Acts 27:1-2(NLT) When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 2 Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was also with us. We left on a ship whose home port was Adramyttium on the northwest coast of the province of Asia; it was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province.
Notice the “we” in the first sentence. Luke is the writer of Acts and appears to accompany Paul on his journey to Rome by ship. Many difficulties of sailing at that time are shown in this record. They go with the wind in directions that are not necessarily to Rome but used because of the wind direction for sailing. Ultimately they are caught up in what appears to be a northeaster blow that lasts for many days, finally driving the ship ashore on the island of Malta. This is a miracle of its own as this is the only land anywhere in that part of the Mediterranean Sea. Further God shows Paul that no one on the ship will perish but all will be alive but shipwrecked.
Acts 27:10-11(NLT) “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul
Acts 27:22-26(NLT) But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
How does Paul get such a good understanding from God when he has disobeyed God about going to Jerusalem?
Why does Paul not get depressed and morose about all that happens?
Ultimately, they get to Rome where Paul goes into house imprisonment. This took money and support from some source in order for him to be in a house and not some dungeon somewhere. How do you think he was supported there? God gives him opportunity to speak, teach and write letters of which are many of the ones we read today. God truly does make lemonade out of the lemons that Paul finds himself in the middle of. He even preaches to the Jews at Rome the message of Christ to try to persuade them to become believers also.
Acts 28:23-24(NLT) So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. 24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.
Paul openly teaches and preaches the message of the kingdom of God to all that are Rome. He strengthens the Roman church and also talks to all that come to see him at his house. He is still imprisoned and eventually put to death, but God works mightily in his life and witness to change the whole world of that time.
Acts 28:28-31 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.” 30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
God also directs Paul in writing these letters from Rome while imprisoned there. Ephesians , Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and 2 Timothy are those epistles that scholars believe Paul wrote while in Rome. A large body of our present scripture was written while he was imprisoned which to me is amazing and thoughtful. Paul also fellowships with the believers in Rome and directs Timothy, Titus, Epaphra and others in the work of the ministry to the Gentiles.
Acts 23:11(NKJV) But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
How does Paul stay in fellowship with God when his life is so constrained by his circumstances?
What is the lesson we can learn from this record of trust in God?
In this next episode Paul is arrested by the Jewish leaders, and they conspire to put him to death because of their hatred of Paul and Christianity. As we read the rest of the chapters of Acts the largest questions that stare at us are:
What is the relationship of what we want to do in life vs what God would have us do?
What does God do when we disobey His direction and do what we decide is the better course?
How much more could Paul have done for God if he were not arrested?
The Roman legion commander comes to Paul’s rescue because he claims to be a Roman citizen, which is true. The commander realizes that Paul cannot get a fair trial of any kind in Jerusalem and sends him to Caesarea to the governor to be tried there in a Roman court. The Jews have men also that have taken an oath to kill Paul and try to do it on the way. When Paul is tried by the governor, there is no decision and then Felix listens to Paul but is hoping that Paul will bribe him to be set free.
Acts 24:12-16(NLT) And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
What do you think about how Paul goes to Jerusalem and how he is now arrested and in great difficulties?
Acts 24:27 – 25:5(NLT) After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison. 1 Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. 3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). 4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5 So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”
Acts 25:10-12 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”
Was this a good decision by Paul?
Acts 26:25-32 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” 29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” 30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” 32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
With my 20/20 hindsight I am shouting inside for Paul not to do what he did. I want him to do the things that will get him released, not go in chains to Rome. Easy for me to think now, but we also are guilty of doing the wrong things for the right reasons. Good intentions and sincerity are not the way to do God’s calling. Walking in the spirit every day in Christ will get us the correct results. True good works are doing what God has prepared for you to do.
The next few days we are going to read the record of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and then in the end to Rome and imprisonment. The story is one of great believing but also a cautionary story to us about listening to the voice of God in every situation. The apostle Paul is most responsible for the revelation of the mystery of the church of the body of Christ being given by God to us. He proclaims in Galatians:
Galatians 1:11-12(NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Paul is the person chosen by God and equipped to do the ministry to the Gentiles and the formation of churches all over the known world at that time. There are no other so central to this ministry and growth of the body of Christ. Try to read the book of Acts records with this perspective in mind. Also that most of the Gentile church looks to Paul as their father in the Word.
Is the apostle Paul really susceptible to disobeying God???
