Sovereign Circumstances

I do not have artistic talent. When I draw a stick figure, it comes out crooked with an oddly shaped head. This made on particular school assignment particularly frustrating for me. We had a worksheet we called a meditation worksheet that we used to study Bible passages. In that worksheet was a section where we had to draw concept pictures to describe the events of the passage. This, coupled with the difficulty of the assignment, made me dislike that paper.

Looking back, that assignment has shaped me in ways I didn’t recognize. You all know that my hobby horse is hermeneutics. The groundwork for that passion was laid with this assignment and my dad’s preaching. You all benefit from that assignment.

Why do I share all this? God is sovereign. He knew that the assignment I hated would lay the foundation to fulfill His later calling.

This same school assignment is what we have adapted as the Scripture Worksheet we will be teaching everyone how to use.

What we are going to see over the next few weeks in Acts is that God is sovereign in the circumstances of our lives. He is at work providing opportunities for us to speak of Him.

With verse 26 we begin the events that will take us through the rest of Acts.

Starting in v. 26 are the events that take place for the rest of the book. We have Paul’s arrest, the plot on his life, the transfer out of Jerusalem and the eventual trip to Rome. Chs. 21:26-23 deal with the arrest alone.

We will learn of Paul’s arrest, the plot on his life, the transfer out of Jerusalem and the eventual trip to Rome.

In our outline of the book this final section of Acts is titled

Paul Is Called To Preach The Gospel In Rome Chs. 21:26-28:31

From 21:26 all the way to ch. 23 deal with the arrest alone. That section is titled

The Arrest That Will Lead Paul To Rome 21:26-23:22

Our section for the next few weeks is

1. The curious circumstances surrounding Paul’s arrest 21:26-22:29

Here is what we are going to learn.

When we understand God's sovereignty over circumstances, we are able to see the opportunities he provides.

Understanding God’s sovereignty over circumstances determines our ability to see the opportunities He provides.

When we understand God’s sovereignty over circumstances we take three actions.

As these actions are taken, opportunities are revealed.

Action #1…

God is in control of my safety

God is in control of my message

1. Give Your Reputation To God vv. 26-29

I want to explain what I mean here by first saying what I do NOT mean.

I am not saying that we can live however we want because our reputation is in God’s hands.

I am not saying that we should be unconcerned with our reputation.

The point here is that God is in control of my reputation. Meaning that…

God is in control of my reputation

My Reputation Is God’s Responsibility

Everyone say that with me.

If I am walking in obedience to Him, my reputation is in His hands. Therefore, I surrender my reputation to Him.

Paul gives God his reputation in two circumstances.

Circumstance #1…

a. In obedience v. 26

READ v. 26

In vv. 23-24 Paul was instructed by the elders in Jerusalem to purify himself with these men.

He is to pay their expenses and demonstrate tot he Jews that he keeps the law.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament 21:17–26—Paul’s Jewish Identity Affirmed

Those (like Agrippa I) who used their own funds to pay the expenses of Nazirites were considered pious.

This is how Paul is demonstrating that he is still a good Jew.

He is not doing this to be saved, he is doing this to retain the ability to share Christ with his fellow countrymen.

The point I want to make here is that Paul is doing this out of obedience to the elders.

We must understand that our reputation belongs to God. As purchased possessions of the King of kings, it is His responsibility to determine how we are known.

Our responsibility is simply to obey.

The key phrase for everything else that is about to happen is the words “entered the temple.”

Paul and these men are declaring the end of the purification and making the necessary offering.

Paul has already given his reputation to the Lord. He has faithfully served as the Lord directed.

Now, in obedience he is in the temple.

agreement or acquiescence

This brings us to circumstance #2.

Circumstance #2…

Give your reputation to God…

b. In oppression vv. 27-29

READ v. 27

These Jews are in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Being from Asia they would have been familiar with Paul and his companions.

These Jews see these men who had taken a vow and Paul in the temple.

They get everyone upset and they grab Paul.

READ v. 28

“Crying out” is the idea of screaming. These people are already in hysterics. The first thing I want us to see is the exaggeration.

Paul teaches “all men everywhere.” Really? That’s not even physically possible. He teaches against the people, law, and temple. This isn’t true.

This teaches us a valuable lesson. When we get out of control, truth takes a back seat to emotion.

The second thing I want us to see is the assumptions. They assume Paul brought Greeks into the temple. We learn this in v. 29.

