Lessons Given By David Bearden to Adult Fellowship 5 Firewheel Bible Fellowship September 9 th - November 18 th, 2012

Transcription

1 Lessons Given By David Bearden to Adult Fellowship 5 Firewheel Bible Fellowship September 9 th - November 18 th, P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

2 Table of Contents Timeline for the Apostle Paul... 4 Saul of Tarsus... 4 Citizen of Tarsus of Cilicia... 4 Roman Citizen... 4 Citizen of Tarsus... 5 Saul s Heritage and Achievements... 6 Student of Gamaliel... 7 Who was Gamaliel?... 7 Persecutor of the Church... 7 The Conversion of Saul... 9 Saul and Ananias... 9 The Sufferings of Paul Saul Proclaims Jesus Plot to Kill Saul Saul in Arabia Saul Goes to Jerusalem First Missionary Journey Who was John Mark? Antioch in Syria Seleucia to Salamis & Paphos (on Cyprus) Perga in Pamphylia Antioch of Pisidia (Turkey) Iconium Lystra Derbe, Lystra, Iconium & Antioch Perga, Attalia and Antioch (Syria) The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35) Second Missionary Journey Antioch (Syria) Why Silas? Derbe, Lystra & Iconium P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

3 3. Troas Samothrace, Neapolis & Philippi Amphipolis, Apollonia & Thessalonica Berea Athens Corinth Cenchrea, Ephesus, Caesarea Jerusalem & Antioch Life Lessons Third Missionary Journey Region of Galatia & Phrygia Ephesus Macedonia & Greece Troas Assos, Mitylene, Samos & Miletus Cos, Rhodes, Patara & Tyre Ptolemais & Caesarea Jerusalem Life Lessons Paul in Jerusalem Life Lessons Paul in Caesarea Life Lessons Paul s Journey to Rome Life Lessons Paul Finishes His Race Timothy 3 & Life Lessons P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

4 Timeline for the Apostle Paul Sources: BlueLetterBible.com and An Introduction to the New Testament by Carson & Moo Saul of Tarsus Citizen of Tarsus of Cilicia 21:37 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? 38 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? 39 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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 21: Roman Citizen 22:25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned? 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen. 27 So the tribune came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? And he said, Yes. 28 The tribune answered, I bought this citizenship for a large sum. Paul said, But I am a citizen by birth. 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 22: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

5 Citizen of Tarsus Tarsus is in modern day Turkey Saul was a citizen of Tarsus (see also Acts 9:11; 22:3) Saul was also a Roman citizen (see also Acts 16:37; 23:27) How did Saul obtain his Roman citizenship? o Roman generals were empowered to grant Roman citizenship to approved individuals o Since Saul was a citizen from birth (Acts 22:28), his father or grandfather was probably granted citizenship by either Antony or Pompey who were the Roman generals in charge of that city during the first century o Why Saul s family was granted citizenship is unknown. Sir William Calder speculates that it may have been due to the fact that Saul s family were tentmakers and this would have been a useful trade to the military Source: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume Three: K-P 5 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

6 Saul s Heritage and Achievements Philippians 3:2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Philippians 3:2 7. Circumcised on the 8 th day (Genesis 17:9-14) Of the people of Israel Tribe of Benjamin o Benjamin was youngest son of Rachel the beloved wife of Jacob o The first king of Israel (Saul) was a descendent of Benjamin Hebrew of Hebrews o Parents were both of Jewish descent o Paul spoke Hebrew o 1 st Class Jewish Man (not a Hellenistic Jew (2 nd class) or a Jewish convert (3 rd class)) Pharisee o The Set Apart or Separate ones o They were experts in the Mosaic Law o Held to the Oral Tradition or Oral Torah which was eventually documented in the Mishnah, Talmud and Midrash o Believed in the resurrection and angels (Acts 23:6-8) Persecutor of The Church Righteousness under the Law Blameless! However, Paul counted all of these things loss for the sake of Christ! What do you count as loss for the sake of Christ? 6 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

7 Teacher s Notes: The Oral Torah comprises the legal and interpretative traditions that, according to tradition, were transmitted orally from Mount Sinai, and were not written in thetorah. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the oral Torah, oral Law, or oral tradition (Hebrew: שבעל פה, Torahתורה she-be-`al peh) was given by God orally to Moses in conjunction with the writtentorah (Hebrew: שבכתב, Torahתורה she-bi-khtav), after which it was passed down orally through the ages. [1][2] Later to be codified and ת ל מ וד :.) Talmud(Hebrew written in the Student of Gamaliel Acts 22:3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 22:3. Galatians 1:14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Galatians 1:14. Who was Gamaliel? Who was Gamaliel? o According to the Talmud he was the grandson of Hillel o First of seven successive leaders of the school of Hillel o A well respected teacher of teachers o He was the first person to be honored with the title Rabban which means Our Master or Teacher o He believed that the Law was divinely inspired, but he emphasized its human elements o Held to Sabbath observance, but was more gracious toward divorce (in order to protect women) and he urged kindness toward Gentiles o Argued wisely and persuasively to spare the lives of Peter and other apostles (Acts 5:27-39) Source: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Volume Two: E-J Persecutor of the Church 7:54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 8 And Saul approved of his execution. 8:1 And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 7:54 8:3. 7 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

8 22:19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 22: Saul persecuted the Bride of Christ o As a Pharisee, Saul would not dirty his hands by actively participating in Stephen s death. However, he was there and he passively participated by watching over the garments of the executioners o Saul was in complete approval of Stephen s death o After Stephen s death, Saul became the chief persecutor of the Church o Saul dragged Christians to prison for their faith o How could the Lord use a man like this? Teacher s Notes: What would happen if the Lord would gloriously save people like Bill Maher Penn & Teller Richard Dawkins Michael Lee Aday (Meatloaf) & Jim Steinman 9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 9:1 2. After Stephen was stoned to death, The Church was scattered When the Jewish state won its independence under the Hasmonaean dynasty of ruling priests (142 B.C.), the Romans, required neighboring states to grant [Israel] the privileges of a sovereign state, including the right of extradition. (F.F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, 180) Using this privilege, the chief priests gave Saul their permission and blessings to pursue followers of The Way to Damascus Damascus was probably only a starting place for Saul 8 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

9 The Conversion of Saul 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do. 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 9:3 9. To persecute Jesus Bride (The Church) is to persecute Jesus Did Saul choose Jesus? Perhaps God blinded Saul physically to help him understand his spiritual blindness God gave Saul 3 days to contemplate His message Notice Saul s response! Teacher s Notes: In 63 BCE, the kingdom was conquered by the Roman Republic, broken up and set up as a Roman client state. The Kingdom had survived for 103 years before yielding to the Herodian Dynasty in 37 BCE. Even then, Herod the Great tried to bolster the legitimacy of his reign by marrying a Hasmonean princess, Mariamne, and planning to drown the last male Hasmonean heir at his Jericho palace. - Wikipedia Saul and Ananias 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him, Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and 9 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

10 lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. 15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 9:10 19a. God told Ananias to do something crazy! Ananias knew who Saul was and what he was doing to The Church Ananias was obedient to the Lord and went to find and pray for Saul of Tarsus We know practically nothing else about Ananias, but because of his obedience he became God s instrument in helping prepare the greatest evangelist in history When we ignore God s calling, we may forfeit the opportunity to be part of something much bigger than ourselves The message that Ananias delivered to Paul was not all good news. God was to also show Paul how much he must suffer for the cause of Jesus The Sufferings of Paul 16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of I am speaking as a fool I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one I am talking like a madman with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Corinthians 11: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

11 In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul speaks about a thorn in his flesh There has been much debate and speculation about what this thorn in the flesh was o Some have suggested that this was some type of struggle with an ongoing sin possibly a sexual sin (see Romans 7) o Some have suggested that this may refer to a problem with Paul s hands (see Galatians 6:11) o Some have suggested that this may refer to a problem Paul had with his eyes (see Galatians 4:15) We do know that Paul s eyes were affected on the road to Damascus. The question is, Were they completely healed when Ananias prayed for him? Question: Does God always answer our prayers with a yes? Saul Proclaims Jesus For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 9:19b 22. Saul s conversion was so dramatic that he immediately began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues The people who heard Saul were amazed that this was the same man who was persecuting the Christians Have you ever known someone who had a dramatic conversion? Saul s prior training made him a great advocate and apologist for Jesus when confronting the Jewish faithful Plot to Kill Saul 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 9: A Christian cliché that is often quoted is there is no safer place to be than in the center of God s will Paul might disagree! Our safety is in our eternal destiny and not necessarily our lives here on earth When you start making a difference for God, things are likely to get tough Satan typically doesn t waste his time on people who aren t making a positive impact for God s Kingdom After Saul s escape, he spent three years in Arabia and Damascus before going back to Jerusalem Saul in Arabia 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 11 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

12 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. 24 And they glorified God because of me. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Galatians 1: What was Saul doing during these three years? No one knows for sure I believe that he may have been studying the Hebrew Scriptures in light of Jesus as Messiah In Acts 20, we see Saul proclaiming Jesus Now we are about to see Saul preaching boldly and disputing with the Hellenistic Jews regarding Jesus as Messiah After three years Saul would have been more than prepared to make a strong argument, from Scripture, that Jesus is the Messiah Saul Goes to Jerusalem 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 9: Apparently some people thought that Saul s conversion was insincere Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) became Saul s advocate Imagine the frustration that the religious leaders in Jerusalem must have felt with Saul! Once again (but not for the last time) Saul s life was in jeopardy However, God is in control of our lives and Saul s time had not yet come First Missionary Journey Who o Paul o Barnabas o John Mark When o AD 47-early 49 Distance o Approximately 1,400 miles Where 1. Antioch (Syria) 2. Seleucia to Salamis & Paphos (on Cyprus) 3. Perga in Pamphylia 4. Antioch of Pisidia (Turkey) 5. Iconium 6. Lystra 7. Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch (Pisida) 8. Perga, Attalia and Antioch (Syria) 12 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

