The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 27:11, 31-32, “Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship,

more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers,

‘Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.’ 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat,

and let her fall off.”

Some people do change their minds. When Paul warned that there was going to be disaster

at sea, the centurion, who was guarding him, chose to believe the owner of the ship. Later,

during the storm, some of the sailors pretended they were going to drop forward anchors out

of the ship. They lowered a boat and started to climb in with the hope of saving themselves.

Paul said to the centurion that everyone must stay in the ship or no one would be saved.

This time, the centurion believed Paul and ordered the soldiers on board to cut the ropes

to the small boat, so the sailors could not escape. Paul was really in charge, despite that

he was a prisoner. He knew the LORD’s will and was not afraid to announce it. What do

you suppose changed the centurion’s mind? In the Old Testament, a long-range prophecy

was believed if a short-range prophecy had come true. It is doubtful if the centurion knew

what the Old Testament Jews believed, but the principle was working in his life. Yes, people

do change their minds. That’s why we should never give up on them. Oh, there are times

when we’ve said all we know to say and need to just back off; but, we need to keep praying.

We have no idea how the LORD is working on their minds and in their lives. I knew a man

whose mother prayed for him from the day he was born. Twenty years after she died, a

friend of mine led the man to the LORD! Churchill’s words are appropriate here, “Never

give up! Never. Never. Never.”

We never give up praying for you!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Acts 27:22-25, “’And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss

of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the

angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, “Fear not, Paul; thou must

be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was

told me.”’”

You must read slowly the entire 27th chapter to grasp the terror and emotion

surrounding Paul’s journey to Rome. Paul warned them (v. 10) that there would

be trouble and damage, but who listens to a preacher about ships and the sea?

But, when trouble came and they were tossed about for some two weeks, they

were then all ready to listen to the preacher who knew nothing about the sea.

“Be of good cheer” must have sounded ridiculous to the sailors and passengers.

But when Paul shared with them that God had reminded him that he would be

“brought before Caesar,” they took him a bit more seriously. “Be of good cheer,”

Paul said, “for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

For two weeks, none of them had eaten anything, yet they were battling the

storm. Now, Paul began to eat and so did the others. Food not only nourishes

us, it arouses our spirits. And so it was with them! But how could Paul know

all the things he told them? He had been in constant contact with the LORD!

How can we know what the LORD is doing, unless we are in continual

communication with Him? Prayer does not have to always be on our knees. We

can pray while we writing papers, doing dishes, even while reading the Bible.

The LORD will work with us as He did with Paul. We just have to maintain

Communication! Try it and see what the LORD will do.

We Love you all and pray for you always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

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