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Acts: Paul in Caesarea

Read: Acts 23:23-24:27

Part 4 of Paul in Jerusalem left us with the Roman commander completely in charge of the situation. There is no doubt that the authorities were handling the events here. Paul’s life was likely spared as a result of the commander’s rather audacious and timely reaction. The ensuing events through the end of Acts will result in Paul being in prison, i.e., a captive under Roman control, for the next four years. This helps explain why so many letters were written and perhaps why scholars were able to gather these and turn these into books in the New Testament.

Cavalry Led Escape to Caesarea

The Roman commander gathered two centurions, loads of horses and armed men to escort Paul to Caesarea. In my mind, this was a bit over-the-top.

Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Acts 23:23

All this for one Roman citizen. I think the commander was trying to make a statement about his authority. He may have had other motives, but we are not given insight into his position or political desires. What we know for certain is that Paul was successfully removed from a violent situation and allowed to defend himself another day.

Our modern court system follows this example today. The legal process is called a “change of venue” to give the defendant a better shot at a fair trial. In this case, Paul is removed and Ananias has to make the 65-mile journey to state his case.

 Felix the Governor with Ananias and Tertullus

The first characters in this scene include the plaintiff and his attorney. In the last episode, Ananias proved to be hot-headed, calling for Paul to be smacked before any judgment could be made. Paul’s reaction could have landed him in trouble, but he was quick to control his tongue. Biblical scholars give us some interesting insight into Ananias here:

Paul’s comment about Ananias proves to be prophetic, for within ten years the high priest had to flee to Herod’s palace, his house was burned, and he was eventually killed.13 He was known as a greedy, corrupt, and violent man.14NIVAC Note

We should not be quick to stereotype Jewish leadership and certainly should exercise restraint when confronting those in authority, but sometimes people are placed in positions they don’t deserve. We should have faith that God will judge appropriately. The historians above indicate Ananias’ rule was terminated relatively soon after this event.

Tertullus was a capable orator who used his skill to point the accusation at Paul after placating the honorable governor with typical flowery words. The attorney was good, but Paul was much better!

Each charge against Paul was quickly deflected.

My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. Acts 24:12-14

Felix appears rather bored with the proceedings and defers his decision until the commander corroborates Paul’s arguments. There’s no hurry in this system. The fact that Paul remains in custody is irrelevant to those in charge.

Paul used his captivity as a platform. I’m not suggesting he was completely happy about the arrangement, but he made the best of a bad situation by arguing with competence and eloquence.

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. Acts 24:24

By remaining calm and patient, Paul got the opportunity to present the gospel to Felix, his wife, and who knows how many other officials in between.

Paul was competent, studied well, and made his case compelling by understanding who he was addressing each time. I’m convinced this earned him many favors even though his release from captivity could not be granted. He made the best of a bad situation. My prayer is that we would do the same when life deals us a bad hand.

 

 

NIVAC Notes:

Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 86571-86574). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

References within the NIVAC note:
#13. See Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 2.17.6, 9 (in Josephus, Complete Works, 491, 492 resp.).
#14. On Ananias’s character and acts, see Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 20.9.2, 4 (in Josephus, Complete Works, 424).

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Acts: Paul in Jerusalem, Part 4

Read: Acts 22:30-23:22

The Roman commander is curious, so he arranged a meeting with the Sanhedrin, a mix of Sadducees and Pharisees, but this didn’t go well either. Once again, Paul was in the hands of the Romans for his own protection. Meanwhile, a group of Jews forms an alliance and a plot to kill Paul. This is the last part of Paul in Jerusalem. He’s transferred to Caesarea, then continues to move through the end of Acts until his final destination in Rome.

Luke provides these details as an account of Paul’s life. While this is interesting, I have to wonder why we read all of these details about Paul? At the end of Acts, well, it doesn’t actually end, s why tell us all these things without finishing the story? We’ll be in Acts 28 soon enough, so I’ll hold off on diving too deep at this point. As we read about Paul’s time in Jerusalem, then more about his captivity for the rest of his life, consider this: Paul continued to write letters and communicate with the churches he planted during all of these trials.

The Sanhedrin

The commander of the Roman guard needs to know what the fuss is all about.

The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them. Acts 22:30

Notice that the commander does not relinquish control. This is his meeting on his terms.

Paul’s first comments to the Sanhedrin set the tone for a short conversation.