Acts 20:22-24(NKJV) And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Bold speech Paul. I go bound in the spirit and don’t count the cost of my decision. Is this the best that Paul can do in this situation? I appreciate his desire to go back to Jerusalem and to try to convince his countrymen of the same truth of the Word of God he has preached all over the known world. But early Christianity in Jerusalem has many persons that have accepted Jesus as Messiah but continue to promote the doing of the whole law of the scribes and Pharisees also. These persons are not doing the will of God as God has revealed to Paul in his letters. Read Galatians in concert with Acts for more perspective on both. Then even revelation is given to other believers to warn Paul of the consequences of going to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:10-13(NKJV) And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul is not moved by anyone’s advice. He is determined to do what he has decided to do.
How are we like Paul in our lives?
Acts 21:27-30(NKJV) Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.
Acts 23:11(NKJV) But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
God goes with Paul’s decision but then shows him what will happen. Going to Rome ad imprisonment is not part of Paul’s plan but God will give it help to make it the best outcome for Paul and also for the church.
Acts 23:31-35(NLT) So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. 32 They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. 33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix. 34 He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered. 35 “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.
Stay tuned for the next episode of the Adventures of Paul Going to Rome tomorrow.
We revisit the story of the early church in today’s reading of Acts 18:19-19:41. In this section we meet Apollos, an influential Jew converting many to Christ. Paul concludes his second missionary journey and begins his third. There is an encounter with the Holy Spirit and men of Ephesus. We learn about God giving Paul the ability to perform miraculous signs. We get a story about demon casting and see how God can use all things for His good. Finally, this section ends with a huge riot in Ephesus. So much happened in this section, but the undercurrent was the movement in the church, the believers. I think it’s worth taking a closer look at what the believers were actually doing, so we can follow their example.
In today’s reading, the collective term “the believers” is first used in 18:23 when “Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers” (NLT). Here, the church is seen hosting Paul and allowing themselves to be encouraged and strengthened through his teachings. In various letters Paul commends hospitality. The church is supposed to be a hospitable place. Soon many families will gather together for the holiday season. While this can cause stress, I challenge you to consider it a blessing and an opportunity to share God’s love by welcoming people into your home.
The believers were also strengthened by Paul’s visit. We, too, need to allow ourselves to be encouraged. It is important we put ourselves in situations where we can feel revitalized. Find what reignites your passion for the Gospel. Maybe that’s simply going to church on a weekly basis. It could be attending a Bible Study, instead of leading one. Time alone in the Word. Church Camp or conferences. Attending a Christian concert. I think it is worth noting that while the early believers were welcoming and serving Paul, they also allowed themselves to be served as Paul’s visit strengthened their faith.
Next we see believers teaching, correcting, and learning. I love the story in Acts 18:24-26. We meet Apollos, a man on fire for the Lord. In Ephesus, he meets Priscilla and Aquila, two students of Paul’s. Scripture says Priscilla and Aquila pulled Apollos aside and “explained the way of God more accurately” (18:26 NLT). They did not publicly call out Apollos, telling him he was wrong. Rather quietly and respectfully this couple sought to fill in the gaps in Apollos’ understanding of scripture. Furthermore, Apollos welcomed their knowledge. He was not so prideful, he could not learn. This is such a wonderful example of church conflict being resolved peacefully. We can learn from these early believers to have open hearts, ready to search scripture to receive truth, and share our own perspective and understanding of scripture in non-threatening ways.
This next part of Apollos’ story especially intrigues me. Apollos has a desire to go to Achaia and shared it with his fellow believers. They in turn encourage him to go. We can follow this example by sharing with our brothers and sisters in the church our desires, hopes, plans. From little side stories like these, it is clear to me the church is meant to act as a unit, not one sole individual acting on his or her own. Apollos allowed himself to be encouraged by his fellow believers then set off to do the work God planned for him. Here we see the church in movement by sharing and encouraging.
These believers in Ephesus not only encourage Apollos to go to Achaia, but intercede on his behalf. They write to their friends in Achaia asking them to welcome Apollos. Again, it is a short and sweet detail in this grand passage of Paul’s journeys. Yet, it shows how the early church was moving and interacting with one another during the time of the Apostles. It serves as a reminder to us how we should be interacting with one another. How can you intercede for those brothers and sisters around you? Are there unmet needs you may be able to provide?
