When is bad news good news?
Mike Biolsi
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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When it’s the truth.
[⭐MAP - 3rd Missionary Journey]
Paul is still on his way back to Jerusalem, hoping to be there for the Feast of Pentecost. This morning we will follow his nautical journeys: ⭐
1 After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail. 3 After we sighted Cyprus, passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, since the ship was to unload its cargo there.
[⭐MAP 1 - kos, rhodes, patara]
Apparently, Paul and crew took advantage of merchant ships to get around. There would not be a lot of “passenger” vessels back in that day. You didn’t board a cruise ship to get around. Riding with merchant ships would take them to many major ports, though it would also cause some delays as the ships had to unload.
At this point they are back on familiar soil, in Tyre.
[⭐MODERN DAY MAP with tyre] Tyre USED to be an Island, but in 332 BC Alexander the Great built a 1/2 mole or causeway between the mainland and the island and eventually besieged it. The land was later filled in to make it a peninsula and a major trade port. ⭐
DAVID NOTE: Originally part of the region assigned to the tribe of Asher.
4 We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, 6 we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home.
When they arrived in Tyre, they “sought out” the disciples. This is the first time we have Paul recorded as being in Tyre, though it is possible he had been there before and it was not recorded. However, we do know this:
a) there were people from Tyre & Sidon that were present when Jesus preached the sermon on the mount (Luke 6:17), and
b) Jesus went to Tyre where he performed this miracle: ⭐
24 He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. 25 Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she was asking him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
28 But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 Then he told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” 30 When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
It is very likely that this encounter, and the other healings that Jesus did, as well as the witness of those that heard the sermon on the mount, was the catalyst for having disciples in this region. It also could have been some of the Jews that ere persecuted and left Jerusalem had settled there.
While we are not certain which disciples, or where they met, we are again reminded of the value and urgency of fellowship. They stayed seven days with the brothers and sisters.
We do not know what they were teaching or studying - or where. What we DO know is that they did life together, so much so that their entire families sent to the beach and saw them off.
Probable the MAIN reason Luke included this small stop was because of the message that was passed on to Paul. In Acts 21:4 “...Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.” There is no question that Luke believes this was the message from God. Yet, what does Paul do? He continues towards Jerusalem!
Was Paul being disobedient to the Spirit?
I do not think so. I believe the message from the disciples in Tyre was more of an apocalypse for them to see what was going to happen, than a deterrent for Paul to stay away. It also could have served to help prepare Paul for what was about to take place.
So let’s see what happened next: ⭐
7 When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. 9 This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
[MAP - 3rd missionary journey]
This is along the coast. They certainly could have walked the road from Tyre to Jerusalem. However, boat would have been faster. They spent 1 day in Ptolemais and what did they do?
They found brothers and sisters and stayed with them. Are you seeing the trend? It was only a day, and the next day they sailed to Caesarea, Philippi - the same place he finished his second missionary journey. It was not far from Jerusalem.
What is different about this landing in Caesarea versus the previous one is the detail that Luke gives us about what happens after they land. They stay with “Philip the evangelist”.
This is one of the 7 men that was selected in Acts 6 to take care of the ministry to the widows. When the Christians in Jerusalem were scattered, Philip traveled to North of Jerusalem and we read this:
He took the message of Jesus to the Samaritans (8:4-24)
He helped an Ethiopian come to faith in Jesus and be baptized (8:26-39)
He continued to preach along the coast until he landed in Caesarea:
40 Philip appeared in Azotus, and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
What I love about Philip’s story is that he was faithful to share Jesus with others no matter where he was. He followed Jesus, served others and shared the good news of forgiveness and acceptance through Jesus. Some of you will travel because of your job and eventually land in one place to retire. Don’t wait for a final destination to serve and share - Christianity is a whole life, as you are living, commitment. What a blessing!
We also notice something else that Luke mentioned: Philip had 4 virgin daughters that prophesied.
They are virgins, but that was not a prerequisite of being prophets. Perhaps it was just a reference to age- not old enough to be married yet.
They are girls, which were not high on the social ladder of that day.
They prophesied. They are several female prophets in the Scriptures, so that is not NEW news. Yet, it is not going to be the prophecy of any of these girls that we will read about.
ask: Why did Luke include this?
Luke is notorious for pointing out the kingdom importance of even “the least of these” in society! These young, unmarried, females - those who had few rights and very little voice in their culture, are not only valued in God’s kingdom, they are able to be messengers of God himself.
WOW! That would have been revolutionary back in Luke’s time! And, for today, for you and me, it should be a reminder that God can use, and wants to use, each and every one of us! His kingdom is for all who call on Jesus and the kingdom work of serving others and sharing Jesus is a role all of us can fulfill. You are NOT insignificant in God’s economy. You are valuable and you have a purpose and a ministry.
Thanks, Luke, for giving us “random” details that remind us of our “intentional” God!