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Acts 23:1-2

Great! Punch Paul in the mouth for speaking. This is not going to go well. Paul doesn’t back down one iota. I wonder what “you whitewashed wall” would sound like in today’s vernacular. Actually, I don’t want to know. I couldn’t type the words anyway!

Paul backs down a notch when they inform him this is the high priest and changes his tone a bit. He explains he is a Pharisee from Pharisees and focuses on some of the key distinction between them and the Sadducees, most notably, the concept of the resurrection. The commentaries inform us that the Pharisees were in the minority in the Sanhedrin. Small in numbers, but with significant political clout. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection. Luke makes this clear in his parenthetical comment:

(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) Acts 23:8

Tensions begin to rise again, an uproar as Luke puts it. The Pharisees appear to be interested in Paul’s arguments, but I think this is purely from a political perspective. In my view, they’re trying to gain some upper ground on the Sadducees with regard to the resurrection. They begin to argue vigorously and the scene turns to chaos forcing the Romans to physically remove Paul.

As mentioned in the previous post, Jesus visits Paul in his captivity to encourage him:

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Acts 23:11

The Plot to Kill Paul

The fuse was lit. Some of the Jews, at least forty, get together and form a conspiracy to end this discussion once and for all.

“We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.” Acts 23:14-15

The plot thickens from bad to worse. Fortunately, Paul’s nephew got wind of the plot and told Paul then the told the commander. The commander devised his own plan to relocate Paul and avoid more violence.

There’s no indication that the Romans were all that sympathetic to Paul. At least, in my opinion, it looks like they are simply acting as the governing authority in this situation. That’s not to say they weren’t moved by his words, but the actions here are consistent with a military occupation that is set on maintaining control.

Some Thoughts

Paul was rejected by those he trained with as a Pharisee and lived under the constant threat of murder, yet he continued to preach. I heard a Steven Furtick sermon the other day where he said something along the lines of the Romans chained Paul to the guards, but Paul consider that the guards were chained to him! At midnight they sang songs and all the prisoners’ chains were broken.

He never stopped preaching the Gospel. No matter what. In prison, sing songs and write letters. Through trial, isolation, separation, miles of travel, all the ups and downs, Paul just kept on going. Lord, I pray for this kind of focus, for this type of dedication to Your ministry. No matter what.

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Acts: Paul in Jerusalem, Part 3

Read: Acts 21:37-22:29

Paul finally gets to speak to the crowd, the preacher is given the microphone and seized the opportunity to set the record straight. The sermon goes well until Paul mentions spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles. This is the turning point. In Part 2, the main accusation against Paul was that he led a Gentile into the temple. This was impossible to prove because it didn’t happen, but when Paul announces to the crowd that he was sent to the Gentiles, they bridge the gap and lose their minds. He has to play the Roman citizenship card again.

Part 4 will show Paul before the Sanhedrin and explain why the Romans had to remove Paul from Jerusalem. I’ll try to stay focused on this piece, but honestly, I had to read through the end of Acts to keep things in perspective. For now, let’s try to focus on these events as Paul’s time in Jerusalem is coming to an end.

Paul Speaks to the Crowd

Paul was falsely accused of allowing a Greek to enter the temple, that was an offense that allowed the Jews to issue the death sentence on the offender.  Paul was not arguing about this rule, though he probably would have if he were given the chance. There was great confusion among the crowd as well as the ranks of Roman soldiers.

“Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?” Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.” Acts 21:38-39

The NIV Study Bible refers to the writings of Josephus to explain that there was a false prophet that caused a revolt in this timeframe. Apparently, the Romans attacked and killed hundreds, but the leader got away. If Paul were this guy, his trial would be brief indeed! The Romans would have publicly executed him with great joy and the commander would have probably been promoted for finding the Egyptian responsible for the revolt.

In my mind, Paul has to act quickly. Given this point in history, my guess is the Roman response of guilty until proven innocent would result in his premature death. Paul explains that he is a Jew at this point and the commander allows Paul to speak.

When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Acts 21:40-22:2

The crowd became very quiet. That’s pretty amazing all by itself. Now Paul has the chance to clear the air, right? The narrative provides further insight into Paul’s conversion discussed in Acts 9. Paul provided his credentials as a Pharisee and explains what happened on the road to Damascus. He even talks about how Jesus spoke to him with prophetic words about his ministry:

“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’ Acts 22:17-18

So far, so good. For some reason the crowd isn’t excited until Paul includes this comment:

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” Acts 22:21

Suddenly, all bets are off. The crowd turns on Paul. Did they somehow think this whole sermon was about allowing a Greek into the temple? It seems the court of popular opinion quickly concluded Paul was trying to justify why this law should be broken. The riot starts all over again.