Looking into Chapter 19 Paul has some interesting interactions with the people of Ephesus. These twelve men were like Apollos believing in “John’s Baptism,” understanding the repentant side of the story, but not quite grasping the Jesus-new-life part. This new creation baptism was something Paul personally experienced. Essentially, he provides these Ephesian men with the rest of the story and they are “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (19:5 NLT). So, what are members of the church doing here? Getting baptized. Baptism is a public declaration of our faith. This symbolic action helps solidify our understanding of a new life in Christ. How can we follow the example here from the early church? Get baptized. Baptism has meant all sorts of different things to different people. However, in my opinion, scripture has made it pretty clear. Baptism is our call to action after hearing, believing, and accepting the Gospel. Baptism is not a necessity to our salvation but a consequence. It is what the early church did, it is what we should do.
The next time “believers” are collectively mentioned as a group is in Acts 19:18. In the aftermath of the Sons of Sceva story, believers still practicing sorcery and incantation confess and repent by burning books associated with sorcery. While I am certainly not advocating for the burning of books, it is the action of physically turning away from their sin that is notable here. The church today can follow this example. The church is made up of humans. We are going to make mistakes, mess up, have our good and bad days. On the bad days, it is important we take responsibility. When the Ephesian people turned away from their sin “the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect” (20 NLT). This shows that repentance is not just for the sake of the sinner but can be used for spreading the Gospel.
Finally, the last time we see the believers in this section is during the riot in Ephesus. Here, the believers are seen as protecting and defending Paul. I found the small details in this story fascinating. In Acts 19:30 the believers prevent Paul from entering the amphitheater where the rioting was taking place. While some of Paul’s companions are swept up in the chaos, Paul is held back. The Greek word used here is translated as “would not allow.” Eventually, the people are calmed down and dispersed with nothing more than shouting and confusion to show for their rioting. I have to wonder if the situation would have been made worse had Paul been present. Even some of Paul’s friends who were province officials sensed Paul would be in danger had he gone with the rioters. While we may not be facing an angry mob head on, in what ways can we protect and defend our fellow believers? Does your church have connections with missionaries who are in danger? Can you financially contribute to these organizations? Can you organize prayer for these people? Are there justice groups for which you could be involved? The early church played a role in protecting and defending other believers, so how can we?
The believers of the early church are seen acting in so many ways throughout this section. They are welcoming. Receptive of encouragement. They are teachers, correcting and learning from one another. They are involved in each other’s lives. They are responsive to the call of baptism. They are repentant. Lastly they are seen as protecting and defending. My hope is by further looking at their actions we can seek action as well. May we learn from the example of the early church and may their actions guide us as we continue the spread of the Gospel, two thousand years later.
Reflection Questions
From above: “How can you intercede for those brothers and sisters around you? Are there unmet needs you may be able to provide? “
And, “The early church played a role in protecting and defending other believers, so how can we?”
How can you be more like the early church believers today?
Today’s reading contains one of my favorite stories about Paul’s travels – his time in Athens. I love this story because it teaches us to approach others of varying beliefs with kindness and respect. In Acts 17:22-30 Paul demonstrates how to speak the truth in love.
Paul begins his discussion with the Athens people by complimenting them. It isn’t false flattery either. While the lifestyle of idol worship is appalling, Paul looks at the heart behind the lifestyle and establishes common ground with the people. He makes the observation that they are “very religious in every way” (v. 22 NLT). He reminds them of their own “‘unknown God’” to whom they have dedicated an altar. Instead of coming to them with radically new ideas, he expounds on one of their own. Instead of creating division between his religion and theirs, Paul seeks unity.
In his following statements, Paul shows his knowledge of their customs, further establishing his credibility. He isn’t ignorant of their ways of life. He notes how the Greeks put special significance over temples, believing it to be where their gods reside and have power. He explains how the Hebrew God “since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in manmade temples” (v. 24 NLT). He discusses their custom to offer sacrifices and argues that the true God does not require sacrifices from man in order to survive. Finally, Paul quotes some of Athens own poets to prove the existence of God as creator of man. To make all these arguments, Paul needed to have a baseline understanding of the Athens religious beliefs. This means he took the time to understand the people he sought to evangelize.
It’s also worth noting that Paul initially approaches them with an I statement. I looked it up in the original Greek and sure enough the verb used for seeing/noticing is conjugated first person singular. In relational communication, I statements are key. I statements help the speaker convey ideas without seeming to attack the recipient. I think it is brilliant that Paul does that here with the Athens people.
