The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 25:11, “…I appeal to Caesar.”

Were you ever in a situation that seemed hopeless whatever

you said or did? This was where the Apostle Paul found himself,

as he stood before Festus. It is difficult not to second-guess the

Apostle Paul; but we were not there, nor are we knowledgeable

in either Jewish or Roman law. Remember that Paul was in

Caesarea because the Jews were set to kill him. The Roman

official delivered him from the would-be assassins by taking

him from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Maybe Paul had received

word that they were again planning to kill him if he returned

to Jerusalem. They were, you know (Acts 25:3).

In any event, Paul, as a Roman citizen, possessed some

powerful rights. One was his right to appeal directly to Caesar.

It was indeed a risk. Caesar (Nero) was the equivalent to our

Supreme Court, but he also had the power of execution. Paul

was absolutely confident that he had broken no law, so he

trusted what the LORD allowed him to do and appealed to

Caesar, the highest human authority in the Roman world.

It is not wrong for us to go to court in our own defense. But

courts are not always right in their judgments. Thus, our

only ultimate authority in in Jesus Christ. He alone is our

defense attorney (1 John 2:1). Trust always in Him!

Our love and prayers follow you always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 23:16-18, “But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush,

and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.

17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said,

‘Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.’

18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said,

‘Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you

since he has something to tell you.’”

I wish we had all had time to read the whole passage (vv. 11-22).

Ah, he’s just a kid! What does he know? That’s a typical reaction of an

unintelligent adult with respect to a youth who knows more than he does.

David was fleeing from Absalom (2 Sam. 2), everything seemed set,

“But a lad did see them and told Absalom” (2 Sam 17:18). The people

were hungry and there was no food, when Andrew said, “There is a lad

here with five barley loaves and two small fish” (John 6:8-9). Who said

kids aren’t important?

In this passage we learn 1) that Paul had a sister, and 2) that his sister

had a son. What on Earth was that boy doing in the area where Paul

was being held? We’re not told, but I can tell you that in Israel and the

Middle East, KIDS ARE EVERYWHERE! How old the boy was, we can

only guess. The Greek word ????????? paidarion means a “little boy,”

possibly six to eight years old. Verse 19 of Acts 23 tells us that the “chief

captain took him by the hand” as they went to the chief captain.

All of that tells us that age is not the basic qualifier. In each of the cases

I’ve cited above, a young boy knew something or had something that

adults neither knew nor had. Just think about it. What do you know or

possess that your parents (or grandparents!) do not know or possess?

But there’s one more important factor: each of the youngsters cited

above, sharee what they knew or possessed for the good of everyone.

You are not exempt! Consider how the LORD wants to use you today,

when He takes you by the hand.

Love and prayers always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 23:1-3, “And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, ‘Brethren,

I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.’

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike

him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, ‘God is going to strike you, you

whitewashed wall! And do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation

of the Law order me to be struck?’”

Wow! Sometimes those who are in authority need to be reminded of the law!

What Paul said seem perfectly in order. But the Sanhedrin’s high priest didn’t

like it and ordered Paul to be struck on the mouth. Paul focused on the high

priest when he said, “God is going to strike you.” Then he called the high priest

a “whitewashed wall,” ( ?????? koniao, meaning “on who was plastered over”).

In a way, that expression strikes me as funny. It reminds me of our Robby,

who said, “Ah, that guy don’t even brush his teeth.” But Paul was serious.

The high priest wore the garments and insignia of the one in charge, but he

was violating the very Law he was charged with enforcing! Such happens

today as well. Sometimes pastors violate the Scriptures by being immoral.

Sometimes pastors violate the theology of Scripture. Their position says

they are in charge; their actions say they are merely “plastered over.” They

are not on the inside what they appear and pretend to be. Should we

call them out when they do wrong? Yes, but with care that what we are

saying is for the support of the Gospel and not merely to show that we

are right. Instead of just condemning them, we need to pull them aside

and carefully instruct them, as Priscilla and Aquila did to Apollos (Acts 18:26).

What they do then is between them and the LORD. He will handle it all.

May the LORD lead and bless you all this day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:24, “’…I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself,

so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the

Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.’”

What is your life worth to you? Oh, if you needed hospitalization, you

would undoubtedly seek one. But, what is the measure of the value of

your life really? In war, soldiers are taught to sacrifice themselves to

save the life of a comrade. Many thousands did. To them the cause

for which they fought was of greater value than their lives, although

they had loved ones longing for their safe return. ~ The dedication of

the Apostle Paul to the ministry of our LORD Jesus Christ, was so real,

that his life to him was of no account whatsoever! All of you who are

reading this are Christians. So am I. But do we value others knowing

Christ greater than we value our own comfort and well-being? Missionaries

give up all the comforts we know and live often in crude housing without

plumbing and television and what we call “comforts,” so that those

without Christ might know Him as their LORD and Savior. In the same

way as Paul, they abandon their own lives in the quest of reaching others.

What will you and I do today to reach those who do not know Christ?

We love and pray for you every, single day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 17:19b-20, “’May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

20 “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what

these things mean.’”

While the news informs us of huge persecution of Christians throughout the world,

there are still those who do not know about the Gospel. Some have heard about

it, and want to know more. Nana and I for some time have had communication

with some missionaries on a volcanic island several miles offshore of Papua New

Guinea. Recently, the inhabitants of another island nearby heard there was some

“God talk” being shared on the volcanic island. They wanted to know what it was.

After praying about what they should do, the missionaries went to the island to

see how serious the people were about hearing the Gospel. They were serious!

Knowing that the people were totally ignorant of the Bible, the missionaries shared

some of the Gospel. Almost immediately, 34 accepted Christ and wanted to know

more. They built a shelter, so they could hear more while be out of the sunshine

or the rain. The report we had says that they would awaken the missionaries

early in the morning saying, “Eddie, are you up yet? We want to talk about the

LORD.” As a thirsty man begs for water, these dear people beg for the Gospel.

Meanwhile, here at home, we take for granted the Good News we have of Christ.

Pray for these dear people. And take SERIOUSLY the Good News we have to share!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas