Acts - Lesson 38

Today we’ll study Chapter 26 of Acts in which Paul is able to give his testimony to the leaders of Judea as he gives a legal defense showing he has committed no crime. I mentioned the “pomp” or in the Greek fantasia of the leaders assembled.  

Boice mentions the work by Rudyard Kipling that was written for the Jubilee honoring Queen Victoria. It was part of his “Recessional” of 1897 and he wrote: 

The tumult and the shouting dies;

The captains and the kings depart:

Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget—lest we forget!

I love the way this verse stresses the truly important over the tumult, shouting, captains, and kings. However the English people didn’t think it did a good enough job of honoring the Queen and he may have missed out on being poet laureate as a result. However, assuming he heard what he wrote, then his heart being right before God was worth far more than any honor the English people may have given him. We shouldn’t forget the ancient sacrifice of a humble and contrite heart and we can pray like Kipling that God would be with us so that we don’t forget. The Apostle Paul had a heart that was humble and contrite. 

Acts 26:1-8 ... So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?  

Paul begins with establishing that he was a faithful and devout Jew. This was a legal religion in the Roman Empire and he was a member. He was a Pharisee and very strict in observing the practices of the religion. He then points out that the Jews have an belief and expectation of the appearance of a messiah and they also they believe in resurrection of the dead. He then asks the rhetorical question of why anyone would think it incredible that God would raise the dead. All of the Pharisees would have needed to nod and say well that isn’t incredible since God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and God is the God of the living and not the dead. However, all of the pagans there would have found it incredible. So Paul’s arguments are likely finding more traction with Agrippa than Festus at this point.  

Acts 26:9-11 … “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.  

Here Paul establishes that he was an agent of the chief priests and worked to condemn and kill them in accordance with Jewish law. Notice that Paul uses the word “saint” here. The word means the holy ones or, in other words, those who are sanctified. We need to be careful in our usage and understanding of the word. The word “saints” brings our attention to our status of God’s people (e.g., Rom. 1:7). We are meant to be “sanctified” as we live out our Christian life. This is a realistic goal because God has already changed, and will continue to change, our hearts (Rom. 6:1–14; Gal. 5:24, 25). 

Sanctification is a work of grace. We are renewed in our minds and souls in this process so we can die to sin and live a life of righteousness.  God works in us to remove sinful habits and develop Christlike affections, inclinations, and fruits of the Spirit. Sin is not instantly eradicated but it is not simply repressing sin. Sanctification is a real transformation, not just the appearance of one. God claims us and works to conform us “to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29) through the work of the Holy Spirit living in us (Rom. 8:13; 12:1, 2; 1 Cor. 6:11, 19, 20; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:22–24; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 13:20, 21). 

From the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message we see the Ordo Saludis or order of salvation from regeneration, to Justification, to Sanctification, to Glorification. They are defined for us as:

Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour. 

Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.  

Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.  

Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. 

At this point in Paul’s story he isn’t saved. He is telling about the time at which he had the facts (Noticia) of the Gospel but did not accept them as true (did not have Assensus) and therefore of course couldn’t have faith (did not have Fiducia). Some people have both the facts and know they are true and still sit on the fence for a longtime. It is an uncomfortable position but love of the world can make it seem better than to place your faith in Jesus as Lord. Now we’ll see Paul move rapidly through to saving faith. 

Acts 26:12-18 … “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’  

Paul, being familiar with the facts of the Gospel, is moved rapidly by this vision and the Holy Spirit to accept the facts as true and confess Jesus as Lord. Paul had part of his testimony already (“in which you have seen me”) and he would gain the rest of his testimony  later (“in which I will appear to you”). The testimony is always about glorifying God and not Paul. Notice that Jesus said that the core of the testimony was deliverance from Jews and Gentiles. Paul was then sent to the Gentiles to open their eyes, turn them from darkness to light, and from Satan to God (Regeneration) so they can have forgiveness of sins (Justification) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Sanctification). Glorification isn’t specifically mentioned but since God is God of the living and not the dead it isn’t necessary to mention it every time. Paul continues: 

Acts 26:19-23 … “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”  

Paul’s point is that all he did was preach the Gospel with God protecting him. He really didn’t say anything except what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass. These things were clear in the Old Testament including the extension of salvation to the Gentiles. I mentioned that these ideas would have more traction with Agrippa than Festus and Festus finally explodes. 