13 Who was John Mark? Author of the Gospel of Mark Son of Mary of Jerusalem o Offered her house for Christians to gather o Peter went to Mary s house after his miraculous release from prison (Acts 12:12) Cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10) Paul did not want to take Mark on the 2 nd Missionary Journey since he abandoned them on the 1 st (Acts 15:36-41) However, Mark and Paul apparently made peace because it appears that Mark was with Paul in Rome during his imprisonments (Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11) Traditionally it is believed that Mark was with Peter too during his imprisonment (1 Peter 5:13) Some scholars believe that Mark may be the young man who fled naked during Jesus arrest (Mark 14:51-52) 1. Antioch in Syria 13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 13:1 3. Here in Acts we see a shift from Peter being the central figure to Saul Notice the cultural diversity of the church in Antioch A few scholars believe that Simon (Niger) may have been Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus cross (Matthew 27:32), but this is debated (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) These men mentioned worshipped God and fasted seeking God s will The missionary journey would be a plan of God and not men! 13 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

14 After the Holy Spirit directed Saul and Barnabas to be set apart and sent, the group continued to bathe the journey in prayer and fasting 2. Seleucia to Salamis & Paphos (on Cyprus) 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time. Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 13:4 12. Cyprus was where Barnabas was from (Acts 4:36) and it appears that at this point, Barnabas was the leader of the journey There were a large number of Jews in Salamis and the first stop to share the Gospel was at the many synagogues Here we see a shift in name from Saul to Paul and a shift in leadership from Barnabas to Paul Bar-Jesus (Son of Yahweh is Salvation ) was anything but that. Paul calls him a son of the devil! Don t be fooled, there is a spiritual world of evil and that world has some power (Exodus 7:8-13; 1 Samuel 28; Job 1; Daniel 10; Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8) Elymas (sorcerer?) did not like the fact that Sergius Paulus was in the process of being converted to the faith; thus, threatening his influence over his powerful friend What was the effect of Elymas being blinded? Signs and miracles in Acts are almost always associated with someone coming to faith We also begin to see a shift here of Paul targeting Gentiles instead of Jews. (Sergius Paulus was a Gentile.) 3. Perga in Pamphylia 13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 13:13. Why did John Mark leave? Stanley Toussaint, Professor of Biblical Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, suggests several possibilities o A fear of sickness (Galatians 4:13) o A fear of the geographical journey o The change in leadership (Barnabas to Paul) o New emphasis in the Gentile ministry o Homesick (Acts 12:12) 4. Antioch of Pisidia (Turkey) 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it. 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning 14 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

15 with his hand said: Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will. 23 Of this man s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie. 26 Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, You are my Son, today I have begotten you. 34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David. 35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, You will not let your Holy One see corruption. 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you. 42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 13: Paul s Sermon (Bible Knowledge Commentary Stan Toussaint) 1. Anticipation of the Coming Messiah (vv ) 2. Rejection, Crucifixion & Resurrection (vv ) 3. Application & Appeal (vv ) Paul was speaking to a mixed audience including both Jews and Gentiles 15 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

16 Paul reminded the Jews the role given to them by God (Isaiah 49:5-6) The Jewish leaders rejected this, and become jealous of Paul and his message (see also John 11:45-57) Paul became frustrated with the Jews and turned his message toward the Gentiles. A pattern that repeats itself throughout Acts Of course the Gentiles rejoiced at this, but the Jews were angered and begun to persecute Paul and Barnabas Notice which Gentiles came to the faith (v. 48) Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet as they left (see Matthew 10:14) The new disciples exhibited a fruit of the spirit joy (Galatians 5:22) 5. Iconium 14 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 14:1 7. Again, Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue to preach the Gospel The reaction was the same Some believed and some did not God granted signs and wonders, but they still refused to believe (see also 2 Corinthians 12:12 and Hebrews 2:3-4) Paul and Barnabas were not discouraged easily. Notice how they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord Eventually the persecution grew and the non-believing Jews and Gentiles stirred up trouble and tried to have them stoned to death This did not deter Paul or Barnabas they continued on their journey and continued to preach the Gospel 6. Lystra 8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, Stand upright on your feet. And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men! 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 16 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

17 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 14:8 20. It appears that there might not have been a Jewish synagogue in Lystra so God provides a platform for Paul by healing a crippled man This resulted in a unexpected and unwanted response. The people began to believe that Paul and Barnabas were gods Paul and Barnabas reacted appropriately by tearing their garments (a sign of mourning) and tried to convince the people that they were only men Since the audience was not Jewish, Paul did not preach from the Hebrew Scriptures. Instead, he tried to reason from their understanding of God Some of the people still tried to offer sacrifices to them Remember, an evil and adulterous generation seeks signs (Matthew 12:39a) Detractors showed up and quickly changed the people s minds. They stoned Paul and left him for dead It was nothing short of a miracle that he survived and recovered so quickly Notice Paul s actions after he was stoned he went back into the city! 7. Derbe, Lystra, Iconium & Antioch 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 14: God gave Paul and Barnabas rest from persecution and they were allowed to share without detractors or distractions Paul and Barnabas were both evangelists and disciple makers in accordance to The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) Some churches focus on one or the other. We want to focus on both here! Paul and Barnabas reminded the disciples that they would have to go through many tribulations before they entered the Kingdom of God God s promises us eternal life with Him, but not an easy or perfect life here on earth The elder led church is the Biblical model Ultimately, we must leave those who believe in the hands of the Lord 8. Perga, Attalia and Antioch (Syria) 24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas were accountable to the church in Antioch, so they came back to report their progress o They gave God glory for their successes o God opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles 17 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

18 o It was a door of faith Gentiles coming to faith, however, created some confusion within the early Church The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35) Gentile converts created a controversy: Did the Gentiles have to follow the Mosaic Laws and requirements (i.e. circumcision)? A council was convened in Jerusalem (Acts 15) to address these issues Paul and Barnabas went to this council to report on what they had experienced with Gentiles and their salvation Peter also commented on his experience with Gentile salvation (see Acts 10) This was a critical issue for the young Church The council decided that Gentiles did not have to follow Jewish laws and customs The council, however, required Gentile believers to abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality (Acts 15:28-29) As a demonstration of the support of the Apostles, they sent Judas (called Barsabbus) and Silas back with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to deliver the message Second Missionary Journey Who o Paul o Silas o Timothy o Priscilla & Aquila o Luke When o AD Distance o 2,800 miles Where 1. Antioch, Syria & Cilicia 2. Derbe, Lystra & Iconium 3. Troas 4. Samothrace, Neapolis & Philippi 5. Amphipolis, Apollonia & Thessalonica 6. Berea 7. Athens 8. Corinth 9. Cenchrea, Ephesus, Caesarea (Syria), Jerusalem & Antioch (Syria) 18 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

19 1. Antioch (Syria) Chapter 15 v36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are. 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 15: Sometimes friends disagree Paul apparently did not appreciate the reason(s) why John Mark left on the 1 st journey God can use everything to His glory. He used this situation to create two mission teams o Paul & Silas (Sylvanus) Syria & Cilicia o Barnabas & John Mark Cyprus Follow-up is very important. It is not enough to simply help lead someone to the Lord Paul had his convictions also. Barnabas wants to take John Mark along, and Paul will not do it. Well, I m glad these two brethren had this little altercation because it teaches me that these men were human and that even the saints can disagree without being disagreeable. They didn t break up anything. They did not split the church and form two different churches in Antioch. They just disagreed. It s all right to disagree with some of the brethren. J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary: Church History (Acts 15-28), electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Why Silas? Stanley Toussaint suggests several possible reasons in the Bible Knowledge Commentary 19 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

20 1. He was an official representative of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 15:22) 2. He was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37) 3. He was a prophet (Acts 15:32) 4. The church at Antioch knew him well 5. Because he was skilled in Greek and served as Peter s amanuensis (1 Peter 5:12) 2. Derbe, Lystra & Iconium Chapter 16 v1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 16:1 5. Timothy may have been converted during Paul s first missionary journey (1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Timothy 1:2) Paul was evidently very impressed with Timothy Perhaps Paul saw Timothy as a replacement for John Mark Was Paul s ministry in Derbe that led to Timothy s conversion worth getting stoned for? Why did Paul circumcise Timothy? o Was this a contradiction of Galatians 2:3? Probably so that it would not become an issue when ministering to the Jews (see 1 Corinthians 9:20-22) However, Paul also communicated the decision of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) as he traveled Good theology strengthens churches! [B]y accepting Timothy as a Jew, Paul showed just how liberated from Jewish thought he was. Timothy was the son of a mixed marriage. The strict Jews would refuse to accept that as a marriage at all; in fact, if a Jewish girl married a Gentile boy or a Jewish boy married a Gentile girl, they would regard that Jewish boy or girl as dead so much so, that sometimes a funeral was actually carried out. By accepting the child of such a marriage as a fellow Jew, Paul showed how definitely he had broken down all national barriers. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), Troas 6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 16:6 10. God s timing is always perfect timing and apparently it was not time for Paul and his companions to go to Asia (Minor) and Bithynia or the time was right for Macedonia Troas was near the ancient city of Troy 20 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

21 Macedonia was in northern Greece Notice the use of we Luke was now part of the entourage Notice also the idea of God as Trinity in vv6, 7 and 10 This passage has become popular because in it God gave Paul definite guidance concerning where He wanted him to minister. Anyone who wants to propagate the gospel has questions about this kind of guidance. Notice that Paul was actively ministering and was seeking to do what appeared to him to be the wise thing when God said no and yes to his efforts. In providing positive direction God brought new information to Paul that impressed the apostle with a particular need God wanted him to meet. It seems to me that we should not concern ourselves mainly with the methods God uses to guide people. These varied in Acts and were not Luke s primary concern. We should, however, concentrate on where we can be of most use as the Lord s instruments. This was Paul s dominant concern. If our choices for places of ministry are equally acceptable to God, He probably will not steer us away from any of them as was true in Paul s first missionary journey. We can go wherever we please. However if He does not want us in one or more of these places, I believe He will shut one or more doors for us as He did for Paul. Tom Constable, Tom Constable s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Acts 16: Samothrace, Neapolis & Philippi 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. And she prevailed upon us. 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation. 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice. 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 16: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

