Acts Ch21-23: God Will See Us Through
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Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:44-
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts
Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
Acts 20:22
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
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.”
Acts 23:
Acts 19:
Main Point
Main Point
Main Point
Main Point
Main Point
Main Point
God guarantees the fulfillment of His Word and the success of the mission He has called us to.
Intro
Intro
Ephesus
Lead the Flock
Teach the Flock
Protect the Flock
Don’t Fleece the Flock
Wearing his pastor’s hat
Swaps it back for missionary hat
Go to Jerusalem because as he said in verse 22, he felt constrained by the Holy Spirit to go
He is so convicted that he needs to go, that he goes even though he knows more persecution awaits him
From there to Rome
From there to Spain
Ends of the world
This is the great commission being fulfilled
“… repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations…”
“… you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Paul makes it
God guarantees the fulfillment of His Word and the success of His mission.
1. Paul’s Trip to Jerusalem
1. Paul’s Trip to Jerusalem
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 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. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 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.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 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. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 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.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 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.
Acts 21:7-
He has set his mind to go
He has set his mind to go
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Rom 1:8-15
The Spirit has warned him (20:22) that imprisonment and afflictions await him
His friends are warning him (21:4) not to go to Jerusalem
A prophet warns him also about what awaits him
he goes anyway
“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.”
Taking up the great commission is costly
not because its nice
not because it pays well
will fall away at the first hurdle
not because it earns you respect
Got to be all in
not half-hearted Christians
don’t be content to coast
be intentional
every Christian has been given the great commission
all called to be His witness
should all be under conviction of the Holy Spirit to go
2. Paul’s Meeting with James
2. Paul’s Meeting with James
When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 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, 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. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
Acts 21:17-
here’s the problem:
there’s a rumour that Paul is teaching Jews to abandon the Law of Moses.
what’s this about?
- you don’t have to be circumcised
- you can eat food offered to idols
- circumcision counts for nothing
Gentiles were embracing this
but so were Jews
The customs/traditions of the Jews were not bad customs
it also wasn’t bad to observe the traditions
but they had elevated the traditions to the level on par with the gospel
they would kill for it
3. Paul’s Arrest & First Rescue
3. Paul’s Arrest & First Rescue
Verses 27-40
The Jews see Paul in the temple
stir up the crowd
accuse him of breaking the law and teaching others to do the same
they rush on him, drag him out of the temple, beat him
Roman soldiers rescue him from the crowd and arrest him
This is the first of four rescues of Paul in Jerusalem
4. Paul’s Address to the Crowd
4. Paul’s Address to the Crowd
Acts 22:
“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
Paul now gives his testimony to the Jews
Notice how Paul relates himself to the Jews
he speaks in their language - the language of the Jews
He calls them brothers and fathers
He reminds them that he was:
born in Tarsus
educated in Jerusalem
trained by their best teacher, Gamaliel
he was one of them - the fiercest persecutor of the Christians
the first Christian martyr, Stephen, died under his instruction and approval
But then Jesus intervened
he tells them of his Damascus road experience of meeting Jesus
and of Jesus command to him to be His witness
All this time the Jews were listening to Paul quietly…
until Paul said these words:
Verse 21 “… And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”
And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
Verse 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.”
They were prepared to give him an audience and allow him to speak as long as he was speaking on their terms
but the moment he contradicted their beliefs, they turned back into murderers
Paul’s attitude was to remove all obstacles
That’s why he tried to relate himself to the Jews and speak their language
He wanted to remove all human offence
In “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.”
And “Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”
In other words, don’t be a chop
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
As we take up the great commission, people are going to get offended by what we have to say
The Gospel is an offensive message to people who are rebelling against God
People who see themselves as their own masters and gods, are offended by the message that there is only one God and He commands us to submit to Him
People who see themselves as generally good people, are offended by the message that God calls us to repent of our sin
The gospel message will offend people and people will sometimes get angry with us and we will be persecuted
But if they’re going to get angry with us, let them be angry because of the gospel, and not because of the way we treated them
Don’t treat others poorly, but treat them with grace
Even so, speak the truth in love.
Paul removed all manner of human offense by endearing himself to the Jews, speaking their language, calling them brothers and fathers
but he didn’t sugar coat the gospel, he didn’t water down the truth
His aim was not to upset people, but his primary aim was for people to be saved.
for them to be saved, they must hear the whole counsel of God - even if it costs you and you have to suffer for it.
This is our mission.
5. Paul’s Second Rescue
5. Paul’s Second Rescue
After the crowd went full beserk, Paul is taken to be flogged
We pick up the story in 22:25
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?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
Paul is beaten but not yet beaten senseless
He still has his wits about him
Just before he’s beaten, he points out that he’s a Roman citizen
Roman citizenship came with privileges
That’s why people like this commander would pay large sums of money to buy citizenship
For Paul, his citizenship meant that nobody could mistreat him without following a proper legal process.
