Our Road to Rome
The Book of Acts 2 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Heading to a destination… GPS: Quickest way possible.
When God leads us to that destination… It’s never the quickest way because it’s a journey not a destination.
That’s part of our story.
Paul had a desire to go back to Jerusalem to share his Gospel story.
Remember… Paul shared his story in Hebrew, the native language of his audience, he presented his audience with his backstory, he made sure that Jesus was the center of his story, and he embraced his calling which was to share his story with everyone.
However, we see that not everyone liked Paul’s story but Jesus liked Paul’s story.
Jesus was not finished writing Paul’s story. His stay in Jerusalem made it possible for Paul to go to the next place God called him to go, Rome.
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.”
PRAY
When God calls HE also equips us by strengthening us through trials and difficulties.
Paul was a walking living testimony of someone who went through significant struggles and set backs. However, those trials just made him even stronger and more determined in his faith.
God continued to use Paul to share the gospel in Jerusalem but not everyone loved what Paul was saying.
The crowd was quietly listening to Paul until he said in 22:21 the Lord sent Paul far away from Jerusalem and to the Gentiles.
This was the spark that ignited the Jewish crowd doused in gasoline. He said the G word and that was not well received.
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.
They literally wanted to kill Paul. The mob said “Rid the earth from him”
but that’s not what God said… that was not God’s plan.
Paul was not silenced by the mob. He was not intimidated, he was not apologizing for his ministry to the Gentiles but he was more driven to share his story.
Nothing could stop Paul because the Holy Spirit was empowering him to share his story about Jesus.
He was unwilling to back down. He was more focused on his eternal purpose then his temporary comfort even if it would cost him is very life.
As the crowd was getting out of hand, the commander ordered Paul be taken into the barracks and as they Romans were getting ready to flog him, Paul spoke up.
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?”
The interrogation quickly stopped once they recognized that Paul was a Roman citizen. They stopped what they were doing and offered him protection. They were even afraid because not knowing about Paul’s citizenship, they even had Paul bound.
Wanting to find out why the Jews hated Paul so much, the Romans wanted Paul to meet with the priestly council called the Sanhedrin, beginning in Chapter 23.
1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to 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.’ ”
On our road to Rome our leaders may resist us.
On our road to Rome our leaders may resist us.
On our road to Rome we will encounter leaders we don’t agree with but trust that God placed them in authority for a purpose. We must called to honor the fact that it is God who established those positions and placed those people in authority. They may not be our choice but they are God’s choice.
Honor the Lord by honoring our rulers.
Paul, after being slapped by the high priest called him a whitewashed wall.
When confronted with disrespecting God’s high priest, Paul could have said…
I had no idea that he was the high priest… because he didn’t act like one… He had me fooled… he was so rude.
Instead he confessed that he was wrong for speaking evil of a ruler of the people. Quoting Exodus 22:28 “28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”
Paul had to deal with some corrupt leaders in his day. Not only Ananias but Harod who only cared about himself and not the people he was leading.
Felix who kept Paul in custody in hopes that he would receive a bribe from Paul. (24:26)
The Roman Emperors like Nero who killed Christians for sport and would eventually be responsible for beheading Paul.
Paul learned to trust that God is the one who raises leaders and tares down leaders and they are established for such a time as this.
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.
Paul exposed a significant division within the priestly council.
The Pharisee (which Paul was) -
The Sadducee -
On our Road to Rome we will encounter many intersections.
On our Road to Rome we will encounter many intersections.
Paul wisely used this as an opportunity to create a distraction. Instead of fighting against Paul, they were fighting with each other. These 2 groups were so focused on the things that divide. These 2 groups had no Holy Spirit led, God given, Kingdom purpose because they were more focused on the things that divide them instead of focusing on the God who brings then together.
Paul knew the division between the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Just think if Paul was still a Pharisee. Just think if he never encountered Jesus. He would have been lost in Jerusalem a part of this silly debate instead of fulfilling God’s Kingdom purpose.
Think about the intersections in your life. Instead of debating about whether there was a resurrection or not, how about we cling to Jesus and live the resurrected life that God has called All believers to live.
Don’t look back, but look forward to what God has in store for you today.
Remember that God has a Road to Rome for each of us today so don’t get distracted by the intersections. Stay on course, stay faithful, don’t back down from your faith, keep running the race marked out for you, God’s not finished.
Other people may be distracted on the things that divide us but don’t be that person.
Expose and confront those things that divide but live the resurrection life that God has called us to live today.
On our Road to Rome we will encounter many intersections.
Paul was brought safely back to the barracks and then the Lord spoke to Paul reminding him of his calling.
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.”
On our Road to Rome we must listen to and follow God’s Word and Voice.
On our Road to Rome we must listen to and follow God’s Word and Voice.
Paul had encountered so many different words and so many voices but it was one voice, the only voice that truly mattered to Paul and that was the voice of the Lord.
The Mob, the crowd, the Jews, the Romans were the loudest voice but Paul was in tune with God’s word and voice.
The believers who were discouraging Paul from going to Jerusalem could have stopped Paul. He was willing to die walking in step with God’s Word and God’s voice because he knew the God’s voice, he knew God’s Word.
If Paul did not faithfully testified about Jesus in Jerusalem, Paul might not have had an opportunity to go to Rome as a prisoner.
Remember that the Jews were getting kicked out of Rome at that time… that’s how Paul met Aquila and Pricilla in Corinth.
He had to hear the Word and the Voice of the Lord and trust that it was God that was directing Paul on his Road to Rome.
God was directing Paul but also…
God was protecting Paul from harm.
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.”
Did these Jews who made this oath die of starvation? Because Paul survived because God protected Paul.
Man’s plans are nothing if man tries to stop God’s plans.
God’s plans can never be stopped so don’t make any silly vows before hearing from the Lord first.
Paul was protected because God was not done with him.
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.”
That’s a lot of security for one person…
200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea to the governor Felix. They wanted to be sure that Paul was safe so Paul could be taken to Rome safely.
God will protect us on our road to Rome so don’t stop travelling the road God has called you to travel.
We see later that Paul had to deal with prison, trials and even shipwrecks but God brought Paul to Rome.
Look back and remember God’s faithfulness and look ahead believing that God is always faithful. Remain faithful and don’t let circumstances discourage you and cause you to give up.
Take Away:
On our road to Rome…
We will encounter resistance from our leaders… stay faithful.
We will encounter intersections creating distractions… stay focused.
We will hear so many other louder voices… follow that still small voice, God’s voice.