I’m a Survivor!

If we were warned that difficult trials were coming, we would probably avoid it. Nobody chooses to go through a painful and difficult situation.

Sometimes people have to go through pain to experience a victory. Like rescuing your child from a burning building, or pulling your spouse out of a car wreck… you don’t consider the physical pain in the moment because you will do whatever it takes to rescue your loved one.

The physical pain is only temporary but the emotional pain of not doing anything when you could have done something last’s a lifetime. So in the moment, you don’t consider the physical pain.

In Acts 21 Paul was facing some pain ahead. He was dealing with a very difficult decision knowing that obedience would require a painful life ahead. Paul was determined to be obedient to the Lord no matter what physical pain or loss he endured. One verse that sums up this chapter is Acts 21:13

Acts 21:13 ESV

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.”

PRAY

Paul had a confidence motivated by his faith in God’s Word and God’s promise that HE was doing the right thing by going to Jerusalem.

Paul was no stranger pain, he was no stranger to people violently hating him wherever he went… to prison… even death. But not everyone was a reckless as Paul… most sane people make decisions based on comfort and safety… Paul didn’t consider his life worth holding on to…

With God’s help I’m a survivor through the promised heartache ahead.

When Paul left the Ephesian elders he was heading to Jerusalem but as he was heading there he made some stops along the way. They made a stop in Tyre in Syria so the ship could unload. While he was there for a week he visited with some of the believers.

Acts 21:4 ESV

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.

Certain believers who had the gift of prophecy prophesied through the Holy Spirit, warning Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Some have speculated that Paul was wrong or disobedient to go to Jerusalem against the advice of these believers who spoke through the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit warned these believers about the suffering that Paul would face in Jerusalem. They drew the conclusion that he should not go there because of that danger but Paul kept on going.

After the week was over, the journey continued as he headed to Jerusalem. They all came, along with wives and children, pray together and to say farewell to their friend.

After a quick one day trip to Ptolemais they greeting the believers he went to Caesarea.

Acts 21:8–11 ESV

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.’ ”

This is where we run into a familiar character by the name of Philip who was one of the 7 original deacons in Acts 6.

Paul gave orders to have Stephen, another one of the deacons, stoned to death and now Paul was staying in Philip’s house. (forgiveness)

Philip reached the Samaritans and then shared the Gospel with an Ethiopian Eunuch on the road to Gaza as he was heading from Jerusalem back home.

Here we see that Philip was an evangelist, a man of God, and a great father who raised his girls up in the fear and love for the Lord. He had 4 unmarried daughters who prophesied.

Then Agabus, a prophet from Judea used Paul’s belt to let him know that the Jews will bind him up and turn him over to the Gentiles.

More bad news, more warnings, more people encouraging Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul heard the Promised heartache ahead and the people were telling him not to go.

Acts 21:12–14 ESV

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.”

Even Paul’s traveling companions added their voices to the crowd. Evidently, they had heard enough from the Holy Spirit on the subject and had decided that Paul should pursue another course.

They saw Paul as an invaluable and irreplaceable and this can be avoided to keep him alive and with us.

But Paul knew God wanted him to go. Paul had faced rejection and persecution from the beginning. Paul knew that he would be imprisoned in Jerusalem.

Even though his friends pleaded with him to not go, Paul knew that he had to go because God wanted him to go.

Paul was not ignoring the warnings, he simply disagreed with his brothers and sisters in Christ. The prophesied difficulties outweighed the potential progress that could be made for the gospel.

Since Paul could not be persuaded, his friends finally resigned and trusted the will of God to be done.

Acts 21:15–17 (ESV)

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. 17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

They left for Jerusalem… notice that a few more courageous disciples from Caesarea who were not afraid to join Paul came along.

Paul and his friends received a warm welcome. This was a testimony to the growing reputation of the apostle and gratitude for the generous gift he was bringing from the churches.

The Jerusalem elders had never thought that they would be the beneficiaries of Paul’s obedience to their charge; much less had they imagined that the support would come from predominantly Gentile churches.

With God’s help I’m a Survivor through Slander and Lies

Nobody likes it when people spread slander and lies especially when these lies attack our own character.

Paul finally arrived in Jerusalem and met with the church leadership. That’s when he got the inside scoop and it wasn’t good.

Acts 21:18–25 (ESV)

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.”

James, Jesus’ brother, was the leader of the Jerusalem church. Peter and John were still alive at this time but both were actively involved in missionary endeavors elsewhere, leaving James, Jesus’ brother, with the heavy responsibility of leading the mother church in Jerusalem.

This was a very influential church, but it had also been a horribly persecuted church and at this particular time, it faced famine and poverty. This was obviously an important gathering, since all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present.