READ v. 29

They suppose Paul took Trophimus into the temple! They don’t even know!

We’ll get back to that in a minute.

They assume Paul has defiled the temple by bringing Gentiles in.

Assumptions are so very dangerous.

This is why and encourage us to go to our brother and sister when we hear something.

Let me be clear. Sharing an assumption we have not verified is gossip and it is sin.

Sharing anything we have not verified with the primary source is sin.

The accusation is that Paul teaches against everything Jewish and that he brought Gentiles into the temple and defiled it.

None of these things are true, they are assumed and exaggerated.

A little bit of an intentional rabit trail. It does fit though.

Before we look at v. 29 in a little more depth we are going to take an intentional rabbit trail. It does fit though.

The accusation made against Paul is that he defiled God’s Holy Temple.

Defiled – κοινόω (koinoō) To defile, to treat as common. Treating something as having no special distinction or quality.

Defiled – κοινόω (koinoō)

Biblically speaking, what is God’s Holy Temple today? Our bodies.

To defile our bodies means we treat them as something common. We treat them as though they have no special distinction or quality and therefore can be used however we want.

These bodies have been set aside for the use of Christ! You are not common! Don’t treat yourself in that way!

Our bodies are not ours to do with as we please! You belong to Christ! Because you belong to Christ, your reputation is His responsibility.

They see Paul and jump to conclusions. There is no fact checking or investigation. This is what we too can expect.

accusation

Throughout the world Christians are being treated this way. And it is beginning to take place here in our country as well.

vv. 28-29 – They see Paul and jump to conclusions. There is no fact checking or investigation. This is what we too can expect.

Christians are assumed to be the worst sort of people. What we believe was once mocked and belittled, now it is called dangerous and violent.

Paul had brought Trophimus with him to Jerusalem. Trophimus is an Ephesian, he is a Gentile.

They had seen him with Paul in the city and they assume he is with Paul in the Temple.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament 21:27–36—Riot in the Temple

Although the assumption of these Jews from Asia is false, it is occasioned by Paul’s relationships with Gentile Christians, which he would not compromise.

This is an important point. Why did they think Paul had done this? Because he was friends with Gentiles. He ate with them and went into their houses.

This was against Jewish custom, so why did Paul do it? Because God had called him to!

Paul was told by Christ that he would be used to reach the Gentiles! Furthermore, Paul was in the temple because he was submitting to the elders of the Jerusalem church and being ritually purified!

So here Paul is, in trouble for being obedient. Paul had a reputation among the Jews and this reputation was not good. Paul wasn’t worried about his reputation. His reputation was God’s responsibility.

God will sometimes call us to do things that damage our reputation in the eyes of this world. Some of the stands we take here at Grace Church are called hateful by some. They are called bigoted, and narrow minded, and outdated. That’s ok.

God is responsible for our reputation! We are responsible to be faithful.

Don’t cling so tightly to your reputation that you are unwilling to be obedient.

We see this all around us today! We see an unwillingness to stand on the truth of Scripture because it would mean a loss in status or attendance.

Focus on serving Christ. Let Him take care of your reputation.

Give your reputation to God. If we want to see the opportunities He is providing, that is our first action. Action #2…

2. Give Your Safety To God vv. 30-36

As with our previous point, allow me to explain what I do not mean.

I do not mean that we can take unnecessary risks or foolish chances.

I do not mean that we should throw away common sense.

I mean that God is in control of my safety. As I go where He has called, do what He has commanded, and say what He has revealed, He determines the outcome. Therefore…

God is in control of my safety

My Safety Is God’s Responsibility.

Everyone say that with me.

In a society filled with safe spaces and word violence, Scripture tells us to expect suffering.

In this passage we find Paul giving his safety to God in two situations.

Situation #1…

a. In abuse vv. 30-32

READ v. 30

This accusation stirs everyone up.

They run to grab Paul, drag him out and the doors are shut presumably to prevent the violence from entering the temple.

The thing to remember is that Paul is only here because he is obeying the Lord! He is obeying the Jerusalem church leaders!

Here he is, walking in obedience, and everything seems to be going wrong!

READ v. 31

This word translated “seeking” has the idea of desire. Their plan, goal, intention, and desire is to see Paul dead.

All because of an assumption that has been stated as fact!

The commander is described by a Greek word normally used of someone leading about 600 men. That is about the size of a garrison.

This shows us how quickly this spread.

They are trying to kill Paul right outside the temple!

