Tag: preach

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John: The Controversy Intensifies

Read John 10:22-42

The second half of this chapter begins in the winter. It’s time for Hanukkah. By now we have learned that John’s style shows how Jesus used the setting as part of the teaching. It’s common for us to follow this example as we preach during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, etc. The reason I bring this up is that we are probably fully aware of the significance of each of these holidays, but perhaps not so much with Jewish festivals.

I stopped at verse 22 when I realized I don’t know much about Hanukkah. Time for a brief aside!

What is Hanukkah?

In the Jewish religion, Hanukkah is one of the few holidays that is not instituted in the Torah. It commemorates a post-biblical event: the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greek rulers of Jerusalem and the subsequent rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE. It also celebrates a miracle that accompanied this event: When the temple was rededicated, God miraculously made the one day’s worth of oil burn brightly for eight days.1

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

This is a time of celebration for the Jews. Jesus is in a familiar place, the temple courts, teaching those who surround Him and ask questions. In this case, they ask the question that many want to know.

The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” John 10:24

Jesus’ response probably surprised them.

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:25-27

Read the next verses slowly and carefully. In my imagination, Jesus articulated the words for them to ensure they understood clearly and plainly.

The shepherd imagery (as outlined above) spoke directly to the festival’s recital of the corruption of the temple priesthood, the desecration of the temple by the Greeks, and its rededication under Judas Maccabeus.2

Jesus explains that He is the answer.

I and the Father are one. John 10:30

Ok, to say they were surprised might be putting it mildly. For the Jewish opponents gathered around, these were words of blasphemy, a threat to their very existence. It’s always interesting to note that it’s not everyone around him. Some are listening.

Challenging the Scholars

Jesus then presses the challenge by citing Psalm 82, focusing on verse 6.

“I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ Psalm 82:6

He goes on to try and explain in John 10:35-36:

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? John 10:34-36

After reading a 9,000-word “brief” essay, complete with 53 references, on the subject by a retired professor of the New Testament, Notre Dame, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not qualified to provide much insight into the reference above.3 The primary theme is that the idea of ‘gods’ is discussed in Scripture and is therefore relevant to the discussion. Further, the prophets of old declared there is one who will come as God’s Son, the one who would be set apart by the Father. Jesus, as the Son of God, is greater than all of these ‘gods’!

Their response:

Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. John 10:39

They tried to grab Jesus because they are not His sheep. They cannot understand His words. From the metaphor, they can’t even recognize His voice.

Crossing the Jordan

The subtle act of leaving the temple and crossing over the Jordan River is both symbolic and literal. Jesus leaves the temple and returns to the place where John the Baptist prepared the way for His arrival. His presence is removed from the temple courts. Think about that for a moment.

John wraps up the discussion with a report that Jesus made His way to a place where many heard the words of Jesus.

Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” John 10:40-41

After all the talk of angry crowds and threats of stoning Jesus, the chapter ends with an encouraging note:

And in that place many believed in Jesus. John 10:42

This chapter begs for a better understanding of the biblical narrative. In a lot of ways, I’m intimidated by the need to fully appreciate the Jewish perspective in order to grasp all of the meaning in the text. When I read lengthy discourses that exegete a handful over verses for multiple pages, I get the sense that I’m not worthy to write these words. But those thoughts are not from the Father and certainly not the prompting of the Spirit. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit as the Helper. Holy Spirit, help me to hear Your voice and be strengthened by marvelous things You are doing in the world today.

May we all hear Your voice. May this be the place where many believe!

 

1http://www.religionfacts.com/hanukkah

2Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 65365-65367). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

3Jerome H. Neyrey, SJ, ref: I said: you are gods: Psalm 82:6 and John 10

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John: Wedding in Cana, More Than a Miracle

Read: John 2:1-12

What if turning water into wine was more than just a miraculous event? This is one of those stories I’ve heard many times, but today, I’m hearing more than just a miracle. As I blog through the Bible this time around, especially the New Testament, I’m trying to get to know the author of each book. In this case, John chose to include this story early on in his writing. Why?