22 Jail in Philippi where it is believed that the Apostle Paul and Silas were held 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace. 37 But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out. 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 16: There was a place of prayer, but no synagogue which required a minimum of 10 Jewish men 22 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

23 Here we meet Lydia whom God opened her heart to the Gospel that Paul preached and she was saved This was a great start to this phase of the journey, but trouble was coming Paul did not like his message being associated with the demon possessed girl s message so he ordered the demon out of the girl The slave owners cared more about making a profit than the spiritual needs of the girl Often, the greatest obstacle to the crusade of Christ is human selfishness. William Barclay After being beaten, do you think Paul and Silas questioned God s leading them to Macedonia? While in prison, Paul and Silas held a worship service! God miraculously responded to Paul and Silas faith Paul and Silas mistreatment and response resulted in an entire family coming to faith The jailers original mistreatment of Paul and Silas did not prevent Paul from sharing the Gospel with him The jailer washed Paul and Silas of their wounds. God washed the jailer and his family of their sins Paul and Silas beating led to a big oops for the town leaders Was Paul being vindictive when he demanded that the magistrates come and get him? Probably not. He was probably trying to protect the early church there Notice what Paul and Silas did they encouraged the brothers before they left. 5. Amphipolis, Apollonia & Thessalonica Chapter 17 v1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ. 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 17:1 9. Luke evidently stayed in Philippi notice the language changed from we to they The coming of Christianity to Thessalonica was an event of prime importance. The great Roman road from the Adriatic sea to the middle east was called the Egnatian Way; and the main street of Thessalonica was actually part of that road. If Christianity was firmly founded in Thessalonica, it could spread both east and west along that road until it became a highway of the progress of the kingdom of God William Barclay Paul never fully gave up on his people (Romans 9:1-5) He continued to preach and reason from the Scriptures in the synagogues Paul s persuasive preaching once again made the Jewish leaders jealous The Jewish leaders once again chose Caesar over Jesus or at least they used this as a tool to stir up the Romans Jason may have been a relative of Paul (see Romans 16:21) Perhaps the security taken was to ensure that Paul did not return lest Jason lose his money Paul was not able to return and he credited Satan with this hindrance (1 Thessalonians 2:18) 23 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

24 6. Berea 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 17:10 15 Following their pattern, Paul and Silas go first to the synagogue The Bereans were more noble and were eager to receive the Word The Bereans were also wise they carefully investigated what Paul and Silas had to say by examining the Scriptures (see also John 5:39) Luke obviously admires their enthusiasm for Paul s preaching, together with their industry and unprejudiced openness in studying the Scriptures. They combined receptivity with critical questioning. The verb for examine (anakrinō) is used of judicial investigations, as of Herod examining Jesus, the Sanhedrin peter [sic] and John (4:9), and Felix Paul (24:8). It implies integrity and absence of bias. Ever since then, the adjective Berean has been applied to people who study the Scriptures with impartiality and care. o John R. W. Stott, The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church & the World, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 274. Silas and Timothy probably stayed behind for a time to strengthen the new believers 7. Athens 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, What does this babbler wish to say? Others said, He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean. 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for In him we live and move and have our being ; as even some of your own poets have said, For we are indeed his offspring. 29 Being then God s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. 32 Now when they 24 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

25 heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, We will hear you again about this. 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 17: In Athens Paul goes to the synagogue and the marketplace He was grieved due to their idol worship It was said that there were more statues of the gods in Athens than in all the rest of Greece put together, and that in Athens it was easier to meet a god than another person., William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles Toussaint points out that the art in Athens was a reflection of their worship. Based on our art, what do we worship? Paul tried to engage the culture in ways he thought they could understand (1 Corinthians 9:22) The Gospel never changes, but the methods we use to engage the culture may change Paul tried to convince the people that the Lord was the one and only true God It may have offended the Athenians that Paul was teaching that humanity came from one race (Adam) and that they were dependent upon God for their existence and future The Greeks did not believe in resurrection. If fact, they believed that spirits were superior to flesh so they did not want to be resurrected The word babbler literally means seed-picker and it appears that some of the Athenians were not impressed with his culturally relevant message The results were mixed: 25 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

26 o o o Some believed Some mocked Some wanted to continue the discussion (procrastinated?) Did Paul view his time in Athens as a failure (see 1 Corinthians 2:1-2)? If no church was begun in Athens, the failure was not in Paul s message or method but in the hardness of the Athenians hearts. Stanley Toussaint, Bible Knowledge Commentary 8. Corinth Chapter 18 v1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people. 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law. 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things. 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 18:1 17. Paul traveled alone to Corinth Corinth was known for its licentious lifestyle and worship of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love Paul once again reasoned in the synagogues Around AD 49 or 50 the emperor Claudius ordered all Jews out of Rome He stayed with Aquila and Priscilla and supported himself by working with them to make tents and/or working with leather Later Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia Eventually the Jews opposed Paul, but some came to faith including the temple ruler! God was gracious and granted Paul a time of rest from persecution Frustrated, the Jews eventually turned to the Roman ruler, but he refused to get involved with the dispute arguing that Paul was promoting a new (non-sanctioned) religion Gallio did not buy the argument; thus, he ruled that Christianity was a sect within Judaism Ironically this gave Christianity credibility and acceptance as a sanctioned religion within the Roman government As a result of this waste of the state s time, the Gentiles beat Sosthenes possibly hoping to discourage the Jewish leaders from bothering the court with these matters This Sosthenes may have later come to faith and become Paul s amanuenses (1 Corinthians 1:1) 26 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

27 Teacher s Notes: HERE we have a vivid light on the kind of life that Paul lived. He was a Rabbi and, according to Jewish practice, every Rabbi must have a trade. He must take no money for preaching and teaching and must make his own living. The Jews glorified work. Love work, they said. He who does not teach his son a trade teaches him robbery. Excellent, they said, is the study of the law along with a worldly trade; for the practice of them both makes a man forget iniquity; but all law without work must in the end fail and causes iniquity. So we find Rabbis following every respectable trade. It meant that they never became detached scholars and always knew what the life of those who had to work at a trade was like. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), Cenchrea, Ephesus, Caesarea Jerusalem & Antioch 18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, I will return to you if God wills, and he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 18: Paul cut his hair in fulfillment of a Nazirite vow (see Numbers 6:1-21) that he had taken, but we are not sure when or why this vow was taken Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus Silas and Timothy were left in Macedonia and Achaia to oversee churches there Toussaint Paul continued to reason with the Jews in the synagogue Is this a contradiction since Paul said he would only go to the Gentiles? Paul was possibly in a hurry to get to Jerusalem in time for Passover It is not explicitly stated that Paul went to Jerusalem, but going up and going down is language associated with a Jerusalem visit Life Lessons 1. Sometimes the Holy Spirit leads believers to different conclusions, but always for God s glory (Paul and Barnabas argument and split) 2. Painful ministry experiences can produce incredible fruit (Paul s stoning in Derbe & Timothy s conversion there) 3. God s timing is always perfect. We must remember that God is at work in other s lives too while He is working in ours (Paul forbidden to go to Asia) 4. We need to be sensitive to God s leading (Paul s vision of the man in Macedonia) 5. Trouble in ministry does not mean that we are out of God s will (Paul & Silas in Philippi) 6. Doing what is right can lead to persecution (Paul casting out the demon from the girl in Philippi) 7. Our response to adversity can lead to great deliverance for us and for others (Paul & Silas and the jailer and his family) 8. Share the Gospel even with people who mistreat you (Paul & the jailer) 9. The Gospel is for everyone regardless of their social status (Remember the slave girl, the jailer and Lydia) 10. Pray that God will grow you to a place of maturity that after you have been mistreated, you can still encourage others (Paul & Silas in Philippi) 11. Don t take anyone s teaching to be absolutely true until you have confirmed it with Scripture (the Bereans) 27 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

28 12. Idolatry of all kinds should provoke us to action (Paul in Athens) 13. We are only responsible for proclaiming the Gospel not for the results (Paul in Athens) 14. God gives us rest from our troubles when we need it (Paul in Corinth) 15. God can turn the schemes of our enemies against us into blessings (Gallio s decision) 16. Never give up on the people you care about (Paul s ministry to the Jewish leaders) Third Missionary Journey Who o Paul o Timothy o Luke o Et al. When o AD Distance o 2,700 miles Where 1. Region of Galatia & Phrygia 2. Ephesus 3. Macedonia and Greece (Achaia) 4. Troas 5. Assos, Mitylene, Samos & Miletus 6. Cos, Rhodes, Patara & Tyre 7. Ptolemais & Caesarea 8. Jerusalem 1. Region of Galatia & Phrygia Chapter 18 v23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged 28 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

29 him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 18: Paul begins his 3 rd journey by strengthening the churches that he had planted. Paul was not a once and done evangelist! Meanwhile in Ephesus o Today we meet Apollos o Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria (northern Africa) o Alexandria was a place of scholarship and apparently Apollos was well trained in Judaism o He was passionate for the Lord, but lacked a full knowledge of salvation o Water baptism does not bring salvation! Only Spirit baptism brings salvation more on this later o Thankfully, Priscilla and Aquila were there to disciple him, but they did so privately by inviting him to their home they did not embarrass him in public o Thankfully, Apollos was teachable o Apollos next stop was the city of Corinth o Apollos became a great evangelist so much so that some people in Corinth said they followed Him instead of Peter or Paul o Paul had to remind the Corinthian church that it is Christ that we follow not men! (see 1 Corinthians 1:10-17) 2. Ephesus Chapter 19 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. 3 And he said, Into what then were you baptized? They said, Into John s baptism. 4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 19:1 10. Paul spent about 3 years in Ephesus Paul ran into some believers who, like Apollos, trusted in the baptism of John for their salvation However, John s baptism was a baptism of repentance and not salvation Baptism by the Holy Spirit (Spirit Baptism) is the spiritual baptism of salvation When we believe, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts Within the early church, when some people were saved, they spoke in tongues. However, this was not always the case (Acts 8:26-40; 9:1-18; 16:11-15; 25-34; Et al.) Tongues are a sign for unbelievers not believers (1 Corinthians 14:22) 29 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

