July 3

NT -- Acts 21:37-22:16

When Paul says he was a student of Gamaliel, he was quoting very impressive credentials that anyone in Palestine or anyone who was Jewish would heave a huge gasp of AH!
Gamaliel was the grandson of the Hillel, the foremost scholar of Judaism. Hillel was credited with the creation of the Mishnah and the Talmud, the key documents that are the commentaries on the Torah.
Acts mentions Gamaliel twice -- once in reference to letting Peter go on as he was preaching in the Temple and this reference to his student Paul.
Regardless, Gamaliel was listed as the head of the Sandhedrin Council and thus sat over all the Jewish scholarship in Jerusalem. For Paul to claim that he 'sat at the feet of Gamaliel as a student" was tantamount to saying he was an incredible scholar since Gamaliel would have taught only the best of the best.
To leave such an exalted position to become an itenerant preacher was unthinkable.
Yet Paul did it.
What am I willing to sacrifice?

Check out this video.

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Psalm 1 OT -- 2nd Kings 22:3-23:30
Does psalm 1 countradict 2nd Kings reading today? David mentions the law of the Lord yet 2nd Kings said no one had celebrated the Passover since the days of the Judges? And how can the king be accountable to the Law if he doesn't even know the Law exists and what it said?
And why,if Josiah is such an awesome dude, are the Children of the Israel being punished for Manasseh who is dead?
I am not buying.

But I do love psalm 1. Love the list:
1. doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked
2. stand in the way of sinners
3. sit in the seat of mockers

but,
delights in the Law of the Lord.

Blessings on your readings.