The way Paul speaks to the Athens people reminds me of how he explained his teaching style in I Corinthians when he wrote “I have become all things to all people” (9:22 NIV). Paul humbles himself in sharing the gospel. Rather than teach a doctrine, Paul sought to teach good news. I think today we can learn from Paul. If there is someone in your life who’s lifestyle seems counter to yours or your beliefs, I encourage you to search for common ground like Paul. Find that common ground. Address it, using an I statement. Then, expound on their beliefs by guiding them to the truth. It takes finesse, of course, but it is important to not ostracize people. In a world full of so much division, look for the similarities. Ask God to give you humility. I wonder just how many people we could reach if we paused and looked for our similarities. Despite the many ways we can differ, at the end of the day, we are all a part of God’s creation, groaning and longing for a day free from death and decay. We are more alike than we are different.
Reflection Questions
Have you worked on using “I statements”? What results have you seen? Have you tried them before when sharing the good news?
How was the good news shared with you? Are there bad ways to share the good news? What might that look like? With what results?
Think of someone different from you who does not currently have the hope of eternal life. What do you have in common? What do you know about them? What “I statements” could you use to start a conversation with them about God?
Acts chapter 14 ended with teaching us that God had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. In chapter 15, the disciples are met with a conundrum because some men from Judea were teaching that, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
I think it is good to remember that post Jesus’s accomplishments on the cross, most of the Jewish Christians were still behaving like Jews – they were still going to synagogues on the Sabbath, they were still preaching from the Old Testament (because that’s the scripture they had), and were still engaging in many of the activities that they learned from their culture that were good.
I don’t think that the Jewish Christians were ever told to stop “being Jewish.” But they were told to follow Christ, not Moses, when it came to doing God’s will. In the book of James, we read that they were instructed to follow the law of liberty, which I believe is in applying (doing) the New Covenant commandment to ‘love as Jesus loved’ to all aspects of our lives. He taught us how using several Old Covenant commandments in light of the New Covenant command of love. He learned how to do this from Jesus. Jesus taught in this way in his Sermon on the Mount (e.g., instead of murdering your brother, don’t even get angry with him).
I don’t think this means that we are to keep the Old Covenant commandments, nor even to do the things Jesus said to do (hear me out), AS LAW, that we must keep in order to enter the Kingdom of God. Rather, we are to seek God’s wisdom about a matter (such as with being angry with a brother), with the motivation that Jesus had to love the brother, in order to do what God wants us to do in the situation (God’s will) to save him.
Jesus’s words are wisdom for us, not law.
For example, there will be times when we are angry with our brother, and it will be righteous anger. We need to seek God’s wisdom to know when that is the case and what to do about it to save the brother (or the enemy). There’s much wisdom throughout the Bible on this topic. But there’s no specific law outlined for us to do under the New Covenant. We have the freedom/liberty to seek God’s wisdom in the matter to know what to do to help, and then are commanded to do it. For the most part, it will be what Jesus said to do.
Jesus says that, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15) – but we must understand what they mean and how they will apply to the situations we get in in order to do them according to God’s will. We do this by reading scripture (OT) and the word (the gospel; NT) for God’s wisdom, and then by doing what he says by way of the urging of the Holy Spirit. You’ll see this in action throughout the book of Acts.
Read the rest of John 14 and remember from John 6 that the Spirit gives life. “If anyone loves me (Jesus), he will keep my word; and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). “But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26).
There’s no law in the New Covenant about what commandments we must keep from the Old Covenant, as we’re not under it, but there is much wisdom we can learn about why God wants us to obey many of them (look at Jesus’s words to understand what he wants us to know and do). They (the commandments God wants us to know and do) are the things we should know about Yahweh God, his son Jesus, and how to love like Jesus in order to compel others to want what we want – God’s will to be done for our own good, because it will save us. It’s the Gospel.
The new knowledge the early Jewish Christians were learning (that they were no longer to separate themselves from Gentiles) was unfolding in many of the books of the New Testament for us to gain wisdom about. We get to see how they worked out this new revelation. We also get to refer to scripture from the Old Testament that prophesied about this.
*The wisdom of God will be found in the Bible, but the understanding of it, wisdom, we must seek by asking, by way of the Holy Spirit, so that we can do God’s will and not our own, for the good of all to save them.
Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument and debate with the teachers of the “circumcision to be saved” message (meaning it is okay, and good for us to debate to get to the truth). It was determined that they should go to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders concerning this issue. On their way, they witnessed Gentile Christians who were doing well and bringing great joy to all of the brethren.