30 Many in the charismatic and neo-pentecostal movements teach that the indispensable proof of the Spirit s baptism is speaking in tongues (called glossalalia, after the Greek word for language; glōssa). They argue from events in Acts (2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; 19:1-6) that baptism is a work of the Spirit subsequent to salvation and related to special endowment of His power. According to this position, then, a person may be saved and indwelt by the Spirit, but not baptized until sometime later when he is lifted to a new level of spiritual power and vitality. This event is validated by speaking in tongues. There are a number of problems with this interpretation. First, not all Christians speak in tongues; not even all spiritually mature Christians do Second, Paul clearly stated that not all Christians speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:30). So to expect all Christians to do so contradicts Paul s expectations The third argument that makes this position untenable is that nowhere does Scripture teach that speaking in tongues is a necessary sign of the Spirit s baptism or that there has to be a time lapse between conversion and Spirit baptism. Tony Evans, The Promise, pp And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims. 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you? 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 19: God using Paul as a tool to perform miracles was an confirmation of Paul s apostleship (see Acts 2:43; 5:12; 14:3) It has been said that God is everywhere looking for hands to use. We may not be able to work miracles with our hands, but without doubt we can give them to God so that he may work through them. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles People recognize the power of God and can try to exploit it Be careful there is a powerful spiritual world out there and it is only by God s power that we can stand against it not our own! (see also Mark 5:3-4) Sceva is said to be a Jewish chief priest. But perhaps he merely claimed to be, and Luke simply recorded his boast. Or Sceva may have actually been a chief priest whose seven sons had gone astray into exorcism. Stanley Toussaint, The Bible Knowledge Commentary God can use anything even people s impure motives for His glory If you want to know how serious a person is about their faith, look at what they are willing to give up for the cause of Christ Teacher s Notes: What were these handkerchiefs and aprons which are mentioned here? Well, actually we could call them sweat cloths. Paul used them as he worked. Remember that he was a tentmaker and this was in a warm climate. While he was working, he would be perspiring. He would use these cloths, these handkerchiefs and aprons, to wipe his brow. They were dirty. They had perspiration from his body on them. People would come and pick up these dirty cloths and would be 30 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

31 healed of their diseases! In that area there were the mystery religions which used white garments and emphasized that everything must be very clean and white. Everything had to be just so. It seems that God was rebuking all of that sort of thing. He used these dirty sweaty cloths to heal people. J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary: Church History (Acts 15-28), electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 75. Artemis of the Ephesians Photo by David Bjorgen 21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 19: When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! 31 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

32 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 19: Model of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus Photo courtesy of Zee Prime at cs.wikipedia 28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 19: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

33 Theater in Ephesus Photo taken by Norman Herr in And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion. 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 19: The temple of Diana [Artemis] in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and many historians believe it was one of the most beautiful buildings ever built. It stood about a mile northeast of the city and served as a bank as well as a place of worship and cultic immorality. It could accommodate 50,000 people and was probably the largest Greek temple ever built. Its centerpiece was evidently a meteorite that resembled a woman with many breasts. Tom Constable The temple of Diana was a great pagan temple, and it was the center of business. It was the bank of that day. It was also the center of sin. Gross immorality took place around it. It is true that religion can go to a lower level than anything else. That temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the largest Greek temple that was ever built. It was beautiful and it was adorned with works of art, but the image of Diana or Artemis was hideous. It was not the Diana of the Greeks, a graceful image, but was the crude, many breasted, oriental Diana. 33 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

34 They were selling those silver images, and it was big business. Paul s ministry was interfering with it. - J Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary It is interesting that the craftsman who stood to lose business if people turned to Jesus were the first to complain Sometimes people use their religion as a means for financial gain Follow the money and you will discover the heart! Many people who claim to worship God or a god really worship money more You cannot serve two masters! (Matthew 6:24) Teacher s Notes: ASIARCH [āˊzhĭ ärk] (Gk. Asiarchēs). The title of wealthy and prominent citizens of the Roman province of Asia. They were responsible for managing the games in honor of the emperor, and may have constituted a provincial council of sorts. They were elected for one year only, but reelection was possible. A number of asiarchs may have been the official high priests of the provincial emperor cult. The Asiarchs appear in Luke s account of the uproar at Ephesus during Paul s third missionary journey. These more educated citizens of Ephesus did not frown on Paul s preaching in the city (Acts 19:31). Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 96. The theater in Ephesus seated approximately 25,000 people Notice Paul s willingness (eagerness?) to confront a hostile crowd with the Gospel The Asiarchs (wealthy and prominent citizens) persuaded Paul not to go Ministry in a pagan context is rough! (Pray for Dave and Gloria Furman!) Alexander was apparently a leading Jew of the city; however, it is unclear if he was a believer or non-believer Toussaint points out that the city clerk was actually the chief executive of the city and that he made four assertions to quiet the crowd: o Artemis was not a man-made god she fell from heaven a fact that was well known by all Ephesians o He exonerated Gaius and Aristarchus; thereby, exonerating Paul as well o He let the crown know that their assembly (riot) was illegal o If they were not careful, their commotion could result in unfavorable political implications Rome was a kindly ruler, but the one thing it would not stand was civil disorder. If there were riots in any town, Rome would want to know the reason why, and the magistrates responsible might lose their positions. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles 3. Macedonia & Greece Chapter 20 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 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. 4 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. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 20:1 6. Paul had the gift of encouragement! When you are doing God s will, things will probably get hard maybe even dangerous 34 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

35 Verse 3 tells us that when Paul was about to set sail from Greece to Syria a Jewish plot was uncovered and he changed his route to an overland way. Most probably, what happened was this. Often, Jewish pilgrim ships left from foreign ports for Syria to take pilgrims to the Passover and Paul must have intended to sail on one. On such a ship, it would have been the easiest thing in the world for the Jews who opposed Paul to arrange that he should disappear overboard and never be heard of again. Paul was a man who always walked with his life in his hands. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles 2 Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8:1; 9:2-4) and Romans (Romans 15:23-16:2) were probably written during this leg of the journey It appears that Luke rejoined Paul in Philippi (use of we ) 4. Troas 7 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. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 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. 10 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. 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 20:7 12. What day of the week did the early church meet? The breaking of bread probably indicated that this was also a communion service The church probably met at night as to not interfere with people s daily work schedules Paul wanted to teach as long as he could because he knew it would be his last chance there The name Eutychus means fortunate The Greek word translated as young man probably indicates that Eutychus was around 8 to 14 years old Perhaps the many lamps made the room uncomfortably stuffy The fall proved fatal, but God was gracious and restored Eutychus life Raising someone from the dead put Paul in the same league as Elijah, Elisha and Peter It was an understatement by Luke to say they were not a little comforted Teacher s Notes: It talks twice about breaking of bread. In the early Church, there were two closely related things. One was what was called the Love Feast. All contributed to it, and it was a real meal often the only proper meal that poor slaves got all week. Here, Christians ate in loving fellowship with each other. The other was the Lord s Supper, which was observed during or immediately after the Love Feast. It may well be that we have lost something of great value in the happy togetherness of the common meal. It marked as nothing else could the family spirit of the Church. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), Assos, Mitylene, Samos & Miletus 13 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. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 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. 16 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. 17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and 35 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

36 called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 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, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 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. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 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. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 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. 33 I coveted no one s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 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. 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 20: Paul knew that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem, but he also knew that that was where the Spirit was leading him Paul taught from house to house perhaps indicating that the early churches met in homes Paul knew that he was driving toward finishing his course a phrase we will see again in our last week of this study Notice that one of the responsibilities of the elders is to guard (protect) the flock especially in the protection from bad theology We must also remember that the Church belongs to God, who obtained it with his own blood and not to men It is more blessed to give than to receive is not found in any of the Gospels. It is apparently a phrase that came from the oral tradition Paul sometimes supported his own ministry; however, he also taught that the church was to support those within ministry (1 Corinthians 9) Paul was much loved by his Gentile brothers. We will see something quite different when he reaches Jerusalem from the Jewish leaders 6. Cos, Rhodes, Patara & Tyre Chapter 21 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. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 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. 4 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. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and 36 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

37 they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 21:1 6. Through the Spirit the believers at Tyre urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. In view of the phrase, through the Spirit, was Paul wrong in pursuing his course to Jerusalem? Probably he was not violating God s will for several reasons: (1) Acts 20:22 and 21:14 imply it was God s will for Paul to continue on to Jerusalem (cf. 19:21). (2) The comfort given by God (23:11) implies Paul had not stubbornly refused the Lord s will. (3) In 23:1 Paul declared he had lived in all good conscience to that day. Probably, then, the words through the Spirit (21:4) mean they knew through the Spirit that Paul would suffer in Jerusalem (cf. 20:23); therefore, concerned for his safety, they tried to dissuade him. John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), Ac ts 21:3 4 Often loved ones and friends get the same guidance as we do but it is channeled to us through the grid of their own fears of their concern for our safety. Also, sometimes there is a kind of sloppy sentimentalism about the Spirit s guidance. We can t imagine that trials and difficulties could ever be the Lord s will for people we love. Success, ease, and peace without conflict have become the false signs of the Spirit s blessing. He often wills these, but they can never become the sure signs that His will is being done. Success is doing what the Lord wills, ease is living in the flow of His Spirit, and peace is often discovered in outwardly turbulent circumstances. It is equally dangerous to think that we are doing the will of the Lord only if we are suffering or facing trouble. Circumstances cannot be trusted to give us a final assurance that we are in the Lord s will. Paul s guidance was to go to Rome by way of Jerusalem. With raw courage and determination, he forged ahead, kindly accepting his friends counsel, but not veering from his clearly set course. Lloyd J. Ogilvie and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, vol. 28, Acts, The Preacher s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1983), 293. Notice how the church had started to spread after the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 11:19) Notice also Paul s dependence on the Lord they knelt down and prayed 7. Ptolemais & Caesarea 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 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. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 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. 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 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. 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, Let the will of the Lord be done. 15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 21:7 16. There had to be absolutely no doubt in Paul s mind what would happen to him in Jerusalem Remember, nothing takes God by surprise! 37 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

