Acts 19: A Mighty Work in Ephesus

IN CHAPTER 18 WE STUDIED THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL AND IT SEEMS LIKELY IT LASTED FIVE YEARS.

HE VISITED THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA AND PHRYGIA FROM THE SUMMER OF AD 53 THROUGH THE AUTUMN OF AD 54 (ACTS 18:23).

AND THEN CAME TO EPHESUS.

AFTER ALMOST THREE YEARS IN EPHESUS WE WILL SEE IN CHAPTER 20 THAT HE CROSSED THE AGEAN SEA INTO MACEDONIA AND GREECE, EXHORTING THE CHURCHES AND THEN CAME TO TROAS IN AD 58.

AT TROAS PAUL SAID HE WISHED TO GO TO JERUSALEM  BY THE FEAST OF PENTECOST IN LATE SPRING OF AD 58 (ACTS 20:16).

IN JERUSALEM HIS THIRD JOURNEY ENDED AND HIS TRIP TO ROME BEGAN.

LUKE ENDED CHAPTER 18 DESCRIBING THE MINISTRY OF APOLLOS IN EPHESUS AND THEN NOTES HIS TRIP TO CORINTH.

IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF APOLLOS WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY AQUILA AND PRISCILLA WAS ALSO EVIDENT AMONG THE BELIEVERS IN EPHESUS WHERE HE MINISTERED.

VERSES 1-7 TEACH US THE EFFECT THE GOSPEL HAS ON THOSE WHO ARE SO FAR NOT FULLY LEARNED IN THE FAITH.

THE CITY OF EPHESUS WHERE TURKEY IS NOW, WAS THE HOME OF ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD, THE GREAT TEMPLE OF DIANA, MORE THAN 400 FT LONG AND 239 FT WIDE.

IT WAS A CITY OF ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND RELIGIOUS CENTERS AND IT BECAME A CRUCIAL CENTER OF PAUL’S MINISTRY AND HE STAYED THERE SEVERAL YEARS.

WHEN PAUL ARRIVED WE ARE TOLD HE FOUND CERTAIN DISCIPLES AND HE ASKED THEM IF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS WITHIN THEM SINCE YOU BELIEVED?

THEIR SAD ANSWER WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT EVEN AWARE THERE WAS A HOLY GHOST. THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT PENTECOST.

THE SENDING OF THE SPIRIT IS RECORDED IN ALL FOUR GOSPELS BUT THESE DISCIPLES WERE UNFORTUNATELY LIMITED IN SUCH MATTERS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO A BELIEVER.

THEY TOLD PAUL THEY WERE BAPTIZED UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM, WHICH WAS THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN.

PAUL QUICKLY REPLIED THAT THEY MUST BELIEVE IN THE ONE THAT CAME AFTER JOHN, WHICH IS CHRIST, AND THEN THEY WERE BAPTIZED AGAIN, UNTO JESUS CHRIST, AND PAUL THEN LAID HIS HANDS UPON THEM AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARRIVED ON THEM WHEN THEY SPOKE THEN IN TONGUES & PROPHESIED.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE THREE EXAMPLES OF TONGUE SPEAKING IN ACTS.

1ST WAS AT PENTECOST AFTER PETER’S SERMON.

2ND WAS THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS.

3RD WAS THIS INSTANCE IN EPHESUS, WHICH CONFIRMED GOD’S ACCEPTANCE WHICH NOW SIGNIFIED THEIR REDEMPTION.

WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE INSTANT INDWELLING OF THE SPIRIT WAS NOT YET THE PATTERN OF CONVERSION DURING THE DAYS OF THE APOSTLES. PAUL HIMSELF HAD TO WAIT THREE DAYS FOR ANANIAS TO BRING HIM THE HOLY GHOST.

IN VERSES 8-12 WE SEE THE EFFECT OF THE GOSPEL ON THE UNSAVED.

PAUL NEXT WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE TO PREACH FOR THREE MONTHS, DISPUTING AND PERSUADING THE JEWS OF THE PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST’S SALVATION.

VERSE 9 CLEARLY TEACHES THAT HIS TIME THERE ENDED WHEN IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THOSE THERE WERE HARDENED AGAINST HIS TEACHING AND THEY CONVINCED THE MULTITUDE AGAINST IT AS WELL.

THEY PUBLICLY RIDICULED THE MESSAGE AND SPOKE EVIL OF IT,

DENOUNCING “THE WAY” KNOWN AS THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN JESUS.

PAUL LEFT THESE PEOPLE AND THEN WENT ONWARD INTO THE LOCAL SCHOOL OF TYRANNUS WHICH MET DAILY TO DISCUSS LOCAL MATTERS AND DEBATE MATTERS OF RELIGION.

PAUL CONTINUED ON IN EPHESUS FOR TWO MORE YEARS AND THE GOSPEL MESSAGE WAS SPREAD IN THE CITY DURING HIS TIME THERE, BOTH TO JEW AND GREEK.

VERSE 11 TEACHES THAT GOD DID MIRACLES BY THE HAND OF PAUL DURING THESE DAYS WHICH WERE HEALINGS.

THESE WERE SO POWERFUL THAT EVEN A HANDKERCHIEF OF PAUL THAT WAS ITSELF CARRIED TO THOSE SICK WERE MADE WHOLE.

HERE WAS SEEN PROOF THAT PAUL HAD THE AUTHORITY AND MESSAGE OF GOD’S ENDORSEMENT MUCH LIKE WE SAW IN PETER IN ACTS 5 WHERE EVEN HIS SHADOW PASSING OVER ONE WHO WAS ILL

REMOVED THE ILLNESS.

GOD’S MEN WHO WERE CARRYING GOD’S MESSAGE WERE GRANTED GOD’S POWER TO REINFORCE THE TEACHING OF THESE MESSENGERS.

IN VERSE 13-20 WE ARE SHOWN THE EFFECT OF THE GOSPEL ON THOSE WHO BELIEVED AND WORKED IN DARK POWER OF THE OCCULT.

IN EPHESIANS 6:12 PAUL WARNED ABOUT THESE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD.

THE FORCE OF SPIRITUAL EVIL WAS THE TRUE ENEMY PAUL FACED IN EPHESUS.

FOLLOWING THE REJECTION AND RIDICULE FACED IN THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE, CERTAIN OF THE VAGABOND JEWS, EXORCISTS, TOOK UPON THEMSELVES TO CALL EVIL SPIRITS TO THE BATTLE.

THERE WERE THOSE WHO TRAVELLED ABOUT PRACTICING MAGIC OR DEMON EXORCISM FOR MONEY AND NOW THEY EVEN TRY TO USE THE NAME OF JESUS PREACHED BY PAUL TO INCREASE THEIR POWER.

SOME OF THESE OF EVIL PRACICE WERE THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA, A JEW, WHO WERE GIVEN A POWERFUL ANSWER BY THE DEMON WHO THEY TRIED TO CALL UP IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

THE DEMON SAID, “JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW, BUT WHO ARE YE?” (VERSE 15).

CLEARLY WE HAVE LEARNED BEFORE THAT DEMONS HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL POWER.

WHEN JESUS CAST OUT A DEMON FROM A MAN IN THE SYNOGOGUE AT CAPERNAUM, THE DEMON CRIED OUT:

“I know thee who thou art: the Holy One of God.”     (LUKE 4:34)

THE CURRENT DEMON IS AWARE OF BOTH JESUS AND PAUL BUT HAD NO IDEA WHO THE SONS OF SCEVA ARE.

A PAINFUL LESSON CAME NEXT IN THIS STORY.

THE DEMONS GAVE POWER TO THE MAN POSSESSED WITH ENERGY TO OVERCOME ALL THESE SO-CALLED EXORCISTS AND ACTS 20:16 BRINGS THE REST OF THE STORY:

“And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.”

ALL SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA FLED FROM THE HOUSE WITH THEIR CLOTHING SHREDDED AND BODIES WOUNDED.

GREAT SPIRITUAL RESULTS CAME FROM THIS MOMENT.

VERSE 17 SAYS THIS WAS KNOWN TO ALL JEWS AND GREEKS ALSO DWELLING AT EPHESUS.

FEAR FELL UPON THEM ALL AND THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS WAS MAGNIFIED.

BOOKS OF WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY WERE GATHERED AND BURNED AND THE VALUE OF THEM WAS SAID TO BE 50,000 PIECES OF SILVER.

THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST OVER THOSE OF EVIL AND DARKNESS WAS ASSURED AND NOW KNOWN.

LUKE SAYS IN VERSE 20 THAT “SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD AND PREVAILED”.

VERSES 21-42 TEACH US OF THE EFFECT OF THE GOSPEL ON THOSE WHO WORSHIP IDOLS.

PAUL HAD SET HIS GOAL TO GO BACK THROUGH MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA, ON THEN TO JERUSALEM, AND THEN ON TO ROME.

WE ARE TOLD THAT PAUL WAS PURPOSED IN HIS SPIRIT MEANING HE WAS RESOLVED TO COMPLETE THAT JOURNEY.

AT THIS TIME HE DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WOULD ONLY BE 10 YEARS LATER THAT HE WOULD HEAD TO ROME, AND THAT HE WOULD ARRIVE THERE AS A PRISONER IN CHAINS.

IN CHAPTER 21 WE WILL LEARN THAT EVEN WHEN HE WAS ADVISED BY A SPIRIT LED PROPHECY MADE BY AGABUS NOT TO ARRANGE THIS PLAN, HE WOULD NOT BE SO PERSUADED.

TIMOTHY, WHO HAD NOT BEEN MENTIONED BY LUKE SINCE ACTS 18:5 WAS SENT WITH ERASTUS TO MACEDONIA, LIKELY IN PREPARATION FOR THE ARRIVAL OF PAUL.

VERSES 23-41 RECORD PAUL’S LAST DAYS IN EPHESUS AND AS HAD HAPPENED ELSEWHERE, A RIOT WAS SEEN.

A STIR WAS BEGUN BY A CERTAIN SILVERSMITH NAMED DEMETRIUS WHO MADE SILVER IDOL SHRINE FIGURES FOR THE GODESS DIANA AND SUCH WORK BROUGHT MUCH PROFIT (VERSE 24).

AS PEOPLE IN WHAT WAS KNOWN AS “THE WAY”, MEANING FOLLOWING JESUS, THERE CAME A TURNING AWAY FROM FALSE PAGAN GODS MAKING A LARGE NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE BUSINESS OF THOSE WHO MADE THESE IDOLS.

DEMETRIUS CALLED A MEETING OF ARTISTS AND SAID THAT THIS CHANGE WAS NOT ONLY HURTING BUSINESS BUT ALSO WAS CAUSING THE TEMPLE OF DIANA TO BECOME DESPISED, AND HER MAGNIFICENCE DESTROYED THAT HAD BEEN BEFORE WORSHIPPED.

TEMPERS WERE HEATED OVER THIS MATTER WITH WRATH AS A RESULT.

TWO MEMBERS OF PAUL’S MISSIONARY TEAM, GAIUS AND ARISTARCHUS, WERE SEIZED AND CHALLENGED BY THESE IDOL MAKERS.

THEY ESCAPED UNHARMED AND LATER IN ACTS 20:4 BOTH WERE WITH PAUL AS HE HEADED TOWARD JERUSALEM AND IN ACTS 27:2

ARISTARCHUS WAS ORIGINALLY WITH PAUL AS HE HEADED TOWARD ROME.

THE FAITHFUL BELIEVERS IN EPHESUS STRONGLY CONVINCED PAUL NOT TO APPEAR PERSONALLY IN THE MEETING BUT CHAOS DID RUN WILD IN EPHESUS OVER THIS MATTER.

ALEXANDER, A JEW, CAME FORWARD IN THIS MEETING TO DEFEND BUT HE WAS SHOUTED DOWN BY THE MOB.

THE CITY CLERK SPOKE UP FOR CALM TO BE RESTORED AND SAID THAT NO VISITING PREACHERS COULD OVERCOME DIANA AND THAT BOTH GAIUS AND ARISTARCHUS WERE INNOCENT, SAYING THEY WERE NEITHER ROBBERS NOR BLASPHEMERS.

NEXT HE SAID THERE WERE LEGAL WAYS TO PROCEED WITHIN THE CIVIL COURT AND NO PROCESS OF MOB CHAOS WAS TO BE DONE.

HE ALSO WARNED THAT ROME WOULD TAKE NOTICE IF A RIOT BECAME OUT OF CONTROL AND MAY STEP IN TO RESTORE ORDER FROM ANY DISORDER, THEREBY THREATENING THE CITY.

HE THEN DISMISSED THE ASSEMBLY.

THE ENEMIES OF CHRIST WERE STRONG BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE MESSENGERS OF CHRIST WAS STRONGER AS THE CHURCH CONTINUED IN THE CITY WHICH WAS SO FILLED WITH IDOL WORSHIP.

DISORDER WAS AVOIDED IN THIS MOMENT BUT WE DO SEE IN REVELATION 3:1-7, THE MATTER RISES AGAIN AS JESUS HIMSELF COMMENTS UPON IT.

PAUL WILL LATER WRITE IN 1ST COR 15:32 THAT HE HAD “FOUGHT WITH BEASTS IN EPHESUS” REMINDING CHRISTIANS OF THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE HE EXPERIENCED.

IN 1ST COR 16:9 PAUL WILL WRITE THAT A GREAT DOOR IS OPENED UNTO HIM AND THERE ARE MANY ADVERSARIES.

GOD OPENED THE DOOR AMONG THESE ENEMIES AND PAUL WALKED THROUGH IT TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL.

THE GOSPEL HAD FOUND ROOT IN EPHESUS AND HAD STOOD AGAINST SUPERSTITION, SORCERY, AND FALSE GOD WORSHIP.

THE PREACHING OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED AND RISEN HAD ITS STRONG EFFECT AGAINST A CITY GRIPPED BY CULTS OF ALL KINDS.

THE TREASURE OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST GRANTED TO THE BELIEVERS IN EPHESUS ABIDED IN THEM AS THEY CONTINUED TO FOLLOW WHAT WAS THEN CALLED “THE WAY”.

HERE WAS SPIRITUAL WARFARE OF THE STRONGEST MANNER AND THIS CHURCH BECAME A MIGHTY WORK IN EPHESUS.

PAUL ASKED A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION IN CHAPTER 19 WHICH WAS

“UNTO WHAT THEN WERE YOU BAPTIZED?”

THAT QUESTION IS THE SAME QUESTION WE SHOULD BE ASKING IN OUR DAY.

THE PEOPLE IN EPHESUS DID RECEIVE THE TRUE GOSPEL MESSAGE FROM PAUL ON THE CRUCIFIED JESUS, HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, AND WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD AND THEN JOINED THE TRULY SAVED.

THE MOST CRUCIAL PORTION OF JOHN’S TEACHING HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN THEM WHICH WAS IN LUKE 3:16:

“I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier than I is coming … and he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

TONGUES & PROPHECY ARRIVED UPON THESE AS SURE SIGNS OF ADORATION OF THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY GHOST.

PAUL SPENT THREE YEARS BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS, AND IT BECAME A CHRISTIAN STRONGHOLD.

HE EXPERIENCED AGAIN THOSE HARD OF HEART IN THE SYNAGOGUE AND WITHDREW FROM IT TO BEGIN PREACHING AND TEACHING IN A LOCAL HALL IN THE SCHOOL OF TYRANNUS.

THOSE TO WHOM HE BROUGHT THE WORD WERE SAVED AND THEN THEY THEMSELVES SPREAD THE WORD.

MIRACLES CONTINUED AND THE DEFEAT OF UNCLEAN JEWS WHO TRIED TO MISUSE THE NAME OF JESUS WERE DEFEATED.

PREACHING AND TEACHING IN THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS WILL PRODUCE RESULTS AND HERE IN EPHESUS DID EXACTLY THAT.

THE GOSPEL HAD CAPTURED A CITY WITH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, OVERCOMING CULTS AND FALSE TEACHERS BECAUSE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD COME TO RESIDE IN THESE EARTHEN VESSELS THAT WERE THE NEW BELIEVERS.  

Acts 20: Ephesian Elders are Strengthened

ACTS 19 GAVE US THE SUMMARY OF THE GREAT WORK GOD DID THROUGH PAUL IN THE CITY OF EPHESUS.

THE ENEMY WAS STRONG BUT GOD WAS STRONGER.

THE CHURCH THAT WAS BEGUN IN EPHESUS PROCLAIMED CHRIST IN THAT STRONGLY IDOLATROUS PLACE FOR MANY YEARS.

 PAUL WILL LATER WARN ABOUT CHURCHES BECOMING LAX FROM WITHIN, WHICH JESUS WILL HIMSELF CONFIRM IN REVELATION 3.

AFTER ALMOST THREE YEARS MINISTERING IN EPHESUS, PAUL DEPARTED FROM THE DISCIPLES THERE AND WENT BACK TO MACEDONIA.

HE LEFT A STRONG, BIBLICAL, FUNCTIONING CHURCH IN EPHESUS.

WE SEE IN ACTS 20 PAUL WINDING HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM BY WAY OF AN ENCOURAGEMENT TOUR OF CHURCHES ALONG THE WAY.

HE SPENT THREE MONTHS IN GREECE AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH MACEDONIA, EXHORTING THE BRETHREN.

HE SAILED THEN FROM PHILLIPI TO TROAS AND THEN SAILED ONWARD TO MILETUS WHERE HE MET THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS.

PAUL CHALLENGED THEIR FAITH AND SERVICE  WITH WORDS OF WARNING AND THEN WORDS OF REASSURANCE.

THE CHAPTER CONCLUDES WITH PAUL KNEELING WITH THESE ELDERS AND WISHING THEM FAREWELL, AND THEN HE SAILED TOWARD JERUSALEM.

ACTS 20:1-6 REVEALS THE TIME OF PAUL’S THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY AND SOME OF HIS GREATEST WRITINGS WERE DONE DURING THESE TIMES.

THE SAME LOVE PAUL HAD FOR THE DISCIPLES IN EPHESUS WAS EVIDENT IN THESE VISITS AND HE WROTE 2ND CORINTHIANS IN MACEDONIA, FOCUSING ON THE NEEEDS OF NEW CHRISTIANS.

AFTER SOME REVISITING OTHER CHURCHES ALONG THE WAY, SUCH AS PHILLIPI, THESSALONICA, AND BEREA, PAUL PRESSED ONWARD TO CORINTH.