Acts 26:24-29 … And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”  

Festus the pagan is lost and Paul sounds crazy but Festus knows that he is highly educated. Paul realizes that he would need far more ground work to explain to Festus all he needed to know. He spent time with Felix before him. Paul simply says that his words are true and rational and directed to Agrippa and not Festus. Paul drives home the point by asking Agrippa to affirm that he believes the prophets. Agrippa will not go there and rather than answer the question he is asked – like a good politician – he answers a different question. Agrippa says, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” That is someone who believes in a Christ and looks for a Christ? There is some serious irony here. Agrippa’s great grandfather was Herod the Great … and he sure believed in a Christ. So much so that he killed all the male children in Bethlehem. But Agrippa II didn’t believe in the Gospel.  

Acts 26:30-32 … Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”  

God had revealed that Paul needed to go to Rome and to Rome he would go.

Acts - Lesson 37

I will pick up in Acts 25 but since I’ve had a break it will help me to sort of go over the big picture of what is going on as we start to study the events in these chapters. Remember that Paul was warned in various and numerous prophecies not to go to Jerusalem. Paul insisted on returning to Jerusalem. Some people think this was an error on Paul’s part. I think that is debatable. Paul returned to Jerusalem informed that things would not go well between him and the rulers. He had to anticipate trouble from the Romans because the prophecies indicated that he would be bound and imprisoned.

It is possible that the Holy Spirit had impressed on Paul the necessity to go to Jerusalem for some reason in spite of the trouble that awaited him. It is the Apostle Paul and I think it is best to take him at his word for that aspect of his actions.

Acts 20:22-23 … And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

There was at least a difference of opinion with regard to God’s will for Paul. Eventually, as Paul persisted, the Church trusted in God’s sovereignty and left Paul in God’s hands. Paul makes a very bold statement but we don’t see Paul moving in that direction and, more importantly, the Holy Spirit doesn’t move Paul in that direction.

Acts 21:10-14 … While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

In spite of Paul’s statement here he seems to have an “Apostle Peter” moment that starts when he meets with the Jerusalem Church leadership. Keep in mind that Paul was finally home after years on the mission field and when he is told by the leadership that he has a public relations problem then Paul buckles and this spiritual giant makes a huge mistake by agreeing to participate in animal sacrifice.

Acts 21:26 … Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.

So it is disturbing enough that the Christians in Jerusalem were still worshiping this way after the Cross and in the light of the Cross but God would not let the author of our epistles to the Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians do such a thing. When Paul tries then a riot occurs.

Acts 21:27-28 … When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

Paul does find himself in prison but not for the name of the Lord Jesus except indirectly because of his preaching in Asia and not in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Christians in particular were having a difficult time with the finished work of Christ. They were people just like we are and tradition was a hard thing for them to separate from. Often, tradition is neutral or adiaphorous without any moral implications but the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was in place to point to Christ and it had no place in worship after the Cross. In fact, in AD 70 just 30 years or so from this point the temple would be cast down and every stone removed because as Christ said, destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19). The real temple had come and now the shadow was finished. God graciously delivered Paul from performing the animal sacrifice in spite of his intention to do so.

Paul gave part of his testimony this time in Jerusalem to unsaved Jews and a few Gentiles and he was able to once again share with the Jerusalem Church leadership what God was doing in the Gentile world. However, he was able to share more extensively at the first Church Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15). This had to be a fairly discouraging time for Paul and the Lord reassured him that things were still in control.  

Acts 23:11 … The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Over all, Paul had it right; first go to Jerusalem and then go to Rome. Paul didn’t have the details figured out but being a martyr in Jerusalem was not the plan. Felix in Acts 24 was not making decisions. In fact he was hoping for a nice bribe (Acts 24:26). After a couple of years then Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus and Festus didn’t want to put off this decision. Both Felix and Festus wanted to please the Jews because, as reasonable administrators, it is easier to rule a people who think you are on their side. Festus probably knew that a conspiracy existed to kill Paul. Festus may have even looked at it as a way to get rid of the “Paul” problem early in his administration. Paul knew that it was the Jewish intention that he would not survive a change of venue to Jerusalem. Even more importantly, he had the Lord’s words to him that he would testify in Rome. So Paul gives Festus a different way out of his political problem.