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” Acts 22:22

The Roman Citizen Card

The Roman response in those days was to beat people into submission, or so it seems. Paul is between a rock and a hard place so he has little choice but to tell them he is not only a Jew but he is also a Roman citizen.

As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

Seriously? The commander is going to lose his mind. First, there is a riot. He gets the crowd to settle down so this Jew can talk. Then he speaks and gets them riled up all over again. He orders the guards to flog Paul only to discover one more detail about the guy. “Honey, I had a bad day at the office.” This admission sets the course all the way through the end of Acts.

Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains. Acts 23:29

The dramatic events captured in this passage compel us to hit the pause button. So much is going on that we have to stop and reflect. On one hand, Paul is merely preaching what he was compelled to say. On the other hand, he had to know these words would not be accepted by the crowd.

What I find amazing is that the crowd didn’t get unruly when Paul spoke about Jesus. Apparently, they were all ears at this point. It wasn’t until he spoke about preaching to the Gentiles that they lost it.

What is the lesson learned here? I could write a long list of rhetorical questions here, but I think I’ll conclude that there are those who simply will not listen to reason no matter what I might say. Some people are bent on hearing exactly what they want to hear as the rationale for continued anger. There are indeed lose-lose situations in life. This was one great example.

There are times when we have to choose between two bad outcomes. The featured image I chose includes two doors with the thought that sometimes we have to make a choice without knowing what’s behind either door. This is a hard pill to swallow, but it happens in life and at times it sucks. I can’t end this post without fast-forwarding to this verse:

the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Acts 23:11

The Lord will be with you and I if we are loyal to Him. Go and make disciples with a promise from Jesus: He will be with you!

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Acts: Paul in Jerusalem, Part 2

Read: Acts 21:27-36

Paul was received well but given a task to go through some purification ritual to appease the Jewish Christians (see Part 1). Trouble finds him before he gets to finish the process. In this part, we’ll focus on the few verses that turn the corner in the story. Paul was warned by his brothers and sisters that Jerusalem would not turn out well. He did not know, however, from which direction trouble would come. There’s a lot more to this story than a few simple verses. May the Spirit speak to you as you dwell on this passage.

Some Jews

Luke is careful not to point fingers at those who caused problems. They are nameless and are not the point of the story. The fact that the crowd is so easily swayed should get our attention.

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… Acts 21:27

Before we chalk this up as another, “that’s what those crazy people did back then” experience, take a look at how the argument is constructed. Paul is accused of two things, the latter of which is worth a bit of a study. Here are their main points:

  1. Paul is teaching everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place and
  2. he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place

The first point doesn’t seem to get much traction. Perhaps even in ancient times, such overarching accusations are quickly dismissed. Anytime I see a post, whatever the platform, that suggests “everyone” or “everywhere” I’m quick to move on. I’d rather see a picture of a family playing dominoes!

The second point escaped me as significant until I did some research. The NIV Study Bible includes this note:

Any Gentiles found within the bounds of the court of Israel would be killed. But there is no evidence that Paul had brought anyone other than Jews into the area. NIV Study Bible, p.1870

The NIV Application Commentary explains this even further (see note below). The point I’m trying to make is that one who wants to create dissension, those who want to cause a riot, “they” who want to divide the church will keep looking until they find that which will create the reaction they want.

Remember how the Jewish leaders kept looking for ways to crucify Jesus. Time after time they tried to find an angle that would work until they finally won. They manipulated Pilate and the crowd to gain what they wanted.

Whole City Aroused

We only read two items of accusation, but the second one was the key. Luke tells us the whole city is aroused. With large numbers of people encouraging immediate action, they grab Paul, drag him from the temple where he was simply trying to fulfill the requirements of purification. He’s accused and beaten by people who feel their temple has been desecrated. This is important to me. I’m not about to suggest their actions were right, but consider what this means to them and their understanding of the temple.

This was the place where they met God. I believe there were many devout Jews who studied the prophets, knew the tainted history of their ancestors and wanted to remain pure. They remembered how Jeroboam misled the people and how his actions ultimately divided Israel. The temple was the one thing that remained. Hear me on this. They had become so entranced by their own zealousness that they lost sight of God’s relentless pursuit of a relationship with all people. There were scores of people in agreement, that’s why the crowd was easily stirred.

