Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me

Good morning. The Jews replied, we have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. That was good. They did not have any preconceived notions about him. Thank goodness they did not have cell phones back then. They could judge for themselves based on what he said. But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere. They came back another day, and Paul explained to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. Just like all the places that Paul went, some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. Paul finished his presentation by saying, the Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying, you will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull… Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen. As everywhere else he witnessed, that statement evoked a strong response from the Jews. He stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. And that is the end of the book of Acts. Father thank You that You give us opportunity to witness wherever we are. Help us to be sensitive to those opportunities and to take advantage of them.