38 Apparently even Luke tried to convince Paul not to go, but eventually everyone realized that it was not their will, but the Lord s will that must be done However, Paul followed the leading of the Spirit regardless of the personal cost We must obey God and not men! 8. Jerusalem 17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 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, 21 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. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 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. 25 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. 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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 21: The salvation of souls deserves much praise Tradition is difficult to break When tradition is broken, it should be done so respectfully When we are meeting with others who hold to tradition, we should honor those traditions Paul taught that it was not necessary to circumcise for salvation, but he did not teach not to do it At the same time it is important for people who hold to tradition not to look down on those who choose not to follow them (i.e. the Gentiles who were not required to follow the Jewish traditions) Why did Paul agree to the vow? Probably because when around Jews, Paul became a Jew so that he might win some The leaders saw a way in which Paul could guarantee the orthodoxy of his own conduct. Four men were in the middle of observing the Nazirite vow. This was a vow taken in gratitude for some special blessing from the hand of God. It involved abstention from meat and wine for thirty days, during which the hair had to be allowed to grow. It seems that sometimes at least the last seven days had to be spent entirely in the Temple courts. At the end, certain offerings had to be brought a year-old lamb for a sin offering, a ram for a peace offering, a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil and a meat offering and a drink offering. Finally, the hair had to be cut and burned on the altar with the sacrifice. It is obvious that this was a costly business. Work had to be given up, and all the elements of the sacrifice had to be bought. It was quite beyond the resources of many who would have wanted to undertake it. So it was considered an act of piety for some wealthier person to cover the expenses of someone taking the vow. That was what Paul was asked to do in the case of these four men and he agreed. By so doing, he could demonstrate for all to see that he was himself an observer of the law. There can be no doubt that the matter was distasteful to Paul. For him, the relevance of things like that had gone. But it is the sign of all who are truly great that they can subordinate their own wishes and views for the sake of the Church. There is a time when compromise is a sign not of weakness but of strength. 38 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

39 William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), 183. Life Lessons 1. Correct people with incorrect theology privately and not publicly (at least initially), but always lovingly (Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos) 2. No matter how much we may know, or think we know, we should always be teachable (like Apollos) 3. We follow Christ not a pastor, a personality, a denomination, a facility, a location, a style of ministry or worship, etc. (Paul, Apollos and the Corinthian Church) 4. Use Paul s ministry emphasis as a model for our lives: evangelism, discipleship, mentorship and charity 5. Serve the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what the cost! (Paul in Ephesus) 6. Support your elders for they have a very important and difficult job (Paul s warning against false teachers) 7. We are to follow the Spirit s leading, no matter the cost (Paul going to Jerusalem) 8. Don t let your personal feelings or concerns for someone you love interfere with God s calling on their life (Paul and his friends) 9. Honor other people s traditions. Do not try to impose your traditions upon others. (Paul s vow in Jerusalem) 10. Put the good of Christ s Church over your own desires (Paul s willingness to take the unnecessary vow) Paul in Jerusalem 27 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, 28 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. 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 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. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 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. 33 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. 34 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. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, Away with him! The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 21: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

40 40 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

41 Apparently some Jews from Asia Minor, who were probably in Jerusalem for the Passover, recognized Paul and started the trouble Gentiles were not allowed into the inner courts of the temple Two inscriptions have been found on a balustrade separating the court of the Gentiles from the rest of the temple area. These warned Gentiles they would have themselves to blame for their deaths which would certainly ensue if they would proceed beyond the barrier (cf. Eph. 2:14). So deep was this feeling that the Romans gave permission to Jews to fulfill this death sentence, even if the intruder was a Roman citizen. Stanley Toussaint, Bible Knowledge Commentary Paul did not bring Gentiles into the temple Paul respected and obeyed the Jewish Law Could Trophimus have accidently wandered into a restricted area? Probably not Once again Paul s life was in jeopardy Seeing that a riot was breaking out the Romans stepped in to intervene The Tribune did not question Paul he simply arrested him due to the volatility of the situation It is interesting to note that Paul was hated by the very people he was willing to sacrifice his own salvation so that they may live (Romans 9:1-5) 37 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? 38 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? 39 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. 40 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: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 21: Chapter 22 Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you. 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 22:1-5. The tribune was surprised that Paul knew Greek Paul also knew Hebrew and Aramaic. He probably addressed the crowd in Aramaic here. (Ability to speak Aramaic = 1 st Class Jewish Man) Josephus wrote of an Egyptian impostor who claimed to be a prophet. He said this Egyptian had gathered 30,000 followers (Luke with accuracy states 4,000; Josephus had a tendency to inflate numbers) and in A.D. 54 came to the Mount of Olives promising his adherents that the walls of Jerusalem would collapse at his command. Instead, the Roman army promptly marched on them, killed some and captured others, while the remainder were scattered. The Egyptian escaped. Stanley Toussaint, BKC The Greek word for defense is apologia. It is the same word from which we get the term apologetics. A Christian apologist is someone who defends the Christian faith (1 Peter 3:15) 41 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

42 Paul begins his defense by reminding the Jews of who he was prior to his Damascus road experience and his credentials were impressive to his audience! Notice the similar language Paul used compared with Stephen (Acts 22:1 and 7:2) 6 As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 8 And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting. 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do. 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. 17 When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me. 19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him. 21 And he said to me, Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 22:6 21. Paul began by simply sharing what God had done for him. That is how we should begin our testimony too God appointed Paul to be His chosen instrument and to see the Righteous One Those around Paul did not understand the message. God had not appoint them Paul thought he could persuade the Jewish leaders, but God knew that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem would not believe Paul s message. They were also not appointed There is a certain sense of disappointed longing here. As with his Master, Paul s own people would not receive him (John 1:11). He is literally saying: I had a priceless gift for you, but you would not take it; so it was offered to the Gentiles. - William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles Does this passage teach that baptism is necessary for salvation? Verse 16 has been a problem to some readers of Acts because one might understand it to say that water baptism washes away sins. The writers of Scripture present water baptism elsewhere not as the agent of spiritual cleansing but as the illustration of spiritual cleansing that has already taken place (1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Pet. 3:21). The agent of spiritual cleansing is faith in Christ. Paul referred to faith in this verse as calling on His name (cf. Joel 2:32). Paul evidently experienced regeneration on the Damascus road; he believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the divine Messiah predicted in the Old Testament (v. 10; cf. Gal. 1:11 12; Acts 9:17 18). He experienced baptism in water after he called on the Lord for salvation. The Lord washed Paul s sins away when he called on the Lord. Then Paul arose and received baptism. The Greek word epikalesamenos, translated calling on, is an aorist participle meaning having called on. Tom Constable, Tom Constable s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 22: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

43 22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live. 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned? 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen. 27 So the tribune came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? And he said, Yes. 28 The tribune answered, I bought this citizenship for a large sum. Paul said, But I am a citizen by birth. 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 22: What is significant for us in our progressive exposition of Acts as a whole is to note that the Jews heard Paul until he touched the raw nerve of their predetermined prejudice. The same thing happens today in our own personal study of the gospel and in our efforts to communicate. Paul pushed his hearers too far when he told them that the Lord had sent him to preach to the Gentiles. They could listen to his own story until it involved inclusive love for the Gentiles. - Lloyd J. Ogilvie and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, vol. 28, Acts, The Preacher s Commentary Series What upset them was that Paul was approaching Gentiles directly about the Messiah without first introducing them to Judaism and its institutions. This was equivalent to placing Gentiles on the same footing before God as Jews, and this was the height of apostasy to the traditional Jewish mind. This is why Paul s hearers reacted so violently and allowed him to say no more. -Tom Constable, Tom Constable s Expository Notes on the Bible Romans extracted truth by examining prisoners through flogging (see also John 18:37-19:1) The Roman scourge was inflicted with shorter whips embedded with pieces of metal or bones and attached to a strong wooden handle. It could kill a man or leave him permanently crippled. This was the punishment Christ received (Matt. 27:26), leaving Him unable to carry His cross. Stanley Toussaint, BKC This was not a punishment; it was simply the most effective way of extracting either the truth or a confession. The scourge was a leather whip studded at intervals with sharp pieces of bone and lead. Few survived it in their right senses, and many died under it. - William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles In the confusion the tribune had not ascertained that Paul was a Roman citizen. Furthermore, since he did not speak Aramaic he was probably frustrated by not knowing why the crowd reacted to Paul s words so violently This resulted in a big oops! You did not chain, much less flog, a Roman citizen without just cause. In fact, by Roman law, Roman citizens were not flogged using this barbaric torture The Roman statesman Cicero had said: It is a misdeed for a Roman citizen to be bound; it is a crime for him to be beaten; it is almost as bad as to murder a father to kill him. So Paul stated that he was a citizen. The commander was terrified. Not only was Paul a citizen; he was born free, whereas the commander had had to purchase his freedom. The commander knew that he had been on the verge of doing something which would have involved certainly his dismissal and very probably his execution. - William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles As we have already seen, Paul was a natural born Roman citizen because his father or grandfather was a Roman citizen 30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. Chapter 23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to 43 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