There’s no doubt that John witnessed miracle after miracle, so why did he choose this to be the first miracle presented to those who would read his account of the greatest story ever told? Was it about the wedding or about the wine? What if it were both?

So far, it seems like I’m asking a lot more questions than providing answers. We’ll get to work on the text in just a minute, but first I’d like you to step back a moment and imagine you’re sitting in a room where the Apostle John, the one Jesus loved, is collecting his thoughts. There’s a large table in front of him scattered with parchments and scrolls. He’s reflecting on all the stories, 1,000 days of wandering around with Jesus, the Messiah. Then he looks at you and invites you to sit down, to ask whatever questions you might have. Here’s my first question:

Why turn water into wine?

Easy. They ran out of wine. While this is true, is this the entire story? In the book Multiply, by Francis Chan and Mark Beuving, we are warned about reading too much into the story. We’re encouraged to see the plain meaning when the meaning is plain. Here’s the text:

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” John 2:3

Weddings are an important celebration, especially in the Jewish culture. They last for days and are filled with traditions to give the bride and groom something to talk about for the rest of their lives.

Weddings mark the beginning of a new relationship. They are the proverbial pin in the map. From this day forward, the couple will be referred to as one. He goes with her and she goes with him. One. Whole. Complete.

John looked at all the notes in front of him and chose this event as the first miracle to set the stage for the gospel. It starts with something happening that has never been seen before and it’s intentionally placed to put us in the right frame of mind.

You probably know the story. Mary points out the fact that there is no more wine as quoted above. This indicates that the wedding planners failed to consider something, they underestimated the number of people or drinks or whatever and now the wonderful memory is about to be tarnished. Jesus’ reaction lets us know that He didn’t want that to happen, but he also didn’t want to make a scene at this time. That is the plain meaning of the story and that is a good thing.

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2:4

Jesus gives instructions anyway. John doesn’t tell us that He rolled His eyes at His mom or anything, though plenty of preachers have had some fun with this passage. The jugs were filled with water and miraculously turned into wine. When the master of the banquet tasted the wine he was shocked. This was far better than the wine they started with! He explains,

but you have saved the best till now. John 2:10

Exactly! The entire story of the history of the people of God was the original wine for the beginning of the party. Now the best wine is being served: Jesus. What you had was good, but this is even better. It’s miraculous and it’s amazing.

John caps off the story with this statement:

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2:11

The disciples got it. They knew before, but now they know much more, though they still have many days and miracles to go! This is just the beginning of a new story, John’s version of the story of Jesus.

 

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John: First Disciples Follow Jesus

Read: John 1:35-51

John the Baptist testified about Jesus, now he releases his disciples to follow the One he was there to proclaim. The voice in the wilderness points to Jesus and Andrew listens. We are introduced to Peter, Philip, and Nathanael in this section. There is some debate about Nathanael’s identity, but the model for discipleship is presented here by John as we witness the first few following Jesus.

Two of John the Baptist’s disciples heard him say, “Look, the Lamb of God,” and respond immediately. They begin to follow Jesus. I’m not sure where Jesus was going or how this event unfolds. There are probably several movies that have tried to depict these events in various forms. All I can say is the lack of details suggests it’s not important. What does matter is that Andrew, and most likely John, were listening to John the Baptist and did something, they took action.

They ask Jesus where He is staying and Jesus is quoted as saying,

“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” John 1:39

John isn’t mentioned by name. Theologians point out the John avoids using his name in the text, he keeps himself behind the scenes. As an eyewitness to the events, we get details that describe the location and time of day.

Andrew and Peter

I love the idea that Andrew’s first response is to go and get his brother. He heard John the Baptist’s declaration, followed Jesus, then:

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:41-42

There’s no mention of debate here, no words that suggest Simon through Andrew was hallucinating or perhaps was a little off after hanging out with the Baptist character. I like to think that Andrew’s face beamed like Moses’ after talking with God. In my mind, when Andrew found Peter, the brothers’ eyes met and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that something incredible had happened.

