Jean Ann Williams | Author

“For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis [an idol], brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, ‘Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth’” (Acts 19:24, 25 ESV).  Father, even today there are many idols. Some […]

“And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them” (Acts 19:11, 12 ESV).  Father, You created these miracles. You are the one who heals. It […]

“‘In him [God] we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your [Athens] own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring’” (Acts 17:28 ESV). Holy Lord, You are Father of the creation of heaven and earth. We long to bow before You in humble service. Please help us in our […]

“And they [philosophers] took him [Paul] and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, ‘May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean’” (Acts 17:19, 20 ESV). Father, this is such a wonderful example of people seeking […]

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not […]

“And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things [about Paul & Silas]. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go” (Acts 17:8, 9 ESV).  Father, we as Christians can disturb the evils of the world if we but follow the path of […]

“And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of […]

“Now when they [Paul & Silas] had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and […]

“The police reported these words [from Paul] to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen […]

“But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, ‘Let those men go.’ And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, ‘The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.’ But Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and […]