THERE HE WROTE PERHAPS HIS FINEST WORK OF THEOLOGY, WHICH IS THE BOOK OF ROMANS, HIS MOST COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.

A PLOT AGAINST PAUL’S LIFE BROUGHT A CHANGE FROM SAILING TO JERUSALEM TO GO OVERLAND BACK THROUGH MACEDONIA.

VERSES 4-6 PROVIDE SOME GOLD FOR US SHOWING THE NAMES OF A BAND OF LEADERS AROUND PAUL WHOM HE HAD DISCIPLED.

THE VERSES 7-12 ALLOWS US LUKE’S REPORTING ON ANOTHER EVIDENCE OF THE POWER OF PAUL GIVEN HIM BY THE HOLY GHOST OVER SICKNESS AND DEATH.

A MAN NAMED EUTYCHUS FELL ASLEEP IN A LONG SERMON PREACHED BY PAUL AND FELL THEN OUT OF A WINDOW AND WAS APPARENTLY KILLED IN THE FALL.

THE SAME POWER USED BY THE LORD TO BRING PAUL BACK FROM DEATH AFTER HIS OWN STONING WORKED THROUGH PAUL TO BRING LIFE BACK TO THS MAN AND HE WAS RESTORED.

THE WORD USED IN VERSE 9 IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE WAS “NEKROS” WHICH MEANS DEAD AND THE USE OF THAT WORD BY THE PHYSICIAN LUKE SETTLES THAT THE MAN WHO HAD FALLEN WAS KILLED.

THE SAME THOUGHT RESIDES IN 1ST & 2ND KINGS WHEN BOTH ELIJAH AND ELISHA RESTORED TO LIFE TWO YOUNG MEN IN THE SAME MANNER.

PAUL LEFT WITH THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF JERUSALEM WHICH MEANT SAILING ACROSS THE AGEAN SEA, AND PAUL SENT LUKE  AND THE TEAM ONWARD TO ASSOS AND PAUL HIMSELF WALKED THE 30-40 MILES TO MEET THEM THERE.

WHEN PAUL COMPLETED HIS WALK AND REJOINED THE TEAM THEY ALL TOGETHER SAILED TO MITYLENE (VERSE 14).

PAUL HAD DECIDED TO BYPASS EPHESUS ON HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM FOR PENTECOST BUT BEING WITHIN ONLY 30 MILES AWAY, HE SENT FOR THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS TO COME AND VISIT WHILE HE REMAINED.

THESE MEN WHO CAME TO PAUL WERE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH, LIKELY MEANING THE SINGLE CHURCH PLANTED IN EPHESUS, NOT A GROUP OF SEVERAL CHURCHES.

WHEN THESE MEN CAME TO PAUL, HE REMINDED THEM OF HIS MANNER OF MINISTRY WITH THEM:

“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons.” (v18)

HIS MANNER WITH THEM HAD NEVER CHANGED.  THE WORD USED HERE FOR SEASONS MEANS “PERIODS OF TIME”.

THE SEASONS CAME AND WENT, CIRCUMSTANCES, TRIALS AND PERSECUTIONS VARIED, BUT THE MANNER OF HIS LIFE AND WORKING NEVER CHANGED.

HE WAS BOTH CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT.

PAUL URGED THEM TO RECALL HIS SERVICE AMONG THEM:

“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.” (v19)

PAUL HONORED THE LORD JESUS WITH HUMILITY AND TEARS THROUGH EVERY TYPE OF TRIAL.

ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, HE WAS SUBJECT TO THE CONSTANT DANGER OF JEWISH PLOTS AND THREATS, WHICH INTERRUPTED HIS MINISTRY AND WERE SERIOUSLY MADE AGAINST HIS LIFE.

THE BOOK OF ACTS RECORDS SEVENTEEN INSTANCES OF PLOTS, THREATS, AND PERSECUTIONS AIMED AT PAUL.

YET HE NEVER STOPPED SERVING THE LORD.

HE ALWAYS PRACTICED PSALMS 126:5 WHICH SAYS:

“… they that sow in tears shall reap in joy…”.

NEXT PAUL RECAPPED THE TIMES OF SACRIFICE FOR THEM:

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house.” (v20)

PAUL DID NOT WITHOLD ANYTHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT AND EDIFY THEM.

HE MINISTERED BOTH IN PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES AND IN PRIVATE HOMES.

FINALLY HE MENTIONS AGAIN HIS CONSISTENT TEACHING ALONGSIDE THEM:

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. (v21)

PAUL’S TESTIFYING WAS SOLEMN WITNESSING TO BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES, AND IT WAS CONSTANT.

HE HAD ONE MESSAGE WHICH WAS THE SAME FOR BOTH GROUPS.

REPENTANCE WAS NEGATIVE, TURNING FROM SIN.

FAITH WAS POSITIVE, TURNING TO CHRIST FOR HIS ATONEMENT.

IN VERSES 22-27 PAUL NOW DESCRIBED HIS PRESENT SITUATION:

“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem.” (v22)

HERE PAUL CONFESSES THAT HIS DESIRE TO GO TO JERUSALEM WAS SPIRIT DRIVEN, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS OWN SPIRIT.

THIS INTERESTING FACTOR WAS FIRST MENTIONED WHILE HE WAS STILL AT EPHESUS:

“Paul purposed in the spirit… to go to Jerusalem.” (ACTS 19:21)

HE PLANNED TO GO TO JERUSALEM REGARDLESS OF THE COST AND HERE HE SAYS EXACTLY THAT:

“… not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” (v22-23)

IN ACTS 21 WE WILL SEE THAT OTHERS CLEARLY ADVISE PAUL NOT TO GO TO JERUSALEM BECAUSE DIRE CONSEQUENCES WAIT FOR HIM THERE. (21:4 & 10-14)

THE WARNINGS ULTIMATELY CAME TRUE WHEN PAUL FOUND THAT HIS LONGED FOR TRIP LATER TO ROME WAS IN CHAINS.

PAUL REACTED TO THESE CAUTIONS BY SAYING:

“… but none of these things move me, neither I count my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (v24)

PAUL WAS COMMITTED TO SACRIFICING HIS OWN LIFE IF NEEDBE FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL. JESUS HAD SAID THAT PAUL MUST SUFFER MANY THINGS FOR HIS NAMESAKE WHEN HE CONVERTED PAUL.

PAUL WAS DETERMINED THAT HE WOULD FINISH HIS COURSE WITH “JOY”, VERSE 24, DESCRIBING HIS MINISTRY AS A RACE  TO BE RUN WITHOUT STOPPING SHORT.

WHEN WE STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS, INCLUDING IMPRISONMENTS, BEATINGS, SHIPWRECKS, AND ALL PAUL DID ENDURE, HE CERTAINLY CLAIMED VICTORY IN THIS RACE THAT BECAME HIS LIFE.

IN HIS FINAL WRITTEN WORDS GIVEN US IN 2ND TIMOTHY 4:7 HE SAYS:

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

WHEN PAUL CONCLUDES THIS VERY PERSONAL STORY OF HIS LIFE HE SAYS:

“And now, behold, I know ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.” (v 25)

THIS SAD PREDICTION WAS WHAT PAUL EXPECTED AND AS FAR AS SCRIPTURE TEACHES, WAS ACCURATE, AS HE NEVER SAW THEM AS A GROUP AGAIN.

HE ADDED ONE MORE THOUGHT AT THE END OF HIS STORY MOMENT:

“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.”  (v 26)

PAUL HAD BEEN A FAITHFUL WITNESS FOR CHRIST, NOT MISSING ANY OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL.

HE WAS CLEAR IN HIS REACHING OUTWARD TO THE LOST.

HE CONSIDERED THAT WHEN HE COMMUNICATED THE GOSPEL IN LOVING CONCERN FOR THEIR SOULS, HEARERS BECAME RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW THEY DEALT WITH THE TRUTH GIVEN THEM.

HE SAID THIS CLEARLY TO THOSE WHO REJECTED HIM IN CORINTH:

“… when they opposed and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, your blood be on you own heads. I am clean.”

HE CONFIRMS A PORTION OF THAT MATTER IN VERSE 27:

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”

PAUL HERE REMINDS THAT THOSE WHO PREACH THE WORD ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PREACH THE WHOLE WORD.

HE USED AN INTENTIONAL GROUP OF WORDS IN THESE VERSES TO EXTEND HIS FEEINGS ABOUT WHAT HE HAD DONE:

SHOWED, DECLARED, ANNOUNCED, TAUGHT, INSTRUCTED, TESTIFIED, BORE WITNESS, ALL TO COMMUNICATE HIS FULL EFFORTS TO THE CHURCH AND THESE ELDERS.

IN THE FINAL ELEVEN VERSES OF CHAPTER 20, PAUL WARNS THE ELDERS OF SPIRITUAL DANGER AND SHARED FACTS ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.

HE TELLS THEM TO TAKE HEED THEMSELVES AND OF THE FLOCK THAT THEY LEAD, WHICH THE HOLY GHOST HAD MADE THEM OVERSEERS.

THEY WERE TO CARE FOR THE FLOCK AND FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD. (V28)

JESUS HIMSELF HAD USED SIMILAR WORDS IN HIS RESTORING OF PETER IN JOHN 21 WHEN HE SAID TO PETER THREE TIMES TO “FEED MY SHEEP”.

THE REASON FOR THIS FINAL EFFORT WAS HE EXPLAINED THE CARE NEEDED WAS BECAUSE THE CHURCH OF GOD HAD BEEN PURCHASED WITH THE PERSONAL BLOOD OF CHRIST.

HERE IS HIS VERY UNIQUE TEACHING THAT IS AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS IT WAS THEN.

THE SACRED, SACRIFICIAL BLOOD OF CHRIST NOT ONLY CLEANSES OUR INDIVIDUAL SINS BUT WAS THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR HIS BLOOD BOUGHT CHURCH, AGAINST WHICH HE CAREFULLY SAID NOT EVEN THE GATES OF HELL COULD PREVAIL.

PAUL SUPPLIED A PROPER WARNING IN VERSE 29 THAT AFTER HIS DEPARTURE, OUTSIDE FORCES HE CALLED “GRIEVOUS WOLVES”

WOULD ENTER AND NOT SPARE THE FLOCK.

HE THEN SUPPLIED A SECOND WARNING THAT “… OF YOUR OWN SELVES SHALL MEN ARISE, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS”, WHICH ARE TWISTED AND CONFUSING DOCTRINES TO DRAW AWAY THE FAITHFUL.

JESUS WILL LATER MENTION THE SAME WARNING IN REVELATION  2:6&15 CONCERNING THE NOCOLAITANS WHICH SOUGHT TO REPLACE BIBLE TRUTH WITH DOCTRINES OF MAN.

PAUL SUMMED UP ALL OF THESE HEARTFELT LOVING THOUGHTS AND WARNINGS IN VERSE 31, APPEALING TO THEIR MEMORY OF HIS TEACHING AND CARE OVER HIS THREE YEARS WITH THEM:

“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

WITH LAST WORDS HE GAVE THEM OVER TO GOD.

HE PROCLAIMED IN VERSE 33:

“I have coveted no man’s silver or gold, or apparel.”

PAUL WAS NOT IN THE MINISTRY FOR MONEY. HE PAID HIS OWN WAY GENERALLY BY THE WORK OF HIS OWN HANDS IN TENTMAKING WHICH WAS AT TIMES ALSO ADDED TO BY GIFTING OF SOME CHURCHES WHO REMEMBERED HIM IN LOVE OFFERINGS.

ACTS 20 ENDS DESCRIBING THE MOST EMOTIONAL PARTING IMAGINABLE, WITH PRAYERS, TEARS, HUGS, AND KISSES.

AND WHEN HE HAD THUS SPOKEN, HE KNEELED DOWN, AND PRAYED WITH THEM ALL.

AND THEY ALL WEPT SORE, AND FELL ON PAUL’S NECK, AND KISSED HIM, IN SORROW MOST OF ALL FOR THE WORDS HE SPOKE  THAT THEY SHOULD SEE HIS FACE NO MORE.

THEY ACCOMPANIED HIM TO THE SHIP (V 36-38) AND HE DEPARTED FROM THEM , KNOWING ONLY ETERNITY WOULD REVEAL ALL THE FRUITS OF HIS MINISTRY AMONG THEM, BUT FULLY TRUSTING IT WOULD REVEAL HIS FAITHFULNESS.

Acts 21: Paul Faced Persecution in Jerusalem

OUR LESSON BEGINS WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT RIDICULE AND PERSECUTION ARE BEFORE US WHEN WE FAITHFULLY SERVE THE LORD.

AT THE END OF PAUL’S THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY, HE HAD MADE HIS DECISION TO RETURN TO JERUSALEM, HOPING TO ARRIVE BEFORE PENTECOST.

HE HAD ALREADY TESTIFIED THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD REVEALED THAT CHAINS AND TRIBULATIONS WERE WAITING FOR HIM THERE.

THE PROPHET AGABUS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE CLEAR WHEN HE TOLD PAUL THAT HE WOULD BE BOUND AND TURNED OVER TO THE GENTILES.

LUKE AND OTHERS PLEADED WITH PAUL NOT TO IGNORE THE WARNINGS AND TO RECONSIDER HIS PLANS.

PAUL’S MIND WAS MADE UP AND HE SEEMED READY TO BECOME A MARTYR TO FURTHER SERVE THE LORD IF NECESSARY. THIS THOUGHT WAS ABSTRACT IN THESE HOURS BUT LATER BECAME REALITY FOR THIS CHOSEN VESSEL IN ROME.

AS PAUL MADE HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM, HE WENT BY SEA, STOPPING TO VISIT THE CHURCH AT PTOLEMAIS FOR ONE DAY.

HIS LAST STOP BEFORE HE CONTINUED INLAND WAS IN CAESAREA IN NORTHERN ISRAEL WHICH HAD BEEN CONSTRUCTED BY HEROD THE GREAT AND NAMED AFTER THE ROMAN LEADER, CAESAR AUGUSTUS, AND WAS THEN THE CAPITAL OF ROMAN JUDEA.

IN THAT VISIT PAUL WAS SURELY UNAWARE THAT HE WOULD LATER SPEND TWO YEARS THERE IN PRISON AS LUKE WILL REVEAL IN ACTS 24-26.

THEY VISITED WITH PHILIP THE EVANGELIST AND STAYED THERE TEMPORARILY, WITH PHILIP BEING ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SEVEN DEACONS ORDAINED 25 YEARS BEFORE.

PHILIP IS THE ONLY MAN IN ALL OF SCRIPTURE MENTIONED BY THIS TITLE OF EVANGELIST.

PAUL WILL LATER INSTRUCT TIMOTHY IN 2ND TIMOTHY 4:5 TO DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST BUT HE WAS NOT CALLED BY THIS TITLE.

PHILIP HAD A POWERFUL MINISTRY IN SAMARIA AND HIS CURRENT HOME IN CAESAREA WAS WHERE PETER HAD VISITED CORNELIUS AFTER BEING DIRECTED BY GOD TO GO THERE AND PETER HAD SEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN TO GENTILES IN THAT CITY AS THEY WERE SAVED AND SPOKE IN TONGUES.

PHILIP WAS BLESSED WITH FOUR DAUGHTERS, ALL OF WHOM WERE MENTIONED AS “VIRGINS” AND WERE LATER SPOKEN BY PAUL IN 1ST COR 7 FOR THEIR WORK IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

VERSE 9 STATES THESE DAUGHTERS DID PROPHESY EXACTLY AS JOEL 2:28 FORETOLD.

PETER QUOTED THE SAME VERSE IN ACTS 2:17 IN HIS POWERFUL SERMON.

WHILE PAUL WAS VISITING THE PROPHET AGABUS ARRIVED FROM JUDEA AND HAD MUCH TO SAY TO PAUL CONCERNING HIS NEXT STOP IN JERUSALEM.

AGABUS TOOK PAUL’S PERSON CLOTHING AND BOUND HIMSELF WITH IT REPRESENTING THE LATER BINDING OF PAUL IF HE DID TRAVEL ONWARD TO JERUSALEM.

AGABUS PLEADED AND BEGGED PAUL TO RECONSIDER HIS PLANS AND SEEMED TO HAVE INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIFFICULTY PAUL WOULD FIND IN JESUSALEM.

THIS PROPHET WAS FIRST SEEN BY US IN ACTS 11:28 WHEN HE WAS AT ANTIOCH AND GAVE THE PROPHECY OF DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD DURING THE TIME OF CLAUDIUS CESAR. THERE HE IS NAMED IN THE ONLY OTHER TIME WE MEET HIM.

EARLY CHURCH WRITERS WHO PENNED DOWN COMMENTARIES NAMED HIM AS ONE OF THE 70 SENT OUTWARD BY JESUS IN LUKE 10, WHERE NONE ARE NAMED BUT ALL WERE SEEM TO POSSESS GREAT POWERS.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A MAN OF GOD USED BY HIM TO IMPLEMENT HIS WILL WHILE ONLY HAVING A SMALL MENTION IN HOLY SCRIPTURE BY NAME, MUCH LIKE THE MAN, ANANIAS, USED BY GOD TO BRING THE HOLY GHOST TO PAUL WHILE HE HAD BEEN BLINDED BY THE DIVINE LIGHT OF JESUS.

PAUL WAS STRONGLY DETERMINED AND HE EXPRESSED IN VERSE 13 HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO CHANGE HIS MIND, SAYING HE WAS READY TO DIE IN JERUSALEM IF GOD SO WILLED IT.

PAUL THOUGHT MORE OF GOD’S GLORY THAN HIS OWN SAFETY.

VERSE 14 EXPLAINS ALL THERE SAW HOW FIRM WAS PAUL’S MIND AND THEREFORE THEY STOPPED THEIR PLEADING.

HIS TRIP TO JERUSALEM WAS 68 MILES AND THIS VISIT WAS TO BE THE FIFTH TIME PAUL WAS IN THE CITY SINCE HIS DAMASCUS ROAD CONVERSION.

CERTAIN DISCIPLES WENT WITH PAUL, ONE BEING AN OLDER MAN FROM CYPRUS NAMED MNASON, WITH WHOM PAUL INTENDED TO LODGE IN JERUSALEM.

WHEN HE ARRIVED, HE SPENT SOME TIME WITH THE JERUSALEM CHURCH IN FELLOWSHIP AND REPORTING ON THE THINGS GOD HAD DONE IN HIS MINISTRY.