READ v. 32

The Tribune grabs some Centurions and their soldiers and they all run down to the temple area (S).

vv. 30-31 – They seek to kill Paul in the temple!

This would put around 200 soldiers in this scene. Again, this shows us how fast this whole ordeal got out of hand.

It isn’t until the people see the soldiers and the commander that they stop beating Paul.

This means that Paul was being beaten the entire time it took word to reach the garrison and for the soldiers to get down there.

v. 32 – They are beating Paul when the centurion arrives.

They are beating Paul when the soldiers arrive.

Paul was there out of obedience. He was there doing what God had commanded. Now he is being beaten for it!

It isn’t until the middle of ch. 23 that Paul finds out why God is allowing all this.

v. 32 – They are beating Paul when the centurion arrives.

There are going to be times of pain. In our lives we will experience circumstances that hurt us!

This is reality. Anyone who says it isn’t is trying to deceive you.

In those times of pain, here is what we need to know.

It isn’t until the middle of ch. 23 that Paul finds out why God is allowing all this.

God is in control. He has a plan, purpose, and goal. What you endure is not meaningless!

However, knowing these truths doesn’t change the pain. It doesn’t make getting beaten any less excruciating!

What it does do, is give meaning to our pain. It gives purpose to our trials.

(S).

1 Peter 1:6–7 NKJV

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

The problem is that pain hurts. Because pain hurts we want to be in charge of our own safety. We want to tell God what we can take.

God is responsible for our safety! Even when we are facing suffering for the cause of Christ.

Paul gives his safety to God even when he is facing abuse at the hands of unbelievers.

In situation #2 we find Paul giving his safety to God…

b. In arrest vv. 33-36

READ v. 33

The commander arrests Paul.

I have always found this interesting. Here is a mob beating someone and the guy being beaten is arrested.

The commander doesn’t even know who Paul is or why he is being beaten!

READ v. 34

The reason for all this is not able to be made clear to the commander.

vv. 33-34 – The reason for all this is not able to be made clear to the commander.

The implication is that either not everyone in the mob knows why they were beating Paul, or some were beating him for defiling the temple and some for teaching against the Jews.

The result is that everyone is shouting something different to the point that he can’t know the truth.

The uproar and commotion make it impossible.

READ v. 35

Paul is being led away, but the crowd is so violent that the soldiers eventually have to carry him.

Now remember, all this based on assumption and exaggeration. There is no evidence and there has been no trial.

Paul is simply trying to do what he has been told and demonstrate his commitment to his Jewish heritage. Now he has been arrested.

READ v. 36

Who else did a multitude shout this about? Jesus.

They are basically shouting for Paul to be killed.

In moments like these it is hard to trust in the sovereignty of God.

Paul knows he is innocent. He knows he has been falsely accused. Yet he is arrested and is being hauled away because no one is telling the truth.

This is when we focus on self. This is when we miss opportunities.

We must understand that God is sovereign in our circumstances!

This was the picture on our first message slide this morning (S).

In our lives we sometimes feel like we are in the desert. We feel like God has abandoned us and left us dry, cracked, and broken.

But what we cannot see is that God is allowing these trials into our lives to bring about new growth!

God is using the trials, difficulties, and hardships to make our faith stronger.

God is going to give us opportunities in the middle of our suffering.

If we are overly focused on ourselves, we will miss the opportunity to proclaim Christ.

In every difficulty lies an opportunity. When we trust the sovereignty of God we give Him our safety and then we see the opportunity.

Though he is being arrested, Paul still gives God his safety.

To see opportunities, give your reputation to God and give your safety to God. Finally, action #3…

3. Give Your Message To God vv. 37-39

What is our message?

Paul answers this question in both his letters to the Corinthians.

; (S).

;

1 Corinthians 1:23 NKJV

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

2 Corinthians 4:5 NKJV

5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

We preach Jesus Christ! Crucified, risen, and coming again.

Because Christ is our message, He determines when and how it is shared. Ultimately, God is in control of my message.

This means that I do not need to come up with clever sayings or statements that can trend well on social media.

God is in control of my message

We don’t have to come up with a message, God has already given us the message! Therefore,

My Message Is God’s Responsibility.

Repeat that with me please.

tells us that the gospel is the power of God to salvation for all who believe.

God does not need us to dress up the gospel message. He has called us to share it faithfully.

Paul has been called by God to preach the gospel. Now he has been beaten and arrested. And so, He gives his message to God in two ways.