Acts 25:9-12 … But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Festus had the problem out of his hair either dead or alive so sending Paul away was an acceptable option to him. As Boice points out in his commentary, three things were key for Paul in standing up to this attack.

First, he knew that God was sovereign over all the details of his life. Even after a mistake, God was sovereign and had told him so in His revelation that he would be going to Rome.

Secondly, Paul had tremendous portions of Scripture in memory and he could stand on the word of God in these times. Situations are rarely black and white. I’m not saying we grab one verse and hang on for a white knuckle ride. We need all of Scripture as Scripture interprets Scripture and God will reveal and lead as we seek Him with all of it. Once again it is the light to my path and lamp to my feet analogy. We need to see the long range and the immediate but the intermediate is often obscure in this fallen world. 

Thirdly, we need to be ready to pay any price necessary. This one is a particularly hard topic. Martyrdom is a real possibility for many in the world today. For us, it seems fairly alien or we think of it as an early Church thing. Daniel’s three friends had a, “bow down or die” option. They are a children’s Sunday School story that we love. Lots of people have died and Hebrews 11 makes it clear this was not a lack of faith on their part.

In writing The Gulag Archipelago, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn reflected on this topic. This was not an academic question for him. He said that in prison system of Russia some prisoners survived the interrogations and maintain their integrity and others collapsed under it and lost their identity entirely. He says that it had to do with whether or not one was willing to pay the price for one’s integrity. The price was to lay down your life. Solzhenitsyn said:

At the very threshold, you must say to yourself: “My life is over, a little early to be sure, but there’s nothing to be done about it. I shall never return to freedom. I am condemned to die—now or a little later. But later on, in truth, it will be even harder, and so the sooner the better. I no longer have any property whatsoever. For me those I love have died, and for them I have died. From today on, my body is useless and alien to me. Only my spirit and my conscience remain precious to me.”

Confronted by such a prisoner, the interrogation will tremble.

Only the man who has renounced everything can gain that victory.

Jesus gave up everything for us, and said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Jesus teaches that that we must be willing to die to self to be his followers. That is the victory of faith that overcomes the world. I’m not there and I stagger at the faith revealed in the lives of these early Christians. I have such a blessed life that it is hard for me to imagine the hardships they faced. On the other hand it is inspiring and makes me want to seek God’s direction on making the cross a part of my daily walk with God so that I’ll see how that makes abundant life possible. Now I see it through a dark mirror but someday I’ll see it clearly.

Next in Paul’s life he is able to give his testimony before Festus, Herod Agrippa, and Bernice. This is a bit long but here is the explanation that Festus gives Agrippa on Paul looking for some expert advice.

Acts 25:13-21 … Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

Agrippa was the son of Herod Agrippa I and grandson of Herod the Great. His father was the one who had arrested Peter and killed James. He had some pretty bad ancestors but he was not as violent or as prone to atrocities as his father and grandfather. He was just living with his sister, Bernice, as his wife. His value to Festus was that he understood Paul and why the Jews were upset. That is why he got involved in his trial.

Acts 25:22-27 … Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

What a civil servant Festus is! He didn’t want to send Paul up to Rome without being able to fill out the entire form with the blank describing the charges. This was a major scene for Festus with Agrippa visiting. The word that Luke used for “pomp” is φαντασία (phantasia). The superficial appearance of importance was found in Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, and all the officials. The real importance was found in what Paul was going to share.

It can be hard to remember what is important and what is not because of the “phantasia” effect that we get so impressed with. Ideally, we use the “pomp” to indicate an underlying reality.

I like to wear a tie when I teach and I’ve generally worn a tuxedo for weddings. The form of dress at the wedding didn’t make the wedding significant. The formal dress is a result of the significance of the wedding.

Of course at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb then we’ll be clothed in His righteousness (Matthew 22:11-14).

Acts - Lesson 36

In previous weeks you heard Paul’s testimony again and the importance of being able to give a rational answer for the hope that is within you. This week I will continue at Acts 23 with Paul standing before the ruling council in Jerusalem as the Roman Tribune tries to figure out what is causing the ruckus in the Jewish community.  

Acts 23:1-5 … And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

Paul is having great difficulty in communicating in Jerusalem. He has been repeatedly interrupted by angry listeners. Remember that these events, in God’s sovereign control, were unfolding after Paul made the mistake of intending to conform himself to the sacrificial practices of the temple. God prevented Paul from actually participating in the sacrifice but these events are a cascade of problems that followed his action.

