes more personal, speaking of how to treat poor brothers among them. They were to be treated fairly and with compassion. The topic servanthood is also covered and that “If a Jew sold himself to a Gentile who happened to be living in the land, the Jew could always be bought back and set free. The redemption price was determined by the number of years remaining until the Year of Jubilee. The relative redeeming the Jew could use him as a hired servant until the Jubilee. If no relative redeemed him, then he automatically went free in the Year of Jubilee.” (BBC)

The final verse is somewhat of a capstone to the chapter, giving the people the reason for why they were to treat the land and servants as they were: the Israelites were God’s servants whom He had brought out of the land of Egypt. He is the Lord their God. (Lev. 25:55).

Application

The Levitical law given to the people regarding management of land and slaves is helpful for us to see how we are to be good stewards of that which the Lord has graciously provided. We are His servants—representatives of the Most High God—and our conduct should reflect a disposition of service in all that we do. Only from a position of full surrender to God and His supreme sovereignty can we view this rightly, living and acting in ways that honor our Lord and bless others.

Acts 26

Observation

Paul made his defense in the presence of King Agrippa, recounting his life as Pharisee who was convinced to oppose the name of Jesus, his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, appointment by Jesus to be as a servant and witness to the things he had seen and would yet be revealed to him and that the faithful obedience to his commission was the reason why he was being persecuted by the Jews (Acts 26:1-23). Agrippa responded that Paul was out of his mind, but Paul confirmed with Agrippa that he knew and believed the prophets (Acts 26:25-27). Agrippa then asked Paul whether in such a short time he would persuade the king to become a Christian (Acts 26:28). The BBC provides some clarity on Agrippa’s remark:

…there is considerable disagreement as to exactly what Agrippa meant. Those who follow the King James tradition feel that the king had actually been brought to the threshold of decision for Christ. They feel that Paul’s answer in verse 29 substantiates this. Others think that Agrippa was using irony, asking Paul, as it were, “Do you think that with a little persuasion you can make me a Christian?” In other words, he was evading the pressure of the apostle’s words with a joke.

The king then arose, along with the governor and Bernice, and after they had withdrawn, said to each other that Paul had done nothing deserving of death or imprisonment. Agrippa said to Festus that Paul could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar (Acts 26:32).

Application

The BBC points to something important in Paul’s interaction with Agrippa:

We naturally wonder why the appeal to Caesar could not be cancelled. Whether or not such an appeal was unalterable, we do know that it was God’s purpose that the apostle to the Gentiles should go to Rome for trial before the Emperor (23:11), and there find the fulfillment of his desire to be made conformable to the death of his Lord.

It was the Lord’s doing to orchestrate Paul’s ministry so that he would stand and give testimony to Agrippa regarding his conversion and appointment by Jesus to be a witness in opening the eyes of both Jew and Gentile to the gospel. Moreover, it was within the context of hardship and persecution by the Jews that Paul was able to speak thus to the king. As we read of this, we should realize that the Lord is purposeful in placing us within difficult circumstances as it opens opportunities for transformative gospel proclamation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, how amazing are You to bestow to Your children lands and relationships of which we can steward. Father, help us by Your Spirit to do this responsibly, walking in obedience and in virtuous motive to glorify You. Father, help me to see how I can be a herald of Your gospel everywhere You would have me to go.

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