What is our response when we recognize we have come face to face with the Messiah? Have we become so comfortable with the label Christian that we simply put on the t-shirt and go about our day? We have seen the Messiah with our hearts. Think about the day Jesus was revealed to you and go invite someone to see Him in you.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

John tells us that Jesus is moving around quite a lot. They’re headed to Galilee where they find Philip. Philip’s response is similar to Andrew’s, but the story has a bit of a twist.

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45

You have to love Nathanael’s response:

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. John 1:46

Philip’s response is assertive, not the least bit defensive. He simply says, “Come and see.”

We don’t read much about Nathanael. Some suggest he was also named Bartholomew and counted among the Twelve. Others point us to the Seventy-Two that went out and preached. There’s little doubt that Jesus had many disciples beyond the Twelve. In any case, I would be incredibly honored to hear Jesus say such words about me,

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” John 1:47

When Nathanael asks how Jesus could make this assertion, He explains He saw Nathanael under a fig tree before Philip invited him to come and see. This must have been incredible to Nathanael. He made an early declaration without delay or requests for signs and wonders:

Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” John 1:49

John records Jesus’ response that must have felt like time completely stopped when Philip and Nathanael heard the words:

Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” John 1:50-51

Jesus explains to these early disciples that something like Jacob’s stairway to heaven will be revealed to them. They will see with their eyes, hear with their ears, God’s testimony about Jesus, the Son of Man, as He teaches and preaches all over the area for the next three years. Wow!

We will see greater things when we set our eyes on Jesus. I can’t tell you you’ll see a stairway to heaven, but I can say with confidence that when we focus on Christ and dwell in His presence, we will see great things. Things will be revealed to us for His glory, not ours. These marvelous things will fill our minds with wonder, lift our weary heads, and fan the flame of the Spirit within our hearts.

Holy Spirit, come and fill this place. Speak to our hearts. Stir in us the excitement that caused Andrew and Philip to seek out others with conviction.

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John: The Voice of One Calling in the Wilderness

Read: John 1:19-34

We are sure that John the Baptist is not the Apostle John, he’s not the one who wrote the Gospel of John, but the religious powers of his day couldn’t figure out who he was. John the Baptist was baptizing people at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River and apparently attracting quite a lot of attention, or perhaps from the Jewish leadership’s perspective, distracting a lot of people. One thing is sure. John knew his calling. He understood what his life was all about and was relentlessly pursuing Jesus.

John the Baptist:

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” John 1:22-23

John’s mission was not to impress anyone with his importance. I don’t even think he was on a mission to gather disciples except where it would help promote the message of repentance and preparation for Jesus. John knows Jesus is among them. This is a truly overwhelming thought:

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27

“But among you…” is an audacious statement that has slipped by me in the past. He’s right here in front of you. And He will be revealed very soon. In fact, the way John (the Gospel writer) puts it, the very next day he has an encounter with Jesus.

John Testifies About Jesus.

Finally, after years of obedience with no guarantee of success, John the Baptist sees Jesus.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ John 1:29-30

John is speaking to his disciples, and he is speaking to us. This is the One, the Lamb of God, the One who was and is, the One who was before and is now. There’s a lot of doctrine wrapped up in this short phrase. I imagine they talked about the concept more than once. The prologue suggests this was something they thought about a lot.

John the Baptist didn’t know Jesus in this way as they grew up. They were cousins in an earthly sense, but their heavenly mission transformed both from ordinary men to extraordinary people from God.

John Knew His Mission on Earth.

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself praying for clarity, a clear mission statement. John had no doubt.

  • I came that he might be revealed to Israel: John 1:31
  • God sent me to baptize with water: John 1:33
  • I would see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:33

John knew his mission and he went about it zealously, day after day, with complete confidence holding nothing back.

Then it happened.

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One. John 1:32, 34

Some Thoughts:

I think John was sure he would eventually see Jesus, but he had no idea of when. Day after day John was committed to his work. Each day he woke up, ate some honey and locusts, fluffed his wild hairdo, and then began preaching repentance and baptizing people. How many did he baptize before or after Jesus? No one knows, but try to imagine: one thousand fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty-five…on and on. The message was of utmost importance. Each time he had to wonder. Is this the one? Nope. Next one? Nope. Again and again.

