Book of Acts Bible Study Notes

Transcription

1 ACTS CH.21 PAUL TRAVELS TO JERUSALEM WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT Tonight as we continue our study through the book of Acts we are going to see Paul make his way to Jerusalem. Getting back to Jerusalem has been something that has been on Paul s mind for several years. I am sure all of the resistance he has experienced on his missionary journeys from the Jews had just spurred him all the more to get back to Jerusalem. We know he had a deep love for his brethren and his desire was that they too would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In fact we read in Romans Chapter 9:3 that his love for the Jewish people was so deep that he went as far to say that if possible he would have given up his own salvation for the sake of the brethren. In Romans Ch.10 he writes: Romans Ch.10:1-3 (New Living Translation) 1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don t understand God s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. Paul was convinced that if he could just get back to Jerusalem and talk with his brethren, he would be able to show them from scripture that Jesus was the Messiah, and that their salvation was to be found in him alone. HOW IT APPLIES TO ME / WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? I think this chapter can serve as a reminder to us that even though we may have the right motive for doing the things we do for the Lord that does not mean that we are going to be necessarily immune from the persecution of the world when we take a stand for righteousness. Also I think this chapter can serve as a reminder that compromise for the sake of unity may not always be the best choice. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 1

2 ACTS CH.21:1-14 WARNINGS ON THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM 21 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. Ch. 21 starts out with Luke giving us a description of the route they are taking towards Jerusalem, it almost reads like pages from the diary of a careful secretary. One of the things I would point out here in verse one is the Greek word Luke uses for departed is Apospasthentas and it literally means a tearing away. The bond of the Christian fellowship these guys had developed over the last three years in Ephesus was strong. And here in verse 1 Luke is continuing to describe the emotional goodbyes they had with the elders from Ephesus we looked at in Ch.20. Verse one in the NIV translation reads: After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and I think it better describes their emotional state; this was not an easy parting! Paul had poured his life into this church and he had a great love for these leaders from Ephesus, and they loved him deeply in return. 4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. This is interesting in that we are not told how a church was planted in Tyre, but there were disciples there. I think scriptures like this remind us that the Book of Acts gives only a partial picture of the early church's activity. It is also important to point out Paul s desire for fellowship wherever he went. The Greek word Luke uses to describe Paul finding disciples implies that he sought them out; he did not just bump into them as he walked through the town. Paul diligently searched out fellow like-minded believers for the purpose of fellowship. I think there is a misconception among many believers today, that when they are out of town, or on vacation, they look at it as a good time to take a break from church, instead of looking at it as an opportunity to have fellowship with like-minded believers in a different city, different part of the country, or even somewhere else in the world. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 2

3 The same Holy Spirit indwells all of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. And I believe God is honored and we are blessed when we take advantage of those opportunities. Even in his travel habits, Paul tried to lead by example. He used every opportunity not only to strengthen his own personal relationship with Christ, but to also show others by example to do the same. Paul tell us in 1 st Corinthians Ch.11: 1 st Corinthians Ch.11:1 (New King James Version) 1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. It is interesting also to notice that Luke points out in his journal that these disciples whom Paul searched out for fellowship were directed by the Holy Spirit to warn Paul about what waited for him in Jerusalem, chains and imprisonment. We saw the same warning last week in ch.20:22-23 Paul said that in every city they visited the Holy Spirit testified that bonds and affliction awaited for him in Jerusalem. When we go back and look at some of the commentary Luke has given us about some of Paul s missionary journey s, and we see how on more than one occasion the Holy Spirit redirected their trip and would not allow them go into certain cities or regions; we are left with the impression that Paul was sensitive to the Spirit s leading and direction and followed His lead. So when we read about the warnings that the disciples give Paul concerning what awaited him in Jerusalem and their counsel to Paul not to go; we have to ask ourselves, is Paul going through a closed door to get to Jerusalem, is he allowing his love for the Jew to get in the way of his obedience toward God? Or, is the specific warning not to go up to Jerusalem by these disciples a human interpretation of the Holy Spirit's prophecy of the danger that awaited Paul? The Holy Spirit warned Paul through these disciples what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. I believe the disciples were faithful in communicating that warning to Paul, about what awaited him in Jerusalem, but then they read into that revelation from the Holy Spirit that that meant Paul should not go to Jerusalem. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 3