Paul starts by trying to say that he has not done anything wrong. His statement in pretty strong and the high priest orders that he be hit for saying that he is living in good conscience. This Ananias is the son of Nebedaeus and the Ananias was high priest from AD 48 to AD 59. He was not a nice guy. This is not the Annas of John 18:13. Ananias was assassinated early in the war with Rome (AD 66 to AD 70) that culminated with the destruction of the Temple in the judgment of Jerusalem.

Paul is correct in calling Ananias a whitewashed wall since he looked good on the outside but served chiefly as an obstruction. Ananias had acted unlawfully but Paul realized that he should not “speak evil” of a ruler. As Christians in this century we need to remember that warning. Calling a ruler a “name” is different from discussing right and wrong actions. Remember that in our culture it has become common to use “ad hominem” arguments. They aren’t really arguments but simply name calling events. We should not call names. We should speak the truth about actions and especially show respect for the office of a ruler.

Acts 23:6-10 … Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Keep in mind that the Tribune is here trying to figure out what is going on. This didn’t help the Tribune at all except to see that the ruling council of Jerusalem was deeply divided. Paul made a politically astute maneuver to pit the Sadducees against the Pharisees. It is hard to see any benefit for the Kingdom of God in what Paul did but it did assure that the council would not be able to agree on the fate of Paul. In fact, they nearly tore Paul apart but the Tribune had his soldiers move in to extract Paul from the mess he was in.

I think Paul had to be a bit discouraged. Compare this visit with Paul’s previous visit in which he rocked the world by standing up for the finished work of Christ. He had ministered to the Church the first time. He had brought a Gentile with him and taught the Church leadership what was wrong with requiring the law as if it were needed for justification. In the first trip he was singing “Nothing but the Blood” but this time he was really bogged down in very sticky politics. But God is still God and was still sovereign over all this mess.

Acts 23:11 … The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

The Lord reassures Paul that his testimony about Christ was heard. The first Church Council was a hard place but Paul was heard. Even this time we saw that Paul was able to share with the Jerusalem leadership. Seeds were planted in the leadership of the Jerusalem Church and it was about time for God to move Paul out of Jerusalem.

Acts 23:12-15 … When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

So they a cabal formed in a true sense of the word because the origin of the word is the Hebrew Kabbalah meaning knowledge that was secret and/or occult.  These 40 men developed this conspiracy and then went to get the chief priests and elders to by in. They planned an ambush to kill Paul on his way to give additional information to the council. The Tribune would likely have only sent Paul with a light guard detail and 40 would probably have been able to murder Paul … if they weren’t too hungry. However, once again, God is sovereign.

Acts 23:16-22 … Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Children are just about invisible sometimes. God used Paul’s nephew to protect Paul and to move him out of Jerusalem. It was not uncommon for relatives to have access to prisoners and Paul was in the barracks anyway. The Tribune takes the information but keeps it private while he acts.

Acts 23:23-24 … Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

Forty hungry men would not have a chance against this group. In addition, the Tribune moved him at night north to Caesarea on the coast. This was at least 40 or 50 miles with a road that worked around the features of the land.

Acts 23:25-30 … And he wrote a letter to this effect: “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

Here we find the name of the Tribune to be Claudius Lysias. Felix began as a slave but he and his brother were freedmen and rose to power. Felix was not a nice person. One early historian named Tacitus said that he was king but had the mind of a slave filled with cruelty and lust. He was easy to bribe but very violent if someone opposed his power or disrupted the government.

Acts 23:31-35 … So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.

Antipatris was about 30 miles from Jerusalem. They soldiers the night and marched back to Jerusalem. The cavalry went on to Caesarea and then Paul was imprisoned in a building that Herod constructed. It had prison cells in it.

One thing to always remember in your life is that God is in control of every detail. Jesus told us that God knows every time a sparrow falls. It is very hard in the noise of life to keep to keep focused on God and remain faithful. Remember that the shield of faith is not just a defensive weapon. You hit and push with it. Your faith can keep the enemy off balance and subject to the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

From “If” by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

…

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

 
Believing that God is in charge when people are losing their head, doubting, not waiting on God, misrepresenting your actions, and angry with you is hard. But we have seen that it is possible by yielding and standing on the Holy Spirit.

