Luke’s sets the stage for his sequel: Acts, “Luke Volume 2.”
[Some scholars regard Luke’s two volumes as the prerequisite trial documents which had to precede Paul in his appeal to Caesar…]
Anticipative Pre-announcement
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
This was an anticipative announcement in the “Upper Room” by Jesus .
His Mission
John 16:13
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all
truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear,
that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.
Jesus is announcing the primary mission of the Holy Spirit,
• He will guide you into all truth...
• He shall not speak of Himself...
• The Holy Spirit is usually in the topological model role of an “unnamed Servant”
In Genesis 24 Abraham was in the role as the Father, Isaac was in the role as Jesus Christ and Eleazer was in the role as the Holy Spirt.
• Also, in the book of Ruth, when Ruth is introduced to Boaz.
• Ruth is the Gentile Bride (the Church) introduced to the Kinsman-Redeemer, Boaz.
• He will show you things to come...
• A pre-endorsement of the New Testament
The Next Phase
John 16:7
“It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”
• Jesus would leave in order to make it possible for the Holy Spirit to come and dwell among us....
A Concept of Locality:
• When Jesus was on the earth in His ministry, He had locality, you could touch and feel Him, He was in a specific location geophysically and by His leaving....
• The Holy Spirit can be everywhere ay one time, among all of us and not just in one place.
Acts (of the Holy Spirit)
• Ascension Ch. 1
• Pentecost – Birth of the Church Ch. 2
• Outrage against Stephen Acts chapter 7
• Philip & Ethiopian Treasurer Acts chapter 8
• Call of Paul Acts chapter 9
• Peter’s Vision at Cornelius’ Acts chapter 10
• Mission to Gentiles Acts chapter 11-14
• Council at Jerusalem Acts chapter 15
• 1st Missionary Journey Acts chapter 13, 14
• 2nd Missionary Journey Acts chapter 15
– Athens, Mars Hill Acts chapter 17
• 3rd Missionary Journey Acts chapter 18
• Outcry against Paul Acts chapter 22
– Before Sanhedrin Acts chapter 23
– Before Governor Felix Acts chapter 24
– Before Governor Festus Acts chapter 25
– Before King Agrippa Acts chapter 26
• Paul goes to Rome Acts chapter 27-28
The Departure:
Acts 1
The departure of Jesus Christ
• Post-resurrection Instructions.
– Await empowering from the Holy Spirit.
The disciples are instructed to await the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
• Ascension from Mt. of Olives.
– A cloud received Him.
– Two angels confirm His Return “In Like Manner.” recorded in Zechariah 12-14
There 7 times as many verses about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as there are concerning His first coming.
• Election of Replacement for Judas.
– Matthias? Or Paul?
• 120 disciples draw lots to elect Matthias.
Some feel that it really turned out to be Paul.
• The 12 apostles were to the Jews.
• Paul’s distinctive role was to be called as the apostle to the Gentiles.
(Others distinguish the Jewish commitment of the Twelve, vs. Paul’s mission to the Gentiles.)
Marching Orders
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The Sequence:
• ...in Jerusalem...
• ...in all Judea...
Visualize Judea as a larger ring, all Judea.
• ...in Samaria...
Then extending that even further all Samaria which is sort of the half Jewish area. Samaritans were looked on as ethically impure.
• ...unto the utter most parts of the earth...
The Holy Spirit Descends
• On Feast of Pentecost, (Shavout or the Feast of Weeks).
This is a very overlooked feast, of the 7 feasts of Moses there were 3 that were required to attend by every able-bodied person.
• The Feast of Shavout is the only feast that has leavened bread.
• Obviously a predictive feast of the gift of the Holy Spirit as fulfilled on that very day.
• As they meet the Holy Spirit visibly descends like as unto flames of fire and people from all over hear them speak in their own tongue.
• The Holy Spirit visibly descends according to the promise.
– Peter explains:
Joel 2 “This is that…”
• The mystical birth of the “Church” begins…
• This is one of the distinctions that you need to emphasize in your own Bible studies to recognize that not all people that are saved are necessarily in the same category.
