JOIN THE JOURNEY JR.
Families Abiding in Jesus together
With shorter reading assignments and kid-specific focus areas, Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents disciple their kids and engage with Scripture in the best ways for their age.
This month's memory verse
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
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And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
Acts of the Apostles 23
1Gazing intently at the high council,* Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”
2Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. 3But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite!* What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
4Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’*”
6Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”
7This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—8for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. 9So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him.” 10As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.
11That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”
Can you think of a time when you did a presentation at school or spoke in front of your class? What emotions were you feeling beforehand? A lot of you were probably nervous and wanted to do a good job.
Now imagine how Paul must have felt in Acts 22 and 23, speaking boldly about God and Jesus before people who did not agree with him. What do you think Paul felt at that moment?
We followed Paul’s journey to Jerusalem throughout Acts, and now the moment is finally here where he stands before the council and shares how Jesus saved him (Acts 22:3-11). The council was made up of two groups of people, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Both were Jewish leaders who had differing views on Jesus's resurrection, but they both did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.
Take a minute to research who the Sadducees and the Pharisees were and why we see them throughout the New Testament. Also, as you read chapter 23 today and see the aftermath of Paul speaking before the council, think about where you see God showing up for Paul.
Before you pray, discuss the key verse for today (Acts 23:1) and why it would have been important to Paul to live his life before God in good conscience, even in scary moments.
God, thank you that you save us, and that you give us the courage to speak boldly about Jesus. Thank you that as we have followed Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, we have consistently seen your wisdom, protection and grace follow your people. We ask that today you would give us courage, like Paul, to boldly share how you have changed our lives with those around us.