Come, Follow Me" July 29–August 4: "A Minister and a Witness

This week’s readings: Acts 22–28

Don’t forget to record your impressions and read the ideas outlined in the new Come, Follow Me manuals on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

This scriptural insight comes from Verse by Verse: Volume 2 by Andrew C. Skinner and D. Kelly Ogden.

In Acts 23:3, the “whited wall” epithet refers to the custom of whitewashing a wall to hide dirt and stains. Compare Jesus’ reference to “whited sepulchres” (Matthew 23:27). Both images depict hypocrisy, and indeed Paul considered any Jewish leader a hypocrite who would order someone to be physically abused contrary to Mosaic law.

These ideas and topics are compiled from Come, Follow Me and have been adapted for specific situations. Check out the manuals online for more ideas, or come up with your own as you study!

For couples: 

Have you and your spouse ever shared with each other how you gained your testimonies? While studying the account of Paul’s path to conversion and how he developed his testimony this week, you might consider sharing with each other your own path to conversion and how you gained a specific part of your testimony. This can be a great way to build your relationship and bring the spirit into your marriage.

For singles: 

The apostle Paul bears powerful testimony in Acts 22 and 26. While you are reading his witnesses, you may want to begin preparing for fast Sunday this week by reflecting on your own testimony. Perhaps you can even write your testimony down so that you can share it in sacrament meeting.

For families with young children:

In this week’s readings, there are several stories of times that the Savior visited and protected Paul. As you read these stories as a family, you might consider having your children draw pictures or act out the stories. Then, you can talk about how the Lord can protect us and have family members write down and/or share a time when they were scared or in danger and were comforted or protected. This might be a good opportunity to reemphasize the role of the Holy Ghost in our lives and remind your family how much our Heavenly Father loves and watches over us each individually.

For families with teens: 

One thing your family may encounter this week as you read is multiple accounts of Paul’s conversion. Each account contains different details, even though the experience is the same. You might consider discussing this seeming inconsistency with your children and talking about why he might have used different details when telling his story to different audiences. You could even have your family members pick a story from their life and then ask them to tell it as if they were in different settings, such as with family, at school, or at church. The Gospel Topics page “First Vision Accounts,” which addresses the differences between Joseph Smith’s First Vision accounts, may also be a good resource for your discussion.

Stay in the loop on Come, Follow Me discussions and insights throughout the week by following the Brightly Beams Instagram account, or check out this week's related Come, Follow Me FHE lesson: Turning from Darkness to Light.

Lead image from churchofjesuschrist.org.