These were not ignorant men and women. I think we like to discount their intellectual capacity because they didn’t know then what we know now. Please don’t jump on that train. They were wrong, without a doubt, but I will maintain they were wrong for good reasons–that is my point. Wrong is still wrong even if it is for reasons we can justify.

Roman Intervention

The Roman commander got involved to squelch the riot.

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. Acts 21:32

After binding Paul in chains he asks the rioters for some explanation. It was quickly apparent that they had no rational reason for killing this man. For the sake of maintaining good order and discipline, the commander took Paul to the barracks for further investigation.

When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!” Acts 21:35-36

The scene is one of great turmoil. Recent riots in this country come to mind. It’s sad to see people moved beyond rational behavior, yet I sympathize with a desire to want to scream out at injustice when I see it. How do we maintain a fighting spirit while being objective?

They

I know I’ve used the term, “they” way too many times in this post. Forgive me. I am trying to make a point. They are anonymous. It’s safe to be hidden in the crowd, but we were not called to safety. Nor are we called to incite riots. If anything, the riot I would endorse is one of radical love as Jesus demonstrated and Paul taught. I would like to be a part of “they” who love with kindness and patience and without reservation or qualification.

The story doesn’t end here for Paul and it’s just beginning for us. I pray that we will learn how to be a people who are willing to speak out for the love of Christ in a way the honors and draws people to Jesus.

 

 

 

NIVAC Note: Bruce explains the seriousness of their charge: “The Roman authorities were so conciliatory of Jewish religious scruples in this regard that they authorized the death sentence for this trespass even when the offenders were Roman citizens.” Citing evidence from Josephus and Philo, Bruce says that notices in Latin and Greek were fixed to the barrier between the inner and outer courts, warning Gentiles that death was the penalty for going any further. 8 “The whole city was aroused” (v. 30a), and the people dragged Paul out of the temple. The gates of the temple were shut (v. 30b), possibly to avoid defiling the temple from the chaos.

Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 86293-86298). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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Acts: Paul in Jerusalem, Part 1

Read: Acts 21:17-26

Paul, Luke, and the entire group were warmly received when they arrived in Jerusalem. James, the brother of Jesus, and the elders of the church are excited to hear the news of Paul’s missionary efforts, but there is a problem that requires resolution in the eyes of the established Church. There is so much to learn from this story in Acts that we need to take this in pieces. This is just Part 1. Pray with me as I venture through this incredible section of Acts.

Warm Reception

It started out great! Christians were eager to hear the stories about Paul’s extensive travels. This was a meeting they were really looking forward to.

Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Acts 21:19-20

They are excited to hear about Paul’s success. The result of his ministry is that “many thousands” have believed. This is amazing! Seriously, I’d be overjoyed to see a hundred people come to Christ or even a dozen. Lord, I pray that we aren’t captivated by numbers, but also that we would not shy away from them either.

Paul was aware that many had become Christians, but that was not something he counted. Perhaps his math included the denominator of the entire world to keep him humble. In this case, thousands divided by billions is a rather small fraction. Every individual counts. Enough math for the day!

The Problem

There seems to be a problem here, something that Paul needs to consider before continuing his ministry in the Jewish capital.

They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? Acts 21:21-22

Oh *#@__%! The potential for dividing the Church is huge. The solution, in this case, is to do that which will be understood by those who stand in judgment. They devise a method that should be seen as evidence for his purification and acceptability. This includes a seven-day ritual that required steps which are impossible to hide, beginning with shaving your head.

The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them. Acts 21:26

Paul doesn’t waste time and energy trying to prove his point. Instead, he accepted their decision and honored their authority by submitting to their process.

If Paul was willing to go through this ritual in an effort to win the Jews, we must evaluate how we interact with the established Church in this time before burning any bridges. It’s complicated and messy. When we look at this event in hindsight it’s easy to join the host of commentators that suggest this was a mistake by Paul, that he should have stood his ground and defended his right to be an individual in Christ. We know he was a persuasive orator that could have easily collected arguments in his favor, but that is not what he did.

Paul preached that he was a chameleon, willing to become whatever he needed to win people to Christ. He told us to do the same. Why would this be any different to Christians? Paul was not impressed with the number of converts, nor was he distracted by aspirations of fame and fortune. His time on earth was dedicated to winning souls for Christ.

One who has died to self has a love that “does not insist on its own way” (1 Corinthians 13:5, NRSV). To Paul the unity of the church was so important that a big price was well worth paying in order to preserve it. We ought to recover this perspective in today’s church. NIVAC Note

Some Thoughts

Things go south rather quickly at this point. The story changes dramatically. I’ve decided to cover this in part 2 rather than squeeze all the thoughts into one post.