Was John ever discouraged? There’s no indication that he ever missed a beat, but I have to wonder if he looked at the list of those he baptized a few times to see if he somehow missed the sign. That’s just my mind wandering because there are so many days when I question if I’m on the right track.

What is your wilderness today? You and I may not be standing in a river or eating locusts and wild honey, but if we can see beyond the physical realm and peek into the spiritual world that surrounds us, I think we would see the wilderness with some clarity. Of course, the tempter does not want us to see this nor does he want us to dwell on the thought.

Instead, I think Satan wants us to question being the voice in the wilderness. He wants us to think we are merely drawing attention to ourselves. He feeds us the lie that it’s all about our fame and fortune. I don’t want to say “we” too often. Perhaps you don’t get discouraged or confused, but I have found myself questioning my motives to the point of inaction. Does that make sense? Am I the only one holding back? Is my pursuit of ___ (fill in the blank) ___ all about promoting myself, or is it to help people in their walk with Christ? It sounds easy, but it’s not.

As I get older, my list of failures gets longer. The opportunity to dwell on that which did not work is far longer than the successes I have seen. Here’s the key: focus on the mission statement that was commanded: go and make disciples of Jesus, teach His commands, baptize in His name, repeat until the time on earth is done. If my daily activity is supporting the mission, whatever that activity is, I’m moving in the right direction.

Life in the wilderness may not easy at times, but in comparison to the sacrifice that Jesus made, it’s certainly worth the struggle. Enjoy the successes. When you fail, (and you will if you’re trying) lean forward and fall on your face. Fall forward. Then get up and try again.

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Acts: Conclusion and Epilogue

Read: Acts 28:16-31

Wow! We’ve already come to the end of Luke’s amazing writing for us as he wraps up the book of Acts. The story began with the resurrected Christ challenging us to go and be His witnesses throughout the world and ends some 30+ years later on a high note that is still ringing today. In my sometimes wild imagination, I can see a very old Luke writing this last section after so many ups and downs in his life. I’m in awe of this old man that traveled during times that were difficult, to say the least, who no doubt ministered to many without the luxury of a Bible, survived a shipwreck then invested his time chronicling the Apostles actions for us to appreciate 2,000 years later.

Take a deep breath and pause to appreciate the sacrifice these men and women gave so we could read these stories.

In Rome

As the centurion responsible for delivering all of the prisoners to Rome, perhaps Lucius’s last act of kindness toward Paul was to allow him to live in custody rather than in the dark cells that prisoners expected. He was no doubt moved by the events on Malta. James would suggest, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2), but who would have thought that this would have included such a wild journey? What if they would have set for Rome a month earlier, had perfect weather, and landed without delay? Would Paul have been given this privilege?

When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. Acts 28:16

Assembly of Jews

Just three days after arriving Paul addressed the Jews that were assembled in Rome and takes time to recount his story to gain their respect:

The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” Acts 28:19-20

Remember back in Acts 18:1-3 we read that Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth because they were kicked out of Rome. If they were kicked out of Rome, how was it that Paul was meeting with a Jewish assembly? The answer is recorded in historical journals that show the expulsion lasted for about five years. Bible timelines set the time in Acts 18 around A.D. 51. Acts 28 covers events about eleven years later.

This context helps me appreciate the Jews’ response that they hadn’t heard anything bad about Paul from Judea. Instead, they seem to be all ears for what Paul had to say.

But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.” Acts 28:22

“People everywhere are talking,” some things never change!

Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. Acts 28:24

At the risk of being redundant: some things never change!

Paul’s Reaction

In the words of Luke, here’s a lesson for us to consider as we go about the business of being Jesus’s witnesses to the ends of the earth:

The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

Go to this people and say,
You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.

Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen! Acts 28:25-28

Some will listen, some will not. Regardless, our mission is to preach the gospel to the entire world so they will have a chance to hear.

Epilogue

Luke leaves us with these encouraging words and with an exclamation point:

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28:30-31

 

This is the 51st post written to guide our journey through Acts. It’s difficult to express how significant the words have been to this Christ-follower. I hope you have heard from the Lord like never before.