4 I don t think the Spirit was forbidding Paul to go; otherwise it is difficult to see why Paul would have gone against the Holy Spirit's direction. Commentators are all over the board on this, I guess it comes down to what you think Paul would do based on what you know about his character. 5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. I think this is a neat comment Luke includes here about the disciples bringing their whole families to see Paul off. Throughout the Old Testament we are encouraged to teach our children, to instill within them not only an awareness of who God is but also the tools they will need to develop their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. What our children see in our own lives as being important to us in terms of our pursuit for holiness, will become important to them as well. Taking advantage of the opportunity to hear the apostle Paul communicate the truths of scripture was priceless, and the fathers, as the spiritual leaders of the homes wanted to make sure their families were exposed to his teachings. 7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day we who were Paul s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. The last time Phillip saw Paul he was standing by the coats and in hearty agreement with the guys who were stoning Stephen. Phillip was one of the original seven appointed by the disciples some 20 years prior to look after the widows and the daily distribution of food in the early church. After the death of Stephen, many of the Christians because of the persecution were dispersed into the surrounding areas and with them went the gospel. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 4

5 We read a little bit about Phillip back in Acts ch.8 as he went into Samaria and evangelized the city, and then being led by the Holy Spirit he went into the desert regions and met an Ethiopian eunuch who returning home after worshipping in Jerusalem. From there we are told he went to Caesarea and settled there. I m sure he and Paul had a lot to talk about and we are told in verse 10 that Paul stayed with him for many days. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. We read about Agabus before back in Acts Ch.11:28 when he came down from Jerusalem and met with Paul and Barnabas in Antioch, and prophesied about a great famine that was going to effect the whole world and we were told that this came to pass during the reign of Claudius around 45 AD 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. So once again the Holy Spirit is communicating to Paul the great difficulty that awaits him in Jerusalem, but notice that he is not being forbidden by the Spirit to go Jerusalem as he was in Acts Ch.15 when he first tried to go to Ephesus, only that much trouble awaited him there if he went. 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. So we see here that Paul did not view the prophecy as a warning not to go to Jerusalem, but instead just another conformation by the Spirit of God of what awaited him there. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 5

6 14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. So these guys, fully aware of the resolve of the apostle Paul, knowing that once he had made up his mind, he was determined to go through with the decision no matter the personal cost. As far as Paul was concerned he was already a dead man, when he put his hand to the plow in terms of serving the Lord there was no turning back. Personal comfort and safety did not factor into the thinking process, it was all about serving the Lord. Galatians 2:20 (New King James Version) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Now if Paul did make a mistake by going to Jerusalem, and there are many bible commentators I read that came down on this side of the issue, he certainly did not go up there out of willful disobedience as some have accused him; that s crazy thinking in my opinion. If there is anything we know about Paul based on his life as we have come to understand him from scripture; both before he became a Christian and after which is almost 26 years ago at this point in time we are reading now, we know Paul was zealous in his love for God. What he did to the early Christian church in the way of persecution as misguided as it was, he did out of his love for God. To willfully disobey to this degree was not his character; again this is my opinion. Paul was a sinner just like the rest of us and I am sure he made many mistakes as we all do. But his passion to pursue the righteousness of God far outweighed his fleshly tendencies to be disobedient. Besides, why would anyone willfully disobey the Holy Spirits leading and direction in order to satisfy their own fleshly desires, when they knew full well the outcome of that choice was not going to produce a pleasant experience? Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 6