Acts - Lesson 35

Today we start with the first verse of the twenty-first chapter of Acts. Paul is on his way to Jerusalem even though many prophecies have made it clear that it will not be a happy journey. Paul is going to Jerusalem because he is obeying God and the act is a testimony to the early church.  

Acts 21:1-3 … And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.

They were running along the west edge of Asia Minor and sailing almost directly to Syria. Passengers seem to have been mostly an afterthought. We are the ones with vacations and a travel industry. Paul and his companions were piled on after the cargo and you were going were the cargo was going. However, finally, Paul is headed back to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:4-6 … And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

It is important to realize that Paul was not being disobedient to the Holy Spirit. He knew that God was leading him to Jerusalem. He had heard enough prophecies to realize that he was not going to Jerusalem for a Sunday School picnic. However, for the Body of Christ, this was a testimony that they needed to see and hear about.

It has been a while now but in 1955 Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian went to reach the Hauorani Tribe and were all killed by the tribe. They went in spite of the danger and the book written by Elisabeth Elliot took its title (Through Gates of Splendor) from the hymn “We Rest on Thee” that they sung before they left. They sang:

   We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender.
   Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
   When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
   Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.

In 2000 years we’ve seen that things don’t always go well according to our standards. God is sovereign and, in the Book of Acts, He is going to use Paul’s imprisonment to reach many people. In Ecuador, he used the deaths of those 5 missionaries to begin a work in the lives of those tribe members. It is very hard not to second guess God. The best medicine against second guessing God is to remember that He is God.

Acts 21:7-16 … When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

Philip was one of the original seven deacons and he was living and ministering here on the coast. Agabus was also mentioned earlier (Acts 11:28) as a prophet in the Church. Here he travels to give a specific prophecy. This is a very strong warning for Paul regarding the Jews in Jerusalem. Was Paul being stubborn? He was accompanying an offering from the non-Jewish churches for the church in Jerusalem. He was concerned about a fracture between ethnically Jewish and ethnically Gentile Christians. James Montgomery Boice is convinced that Paul is about to make a mistake. In fact, Boice is convinced that Paul is just being stubborn in returning to Jerusalem. I think we need to give Paul the benefit of the doubt but I think Paul is about to make a mistake. One characteristic of Scripture is that often mistakes are reported without commentary. Also, as we discussed earlier, just because something goes wrong in our eyes doesn’t mean that it is out of control of our Sovereign God. So what I’m indicating is that there is some ambiguity in this portion of Scripture. We don’t want to be too dogmatic from this historical text but we also need to remember what the didactic or teaching portions of Scripture have taught us.

Acts 21:17-21 … When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.

Well things start well. Paul gave a report from the mission field and presumably delivered the offerings for the Christians in Jerusalem from the new churches. Then things start to take a bad turn. The leaders of the Church in Jerusalem, including the apostles, tell Paul that he has an image problem with the ethnic Jews who are Christians. Was Paul telling folks on the mission field not to circumcise or stay kosher? Well he was telling them that they were not obligated to circumcise and stay kosher in order to be righteous. So the accusation was a half truth with enough truth that it wasn’t a quick answer when it was given as an accusation. So they are Paul’s brothers and they want to find a solution.   

Acts 21:22-25 … What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

So here is the solution proposed by the leaders of the Church. They suggest that Paul participate in a ritual as these four men finish a Nazirite vow. They tell Paul to do this so that everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told about Paul. But there is something! Paul knows that Christ was the end of the Law for righteousness sake. And then this statement of the Eldership on the Gentiles is a restatement of what produced at the Church Council in Jerusalem and it shows that they have a two-tier system of Christianity. This is bad. These are the leaders and they still haven’t grasp the work of Jesus on the Cross in relation to the ritual law of Moses.

Acts 21:26 … Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.

Paul, who called out Peter for essentially the same sin, now agrees to ritual purification and schedules the animal offerings for each man. Three animals are offered for each man. I can rationalize the Peace Offering. It is worship and the priest gets some and you get some and some parts are offered to God in fellowship. I can make excuses for that one. But the burnt offering is for atonement and the sin offering is for unintentional sins. Paul can’t be part of that. Neither should the Jerusalem Christians but they had not learned the sin in offering any other offering for sin. Paul is on a razor edge here (especially appropriate for the Nazirites). His intention is sinful. If he does what he intends to do, given the revelation given to Paul, then he will be in sin.