• There are people saved all through the Old Testament and there are also people that are saved during the period that we live in today.
• But there are some very important distinctives between those two and there is going to be again a third group in effect.
• Those that will be saved after the Church has gathered.
• This is the study of “Ecclesiology” the Church.
• This is not the physical buildings of churches, but the living breathing Body of Individual Believers who are in Christ.
• We have privileges and blessings that are unique to us that were not available to the people in the Old testament.
• This is what Paul tries to get across in his epistles to the church.
• We often don’t understand his answers because we don’t understand the questions that he is dealing with, so we need to be sensitive to that.
• Israel and the Church are not the same thing they are both distinctive.
• They have different origins, different missions, different destinies.
Stephen Before Sanhedrin:
Acts 7
This young man Stephen gives these elders a history lesson.
• In his speech, he reviews the history of Israel.
Two Lessons:
• Stephen mentions things about the Old testament that you will not find in the Old Testament.
There are insights here that are unique to this chapter, Stephen unravels a few a riddles for us by his perspective.
• The other interesting thing is to figure out where he is headed in his speech, but they do not allow him to finish his speech.
• Before he can finish, they take him out and stone him to death.
A Few Clues:
• Allos vs Heteros
– Pharaoh of the Exodus: Assyrian?
• Stephen mentions how Joseph is down in Egypt and in charge.
• But the another Pharaoh that knew not Joseph arises.
• In the English language when we say another we just mean another.
• In the Greek language they have two different words.
Allos vs Heteros
Allos is the word for, another of the same kind.
Heteros is the word for, another of a different kind.
• Stephen uses the word heteros, which means that the pharaoh that succeeded the pharaoh that was favorable to Joseph was a totally different kind of guy.
• This pharaoh was not Egyptian.
• He was an Assyrian.
• You will not find this in any study of Egyptology because archeologists all presume that all of the pharaohs were Egyptian.
• Recent scholars have shredded the traditional chronology of the Egyptian pharaohs.
• These were scholastic labels they were not necessarily clear from the dynasties of the time.
• They do fit with what the Bibles says.
• The Egyptian chronologies and the Biblical chronologies don’t seem to mesh at all and that’s because of poor scholarship of the past.
Isaiah 30:2-3 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
• Pharaoh was a title and he wasn’t always an Egyptian.
Abraham’s delay…
Abraham didn’t obey God the first time....the second time he did.
• God had said to Abraham, get out of the Ur of the Chaldeans, he was suppose to leave his family, but he didn’t.
• He just moved up the river.
• When his father dies, then he obeys.
Stephen is highlighting Israel’s History:
• A Pattern of failures,
Obedience the second time!
All through the history of Israel, they disobey the first time and obey the second time.
– Abraham Acts 7:4
– Joseph Acts 7:13
Joseph was rejected by his brothers the first time.
Joseph was accepted by his brothers the second time.
– Moses Acts 7:27
Moses was rejected by Israel first time when he killed the Egyptian.
Moses was accepted by Israel the second time.
– Law Acts 7:35
The Law, the first set was destroyed by Moses.
The Law, God had to make a second set of them.
– Joshua Acts 7:45
When Israel gets to Kadesh-Barnea, they don’t go in and to take the land as told them by God, so they wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
When Joshua comes along, the second time their children go in and possess the land.
• The Pattern:
• They always blow it the 1st time and...
• Make it the 2nd time.
• Stephen builds up to...your messiah came and you killed Him!
• Inferring that when He comes the 2nd time they’ll accept Him as a nation.
Parallels
Chapters 1-12 Chapters 13-28
• Jerusalem is the Center of the outreach.
• Peter is the Chief figure.
• The gospels goes out as far as to Samaria.
• The Word is rejected by the Jews of the homeland
• Peter is imprisoned
• There is a judgment on Herod
• Antioch is the Center
• Paul is the chief figure
• The gospels goes out as far as to Rome
• The Word is rejected by the Jews of Dispersion
• Paul is imprisoned
• There is a judgment on the Jews
• The Jews are the adversaries and the cause of unrest: Roman focus?
