Acts 21:27-40

Julius Earl Ruffin is a name you may not recognize. On May 3, 1982 in Norfolk Va. at 29 years of age was convicted of rape and sentenced to five life sentences. The case rested heavily on the victim Ann Meng testimony who said Juilus Earl Ruffin was the attacker.

Twenty-one years would pass before Julius Earl Ruffin could prove he was innocent.

Julius Earl Ruffin was falsely accused because someone thought they saw something they didn’t.

On the mission the USS Indianapolis was struck and sunk and Charles Butler Mcvay III was court marshalled and found guilty.

Today Paul is going to be accused of something he didn’t do.

He was falsley accus

The Jews of Asia are going to claim to see something they didn’t see.

We saw last week Paul arrived in Jerusalem meet with the elders (leadership) of the church of Jerusalem

In this meeting he gave a mission report and then James told Paul about a rumor that was spreading through the church.

The rumor that he was telling Jews to forsake Moses and his teachings ()

Paul ask what must he do. The church gives him instructions to pay the expenses of 4 men who are taking Nazirite vow and purify himself. ()

We saw last week Paul arrived in Jerusalem meet with the elders (leadership) of the church of Jerusalem

In this meeting he gave a mission report and then James told Paul about a rumor that was spreading through the church.

Acts 21:27–29 ESV

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, 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.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

The rumor that he was telling Jews to forsake Moses and his teachings ()

Paul submitted to the

Paul ask what must he do. The church gives him instructions to pay the expenses of 4 men who are taking Nazirite vow and purify himself. ()

We see in verse the seven days of purification is coming to an end and the Jews from Asia show up.

The Jews from Asia are not Christ followers, they are not the zealous Jews that had found Christ that James mentioned in there meeting.

They are most likely Jews that have come from Ephesus.

They knew Paul and they knew the gospel that he proclaimed.

They see Paul in the temple and they go crazy.

This is the 6th time a crowd has become out of control in just the book of Acts because of Paul and the gospel.

This is the 6th time a crowd has become out of control in just the book of Acts because of Paul and the gospel.

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The gospel can be offensive to people.

When presenting the gospel we are telling people that they are sinners,

They have done things, said things, and thought things that God hates.

We are presenting to the person or people that because of there sins they deserve death.

We deserve the wrath of God, we deserve Hell.

And then we are telling them that the only way there sins can be forgiven is to accept Jesus. Because He is the son of God who came to Earth lived a perfect life, died on a cross in my place and everyones place. He took the death we where suppose to have, and that he raised from the dead and that to accept Jesus means to give up your life and follow Him. You see how that could offend someone unless it is true.

If we are sinners, if we do deserve death, Gods wrath, and Hell and Jesus is the son of God who died in my place that is the best news ever

Their is no way to walk away from the message of the gospel and not respond. Either you will walk away feeling sorry for the person who believes it (thinking they have drank the cool-aid), you become enraged because you have been told that your way does not work and you must accept Jesus or you will give up your life and follow.

Right now in this room, there are people who fit into all 3 of these catogories. There are some who feel sorry for me and others for beleiving, their are some who are mad because I said you are a sinner and deserve the wrath of God, and their are some who believe or the Holy Spirit is calling you to believe at this minute.

In : Paul is stoned

Th

In : Paul and Silas are dragged into the market place before the rulers and the rulers ordered that they be beat with rods

In : The Jews were Jealous and they formed a mob and started a riot, They went to the man named Jason house and when Paul was not there they took him before the city authorities

(ESV) 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

In : The Jews of Thessaloncia heard Paul was in Berea sharing the gospel they came there and stirred up the crowd

In : The Goldsmith get up set, because Paul is preaching against idols and they are losing money, they tell everyone about Paul and they enrage a city against him and cause a riot.

So what Paul is facing here in Jerusalem is not new.

(ESV) 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.

Everywhere Paul went

(ESV) 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” 28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.

19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 21:25–26

(14:19; 16:19–22; 17:5–8, 13; 19:25–34).

The Jews are from Asia

Everywhere Paul went

First s

They stir up the whole crowd

They stir up the whole crowd

They lay hands on Paul

They are thorough down like they are conner Mcgregor in a UFC fight.