LUKE REPORTS THAT THE BRETHREN IN JERUSALEM RECEIVED PAUL AND HIS GROUP GLADLY. (V17)

PAUL GIVES A LENGTHY REPORT ON HIS MINISTRY AND A PERSONAL ACCOUNT, SAYING IN VERSE 26 THAT HE WAS FREE OF THE BLOOD OF ALL MEN.

STARTING IN VERSE 20 THERE APPEARS A PROBLEM IN THAT THERE WAS REJOICING OVER JEWS WHO HAD BEEN SAVED BUT NO REJOICING OVER THE MANY GENTILES SAVED EXACTLY LIKE THE JEWS.

HERE BEGAN THE TIMES OF SLANDER AGAINST PAUL SAYING HE HAD TAUGHT THE JEWS TO FORSAKE MOSES, NOT TO CIRCUMCISE THEIR CHILDREN, AND NOT TO KEEP JEWISH CUSTOMS.

WE RECALL THAT PAUL WAS CONSISTENTLY TEACHING THAT THE LAW HAD BEEN FULFILLED BY THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST, AND HIS NEW COVENANT HAD REPLACED THE LAW.

PAUL WANTED TO REPAIR ANY BROKEN BRIDGES, WHETHER THEY WERE REAL OR IMAGINED WITH THE JEWS EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE TWISTING THE WORDS OF HIS MINISTRY.

PAUL NEVER TAUGHT JEWS TO FORSAKE MOSES BUT ONLY THAT THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAW WAS FULFILLED BY THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH AND THAT GENTILES NEEDED NOT TO BECOME JEWS TO BECOME CHRISTIANS.

HE AGREES TO UNDERGO SOME PURIFICATION AT THE TEMPLE AS HE HAD SPENT MUCH TIME WITH GENTILES WHO WERE CONSIDERED BY THE JEWS TO BE UNCLEAN.

PAUL HAD INDEED TAUGHT THAT CERTAIN CUSTOMS UNDER WHICH ONE WHO WAS SAVED HAD BEEN OBSERVED MIGHT BE CONTINUED, SUCH AS EATING MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS. JEWS STRONGLY OPPOSED THE PRACTICE, WHILE GENTILES SAID THAT IF THE IDOL DID NOT EXIST, WHO CARES IF SUCH MEAT IS CONSUMED?

1ST COR 8 TEACHES THAT SUCH DIFFERENCES WERE TOLERABLE AS LONG AS ALL WHO BELIEVE ARE PRIMARY BELIEVERS IN THEIR FAITH IN JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD.

GRACE HERE SEEMS TO PERMIT PAUL TO WORK THROUGH EXTENDING HIMSELF TO THE JEWS AND HE TOOK A VOW OF PURIFICATION WITH FOUR OTHER AS SEEN IN VERSES 22-26.

WHAT SHOULD PAUL HAVE DONE?

HE ARRIVED IN JERUSALEM WITH A GOOD RECEPTION BY THE CHURCH THERE.

HE DELIVERED A GIFT FROM GENTILE BELIEVERS TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH.

THE CHURCH LISTENED TO HIS REPORT AND REJOICED IN THE WAY HE HAD EXTENDED THE FAITH TO GENTILES.

NOW A PORTION OF THE CHURCH SEEM TO SAY THAT HE SHOULD BE MORE FORTHCOMING TO EXTEND THE FAITH TO JEWS IN JERUSALEM AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THESE FOUR MEN THROUGH TEMPLE PURIFICATION, TAKE THE VOW WITH THEM AND SHAVE YOUR HEAD WITH THEM TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THEM.

PAUL DID NOT TAKE THIS VOW BECAUSE HE WAS COMMANDED TO DO SO.

HE TOOK THE VOW BECAUSE HE WANTED TO WIN THESE PEOPLE TO CHRIST.

UNDER GRACE YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO EXTEND YOURSELF TO OTHERS AS LONG AS ALL UNDERSTAND YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY WHAT YOU DO BUT BY WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS REFLECTED BY YOUR FAITH.

FURTHER PERSECUTION ARRIVED AS THE DAYS OF THE PURIFICATION ENDED WHEN JEWS SEIZED PAUL AND ACCUSED HIM OF VIOLATING THE PURITY OF THE TEMPLE WHILE TEACHING PEOPLE AGAINST THE LAW.

VERSE 29 REVEALS THEY HAD SEEN PAUL WITH A MAN NAMED TROPHIMUS WHO WAS AN EPHESIAN AND THEY CONCLUDED PAUL HAD BROUGHT HIM INTO THE HOLY TEMPLE, THEREBY POLLUTING IT.

VERSES 30-32 SAY THAT ALL THE CITY WAS MOVED AND PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER AS A MOB AND PULLED HIM OUT OF THE TEMPLE AND SHUT THE TEMPLE DOORS.

THE SITUATION CAME TO THE NOTICE OF A CAPTAIN OF SOLDIERS AND HE TOOK SOLDIERS WITH CENTURIONS AND STOPPED THE MOB FROM THE BEATING OF PAUL.

WE SEE IN THIS MOMENT THE BITTERNESS AND HATRED OF PAUL BECAUSE HE IS TEACHING THAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO ENTER INTO THE SYSTEM OF MOSES TO BE SAVED.

IT IS LIKELY THAT PAUL MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE MOB HAD NOT THE SOLDIERS STEPPED IN AND INTERVENED.

NEXT THIS CHIEF CAPTAIN CAME NEAR AND COMMANDED PAUL TO BE BOUND WITH CHAINS NOT KNOWING WHO PAUL WAS OR WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE SIMPLY WAS ENDING THE MOB SCENE QUICKLY.

TO END THE SCENE, THE CAPTAIN REMOVED PAUL AND STILL THE MOB WAS CRYING OUT FOR THE DEATH OF PAUL SAYING “ AWAY WITH HIM”.

AS PAUL WAS LED AWAY HE ASKED THE CAPTAIN IF HE SPOKE GREEK AND QUICKLY THE OFFICER UNDERSTOOD PAUL WAS NO COMMON CRIMINAL BUT SOMEONE EDUCATED AND FLUENT IN LANGUAGE.

THE CAPTAIN WAS AMAZED AND ASSUMED PAUL MAY HAVE BEEN A RECENT MOB LEADER WHO HAD MADE AN UPROAR BY TAKING THOUSANDS OF MEN INTO THE WILDERNESS WHICH WAS NOT TRUE.

PAUL QUICKLY ASSURED THE CAPTAIN HE WAS NOT THAT MAN AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS A JEW OF TARSUS AND ASKED FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE.

THE CAPTAIN AGREED WITH THE REQUEST. IN VERSE 40 PAUL STANDS UPON THE STEPS AND BECKONED THE PEOPLE TO COME NEAR AND WHEN THEY WERE QUIET, HE SPOKE TO THEM IN HEBREW.

AS SOON AS THE PEOPLE HEARD PAUL SPEAKING IN HEBREW, THEY BEGAN TO LISTEN TO HIM SPEAK.

IN CHAPTER 22 WE WILL HEAR PAUL’S ADDRESS TO THE MOB.

THE SCENE WAS MUCH LIKE THE ONE IN WHICH A MOB REMOVED STEPHEN AND STONED HIM TO DEATH.

WE KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE THAT THE CAPTAIN AND SOLDIERS WERE NOT A COINCIDENCE AS THE LORD HAD PROVIDED THIS PROTECTION OF HIS CHOSEN VESSEL.

WE SEE THAT FACT PROVEN IN ACTS 23, VERSE 11, WHEN GOD SPEAKS TO PAUL ON THIS MATTER:

“Be of good cheer, Paul: for thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

PAUL WOULD BE A PRISONER BOTH IN JERUSALEM AND LATER IN ROME BUT THIS FACTOR NEVER STOPPED HIM FROM WITNESSING.

WHEN PAUL WROTE PHILLIPIANS, HE NOTED IN CHAPTER 1 VERSES 12-14, THAT HIS IMPRISONMENT WORKED TO FURTHER THE GOSPEL NOT TO HINDER IT, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS BOUND IN CHAINS.

HE MAY HAVE BEEN IN CHAINS BUT THE WORD OF GOD WAS NOT BOUND.

HERE WE SEE PROOF THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE DIFFICULTIES OF PERSECUTIONS THAT FACE US, NOTHING BUT OUR OWN WILLINGNESS CAN STOP US FROM WITNESSING.

PAUL TRAVELED THE ROMAN WORLD WITNESSING FOR JESUS, EXACTLY AS CHRIST HAD COMMANDED HIM ON THE DAY OF HIS POWERFUL SALVATION MOMENT.

AS HE WENT, TWO THINGS WERE CONSTANT:

FIRST, PEOPLE WERE SAVED AND SECOND, OTHERS WERE PERSECUTED.

REJECTION NEVER DISCOURAGED PAUL IN HIS MISSION TO SAVE SOULS FOR THE LORD AND HE BOTH KNEW AND WROTE OF THE PERSECUTION THAT FOLLOWED HIS MINISTRY IN  1ST THESS 3:3-4 & 2ND TIMOTHY 3:12.

WE SEE THE SAME WRITING IN 1ST PETER 4:12-13.

SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES US DANGER ARRIVES ALONG WITH OUR WITNESS BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAVED, ALL THE SUFFERING IS WORTH IT.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED IN THIS LAST PORTION OF CHAPTER 21?

WE SEE CLEARLY THE COURAGE OF PAUL IN HIS REACTION TO CRITICISM.

HE TOOK BOTH THE CRITICISM OF FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND OF THE ASIAN JEWS WITH CALM DETERMINATION.

THERE, ON THE STEPS FACING THE MOB, PAUL, NOT THE ARMY CAPTAIN WAS IN CHARGE.

THE APOSTLE HAD NOTHING TO LOSE.

HE BELONGED TO CHRIST ALONE.

PREACHING THE GOSPEL, EVEN TO HIS ENEMIES, WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS SAFETY.

HE BELONGED TO CHRIST ALONE FOR ETERNITY AND HE KNEW SO.

JESUS HAD SAID SO TO HIM AND HAD TOLD HIM TO HAVE NO FEAR.

PAUL KNEW HE WAS GOING TO ROME, EVEN IF IT MEANT IN CHAINS AND HIS LIFE.

HIS PROFILE FROM THIS TIME FORWARD WAS COURAGE IN THAT MISSION AND HE WAS DETERMINED THAT NO MAN COULD STOP WHAT GOD HAD WILLED.

Acts 22: Paul Shares His Testimony

WHEN WE LEFT ACTS 21 WE SAW PAUL ON THE STEPS IN JERUSALEM AFTER HE HAD BEEN EITHER RESCUED OR CAPTURED (OR BOTH) BY ROMAN SOLDIERS.

THE MOB OF JEWS HAD ATTACKED PAUL FOR HIS TEACHING AND HAD COME VERY NEAR TO KILLING HIM FOR HIS TEACHING ON JESUS CHRIST.

SOMEONE REPORTED THE DISTURBANCE TO A ROMAN CAPTAIN WHO BROUGHT HIS SOLDIERS TO PUT DOWN THE MOB ACTIVITY AND RESTORE ORDER.

HE HAD MISTAKEN PAUL FOR AN EGYPTIAN TERRORIST WHO HAD BROUGHT PROBLEMS BEFORE AND THEREFORE HELD PAUL UNTIL HE COULD VERIFY WHO PAUL WAS.

PAUL REASONED WITH THE ROMAN OFFICER BY SPEAKING WITH HIM IN GREEK PROVING HIS OWN EDUCATION AND AFTER ASSURING THE OFFICER OF HIS IDENTITY, PAUL ASKED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE MOB WHO HAD ATTACKED HIM.

THE OFFICER OBLIGED PAUL AND PAUL GESTURED TO THE CROWD TO COME NEAR AND HEAR HIM, WHICH THEY DID.

PAUL QUICKLY GAINED ATTENTION WHEN HE BEGAN TO SPEAK IN HEBREW TO THE JEWISH CROWD AND THEY WERE SILENT WHEN THEY HEARD HIM SPEAK IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE.

EACH WEEK IN THE SYNAGOGUES THE RABBI READ FROM THE TORAH IN HEBREW FIRST AND THEN PARAPHRASED ALL HE HAD SAID IN ARAMAIC, THE LANGUAGE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE.

ARAMAIC WAS GENERALLY USED IN THE HOMES OF GALILEE AND ALSO IN JUDEA.

AS PAUL SPOKE, HE EMPHASIZED HIS HERITAGE AS A JEW AND SPOKE OF HIS ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHRIST.

HE NEVER ACTUALLY DISPUTED THE FALSE ACCUSATION THAT HE HAD TAKEN A GENTILE INTO THE HOLY TEMPLE, THEREBY DEFILING IT.

HE QUICKLY WAS ABLE TO SHOW HIMSELF AS AN ORTHODOX JEW AND HE ADDRESSED THE CROWD USING THE TERMS “BETHREN” AND “FATHERS”.

BEGINNING IN VERSE 3, PAUL BEGINS HIS DEFENSE BY IDENTIFYING WHO HE TRULY IS AND HIS BACKGROUND WHICH WAS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER OF JEWISH STUDY.

PAUL SAYS HE IS A JEW BORN IN TARSUS BUT BROUGHT UP IN JERUSALEM AT THE KNEE OF GAMILIEL, ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN RABBIS OF THESE TIMES. BEING BROUGHT UP MEANS HE LIKELY CAME TO THE SCHOOL OF GAMILIEL EARLY IN HIS TEENS AND THIS FACT MEANT THAT PAUL WAS TRAINED IN EVERY DETAIL OF THE LAW, NOT JUST OF MOSES BUT ALSO OF THE SCRIBES & PHARISEES.

HE SAID HE WAS ZEALOUS FOR GOD, JUST AS THE JEWS WHO ATTACKED HIM WERE.

IN VERSE 4 PAUL GOES FURTHER TO EXPLAIN THAT HE HAD IN FACT PERSCUTED CHRISTIANS WHO BELONGED TO “THIS WAY”, THE NAME GIVEN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED JESUS.

HE CLEARLY SAYS HE HAD PURSUED THEM, BOUND THEM, IMPRISONED THEM, AND KNEW SUCH ACTIVITY CAUSED THEIR DEATHS.

TO PROVIDE MORE PROOF TO THE CROWD, PAUL SAID THE HIGH PRIEST KNEW OF ALL HIS ACTIVITIES AND WILL BEAR WITNESS THAT LETTERS WERE GIVEN TO PAUL TO AUTHORIZE HIS VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS.

IT WOULD SEEM TO MAKE SENSE THAT THESE JEWS MUST WONDER HOW IT WAS THAT ONE SO DEVOUTLY JEWISH WHO HAD ARRANGED THE DEATH OF CHRISTIAN FOLLOWERS WAS NOW PREACHING AND TEACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS.

IN VERSE 6 PAUL BEGINS HIS STORY OF HOW SUCH A THING HAPPENED. HE SPEAKS OF HIS TRIP ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS AND THE GREAT LIGHT THAT SURROUNDED HIM . LATER IN ACTS 26:13 HE WILL DESCRIBE THE LIGHT AS BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN.

OVERWHELMED BY THE LIGHT, PAUL FELL TO THE GROUND.

AS THE LIGHT BEGAN TO SPEAK IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE, HE HEARD A QUESTION ASKING,

“Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?”

PAUL ANSWERED USING A TERM OF WORHIP:

“Who are thou, Lord…”.

THE ANSWER CAME IMMEDIATELY:

‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.”

IN VERSE 9 PAUL REVEALS THOSE WITH HIM SAW THE LIGHT, WERE AFRAID, BUT THEY DID NOT HEAR THE VOICE THAT SPOKE.

PAUL ONCE MORE USED THE WORSHIPFUL TERM “LORD” AND ASKED WHAT HE SHOULD DO.

HE WAS TOLD TO GO INTO DAMASCUS WHERE HE WILL BE TOLD WHAT HE SHOULD DO.

NOW THAT PAUL HAD ACCEPTED JESUS AS LORD, THE PLAN OF GOD FOR HIS LIFE WAS TO UNFOLD.

PAUL’S LIFE OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE WAS BEGINNING AND HIS FIRST STEP WAS TO GO TO DAMASCUS, AS INSTRUCTED, WHERE HE HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO ARREST CHRISTIANS.

NOW PAUL HIMSELF HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND HAD BEEN MADE BLIND, CAUSING HIM TO NEED TO BE LED BY THE HAND INTO THE CITY.

IN VERSE 12 PAUL REVEALS THAT A MAN, NAMED ANANIAS, WHO WAS DEVOUT ACCORDING TO THE LAW, MEANING A CONVERTED JEW OF GOOD REPORT OF JEWS IN THE CITY, WAS SENT TO PAUL.

PAUL WAS ADVISED HE WAS COMING AND EVEN THE NAME OF THIS MAN WAS REVEALED TO PAUL AND WE KNOW FROM CHAPTER 9 THAT ANANIAS ARRIVED AND CALLED HIM BROTHER AND LAID HANDS UPON HIM.

THE SCALES ON THE EYES OF PAUL FELL AWAY, AND ANANIAS DELIVERED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PAUL AND TOLD HIM THAT THE GOD OF THEIR FATHERS (ABRAHAM, ISAAC, & JACOB) HAD CHOSEN HIM.

ANANIAS USED THE TERM “JUST ONE” TO REFER TO JESUS AS HE TOLD PAUL THAT JESUS HIMSELF  WILL ORDER PAUL TO BE HIS WITNESS, AND THAT PAUL SHOULD RISE, BE BAPTIZED AND HAVE HIS SINS WASHED AWAY, AS HE SHOULD CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

THE ONLY PLACE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHERE THIS PHRASE IS ALSO USED IS IN 1ST COR 6:11 AND THESE REFERENCES MEAN THAT THE LORD HIMSELF WASHES AWAY SIN BY ACCEPTING ONE’S FAITH.

PETER WILL LATER TEACH ON THIS MATTER IN 1ST PETER 3:20-21, SAYING THE WATERS OF BAPTISM DO NOT HAVE POWER TO WASH AWAY SIN, BECAUSE IT IS FAITH IN CHRIST THAT REMITS SIN.

BUT JESUS COMMANDED WATER BAPTISM BY USING HIMSELF AS AN EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE  OF EACH WHO ACCEPTS THE LORD IN HIS HEART.