Parallels
Peter First Sermon Acts chapter 2
Lame Man healed Acts chapter 3
Simon the Sorcerer Acts chapter 8
Influence of shadow Acts chapter 5
Laying on of hands Acts chapter 8
Peter worshipped Acts chapter10
Tabitha raised Acts chapter 9
Peter imprisoned Acts chapter12
Paul
First Sermon Acts chapter13
Lame man healed Acts chapter 14
Elymas the sorcerer Acts chapter 13
Influence of handkerchief Acts chapter19
Laying on of hands Acts chapter 19
Paul worshipped Acts chapter 14
Eutychus raised Acts chapter 20
Paul imprisoned Acts chapter 28
The Acts of Philip:
• After the stoning of Stephen, the believers in Jerusalem were scattered.
• Philip, one of the seven helpers of the Jerusalem church, goes to the capital of Samaria (Acts 8:5).
• Many people are healed.
• Simon, is a famous magician, he becomes a believer (Acts 8:9-13).
• Amazed that Samaritans (Jews of mixed descent) have become Christians,
• Peter and John are sent to Samaria to investigate (v.14).
• Samaritan believers receive the Holy Spirit.
• Peter and John return (after admonishing Simon who had offered money for the Spirit--the first TV evangelist!)
• Philip is sent to the Jerusalem-Gaza road.
• There he meets the eunuch a treasurer to the queen Candace of Ethiopia returning home confused, finding out that the Messiah is killed...reading Isaiah 52 & 53...
The Ark of the Covenant
• (There are 6 Theories as to its whereabouts).
• Levites seek protection from Manassah under Pharaoh Necho of Egypt (2 Kings 21).
• Josiah seeks Ark’s return (2 Chroniclers 35);
• Josiah dies fighting Pharaoh Necho was an Ethiopian, ruling in Egypt.
• Ark transferred from Elephantine Island to Tana Kirkos Island for 8 centuries.
[Pharaoh Necho was Ethiopian!] Elephantine Island was the fortress/
capital of Egypt in the 5-6th century B.C. Artifacts confirm a documented tradition…
Documented Tradition
• 642 B.C.: Elephantine Island, Egypt.
• 470 B.C.: Tana Kirkos Island, Ethiopia.
• Destined to be presented to the Messiah on Mt. Zion (Isaiah 18, Zephaniah 3:10).
• Why was the Ethiopian Treasurer on a mission?
• The treasurer a eunuch under Queen Candace of Ethiopia was returning home confused, finding out that the Messiah had been killed...reading Isaiah 52 & 53...
• It has been speculated that the eunuch returned to Ethiopia, to tell her it’s not time to present the Ark of the Covenant to the Messiah.
• 330 A.D.: Ark transferred from Lake Tana island to Axum, Ethiopia in 330 A.D.
• They celebrate it every year, actually they bring out a ceremonial relic for ceremonial purposes.
• Tens of thousands of Levites in white sheets singing and praying ecstatically around the clock for 2 days prior, and during the 2 days of Timkat, celebrating the Baptism of Jesus.
• The ceremony goes down to the water and comes back this takes 2 days as well.
The Acts of Philip:
Acts 8:5; Acts 8:9; Acts 8:14; Acts 8:26;
• One of "the seven" chosen to have the oversight of "the daily ministration" of the poor of the Christian community in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5).
• Whether Philip, bearing a Greek name, was a Hellenist, is not known, but his missionary work reveals to us one free from the religious prejudices of the strict Hebrew.
• After this incident, Philip went to Azotus (Ashdod), and then traveled north to Caesarea, preaching in the cities on his way.
• There he settled, for Luke records that Paul and his company abode in the house of Philip, "the evangelist," "one of the seven," for some days (Acts 21:8 ).
• This occurred more than 20 years after the incidents recorded in Acts 8.
• Both at this time and during Paul's imprisonment at Caesarea, Luke had the opportunity of hearing about Philip's work from his own lips.