7 I really think the answer to the why Paul did what he did is found in Romans Ch Paul had a deep love for the Jewish people, his desire was to win them to Christ and he believed if he just had the opportunity to speak to them he could prove to them by scripture that Jesus was in fact their Messiah. In fact Paul loved his brethren so much that he actually wrote in Romans Ch.9: Romans Ch.9:1-3 (New Living Translation) 1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. 2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed cut off from Christ! if that would save them. ACTS CH.21:15-25 PAUL URGED TO MAKE PEACE 15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge. 17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. Mnason of Cyprus was a gentile believer who appears to have a home in Jerusalem where Paul is going to lodge. Verse 18 is interesting in that Luke speaking says Paul went with us into meet with James and the elders. Remember the last time Paul came to Jerusalem was back in Acts Ch.15 when he and Barnabas went to meet with the Early church leadership to put an end to the debate of what was required of the gentiles in order to be saved; was it going to be based on Grace through Faith or was it going also require being circumcised and the keeping of the Law. This time Paul is meeting with the James and the elders of the church and he has with him not only Jews, but Gentiles who have come to faith as well. And he goes on to tell them in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 7

8 That must have been quite a report, telling them about everything God has done over the course of three missionary journeys for the last several years through who knows how many cities. And the message was consistent from beginning to end. And that message was this: God is interested through Christ not only in the salvation of the Jew but of the Gentile as well, and as Peter put it in Acts Ch.15:11 we are all saved by the Grace of God. Paul would go onto add in Ephesians Ch.2:9 that our salvation was not to be based on works, so that ultimately no one could boast in themselves as if they had anything to do with it. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. One could wish that the chapter ended there, but it doesn t And they said to him, You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. This is a little bit of a different story then what we read in Acts Ch.15. in Acts Ch.15 The Jews who were trying to cause trouble, by trying to add to the salvation experience of the gentiles; namely insisting that they had to be circumcised and keep the Law in order to be saved; Since that message failed to gain traction, they determined that they could instead incite the Jews in Jerusalem by telling them that Paul was preaching this same message to the Jews who lived among the Gentiles. And it appeared to work. 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 8

9 Keep in mind, during this time of the feast of Pentecost it is estimated by historians such as Josephus that there is somewhere between 1 ½ and 2 million Jews there to observe Pentecost. And what these guys are asking Paul to do is something that they believe will help to prove to the Jewish brethren that what they have heard about Paul is incorrect, that he does in fact walk orderly and keep the Law. This is a tough spot for Paul to be in; because although I believe he believes that he has been saved by grace through faith in Christ, I also believe he continued to keep the Law not to be saved but because he was saved and he did so because of his love for God. However, the way this is being framed by James and the other elders, that by Paul s participation of this ceremony that he would be proving to the Jews that he still kept the Law, could in fact leave other Jews with the wrong perception; that being, that Paul still believed that keeping the Law was a necessary prerequisite for salvation itself. Knowing that his actions could be misunderstood by many; scholars are confused as to why Paul would agree to this in the first place. I think his love for the brethren clouded his judgment, and he just made a poor choice. We don t see where Paul sought direction from God on this matter before making his decision. We do read in verse 23 that James says to Paul Do what we tell you which to me implies this was man s effort to fix a problem and not something that was directed by God. And we are also going to read here in a few verses that this plan did not work out the way James and the others had hoped which also implies to me that this plan was not Spirit led. I think the motive for Paul s decision is revealed to us in 1 st Corinthians Ch.9: 1 Corinthians Ch.9:19-23 (New King James Version) 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ, that I might win those who are without law; Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 9