The question we are compelled to ponder is how we act within the established Church. It’s clear to me that there are many problems in the Church. I could list a dozen significant issues that must be dealt with immediately. This passage begs me to consider my words carefully. It does not suggest complacency or inaction. I’m not compelled to accept mistakes being made and cower to them. I am, however, entreated to appreciate that all have sinned, each of us, including myself–we live in a fallen world.

Paul preached unity over and over again. We should be a united people who cling to our similarities more than fight over differences. Those outside the Christian faith aren’t interested in this kind of pettiness. They have no time to study why we should do one thing over the other or take a position on either side. They simply view Christians as people who can’t even get their story straight. As a result, they stay away seeming to say, “when Y’all get your act together, give me a call.”

There is so little time to do the ministry for our Lord on this earth. We need to be a band that plays together, that leaves space for each to play his part.

Lord, help me understand how to work within the Church to draw those who would otherwise stay away. Give me the voice of reason that helps churches sharpen their swords of truth for Your benefit. I don’t really know what this looks like for the future. If I need to shave my head and pay the price for someone else, then I need to have a humble attitude and grab the razor! Help us all to hear your voice and act in obedience.

 

NIVAC Note: Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 86346-86348). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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Acts: On the Way to Jerusalem

Read: Acts 21:1-16

Luke provides a dramatic story of their journey from Miletus to Jerusalem. He begins by enunciating the emotional departure from the Elders as they began their journey through several cities. They stayed in Tyre for a week and ministered to the church in this challenging city. As the story unfolds, I’m swept away by the depth of the bond these people had for Paul, those who were disciples, and for the young Church.  How I long for this sense of deep connection in the Church today. Take a look and see the highlights Luke provides for us.

Tyre for a Week

Luke writes himself into this story, he is with them on the journey as they sail to the metropolis of Tyre, the huge port city. Tyre has a significant history in the Bible. Notable names like Joshua, David, Solomon, Nehemiah, to name a few, come from the Old Testament. Jesus traveled there as well and many from Tyre witnessed His teaching and miracles. Suffice it to say, it was an important city.

We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. Acts 21:4-5

In my imagination, the video switches to slow motion as the group leaves. Men, women, and children all walking out with Paul and his team. The music is melancholy. There is a heaviness about this visit that is unexplainable except to say they knew in their hearts this was Paul’s last visit. And they cared.

Maybe it’s just me or perhaps you feel the same longing for a community of faith that is this close. Lord, help us to be a people that are moved by this story. Show us how we can become people that love You with all our heart and love our neighbors as well. Make this the new normal.

Agabus the Prophet

From Tyre they traveled to Ptolemais then to Philip’s house (one of the Seven) in Caesarea where Agabus had a message to deliver.

Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” Acts 21:11

This is the second time on this journey that Paul has been warned to stay away from Jerusalem. His response is a testimony to his desire to follow Christ, no matter what.

Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” Acts 21:13-14

As I’m typing this post, I received an email from The Voice of the Martyrs with the subject: How You Can Pray for and Help 10,000 Displaced Christians. I’m reminded that Paul’s example of obedience is repeated by many throughout the world today. We have many brothers and sisters who have found themselves in danger for the sake of the Gospel.

This is not a plea to go and look for trouble. Far from it. It is, however, a recognition that this is a very real possibility in our world today. One of the initial questions in Multiply asks what it might cost you to become a disciple of Christ. Paul knew the answer. How about you?

The early disciples risked much to pursue their faith in Jesus. As I sit in my home to reflect on this passage I have to wonder if I’m a bit too comfortable. As I said above, I don’t think Jesus is calling us to look for problems, but I’m pretty sure He didn’t call us to sit in rocking chairs and be content in our own private little worlds.

Lord, help me to see that which is right in front of me and move me to action. Stir in my heart that which stirs Yours. Do not allow me to be content and complacent. Light the fire that is the beacon of hope for the lost, the least, and the lonely.

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Acts: Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Read: Acts 20:13-38

Luke provides some details about Paul’s travels, from Philippi to Troas to Assos to Mitylene to Chios to Miletus. However, the emphasis of this section is on his ministry, in particular, his leadership style. At a time when there were no examples to lean on, Paul demonstrated how to be an effective evangelist and encourager. He embodied the fivefold ministry he taught in Ephesians 4. My prayer is that we dive into the text and learn from his example, to be imitators of Paul as he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) in everything we do.  Let’s dive into the narrative before reflecting on this challenge.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

Paul stops in Miletus, not far from Ephesus, because he needs to talk to the elders.