So Paul is saved again - but completely.
He’s now brought to a council with all the chief priests
6. Paul’s Address to the Sanhedrin and His Third Rescue
6. Paul’s Address to the Sanhedrin and His Third Rescue
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 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?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” 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.’ ”
Acts 23:
Just like Jesus, Paul is punched in the face for no apparent reason
Luke is showing us a strong contrast between the Gentile Romans and the Religious Jews
The Jews are meant to be God’s people - they have the Law, the books, the prophets, the traditions, the history...
The Romans are Gentiles, godless, outsiders. To the Jews, outcasts, unclean, not allowed in the temple, unworthy of being taught about God.
And yet the Romans are treating Paul with fairness and proper procedure, while the Jews are treating him with hatred and irrational violence.
to be brought up in the tradition of religion is a great advantage, but it doesn’t make you righteous
After another riot breaks out in the council meeting...
and the Jews are now fighting even among themselves and still trying to tear Paul to pieces…
the commander instructs his soldiers to take Paul away to the barracks
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.”
This was a tremendously kind encouragement to Paul from God
No matter how dark things are, you will get through this.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
You will get to Rome.
Acts 9:
Remember, when Paul was saved on that day Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road…
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
When Jesus says something is going to happen, it happens.
There’s a bumper sticker “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.”
That’s not quite right.
“God said it, that settles it.”
God is sovereign. God is in control.
God said Paul would witness to the Gentile kings, and that was going to happen no matter what.
7. Paul’s Fourth Rescue
7. Paul’s Fourth Rescue
God is
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. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 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. 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.”
I wonder how long they kept their vow
Acts 23:12-
Paul’s nephew overheard their plot and word got to the Roman tribune.
The Roman tribune then sends Paul away to the governor in Caesarea
Again, Luke contrasting the religious yet murderous Jews against the Gentile Romans who are actually being civilized and seeking justice
And so Paul is rescued for a fourth time in Jerusalem…
and ironically, it is the pagan Roman Gentiles who deliver God’s apostle from the hands of those who were supposed to be God’s people.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What can we conclude from Paul’s experiences in Jerusalem?
We see that Paul went to Jerusalem in obedience to God
He had a conviction - as we all should - to respond to God’s command to be his witness
God has given us a mission
Matthew
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Now there is nobody who is righteous in his own right
Nobody belongs to God because of his own goodness
Nobody belongs to God because of his religious tradition
God’s people are His not because they did something - but because God did something
Paul was changed from a murderous villain to a great apostle of God because Jesus graciously invaded Paul’s life and convicted him of his sin, gave him new eyes and a new heart, and forgave his sins.
That is true for us too.
None of us can sit hear and say, we have earned the right to be called a child of God.
Nobody.
If you are a child of God, it is because Jesus went to the cross and died for you
and Because Jesus rose from the dead to get victory over sin and death
and because Jesus is gracious and forgives all who repent and believe in Him
So if that’s where you are, and you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, you’re not there because of you.
You’re saved because of Jesus, and thanks to Jesus.
And to the praise of Jesus’ name… you have been called to join Jesus’ mission.
You are called to be His witness.
No, it’s not just those missionaries out there… ALL of us
And here’s what Jesus promises us:
It is going to be tough
It is not going to be plain sailing
It is going to get rough, people are going to ignore you, ridicule you, hate you, rebel against you, and persecute you
Your mission is going to be hard.
Its by far the toughest mission anyone can be called to.
BUT
It is also the most fulfilling
Because … and here’s the main point:
GOD HIMSELF GUARANTEES THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS WORD AND THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION.
1. So Trust God
1. So Trust God
Don’t give in to the temptation to water down the gospel because you feel like its going to be offensive to people
Remember, you are not the chef
You are the waiter
You didn’t cook the food, you deliver the food
How will the chef feel if you rearrange or change his dish on the way to the table?
Don’t try to fix the gospel or change it
Just deliver it
Trust God to use your faithful delivery of the message.
Don’t get angry or retaliate when you are mistreated by people who are offended by the gospel
Don’t
Remember, if they’re going to be offended, let them be offended by the gospel - not by your behaviour
In every way be gracious and loving and patient
Trust God who is exercising oversight over His church and the whole world
God is not some distant deity or hands off observer
God is active in his creation
God is active in the world right now
Jesus continues to act in the world around us
Remember Acts is the record of the continued acts of Jesus in the world after his ascension
but He’s not finished…
The story is continuing with us
Maybe we are now in chapter 976 - who knows when the last chapter is
Trust that God will see His mission through to the end and we will merge victorious in Jesus
2. Don’t Neglect the Power of Prayer
2. Don’t Neglect the Power of Prayer
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 15:
Ahead of his visit to Jerusalem, Paul wrote to the Roman Christians and asked them to pray he would be delivered from the unbelieving Jews, and he was
Trust God
Pray
Rest in His promises.
Acts 22:22
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.”