44 this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 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? 4 Those who stood by said, Would you revile God s high priest? 5 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. 6 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. 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 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? 10 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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 22:30 23:10. The tribune, still confused, tried to get at the truth, but with much more respect for Paul Ananias response is in keeping with what is known about him from Josephus, who described him as insolent, hot-tempered, profane, and greedy. Ironically, at the beginning of Paul s ministry another Ananias helped him receive his sight. Stanley Toussaint, BKC [See also John 18:20-23] Ananias became high priest in 47 A.D. The Jewish high priesthood was a political appointment during Rome s occupation of Palestine. Josephus painted Ananias as a despicable person. He seized for his own use tithes that should have gone to the ordinary priests and gave large bribes to Romans and Jews. The emperor summoned him to Rome on charges of being involved in a bloody battle between Jews and Samaritans, but he escaped punishment. He was very wealthy and resorted to violence and even assassination to accomplish his ends. He was also very pro-roman, and the Jews finally killed him in their uprising against Rome in 66 A.D. Tom Constable, Tom Constable s Expository Notes on the Bible Why did Paul not recognize the High Priest? Teacher s Notes: Paul s statement, Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest, presents a problem. This could hardly be because of poor eyesight because Paul had looked straight (atenisas, lit., looked intently ) at the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:1). Paul s words could be irony in which he was saying he could not recognize such a violent man as priest. However, the word brothers (v. 5) renders this interpretation improbable. Possibly there was such confusion the high priest was not identifiable. Certainly he was not wearing his priestly garments. It is also probable Paul did not know Ananias personally because the apostle had not had contact with the Sanhedrin for many years. The high priesthood changed hands frequently (see the chart on Annas family at 4:5-6). John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), Ac 23:3 5. Paul frequently claimed to have lived with a clear conscience before God (cf. 20:18 21, 26 27; 24:16; Rom 15:19, 23; Phil 3:6; 2 Tim. 4:7). Here this claim meant that he believed that nothing he had done, which he was about to relate, was contrary to the will of God contained in the Hebrew Scriptures. Specifically his Christian beliefs and conduct did not compromise his Jewish heritage. Tom Constable, Tom Constable s Expository Notes on the Bible Whitewashed tomb An appearance of purity, but inwardly defiled Paul was commenting on the High Priest s heart 44 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

45 Notice Paul s reverence toward the High Priest and/or his position once he was identified even though the High Priest had violated the Law (cf. Exodus 22:28) This is something else that we have forgotten today. I personally believe that the president of the United States, regardless of who he is or how bad he is, ought never to be made a subject of a cartoon. He should not be ridiculed because of the position he holds. We should respect the office. We as human beings need to respect authority. Paul wrote: Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour (Rom. 13:7). It is interesting that he wrote this at a time when Nero was on the throne in Rome, and Nero was a madman. - J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary: Church History (Acts 15-28) Paul s strategy was brilliant divide and conquer! The physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead is central to the Christian faith. No death, burial and resurrection there is no Christianity and no hope (see 1 Corinthians 15:17-19) Once again, Paul had to be removed and taken back to the barracks for his own safety 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. 12 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. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 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. 15 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. 16 Now the son of Paul s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him. 18 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. 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that you have to tell me? 20 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. 21 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. 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that you have informed me of these things. 23 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. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect: 26 Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 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. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 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. 31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive. And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod s praetorium. 45 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

46 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 23: God wanted Paul in Rome and He was going to use His disobedient and obstinate children to get him there! The Jewish people let religious zeal and hatred blind them to what God was trying to bless them with God is sovereign and did not allow the plot to kill Paul to succeed. Ironically, he used a child to spoil the plan Notice that the tribune left out a couple of small details in his letter Caesarea was a much more safe and secure location that volatile Jerusalem I wonder what happened to the men to took the oath did they starve to death? The journey to Rome had officially begun Luke s great skill as a historian-theologian, not to mention the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is clearly seen in these chapters. The future of the gospel was at stake, as powerful forces ranged themselves for and against it. On the one hand, the Jewish persecutors were prejudiced and violent. On the other, the Romans were open-minded and went out of their way to maintain the standards of law, justice and order of which their best leaders were understandably proud. Four times they rescued Paul from death either by lynching or by murder, taking him into custody until the charges against him could be clarified and, if cogent, presented in court. Then three times in Luke s narrative, as we have seen, Paul either has been or will be declared innocent. Between these two powers, religious and civil, hostile and friendly, Jerusalem and Rome, Paul found himself trapped, unarmed and totally vulnerable. One cannot help admiring his courage, especially when he stood on the steps of Fortress Antonia, facing an angry crowd which had just severely manhandled him, with no power but the Word and the Spirit of God. Luke seems to offer him to us as a model of Christian valour so that, as Chrysostom put it at the end of his fifty-fifth and last homily on the Acts, we may emulate Paul, and imitate that noble, that adamantine soul. The source of his courage was his serene confidence in the truth. He was well aware that the Romans had no case against him. He was convinced that the Jews had no case either, because his faith was the faith of his fathers, and the gospel was the fulfilment of the law. And above all he knew that his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was with him and would keep his promise that he would bear witness, some day, somehow, in Rome. John R. W. Stott, The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church & the World, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), Life Lessons 1. Always be prepared to make a defense of your faith, but be sure to do so with gentleness and respect (Paul in Jerusalem - see also 1 Peter 3:15) 2. Share your testimony what God has done for you every chance you get (Paul in Jerusalem) 3. Begin your testimony by simply sharing what God has done for you. Then move to the Gospel (Paul in Jerusalem) 4. Pray for those we know and love who are unsaved that they too will be appointed 5. Make sure we know all of the facts before passing judgment on someone! (Roman tribune) 6. Respect those who God has placed in authority over us or at least respect their office (Paul and the High Priest) 7. Allow God to deal with our enemies in His time and in His way (Ananias consider also David and Saul) 8. God can bring His plans for our lives to fruition even when people are trying to persecute us (Paul and the Jewish leaders) 9. Don t let religious zeal or hatred blind you to God s blessings (Jewish plot to kill Paul) 10. Never underestimate who God can use to bring about His plan (Paul s nephew) 46 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

47 Paul in Caesarea Chapter 24 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him. 9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. 10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day. 22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case. 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. 24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you. 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 24:1 27. Tertullus spent almost as much time on his introduction as he did on the specific charges against Paul. His description of Felix was obviously fawning flattery, for Felix was known for his violent use of repressive force and corrupt self-aggrandizement. Felix had been a slave, won his freedom, and curried favor with the imperial court. Tacitus, a Roman historian, bitingly summed up Felix s character with the terse comment, He exercised royal power with the mind of a slave. Stan Toussaint, BKC Tertullus made 3 false charges against Paul: 1. Stirring up riots (It was actually the Jews who stirred up trouble, not Paul.) 2. Ringleader of the Nazarenes (Jesus is the ringleader, not Paul.) 3. Profaning the Temple (Simply not true.) Paul s defense 1. He had not been in Jerusalem long enough to organize a riot 2. He had not instigated a riot. In fact, he had come to bring an offering 3. His faith was not contradictory to the Law or Prophets 47 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

48 4. His real accusers (the Jews from the province of Asia) were not even present Notice how Paul begins to weave the Gospel into his defense Paul s present accusers could not even testify that the Sanhedrin had found him guilty when he appeared before that body. Some of them had disagreed with his belief about resurrection. Therefore, Paul concluded, he was on trial over the issue of the resurrection. This put Felix in the awkward position of having to decide a theological issue over which his Jewish subjects disagreed. Tom Constable Felix rendered a no decision He simply indefinitely postponed making a decision Paul continued to share the Gospel with Felix and his wife Drusilla (who was Jewish) Paul did not hold back and clearly taught Felix of sin, righteousness and judgment to come! Teacher s Notes: Sometime later Felix, along with his current wife, sent for Paul. Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I who had been king over Palestine from A.D. It was he who had authorized the death of James, the son of Zebedee (12:1 2), and had imprisoned Peter (12:3 11). Drusilla was Felix s third wife whom he had married when she was 16 years old. She was now (57 A.D.) 19. She had previously been the wife of Azizus, the king of Emesa, a state within Syria, but Felix broke up that marriage to get her. Felix himself had been married twice before to princesses the first of which was the granddaughter of Anthony and Cleopatra. Felix used his marriages to advance his political career. The Herods were, of course, Idumeans, part Israelite and part Edomite. Tom Constable, Tom Constable s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 24:24. Paul came from a wealthy family and Felix hoped that Paul would offer him a bribe for his freedom The Romans had different degrees of imprisonment. Because Paul was a Roman citizen, who had not been convicted of any offence, Felix issued instructions that he should be given custodia libera, in which, although he was never left unguarded, his friends enjoyed free access to him. - John R. W. Stott, The Message of Acts Felix s decision to postpone making a decision about his relationship to God is a common one. Often people put off this most important decision until they cannot make it. This is probably why most people who make decisions for Christ do so when they are young. Older people normally get harder to the gospel. We do not know if Felix ever did trust Christ; there is no evidence that he did. - Tom Constable This couple of rascals, Felix and Drusilla, are in an exalted position. They probably would never have attended a church in which the gospel was preached, nor would they have gone to hear Paul the apostle if he had come to town to preach. Yet here are these two who have this great opportunity given to them under the most favorable circumstances. They have a private interview with the greatest preacher of the grace of God that the world has ever known. God gives them a private sermon. Their palace becomes a church and their thrones become almost a mourner s bench. Oh, the wonder of the grace of God to give these two a chance! The hour of salvation struck for them. The door of the kingdom was opened and they had their opportunity to enter. This is in fulfillment of the verse in the second psalm: Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth (Ps. 2:10). It appears that they heard Paul with a great deal of interest. I think Felix would have liked to have made a decision for Christ. But he didn t make that decision. He wanted to wait for a convenient season. My friend, the sinner will never have a convenient season to hear the gospel. Man does not set the time; God does. J. Vernon McGee J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary: Church History (Acts 15-28), electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 131. Chapter 25 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 So, said he, let the 48 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

49 men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him. 6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense. 9 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? 10 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. 11 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. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 25:1 12. Felix was succeeded by Festus While Festus was visiting Jerusalem, the Jews tried to get Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem in order to ambush and kill him on the way, but Festus did not fall for their deception The Jewish leaders did not want justice they wanted Paul gone forever Festus ordered the Jews to bring their charges to Caesarea when he returned The Jews came and once again brought un-provable charges against Paul When Festus asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem, Paul responded by appealing to Caesar This was the right of any Roman citizen Paul was not afraid to die It is interesting that Festus asked Paul. It is clear that Festus did not think of Paul as a common criminal If Roman citizens felt they were not getting justice in a provincial court, they could appeal direct to the emperor. Only in the case of a murderer, a pirate or a bandit caught in the act was the appeal invalid. In all other cases, the local procedure had to be halted and the claimant had to be despatched [sic] to Rome for the personal decision of the emperor. When Paul uttered the fateful words I appeal to Caesar, Festus had no choice; and so Paul, in very different circumstances from those of which he had dreamt, had set his foot upon the first step of the road that led to Rome. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul s case before the king, saying, There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 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. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 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. 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would like to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, you will hear him. 23 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 49 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