However, when they arrived in Jerusalem, some of the apostles and elders who were Pharisees but believed in Jesus, also said that the new Gentile converts must follow the Law of Moses and be circumcised to be saved. All the apostles and elders then came together to discuss the matter. After much debate, Peter gave a speech that I think reiterates what is needed to be a Christ follower. He said that God wanted the Gentiles to hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Whoever does God’s will according to the gospel will get a heart cleanse and receive the Holy Spirit (a connection with God through Christ, urging us to do God’s will (life) instead of following the urges of our flesh’s desire to do our own will (sin)). The receiving of the Holy Spirit was a great witness to the Jewish Christians of the truth in this matter.
Peter told those who would teach the Gentiles that salvation came by way of the Law of Moses that they were testing God. Don’t do this! We saw how it ended in Massah and Meribah when they tested God. Teaching the Gentiles to follow Moses via the Law of Moses was placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither their fathers, nor they were able to bear. Instead, believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus – all of us who enter the New Covenant through him.
Everyone listened silently as Barnabas and Paul relayed all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.
James, the brother of Jesus, and now head of the council in Jerusalem, confirmed what Peter said, drawing on Peter’s revelation from what God had foretold his people in scripture long ago (Acts 15:16-18; Amos 9:11-12). Therefore, it is his judgement that they should not trouble the Gentiles to keep the Law of Moses, but to abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood. For Moses has been preached since ancient times in every city every Sabbath.
What does that mean? I think it means that James’s judgement is not to force the Gentile converts to keep the Law of Moses. But they should give the Gentiles some ordinances to help them live well among their new Jewish brethren in peace and in love.
These seemingly strange to us ordinances he gave were about the Gentile eating habits that could cause tension with Jews who would find it hard to eat with someone who ate meat they historically thought dishonored God. Gentiles were in the habit of eating meat sacrificed to idols, in horrific ways (involving sexual immorality and inhumane animal killing). Jews who heard the Law of Moses prohibiting such practices preached every Sabbath would find it hard to accept eating with a person engaging in that eating habit, though they are no longer yoked to separating themselves from Gentiles.
The church council is not creating laws that the Gentiles must follow in order to be saved. They are creating guidelines for them to follow to love their Jewish brethren, who may find it hard to stop segregating because of the Gentile eating habits.
After becoming of one mind on the matter, Paul and Barnabus were sent to the Antioch church with a letter to tell them about their judgement, along with select men who had risked their lives for the name of the Lord to reiterate these things by word of mouth. They were taking great care to help the new converts and Jewish brethren to understand why they came up with this judgement, which is also said to have come about by way of the Holy Spirit’s urging (Acts 15:28). It’s about loving God and loving people, helping them to live well with this change of lifestyle to stop segregation between Jew and Gentile under the New Covenant. The people in Antioch rejoiced because of the letter’s encouragement.
Chapter 16
In chapter 16, we find Paul’s missionary journey continuing. He and his companions were letting their journey to spread the gospel be led by the Holy Spirit. He did something seemingly contradictory to Timothy, but I think it was done with the same intention that the council had when providing Gentiles with ordinances to keep the peace in love at mealtime without segregation.
Paul circumcised Timothy so that the Jews would initially accept him as the word of the Lord was preached, particularly the part of the good news that the council came up with to be sure the Jews wouldn’t put a heavy yoke on the Gentiles, while also helping the Gentiles to be loving with their eating practices to help the Jews stop segregation. It was likely a wise, loving thing to do to aid in the spreading of the gospel, urged by the spirit. As they did this, the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were growing daily.
They continued to let the Holy Spirit lead them on their journey. It prohibited them from speaking the word in Asia and a few other places. It led them through a night vision to Macedonia. As a result of doing this, they met a worshipper of God who opened her heart to respond to the things taught. Her response was to pay for their journey to continue spreading the gospel.
They ran into some hiccups along the way, like being beaten and thrown into prison in chains, but this unjust trial was a blessing in disguise. While in prison, they prayed and sang hymns of praise to God while all of the other prisoners listened. An earthquake threatened the life of a jailer, as it unchained all of the prisoners. He was about to commit suicide, assuming he had failed his job by allowing prisoners to escape, but none tried (likely urged to stay put by way of the Holy Spirit). Instead of committing suicide, he asked them how to be saved (I’m sure all of the other prisoners were saved that day too!).
This is what our lives should be about; Saving lives, no matter our circumstance, by following the urging of the Holy Spirit to do God’s will instead of our own, because we desire for them to enter the Kingdom of God.
Paul told the jailer that to be saved, he must believe in the Lord Jesus. He spoke the word of God to him and all who were in his house, and they were baptized. The jailer’s response was to take care of his new Christian brethren, inviting them into his home, washing their wounds, giving them food, and rejoicing because he and his whole household were now believers in God by way of Jesus. What a response!