Luke records that Philip had 4 daughters who were preachers (Acts 21:9).
The Cosmopolitan Antioch
There are two Antioch’s
Antioch of Syria
Antioch of Galatia which is less important
The Cosmopolitan Antioch; this is the...
• Strategic Center of the Gentile outreach to the Antioch Church
• Stephen is martyred; and Believers are scattered Acts 8:14
• Some travel to Antioch and preach to the Jews only Acts 11:19
• Some come from Cyprus; some from North Africa they preach to Gentiles Acts 11:21
• This is the beginnings of the Gentile conversions.
• The Jerusalem Church sends Barnabas, a trusted leader to investigate what was going on in Antioch.
• Barnabas collects Saul from Tarsus and they stay to teach for several years. Acts 11:26
• Being a strong church, Antioch raises money to send relief money to Jerusalem Acts 11:30.
• James was the leader in Jerusalem,
• Antioch was the first to send Missionaries to foreign countries. Acts 13:1.
• Antioch becomes a major center for the last half of the book of Acts.
• Barnabas: was a Jew from Cyprus.
• Simeon: (called the Black): was probably from Africa.
• Lucius: from Cyrene, was a North African city.
• Manaen: foster-brother to Herod Antipas.
• Saul: was a Jew from Roman Tarsus, later to become Paul the apostle.
The Acts of Peter:
• On Pentecost Peter preaches and many become believers. Acts 2:1-42
• Peter heals a lame man; he is arrested with John and warned not to preach. Acts 3:1, 4-22.
• Peter has a vision in Joppa and goes to Caesarea and many become believers. Acts 10:1-48.
• Cornelius (a Centurion!) Has a vision in Caesarea, and sends for Peter. Acts 10:1-48.
• The major headquarters for the Romans was in Caesarea, they were in Jerusalem only for the holidays.
• Pontius Pilate was in Jerusalem during Passover because it was a Jewish holiday.
• Centurions in the book of Luke and Acts are always depicted as “good guys”.
• And the uprisings and trouble was always the Jewish Leadership reacting to the Christians.
• All through the book of Acts, the persecution didn’t come from the Romans, it came from the Jewish leadership.
• The Roman oppression came later.
• Peter and John follow Philip into Samaria and many believe. Acts 8:4-25.
• Peter goes to Lydda and Joppa to raise Dorcas from the dead. Acts 9:32-43.
• Peter reports to the Jerusalem church who accept that the Gospel is for gentiles too. Acts 11:1-18
• Peter is arrested and is miraculously released. Acts 12:1-19
• Peter testifies at the Jerusalem Council. Acts 15:1-21
Rest of Peter’s Work
We don’t know much about that...
• Peter meets Paul in Antioch Galatians 2:11-14
• Peter visits churches in north Asia Minor 1 Pet 1:1
• Evidence of Peter in Corinth 1 Corinthians 1:12
• Wrote his 1st letter from Babylon 1 Peter 5:13
[The theory that “Babylon” was a code for Rome ignores the fact that Babylon was the
primary Jewish center outside of Israel]
• Babylon was a major Jewish Center
• Peter wrote his first epistle from Babylon.
• The Babylonian Talmud was from Babylon.
• Babylon in those days was a major Jewish Center, it was no longer a dominant imperial town like it had been for centuries earlier but it was still there as a major center.
• Peter was executed in Rome (as the Lord had predicted)
• Mark wrote his Gospel in Rome just after Peter’s death
• There is strong evidence that Mark, a follower of Peter, wrote his Gospel in Rome just after Peter’s death, using Peter’s eyewitness preaching about Jesus.
Saul of Tarsus
Saul (later called Paul) is born and spends his early years in Tarsus—an important Roman city.
• He is born a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25-29).
• Tarsus was also the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even than the universities of Athens and Alexandria, the only others that then existed.
• Paul was taken to Jerusalem as a young boy and educated by the well-known teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).
• He was a Pharisee.
• When Stephen is stoned to death for his faith, Saul holds the stoners’ coats.
