Paul's Story

Acts 22:11-21

Reference Acts 9 and Galatians 1

Paul is continuing his defense to the people by telling more from his life story. He identified himself with the Jews he addressed. He stressed to the people that he had not come to destroy his ancestral law, but to fulfill it. Paul found it frustrating that the chosen people had rejected God’s son and was also rejecting the message Paul was bringing to the people.

Paul’s basic story recounted in Acts 9 and also in Galatians 1. The two accounts were told from different points of view. We find out that he came back to Jerusalem after about three years and still had organized opposition to his message. Our study of Acts 9 told us that Paul left Jerusalem because he was in danger. The Jews were not happy with offering privileges to gentiles without first becoming a proselyte Jew, then accepting Christ.

Verse 14 has the summary of what Paul is trying to convey to the people. Paul’s audiences were chosen as the nation of Israel to know His will, see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. We have access to all of this through the Bible. In Galatians 1:12, Paul tells the Galatians that Paul’s message came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul then lets the people know that since his people has not accepted the message, then mercy has been offered to the gentiles. In the next passage, Paul met with intense opposition when he mentioned the gentiles.

What do we do when we are met with such opposition? It's so easy just to turn and run or run and hide. It is so easy to take it, bottle it, and swallow it until there is only numbness left. Keep a healthy outlook and continue to study the word. God has a plan and a purpose for you to stand and be counted among His children.

Have a Great Week!

Brad

The Defense of Paul, Part 1

Acts 22:1-21

Paul made an amazing request when he asked the guard if he could speak to the people. He stated his credentials and it was apparent to the Roman officer, he knew that Paul was not a revolutionary thug. Paul was facing his accusers and not backing down from the shouting, but answers with experience and scripture proof.
First, Paul stressed that he is Jewish and rose with respect to the Jewish beliefs. He never forgot his roots and reminds the crowds of this fact often (2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:4-5). He was from Tarsus. He is a rabbi. He had the same background and training as the audience he was addressing at this time.
Paul was trying to convince the people to accept God’s authority accept Jesus as the Messiah. They were having trouble accepting the proof that Paul and the other Christian teachers were providing.
Second, what was different was that he accepted Jesus Christ as the savior of all. God sent Jesus to all people and loves all people. The chosen status being lost to the Jews was hard for so many to swallow.
He was with them and separated from them. As a Christian, we live in the world, but God has separated us from the world for His special purpose consecrating us for the task he has assigned us.
What has God separated you away from the world? Have you accepted his authority completely or are you hanging on to some baggage from tradition or your past?

Have a Great Week!
Brad

Paul's Farewell and Trip

Acts 20:17-38

Paul spoke to the elders with an emotional farewell speech that touches everyone who was there to hear. He recounts that he has spoken with boldness – fearless, he has worked independently, and following the Holy Spirit which caused him to follow fruitful path that was not always pleasant to follow. They have all been through so much together.

Paul also encouraged his friends to in a few areas. He reminded them that they have the duty to oversee the flock to continue the work of Christ. He reminded them that they would be vulnerable to attack from evil, so they need to be watchful because they are in danger. Where truth is falsehoods are bound to attack. If love dries up in any church its spirit will inevitably dry up and die as well.

Acts 21:1-16

The narrative is speeding up through this passage. Paul’s trip back to Jerusalem continues to build suspense through the foreboding of what is awaiting him there. He is determined to face whatever awaits him for the ministry of Jesus.

Two things really stand out in this passage. First, Paul is determined to face what is waiting for him. He is willing to be bound in prison and ultimately die for the advancement of the gospel. Agabus, the prophet from Caesarea, warned Paul using his belt that he would be bound hand and foot by the Jews in Jerusalem who are determined to stomp out the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. How do we show our determination to continue the ministry of Christ in our lives?

Second, Paul is encouraged and pleased that everywhere he goes on his journey to Jerusalem that there are Christians (disciples) there to welcome him. These disciples are strong and zealous to continue the work Jesus began and Paul continued. When do we encourage those who are determined to continue their ministry for the glory of God?

The Ephesians get Riled Up!

Acts 19:23-41

The account of the silversmiths getting the city riled up contains real drama in a grand scale. We find that Paul once again wanted to face the mob with no thought to his personal safety. He wanted to continue to make the case for Christianity with the mob.

The silversmiths had their incomes threatened by the Christians. They claimed that they were defending the honor of their goddess, Artimas. Their livelihood depended on making shrines for the goddess for the tourists as souvenirs and religious icons.

The town clerk is concerned that the Roman government would construe the gathering without a clearly defined purpose was a riot threatening his job. The Romans were pretty easy to get along with until it came to civil disobedience. If they heard about any civil disobedience, they would demand to know why the disturbance happened and they would dismiss anyone they felt did not do their job to avert the disturbance.

The town clerk calmed the crowd, reminded them of the consequences with the Romans for their actions, and then dismissed them. His goal was peace to save his own skin.

Questions to think of this week: How much do we rely on or follow the Bible studies of others? What is your vision for Christianity on our society?

Have a Great Week!

Brad

Does Your Christianity Have Room to Grow?

Acts 19:1-12

The men Paul found in Ephesus had an incomplete Christianity. They had not even grown a conviction that the Spirit exists let alone received it. They had heard of the Holy Spirit by the teaching of John. These brethren had been baptized into John’s baptism and learned his message pointing to Jesus.

