Paul Arrested

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 1st day of February— MONDAY

Last week right here at “The Message” we saw what happened when Paul arrived in Jerusalem— He was advised by James and the other leaders of the church Jerusalem to along with those four men who vowed their lives to God. Purification is a ritual. A traditional Jewish process of cleansing. James suggested this to disprove the news against Paul, and to show that Paul did not abandoned his Jewish culture, laws and tradition. But for Paul his reasons for doing this was:

I SHALL ASSOCIATE MYSELF TO ALL PEOPLE THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE SOME

I MUST BE FLEXIBLE FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL

Today let’s see what happened when Paul was arrested even before he completed his purification — open your Bible to Acts 21:27-36

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 21:27-36

BOOK

Acts 21:27–36 NIV

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

WHAT: Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem

WHERE: Jerusalem

WHEN: AD 57-59

WHO: Paul, Trophimus [a Gentile from Ephesus [modern Turkey], Jews from Asia, Roman Commander named Claudius Lysias, Soldiers

WHY: Because the Jews are so against Paul— to them what he has done was apostasy [turning against God through departure from their belief, tradition, law and culture]

LOOK

THIS IS THE MAN WHO TEACHES EVERYONE AGAINST OUR PEOPLE AND OUR LAW

We can remember from our previous study of the book of Acts that Paul’s teaching about circumcision was among the tradition that upsets the Jewish community— not just that but also his association with the greeks and the gentiles— moreover, they accused him of bringing gentiles into their Jewish temple which by law and tradition is a no no!

In fact, way back from the time of the tabernacles, before the temple was built, there was already a designated place for the the non-jews—

HE HAS BROUGHT GREEKS INTO THE TEMPLE AND DEFILED HIS HOLY PLACE

they are very strict about this and they accused Paul of bringing gentiles into the temple…

THE COMMANDER CAME UP AND ARRESTED HIM AND ORDERED HIM TO BE BOUND

Paul’s arrest saved his life—

THE VIOLENCE OF THE MOB WAS SO GREAT

Fully aware of the consequences of his actions, why do you think Paul did what he did?— why did he reached out to the Gentiles?

Jesus said— John 10:16, John 17:11— Paul said Ephesians 2:15, Galatians 5:6, Romans 1:5-6

Let me put today’s lessons in simple sentences we could all easily remember

TOOK

WE MUST BE WILLING TO SET ASIDE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS TO UNIFY HUMANITY

THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE

SING

Agape Worship Team— Grateful