• He becomes a violent persecutor of the church, given authority to imprison Christians
(Acts 26:9-11).
• He even travels to foreign cities to root them out.
• On one such visit, Saul travels to Damascus to arrest believers. At midday, near the city, he is confronted by Jesus: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9
• In the city of Damascus, a believer called Ananias visits Saul. His blindness is healed and he is baptized (Acts 9:1-19).
• Paul stays for three years in Damascus, preaching in the synagogues.
• At some point (Acts 9:19-22 he went into the desert of Arabia 3 years.
• (Galatians 1:15-17), and returned to continue his work there.
Saul’s Work after Damascus/Before his First Journey
• Three years after his conversion, Saul is forced to escape from the Jews of Damascus in a basket (Acts 9:23-25).
• He goes to Jerusalem to see Peter.
• The believers still suspect him, but Barnabas introduces him to them. Acts 9:26-30
• He talks with Peter and meets James. Galatians 1:18-20
• But after only two weeks he has to be smuggled out because of opposition from some Jews.
• Saul is taken to Caesarea. Acts 9:30
• From there he leaves for his home city of Tarsus.
• He spends 10 years in Tarsus, before Barnabas comes and recruits him to come to Antioch,
• During this time he visits places in Cilicia and Syria. Galatians 1:21-24
• He is still unknown personally to believers in Judea.
Barnabas (who had been sent to work in the church in Antioch) goes to find Saul in Tarsus.
• He brings him back to Antioch. They teach together for one year (Acts 11:25-26).
• Saul, Barnabas, and Titus go to Jerusalem with famine relief money for Judea.
• They meet privately with the church leaders.
• Despite some disagreements, the leaders recognize Saul’s ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 11:27-30; Galatians 2:1-10).
Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey: Acts 13 - 14
• Salamis Acts 13:5
• Paphos Acts 13:6
• Antioch (Pisidia) Acts 13:14
• Iconium Acts 13:51
• Lystra and Derbe Acts 14:6, 20
• Return journey Acts 14:21, 22
Mission to the Galatians
• Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Antioch church, with John Mark (Acts 13:1-3). • They encounter Bar-Jesus, false prophet and friend of the governor.
• Bar-Jesus is struck blind.
• The governor believes.
• From Paphos on, Saul becomes Paul.
• John Mark was probably a spoiled rich kid.
• John Mark leaves to go back to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
• Paul preaches to Jews and Gentiles.
• The Jews are jealous and stir up opposition (Acts 13:14-52).
• They stay a long time. Many Jews and Gentiles become believers.
• A Gentile plot on their lives forces them on (Acts 14:1-7).
• At Lystra Paul heals a cripple.
• They are hailed as gods.
• Enemies arrive from Antioch and Iconium—they are almost killed (Acts 14:8-20).
• They flee to Derbe. Many more disciples are won there.
• They return the way they came, encouraging the young churches (Acts 14:21-26).
• They report everything to the church in Antioch (Acts 14:27-28).
The Council in Jerusalem : Acts 15
• Considerable controversy erupts over the obligations incumbent upon Gentile believers in regards to circumcision, keeping the Mosaic Law, etc.
• Paul, Barnabas, and others seek the elders in Jerusalem for resolution.
• Peter also testifies…
Peter’s Testimony
Acts 15:10-11
“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we
believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved,
even as they.”
He’s arguing the fact that many miracles are being done among the Gentile believers as a confirmation.
The Two Problems Raised
• What must a Gentile do to be saved?
Does he have to become a Jew to be saved?
The answer is of course not! The Gentile has been “grafted in Jesus Christ.”
• God is calling out a people from the Gentiles, and once that is done, He will then return and build the Tabernacle and do all of these other things.
• What is to become of Israel?
What was this all for? All of our history, all of these laws, all of these ordinances, the priesthood, the Temple, is this all over now?
• God is not through with Israel, because Israel has a destiny after the church is complete.
James’ Response
Acts 15:14-16
“Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at
the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, ‘After this
I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen
down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up…’”
James is quoting Amos 9:11, 12. Recent discoveries in Israel have revealed definitive evidence of James’ leadership of the Jerusalem church.
