Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 25, Acts 14

DateVersionReading Plan
December 29, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

1 Chronicles 25

Observation & Interpretation

1 Chron. 25:1-31 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), the influential European composer and mustical director at the prestigious St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, for twenty-seven years, said of this chapter that it was the foundation of all God-pleasing church music. Music, along with other aspects of temple service was established by God himself (1 Chron. 28:21) to proclaim his Word, with him being graciously present (2 Chron. 5:13-14). (ESVEC – Response)

Acts 14

Observation & Interpretation

Acts 14:1 – Paul and Barnabas spoke in a Jewish synagogue at Iconium in such a way that a great number of both Jew and Gentile believed.

  • Their message was such that it was effective in reaching both Jew and Gentile.
  • The Spirit of God accompanied the word with such power that a great number of Jews and Gentile proselytes accepted the Lord Jesus. (BBC)
  • The Greeks were likely God-fearers (10:2). (CSB Notes)

Acts 14:9 – Paul looked intently at the man crippled from birth and saw that he had faith to be made well.

  • Paul somehow realized that this man had faith to be healed. Although we are not told how Paul knew this, we do believe that a true evangelist is given the ability to discern the state of souls with whom he deals. He is able to tell whether they are only mildly curious, or whether they are in actual soul trouble because of conviction of sin. (BBC)

Acts 14:18 – The people at Lystra were scarcely restrained even with the words Paul and Barnabas were speaking against their offering sacrifices to the two.

  • The people very much inclined to idol worship.
  • The message had its desired result. The people reluctantly desisted from their intention of sacrificing to these servants of the Lord. (BBC)

Acts 13:1-15:35 – We must be reasonable and understand that contextualization need not mean the compromise or even the blurring of the gospel. Contextualization, properly applied, has more to do with the ones bringing the gospel and how they go about it. It is also about carefully considering how to remove unnecessary obstacles in the cause of the gospel. The key is to do so without losing the gospel message itself. (ESVEC – Response)

  • Anxiety over evangelistic fruit can be a sign of unbelief in the power of God or of forgetting that God does everything according to his will and in his time. Whether conversion is immediate or years in the making, it is God’s work from start to finish. Our only concern is to be fruitful with the time, gifts, and opportunities he gives us. (ESVEC – Response)

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