 

Great lesson on Acts: https://bibletalk.tv/pauls-journey-to-rome

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Acts: Paul Finally Gets to Rome

Read: Acts 28:1-15

After the shipwreck, as Paul prophesied, they all landed safely on the shores of Malta. The Islanders were kind-hearted people that were definitely not Jewish and unfamiliar with Christ. Paul probably thought this was an amazing opportunity! Luke provides a firsthand account of the miracles on Malta which serve to ignite Paul’s ministry there. After wintering on the island, they finally get to Rome where word of their arrival was anticipated by brothers and sisters of the faith. They were all received well.

The Roman centurion, Julius, must have been truly impressed by these events. Luke doesn’t mention him in his narrative directly, but Acts 28:16 indicates that Paul was allowed to live by himself with only a Roman guard. I’m confident that Paul was not trying to impress Julius, he was merely serving the Lord by his actions. Yet I am sure that Julius watched carefully and I hope that his observations led him to Christ. We certainly have no information that would support his conversion, so I’m not trying to add to scripture. It’s just important to appreciate that people will observe how we act, how we treat each other and draw their own conclusions about Christianity based on what they see. This is exactly what the Maltese people did.

Miracles on Malta

These were a kind people. They didn’t need doctrine or theology to help those who were in need. I imagine they say the ship as it approached the island, then the nearly 300 castaways as they found the beach simply trying to survive.

The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Acts 28:2

The island is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. My guess is this wasn’t a completely unusual event. As I researched Paul’s voyage to Rome several commentators concluded that it was crazy to sail at this time of year. Even without The Weather Channel, they knew it was a bad time to have large cargo ships sailing about.

With the fire started, Paul gathered wood to help warm things up and was bitten by a viper which attached itself to his hand. The Islanders concluded Paul must have been truly evil.

This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live. Acts 28:4

What happened next would likely be responsible for changing the course of history for the island nation of Malta. Paul merely shook the snake off of his hand and went about his business. The Islanders decided that Paul must be a god!

Next up, the chief official of the island, Publius, welcomed Paul and his group to his home. Again we read about incredible generosity. I’m reminded that people can be incredibly loving without knowing Christ. Just because people aren’t following Jesus, they are not inherently bad, but they still need Jesus!

At some point Publius let Paul know that his father was ill.

His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. Acts 28:8

I wonder if Paul (or Luke) mentioned that Christ could heal the sick as they spoke? In my mind, Paul’s kindness matched Publius’ hospitality. He walked into his father’s room and felt compassion. I don’t envision any religious display or rituals, just simply caring for the sick. Paul likely spoke to him, then prayed and through the power of Christ healed him. Luke tells us that the rest of those who were sick came and Paul healed them all. I think that would cement my decision to follow Christ!

Paul’s 3-month visit to Malta had a profound impact on their history. According to The World Factbook (CIA), Malta is more than 90% Roman Catholic based on 2006 estimates. I’m pretty sure they have a fondness for Saint Paul.

Welcome to Rome

Once winter was over, they made arrangments to head to Rome. Luke provides details of the journey with specific references to the ports they made on their way.

There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. Acts 28:14

Somehow they knew Paul was arriving. This part of the story has a warm and happy ending.

At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. Acts 28:15

The journey to Rome has been a long and difficult road. Imprisoned for years and still in custody, Paul made the best of bad times and stayed focused on ministering to those he meets wherever he goes.

One of the phrases I really dislike, and I’m sure I’ve mentioned it in my blog before, is the idea that “things could be worse.” Anytime trouble arrives at my front door whether, in the form of sickness, family, finances, friends, or rejection, someone has to say, “well, it could be worse.” *sigh* Let me avoid being guilty of suggesting we read Paul’s account and compare our current problems with his as a way of diminishing whatever trials we are going through today.

Paul did not seek to be arrested to preach in Rome. He certainly didn’t choose threats on his life or being shipwrecked. He simply chose to stay focused on spreading the Gospel. His reputation proceeded him. My prayer is that my own focus would be fixed on Christ, that every conversation would be lined with compassion, care, and concern. Our mission is clear and unique to each of us. Go and make disciples with the assurance that Jesus is with you!

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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: 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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