10 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. This decision to go forward with his participation in the observance of this vow with these four guys may have not been his best choice, but again, I do not believe Paul compromised what he believed to be true concerning the grace of God and the keeping of the law for the purpose of obtaining salvation. Unfortunately I think his actions may have sent a mixed message to some. James continues in verse 25: 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. I find it somewhat difficult to reconcile what James says here concerning the gentiles with what he just said about the Jews. It is almost like he is referring to 2 distinct peoples in the body of Christ; there are not 2 distinct peoples in the body of Christ, this is only one kind of person in the body of Christ. Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians in Ch3:11 that in Christ, there is no distinction between the Jew and the Gentile who is in Christ; in Romans Ch.10:12 he says to the Jew and the Gentile who is in Christ, the same Lord is Lord of all. From Gods perspective there are only two classes of people, those who are saved and those who are not. Jay Vernon McGee put it this way, he said They are either Saints or they are Aints. So what is James trying to say here? I m not sure ACTS CH.21:26-36 ARRESTED IN THE TEMPLE 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 10

11 Like I said, this is a real troubling portion of scripture for me to understand, because as I go back into Numbers Ch.6 and read about the vow of the Nazirite, and the offerings that are brought to the temple after the days of separation are completed. I read about a sacrifice of a lamb for a sin offering, and a ram for a peace offering, and unleavened cakes and oil for a grain offering. And Paul is standing there; to me this is an awesome picture; the pressure to compromise and the results of it. And there he is in this place and he is about to engage in the offering of a sacrifice, all of which we know is a shadow of Christ; and he does this in order to try and make peace with the people. Compromise, especially when it comes to things we know to be true very seldom works out well. Would Paul have gone through with the sacrifices, knowing that Christ our Passover Lamb had already been sacrificed once for all? I think God intervened by allowing this riot to disrupt the ceremony that they were about to engage in. Notice verse 27: 27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. These guys are crazed with anger, verse 27 says they Laid hands on Paul- this was not the gentle kind of laying on of hands, and they seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple and shut the doors behind him. Short of these Roman soldiers stepping in they would have killed Paul right there. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 11

12 31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. On the Northwest corner of the temple mount sat the fortress Antonia, from which the Romans soldiers could look down and see this riot picking up steam. Notice we are told that soldiers and centurions (Plural) that rush into the crowd. Centurions were commanders of at least 100 soldiers which means there were at least several hundred soldiers that ran down into this crowd to stop the riot. Remember hundreds of thousands of people were in Jerusalem to celebrate the festival so it should not surprise us to see so many soldiers rushing in to stop this. So one has to ask about this time, where are the myriad of Jews James talked about who had believed in Christ as their personal Savior, where is James, where are the elders, where is all of the support for Paul? 33 Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. 35 When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. 36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, Away with him! When the mob cried out for his death, Paul must have remembered when he was part of such a mob, agreeing with the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-8:1). Or, perhaps, it even reminded him of the trial of Jesus: "The shout Away with him! Which pursued him as he was carried up the steps was the shout with which Jesus' death had been demanded not far from that spot some twenty-seven years before. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 12

13 ACTS CH.21:26-36 ARRESTED IN THE TEMPLE 37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, May I speak to you? He replied, Can you speak Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness? At first, the Roman commander thought that Paul was a terrorist, and was probably very surprised that Paul was an educated man and could speak Greek. The Egyptian mentioned (also mentioned by Josephus) led an army of four thousand men to the Mount of Olives where they declared they would take over the temple mount. Roman soldiers had quickly scattered them, but the leader got away. 39 But Paul said, I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people. 40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, So once the Roman Commander realized this was not the Egyptian who had led this rebellion but was instead a Jew, he gave Paul the opportunity to speak the crowd. Imagine, Paul on a stairway somewhat elevated above several hundred thousand people all screaming for his head, and he looks at them and sees the opportunity he has been waiting for over 25 years, the opportunity to speak to his Jewish brethren and share with them the gospel. You would think he would begin with Moses and go through the prophetic books that all spoke about their coming Messiah and then show them from scripture how Jesus had fulfilled all of these prophecies. Instead Paul is going to use this opportunity to share his testimony with them as to how he became a Christian. And for that we will have to wait until next week. Pastor Steve Acts Bible Study - Lesson 21: Paul Travels To Jerusalem Aug 8, 2014 page 13