Acts 21:30 … When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.

God stopped Paul from going through with the animal sacrifice. At the last moment the situation blew up in Paul’s face. I don’t know what Paul was thinking. I suppose he was wishing he could be thrown in prison for doing the right thing and not the wrong thing. God was merciful to prevent the sacrifice. In part I think God was patient with Paul as God was being patient with the church in Jerusalem.

Hebrews 10:1-4 and 10:12-14 … For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. … But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Eventually the Church heard the Holy Spirit say that animal sacrifice did not perfect or even remove sins. It pointed forward to Christ who by a single offering has justified us for all time as we are being sanctified. The ethnically Jewish Christians couldn’t hear the prophecy of Christ that every stone of the Temple would be cast down. The clock was ticking on the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. It is a sad time for those who were ethnically Israel. Paul loved the nation but the Temple in Jerusalem was no place for a Christian to be seeking forgiveness or a sacrifice for sin.

Acts 21:31-36 … And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”

The Romans just don’t like anyone exercising the means of violence except the Romans. The tribune was over the centurions so he commanded hundreds or even thousands depending on the size of the “cohort”. People were accustomed to behaving when they saw the Romans so they stopped beating Paul but nobody could get the story straight on what the problem was. So the tribune “extracted” Paul in chains and took him to the barracks and actually had to carry Paul to get him through the crowd. Now Paul could have gotten to this point simply by preaching the Gospel. He didn’t need to try animal sacrifice, see God mercifully prevent his plans, and then get saved by the Romans from the wild mob. But he’ll get a chance to preach after the arrest this time. 

Acts 21:37-40 … As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Next time (in 3 weeks) we will continue and hear Paul’s testimony repeated for this group in Jerusalem. The tribune isn’t even clear on who he arrested at this point. Paul asked for permission to speak. I suspect the tribune thought that might calm the crowd down when they found out Paul was a Jew. However, it wasn’t going to work that way.

Acts - Lesson 34

We are in the twentieth chapter of the Book of Acts and at that 29^th verse. Paul is delivering a charge to the eldership of Ephesus and has had them come down to Miletus as he was heading to Jerusalem. They are told to pay attention to the doctrinal “whole counsel of God” that Paul preached. As we discussed last week, each of us has that responsibility in some way. Either as a new Christian to desire the sincere milk of the Word or as a maturing Christian to move on into the meatier things of the Gospel. Of course this also stresses how critical our responsibilities are to be able to share sound doctrine with those around us. We are each called to serve the Body of Christ, a body purchased by His blood, according to our gifts. The collection of spiritual gifts each of us has will vary but we are each called to serve.

Acts 20:29-32 … I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

This was a prophetic statement. The doctrinal attacks did come against the church in Ephesus. Men spoke twisted things and they spoke them with passion. To be alert to a danger or error you must be able to identify dangers and errors. What can make it hard is that you must be able to be alert when someone makes a passionate defense of error. In other words, you must have an accurate understanding of the Gospel to defend the Gospel.

Passion for Christ and a thorough knowledge of Scripture must go together. In our age we seem to have trouble keeping them together. Knowledge of Scripture apart from a living passion for Christ will make a Pharisee out of a man and end in cold legalism. A passion for Christ without knowledge ends in idolatry as we form Jesus to fit our minds idea of Jesus. Eventually the passion we have is for our own conception of what we want in Christ and not what Scripture tells us about Christ. We can have an effeminate or macho or outlaw Jesus idol. Paul combined that passion in admonishing with tears with grounding the Ephesians in the word of His grace.

In John 5:39 & 40, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” When he said that, first of all, he was talking to Pharisees. Even in the context of the Pharisees, Jesus isn’t telling them to stop searching the Scriptures but He is saying to hear what Scripture says and to see Christ in the Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi.

For Christians, a pure passion for Christ comes from Scripture via the Holy Spirit. True knowledge of the person and work of Christ comes from Scripture and not by personal reflection or even by spiritual experience. Paul didn’t lack either passion or knowledge in Christ and he said, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” We have many folks preaching “other gospels” that we know are not really gospels at all.