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. Acts 20:16

Paul asked the elders in Ephesus to come to him rather than he going to the city. The tone of his message is one that suggests this will be his last talk with them and he doesn’t want to have any distractions. He reminds them of his methods and like any good PowerPoint presentation, he has three main points (Acts 20:19-21):

  1. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.
  2. I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
  3. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

I have to believe each of these points was expanded in great detail as he looked deeply into there eyes. They knew they were called here for a reason. The heavy mantle of moving the church forward was being placed on their shoulders.

I’ve heard lots of life verses from many people over the years. One of the schools our girls went to had the graduating class identify their life verse in the yearbook. I don’t think anyone ever chose this:

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

His actions backed up his statement. I pray that this would speak loudly to those who read these words, that Jesus would be our highest priority.

Savage Wolves

These encouraging words come with a visceral warning:

I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Acts 20:29-31

Even from within the fellowship those will arise to divide the Church. Here’s the great challenge. When differences show up, and they will most certainly, are we those who distort the truth and draw people away? Or do we, in the spirit of unity, seek to resolve differences? These are just a few questions we must wrestle with as tensions rise. We are human. We will disagree. Lord, help us to test ourselves against this warning. May we stay far away from those who distort the truth to divide.

Paul closes by reminding them of words from Jesus:

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: red ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35

Never forget this constant theme throughout the Bible: help those in need. If we truly have discerning eyes we would see many who are weak, our hearts would break, and I believe we would find joy in giving that satisfies the soul.

They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20:37-38

Lord, I long for a fellowship that is this deeply committed to each other and to your great commission. Paul sets sail from here for the last time.

Evangelism and Encouragement

The commentary I refer to most often, NIVAC, makes an emphatic point that evangelism is coupled with encouragement.

In the Bible evangelism and encouragement are often done by the same person— a healthy combination for anyone doing evangelism. There is no place in the Bible for a specialist evangelist who concentrates solely on his public ministry, leaving personal ministry to others. NIVAC Note

Encouraging is more than merely cheering someone on. True encouragement comes from the heart and is most effective with someone in whom we have invested time with. In other words, we must be willing to develop real relationships with those we are in ministry with.

This is guaranteed to be a messy process. We will likely make mistakes. Tears and heartache are sure to follow, but consider the example of Jesus. Can you for a second imagine the pain He felt knowing that one of the Twelve would become the betrayer? When Jesus wept over Lazarus, the tears were not surprising to those who noticed. It was a statement of fact more than an observation of an anomaly.

My challenge is this, take a risk and commit to developing real friendships with people that are Christ-centered. Seek to be a disciple-maker that models Paul’s behavior. This is not the easy road, not the sit back and enjoy retirement phase. Rather, this is an invitation to heartache and great joy, to disappointing friends and deep relationships. Highs and lows, but I propose it is worth the effort.

 

NIVAC Note: Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 85960-85962). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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Acts: Sunday Gatherings Begin and the Eutychus Miracle

Read: Acts 20:1-12

As we read many details of Paul’s travels in this chapter, we are given some significant insight into his way of encouraging leaders of the first century Church. He encourages them through teaching well into the night and even through a miraculous healing without missing a beat. We need to read his letters to the churches he planted to get a better understanding of what he must have discussed, but Luke’s focus here is to capture the broad perspective of his vast ministry.

Paul the Encourager

After the riots in Ephesus, Paul lets things settle down a bit.

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. Acts 20:1

In Paul’s day, Macedonia included Thessalonica, Philippi, Berea, and other cities where he planted churches. The group was comprised of men from Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, and the province of Asia. When you look at the map, this is a rather extensive area to draw from in an age where it was difficult at best to communicate over great distances. It’s no wonder that Paul chose to write letters to these churches to keep in touch and consistently teach across cultural boundaries.

Luke joins the group at some point during these travels. Notice that he inserts phrases like “we came together,” “where we stayed,” etc. This personal touch is quite interesting to me. I guess it’s why I was diverted yesterday when I wrote The Miracle of the Bible. It’s a fascinating collection of writings I hope we can all appreciate.

Sunday Gatherings

Paul routinely went into synagogues everywhere he traveled to preach the Gospel to Jews gathered on the Sabbath. We see this pattern repeated often. In this case, and probably in many future cases, we see the day to gather moves from the seventh day (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday).