First…

a. In confusion vv. 37-38

READ v. 37

I want us to really picture this scene. Paul has just been beaten by a mob. He most likely has blood running down his face, he is bruised and dirty. He robes are mussed, and torn. This Tribune and his soldiers have arrived just in time to prevent his death. He is now moments away from the perceived safety of the garrison.

But Paul has a problem. “What is Paul’s problem,” you ask? Let me tell you. Safety is not determined by men. The safety of the child of God is not something physical!

Safety is only found in the will of God!

Why does that matter? We’ll find out in a moment.

The soldier is surprised because Paul speaks Greek like a native. This doesn’t fit with his assumption about Paul’s identity.

READ v. 38

Everyone in this situation is jumping to conclusions and making assumptions. Including this soldier.

Josephus in his history of the Jewish people confirms that there was an Egyptian who gained a following around this time.

There is confusion about who Paul is.

This is a tactic of Satan. He doesn’t want the gospel to go out and so he will prevent it in any way and by any means he can.

Have you noticed that our identity as evangelical Christians is constantly confused with others?

We are lumped in with hate groups, with false religions, with all kinds of things that would hinder our message if we let it.

People accept what they hear about our beliefs without ever actually investigating what that is.

Often we meet people and they say “Don’t you guys believe that…” and what follows is something bizarre!

Don’t allow confusion to hinder the message. Don’t get sidetracked trying to defend.

We only have one message! Christ crucified, buried, risen, and coming again!

It doesn’t matter if they don’t know who we are. We can still preach Christ!

It is amazing how the gospel of Jesus Christ cuts through confusion.

We preach the gospel not to be know, but to make Christ known.

Paul isn’t worried about this soldier knowing who he is, Paul sees an opportunity.

Paul gives his message to God, first in confusion. Secondly…

These lost people need to hear about Jesus and this may be their last opportunity!

vv. 37-38 – The commander even jumps to conclusions.

Paul gives his message to God, first in confusion. Secondly…

b. In confession v. 39

READ v. 39

After explaining who he is, Paul asks to speak to the people.

Paul is about to be taken away from a mob. But when Paul looks at them he doesn’t see a mob bent on murdering him. Paul sees lost sheep in desperate need of a shepherd!

These lost people need to hear about Jesus and this may be their last opportunity!

This is the attitude of the apostle Paul! This is the opportunity God is providing!

Seeing the opportunity for what it is, Paul implores the officer to let him speak.

Implore – δέομαι (deomai) ask; request; beg; pray. Begging for something indispensable or necessary.

Implore – δέομαι (deomai)

Paul is pleading for the opportunity to speak to the people who just tried to kill him.

This is the opportunity almost missed.

Paul recognized that God is sovereign over his life. Because God is sovereign, there are no accidents.

It was not an accident that Paul is standing above a crowd in Jerusalem. It was not an accident that he is going to have the opportunity to speak.

God brought Paul to Jerusalem. God had Paul in the the temple. God is now giving to Paul a platform from which to preach Christ.

And so Paul pleads for the opportunity to preach Christ to those who hate him.

Why? Because Paul is committed to the gospel.

Last week I mentioned this verse, today we will turn to it. (p. 1348).

(p. 1348)

This is commitment!

Some people preach Christ to hurt me, so what! Rejoice that Christ is preached!

Paul was just beat up and almost killed by these people, yet he is pleading for an opportunity to preach Christ to them.

This is the attitude that we must have.

When God provides a gospel opportunity, take it.

Conclusion

God is sovereign in the circumstances of life.

There will be times of trial, difficulty, and pain.

We must trust that God has a reason, plan, and purpose even in our trials.

When we trust the sovereignty of God, we have opportunities to proclaim the gospel.

This requires that we take our eyes off our circumstances and fix them on Jesus.

Preaching the gospel when God says, where He says, and to who He says can mean the loss of reputation.

God is responsible for my reputation.

Preaching the gospel may result in attacks and arrest.

God is responsible for my safety.

Preaching the gospel means we do not add to it or take away from it.

God is responsible for my message.

What are we responsible for?

We are called to faithful obedience.

This means…

We believe God is in control of our circumstances.

We believe God has a purpose for all things.

We believe that gospel opportunities are present in trials.

Therefore. Because we believe these things. What do we do? We…

Trust God and preach Christ.

Acts 21:26–39 NKJV

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. 27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, 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 teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. 35 When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. 36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!” 37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”