Life of an apostle: The Arrest
Notes
Transcript
Finally got there!
Finally got there!
Ever plan a trip and try to plan for everything, but things do not go as planned?
Paul arrived in Jerusalem with joyful anticipation, after several delays along the way (Act20:16, 21:3-10) and was bearing love gift for the needy saints in Jerusalem (Rom15:25-27)
His arrival had some anxious expectations too knowing what laid ahead of him (Act20:22-24)
22 “And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
And add to that (Act21:10-14)
10 As we were staying there for some 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, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging 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 bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
He knew what was waiting for him, chains
He knew what was waiting for him, deliverance to hands of Gentiles
He knew what was waiting for him, his willingness to be die for Jesus is necessary.
Paul’s arrival
Paul’s arrival
His reception (Act21:17-21)
17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
He was received gladly
He visited James and the elders, gives updates on all the Lord has been doing; together they all glorify God; He also refutes false allegations about his teaching
Paul given counsel (Act21:22-25)
22 “What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 “Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. 25 “But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”
Paul was asked to be purified under Jewish custom (Num6:1-12) and agree what they heard was false, that Paul was willing to keep the law by choice not requirement.
Paul and the vow (Act21:26)
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.
He was purified with them, that the days of purification had ended and offering could be done keeping with (Num6:13-20)
Why did Paul keep a Jewish vow?
Hum, unlikely from ignorance since preached the whole counsel, and had written several letters by then (Act20:27).
Unlikely that he was acting hypocritically like Peter did (Gal2:11-13)
He did it acting, teaching as always did everywhere (Rom7:1-6; Gal3:24-25). He did it to obey from a good conscience, he stayed to obey (Act18:18) and to set example to win some to Christ (1Cor9:20)
He was not doing it to be justified
He did not do it to try to bind this on others, especially Gentiles who were never under the law.
The Arrest
The Arrest
Arrested in the temple (Act21:27-30)
27 When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
A stirred up crowd seize him and make bold claims against him.
Paul is rescued by Roman commander (Act21:31-36)
Paul asks for permission to address the mob (Act21:37-22:17, summarized)
Paul identifies himself as a Roman citizen from Tarsus
Paul makes a defence by his history, his heritage (A Roman Jew; trained in Jerusalem, persecution of the church and his conversion)
Paul also states about his previous vision (Act22:17-21) where he was told to flee Jerusalem and take the message to the Gentiles.
Paul makes appeal to his Roman Citizenship (Act22:22-30)
22 They listened to him up to this statement, and 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 crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. 25 But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27 The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” 29 Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains. 30 But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
This enrages the mob
Paul prepared to be scourged, Paul spared because of Roman citizenship
His address to the Sanhedrin (Act23:1-10)
Paul has a clear conscience (Act23:1)
1 Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”
The counsel is not very happy with that statement and strike Paul (Act23:2-5)
Paul then keyed in on a dividing factor between them, Pharisees/Saducees (Act23:6-9) - resurrection
Finally Paul is rescued again by the commander of the guard (Act23:10)
Paul has a reassuring word (Act23:11)
11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
A pack of 40 make a plot to kill him (Act23:12-15); but the plot is overheard and told to paul (Act23:16-22)
Paul, Claudius (Roman commander) and guard prepare to take Paul to Felix the governor in Caesarea (Act23:23-33)
Conclusion/Application
Conclusion/Application
Paul arrived with joyful anticipation, with some anxious expectations had some alarming realizations along the way
Paul was not discouraged by what was happening, he knew it was not going to be easy, but he was willing to suffer, as he already had, and even die for Christ.
Paul did get what he wanted, he wanted to go to Rome (Act23:11; Rom1:9-15) Just not the way he planned to go.
Paul was delivered from the unbelievers in Judea and now time to take the message to Rome.
Where has God allowed challenges to come in your life. Has He used them for the good? What is God calling you, equipping you to do for the kingdom?
Are you willing to speak up and stand up?
Are you willing to suffer for your beliefs?
Invitation slide
Have you acted on your beliefs? That starts with putting your life in Jesus hands?
Put everyone else aside, everything else aside and ask yourself if Jesus were to return today do I know I will go to heaven?