THEREFORE FROM JESUS ONWARD, BAPTISM IS CONSIDERED AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF INWARD POSSESSION OF THE SPIRIT.

IN VERSES 17-18 PAUL NEXT SKIPPED OVER MORE EXPLANATION OF HIS DAMASCUS EXPERIENCE AND RELATED THAT ON HIS RETURN TO JERUSALEM WHILE HE WAS PRAYING IN THE TEMPLE, A TRANCE CAME UPON HIM. THIS ITEM PAUL RELATED CLEARLY SHOWS HE WAS NOT A DEFILER OF THE HOLY TEMPLE BUT USED IT AS A PLACE OF PRAYER.

IN THE TRANCE HE SAW JESUS SPEAKING TO HIM INSTRUCTING HIM TO MAKE HASTE TO GET OUT OF JERUSALEM.

AFTER THIS EVENT THE CHRISTIANS TOOK PAUL TO CAESAREA AND PUT HIM ON A SHIP TO TARSUS, HIS HOMETOWN.

PAUL DID NOT GO BECAUSE HIS FELLOW BELIEVERS INSISTED BUT BECAUSE HE HAD THE COMMAND OF JESUS TO LEAVE.

HERE WE OURSELVES ARE ASSURED THAT JESUS IS WELL AWARE OF ALL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON EARTH AND HE CARES FOR THOSE WHO ARE HIS.

PAUL THEN RELATED HOW HE HAD IMPRISONED AND BEAT PRISONERS FROM MANY SYNAGOGUES WHO HAD BECOME FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. HE THEN RELATED HOW HE HIMSELF WAS PRESENT AT THE VIOLENT DEATH OF STEPHEN, AND HE REMINDED THAT HE HAD CONSENTED TO THE STONING AND STOOD BY WATCHING IT.

BY RELATING THIS PORTION OF HIS TESTIMONY HE PROVES HOW PATIENT JESUS HAD BEEN WITH HIM AND HAD CHOSEN TO CONVERT HIM EVEN AFTER HIS BLOODY PAST AGAINST THOSE WHO BELIEVED.

IN VERSE 21 PAUL ALLOWS THAT JESUS HAD USED THE SPECIFIC WORD “DEPART” AND HAD TOLD HIM HE WOULD BE SENT FAR AWAY TO MINISTER TO THE GENTILES.

IN VERSE 22 WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL MEANING OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY THE GENTILES WHO BELIEVED.

THE JEWS LISTENED TO PAUL UNTIL HE SPOKE OF THE COMMAND TO GO TO THE GENTILES. SUCH A COMMAND TRIGGERED THE LONG HELD DISPARAGING ATTITUDE WITHIN THE JEWS.

THE JEWS CONSIDERED THEMSELVES SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHER PEOPLES AND FULLY BELIEVED GOD HAD ARRANGED THAT SUPERIORITY FROM THE BEGINNING.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ABOVE THE SAMARITANS WHO THEY CONSIDERED HALF BREEDS, WHO WERE ABOVE THE DOGS IN THE STREET, WHO WERE ABOVE THE GENTILES.

THIS ARROGANCE FLOWS COMPLETELY AGAINST THE DESIRE OF GOD IN CALLING ABRAHAM TO BRING A BLESSING TO ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH. (GENESIS 12:3)

EVERY TIME THIS PROMISE WAS REPEATED TO ABRAHAM & ISAAC & JACOB, THE SAME TRUTH WAS GIVEN BY GOD.

(GENESIS 18:18   22:18   26:4   28:14)

GOD HAD PROMISED BLESSINGS THROUGH THE SEED OF ABRAHAM FOR ALL THE PEOPLES AND NATIONS OF THE EARTH.

THE JEWS IN THIS MOMENT WENT INTO AN EMOTIONAL TANTRUM AND BEGAN CRYING OUT AGAIN FOR PAUL’S DEATH, SAYING HE WAS NOT WORTHY TO LIVE.

THEY CAST OFF THEIR OUTER GARMENTS AS A SIGN THEY WERE READY TO STONE PAUL, JUST AS THEY HAD STONED STEPHEN.

PAUL ADDRESSED THIS CONFLICT DIRECTLY AND MOST STRONGLY WHEN HE WROTE THE LETTER TO THE ROMAN CHURCH.

IN ROMANS 11, VERSES 7 & 8 PAUL WRITES:

“… Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

… God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.

AND IN VERSE 11:

“… through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

AND IN VERSE 25:

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery… that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

NOW SEEING THE MOB EXCITED FOR PAUL’S BLOOD, THE ROMAN CAPTAIN, TO STOP ANY DISORDER, TAKES PAUL INTO THE BUILDING TO ARRANGE A CONFESSION BY PAUL BY SCOURGING.

PAUL WAS NO STRANGER TO BEATINGS AND HE WAS BENT OVER AND BOUND IN A POSITION TO BE SCOURGED.

PAUL SAW A ROMAN CENTURION STANDING CLOSE BY AND HE APPEALED TO HIM, ASKING WHETHER IT WAS LEGAL TO SCOURGE A ROMAN CITIZEN, WHOSE CASE HAD NOT BEEN TRIED.

THE CENTURION RESPONDED TO THIS APPEAL BY PASSING THE MOMENT ON TO A TRIBUNE, REMINDING THE TRIBUNE THAT IF THIS ACT WAS ILLEGAL, THE TRIBUNE WOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

PAUL WAS CLAIMING HIS RIGHTS AS A ROMAN CITIZEN AND HIS CLAIM STOPPED THE PROCEEDINGS.

THE TRIBUNE PERSONALLY ASKED PAUL IF WE WAS A ROMAN CITIZEN AND PAUL REPLIED YES.

THE TRIBUNE SAID HE HAD PURCHASED HIS OWN CITIZENSHIP BUT PAUL SAID HE HAD BEEN FREEBORN INTO HIS CITIZENSHIP.

THE SOLDIERS WHO HAD PREPARED TO SCOURGE PAUL LEFT AND THE TRIBUNE WAS AFRAID AS PAUL COULD BRING CHARGES AGAINST HIM SIMPLY FOR BINDING A ROMAN CITIZEN WITHOUT TRIAL.

AS THIS CHAPTER ENDS IN VERSE 30 WE SEE THE TRIBUNE KEPT PAUL IN CUSTODY, NOT STILL BOUND, AND HELD HIM TO AVOID MORE DISORDER WITH THE JEWS.

THE NEXT DAY THE TRIBUNE ORDERED THE SANHEDRIN TO ASSEMBLE AND MADE PAUL STAND UP BEFORE THEM.

NORMALLY THE ROMAN ARMY ALLOWED JEWS TO SETTLE THEIR OWN DISPUTES BUT DID NOT ALLOW THE JEWS TO INFLICT THE DEATH PENALTY.

IN A.D. 47 ROME GAVE THE SANHEDRIN AUTHORITY OVER MOST DISPUTES IN JUDEA AND IN A.D. 6 HAD EXTENDED THIS AUTHORITY OVER TERRITORY BEYOND JUDEA.

WE SAW THIS ISSUE ARISE WHEN THE JEWS WANTED TO CRUCIFY JESUS BUT HAD TO APPEAL TO PONTIUS PILATE FOR THE AUTHORITY, BUT THE SANHEDRIN SUFFERED NO PENALTY FOR KILLING STEPHEN.

VERSE 30 ACTUALLY WOULD FIT BETTER IN CHAPTER 23 BUT BECAUSE IT IS LEFT IN CHAPTER 22 WE MUST NOTE IT.

PAUL HIMSELF MAY HAVE SUGGESTED TO THE ROMAN OFFICER THE MEETING OF THE HIGHEST RELIGIOUS COUNCIL IN ISRAEL SO THAT HE COULD ONCE MORE STAND AND TESTIFY FOR CHRIST.

PAUL WAS NOT A HELPLESS VICTIM.

HE HAD COME TO JERUSALEM TO PREACH CHRIST AGAINST MOST SERIOUS WARNINGS, INCLUDING OF THE PROPHET AGABUS, AND PAUL WAS WILLING TO USE EVERY MEANS TO BE HEARD.

THE LORD, NOT A ROMAN COMMANDER, NOR A JEWISH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WAS IN CHARGE.

THE PICTURE WE ARE GIVEN OF THIS APOSTLE THROUGH ALL THESE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES IS OF A MAN WHO IS READY TO GRASP OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH THE VERY CENTER OF MILITARY AND POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS POWER TO WITNESS FOR CHRIST.

IN OUR NEXT STUDY STOP WE WILL SEE THE COURAGE OF PAUL TO WITNESS THE RESURRECTION.

Acts 23: Paul Stirs Up the Sanhedrin

PAUL’S DEDICATION TO THE LORD AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION TOWARD THE GENTILES WAS CONTINUAL IN ANNOYING HIS ENEMIES.

IT WOULD BE PROPER TO SAY HE WAS STRONGLY DIVISIVE.

WHEREVER HE WENT SERVING CHRIST, HE WAS SOON HATED, DESPISED, THREATENED AND PRESECUTED BY SOME.

BUT HE WAS LOVED, ENCOURAGED, AND DEVOUTLY SUPPORTED BY OTHERS.

PAUL WAS A FIREBRAND, TOTALLY SOLD OUT TO JESUS, AND FULLY DEVOTED TO ADVANCING THE GOSPEL AMONG ALL PEOPLE IN ALL PLACES AT ALL COSTS.

HE WAS NOT TACTFUL.

IN TODAY’S WORLD WE WOULD SAY HE HAD A TYPE A PERSONALITY AND NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM SHOWING IT.

HE WAS DRIVEN TO EXTREME.

IN THE LAST VERSE OF CHAPTER 22 (VERSE 30) HE FINDS HIMSELF BOUND, HELD BY ROMAN SOLDIERS, THEN UNBOUND AND TAKEN TO TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THE JEWISH COUNCIL KNOWN AS THE SANHEDRIN.

THIS WAS THE JEWISH HIGH COURT, WITH 71 MEMBERS INCLUDING THE HIGH PRIEST, WHO HAD JURISDICTION OVER CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS MATTERS BUT NO INFLUENCE ON MILITARY MATTERS.

THIS WAS THE SAME BODY THAT 30 YEARS BEFORE HAD SOUGHT EVIDENCE AGAINST JESUS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH. (MATT 26:59)

PAUL WAS REQUIRED TO DEFEND HIMSELF IN FRONT OF THIS HIGH COUNCIL.

HE BEGINS BY CALLING THEM “MEN AND BROTHERS”, AND CLAIMED TO BE INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

WITHIN THAT FIRST MOMENT THE HIGH PRIEST COMMANDED THOSE NEAR PAUL TO SMITE HIM ON THE MOUTH.

LEVITICUS 19:15 STATES CLEARLY THIS COMMAND WAS ILLEGAL AND SMITING IN THE MOUTH WAS ONLY ALLOWED FOR BLASPHEMY.

PAUL QUICKLY RESPONDED TO THE COMMAND OF THE HIGH PRIEST SAYING GOD SHALL SMITE THEE, THOU WHITED WALL, A WORD PICTURE OF A HYPOCRITE, EXPOSING THE HYPOCRISY OF THE PHARISEES.

THE HIGH PRIEST HAD NOT ONLY VIOLATED JEWISH LAW BUT ROMAN LAW AS WELL WHICH STATE NO PUNISHMENT MAY BE RENDERED UNTIL CONVICTION.

NOW THE COUNCIL ACCUSES PAUL OF SLANDER AND INSULTING THE HIGH PRIEST AND PAUL STATES HE DID NOT KNOW THE MAN WAS THE HIGH PRIEST.

IT WAS CLEAR FROM THIS MOMENT THAT PAUL REALIZED HE WOULD NOT RECEIVE A FAIR HEARING BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN.

HIS INABILITY TO PROPERLY RECOGNIZE WHO WAS THE HIGH PRIEST MAY BE A CLUE TO THE THORN IN HIS FLESH WHICH IN GALATIANS PAUL SUGGESTS MAY BE POOR EYESIGHT.

PAUL KNEW THERE WERE TWO SECTIONS OF LEADERS AMONG THE COUNCIL, PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES.

SO PAUL DECIDES TO DIVIDE HIS DEFENSE TO CAUSE A DISAGREEMENT AMONG THE TWO SECTIONS.

THE SADDUCEES DID NOT BELIEVE IN AN AFTERLIFE OR ANGELS OR A POSSIBILITY OF ANY RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.

IN VERSE 6 PAUL EXPLAINS HE IS A PHARISEE AND THE SON OF A PHARISEE AND WAS OF THE HOPE IN THE DEAD BEING RESURRECTED.

IN VERSE 7 THE PLAN WORKED AS THE TWO GROUPS BEGAN ARGUING AMONG THEMSELVES. BY THIS PLAN PAUL GAINED SOME SUPPORT FROM THE PHARISEES.

PAUL FANNED THE FLAME OF THE DIVISIONS ALREADY IN FACT BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.

THE PHARISEES SAY THEY FIND NO EVIL IN THIS MAN AND IF A SPIRIT OR ANGEL HAS SPOKEN TO HIM, LET US NOT FIGHT AGAINST GOD.

THE PHARISEES FIND THEMSELVES SUPPORTING AND DEFENDING THE MAN ACCUSED BEFORE THEM.

GREAT DISSENSION AROSE AND THE ROMAN CAPTAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO DAYS HAD TO USE HIS SOLDIERS TO REMOVE PAUL FROM ANOTHER ANGRY MOB.

PAUL’S LIFE WAS MORE IN DANGER FROM THE JEWS THAT FROM THE ROMANS AND HIS HEARING ENDED IN A BRAWL WHICH WAS HALTED ONLY BY THE STRENGTH OF THE ROMAN ARMY.

VERSE 11 ALLOWS US TO KNOW THAT ONCE AGAIN THE LORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUES WITH HIS CHOSEN VESSEL.

PAUL IS IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.

IF RELEASED BY THE ROMANS, THE JEWS WILL KILL HIM.

IF HE REMAINS IN CUSTODY, HE CANNOT DO THE WORK GOD HAD COMMANDED HIM TO ACCOMPLISH.

IN THE NIGHT, THE LORD CAME TO PAUL AND SPOKE ENCOURAGING WORDS TO HIS SERVANT:

“And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

WITH PAUL’S STRONG EDUCATION IN HOLY SCRIPTURE, HE WAS SURE TO RECALL THE TEACHING OF DAVID IN PSALM 23:4:

“I will fear no evil, for thou are with me”.

JESUS BROUGHT NO REBUKE OR CORRECTION TO PAUL, BUT ENCOURAGED HIM TO CONTINUE ONWARD.

THIS WAS THE FIFTH VISION OF THE LORD TO PAUL REPORTED IN ACTS.

 IN VERSES 12-22 THERE ARRIVES A NEW AND MUCH MORE VIOLENT EFFORT BY THE JEWS TO DEAL WITH PAUL.

CERTAIN JEWS BANDED TOGETHER, AND BOUND THEMSELVES UNDER A CURSE (MEANING THEY INTEND TO BE CURSED IF THEIR PLAN FAILS), TO RID THEMSELVES OF PAUL.

MORE THAN 40 MEN MADE THE PLEDGE TO KILL PAUL AND ASKED THAT GOD’S JUDGMENT BE UPON THEM IF THEY FAILED.

THEY PLEDGED NOT TO EAT OR DRINK UNTIL THEY HAD SUCCESSFULLY KILLED PAUL.

THEY BROUGHT THE PLAN TO THE HIGH PRIEST AND HE APPROVED THE ASSASSINATION PLOT.

THE PLAN WAS FOR THE SANHEDRIN TO CALL FOR PAUL TO BE BROUGHT TO THEM BY THE ROMANS FOR MORE TESTIMONY AND BEFORE PAUL WOULD ARRIVE, THE PLOTTERS WOULD MOVE AGAINST HIM AND TAKE HIS LIFE, EVEN IF SOME ROMANS WERE WITH HIM.

PAUL’S NEPHEW (HIS SISTER’S SON) WAS IN JERUSALEM, POSSIBLY ATTENDING THE SAME RABBI SCHOOL PAUL ATTENDED, AND HE HEARD OF THE PLOT AND WENT TO PAUL TO ADVISE HIM OF THE PLAN AGAINST HIM.

PAUL WAS NOT A ROMAN PRISONER BUT WAS IN ROMAN CUSTODY FOR HIS OWN PROTECTION. HE WAS NOT LOCKED AWAY AND HIS NEPHEW WAS ABLE TO FIND PAUL AND TELL HIM OF THE PLAN.

PAUL ASKED A ROMAN CENTURION TO TAKE HIS NEPHEW TO THE CHIEF CAPTAIN SO THAT HE MIGHT HEAR OF THE PLAN DIRECTLY.

THE ROMAN COMMANDER TOOK THE YOUNG MAN INTO A PRIVATE MEETING AND HEARD HIS REPORT. HE ORDERED THE NEPHEW TO TELL NO ONE AND QUICKLY BEGAN TO GIVE ORDERS TO ARRANGE PROTECTION FOR PAUL.

HE CALLED TWO CENTURIONS INTO ACTION AND COMANDED THE FOLLOWING TO BE PREPARED FOR THE MOVEMENT OF PAUL OUT OF JERUSALEM TO CAESAREA:

• 200 SOLDIERS

• 70 HORSEMEN

• 200 SPEAR CARRIERS

THIS COMMANDED GROUP WAS ALMOST 500 MEN WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER HALF OF THE ROMAN SOLDIERS IN JERUSALEM AT THIS TIME.

THE MOVEMENT OF PAUL TO CAESAREA WOULD THEN HAVE HIM WHERE THE HEADQUARTERS OF A LARGE ROMAN GARRISON WAS STATIONED.

HORSES WERE COMMANDED FOR PAUL TO BE CARRIED AND TAKEN SAFELY TO THE ROMAN GOVERNOR NAMED FELIX.

FELIX WAS A FORMER SLAVE WHOSE BROTHER PALLAS WAS ALSO A FORMER SLAVE WITH BOTH BEING CLOSE FRIENDS OF THE EMPORER CLAUDIUS.

FELIX WAS KNOWN TO BE A CRUEL AND BRUTAL GOVERNOR AND TO BE NO FRIEND OF THE JEWS.

A LETTER FROM THE ROMAN COMMANDER, LYSIAS, WAS SENT ALONG WITH THE TROOPS TO FELIX, STATING THAT THE COMMANDER HAD AVOIDED A MOB SCENE AND WAS DUTY BOUND TO ASSURE PAUL’S SAFETY SINCE HE WAS A ROMAN CITIZEN.

