Author: Al Gary

(This is being posted early since I am traveling this week). (Acts 18:1-28) I am inspired by the teamwork demonstrated in Luke’s account of Paul’s ministry alongside his associates, Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They had been forced out of Rome because of the persecution of the Jews. They lived and worked with Paul as…

(Acts 17:16-33) Paul was alone in Athens, so let’s be his companions, following along and observing (learning from) the activities of this amazing man of God. He was waiting on Silas and Timothy but waiting for Paul never seemed to indicate inactivity. He observed some things that “provoked his spirit within him.” Have you ever…

(Acts 17:1-15, NKJV) We join the second missionary journey at Thessalonica and Berea. An event happened in each of these cities that speaks to the power of the gospel. Paul’s message at Thessalonica: “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” As a result, “Some of them were persuaded, and a great multitude…

I am writing a third devotional from Acts 16. Today we will look at the question of freedom. Freedom is one of the key words that describes America, but many who live in this land of freedom are not truly free. We will look at three types of slavery (bondage), physical, spiritual, and emotional. We…

(Acts 16:11-40) The second half of Acts 16 tells two stories. Paul and his missionary team, upon learning there was a place of prayer by the river, went there and met Lydia, a wealthy merchant, and those praying with her. After hearing Paul, Lydia believed and was baptized, along with those in her house, and…

(Acts 16:1-10; 19:1-10) We will look at Acts 16 in two separate devotionals. It is a wonderful account of church planting, showing both the rewards and sacrifices that accompany a new work for Christ. Paul had a strong desire to open new work, but he needed direction. Luke wrote that Paul, accompanied by Silas and…

(Acts 14, NIV) The activities of Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey demonstrate some of the qualities a missionary will need. Effective speech: “They spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed” (v. 1). This is not necessarily being an expert public speaker. Missionaries speak effectively when they know…

“Ten Questions in the Resurrection Story” [1] “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16:3). This question represents the inadequacy of our human response to life’s problems when God is waiting to give us His solutions! [2] The angel asked the women: “Why do you seek the…

(A devotional for Palm Sunday) We will take a break from the book of Acts for Palm Sunday and Easter. This devotional will look only at events in the book of John, giving attention to some events that revealed the kind of Messiah Jesus came to be. The first event we note is Palm Sunday…

(Acts 13:13-52) We read Paul’s first recorded sermon, delivered at Pisidian Antioch. God gave Paul some insight concerning King David. He quotes God as saying, “I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will” (13:22). Why did God reveal to Paul that David was a…