The Jerusalem elders responded well to Paul’s report of what God had done among the Gentiles. They praised God—a testimony to their love for the spread of the gospel and their submission to the way God directed his movement. There was no envy, competition, or criticism from these leaders—only praise.

Everything was not going smoothly in the church at Jerusalem, however. This time period as being filled with political unrest and strong Jewish nationalism. There were several uprisings by Jews against their Roman leaders—all of which had been brutally put down by Felix, the Roman prosecutor. This caused even more anger from the Jews and intensified their hatred for the Gentiles.

Paul as a missionary to the Gentiles, entered the city with news of vast Gentile conversions. The problem was with all of those Jews were zealous for the law, probably would not be rejoicing in the success of Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles.

James and the elders were wise when meeting with Paul alone because they supported Paul and his ministry but he was somewhat of a hindrance to their continued ministry to the Jews. This was the reason behind their request that he join in the purification rites.

The Jewish Christian “zealots” had been informed, through rumors, that Paul was teaching all the Jews he had contacted who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses. They had heard that Paul was minimizing the rite of circumcision and allowing the Jews to stop living according to the Jewish customs.

The Jerusalem council (chapter 15) had settled the issue of circumcision of Gentile believers. Evidently, there was a rumor that Paul had gone far beyond the council’s decision, even forbidding Jews to circumcise their children.

It was true that Paul was downplaying the importance of circumcision and did not require keeping the Jewish customs, but that was for the Gentiles, not for the Jews.

Paul had Timothy circumcised because his mother was Jewish.

Paul taught both Jews and Gentiles that salvation did not depend on keeping the law.

He taught Gentiles not to get circumcised, but there is no evidence that he taught Jews to abandon the practice.

The rumors about Paul were not true, but Paul willingly submitted to this Jewish custom to show that he was not working against the council’s decision and that he was still Jewish in his lifestyle.

The Jerusalem elders suggested that Paul join four men among their number who had made a vow. Paul was to join and sponsor them (pay their expenses) for the final stages of their purification rites.

Paul was not observing the laws in order to be saved. He was simply keeping the laws to avoid offending those he wished to reach with the gospel.

In vs. 25, Here, quoting almost word for word, the elders stated the past ruling of the Jerusalem council: Acts 21:25 “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.”

This restatement of the ruling was possibly to assure Paul that they were not changing the ruling or adding anything to what had been decided years earlier.

So Paul headed into the temple area and things escalated quickly.

Acts 21:27–28 ESV

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.”

The slander and the lying caused violence toward Paul.

They stirred up the whole crowd, seized Paul, and in mob-like fashion (something with which Paul was very familiar) began to shout their biased case against Paul. Contrary to their emotional accusation, Paul had not been everywhere, nor had he taught everyone, nor had he been against the Jews, their laws, or their temple.

Some Jews from Asia stirred up the people against Paul by spreading rumors about him. They knew how effective Paul’s work had been. Their strategy was to discredit him so that his work would be weakened.

With God’s help, I’m a survivor through slander and lies.

The verbal turned into violence.

Acts 21:30–31 ESV

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.

Acts 21:32–33 ESV

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.

With God’s Help, I’m a survivor because the Gospel can never be chained.

Paul actually was fortunate to be arrested and bound. Luke wrote that Paul was bound with two chains. The chains handcuffed him to a Roman soldier on each side. This would be normal treatment for a criminal. After seizing Paul, the commander asked the crowd who the chained man was and what crime he had committed.

Acts 21:34–36 ESV

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 commander could not get a direct answer because the crowd could not agree on what the issues were. Since the commander could not find out the truth, he ordered Paul to be taken to as safe place.

These were almost identical to the words another murderous crowd had shouted to Pontius Pilate concerning Jesus of Nazareth.

Nothing could chain the gospel! Paul was a survivor and Paul had many more opportunities ahead because he faced the promised heartache ahead, he endured the slander and the lies, and now he faced an angry mob but he was a survivor for the Gospel.

Paul knew what he was up against yet he willingly went because he knew that’s where God wanted him to go. The place where he was not loved, appreciated, or accepted. These Jews were out to kill him.

Paul was a survivor because he was unwilling to back down. He wasn’t going to give up on God’s calling no matter what he was going to face. God was with him even when everyone else was against him.

Just like Paul, when we are obedient to the Lord no matter what comes about in life, we will survive! We will live another day, God will be glorified, and God will give us the victory.

With God’s help, I’m a survivor!

Take Away:

Do you feel overwhelmed with life and don’t know how you’re going to survive?

Are you making decisions based on your comfort instead of God’s will?

Are you seeking God’s direction, walking in it and relying on HIS help?