50 the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 25:13 27 Agrippa was actually Agrippa II and was the grandson of Herod Agrippa I and a great-grandson of Herod the Great Constable Bernice was Agrippa s sister who was married to her uncle. It was also rumored that she was involved in an incestuous relationship with her brother Much innocent blood was shed by this family; however, Agrippa and Bernice were essentially favorable to the Jews. They both tried to avert the Roman massacre of the Jews in A.D. Tom Constable s Expository Notes on the Bible Felix believed that Paul was not guilty of breaking any Roman laws. In fact, he was not even sure what to write to the emperor regarding Paul Notice that Paul believed that Jesus was raised from the dead this was not something made up by the fourth century Church in Nicaea God in His Sovereignty allowed Paul to share his testimony with governors. Now with kings. Soon Paul would probably share his testimony with the emperor himself. (Remember Acts 9:13-16) 50 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

51 Source: Bible Knowledge Commentary Page P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

52 There is no more dramatic scene in all the New Testament. It was with splendour [sic] and flourish that Agrippa and Bernice had come. They would have worn their purple robes of royalty and the gold circlet of the crown on their brows. Doubtless Festus had donned the scarlet robe which a governor wore on state occasions. Close at hand there must have stood Agrippa s court, and also in attendance were the most influential figures of the Jews. Close by Festus there would stand the captains in command of the five cohorts which were stationed at Caesarea; and in the background there would be a solid formation of the tall Roman legionaries on ceremonial guard. Into such a scene came Paul, the little Jewish tent-maker, with his hands in chains; and yet, from the moment he speaks, it is Paul who holds the stage. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), Chapter 26 So Agrippa said to Paul, You have permission to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 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, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 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. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 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! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 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. 11 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. 12 In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 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. 14 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. 15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 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, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you 18 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. 19 Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 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. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 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: 23 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. 24 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. 25 But Paul said, I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 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. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian? 29 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. 30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they 52 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

53 had withdrawn, they said to one another, This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment. 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 26:1 32. Paul shares his testimony for the third time in Acts Notice Paul s reference to the 12 Tribes of Israel They were apparently not lost! Some believe that the statement, It is hard for you to kick against the goads, means Paul had guilt feelings and was violating his conscience in persecuting believers in Christ. However, Paul wrote later that in spite of his blaspheming, violence, and persecution of the church he was shown mercy because he was acting in ignorance and unbelief (1 Tim. 1:13). Kicking the goads evidently referred to the futility of his persecuting the church. Stanley Toussaint Goads were sharp sticks used to drive cattle. The figure of kicking against goads was and is a common rural metaphor that describes opposing the inevitable (like banging your head against a wall ). Such action only hurts the one doing it, not the object of his hostility. This was the case in Paul s antagonism to God that his persecution of Christians expressed. Tom Constable The risen Christ told Paul that it was hard for him to kick against the spikes. When a young ox was first yoked, it tried to kick its way out. If it was yoked to a one-handed plough, the ploughman held in his hand a long stick with a sharpened end, which he held close to the ox s heels so that every time it kicked it was caught by the spike. If it was yoked to a wagon, the front of the wagon had a bar studded with wooden spikes which caught the ox if it kicked. The young ox had to learn submission the hard way and so had Paul. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles Because Paul knew that Agrippa and Bernice were familiar with the Jewish faith, he made reference to the Scriptures Works do not earn salvation, but they are an evidence that salvation has come Festus (the Greek) thought that Paul s great learning (knowledge of the Scriptures) was making him mad, but Paul knew that this was not the first time that Agrippa had heard of the resurrection of the dead Everywhere that Paul went, he wanted the same thing for his audience to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ Agrippa was an intelligent man. He answered, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Friend, do you know that you can almost be a Christian and then be lost for time and eternity? How tragic that is! Almost will not do. It must be all or nothing. Either you accept Christ or you don t accept Christ. No theologian can probe the depths of salvation and its meaning. Yet it is simple enough for ordinary folk like most of us to understand. Either you have Christ or you don t have Christ. Either you trust Christ or you don t trust Christ. Either He is your Savior or He is not your Savior. It is one of the two. There is no such thing as a middle ground. It cannot be almost. It must be all. -J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary For the fourth time, Paul s innocence was declared, but it was God s will for Paul to go to Rome Life Lessons 1. Be Gospel-centered in all we do (Paul and his defense before Felix) 2. If you are a believer, don t fear death (Paul before Festus) 3. When sharing your faith, know your audience and speak to them in ways they can understand (Paul, Agrippa and Bernice) 4. Remember that God can use anyone, regardless of their past even murderers (The Apostle Paul) 5. Love others enough to share the great news of the Gospel with them (Paul and his audience) 6. Pray for the lost (Paul praying for his audience) 53 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

54 Paul s Journey to Rome Chapter 27 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. 4 And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. 5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. 9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives. 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 27:1 12. Q) Why a whole chapter to document a shipwreck? A) To demonstrate God s sovereignty! I would think it safe to say that Paul was the only one of the prisoners who was a Roman citizen. Probably the others were criminals who were sent to Rome for execution. Many of them would become gladiators and would be fed to the wild beasts What an opportunity this gave Paul to bring the gospel of hope to this class of men. 54 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

55 You will remember that the Lord Jesus Himself said that one of the reasons He came was to set the prisoners free free spiritually, delivered from their sins and delivered from their guilt. - J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary Again, Paul is shown favor by the Romans However, the Roman centurion, Julius, foolishly refused to listen to Paul when he advised delaying the trip Luke apparently was with Paul on this trip ( we ) The Fast referred to here was probably the Day of Atonement which occurred in late September to early October. After that time of year the unsettled weather patterns over the Mediterranean Sea made sailing hazardous. In those days sea traffic ceased by early November. Stanley Toussaint, The Bible Knowledge Commentary 13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship s boat. 17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you. 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island. 27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship s boat and let it go. 33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. 39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 27: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

56 This section of the trip started well, but ended in disaster. However, God in His Sovereignty, protected Paul and graciously spared the lives of those with Paul This was not Paul s first shipwreck (2 Corinthians 11:25) Compare Paul s faith to that of the disciples (Mark 4:38-41) Some tried to escape, but Paul warned them that the only way to be saved was to stay on the ship Paul encouraged the passengers to eat and he gave thanks for the meal; thus, tying their deliverance with the God of Heaven You know very well, fourteen days of fasting would weaken even the hardiest men. Now Paul urges them all to eat. Apparently they had all fasted. The pagans had fasted because they were scared to death. Paul and the Christians may have fasted because they were doing it unto the Lord. - J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary Who s in charge of the ship now? The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners, but the centurion would not allow it in order to save Paul Here then are aspects of Paul s character which endear him to us as an integrated Christian, who combined spirituality with sanity, and faith with words. He believed that God world keep his promises and had the courage to say grace in the presence of a crowd of hard-bitten pagans. But his trust and godliness did not stop him seeing either that the ship should not take risks with the onset of winter, or that the sailors must not be allowed to escape, or that the hungry crew and passengers had to eat to survive, or (later) that he needed to gather wood to keep the beach fire burning. What a man! He was a man of God and of action, a man of the Spirit and of common sense. John R. W. Stott, The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church & the World, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 392. Chapter 28 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live. 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 28:1 10. God s Word is always good and can be trusted! The islanders (literally barbarians or people whose culture was not Greek) showed hospitality to the shipwreck victims This passage offers vivid insights into the character of Paul. For one thing, there is the lovely and homely touch that he was a man who could not bear to be doing nothing; there was a bonfire to be kept alight, and Paul was gathering brushwood for it. Once again, we see that for all Paul s visions he was an intensely practical man; and more, that, great man though he was, he was not ashamed to be useful in the smallest thing. - William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles 56 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

57 There is no such thing as karma!!! When God has a plan for us, nothing can stop it! You remember that at the end of the Gospel of Mark there is this promise: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17 18). I believe that these signs were confined to that time before the New Testament was completed when the believers needed the sign gifts to substantiate the message of the gospel. My advice to you today is not to deliberately pick up a rattlesnake. I lived in Tennessee for many years and I have never known an authentic case where someone picked up a rattlesnake during a meeting, was bitten, and was unaffected by the venom of the snake. Most of them die. Those who live through it almost die. The venom has a tremendous effect upon them. May I point out something else. Paul did not deliberately pick up this viper. Paul was not tempting God. J. Vernon McGee, vol. 41, Thru the Bible Commentary: Church History (Acts 15-28), electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 168. Trusting in circumstances can lead to bad theology Notice the similarities (albeit in reverse order) to Lystra where Paul was first acknowledged as a god and then later stoned (Acts 14:11-19) The Chief was probably the Roman governor of the island Although there is no mention of Paul sharing the Gospel here, do you think he neglected to do that? It is interesting to note that God enabled Paul to heal others while Paul himself suffered with a thorn in the flesh Barclay points out that Luke may have also used his medical training here to help others 11 After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. 17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain. 21 And they said to him, We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against. 23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 27 For this people s heart 57 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