When day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers to release Paul and his companions secretly. But Paul told them no because they were unlawfully beaten in public without due process, and they were Roman citizens, which frightened the magistrates (because they would have consequences for doing that to Roman citizens). They agreed to being led out of jail and followed their urging to leave the city. They went to Lydia’s home, where they were encouraged (likely with money for their journey), and then went on their way. I think all of this was orchestrated by the leading of the Holy Spirit to do God’s will. What do you think?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Are Jesus’s words wisdom or law? What are Jesus’s commandments that we must keep?
2. When the church was planted in Antioch, the disciples went to great lengths to help them succeed. How can we be as proactive with the churches we plant?
3. How do you think the Holy Spirit led Paul and his companions? We know it was through a night vision to find Lydia. How else do you think the Holy Spirit led them?
Acts chapters 13 and 14 are about the people of God continuing to do what Christ followers are supposed to do; to be led by the spirit to do God’s will.
The prophets and teachers in Antioch were ministering to the Lord and fasting. Because of this, they were given revelation by the spirit to “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” They confirmed this revelation by fasting and praying. They then laid hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them on their way to do the Lord’s bidding.
They started their proclamation of the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews and spread the word of God throughout the whole island. The proconsul (similar to a governor) wanted to hear the word but his magician/false prophet companion opposed the word, attempting to keep the proconsul from the faith.
Paul, full of the holy spirit, rebuked the false prophet saying, “you who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.”
The consequence for opposing the spreading of the word to the leader of the region was blindness for a time! The proconsul believed after witnessing this miracle, but it was the teaching of the Lord that had him amazed.
They continued their journey to Pisidian Antioch and on the Sabbath day, they were given the floor to preach the Gospel to the Jews in the synagogue. Read Paul’s words carefully, as the preaching of the gospel seems to highlight different aspects of it depending on Paul’s audience.
To the Jews, he begins with God’s choosing of their fathers to be his people and ends with the good news of the fulfillment of the promise to their fathers, by raising Jesus from the dead so that he wouldn’t undergo decay. And because of this fulfillment, through Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed. And through Jesus, everyone who believes is freed from all things, which they could not be freed from through the Law of Moses.
The response to this was to beg them to return the next Sabbath day to preach about these things. When they did, an even bigger audience gathered to hear the word. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they became jealous and tried to persecute them. Take note that this may happen when you’re doing God’s will. Be prepared and do what the early Christians who did better did; pray, fast, preach, keep seeking the Lord’s guidance to do God’s will.
To them Paul and Barnabas said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may [ab]bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”
* I take note that these words were first spoken in the Old Testament, prophesying about Jesus. Here, the same words are applied to Paul and Barnabas. We should become comfortable understanding that this happens a lot in the Bible. It helps to cut through confusion.
The Gentiles responded to this by rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord and it was spread throughout the whole region. But the jealous Jews incited the prominent women and men to persecute Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the district.
The disciples shook off the dust of their feet and went to another city, continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
In the next region, both Jews and Greeks heard the word and believed. And as it happened in other cities, unbelieving Jews caused trouble. Here they “stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brothers.” Instead of dusting off their feet and moving on, they relied on the Lord to speak boldly, remaining there for a long time. Here they were granted signs and wonders to be performed by their hands.
It’s interesting to note, that even though we know they were filled with the Holy Spirit to do God’s will, here the Lord granted them the ability to do signs and wonders, indicating to me that just having the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean we can do signs and wonders whenever we think we should. It is for when the Lord has need of it.
Some believed, some did not. Some persecuted them. When they tried to kill them (by stoning), they moved on to another region to preach the gospel.
While preaching the gospel in the next place, Paul saw that a disabled man had faith to be made well so he healed him. Because of this, the Gentiles called Paul and Barnabas gods and attempted to make sacrifices to them. They tore their clothing and Paul preached the gospel, beginning with parts of the gospel that they could relate to from their culture. Paul told them that there was only one God, the God who created the heavens and earth, and everything in them, and that they must turn from their other gods to the one true God.
He said that God permitted all the nations to go their own ways; yet he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. Even so, it was hard for those stuck in their tradition to refrain from offering sacrifices to them.
Again, the Jews became jealous. They stoned Paul nearly to death and dragged him out of the city. He got up and went to another city to preach, continuing God’s work. He made many disciples. He was able to revisit a church to encourage them to keep the faith, saying that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” They ended back in Antioch and remained there awhile, reporting on what joyous events happened. They were primarily excited about the new revelation, how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Fasting and praying seem to be great starters for hearing from the Lord so that you can be led by him in the spirit. Have you heard from the Lord after fasting and praying?