LYSIAS DID NOT MENTION A SINGLE CRIME AGAINST ROMAN LAW THAT WAS CHARGED AGAINST PAUL, SAYING ONLY THAT PAUL SEEMED TO HAVE VIOLATED SOME LOCAL RELIGIOUS LAWS.

THE MILITARY GROUP LEFT UNDER DARKNESS TO FURTHER SHIELD PAUL’S SAFETY AND TRANSFER.

IN THE NEXT DAY HALF THE SOLDIERS WERE ORDERED BACK TO JERUSALEM AND THE REST DELIVERED PAUL TO THE CUSTODY OF FELIX THE GOVERNOR.

AFTER READING THE LETTER FROM THE ROMAN COMMANDER, FELIX QUESTIONED PAUL, WHO SAID HE WAS FROM THE PROVINCE OF CILICIA, WHICH ALSO HAPPENED TO BE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF FELIX.

FELIX ORDERED PAUL TO REMAIN WHERE HE WAS UNTIL HIS JEWISH ACCUSERS COULD ARRIVE TO PLEAD THE ROMANS TO FILE CHARGES AGAINST PAUL.

HE SEEMED TO BE TREATED KINDLY BY FELIX AS HE WAS HELD BUT AT THE MOMENT PAUL DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS PLACE WOULD BE HIS HOME FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

PAUL WAS GRANTED SOME LIBERTY UNDER THE WATCH OF A ROMAN CENTURION ASSIGNED TO KEEP HIM AND PAUL WAS ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY GUESTS TO COME AND TO VISIT AND MINISTER UNTO HIM AS HE AWAITED HIS HEARING. (VERSE 24:23)

THE ROMAN COMMANDER, LYSIAS, WAS NOT ABOUT TO ALLOW A MOB OF JEWISH RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TO EITHER OUTSMART HIM OR TO BE ABLE TO ASSASSINATE A MAN UNDER HIS AUTHORITY.

TO DO SO WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A DERILICTION OF DUTY BY THIS ROMAN OFFICER.

THE NUMBER OF FORCES THE COMMANDER DISPATCHED TO PROTECT PAUL WAS 470 STRONG. BUT THIS NUMBER WAS ONE NUMBER SHY OF REALITY.

NOT ONLY WERE 470 ROMAN SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO PROTECT PAUL, BUT THERE WAS ONE MORE ARRANGING HIS PROTECTION MOVING ALONG WITH THE ROMAN TROOPS, WHICH WAS CHRIST.

JESUS HAD ALREADY APPEARED TO PAUL SHOWING HIS APPROVAL OF THE WITNESS PAUL HAD MADE FOR THE LORD IN JERUSALEM AND HE TOLD PAUL THAT HE MUST ALSO BEAR WITNESS  IN ROME. (ACTS 23:11)

THEREFORE, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE JEWS TO MURDER PAUL BEFORE HE ACTUALLY WENT TO ROME UNDER THE COMMAND OF JESUS.

THE REAL SAFETY OF PAUL WAS NOT IN THE ROMAN SOLDIERS BUT IN THE NEVER FORSAKING & EVERLASTING ARMS OF JESUS, WHO HAD CHOSEN AND PREPARED PAUL FOR THIS MISSION.

PAUL SEIZED THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY TO BOTH DIVIDE THE TEMPLE MASTERS WHO WERE SEEKING HIS LIFE AND MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY TO HIM TO WITNESS TO THE TRUTH HE HAD HIMSELF PERSONALLY SEEN, WHICH WAS THE RESURRECTED LORD.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION WAS THE BEDROCK FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH AND REMAINS SO UNTIL THE RAPTURE AND THEREAFTER THE 2ND COMING.

HIS DECLARATION SUCCESSFULLY SPLIT THE TEMPLE MASTERS INTO THE TWO SECTIONS THAT ALREADY EXISTED, THAT OF THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES.

AS PAUL CONTINUED HIS DEFENSE, THE DISCORD GREW IN THE GROUP.

WHAT THE SADDUCEES ACTUALY DENIED WAS THAT HUMANS COULD BECOME PERSONALLY IMMORTAL.

LIKE THE GREEKS, THEY CONDSIDERED BODY AND SPIRIT TO BE ONE UNITY SUCH THAT ONE PART MAY NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE OTHER.

JESUS HAD DEALT WITH THIS SAME GROUP BY TEACHING THEM THAT GOD DECLARES HIMSELF TO BE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB AND HE IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD BUT OF THE LIVING.

JESUS HAD TAUGHT THAT ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB ARE STILL ALIVE TO GOD. THIS TEACHING APPEARS 3 TIMES:

• MATTHEW 22:23-33     

• MARK 12:18-27     

• LUKE 20:27-40

BY TEACHING THAT THESE THREE PATRIARCHS ARE STILL ALIVE EVEN THOUGH THEIR BODIES WERE IN THEIR GRAVES, JESUS MADE CLEAR THAT THE CHIEF ARGUMENT OF THE SADDUCEES WAS FALSE BECAUSE THESE PATRIARCHS WERE INDEED STILL ALIVE AFTER DEATH, MEANING THAT THEY HAD BEEN RESURRECTED TO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE KINGDOM, WITHOUT THEIR MORTAL BODIES.

HERE PAUL IS USING HIS PHARISEE EDUCATION SHOWING ONCE MORE HOW PERFECT WAS THE CHOICE OF PAUL BY JESUS TO CARRY HIS GOSPEL MESSAGE FORWARD.

PAUL (AND THE TEMPLE MASTERS) KNEW THE SCRIPTURES VERY WELL.

THE SCRIPTURES OF WHAT WE NOW CALL THE OLD TESTAMENT GIVE A CLEAR TEACHING OF THE DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION.

JOB’S TESTIMONY IS CLEAR IN JOB 19:23-27.

PSALM 16:10 SHOWS THE MESSIAH WOULD BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

PSALM 17:15 SHOWS THE HOPE NOT ONLY OF GOING TO BE WITH THE LORD BUT TEACHES WE WILL BEHOLD THE FACE OF GOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

PSALM 73:23-26 SHOWS FAITH IN BEING EVER WITH THE LORD.

ISAIAH 53:8-12 SHOWS THE RESURRECTION OF THE SUFFERING MESSIAH.

DANIEL 12:2 GIVES THE PROPHECY OF RESURRECTION.

PAUL WILL LATER WRITE OF THIS VERY MATTER IN HIS STRONG TEACHING OF 1ST COR 15:51-52.

JOHN WILL LATER WRITE OF THE SAME MATTER IN JOHN 5:29.

JOHN WILL REVEAL THE WILL OF GOD ON THIS MATTER IN REVELATION 20.

THESE EXAMPLES TO LATER APPEAR IN OUR NEW TESTAMENT ONLY RECONFIRM WHAT PAUL WAS DECLARING THAT DAY TO DIVIDE THE TEMPLE MASTERS TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

IN 23:9 WE SEE THE TWO GROUPS CLAMORING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND SOME OF THE PHARISEES ACTUALLY STOOD TO SPEAK ON PAUL’S BEHALF, AND SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING EVIL IN HIM, AND EVEN SUGGESTED AN ANGEL OR SPIRIT MAY HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM AND IF PAUL WERE TO BE CONDEMNED, THOSE WHO DO SO WOULD BE FIGHTING AGAINST GOD.

THE MENTION OF ANGELS LIKELY STIRRED UP THE SADDUCEES EVEN MORE AS THEY NEVER ACCEPTED THE EXISTENCE OF ANGELS.

THE LORD AFTERWARD GAVE PAUL HIS ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE NIGHT VISION AND JESUS WAS CLEARLY PLEASED AT THE WITNESS PAUL HAD GIVEN.

THE TEMPLE MASTERS WERE NOT FINISHED WITH PAUL AND CONTINUED TO PLOT AGAINST HIS LIFE.

PAUL WILL NEXT APPEAR BEFORE THE GOVERNORS HE WILL MEET IN CAESAREA WHICH WILL BE ANOTHER STEP TOWARD ROME.

Acts 24 & 25: Paul Before Felix and Festus

WHEN WE ENDED OUR STUDY STOP IN ACTS 23 WE FOUND PAUL HAVING STIRRED UP THE JEWISH TEMPLE MASTERS WHICH ARE THE SANHEDRIN TO THE POINT THAT MORE THAN A FEW OF THEM PLEDGED IN A VOW NOT TO EAT OR DRINK UNTIL PAUL WAS DEAD BY THEIR HANDS.

AFTER FINDING THAT PAUL HAD ROMAN CITIZENSHIP THE ROMAN MILITARY PLACED PAUL UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.

PAUL’S NEPHEW REVEALED THE CONTINUED PLOT AGAINST PAUL TO THE ROMAN OFFICERS AND THEY THEN BROUGHT LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF TROOPS TOGETHER TO TAKE PAUL TO CAESAREA WHERE THE ROMAN GOVERNOR RESIDED.

THIS PLACE WAS HEROD’S JUDGMENT HALL WHERE PAUL WOULD APPEAR BEFORE ROMAN OFFICIALS AS WELL AS SHARE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE WITH THEM, AND THESE OFFICIALS WERE IMPRESSED WITH HIS MESSAGE.

BECAUSE THE NEXT STEP IN PAUL’S JOURNEY IS HIS TIME BEFORE THESE OFFICIALS, IT SEEMS CORRECT TO JOIN BOTH CHAPTERS 24 & 25 TOGETHER TO STUDY WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEPS PAUL WILL MAKE TOWARD ROME.

WE MUST RECALL THAT JESUS HIMSELF HAD APPEARED TO PAUL AND CLEARLY INSTRUCTED HIM TO BEAR WITNESS IN ROME.

IT IS LIKELY THAT PAUL DID NOT YET REALIZE THAT HIS ROMAN JOURNEY WOULD BE IN CHAINS AS HE SOUGHT TO PLACE HIS APPEAL BEFORE THE ROMAN EMPORER.

IN ACTS 24 WE SEE PAUL APPEARING BEFORE GOVERNOR FELIX WITH ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM AND HIS DEFENSE.

IN ACTS 25 WE SEE PAUL APPEARING BEFORE GOVERNOR FESTUS AS HE AGAIN APPEALS HIS CASE TO CEASAR IN ROME AND WILL NEXT MEET WITH KING AGRIPPA.

WE FIND IN CHAPTER 24, VERSES 1-9, ONLY FIVE DAYS WERE NEEDED FOR THE JEWS TO ARRIVE TO ACCUSE PAUL BEFORE THE GOVERNOR.

THE HIGH PRIEST ANANIAS ARRIVED WITH OTHER JEWS TO MAKE THE ACCUSING FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT PAUL.

THIS HIGH PRIEST WAS KNOWN TO BE ONE OF THE CRUELEST HIGH PRIESTS EVER TO SERVE THAT OFFICE AND HE WAS KNOWN TO CONSIDER HIMSELF TO BE SERVING ROME, NOT ISRAEL.

IN THE INSURRECTION OF 66 A.D. THOSE IN ISRAEL WHO ROSE UP MADE KILLING HIM THEIR FIRST PRIORITY.

THE JEWS HAD HIRED A PROFESSIONAL SPEECH MAKER NAMED TERTULLUS TO PRESENT THEIR CASE AGAINST PAUL.

HE WAS CONSIDERED AN “ORATOR” AND THIS WORD APPEARS ONLY HERE IN VERSE 1 IN THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT.

HIS FIRST WORDS WERE TO FLATTER THE ROMAN OFFICIAL WHICH HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHARGES AGAINST PAUL.

HIS FIRST CHARGE AGAINST PAUL WAS THAT PAUL HAD COMMITTED SEDITION AGAINST ROMAN LAW.

NEXT HE SAYS PAUL IS A PEST TO THE PEOPLE WHO STIRS THEM UP AGAINST THE ORDER REQUIRED BY ROME.

NEXT HE SAYS PAUL IS THE LEADER OF A DANGEROUS GROUP SPLIT OFF FROM JUDAISM KNOWN AS THE NAZARENES, WHO WILL THREATEN THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN SCRIPTURE WHERE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST ARE CALLED NAZARENES.

NEXT HE SAYS PAUL HAD DESECRATED THE HOLY TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM BY ALLOWING A GENTILE TO ENTER THE HOLY PLACES.

FINALLY HE TELLS FELIX THAT THE JEWS HAD EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL CONCERNING PAUL UNTIL THE ROMAN SOLDIERS INTERFERED AND USED VIOLENCE TO REMOVE PAUL FROM THE DISCIPLINE OF THE JEWS.

THE JEWS ALL WERE CLEARLY THE “AMEN CORNER” AFTER THE SPEECH OF TERTULLUS, SHOWING VERBAL AGREEMENT WITH EACH AND EVERY ACCUSATION MADE.

VERSES 10-23 PROVIDE US THE DEFENSE PAUL MADE AGAINST THESE FALSE CHARGES.

FIRST PAUL SAID HE HAD ONLY BEEN IN JERUSALEM LESS THAT TWO WEEKS, AND THAT HE ARRIVED ONLY TO WORSHIP THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS.

HE FURTHER QUICKLY NOTED THE JEWS HAD NO PROOF OF ANY OF THE CHARGES.

NEXT HE SAID HE STILL WORSHIPS THE GOD OF THE JEWS AND ALL SCRIPTURE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

HE READILY ADMITTED HE WAS A MEMBER OF “THE WAY” WHICH IS THE NAME GIVEN TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST.

HE NEXT REVEALED THAT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS WAS THE HOPE OF ISRAEL FOR PAUL HAD SEEN JESUS ALIVE HIMSELF AFTER HE HAD ARISEN.

AFTER GIVING HIS PERSONAL VIEWS HE INFORMS THE GOVERNOR THAT HE AND FOUR OTHER MEN BROUGHT OFFERINGS TO THE TEMPLE THAT HAD BEEN COLLECTED IN MACEDONIA AND ACHAIA FOR THE POOR IN JERUSALEM.

PAUL SAID HE WAS PROPERLY PURIFIED IN THE TEMPLE AND HAD MET ALL THE CLEANSING RULES FOR JEWS WHO ENTER THERE.

HE THEN SAID THE ENTIRE DISAGREEMENT CENTERED UPON THE QUESTION OF RESURRECTION WHICH THE SADDUCEES WOULD NOT BELIEVE.

IN VERSE 22 FELIX SAID HE HAD HEARD ENOUGH.

HE SAW THAT THE JEWISH ELDERS COULD NOT PROVE THEIR ACCUSATIONS AND HE SAID THE HEARING WAS OVER UNTIL THE ORIGINAL ROMAN OFFICER, LYSIAS, WOULD ARRIVE TO TESTIFY.

WHEN LYSIAS CAME HE SAID THAT ALL THE MATTER WAS BASED UPON JEWISH LAW AND THAT, IN HIS OPINION, PAUL WAS NOT GUILTY OF ANY CRIME.

FELIX PUT PAUL IN THE CUSTODY OF LYSIAS, GIVING HIM LIBERTY ALSO, AND ALLOWING HIM TO HAVE VISITORS AS WELL.

CLEARLY FELIX DID NOT VIEW PAUL AS A FLIGHT RISK.

THE WIFE OF FELIX, DRUSILLA, WAS A JEW, AND SHE WAS WELL AWARE OF JEWISH LAW AND CUSTOMS, AND SHE WAS THE SISTER OF KING AGRIPPA WHOM PAUL WILL LATER MEET.

BOTH CAME TO VISIT PAUL SEVERAL DAYS LATER.

PAUL REASONED WITH THE COUPLE CONCERNING JESUS AND THE GOSPEL AND PAUL WAS CONVINCING AND FELIX TREMBLED BEFORE PAUL WHEN HE HEARD THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.

HE TOLD PAUL HE WOULD CONSIDER THE MESSAGE AND CALL ON HIM AGAIN TO KNOW MORE, MISSING HIS CHANCE AT SALVATION.

HE HAD HOPED PAUL WOULD GIVE HIM MONEY, MEANING A BRIBE, TO GAIN FREEDOM. (VERSE 26)

AFTER TWO YEARS OF PAUL IN CUSTODY, FELIX WAS THEN REPLACED BY A NEW GOVERNOR NAMED FESTUS.

IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY SOME EARLY CHURCH WRITERS THAT DURING THIS TWO YEAR PERIOD, LUKE WORKED WITH PAUL AND WROTE THE THIRD GOSPEL.

AS FELIX ENDED HIS TERM, HE FAVORED THE JEWS AND LEFT PAUL IN CUSTODY RATHER THAN FREE HIM BEFORE THE NEW GOVERNOR TOOK OFFICE.

IN VERSES 1-9 OF CHAPTER 25 THE NEW GOVERNOR ARRIVES AND MAKES A TRIP FROM CAESAREA TO JERUSALEM WHERE HE MEETS WITH THE JEWISH TEMPLE LEADERS WHERE THE HIGH PRIEST ASKED FESTUS TO SEND FOR PAUL TO COME TO JERUSALEM SO THE JEWISH LEADERS COULD SURPRISE HIM ON THE WAY AND KILL HIM.

TWO YEARS HAD NOT ENDED THE HATRED AGAINST PAUL BY THE SANHEDRIN.

FESTUS WAS NOT WILLING TO ORDER PAUL TO JERUSALEM AND RATHER SAID HE WOULD HEAR ANY ACCUSATIONS AGAINST PAUL IN CAESAREA AND IF ANY JEWS WISHED TO COME THERE THEY COULD ACCUSE PAUL THERE IN HIS PRESENCE.

ALMOST TWO WEEKS LATER FESTUS BROUGHT PAUL INTO THE JUDGMENT HALL AND THE JEWS ARRIVED TO MAKE THE SAME UNPROVEN CHARGES AGAINST PAUL.

PAUL ONCE MORE DEFENDED HIMSELF AGAINST THE FALSE CHARGES AND SAID HE HAD NOT OFFENDED ANY ROMAN LAW NOR HAD HE BROKEN JEWISH RULES OR TEMPLE RESTRICTIONS.

FESTUS ASKED PAUL IF HE WAS WILLING TO GO TO JERUSALEM UNDER PROTECTION TO DEFEND HIMSELF THERE.

PAUL KNEW SUCH A HEARING WOULD BE A DEATH SENTENCE FOR HIM AS HE WOULD RECEIVE NO JUSTICE BEFORE THE JEWS.