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Acts 20:7

I don’t want to overstate the significance of this detail, but it is quite interesting to note. It’s logical as well. Gentiles would not have a habit of going to the synagogue on Saturday, it certainly wasn’t the Sabbath for them! Sunday made more sense and it allowed Paul to continue his appeal to the Jews and the Gentiles.

Sidenote on Gathering

In these days weekends are often filled with sports and other activities that make Sunday worship seem more like an event that gets checked off of a list than an opportunity to gather and worship. So much to do and so little time. We should still get together on Sunday, no doubt, but perhaps we should gather at another time like Friday nights. It’s funny that this is often the time many look forward to for fun because there are far fewer limitations. Babysitters are easy to arrange and places are open late to serve. Our society has figured this out, how about us?

What if we gathered together to sing, share communion, fellowship, laugh, eat, and learn without the finite boundaries of time on Sunday morning. What would happen if we invested time in developing deep relationships with other Christ-followers in homes where we might actually have time to get to know one another? It’s risky. We wouldn’t be able to hide in the back row. I am suggesting the risk is worth the reward. Just a thought.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

Eutychus was a young man among many that were drawn to Paul’s teaching. More than just a sermon, Paul keeps on talking well into the night. Luke lets us know that the room was well lit, but Eutychus gets sleepy nonetheless. He chose to listen while seated in a window on the third story of a house.

I’m not sure it matters, but in Europe, the third story is what we would refer to as the fourth floor. The ground floor doesn’t get numbered. I’m suggesting this to emphasize the height of his perch and the distance he would have fallen. Be assured, Eutychus didn’t survive the fall.

I wonder if Paul was watching him nod off during his talk. Not merely falling asleep in church, this was flat out dangerous. Suddenly, Eutychus slips out of sight.

When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Acts 20:9-10

Remember that Luke was a medical doctor. When he says he was “picked up dead” there is no doubt, Eutychus was not alive. Paul’s reaction is crazy. Don’t be alarmed. Seriously? He wastes no time in running to the scene and the Holy Spirit works through him miraculously.

What does Paul do after this miracle? Does he teach on healing ministry or take time to mention how Eutychus was healed? Or perhaps take up a collection? Nope. It doesn’t appear that this event was even discussed. The group heads back upstairs to share communion and continue talking until daylight. The important thing was still the most urgent — teach disciples what they need to know.

As we’ll learn in the rest of this chapter, Paul’s focus was on ministry, on spreading the Gospel. His energy was not on getting his name on a placard somewhere. Just the opposite, he was there to teach an encourage others to do the same. He modeled the behavior that we should emulate.

Christ came in human flesh, served people, and showed us we should do the same. Go. Make disciples. Spread the incredible news that Jesus paid the price once and for all. Eternity includes yesterday, today, and tomorrow. May every conversation reflect this sense of urgency.

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The Miracle of the Bible

As I was reading Acts 20, I couldn’t help but stop and wonder about Luke, the author, and the Bible itself. I don’t want to forget the human element that is part of the divine inspiration which we believe is the result of this thing we call the Bible. Luke is the author who is inspired by God to narrate the story for future generations. This is incredibly remarkable when you stop and think about it. His careful selection of events that included himself, as in this chapter, and others that he knew about provide a timeless narrative that gives us direction today. I would suggest this concept should be known as The Miracle of the Bible.

It’s a book that is beyond fascinating. It captures the imagination of generations before and after Jesus’s appearance on earth. It’s not meant to be idolized, put on a shelf and worshiped, or cherry-picked apart to support our individual positions for or against anything. It is, rather, an invitation to hear the voice of God in narrative form.

One analogy I’ve used recently is to suggest reading the Bible is like getting a phone call from a dear friend, perhaps your best friend. I hope you have someone in your life that is so significant to you that you would answer the phone at all hours of the day or night, allow them to interrupt meetings, or drop everything to help you out anytime.

Reading the Bible is like one of those calls. When the phone rings, flashes, or vibrates, I’m eager to answer it. Depending on circumstances, I might answer with some anxiety if I sense something is wrong. If it rings at 2 am, I’m pretty sure something is amiss! There are many stories in the Bible that read like this. Stories of despair, anger, hostility, revolt, or just plain bad news. Other stories are exciting and encourage me to tell others.