When Paul preached the Gospel to the Jews, he talked about the fulfillment of the promise to their fathers, which was in raising Jesus from the dead so that he wouldn’t undergo decay. And because of this fulfillment, through Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed. And through Jesus, everyone who believes is freed from all things, which they could not be freed from through the Law of Moses. Gentiles weren’t freed from the Law of Moses because they weren’t a part of that covenant with God. What did Jesus accomplish on the cross for Jews vs. both Jew and Gentile?
I love how Paul talks to the Gentiles about God’s goodness as a witness to them, even when they didn’t know him. How can we relate things like this to our friends who don’t know God?
Jealousy seems to be a primary driver of opposition to the word. How can we guard our hearts from becoming jealous of others preaching what they believe to be true who may be gaining followers?
It is good to change your beliefs based on revelation you’ve received about God’s word and what it means as it applies to your life, though it can bring on emotions you may not be prepared for. The first revelation I changed my mind about regarding the word of God was hard to handle, as it was a deeply held belief I was taught to accept and defend as truth by trusted individuals (with good intentions). But it was wrong.
I learned it was wrong by way of other trusted individuals who had studied and changed their minds. They were able to present a good case for the error originally taught. I accepted that I believed something in error, however I didn’t fully understand the new revelation. I was confused. My confusion made me rethink what I had been taught about God and his thoughts about me. Be careful, this can happen to you.
Thank God for his constant workings in me. The process I went through to cut through the confusion taught me how to not fear being wrong. It taught me to seek God for his wisdom about truth instead of holding on to pride. Pride does come before the fall, but it was good, as I was humbled. I can now handle being wrong.
What I love most about the things I learned from the reading for this week’s devotional is that God’s wisdom is blaring through the pages. We get to read about how the early Christians struggled with new revelation and what they did about it. We read about those who fell, those who were humbled, and the approach of those who did better. The better approach was rewarded with more work and a more intimate relationship with God. He gave the humble more of what they sought – his wisdom and power about what to do to spread the Gospel.
In Acts chapter 11, some Jewish Christians took issue with Peter for eating with uncircumcised men. To convince them that this was God’s will, Peter explained his vision and experience with Cornelius. They listened and responded with the right responses, “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). What a response.
After Stephen’s persecution however, fear took hold of some, to the point of stifling the spreading of the Gospel to Jews only. But there were some who took it to the Gentiles in Antioch. To those who didn’t let fear lead them, “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21).
Barnabas was sent to witness the workings of God with the Gentiles by those in Jerusalem. When he witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them to remain true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. He brought Paul to them and together they taught the new Christians for an entire year.
Doing God’s will (preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, teaching them for a year, rejoicing, etc.) brought on many good things for those who were faithful to the news. They received a prophecy that there would be a famine so they behaved like Kingdom bound citizens and gave money to those in need.
But we know that doing God’s will can also make us targets. King Herod killed the disciple James. This pleased the non-Christian Jews, so he also sought Peter’s life. The church used their powerful weapon of fervent prayer, leading to an angelic rescue of Peter from prison and death.
Most in these chapters took the news of the new revelation from Peter very well. They rejoiced and accepted the news straight away. They got to work for the Lord, preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles and remaining with them for a time to help them grow.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
There were many things the disciples did right when they heard the new revelation from Peter. What are some good actions you can take to help someone so that they don’t fall when learning something new?
What do you think Barnabas and Paul taught the new Christians in Antioch for the year they stayed with them?
Herod was eaten by worms and died after an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory when the people he fed cried out, “the voice of a god and not of a man!” Why do you think he was met with this immediate consequence?
Saul was hell-bent on getting rid of those pesky “little Christs” by any means necessary. But as he marched to Damascus to arrest any he could find, Saul was literally blindsided by Jesus. Ananias, aware that Saul was in the area to persecute The Way but willing to obey God’s call to reach out to Saul anyway, bravely befriended blind Saul, which ironically helped Saul to see more clearly than he ever had before. Just as Jesus spent three days physically dead and then was resurrected, Saul’s three days of visual darkness prepared him to be resurrected to a new kind of life as a bold follower of Jesus, one of the most prolific missionaries the world has ever known. Saul realized that though he followed the law and had an impressive resume, he was actually the worst of all sinners. It was this outpouring of God’s amazing grace that created such dramatic change.