Acts 20:33-35 … I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

This is another part of the charge for the elders. They are supposed to work hard. Paul was a tent maker. He worked in a team both as a tent maker and as a minister. He spent many hours in ministry working hard. There is currently excitement in Russia over a picture of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch named Kirill. In the photo on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church they posted a picture of Kirill meeting with the Justice Minister and the Patriarch seems to be wearing a $30,000 watch. After some Russians noticed the watch the watch disappeared from the photo … however, the reflection of the watch in the shiny table top remained. At this point they are claiming the edit was unauthorized and that it was an inexpensive Russian watch, or a gift, or a hoax. I’m sure they’ll settle on one explanation soon. It may have been a copy. But when we talk about living simply and even – as the Russian Orthodox Church has recently – austerely then we need to exercise our conscience before God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead.

This is what we, as Southern Baptists, have stated in our Faith and Message about stewardship:

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on earth (Baptist Faith and Message 2000).

Paul didn’t just cover one aspect of their life as he planted a church in Ephesus. He didn’t even just cover one topic in this brief time of encouragement to these brothers. He encouraged both a righteous doctrine and a righteous lifestyle.

Acts 20:36-38 … And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

What God had revealed was prison. God hadn’t revealed that Paul would definitely never come back. However, it was a reasonable assumption given what God had revealed. Paul was a great teacher in public and in private. He was through and careful to teach all that God had reveal to him and he was faithful to check and see that it was communicated. Catechizing is out of style right now but you can do it for yourself. Spurgeon has a tremendous Baptist Catechism and it is available on line: http://www.spurgeon.org/catechis.htm#Q1

In 1659 Richard Baxter wrote The Reformed Pastor as an exposition of how to be like Paul and especially how to fulfill the charge of Acts 20:28. Catechism was an important part of Baxter’s work.

However, Baxter also copied Paul in his deep connection with those churches that he planted. Paul was not pretending to care deeply about these folks. He really did consider them his joy and crown. They knew it and had a deep love for Paul too. Paul’s tears were real because he really loved the Ephesian church. Francis Schaeffer knew how important it was to separate from unbelievers. However, he also said that, If we separate, it must be with tears. And if we speak truth that hurts, it must be with tears.” He was getting at how important it was to actually have relationship and not to stand aloof from those you fellowship with. If God calls you to leave a church fellowship it should be with tears. If God calls you to speak hard biblical truth to someone – regardless of their accepting it or rejecting it – it should be with tears.

We are so consumer oriented that for many of us choosing a church fellowship is like choosing a grocery store and leaving Publix for Kroger isn’t the same thing as leaving a church fellowship. Biblical truth is more than information. It is vital and life changing and to see someone teaching false doctrine should weigh heavy and bring us tears. Cool consumerism is not the attitude to bring through a church door but it is the most common attitude brought into worship in our culture.

The wolves did come in after Paul left but it looks like Paul also had additional opportunities for contact after some time in a Roman Prison.

When writing 1^st Corinthians, Paul says in Chapter 15 verse 32 “What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’”

As a result of what was likely another missionary journey (perhaps more than one) after Paul’s imprisonment in Rome and before his re-imprisonment and martyrdom under Nero, Paul writes to Timothy and says:

1Timothy 1:3-7 … As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

They were tempted to seek something other than the grace in which we stand. Just in this verse we see that Timothy had to defend the church in Ephesus against; 1) myths which would be a natural residue of Artemis worship in the formerly gentile population, 2) genealogies which may have been related to the formerly Jewish population and, 3) legalism which likely came from both Gentile and Jewish camps.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians would also place a barricade against these errors. Even a brief portion of the epistle tells the Ephesians that:

Ephesians 1:13-23 … In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

This also stands against mythology and against genealogy as being relevant to the salvation of the saints. Of course the problem of legalism in Ephesians is rebuked directly for our teaching, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness. Paul says to the Ephesians: 

Ephesians 2:1-7 … And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

You were spiritually dead and not just critically ill. You were a sinner who was sinning because you wanted to sin and you were by nature an enemy of God. However, those wonderful words for any day but especially for Easter Sunday are “But God” and they are so good to hear. He was rich in mercy, He loved us with a great love, when we were spiritually dead then He made us alive. It is by unmerited favor and undeserved blessing that we are saved. We brought nothing to the table and apart from His grace we wouldn’t have gone to the table.

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Amen! He is risen and we are raised up with Him.