• The Vatican had attempted to sequester the materials; however, Robert Fisher, among the excavators, let the “cat-out-of-the-bag!”
The Resolution(s)
• Gentiles should abstain from idols, from fornication, from things strangled, and blood
• There is no commitment here to the Mosaic practices, such as ceremonial laws,
circumcision, etc.
• They are not required.
• The issue of Israel’s destiny (Romans 9, 10, 11).
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey, Greece: 15:36 – 18:22
• Philippi
• Thessalonica
• Berea
• Athens
• Corinth
• Ephesus
• Paul and Barnabas agree to revisit the Galatian churches. But they disagree about taking John Mark who had left them on the earlier mission.
• After an argument, Barnabas takes Mark to Cyprus.
• Paul takes Silas to Galatia.
Now they have two teams out preaching
• At Lystra Paul asks a young man named Timothy to join them (Acts 16:1-3).
They revisit the towns, telling the believers the decisions of the Jerusalem Council about
Gentile converts (Acts 16:4-5).
• Paul tries to go to Bithynia, the Northern part of Turkey, by Magog but is blocked by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6-7).
• At night, Paul has a vision: a Macedonian (Greece) urges him to come to help.
At this point Luke joins them:
Luke may have been the guy in the dream.
• They sail for Macedonia (Acts 16:8-10).
• Paul delivers a girl in Philippi, a medium from an evil spirit.
• When she becomes a believer, she loses her occultic gift’
• Her owners protest, and the crowd attacks; they are flogged, and imprisoned; then they are freed by an earthquake.
• The Philippian jailer is converted (Acts 16:11-40).
• They travel to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1).
• Paul convinces both Jews and Greeks. Some Jews stir up a riot—
• Paul leaves secretly but Silas and Timothy stay behind (Acts 17:10-15).
• In Berea, Paul gets a better reception, but the mob is stirred up by Jews from Thessalonica.
• In Athens, Paul speaks to the court of the Areopagus (Mars Hill), which met to consider new religions.
• His mention of the resurrection divides his audience: some laugh, some believe (Acts 17:16-34).
• Paul then travels to Corinth. Silas and Timothy arrive with news of Thessalonica.
• Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians, encouraging that church in its difficulties.
• They spend almost two years here, building up the church. Despite Jewish opposition, they are able to stay (Acts 18:1-17).
• They stop briefly in Ephesus—Paul had been forbidden earlier by the Holy Spirit to preach in Asia. He debates with the Jews who want him to stay longer (Acts 18:18-21).
• They travel back to Antioch, via Caesarea and Jerusalem (Acts 18:22).
Paul at Mars Hill
Aeropagus was the Court of the Judges (where Socrates was tried and put to death 400 years earlier...).
• Paul begins where the people were:
• Their idolatry (30,000 “gods”);
• You are “extremely devout”; “very god-fearing”;
• The altar to the Unknown God:
• “We are his offspring...”:
He is quoting from an astronomical poem of Aratus, a Greek countryman of Paul’s (his predecessor by 300 years.) and a religious hymn of Cleanthes of Troas, a contemporary of Aratus. [Paul also quoted Menander in 1 Corinthians 15:33]
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey: Acts 18-21
• After spending some time in Antioch, Paul revisited the churches in Galatia and Phrygia in order (Acts 18:23).
• Paul makes Ephesus the base for his mission work for the next three years.
• Disciples of Apollos receive the Holy Spirit and a church is founded (Acts 19:1-7).
The gospel spreads in Asia (Acts 19:8-20).
The Corinthian Problems
• Paul plans to go to Macedonia. He sends Timothy and Erastus ahead (Acts 19:21-22).
• They may also visit Corinth (1 Cor 16:10-11).
• Paul is worried about immorality at the church there.
• The household of Chloe brought him news of cliques in the church (1Cor inthians1:11) and the church wrote him a letter (re: 1 Cor 7:1) presumably brought to Ephesus by Stephanas,
• Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Cor 16:17), who probably added their own comments.