58 has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. 28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Acts 28: For once, there must have been a churning in Paul s stomach as he faced Rome almost alone. Then something wonderful happened. Apii Forum is forty-three miles from Rome and thirty-three miles from the Three Taverns. They were on the great Appian Way, which led from Rome to the coast. And a deputation of Roman Christians came to meet him. The Greek word used is that used for a city deputation going to meet a general or a king or a conqueror. They came to meet Paul as one of the great ones of the earth; and he thanked God and took courage. What was it that so especially lifted up his heart? Surely it was the sudden realization that he was far from being alone. Christians are never alone. (1) They have the consciousness of the unseen cloud of witnesses around and about them. (2) They have the consciousness of belonging to a worldwide fellowship. (3) They have the consciousness that wherever they go there is God. (4) They have the certainty that their risen Lord is with them. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), 225. After thousands of miles of travel, sharing the gospel, planting churches, healing the sick and suffering greatly along the way, the Apostle Paul finally made it to Rome Believers in Puteoli? Notice how the Gospel has spread! How was the church started in Rome? No one knows for sure, but one possibility is that Jews who lived in Rome were in Jerusalem for Pentecost when Peter preached his famous sermon (Acts 2:10) As was his method in the other cities, Paul reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures that Jesus was the long promised Messiah As in the other cities, some believed and others did not The disagreement among the Jewish leaders in Rome about Paul s message showed that they were not amenable to the gospel. With prophetic insight Paul applied the words of Isaiah (6:9-10) to his own contemporaries. Obstinate refusal to believe results in calloused hearts, deafened ears, and spiritually blinded eyes. This had happened to Israel both in Isaiah s day and in Paul s (cf. Rom. 11:7-10). Interestingly Paul ascribed Isaiah s words to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 4:25). Stanley Toussaint, The Bible Knowledge Commentary Paul once again told the unbelieving Jews that he would take the Gospel to the Gentiles These last verses bring Luke s account of the spread of the gospel to a climax. It had gone from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and now to the uttermost part of the earth (1:8). Paul was now able to bear witness in the capital of the empire. - Tom Constable Acts ends with the statement that Paul lived two years in Rome. At the end of two years, he was released by Roman law And so the Book of Acts comes to an end with a shout of triumph. In the Greek, without let or hindrance is one word and that one word rises like a victor s cry. It is the climax of Luke s story. We wonder why Luke never told us what happened to Paul, whether he was executed or released. The 58 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

59 reason is that this was not Luke s purpose. At the beginning, Luke gave us his plan for Acts when he told how Jesus commanded his followers to bear witness for him in Jerusalem and all over Judaea and Samaria and away to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Now the tale is finished; the story that began in Jerusalem rather more than thirty years earlier has finished in Rome. It is nothing less than a miracle of God. The Church, which at the beginning of Acts could be numbered in tens, cannot now be numbered in tens of thousands. The story of the crucified man of Nazareth has swept across the world in its conquering course until now without interference it is being preached in Rome, the capital of the world. The gospel has reached the centre of the world and is being freely proclaimed and Luke s task is at an end. William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 3rd ed. fully rev. and updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003), 228. Life Lessons 1. Don t abandon the ship that God has promised salvation upon! 2. Trust God and obey Him! 3. Be a servant like Paul 4. Reject false doctrines like karma 5. Don t put your faith in the miracle receiver Place your trust in the miracle giver! 6. Trust God s Word not our circumstances 7. Use the gifts and talents that God has given you by serving Him and serving others 8. Remember, we are never alone! Paul Finishes His Race We know very little about the last few years of Paul s life Paul s first imprisonment was productive. He wrote six of his epistles during this time It is generally believed that Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment He may have visited the following cities after his release (order unknown) * o Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3) o Troas and Miletus (2 Timothy 4:13, 20) o Crete (Titus 1:5) o Planned to go to Spain (Romans 15:28) o Nicopolis (Titus 3:12) * - Source: The Life of the Apostle Paul by Rose Publishing 2 Timothy 3 & 4 2 Timothy 3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Timothy 3: P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

60 Did Paul write this in A.D. 62 or A.D. 2012? Paul was writing to Timothy about the situation in Ephesus, but it surely sounds like it was pulled right out of today s culture Last days Period of time between Paul s day and our day. Only God knows when it will end Paul lists 19 characteristics of the types of people we are to avoid Having the appearance of godliness To whom did Paul refer? (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13) It is no accident that the first of these qualities will be a life that is centred in self. The adjective used is philautos, which means self-loving. Love of self is the basic sin, from which all others flow. The moment anyone makes self-will the centre of life, divine and human relationships are destroyed, and obedience to God and charity to other people both become impossible. The essence of Christianity is not the enthronement but the obliteration of self. - William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, 3rd ed. What does this list imply about the theology of Postmillennialism? Jannes & Jambres, by Jewish tradition, were the two Egyptian magicians who confronted Moses (Exodus 7:8-13) Satan and his followers have some power and influence, but it is limited and they will not get far This raises a very troubling question for me. Why are Christians in America so comfortable? Why are we so accepted and well-received? One of two things must be true. Either we live in a Christian culture that naturally provides a climate of acceptance and support, or we have accommodated ourselves to the values established by our non-christian culture. I don t find enough evidence to convince me that ours is a Christian culture. Our comfort and acceptance can only suggest to me that we have been tamed by the world around us and have acquiesced with the world s values much more than we realize or dare admit. Gary W. Demarest and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, vol. 32, 1, 2 Thessalonians / 1, 2 Timothy / Titus, The Preacher s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1984), You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Timothy 3: You however Paul is about to contrast how Timothy should behaved compared to the ungodly Timothy was encouraged to believe what he had learned from the sacred writings Scripture is to be our only source How blessed Timothy was to have a mentor like Paul! Whose life are you blessing? All who live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted??? Have you ever heard a TV preacher use this verse? Timothy needed to realize, as all Christians do, especially those to whom prosperity theology appeals, that when a person determines to live a godly life he or she will suffer persecution. With his or her commitment to follow Christ faithfully the Christian sets the course of his or her life directly opposite to the course of the world system. Confrontation and conflict become inevitable (cf. Matt. 10:22 23; Luke 21:12; John 15:20; Acts 14:22; 1 Thess. 3:4). - Tom Constable 60 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

61 What Scripture should we believe, use and obey? EVERY SINGLE WORD!!! The word inspiration means God breathed. The writers of Scripture were not just pens that the Lord picked up and wrote with. The marvel is that God used these men s personalities, expressed things in their own thought patterns, yet got through exactly what He wanted to say. Through these men God has given us His Word. He has nothing more to say to us today. If He spoke out of heaven today, He wouldn t add anything to what He has already said. - J. Vernon McGee 2 Timothy 4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Timothy 4:1 18. I m afraid that the time has now come when people do not endure sound doctrine Paul knew that the time of his death was quickly approaching, but he also knew that his mission had also been accomplished What was the drink offering? There were no specific instructions given by God to the Israelites concerning the drink offering. However, it is mentioned again and again in Exodus and Leviticus. The wine was taken and poured over the sacrifice, which, of course, was really hot because it was on a brazen altar with fire underneath it. You know exactly what would happen. The drink offering would go up in steam. It would just evaporate and disappear. That is exactly what Paul is saying here. I have just poured out my life as a drink offering on the sacrifice of Christ. It has been nothing for me but everything for Him. Paul s life would soon disappear, and all that could be seen was Christ. This is one of the most wonderful figures of speech he has used. So many Christians try to be remembered by having their names chiseled in stone or by having a building named in their memory. Paul was not interested in that type of thing. He says, My life is a drink offering poured out; Christ not Paul is the One who is to be exalted. - J. Vernon McGee It seems sad that Paul was alone, but his trusted friend Luke was still with him Paul asks Timothy to bring Mark who is useful everyone deserves a second chance At Paul s trial no one but the Lord stood by him, but that was enough Paul knew that the Lord would rescue him from every evil deed, but he also knew that did not mean that his life would be spared. Paul knew his reward was eternal 61 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved

62 In one of the highest tribunals of the empire, before his judges and perhaps before the emperor himself, no doubt with a large crowd of the general public present, Paul preached the word. Or, as he himself expresses it: the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. If ever there has been a sermon preached out of season, this was it! All he tells us about its content is that he fully preached the kērygma. That is, he took the opportunity to expound the gospel in its fullness, the good news of Jesus Christ incarnate, crucified, risen, reigning and coming again. Only because of this could he claim as he has done I have finished the race (7). - John R. W. Stott His earthly end came swiftly... abruptly. Alone and without fear, Paul stared directly into the eyes of the execution squad. Several held rods with which they would beat him; one held the sharp axe with which he would sever the apostle s head from his shoulders. Few words were spoken. They marched him through the heavy gate and beyond the stone wall that surrounded Rome, past the pyramid of Cestius, which still stands today, and on to the Ostian Way toward the sea. Crowds journeying to Rome knew by the rods and the axe that an execution would soon transpire. They had seen such sights before. They passed it off with a shrug. It happened yesterday; it would happen tomorrow. The manacled prisoner, walking stiffly, ragged and filthy from the dungeon, was not ashamed or degraded. The squad of grim-faced soldiers never noticed as they frowned and stared ahead, but there was a faint smile on their prisoner s face he was en route to a triumph the crowning day of his reward. For to him to live was Christ, to die, gain. No axe across the back of his neck would rob him of his triumphant destiny. It would, in fact, initiate it! They marched Paul to the third milestone on the Ostian Way, to a little pinewood in a glade a glade of the tombs, known now as Tre Fontane. At that place today there stands an abbey in Paul s honor. He is believed to have been put overnight in a tiny cell, near the place of his execution. At first light the next dawn, the soldiers took Paul to a stump-like pillar. The executioner stood ready, stark naked, axe in hand. The men stripped Paul tied him, kneeling upright, to the low pillar, which exposed his back and neck. The lictors beat him with rods for the last time. He groaned and bled from his nose and mouth. And then, without a hint of hesitation, the executioner frowned as he swung the blade that gleamed in the morning sun high above his head, then brought it down swiftly, hitting its mark with a dull thud. The head of Paul rolled down into the dust. In that brutal moment, silently and invisibly, the soul of the great apostle the man of grace and grit was immediately set free. His spirit soared into the heavens: Absent from the body he was, at last, at home with the Lord. Swindoll, Charles R. ( ). Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit (Great Lives from God's Word) (p ). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 62 P a g e Copyright 2013 by David Bearden All Rights Reserved