May 23, 2009

Acts 18:9-18

9One night, in a vision, the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent, 10for many people in this city are mine. I am with you, so no one will harm you.” 11So Paul stayed a year and a half in that place, teaching the word of God among them.
12When Gallio was governor of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the court. And they accused him, 13“This man tries to persuade us to worship God in ways that are against the Law.”
14Paul was about to speak in his own defense when Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of a misdeed or vicious crime, I would have to consider your complaint. 15But since this is a quarrel about teachings and divine names that are proper to your own law, see to it yourselves: I refuse to judge such matters.” 16And he sent them out of the court.
17Then the people seized Sosthenes, a leading man of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio paid no attention to it.
18Paul stayed on with the disciples in Corinth for many days; he then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria. And as he was no longer under a vow he had taken, he shaved his head before sailing from Cenchreae.

Commentaries: A vision: there are not many in this book. Perhaps Paul was wondering whether it would not be better for him to retire for a time as he had already done and as Jesus had advised in case of persecution (Mt 10:23). The devil increases the opposition when someone sets foot on his field: in this center of corruption, grace would triumph.


Psalms 47:2-10

2Clap your hands, all you peoples;
acclaim God with shouts of joy.
3For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared;
he is a great king all over the earth.
4He brings peoples under our dominion
and puts nations under our feet.
5He chose our inheritance for us –
the pride of Jacob whom he loves!
6God ascends amid joyful shouts,
the Lord amid trumpet blasts.
7Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
8God is king of all the earth;
sing to him a hymn of praise.
9For God now rules over the nations,
God reigns from his holy throne.
10The leaders of the nations rally together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For in his hands are the great of the earth,
God reigns far above.



Jn 16:23-28

23When that day comes you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my Name, he will give you. 24So far you have not asked in my Name; ask and receive that your joy may be full.
25I taught you all this in veiled language, but the time is coming when I shall no longer speak in veiled language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.
26When that day comes, you will ask in my Name and it will not be for me to ask the Father for you, 27for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and you believe that I came from the Father. 28As I came from the Father and have come into the world, so I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”