Acts - Lesson 33

Last week we talked about the riot in Acts 19 of the silversmiths and all those that got swept up in the confusion. The riot was really a good sign of the growth of the Church. The silversmiths were finding that their business was impacted and they didn’t like that. About 70 years later in Bithynia the Roman governor Pliny wrote to the Emperor Trajan asking what he should do about the Christians. Pliny couldn’t find anything really wrong with the Christians but people were not going to shrines anymore so business was off. Pliny said the butchers were having the most trouble because they Christians wouldn’t buy meat sacrificed to idols. Trajan just said to go easy and prosecute on specific charges. Of course there were eventually some periods of terrible persecution.

The key question is, “How many people worship Artemis of the Ephesians?” I suspect that no one does but Jesus is worshiped by millions. The change came by a focus on the Gospel with evangelism and discipleship.

Acts 20:1-6 … After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Paul goes north to Europe again and preaches in Macedonia. We would therefore expect him to minister in Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessolonica, and Berea. After this he went south to Greece and in particular probably to Corinth. His plans changed because of persecution. He was at the Aegean Sea and could have headed back across to a port near Jerusalem but that wasn’t what God had in mind. Instead Paul reverses direction and walks hundreds of miles north to Europe again.

We will also see a shift in focus from Luke. He is beginning to finish up the scroll. Remember that the length of the book is limited by the size of the scroll. Luke spends more time on what Paul said, more stress on the physical resurrection as evidence of the Gospel, and a greater effort to keep the Jewish and Gentile portions of the Church fused rather than fractured.

Eventually, after encouraging the Church in Southern Europe, Paul starts south from Philippi and heads on to Troas. The sense of urgency that Paul demonstrates in his travel under difficult conditions and expresses in the epistles was well founded. Paul was being spent by the Holy Spirit on these cities all around the Aegean Sea. Paul also ministered in Troas on the way back to Jerusalem.

Acts 20:7-8 … On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.

Notice how early we began to worship on Sunday, the first day of the week. They were meeting on Sunday to have communion. It was a very long Sunday evening service but it was urgent because Paul didn’t know when or if he would be back to disciple them further. The next passage explains why we don’t have seats in the windows.

Acts 20:9-12 … And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

So the young man was dead and Paul prayed and he was raised from the dead and Paul went back up and kept teaching. He taught all night and in the middle of the teaching – about midnight – they had a death and resurrection. Paul’s sense of purpose kept him focused on establishing the Church even when something as remarkable as a death and resurrection occurred in the middle of discipling the Church.

Acts 20:13-16 … But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

I am guessing but I suppose that Paul went overland to check on other Christians and then met the boat in Assos. They then started working their way south towards Jerusalem. Paul needs to be back in Jerusalem to talk with the other Apostles and bring them up to date on the ministry to the Gentiles. However, he sails past Ephesus but has the elders come down to Miletus for a brief time of ministry.

Acts 20:17-21 … Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

This message for the Ephesian leaders has a bit of the character found in Paul’s epistles. Paul’s testimony was his faithfulness under fire. In the face of spiritual opposition Paul was faithful and this forms the basis of his last words to this Church. His living testimony was literally the group standing before him. Paul’s humility, courage under fire, preaching repentance from sin and faith in Christ were why they were standing before him listening. This was the basis of his authority over them.

Acts 20:22-28 … And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Here is the core problem for Paul. He is probably done with "in person" ministry to this group. He is sure that the Holy Spirit is leading toward some loss of his freedom. His prayer now is to finish his course well and to complete the work that God gave him in spreading the Gospel of Grace. The Gospel of the Grace of God is being stressed to the Ephesians. That is the core of the epistle to this church too. Paul is heading into imprisonment and affliction and they need to listen carefully.

Acts 20:25-28 … And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

This is their charge as leaders in Ephesus. They are told to pay careful attention to their own walk before God and to all the flock. This is a statement meaning that they must pay particular attention to the doctrinal “whole counsel of God” that Paul preached. The Holy Spirit put them in their positions of leadership to care for the church of God in Ephesus that Christ purchased with His blood. Can you imagine the gravity of this charge coming from the Apostle Paul? Paul tells them the Holy Spirit selected them to be in charge of what Christ purchased with His blood and that Paul have declared the whole counsel of God to them in order to equip them. We each have a similar charge to family and our local church. We have the whole counsel of God – hopefully it is not covered with dust – in our possession. We are each called to serve the Body of Christ, a body purchased by His blood, according to our gifts.