They call out to others to help lay hands on Paul

They accuse Paul of

Teaching everyone, everywhere (all of the world)

Teaching against them, teaching against the Jews people and all they stand for.

Teaching against them.

Teaching against the Law

Teaching against the Temple

They are accusing Paul of attacking there identity (Who they are at there core), but it was not Paul that had attacked there identity it was the gospel, that had shaken there core. If the gospel was true, and Jesus was the Messiah that changed everything for them.

The gospel also attacks who we are as well. Just like it did the Jews

Against them (There heritage): Because of the gospel it lets us know that we have more in common with the African than we do our neighbor in Tar Heel who looks like us, talks like us.

The Bible tells us that once we come to Christ we are new, we are part of a new family, the family of God, we are part of a royal priesthood.

It attacks our works based salvation: The Jews where caught in trying to follow the Law.

Example: The book: The year living Biblically

We get caught up in the idea If I can just be good enough, do enough then God will be pleased with me The gospel tells us That we don’t have to be good enough, or do enough. We come just as we are That was the purpose of Jesus dying in our place. Jesus was good enough, His blood was good enough to cover our sins

He brought Greeks into the temple and defiling it

It attacks our religious institutions: The say Paul was talking down against the temple: To say the temple was special to the Jews would be an understatement. But in our times many of us treat our worship centers as if they are the new temple. The gospel tells us that God now dwells with us.

But this was not the Big accusation

He brought Greeks into the temple and defiling it

Which is ironic because Paul was purifying himself so that he could go into the temple.

The Gentiles where aloud in the court of the Gentiles but no farther.

They had signs at the court of the Gentiles warning them that if they went into the temple they could only blame themselves for their death for entering.

The Jews from Asia made an assumption because they had seen Paul with this guy by the name of Trophimus who was a greek Ephesian.

How many of us have made assumptions before and it was not true?

I will give it to Paul, he was always investing in others, pouring his life into people. If he went somewhere he took someone with him.

Paul also poured his life into people that where not like Him. Paul was a Jew and this guy a greek.

Many of us only spend time with people who look like us, talk like us, and walk like us, and think like us.

This is not just a ethnicity thing which would be a good place to start.

When was the last time you spent time with someone who was different from you?

Maybe they came from a different background, maybe they view politics different than you, maybe they came from a different town.

More importantly who are you investing in?

One of the things I loved about our baptism this morning is we have two young men who are pouring there lives into others. Jared and Matt, Travis and Aaron.

Can you name 3 people that you know that you spend time with on a regular basis for the purpose of winning them to Christ or helping them mature in the faith? That is discipleship.

Discipleship is not a program you come to on Wednesday or Sunday nights. Discipleship is sharing your life with people and as you share life pointing them to Jesus.

This is what we have been called to do in the great commission.

These Jews are going to jump to conclusion and because of that it is going to cause a stir.

Acts 21:30-33

Acts 21:30–33 ESV

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. And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 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. 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.

Because of the accusation of the Jews from Asia (Ephesus most likely) not only did it cause a stir in the temple.

The whole city becomes enraged. They have been told that Paul dissed everything about them.

Everyone in the city came to the temple, they seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. The gates to the temple shut.

This is the last reference to the temple in the book of Acts. And it is in reference to Paul Gods messenger being drag out of it.

How many places of worship will shut their doors this year, maybe not dragging out the messenger of God but certainly pushing him out because of what he represented in being God messenger.

The people in the temple where satisfied with a incomplete gospel. They were not interested in the gospel that Paul represented

Many of our churches today are satisfied with an incomplete gospel.

Prosperity gospel: This gospel says if you want something pray hard enough and God will give it to you. If you don’t receive what you prayed for you don’t have enough faith.

The gospel of the Bible says that some times you will suffer.

1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Moral gospel: In this gospel you here more about what we stand against than what we are for. This gospel teaches what you can’t do.

For example: You must behave like this, you can’t dance, drink, or listen to rock-n-roll. In this gospel they are more concerned with the behavior than the heart.

The gospel of the Bible is more concerned with the heart. Because our actions come from the motive of our hearts.