This blog has been growing for some years now. What I’ve found is the more I read and write about what I’m learning, the more interesting the Bible becomes. Each time I learn something different. It might be a new angle or perhaps a gap was filled from some other source. Sometimes just doing life with another person exposes some Scripture that I seem to have missed in the past.

All I know is this: the more I read, the more I grow. The more I grow, the more I’m able to help others. Oddly enough, my definition of love has grown deeper. My patience for others is extended beyond my own understanding. My joy for hearing from God is difficult to explain. I’m not anywhere close to being done, but I have a peace in my heart that is there to share with others. I pray that I’m becoming kinder and gentler, but I have a lot of work to do in this regard.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

It’s not good enough for me to be encouraged or uplifted by God’s Word in the Bible. It’s only useful if it is shared with others. Dig deep, my friends. Find the treasure that’s buried within the inspired Word of God for all people and for all time. It’s amazing! It is The Miracle of the Bible.

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Acts: Seven Sons of Sceva and Riot in Ephesus

Read: Acts 19:8-41

Two contrasting stories are recorded by Luke in this passage. In the first, God does amazing work through Paul which bolsters believers but unfortunately encourages copycat ministries. The improper reaction of a few doesn’t go well, but God uses the Seven Sons of Sceva for good and the church grows. The second story involves a riot in Ephesus that was ultimately quelled by the city clerk. One of the key quotes in this story is found in verse 32, “Most of the people did not even know why they were there.” Over 2,000 years ago it seems that our modern, civilized world hasn’t changed much. Listen carefully to what the Spirit is whispering to your heart as you finish chapter 19. May God bless your reading today.

We continue reading stories that fit a recurring theme of: “some will, some won’t so move on.” There’s only so much energy that can be applied toward those who are so hardheaded and obstinate.

But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. Acts 19:9

While we should learn from this lesson, I pray we aren’t too hasty in our judgment. Luke provides only a few words here, but I believe Paul invested quite a bit of time in working with these people before deciding to leave them. We should not expect everyone to jump on board, we need to be patient.

Seven Sons of Sceva

Then there are these knuckleheads. Seeing the amazing work of the Spirit through Paul, they decide to go around and cast out demons using an indirect approach:

In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out. Acts 19:13

Spiritual warfare is not a subject that is often taught, certainly not from the pulpit. People might think we’ve gone overboard, lost our minds, or simply left reality behind. Yet we know we are spiritual beings. Eternity is all around us, it is what we long for.

The sons found out the hard way when they were attempting to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus via Paul.

One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. Acts 19:15-16

Naked and bleeding, the ultimate shame, they run out into the streets. Holy ____ this is real! While the story is humorous, at least to me, the reaction is serious.

Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. Acts 19:18-19

The way of the Lord grew incredibly because of this rather bizarre event. People were shaken from their self-made gods to see the light that Jesus provides.

Riot in Ephesus

Ephesus is a big place. While one area experienced revival another is challenged. The uproar began when Demetrius, a prominent silversmith, addressed workers in his trade as well as other craftsmen in the area.

He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty. Acts 19:26-27

We might mock such behavior, but for these people, such words fueled an emotionally charged response that quickly grew. Luke says, “soon the whole city was in an uproar (Acts 19:29). I’m avoiding the temptation to suggest this like riots in our modern culture because it’s a bit of apples to oranges comparison, but perhaps it’s not so far off target. We’ve seen street interviews during riots where the people are unable to express the views of the organizers, they’re simply caught up in the spectacle.

The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. Acts 19:32

Anger incites anger. It’s a vicious cycle that is completely destructive.

An unlikely hero emerges when the city clerk took charge of the assembly. Like other stories we’ve read, the voice of calm and reason wins out.

…you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. Acts 19:36

His argument is based in favor of their goddess, Artemis. He’s not actually speaking on behalf of the disciples or of Paul for preaching that their gods are not gods. Not at all. The clerk’s concern is politically motivated. The last thing he wants is to answer to Rome for a public disturbance! It’s better for him to point people to their court system for resolution and not act like fools.

His argument wins the day and the riot is quelled. This is not a recommendation to embrace the legal system for Christian arguments. I think this is more of an argument to work within the context where we are attempting to spread the Gospel. It’s a reminder to choose battles wisely and remain calm. While there is no guarantee of a calm resolution, the possibility outweighs the result of an uproar.

It’s not a clearcut lesson. I think that’s the point. As our ministry grows, expect opposition from the insiders as well as the outsiders. Lean on the Spirit for guidance. Use these examples to increase our wisdom.

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