Let’s read on: ⭐
10 After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’ ”
Paul and company stayed with Philip for several days, or “some time”. Apparently, they either arrived well before the feast of Pentecost and were waiting for the feast to head to Jerusalem, or they missed the feast and were now in no hurry. Luke does not actually tell us if they made it for the feast. The fact that he mentioned it as a goal, and that they took a boat from Tyre to Caesarea, makes me think that he did make it for the feast. But we do not have an concrete evidence for this.
While there, a prophet named Agabus came “down” from Judea. (Remember, down is most often an elevation reference when referring to coming from Jerusalem as it was on a mount - he went down, to the North). It is possible this is the same Agabus from chapter 11 who correctly predicted that there would be a severe famine in the land. If so, then his words would certainly carry a lot of weight.
He takes off Paul’s belt and hog ties himself, feet together and hands together. If you are picturing our modern, leather belts, this might seem off. But the belts or sashes in that time were often made of material that wrapped around a person 2-3 times.He says that is what is going to happen to the one who owns the belt… to Paul.
There are several prophets in the OT that acted out their messages. It certainly would have been more dramatic than saying, “Paul will be imprisoned”.
WHAT Agabus does NOT say: While Agabus predicted that Paul will be bound in chains, he never told Paul to avoid Jerusalem. This was not a warning to stay away, but a message of preparation to know what will happen - just like the famine prediction.
This message had some very specific details to keep in mind:
The Jews will be the ones who come after Paul
Paul will be bound hand and foot by chains
Paul will be handed over to the Gentiles
ask: If you were Paul, what might you be thinking?
ask: Have you ever received really bad news? Have you ever faced what seemed to be a hopeless situation?
Let’s read how the disciples, and Paul, responded: ⭐
12 When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
WE (the group of traveling companions with Paul) and the LOCAL PEOPLE (The other believers who lived in Caesarea) BOTH pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem. I could picture the traveling companions quoting the disciples in Tyre warning him not to go up to Jerusalem.
PAUL, on the other had says he is ready to be bound and to die if that is what God has for him. That answer seems off the charts! Have you ever thought about whether or not you are READY to suffer or die? What on earth would make a man willing to suffer and die for something?
Paul considered suffering for Jesus, and even death for Him, a positive thing, not a negative. In his letter to the church in Phillip he wrote this: ⭐
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
The reality is that this should not surprise us at all. Jesus told us that if we are going to follow him, it is an all or nothing scenario. To be a follower of Jesus is a call to self-abandonment for our Savior. ⭐
34 Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it.
This is a beautiful, kingdom paradox. It is something that is heard to fully explain to someone that has never experienced it. Yer it is a foundational teaching for what it means to truly follow Jesus.
We can only be free by becoming slaves.
We can only have live by giving up our lives.
Many people seek a fulfilling life by doing things, satisfying cravings, and accumulating stuff. It is a blindness that the enemy, the ruler of this age, wants people to believe. But it is a lie that leads to poverty and emptiness: ⭐
10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
Abundant life comes from embracing Jesus - and forgiveness. It comes from giving up control and allow God to be in control. It comes from living for God and others and not for ourselves. It comes from storing up eternal treasures, not earthly ones.
THE PEOPLE wanted Paul to avoid Jerusalem because they were focused on the here and now, the physical. You will be imprisoned. You might die. We might miss you. Forget that and seek safety, comfort and time with us!
PAUL wanted to focus on the kingdom, the now and the yet to come. If suffering and death bring glory to God and advances the cause of Christ, why would I NOT do it?
We KNOW that fellowship, and the believers were important to Paul. It is not that he didn’t care about them. He did care! It broke his heart that they cared so much about him and their relationship with him.
I quoted Philippians 1:21 to you just a few minutes ago. Let’s continue reading that: ⭐
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
Paul’s dilemma - to leave this world is to be with Jesus. And, as much as I love each of you, I would rather be with Jesus! I get it! BUT, our love and compassion for each other makes us want to stay as long as we can on this earth. It is a gift from God to have brothers and sisters in the faith, to experience genuine love and community.
In the end, BOTH groups can only come to the same conclusion: ⭐
14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
The word Lord here⭐ is “κύριος” which means master. Knowing the future will be good, or knowing the future will be bad, should never deter us from the call that we have. As member’s of God’s kingdom we are called, and privileged to submit to our master, our lord, our commander in chief.
Paul’s response echoes the word of Jesus, when he was in the garden, knowing he was going to be crucified fro your sins and mine. He prayer to our Father: ⭐
42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
If Jesus was willing to deny himself and take up the cross, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same?
This news that Paul had might have seemed like bad news for sure! However, it was not. It was good news. Not because it was easy. Not because it was pleasant or pleasurable. It was good news because it was God’s method of taking the good news to even more people. It is a beautiful reminder that we are blessed to be on this earth so that we can help others know the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit.