I always assumed that Saul’s name was changed to Paul to represent this big change in his life, much like Abram to Abraham, but in reality the two names were just different versions of the same name: Saul (or “Sha’ul”) was a Hebrew name, and Paul was the equivalent name in Roman circles. As a Jewish Roman citizen, he would have been called both names. The fact that the New Testament increasingly refers to him as Paul probably indicates his growing involvement in the Gentile world.
Speaking of Gentiles… God gave Peter quite an obscure vision (Acts 10:9-16) which left him befuddled. Finally, in verse 28, he seemed to figure out the meaning: “God has shown me not to call any person common or unclean.” Jews had sometimes viewed Gentiles as unclean, but now Peter had confirmation from God that the hope of Jesus is for Gentiles too.
Some Jewish people still thought that Jesus had come only for their race, their “clean” kind. This might sound silly, but some today still try to discriminate against those who can go to a church or be saved based on how “clean” their lives are. We too can be prone to unconsciously judge people’s faith by the unnatural color of their hair, the number of tattoos or piercings, clothing choices, marital status, past mistakes, etc. It’s important to remember that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7). I suspect that some churches wouldn’t recognize or welcome even Jesus himself if he came through their doors.
God had created Saul with such passion, and God knew if he could just channel that passion for saving Christians instead of killing them, the wonderful Gospel could spread. What a testimony! God brings Saul to my mind every time my finite, sinful, human, faith-lacking brain tries to label someone as unredeemable.
What if we took the time to hear the stories of people who look different from us, to listen to stories of how Jesus has changed their lives, to experience their excitement as they learn things about Jesus that we take for granted because we’ve heard it so many times? Jesus came for all of us. We all are in need of the saving grace of Jesus.
I love to hear 180 stories – people who were completely changed, “flipped turned upside down” – because of Jesus. Some of us were raised in Christian homes and grew up in church and don’t have a dramatic testimony, but that doesn’t make our faith any less valid! We as humans can tend to think that someone is too far gone, but God… God can change the unchangeable, love the unloveable, save the unsaveable – and all of those would be all of us, if not for His mercy.
Reflections:
Listen to this song and consider how we might overlook Jesus if he were here with us today.
Have you had a spiritual epiphany or eureka moment? It’s probably not quite as dramatic as that of Saul, but still very important. Write it down and share it with someone to show how your life has been changed by God!
These ominous lines commence the first stave of Charles Dicken’s classic novella, A Christmas Carol, which my children and I read together for the first time last year. Such chilling inaugural language sets the tone for the serious nature of the story. The tale delves deep into the meaning of life and Ebeneezer Scrooge’s radical transformation before concluding the final stave with these hopeful words: “And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, everyone!”
As I read Acts 8, I was struck by the similarity between the forbidding opening phrases of A Christmas Carol and this sinister introduction to Saul:
“And Saul gave approval to his murder” (8:1).
Saul, a devout pharisee who kept every letter of the law and then some, was complicit in the death of the first martyr. But he didn’t stop there: Saul made it his mission to destroy the church by going house to house, imprisoning people who followed the ways of this Jesus guy. Saul thought he was working passionately for God by persecuting the followers of this heretic Jesus who claimed to be the Messiah.
I always wonder how such heinous acts can be justified in the name of God. Did pride take over his heart? Was Saul so wallowing in his prideful Pharisee ways that he could not understand the grace and love that Jesus had shown and that his people were demonstrating? Was he blind to the prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus? (Spoiler: In Acts 26, Saul gives some insight into his thoughts during that time, but ultimately he realizes that he was for sure NOT doing the work of God by persecuting his church.)
This is a good reminder that just because we claim to follow God doesn’t mean that everything we feel so strongly about is correct or God’s way. We can be sincere and still be sincerely wrong. Since it can be difficult to distinguish God’s voice from the myriad of opinions we hear constantly, it is important to be regularly grounded in the Word and prayer, truly seeking God’s desires more than our own preconceived notions or cultural norms.
Just like with Scrooge’s interactions with the three spirits, all it took was one encounter with Jesus to turn everything on its head, transforming Saul’s heart and ultimately leaving us with many hopeful words in the New Testament. But you’ll just have to come back here tomorrow to read more of that story!
Reflections:
Think about your life before vs. after you decided to fully live for God. What would be the opening line to your “before” chapter?
What do you want the closing line of your chapter of life to be (like your epitaph)? Write it out as a guide and inspiration to keep you focused on what truly matters.
Seek Grow Love 