PAUL ALSO REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF JESUS THAT HE WOULD BEAR WITNESS IN ROME SO PAUL APPEALED TO THE EMPORER IN ROME AND BEING A ROMAN CITIZEN HAD THAT RIGHT.

PAUL WAS CLEARLY MOVING UNDER THE WILL OF THE LORD TO DO WHAT HE HAD BEEN COMMANDED TO DO BY JESUS.

SEVERAL DAYS LATER KING AGRIPPA AND HIS SISTER, BERNICE VISITED FESTUS.

THIS WAS HEROD AGRIPPA II, THE SON OF AGRIPPA WHO HAD JAMES KILLED.

HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS THE KING HEROD WHO COMMANDED THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS IN BETHLEHEM.

FESTUS GAVE KING AGRIPPA AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE CUSTODY OF PAUL AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE JEWS FALSELY ACCUSED HIM.

HE ASKED AGRIPPA WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THIS “PESTILENT” FELLOW.

AGRIPPA DECIDED TO MEET WITH PAUL THE NEXT DAY

FESTUS ASKED AGRIPPA TO HELP HIM PROPERLY WORD THE REPORT HE WOULD SEND TO CAESAREA ALONG WITH PAUL TO FULLY EXPLAIN WHY PAUL WAS COMING TO ROME TO APPEAL ALL CHARGES AGAINST HIM. (VERSES 24-27)

FESTUS THEN SAID THAT HE FELT IT WAS UNRESONABLE TO SEND A PRISONER WITHOUT A FULL REPORT OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

FESTUS ALSO CLEARLY SAID HE HAD FOUND NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE CHARGES MADE BY THE JEWS NOR WAS PAUL DESERVING OF DEATH.

IN THIS STUDY STOP PAUL REVEALS A MOMENT OF STRONG PERSONAL REFLECTION WHEN HE SAID IN 24:11 WHEN HE DEFENDED HIMSELF BEFORE FELIX:

“… there are but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.”

HERE WE SEE THAT PAUL IS STILL DOING ALL HE CAN TO OBSERVE THE CEREMONIAL LAW.

IN 21:26 PAUL ADVISES THAT HE WENT TO THE TEMPLE AND PURIFIED HIMSELF.

THE ONE THING THAT PAUL RAILED AGAINST MORE THAN ANY OTHER WAS THAT JEWS SAID GENTILES HAD TO BECOME JEWS TO COME TO FAITH IN CHRIST AND THEREBY BE SAVED.

HE SAID IT WAS NOT TRUE.

HIS DEEPEST TEACHING ON THIS MATTER IS GIVEN IN EPHESIANS

2:15 WHERE HE TEACHES THAT JESUS HAS MADE OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, MEANING JEWS AND GENTILES ARE RECREATED INTO ONE TYPE OF BELIEVER, BOTH HAVING ACCESS BY ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER.

HE FURTHER TEACHES IN ROMANS 10:4 THAT CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW.

PAUL STILL CONTINUED ALMOST UNTIL HIS DEATH TO APPEAL TO JEWS TO BELIEVE, WHILE HE NEVER GAVE UP HIS OWN PERSONAL AFFECTION FOR THE CEREMONIES OF THE LAW, MEANING THE FEASTS AND PASSOVER.

HE SOUGHT TO TEACH FIRST IN THE SYNAGOGUES WHEN ONE EXISTED.

HE CIRCUMCISED TIMOTHY TO APPEASE THE JEWS TO WHOM TIMOTHY WOULD WITNESS.

HE ASSUMED A JEWISH VOW OF THE LAW HIMSELF.

HE STRESSED AT HIS TRIALS THAT HE HIMSELF WAS A PHARISEE AND IN 23:6 & 26:5 HE SAID HE STOOD FOR “… nothing other than the hope of the Jews in the resurrection of the dead.”

SO WHILE HE CLEARLY STATES HE WAS DONE WITH THE JEWS AND WOULD FOCUS UPON GENTILES, BECAUSE THE HEARTS OF THE JEWS WERE HARDENED, HE STILL PERSONALLY SOUGHT COMFORT IN JEWISH TRADITIONS.

HE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE VERY FINAL END OF HIS THINKING ON THE JEWS IN ROMANS 11:8-11 WHERE HE TAUGHT THAT THE FALL OF THE JEWS WAS FROM A SPIRITUAL SLUMBER AND BECAUSE OF THAT SLUMBER, SALVATION CAME TO THE GENTILES.

AS A SUMMARY VIEW OF CHAPTERS 24 & 25 WE SHOULD CONSIDER SEVERAL POINTS.

PAUL WAS NOT MERELY SATISFIED TO DENY THE FALSE CHARGES MADE AGAINST HIM AS HE APPEARED BEFORE FELIX AND FESTUS.

HE SEIZED THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A PUBLIC DECLARATION WHICH WAS ALSO HIS CONFESSION OF HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH AND HOPE, WHILE HE RESPONDED IN 24:14 THAT HE STILL HELD TRUE TO THE TEACHINGS OF SCRIPTURAL LAW AND THE PROPHETS.

HE SAID HIS CONSCIENCE WAS CLEAR OF THE CHARGE OF DEFILING THE HOLY TEMPLE AS HE WAS SIMPLY THERE IN WORSHIP WITH NO CROWD AROUND HIM OR ANY UPROAR CAUSED.

IN 24:21 HE DID ALLOW THE JEWISH TEMPLE MASTERS TO SAY WITHOUT HIS OBJECTION THAT HE HAD DECLARED THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, THEREBY ANGERING THE SADDUCEES.

IN 24:22 WE SEE THAT IN VIEW OF THE LACK OF EVIDENCE, FELIX SHOULD HAVE SET PAUL FREE.

BUT FELIX GAVE IN TO THE SAME TEMPTATION THAT HAD CONTROLLED PONTIUS PILATE. WHEN PILATE FOUND NO FAULT OR CRIME IN JESUS HE DID NOT FREE JESUS BECAUSE OF HIS FEAR OF THE JEWS WHO WOULD HAVE CAUSED DISORDER HAD HE DONE SO,

FELIX COMPROMISED AND INSTEAD OF SETTING PAUL FREE, HE PUT OFF ANY DECISION TO AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF LYSIAS THE ROMAN OFFICER WHO HAD SECURED PAUL FROM THE JEWISH MOB.

IN 24:24 IT MAY HAVE BEEN HARD FOR PAUL TO SEE HOW HIS CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT IN CAESAREA FITTED INTO GOD’S PURPOSE.

WE MUST NOT IGNORE THAT IN HIS ORIGINAL COMMAND TO PAUL, JESUS HAD TOLD HIM THAT PART OF HIS MISSION WAS TO APPEAR BEFORE RULERS. (ACTS 9:15)

NOW PAUL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THIS COMMAND BEFORE FELIX, FESTUS, AND LATER AGRIPPA.

TO FELIX AND HIS WIFE, DRUSILLA, PAUL NOT ONLY PRESENTED THE FACTS OF HIS CASE BUT ALSO DISCUSSED MATTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, SELF-CONTROL, AND THE COMING JUDGMENT.

UPON HEARING THAT PORTION OF PAUL’S PRESENTATION, FELIX BECAME TERRIFIED.

NOW THEIR POSITIONS WERE REVERSED. IN THAT MOMENT FELIX WAS ON TRIAL AND THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CAUSED HIM TO TREMBLE.

FELIX RESISTED THE SPIRIT AND TOLD PAUL TO LEAVE FOR NOW AND HE WOULD SEE PAUL AGAIN LATER, WHICH TRULY NEVER HAPPENED.

FELIX WAS MOTIVATED BY GREED AND THE REAL REASON HE WANTED TO SEE PAUL AGAIN WAS TO RECEIVE A BRIBE (24:26) TO ARRANGE FREEDOM FOR PAUL.

THESE CONVERSATIONS COVERED A TWO YEAR PERIOD AND THEN FELIX WAS REPLACED BY PORCIUS FESTUS.

FESTUS WAS IMMEDIATELY INFORMED BY THE TEMPLE MASTERS  ABOUT THEIR CHARGES AGAINST PAUL.

CLEARLY THE CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT OF PAUL WAS NOT ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE JEWISH LEADERS.

THEY WERE BEGGING FESTUS NOT FOR JUSTICE BUT FOR A FAVOR, ASKING HIM TO HAVE PAUL ONCE MORE SENT TO JERUSALEM WHERE THEY AGAIN PLANNED TO MURDER PAUL.

IN 25:4 WE SEE THAT FESTUS, ALTHOUGH HE WANTED TO PLEASE THE JEWS, WAS NOT WILLING TO ORDER PAUL BACK TO JERUSALEM.

HERE GOD WAS AGAIN USING AN ENEMY OF THE FAITH TO PROTECT HIS CHOSEN VESSEL.

OUR NEXT STUDY STOP IN CHAPTER 26 WILL ALLOW US TO UNDERSTAND THE MEETING BETWEEN PAUL AND KING AGRIPPA AND WE WILL SEE HOW POWERFUL WILL BE THE WITNESS OF PAUL.

Acts 26: Paul Before Agrippa

CHAPTER 26 BEGINS WITH PAUL IN THE HEARING ROOM OF HEROD’S PALACE IN CAESAREA, STANDING BEFORE GOVERNOR FESTUS AND KING AGRIPPA AND HIS SISTER BERNICE.

THE GOVERNOR HAD REQUESTED AGRIPPA’S HELP IN COMPOSING A LETTER TO TRAVEL ALONG WITH PAUL TO ROME, WHERE PAUL HAD REQUESTED TO GO TO APPEAL HIS CHARGES DIRECTLY TO CAESAR.

KING AGRIPPA HAD SAID HE WISHED TO HEAR FROM PAUL PERSONALLY AND EVEN THOUGH PAUL WAS NOT REQUIRED TO DEFEND HIMSELF BEFORE AGRIPPA SINCE HE HAD APPEALED TO A HIGHER POWER IN ROME, HE DECIDED TO SPEAK BEFORE THE KING.

HERE WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PAUL TO WITNESS CHRIST BEFORE THOSE WITH MUCH POWER, IN THIS CASE A JEWISH KING APPOINTED BY ROME.

PAUL INTENDED TO WITNESS ABOUT HIS WALK WITH JESUS CHRIST AFTER HIS VIOLENT CONVERSION NEAR DAMASCUS.

IN VERSES 1-3 PAUL BEGINS HIS DEFENSE FIRST BY COMPLIMENTING AGRIPPA CONCERNING HIS KNOWLEDGE OF JEWISH BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS.

HE BESEECHED AGRIPPA TO HEAR HIM PATIENTLY .

ACCORDING TO JOSEPHUS, AGRIPPA’S FATHER HELD THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE HOLY TEMPLE AND ITS TREASURES AND HAD THE POWER TO AFFECT APPOINTMENTS OF HIGH PRIESTS.

AS PAUL BEGINS HE IS NOT SO MUCH PREPARING A PERSONAL DEFENSE BUT RATHER TO DO ALL POSSIBLE TO CONVERT THE KING TO THE LORD. THE KING WILL LATER ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FACT IN VERSE 28.

IN VERSES 4-8 PAUL BEGINS HIS TESTIMONY BY USING HIS PERSONAL HISTORY IN HIS EARLY LIFE AS A PRACTICING JEW.

HE BEGINS WITH REVEALING THAT HE HAD BECOME A PHARISEE WHICH ALONG WITH HIS EARLY TRAINING BY GAMILIEL GAVE PAUL STRONG CREDENTIALS.

THE PHARISEES WERE A GROUP SMALLER IN NUMBER THAN THE SADDUCEES AND WERE SET APART (MADE HOLY) DURING THE PREVIOUS REVOLT OF THE MACCABEANS.

HE SAYS IN VERSE 5 THAT HE HAD LIVED IN THE MOST STRAIGHTEST SECT OF OUR RELIGION, KNOWING THIS EXPLANATION WOULD IMPRESS AGRIPPA.

WE REMEMBER THAT PAUL SPOKE OF HIS CONSERVATIVE PAST TO THE PHILLIPIANS IN 3:5 SAYING HE HAD BEEN CIRCUMCISED ON HIS 8TH DAY AND WAS FROM THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, AND WAS A HEBREW OF THE HEBREWS.

NOW PAUL BEGINS HIS EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE JEWS HAD COME TO HATE HIM.

HE BEGINS WITH MENTIONING HOW THE LORD HAD MADE A PROMISE TO THE 12 TRIBES AND PAUL HAD SERVED THE LORD HOPING FOR THAT PROMISE, WHICH WAS OF A REDEEMER TO COME.

BY THAT PROMISE THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAD ALWAYS LOOKED TOWARD A FUTURE TIME WHEN GOD WOULD RESURRECT THE DEAD.

BECAUSE OF THAT PROMISE, WHY SHOULD IT SEEM INCREDIBLE THAT GOD HAD BEGUN THE PROCESS OF ALREADY RAISING THE DEAD AS JESUS CHRIST HAD BECOME A RISEN SAVIOR TO THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.

PAUL FELT IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS THAT HE WAS BEING CONDEMNED  FOR BELIEVING THAT LONG HELD TRUTH WHICH WAS THE GREAT HOPE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

NOW IN VERSES 9-11 HE CONTINUES TO DEFEND HIMSELF BY EXPRESSING HIS OWN ZEAL FOR WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED AND HAD BEGUN TO DELIVER.

HE IS HONEST TO REVEAL THAT HE ORIGINALLY HAD DONE MANY THINGS THAT WERE CONTRARY TO THE NAME OF JESUS BY DOING WHAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT WAS THE WILL OF GOD.

PAUL DID NOT JUST DISAGREE WITH THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS BUT RATHER WAS HOSTILE TO THOSE TEACHING THEM AND THOSE WHO PREACHED THAT MESSAGE.

HE SAID HE PUT MANY CHRISTIANS IN PRISON FOR THEIR BEING FOLLOWERS AND WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN A DEATH SENTENCE HE HIMSELF VOTED FOR THEIR DEATH.

HE SAID HE HAD PERSECUTED INSIDE THE SYNAGOGUES AND FORCED BELIEVERS TO BLASPHEME, AND EVEN PERSECUTED THEM INTO OTHER CITIES.

HE HAD BEEN OBSESSED WITH THIS TYPE OF PERSECUTION AND HAD GONE TO DAMASCUS TO CONTINUE HIS MOST HARMFUL BEHAVIOR WHICH HE READILY ADMITTED MEANT AT TIMES TAKING THE LIVES OF CHRISTIANS.

WE RECALL HE STOOD BY CONSENTING TO THE STONING OF STEPHEN.

NEXT IN VERSES 12-18 PAUL REVEALS HIS MESSAGE OF HIS OWN CONVERSION ALONG THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS TO AGRIPPA.

PAUL ONCE MORE TELLS THE STORY OF THE BRIGHT LIGHT THAT SHONE OVER HIM ALONE, REVEALING THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN JESUS.

THE MATTER OF THE LIGHT WAS THE STRONGEST POSTION OF THIS STORY AND THIS MOMENT WAS THE THIRD TIME HE HAD SPOKEN OF IT. (ACTS 9:3 & 22:6 & NOW IN ACTS 26)

NOW PAUL ENTERS INTO THE MOST POWERFUL PART OF HIS CONVERSION STORY AS HE SAYS ALL THE THINGS HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DOING, THINKING THEY WERE GOOD, WERE ALL GOOD FOR NOTHING.

HE SAYS THEY WERE ALL LOSSES FOR CHRIST AND PAUL NOW CONSIDERS THEM AS DUNG WHICH HE REVEALED SO WELL IN PHILLIPIANS 3:7-8.

HE REVEALS ALL THE MEN WITH HIM ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD AND HIMSELF WERE DRIVEN TO GROUND BY THE LIGHT AND THE SPEECH THAT JESUS MADE TO HIM ALONE IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE.

PAUL CLEARLY ASKED WHO WAS SPEAKING TO HIM AND JESUS IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS THE ONE WHOM PAUL PERSECUTED.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS CAME NEXT AND PAUL WAS TOLD TO RISE AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS TO BE SENT TO THE GENTILES.

PAUL WANTED AGRIPPA TO UNDERSTAND THAT HIS WORK AMONG GENTILES WAS NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT BUT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY THE RISEN LORD.

JESUS DID NOT SPEAK IN GENERALITIES TO PAUL. HE SPOKE IN STRONGLY SPECIFIC SENTENCES COMMANDING HIM TO DO CLEAR AND SPECIFIC THINGS AS HE BEGAN THE REST OF HIS LIFE AS A CHOSEN VESSEL FOR THE LORD.

JESUS GAVE PAUL FIVE SPECIFIC COMMANDS SO THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MISUNDERSTANDING BY PAUL AS TO HIS MISSION TO THE GENTILE LOST PEOPLES:

• FIRST: HE WAS TO OPEN THEIR EYES WITH THE MESSAGE.

• SECOND: HE WAS TO TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT.

• THIRD: HE WAS TO TURN THEM FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD.

• FOURTH: BY DOING SO THEY WOULD RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS.

• FIFTH: AFTER DOING SO, THEY WOULD THEN RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE.

WITH THIS POWERFUL COMMISSION PAUL FELT A DEBT TO COMMUNICATE THE SAVING GOSPEL OF CHRIST, BOTH TO GENTILES AND HIS OWN PEOPLE, THE JEWS.

PAUL LATER WROTE SOME OF HIS STRONGEST WORDS ON THIS MATTER OF ACCEPTING HIS COMMISSION AS A DEBT IN ROMANS 1:14:

“I and debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.”

PAUL WAS A DEBTOR BECAUSE HE, JUST LIKE US, OWED THE SAVING GOSPEL MESSAGE TO THE LOST AROUND HIM.

FURTHER IN THAT CHAPTER IN ROMANS PAUL EXPANDED HIS THOUGHT IN 1:16:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

DO WE NOTICE THE ONLY THING PAUL SAYS IS THE DOORWAY TO SALVATION? HE SAYS THAT DOOR OPENS AND WELCOMES EVERY ONE WHO BELIEVES.

THE ONLY FACTOR THAT BRINGS THE HUMAN HEART FROM BROKEN TO NOT BROKEN IS FAITH IN CHRIST BECAUSE THE MOMENT WE EXPRESS THAT FAITH, WE HAVE REPENTED UNTO HIM.