Paul was leading the group questioning their understanding and opening the subject of imperfect obedience to the message of Jesus. He was preparing them for his message of the good news of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

John’s preaching was pointing the way for Jesus. His preaching was an awakening to the coming of the Messiah. John’s preaching differed from Jesus in that it was a threat. You’d better be watching because Jesus is coming. Jesus message was good news. There is hope of salvation through the Savior. See more in Matthew 3 and Luke 3 about John’s preaching.

Note that the Word says that God did these things through the hands of Paul. He was working and teaching in the temple. He was very busy and God kept him strong and awake to keep up with this physical work and his teaching work. Both were very taxing to body and emotions. Paul was eager to teach and Christians were eager to learn because they went to ‘class’ to learn more about Christianity instead of resting during the heat of the day like most people did. Next is the seven sons of Scevea calling attention to the evil of the magical arts. How does this apply to us today?

Have a Great Week!
Brad

Paul In Corinth

Acts 18:1-11

Paul heads to Corinth from Athens. Corinth was at a key location in the geography of Greece. Greece is nearly cut in half by water. Corinth is on the piece of land that links north and south regions of the country. Corinth is also a wicked city. Paul is basically jumping out of the boiling pot and into the frying pan as he goes from Athens to Corinth.

Paul lived and worked in Corinth and realized several of his greatest triumphs there. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he listed all sorts of wickedness. Such as some of you were will inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The sinfulness of Corinth was the opportunity of Christ. Paul is letting the Corinthians know that they are being harsh on the new converts given their own backgrounds before putting on Christ in baptism.

The Worst City of All

Paul devoted himself to preaching Christ in Corinth. Paul accepted no money for his preaching and teaching the word as a Rabbi in Jewish society. He was a ‘vocational’ preacher in Corinth. A rabbi received no money for preaching and teaching the word. They had to have a trade. Paul made a living and preached the word. He gained tremendous respect because of his insistence that he make preaching his loving gift. Paul was described as a tent-maker. Paul was always proud that he didn’t have to depend on anyone (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 11:9).

Timothy and Silas came to Corinth to bring Paul a gift that made it possible for him to devote all of his time to preaching the word and put aside his trade. This was likely support from the Philippians whom loved Paul and were supportive in the work of the Lord. Problems were rising in the city of Corinth against his teaching of the gospel of Christ. He would soon have to go before the governing bodies again and defend his faith and his preaching of the word of God.

Then, when Paul needed it, the Lord spoke to him that he would not be harmed. The Lord was with him to allow him to speak boldly once again. In the presence of God, Paul found his courage and strength. He was assured that God was with him to confront and endure whatever the devil had in store for him in his ministry preaching Christ.

Paul in Athens

Acts 17:16-31

Paul found himself in Athens and as usual he had discussions with the Jews and philosophers of the area. He never looked back at the trouble, but ahead to the new group to preach the gospel of Christ. This time in Athens, the people had nothing better to do than talk of the ‘cutting edge’ ideas of the day or listen to new ideas. They were intrigued by Paul because he came with new ideas.

They also had tried to cover their religious bases with alters to all of the gods they knew and there was one there to an unknown god. Paul saw this and began there with his preaching to the Athenians. Paul was speaking to the Epicureans who believed that everything happened by chance, that death was the end of everything, that the gods were remote from everything of the world and did not care, and that the purpose of life of the pursuit of pleasure. They did not want material pleasure because, to them, pleasure could only be in situations where there was no pain.

The Stoics believed that everything was God. They felt that God was a fiery spirit that became dull in matter so that everything has a piece of God in it. They believed that everything that happened was the will of God so everything should be accepted without resentment. They believed that the world disintegrated and regenerates to go through the same cycle of events again.

The people took Paul to the Areopogus to share his ideas. So, he was in the most learned city in the world in front of the most exclusive court in the world. The court had about thirty and they did talk through and handle moral dilemmas as well as acting as a legal court. To Paul, this was just another God-given opportunity to share God’s word as a witness for Christ.

Paul had a six-point sermon for at the Areopogus.

1. God is the maker and not made by human hands referring to the alter to the unknown god.

2. God has guided history through time. He has caused the rise and fall of nation since the beginning of time.

3. God has made man in such a way that they long for and seek God in the darkness.

4. The days of feeling our way through and ignorance are passed. Searching in the darkness has been accomplished.

5. The day of judgment is coming. Life is not progressing to extinction as the epicureans believed. Everything is not absorbed back to God as the Stoics believed. Life is a journey to the judgment seat of God where Jesus Christ is the judge.

6. The proof of the absolute power is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is no unknown god but a risen Christ with whom we have to deal. Remember Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.

Acts 17:32-34

The Athenians Respond

The Athenians had enough pretty quickly especially when they heard about the resurrection of dead men. So typical of the Athenians was that they wanted to handle the intellect of the situation, but they don’t want to follow through with action. It seems that Paul had less success in Athens than in other areas he had preached, but some still believed. It was worth his effort. The Spirit had a purpose for leading Paul to Athens.

Paul had to deal with three main responses: 1) Some Athenians mocked him. They were amused at the apparent passion and earnestness of this Jew. He was merely entertainment to them. Making light of life in this instance will certainly end in tragedy. 2) Some put off their decision in procrastination. We will hear you at a later time. Procrastination is dangerous because once you decide to put off a decision; you so often have made your decision to ignore. 3) Some of the Athenians accepted the message and embraced it. Foolish men reject an offer coming from God.

There were two men named as accepting Christ. The position of women in Athens was very restricted. It is very unlikely that a respectable woman would have been in the market square at all. It is telling that she was moved to turn away from the shame that was her life. Once again the message of God cuts across all social and economic lines.

Next, Paul heads to Corinth

Have a Great Week!

Brad