Universal Utterings
for May 23, 2026
A Godcast
UniversalUtterings.Com
05-23-2026 Acts 28 V1631 He Received All Who Came To Him
The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 28 Verse 16 thru 31
16 When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. 17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. 18 After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. 20 This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.” 21 They answered him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor has any of the brothers arrived with a damaging report or rumor about you. 22 But we should like to hear you present your views, for we know that this sect is denounced everywhere.” 23 So they arranged a day with him and came to his lodgings in great numbers. From early morning until evening, he expounded his position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he had said, while others did not believe. 25 Without reaching any agreement among themselves they began to leave; then Paul made one final statement. “Well did the holy Spirit speak to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, saying: 26 ‘Go to this people and say: You shall indeed hear but not understand. You shall indeed look but never see. 27 Gross is the heart of this people; they will not hear with their ears; they have closed their eyes, so they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.’ 28 Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” 29 30 He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, 31 and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Acts 28:16-31, we find the Apostle Paul arriving in Rome, marking a pivotal moment in his mission to spread the Gospel. Paul, under house arrest, speaks boldly about the kingdom of God, sharing the message of Jesus Christ with all who come to visit him. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of our calling as believers to bear witness to the transformative power of Christ’s salvation.
When we surrender to Christ as our Savior, we are not only accepting His grace and mercy but are also entrusted with the important task of sharing this good news with others. Just as Paul fearlessly proclaimed the Kingdom of God in the heart of the Roman Empire, we too are called to bring the message of salvation to our communities, workplaces, and beyond. This is not merely a suggestion but a profound responsibility that stems from our faith.
Eternal life is a gift available to all who believe in Jesus. In John 3:16, we learn that God sent His Son not to condemn the world, but to save it. By accepting Christ, we step into a new life filled with purpose, hope, and the promise of eternity. However, this acceptance comes with the duty to be witnesses—sharing our testimonies of His goodness and the truth of the Gospel.
As we reflect on Acts 28:16-31, let us remember that proclaiming the Kingdom of God is essential to our identity as Christians. May we boldly step into the role of ambassadors for Christ, knowing that our words and actions can lead others to the eternal life found only in Him. Amen.
Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.
I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20
05-23-2026 Acts 28 V1631
**Paul Received All Who Came To Him**
In the heart of Rome, where the shadows blend,
A tale of faith and purpose ascend,
The chains of the past, a story unsealed,
As Paul, prisoner bold, with courage wield.
Under the watch of a soldier’s keen eye,
He spoke of the hope that would never die,
For three days he gathered the hearts and the minds,
In the gathering dusk, the truth he finds.
He shared of the promise, the grace that unfolds,
Of Israel’s whispers, of prophecies told,
The kingdom’s good news, like a river did flow,
In the face of rejection, his fervor would grow.
To the Jews who had gathered, he opened the scrolls,
With passion and insight, he touched their souls,
But division arose, some chose to believe,
While others, in darkness, would stubbornly cleave.
“Blind eyes and hard hearts,” he spoke with dismay,
“A prophecy lived, here and now, in this day,”
Yet still he proclaimed through the trials and strife,
The hope of salvation, eternal life.
For two years in Rome, Paul’s mission would thrive,
In a house that was rented, the Gospel alive,
With courage unwavering, he preached without end,
To all who would listen, for all to attend.
No chains could contain the Spirit’s swift flight,
As he bore witness through day and through night,
The whispers of Jesus, like fire in the night,
In the heart of the empire, his witness burned bright.
So let us take heed from this story of old,
Of faith unyielding, of courage, of bold,
For even in darkness, in trials we face,
The light of the Gospel shines forth with grace. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
May 23, 2026 @ 04:59 AM EST
® Universal Utterings ® is brought to you by;
**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using GodFirstforJesus@gmail.com, or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**
Leave a Reply