NOW IN VERSES 19-23 PAUL TELLS KING AGRIPPA THAT HE WAS NOT DISOBEDIENT TO THE HEAVENLY VISION. HE DID NOT REVEAL HIS TIME IN ARABIA WITH THE LORD BUT DID REVEAL HIS TRAVELS OTHERWISE TO BRING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TO THOSE IN MANY AREAS.

HE THEN STATES THAT IT WAS FOR THESE WORKS OF OBEDIENCE THAT THE JEWS SIEZED HIM IN THE TEMPLE AND WERE ABOUT TO KILL HIM.

HE STATES THAT THE ANCIENT PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 53 HAD SHOWN THE TRUTH CONCERNING CHRIST WHO WOULD SUFFER FOR OUR SINS.

IN VERSES 24-29 WE SEE THE REACTION TO PAUL’S TESTIMONY.

AGRIPPA’S RESPONSE TO ALL THESE MATTERS SPOKEN BY PAUL WAS SURELY SURPRISING.

FESTUS SAYS NOW THAT PAUL’S STRONG EDUCATION HAS MADE HIM MAD, MEANING INSANE.

PAUL SAID HE WAS NOT MAD BUT INSTEAD SPOKE FORTH THE WORDS OF TRUTH AND SOBERNESS.

PAUL SAID THAT AGRIPPA ALREADY KNEW THESE THINGS OF SCRIPTURE BEING A JEW HIMSELF AND THAT HE SURELY WAS WELL AWARE OF THE MINISTRY AND WORKS OF JESUS AS THEY HAD NOT BEEN DONE HIDDEN AWAY IN A CORNER.

IN VERSE 27 PAUL DIRECTLY CONFRONTS AGRIPPA AND ASKED WHETHER HE BELIEVED THE PROPHETS.

SUCH A QUESTION WAS COURAGEOUS AS HE WAS A PRISONER ADDRESSING A KING.

IF AGRIPPA RESPONDED THAT HE BELIEVED THE PROPHETS, THEN THE PROMISED ONE HAD COME TO FULFILL THESE PROPHECIES.

IF AGRIPPA RESPONDED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE PROPHETS, ALL OF HIS JEWISH PEOPLE HE RULED WOULD BE OUTRAGED.

AGRIPPA WAS INDEED FULLY AWARE OF A POLITICALLY LOADED QUESTION SO HE DEFERS THE ANSWER AND THEN MAKES A STATEMENT THAT STARTLES PAUL IN VERSE 28:

“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

WE MUST ADMIT THAT ALMOST WAS A POWERFUL STATEMENT BUT WAS ALSO A STATEMENT OF HIS BEING LOST FOREVER.

PAUL WAS WELL AWARE OF THAT FACT AND THEN GAVE HIS OWN REPLY TO THE KING IN VERSE 29:

“I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”

THE COMPASSION OF PAUL’S HEART IS HEARD IN HIS RESPONSE.

AFTER PAUL LEFT THE ROOM, FESTUS AND AGRIPPA AND BERNICE SPOKE PRIVATELY ABOUT PAUL’S CRIMINAL CASE.

THEY AGREED HE WAS INNOCENT OF ANY CRIME AND COULD BE SET FREE IF HE HAD NOT APPEALED TO CAESAR IN ROME.

THE ONLY THING THAT NOW REMAINED WAS THAT PAUL MUST GO TO ROME.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT PAUL DID THE RIGHT THING BY GOING TO JERUSALEM, SO HE COULD REACH ROME UNHARMED BY THE JEWS AND REMAIN PROTECTED BY THE ROMAN ARMY ALL THE WAY TO ROME.

THE WILL AND PLAN OF THE LORD HAD UNFOLDED TO ASSURE THAT HIS CHOSEN VESSEL WOULD COMPLETE THE MISSION HE HAD BEEN GIVEN OF BEARING WITNESS IN ROME.

WE END CHAPTER 26 BY RECOGNIZING THAT THE TRANSFORMATION OF PAUL CONTINUES.

IT WAS A MIGHTY TRANSFORMATION THAT HAD COME UPON THIS MAN CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE HIS OWN CHOSEN VESSEL TO BRING GOD’S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD, BOTH IN HIS DAY AND IN OUR OWN DAY.

WHAT IS THAT TRANSFORMATION MESSAGE WE KNOW AS THE GOSPEL?

IT IS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS NOT DEAD BUT IS ALIVE.

BECAUSE OF THAT FACT THAT PETER SAID WAS FROM THE FOREKNOWLEDGE AND DETERMINATE COUNSEL OF GOD, PAUL BROUGHT FORTH A MESSAGE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

THAT MESSAGE IS BASED UPON THAT RESURRECTION.

BECAUSE OF THAT FACT, ONE OF TWO THINGS WILL HAPPEN IN EVERY LIFE.

EITHER YOU HAVE BOWED YOUR HEART TO JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, OR YOU WILL ACCOUNT TO HIM WHY NOT.

SO THE RESURRECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE UNSAVED AS WELL AS THE SAVED.

IN HIS LETTER TO THE ROMAN CHURCH, PAUL EXPRESSED HIS LONGING TO GO TO ROME IN CHAPTER ONE VERSES 10-11:

“… if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established.”

IN OUR NEXT CHAPTER, HIS JOURNEY TO ROME BEGINS.

Acts 27: Protection in a Stormy Voyage

BOTH ACTS 27 AND THE FIRST 16 VERSES OF ACTS 28 TELL US ABOUT PAUL’S STORMY TRIP TO ROME.

THE USE OF THE PRONOUN “WE” IN VERSE ONE TEACH US THAT LUKE HAS JOINED PAUL IN THE FINAL TRIP OF PAUL’S LIFE TO ROME.

WE HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE LUKE HAD BEEN FOR THE TWO YEARS THAT PAUL WAS UNDER HOUSE ARREST IN CAESAREA UNDER FELIX & FESTUS BUT NOW HE HAS GIVEN US PROOF OF HIS PRESENCE.

THE FINAL TWO CHAPTERS OF ACTS REVEAL THE PLAN THAT IS NOW BEING FULFILLED FOR PAUL TO GAIN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND GIVEN HIM BY CHRIST TO BEAR WITNESS IN ROME.

PAUL CLEARLY STATED IN ACTS 19:21 “… I MUST SEE ROME.”

JESUS HAD WILLED IT AND PAUL WAS OBEYING THE LORD AND ACCOMPLISHING THE PURPOSE OF GOD WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO PAUL THAN HIS OWN SAFETY.

THIS LAST JOURNEY WILL NOT BE WITHOUT DANGER AND COST.

AFTER THE ROMANS PREPARED THE JOURNEY, THEY FOUND A SHIP AND DELIVERED PAUL AND OTHER PRISONERS TO A ROMAN CENTURION NAMED JULIUS TO SET SAIL.

THE JOURNEY BEGAN NORTHWARD AND THEN WEST WITH ARISTARCUS ALSO ON THE JOURNEY WITH PAUL, WHO WAS A MACEDONIAN OF THESSALONICA.

HE HAD ACCOMPANIED PAUL FROM EPHESUS BACK TO ISRAEL IN ACTS 20:4 AND HE WOULD LATER BE PART OF PAUL’S FEW HELPERS WHEN PAUL WAS IN THE ROMAN PRISON.

IN THOSE DAYS THE PREVAILING WINDS WOULD BE FROM THE WEST AND IN VERSE 4 WE ARE TOLD THEY ARE CONTRARY, MEANING BLOWING DIRECTLY AGAINST THE SHIP.

FOR THAT REASON THE PLAN WAS TO HUG THE COAST AROUND CYPRUS TO CRETE TO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT THE INCOMING WINDS.

THE SHIP MADE PORT IN MYRA, A PORT IN LYCIA, AND THERE THE CENTURION FOUND ANOTHER SHIP FROM ALEXANDRIA HEADED WEST TO ITALY AND THE PRISONERS WERE MOVED TO THE NEXT SHIP ON THE JOURNEY.

THERE WERE 276 CREW AND PASSENGERS ON THIS MUCH LARGER SHIP WHICH WAS LARGE ENOUGH FOR 500 IF NEEDED.

LUKE WRITES IN VERSE 9 THAT SAILING WAS BECOMING DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE WESTERN WINDS INCOMING AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT FAST WAS OVER, MEANING THE TIME OF YEAR WAS EITHER THE END OF SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER.

PAUL ADVISES HIS CONCERN AND ASKS THAT THE SHIP FIND PORT AND SPEND WINTER AT THE NEARBY PORT TOWN OF FAIR HAVENS

ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CRETE.

THE SHIP OWNER DID NOT TAKE THE ADVICE AND TOOK THE SHIP TO PHOENIX WHICH WAS FARTHER ALONG THE COAST OF CRETE AND HAD AN ACTUAL HARBOR TO ANCHOR INTO.

ALONG THE WAY TO PHOENIX A STRONG STORM AROSE AND ACTUALLY OVERTOOK THE SHIP’S DIRECTION TOSSING IT AT WILL MUCH LIKE OUR MODERN HURRICANE STORMS SEEM TO BE ABLE TO DO.

THE EXPERIENCED SAILORS BEGAN TO UNDERGIRD THE SHIP, MEANING RUNNING ROPES UNDER IT AND MAKING THEM TIGHT ENOUGH TO KEEP THE SHIP HULL FROM CRACKING.

VERSES 18-19 TELL US HOW SERIOUS THE STORM THREATENED THE SECURITY OF THE SHIP, ITS CARGO, AND THE PASSENGERS.

CARGO WAS THROWN OVERBOARD TO LIGHTEN THE SHIP AND FOR MANY DAYS THE STORM RAGED TO THE POINT OF MOST ALL ABOARD FEELING THE EFFORT WAS NOT MAKING THE SHIP WORTHY ANY LONGER OF REMAINING ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE TERRIBLE WINDS.

IN VERSES 21-26 THE DEPTH OF THE DARKNESS AND PLIGHT OF THE SHIP SEEMED TO INDICATE ALL WAS LOST.

BUT ALL ABOARD WERE SOON TO HEAR FROM THE LORD.

PAUL ADMONISHED THE CREW WHO HAD NOT LISTENED TO HIM EARLIER BUT ANNOUNCED THAT NO LIVES WERE TO BE LOST BUT THE SHIP ITSELF WOULD NOT BE SAVED.

PAUL SAID THE ANGEL OF GOD WAS STANDING WITH HIM AND HAD ASSURED HIM NO LIVES WERE TO LOST.

THIS WAS THE 6TH TIME OF GOD’S VISIONS TO PAUL AND ACTUALLY BECAME THE FINAL TIME VISIONS WERE GIVEN TO HIM.

THE EXACT WORDS OF THE ANGEL WERE:

“Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” (VERSE 24)

AFTER PAUL SHARED THE NEWS THAT GOD WOULD PRESERVE THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE ABOARD THE SHIP, HE CONFIRMED HIS FAITH BEFORE ALL OF THEM IN VERSE 25:

“Wherefore sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe in God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

PAUL’S FAITH WAS FIRM AND WAS STRONGER THAN THE STORM WHICH GOD HAD ASSURED WOULD NOT DESTROY HIS CHOSEN VESSEL WHICH WAS PAUL, UNDER GOD’S COMMAND TO GO TO ROME.

IN VERSE 26 PAUL ADVISES THE SHIP MUST BE GUIDED TO A NEARBY ISLAND.

THE STORM WAS NOT A RESULT OF DIVINE JUDGMENT AGAINST THEM NOR DID PAUL INTERPRET IT IN THAT MEANING.

ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE WARNING PAUL GAVE IN VERSE 10 HAD BEEN HEEDED.

IN VERSES 27-44 WE FIND THE RESULT OF PAUL’S INSISTENCE ON TAKING THE SHIP TO AN ISLAND TO FIND SOME SHELTER.

IT HAD NOW BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE SHIP HAD SAILED FROM FAIR HAVENS ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A ONE DAY JOURNEY.

THE CREW BEGAN TO SOUND THE WATER DEPTH, MEANING LOWERING WEIGHTS TO DETERMINE IF THE BOTTOM WAS GETTING MORE SHALLOW OR DEEPER.

IN THE DARKNESS OF THAT MOMENT THE CREW HEARD WAVES BREAKING MEANING THEY WERE NEARING LAND.

ANCHORS WERE LOWERED TO TRY AND STABLIZE THE SHIP TO WAIT FOR DAYLIGHT AND SOME CREW WISHED TO ABANDON SHIP BUT PAUL WARNED THE ROMAN CENTURION NOT TO ALLOW THEM TO DO SO, TELLING HIM THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE LIVES WAS TO REMAIN ON THE SHIP.

THE DECISION WAS MADE FOR ALL TO REMAIN ON BOARD AND PAUL TOLD ALL ON BOARD TO TAKE SOME NOURISHMENT TO PRESERVE WHAT STRENGTH THEY MAY HAVE LEFT.

HE ASSURED THEM NOT A HAIR ON THEIR HEADS WOULD BE HARMED AND IN VERSE 35 HE BROKE BREAD AND GAVE THANKS.

THIS BLESSING AND ASSURANCE OF GOD’S CARE AND PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AFFECTED BOTH PASSENGERS AND CREW.

276 PEOPLE BECAME OF GOOD CHEER BY THE WORDS AND ACTIONS OF PAUL. HIS FAITH WAS CONTAGIOUS.

IN VERSE 38 THE CARGO OF WHEAT WAS THROWN OVERBOARD TO LIGHTEN THE SHIP, ANCHORS WERE LIFTED UP AND IN THE EARLY MORNING LIGHT, A CREEK SITE WAS SEEN ON THE LAND TO GUIDE THE BOAT.

THE SAIL WAS AGAIN RAISED AND THE WIND TOOK THE SHIP TOWARD THE LAND AND IN VERSE 41 THE FRONT OF THE SHIP WAS STUCK IN SAND WHILE THE REAR OF THE SHIP WAS TORN APART BY THE WIND.

THE SHIP HAD RUN AGROUND ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA, NOT IN A BAY BUT SIMPLY ON ANY GROUND THAT COULD BE SEEN.

THIS PLACE IS STILL TODAY KNOWN AS ST. PAUL’S BAY IN HONOR OF THE GUIDANCE OF GOD THROUGH PAUL TO SAVE THE MEN.

THERE SEEMED TO BE A FEELING THAT THE PRISONERS SHOULD BE KILLED TO STOP THEM FROM ESCAPING BUT PAUL IMPRESSED UPON THE ROMAN CENTURION NOT TO GIVE THAT ORDER.

PAUL, LUKE, AND ARISTARCUS ALL HEADED TO SHORE AS BEST THEY COULD AS THE SHIP BROKE APART AND VERSE 44 CONFIRMS ALL MEN WERE SAVED EXACTLY AS PAUL HAD SAID, AND ALL REACHED THE ISLAND WITH NOT A SINGLE LIFE LOST.

CLEARLY THE VOYAGE WAS A SEAFARING ERROR AND HAD THE SHIP STAYED WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY ALL THE VERSES OF CHAPTER 27 WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NEEDED.

BUT EVEN IN CARELESSNESS THERE WAS CARE FROM GOD THROUGH PAUL AND EVEN SENDING HIS ANGEL TO PAUL TO ASSURE THAT THE LORD WAS IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS AND HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT THE STORM WOULD NOT TAKE THE LIVES OF THE CREW, SOLDIERS, OR PASSENGERS.

EVEN IN THE WORST OF THE STORM, THESE VERSES SHOW US THERE WAS TRUST IN THE TEMPEST WHICH WAS RAGING.

PAUL TOLD THE MEN TO TAKE HEART AND GAVE ASSURANCE THAT NO LIVES WOULD BE LOST.

HE GAVE THEM STRENGTH BY TELLING THEM TO FEAR NOT.

THE MESSAGE GIVEN TO PAUL BY THE LORD’S ANGEL IN VERSE 24 WAS CLEAR AND POWERFUL:

“Do not be afraid, Paul, you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.”

THE WILL OF GOD HAD NOT CHANGED WHATSOEVER FROM THE TIME PAUL WAS INSPIRED TO APPEAL HIS CASE TO ROME AND THAT WILL OF GOD STILL MANAGED ALL CIRCUMSTANCES TO ASSURE PAUL WOULD REACH ROME, NO MATTER WHAT.

THE STORM WAS AWFUL, AND EVEN IN IT’S POWER PAUL GAVE A PORTION OF HIS OWN STRENGTH TO ALL ON BOARD AND LED THEM WITH INSISTING THEY TAKE FOOD TO NOURISH THEMSELVES WHILE HE PROVIDED PRAYER TO NOURISH THEIR SOULS.

IN THE LAST CHAPTER OF ACTS, CHAPTER 28, OUR FINAL ACTS STUDY STOP, WE WILL STUDY THE EVEN MORE POWERFUL WILL OF GOD TO CARE FOR PAUL AND ALL WHO WERE SAVED FROM THE STORM AFTER THEY REACHED LAND.

IN ALL OF THESE STUDY VERSES WE SHOULD BE ACCEPTING THAT THE WILL OF GOD WAS ALL ALONG TO TAKE PAUL TO ROME WHERE HE WOULD BEAR WITNESS TO JESUS CHRIST.

NEXT WEEK WE SEE THE MALTA MINISTRY OF HEALING AND THE NEXT VOYAGE TO ARRANGE PAUL TO ARRIVE WHERE GOD HAD COMMANDED HIM TO BE, WHICH IS ROME.

Acts 28: Paul’s Ministry in Rome

WHEN WE BEGAN OUR STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS I REMINDED US THAT ACTS IS THE ONLY BOOK OF THE BIBLE CONSIDERED TO BE UNFINISHED.

WHILE THE STUDY OF ACTS SEEMS TO FOCUS ON THE EVENTS OF THE APOSTLES AFTER THE DEATH & RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, THE TRUE NATURE OF OUR FOCUS SHOULD PROPERLY BE THE ACTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GIFTED BY JESUS, AND ARRIVING AT PENTECOST.

EVEN IN OUR MODERN DAY THE BOOK IS STILL NOT FINISHED BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS STILL WORKING TO COMPLETE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE THROUGH THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE.

THE COMPLETION OF ACTS WILL BE FOUND IN THE MOMENT THE RAPTURE COMES.

THE FIRST VERSES OF THE FINAL CHAPTER OF ACTS BRING US THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MEN SHIPWRECKED AFTER THE GREAT STORM IN WHICH THE SHIP CARRYING PAUL TOWARD ROME WAS DESTROYED.

WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT THE LORD HAD PROMISED PAUL NO LIVES WOULD BE LOST IN THE WRECK AND NONE WERE.

ALL MEN ON THE BOAT, 276 OF THEM, MADE LAND SAFELY AS THE SHIP CRASHED INTO THE ISLAND OF MALTA, CALLED MELITA IN ACTS 28:1.

IN THE INCIDENT OF THE WRECK OF THE SHIP AND THE SAVING OF ALL ABOARD WE SEE THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL.

OUR FIRST 10 VERSES ARE RECORDED BY LUKE SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE WORK OF THE LORD THAT CONTINUES TO PROTECT PAUL AND TO ASSURE HE MOVES ONWARD TO ROME WHERE HE WILL BEAR WITNESS FOR CHRIST.

VERSE 2 SHOWS US THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE ISLAND SHOWED MUCH KINDNESS TO THOSE WHO WERE SHIPWRECKED AND LUKE REFERS TO THE NATIVE PEOPLE AS BARBARIANS.

IN THIS TIME ANY PEOPLE NOT GREEK OR JEW WERE CONSIDERED TO BE BARBARIANS. THAT REFERENCE DOES NOT MEAN SAVAGES.

IT SIMPLY MEANS THOSE WHO ARE NOT OF THE MORE KNOWN LANDS.

THESE LOCAL PEOPLE MADE A FIRE TO WARM THE MEN WHO WERE WRECKED BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER ON THE COAST.

HERE WE SEE WONDERFUL COMPASSION TOWARD THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE WRECK.

WE RECALL THAT THE CREW OF JONAH’S SHIP WERE NOT AT FIRST WILLING TO CAST HIM OVERBOARD BUT LATER HEARD HIM SAY THE STORM WAS HIS FAULT AND HE MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE SHIP.

WHEN HE WENT INTO THE WATER, CALM SEAS WERE SEEN QUICKLY.

TO ASSIST IN GATHERING FIREWOOD FOR WARMTH PAUL BEGAN TO PICK UP WOOD AND AS HE DID A POISON SERPENT WAS IN THE WOOD OF THE FIRE AND IT CAME OUT AND BIT PAUL ON HIS HAND.

WE REMEMBER THAT IN MARK’S GOSPEL IN CHAPTER 16 WE ARE TOLD THAT THOSE WHO ARE GOD’S PEOPLE MAY TAKE UP SERPENTS WITHOUT HARM AS WELL AS CAST OUT DEVILS.

PAUL WAS NOT TEMPTING GOD’S FAVOR, BUT SIMPLY HAD NOT SEEN THE SERPENT AS HE WAS GATHERING WOOD AND THEN IT FASTENED ITSELF TO PAUL.

THIS POSSIBLY MAY HAVE BEEN FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT PAUL’S THORN IN HIS FLESH WAS TROUBLE WITH HIS SIGHT, AS WE FIND IN GALATIANS.

THE LOCAL PEOPLE SAW THE VIPER HANGING FROM PAUL’S HAND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THIS WAS VENGENCE, MEANING JUSTICE, FOR WHATEVER CRIME PAUL MAY HAVE COMMITTED TO CAUSE HIM TO BE AMONG THE ROMAN SOLDIERS.

PAUL SHOOK OFF THE SERPENT INTO THE FIRE AND FELT NO HARM FROM THE BITE.

SINCE HE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE SNAKE, THEN THE LOCALS CONSIDERED PAUL A GOD. THEY WERE AS WRONG ABOUT THE 2ND CONCLUSION AS THEY HAD BEEN ABOUT THE 1ST.

IN VERSE 7-8 WE ARE TOLD THAT A MAN WHO WAS CHIEF OF THE ISLAND LIVED CLOSE BY. HIS NAME WAS PUBLIUS.

THIS MAN’S FATHER SUFFERED FROM A STRONG FEVER AND BLOODY DISCHARGE FROM HIS BODY. PAUL ENTERED HIS HOME, PRAYED FOR HIM, LAID HANDS ON HIM. AND HE WAS HEALED.

AFTERWARD OTHERS WHO WERE SICK AND DISEASED WERE ALSO HEALED BY PAUL CAUSING ALL THE LOCAL PEOPLE TO HONOR PAUL AND HIS FRIENDS AND THEY GAVE GIFTS OF MUCH NEEDED ITEMS TO THEM.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONTROVERSY AS TO WHETHER PAUL PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THE LOCALS AT MALTA.

EVEN THOUGH SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY SO, IT SEEMS PAUL WOULD NOT MISS SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY AND THE LIFE PAUL LIVED THERE FOR THREE MONTHS DISPLAYED THE POWER OF CHRIST AND LIKELY PAUL DID AS HE ALWAYS DID, BOTH PREACH AND TEACH JESUS.

THE VOYAGE TOWARD ROME CONTINUES BEGINNING IN VERSE 11.

A SHIP DEPARTED WITH PAUL AND HIS FRIENDS ON IT WHICH HAD COME FROM ALEXANDRIA AND THEIR FIRST STOP WAS IN SYRACUSE, WHERE THEY STAYED FOR THREE DAYS.

THE MASSIVE STORM HAD LONG LEFT THE AREA AND THE NEW SHIP THEN STOPPED IN RHEGIUM AND A DAY LATER STOPPED IN PUTEOLI.

CHRISTIAN BRETHREN WERE FOUND IN PUTEOLI WITH THE GROUP REMAINING WITH THEM SEVEN DAYS, AND THEN THE GROUP HEADED TO ROME.

IN VERSES 14-15 WE SEE PAUL’S INITIAL EMOTION OF THANKING

GOD FOR THE ARRIVAL AND THEN TAKING COURAGE CONCERNING WHAT WAS TO COME.

IN VERSE 16 PAUL’S FELLOW PRISONERS WERE TURNED OVER TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD EXCEPT FOR PAUL, WHO WAS MADE TO DWELL ALONE WITH A SINGLE SOLDIER TO KEEP HIM GUARDED.

PAUL WAS ALLOWED TO LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH A SOLDIER GUARD WHO WAS CHANGED CONSISTENTLY AS THEY TOOK TURNS GUARDING PAUL.

IN VERSES 17-20 PAUL CALLS THE LOCAL JEWS TO VISIT HIM ASSURING THEM HE HAD DONE NOTHING AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE OR JEWISH CUSTOMS.

HE TOLD THEM THAT THE ROMANS WOULD HAVE FREED HIM BUT THE JEWS IN JERUSALEM HAD SPOKEN AGAINST HIS RELEASE.

AS WAS PAUL’S CUSTOM FOR YEARS, HE APPROACHED THE JEWS FIRST. THEY CLAIM NO CORRESPONDENCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THEM CONCERNING HIM BUT THEY WISHED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH PAUL NOW SUPPORTED.

THEY MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT EVERY WHERE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS FOUND, IT IS SPOKEN AGAINST.

IN VERSES 21-24 A DAY WAS SET FOR A MEETING AND PAUL PREACHED TO THEM CONCERNING CHRIST FROM MOSES THROUGH THE PROPHETS AND PAUL USED THE ENTIRE DAY TEACHING THEM.

SOME BELIEVED PAUL AND OTHERS DID NOT.

IN VERSES 25-31 WE ARE GIVEN THE FINAL WORDS OF PAUL

THOSE WHO DID NOT BELIEVE SEEMED TO HAVE DEPARTED AS SOON AS PAUL QUOTED THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAYING THAT THE PROPHET WAS DIRECTED BY THE HOLY GHOST TO TELL THE JEWISH FATHERS IN HIS DAY THAT THE PROPHET SHOULD GO UNTO THE PEOPLE WARNING THAT THEY WOULD HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND AND SEE BUT NOT PERCEIVE.

PAUL WAS CLEARLY SAYING THAT THE MOMENT BEING DESCRIBED WAS THE MOMENT THE CURRENT DAY JEWS WERE EXPERIENCING.

PAUL FURTHER SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY OF THE JEWS TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH IN FRONT OF THEM THAT THE SALVATION OF GOD HAS GONE UNTO THE GENTILES AND THAT THEY WILL HEAR.

ALL THE JEWS DEPARTED AND BEGAN MUCH DISCUSSION AMONG THEMSELVES.

PAUL REMAINED IN HIS OWN RENTED HOUSE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS RECEIVING AND TEACHING ALL WHO CAME TO HIM.

HE PREACHED AND TAUGHT THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ALL THINGS CONCERNING JESUS CHRIST WITH NO MAN FORBIDDING THIS WORK.

WE KNOW HOW STRONGLY PAUL TAUGHT THIS MATTER TO THE JEWS IN HIS TIME WITH THEM BECAUSE HE INCLUDED IT IN HIS STRONGEST TEACHING TO THE ROMAN CHURCH LETTER IN

ROMANS 11:10-11 SPEAKING OF THE JEWS:

“Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see…rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

THE BOOK OF ACTS TELLS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE GOSPEL TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

DISOBEDIENCE IN THE ORIGINAL GARDEN SEPARATED MAN FROM GOD. THE WAY BACK TO HEAL THAT FELLOWSHIP IS ARRANGED FOR US THROUGH FAITH IN THE MESSIAH SENT FOR THIS EXACT PURPOSE, HAVING REMITTED SIN AND ARRANGING REENTRY FOR MAN TO THE KINGDOM.

IN PAUL’S DAY, SOME JEWS HEARD AND DID NOT LISTEN AND SAW BUT DID NOT PERCEIVE.

NOW AS PAUL BEGINS THE CONCLUSION OF HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY IN ROME, WHERE JESUS COMMANDED HIM TO WITNESS, THE RECORD OF THE GOSPEL IS NOT CONCLUDED.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUES TO WORK TODAY, AND THE ACTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE NOT BEEN FINISHED, EVEN IN OUR DAY.

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED BECAUSE IT IS A STORY THAT CONTINUES AND WE TAKE HUMBLE ASSURANCE THAT JESUS TAUGHT US EVEN THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.

LUKE WROTE FOR OUR TEACHING THAT PAUL DID NOT ORIGINATE BUT DID PERFECT THE TEACHING OF GRACE FOR SALVATION THROUGH FAITH, WITHOUT WORKS, ACCPTING THE UNEARNED GIFT OF GOD.

WE KNOW THAT EARLY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF GOD, AND PAUL, AS A HIGHLY TRAINED PHARISEE, UNDERSTOOD THE CONCEPT IN DEPTH.

HE MADE IT THE CORNERSTONE OF HIS MINISTRY, AND BY IT, HE DEFEATED THE RULES BASED EFFORTS THAT CAME THROUGH THE LAW, TEACHING THAT CHRIST WAS THE END OF THE LAW.

PAUL TAUGHT THAT BY SALVATION EACH BELIEVER IS NO LONGER WHAT HE WAS, BUT WERE AFTERWARD REMADE INTO NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST JESUS.

HE PREACHED POWERFULLY THAT THE KINGDOM HAD COME TO EARTH AND THOSE IN FAITH BECOME KINGDOM PEOPLE WALKING IN NEW LIFE TO SERVE AND HONOR OUR MESSIAH.

THEREFORE THE LORD IS THE AUTHOR OF AUTHENTIC REVIVAL TO THE HUMAN HEART.

THOSE TEACHINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED WHATSOEVER FROM THE DAYS THAT PAUL PREACHED, TAUGHT, AND WROTE THEM FOR OUR LEARNING.

WE NOTE THAT ONE OF OUR LAST TWO VERSES IN ACTS TEACHES THAT WHILE IN ROME, PAUL RECEIVED ALL THAT CAME UNTO HIM,

THEREBY LIVING OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF JOHN 3:16 THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES HAS LIFE EVERLASTING.

IT IS COMMONLY ACCEPTED THAT PAUL WAS EXECUTED BY EMPORER NERO’S ORDER BY BEHEADING, LIKELY IN 68 A.D.

OUR STUDY HAS TAUGHT US HOW STRONGLY THAT THE LORD INTENDED THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH TO BE SECURE AND HE ARRANGED DIVINE GIFTS TO BE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH TO ASSURE HIS WILL WAS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH HIS CHOSEN BELIEVERS.

AS WE CONCLUDE OUR STUDY IN ACTS, WE SHOULD BE REMINDED OF THESE GIFTS.

JESUS BEGAN THESE GIFTS AS RECORDED IN JOHN’S GOSPEL, CHAPTER 6, VERSES 7 & 13-15, WHEN HE SAID IT WAS EXPEDIENT THAT HE GO AWAY AND THAT HE WOULD SEND ANOTHER COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST.

IN ACTS 1:8 JESUS PROMISED THE POWER OF THIS NEW MEMBER OF THE GODHEAD WOULD BE EVIDENT AFTER HE ARRIVED.

THAT POWER WOULD FOREVER BE UNDEFEATED AND THAT EVEN THE GATES OF HELL WOULD NOT STAND AGAINST IT AS IT GUIDED THE CHURCH JESUS ESTABLISHED.

ELEVEN DISCIPLES BECAME 120 BELIEVERS WHICH BECAME 3,000 ADDED AT PENTECOST WHEN PETER PREACHED THE FIRST NEW CHURCH SERMON WITH THE GIFT OF TONGUES.

ACTS 17:6 WILL LATER TEACH US THAT THESE NEW BELIEVERS ALONG WITH MANY MORE WOULD TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

THESE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT STILL CONTINUE TO BE MANIFESTED TODAY AS HIS CHURCH STILL GROWS.

IN ACTS 1:11 AN ANGEL BROUGHT THE GIFT OF WISDOM THAT JESUS WOULD RETURN THE SAME WAY HE LEFT, ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.

IN ACTS 3 WE SEE THE GIFT OF HEALING GIVEN THE EARLY CHURCH AS THE MAN LAME FOR 40 YEARS WAS HEALED AND STOOD IN EVIDENCE OF THE SPIRIT’S POWER.

IN ACTS 5 WE SEE THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT GIVEN THE CHURCH LEADERS AS PETER DISCERNED THAT ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA HAD LIED TO THE HOLY GHOST AND BOTH THEIR LIVES WERE ENDED.

ACTS 5:12 TEACHES MANY OTHER SIGNS AND WONDERS APPEARED.

ACTS 5:15-16 BROUGHT MASS HEALINGS AND CLEANSING WHERE EVEN THE SHADOW OF PETER HEALED THE SICK & POSSESSED.

MIRACLES WE SHOWN AS THE APOSTLES COULD NOT BE HELD IN PRISON AS ANGELS FREED THEN AND INSTRUCTED THEM TO KEEP PREACHING THE GOSPEL.

ACTS 10 PROVIDED THE MOVEMENT OF THE POWER OF THE CHURCH INTO THE GENTILE WORLD AS PETER HIMSELF WAS INSTRUCTED THAT THOSE THE JEWS CONSIDERED UNCLEAN HAD BEEN CLEANED BY GOD AND WERE TO BE GIVEN THE GOSPEL.

SALVATION WAS SEEN AND PETER SAW THE HOLY SPIRIT COME UPON CORNELIUS AND HIS HOUSEHOLD.

ACTS 9 BROUGHT THE RADICAL SALVATION OF PAUL, THE SWORN ENEMY OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

ACTS 13 BROUGHT THE COMMAND OF THE HOLY GHOST TO SEPARATE PAUL AND BARNABAS FOR MISSION TO THE UTTERMOST POINTS COMMANDED BY JESUS BACK IN ACTS ONE.

ACTS 14 BROUGHT PAUL’S GIFT OF HEALING AT LYSTRA.

ACTS 16 BROUGHT THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST FORBIDDING PAUL TO ENTER ASIA.

ACTS 18 BROUGHT PAUL’S GIFT OF REMOVING UNCLEAN SPIRITS AS WELL AS THE EXAMPLE PAUL & SILAS PRAISING GOD IN SONG IN THE DARK OF NIGHT AND THEIR PRISON AND AN EARTHQUAKE

FREED THEM AND BROUGHT FAITH TO THE JAILER AND HIS HOUSE.

ACTS 19 BROUGHT TONGUES AND PROPHECY IN EPHESUS, AND PAUL’S HANDKERCHIEF ALONE BROUGHT HEALING.

ACTS 20 SHOWED THE POWER OF PAUL TO RESTORE LIFE TO ONE WHO HAD FALLEN AND DIED WHILE HE PREACHED.

ACTS 21 SHOWED US THE GIFT OF PROPHECY GIVEN TO THE FOUR DAUGHTERS OF PHILIP AND THE PROPHECY OF AGABUS CONCERNING PAUL IN JERUSALEM.

ACTS 22 SHOWED US ANOTHER VISION BY JESUS TO PAUL INSTRUCTING HIM TO QUICKLY LEAVE JERUSALEM BECAUSE OF THE REJECTING OF THE GOSPEL THERE.

ACTS 23 BROUGHT ANOTHER VISION TELLING PAUL HE MUST BEAR WITNESS AT ROME.

ACTS 27 & 28 SHOWED US THE CONTINUED POWER GIVEN PAUL TO ASSURE NO LIVES WERE LOST IN THE SHIPWRECK AND PAUL BEING CONSIDERED A GOD WHEN A SERPENT BITE HAD NO EFFECT ON HIM.

THESE LAST CHAPTERS CONTINUED TO SHOW PAUL STILL HEALING THOSE WHO WERE AFFLICTED IN ANY WAY PHYSICALLY.

OUR LAST EXAMPLE MAY BE AMONG US AS THE POWER OF THE GIVEN HOLY GHOST STILL IS WORKING AS THE GOSPEL IS STILL BRINGING LIGHT INTO SPIRITUAL DARKNESS WHERE SO MANY DWELL.

ACTS 2:39 PROMISED US THAT THE POWER GIVEN TO THE CHURCH WOULD BE GIVEN TO THOSE AFAR OFF, AND WE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THAT PROMISE.

THE STRONGEST FORCES OF THE DAY OF THE EARLY CHURCH COULD NOT STAND AGAINST IT.

THE PERVERTED MINDS OF EARLY ENEMIES COULD NOT CONTROL IT.

ARMIES COULD NOT DESTROY IT AND EVEN AN ENEMY ARMY OF ROME WAS USED BY GOD TO ASSURE ITS SAFETY.

THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE IN ACTS THAT TEACH US THAT THE POWER GIVEN IN THOSE EARLY DAYS HAS ENDED.

THE POWER GIVEN BY CHRIST TO HIS CHURCH IS AS STRONG NOW AS IT WAS THEN. THIS IS THE TRUE PROMISE OF THE LORD.