Matthew 15:19 ESV

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Political gospel: In this gospel the teachers spend great amounts of time lining themselves us with political parties and even endorsing political candidates.

Example: I saw where one church had a guy who was running for office stand up and give a political speech.

The gospel of the Bible says we should be involved in the political square, however we are to do it as Ambassodors, and aleins understanding this is not our home. We should never get in bed with any political party.

1 Peter 2:11 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

This crowd didn’t want to talk, they wanted to kill Paul.

They assume Paul has brought a greek into the temple and the penalty for that is death. If nothing else they are dedicated to there views, even if they are wrong.

Example: Guy at Campbell who was muslim.

I am not endorsing that practice. I am just trying to point out that their many people out their who are very committed to their false religion.

I am not saying that the church has a dedication problem today. I believe those who go to church are very dedicated. They are just not dedicated to Christ and his bride.

They are dedicated to their childs travel ball team. (The likelyhood of little johnny becoming a superstar ball player is slim.

They are dedicated to their childs travel ball team. (The likelyhood of little johnny becoming a superstar ball player is slim.

They are dedicated to their pillows. Many so called Christians aren’t dedicated to coming to church and spending time in the word because they are just lazy.

They are dedicated to things: This can be there mountain home, there beach home, their boat, their snowmobile,

They are dedicated to their work: How many people who are Christ followers skip church all the time for the sake of a career.

You may not want to here this but if your job keeps you from spending time with God through reading his word and coming to church, you should probably look for another job.

If those who believe in a false God are dedicated to him enough to bow down five times a day, or even kill if they enter a part of a temple. What does it say about us who believe in the one true God and yet we seem more dedicated to other things.

No wonder many people who don’t follow God, don’t take him more serious

Word makes it to the tribune of the cohort (commander of the Roman regiment in Jerusalem) that the city is in an uproar.

He goes to the riot with at least 200 soldiers maybe more

The commander arrest Paul and orders his soldiers to bind Paul with two chains

This was prophesied in by Agabus

This was prophesied in by Agabus

The Commander ask who Paul is and what he has done.

The com

Acts 21:34-36

Acts 21:34–36 ESV

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. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”

The crowd could not make up there mind who Paul was.

Some where shouting he is this and this others where shouting he is this and this

The commander could not figure out who Paul was so he took him back to the barracks.

Paul had to be carried by the soldiers because the violence of the crowd trying to get to Paul and bring him harm.

The crowd cried out “Away with Him.”

Does this not remind us of the picture of Christ when the Jewish crowd shouted Crucify Him Crucify Him.

Acts 21:37–40 ESV

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

They are about to walk in the doors to the military barracks and Paul looks to the commander and says “Can I say something to you.”

The commander ask Do you know greek?

And then he assumes that Paul is someone that he is not. The Jewish people had assumed Paul was something he was not. The Commander assumes he is the Egyptian who had stirred a revolt and lead 4,000 assassins out into the wilderness.

It was said this Egyptian was a false prophet and had said that his people would walk around the city of Jerusalem and the walls would coming down like they did in Jericho. The Romans had put down the revolt and the leader fled.

Paul tells the commander

He is a Jew

From Tarsus

A Citizen of no obscure city

Then he ask to speak to the people

The Commander gave him permission

Paul standing on the steps with guards around him. Chains on his hands and feet. Turns to the crowd who is chanting “Away with Him”

He motions with his hands to the people trying to get their attention.

The crowd hushes , then in the langauage of the Jewish People Hebrew he tells them his story.

With every head bowed every eye closed

I am going to ask if you would to pray right now and ask the Holy Spirit to search you and reveal to you what you needed today and how you should respond.

Some you have heard the gospel that you are a sinner, you deserve the wrath of God, and that Jesus came to save you from that wrath. And you want to make Jesus your Savior.

Pray

The Holy Spirit may have revealed to you that you have spread false accusations on someone and you need to repent, because it has caused a big mess.

Others God has convicted you that you are more dedicated to other things than Jesus and his bride and you need to repent.

The Holy Spirit may have revealed to you that you have bought into a incomplete gospel and God is calling you to the true gospel.

Church membership

Baptism