• The situation was serious. Paul responded with the letter we know as 1 Corinthians.
• Paul hears bad news about the church in Corinth, possibly from Timothy. He hurries to • Corinth (implied by the intended third visit of (2 Cor 12:14).
• The visit is extremely painful for everyone. Paul has to be severe.
He returns to Ephesus:
• Here he writes a “painful letter” to them (2 Corinthians 2:4).
• Had it not been successful it might conceivably have meant a final rupture between Paul and this church he had founded.
• This letter seems to have been lost, although many scholars feel part of it is preserved in 2 Corinthians 10 - 13.
• Titus takes the letter to Corinth. Paul arranges to meet Titus again at Troas urgently, to get news of the situation.
Paul is the center of a riot in Ephesus.
• His message threatens the sale of statues of the Ephesian goddess Diana (Acts 19:23-41).
Paul goes to Troas:
• The work goes well, but Paul is worried about his “painful letter.” Was it too
harsh?
• Titus does not appear as arranged (2 Corinthians 2:12-13).
• Paul enters Macedonia in search of Titus. By doing this he breaks an arrangement he made with the Corinthians—he was going to go to them by sea before visiting Macedonia.
• He apologizes in 2 Corinthians 1:15–
• He didn’t want another painful visit.
• He encourages the churches (Acts 20:1-2) and collects money for the Jerusalem church (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
• Paul and Titus finally meet. Titus brings good news—the “painful letter” has been taken as Paul intended;
• The Corinthians had punished the ringleader of the opposition and repented (2 Corinthians 7:5-16).
• Paul writes 2 Corinthians—full of joy, he encourages them to complete their promised
giving for the Jerusalem church (2 Corinthians 8:10-15).
• Titus takes the letter ahead of Paul to prepare the church for Paul’s third visit (2 Corinthians 8:16-24).
• Paul stays in Achaia three months, probably in Corinth.
Here he writes the letter to the Romans:
• He plans to travel to Jerusalem by sea via Syria. A plot by his enemies forces him to return through Macedonia (Acts 20:2-6).
Paul’s Return to Jerusalem
• Paul is anxious to be in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, seven weeks away.
• He arrives in Troas from Philippi.
• While he preaches until midnight, about 6 hours.
• Eutychus falls asleep and out of a third-story window.
• But he is raised from the dead.
• Elders from the church in Ephesus meet Paul, who gives a farewell speech. He says they will never see him again.
Paul leaves with great emotion:
• At Patara they change ships and sail for Tyre.
• After landing at Tyre, they spend a day at Ptolemais (Acts 21:7).
At Caesarea they stay at Philip the evangelist’s house.
• Agabus the prophet tells Paul that he will be bound by Jews in Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles.
• Paul is determined to go on, despite warnings and pleas.
Appeal to Caesar!
• At Jerusalem Paul is welcomed by the church, but is recognized by Jews from Asia in the temple.
• A mob drags him outside and tries to kill him, over forty men swear a blood oath and plot to kill Paul.
• Roman troops arrest (and rescue) him.
• Paul is allowed to speak to the rioters. His words incite them to more violence.
• Paul announces his Roman Citizenship and he is taken into the Roman Fortress.
• The next day, Paul defends himself before the Jewish Council.
• Again the arguments turn to violence.
• Paul is taken back to the Fortress.
• The Roman commander hears of the plot.
• That night he sends Paul under armed escort to the governor Felix in Caesarea.
• Paul’s case is heard by Felix, but he defers a decision.
• Two years later Festus replaces Felix.
• Paul is still imprisoned for 2 years.
• Festus hears Paul’s case.
• He seems unfavorable, so Paul appeals to have his case heard by the emperor Caesar.
• He waits to go to Rome and presents his story to Agrippa II.
• Paul and his companions (including Luke) leave for Rome, Paul under armed guard.
Paul’s Hearings
• Before Sanhedrin Acts 23
– Arguments turn to violence
• Before Governor Felix Acts 24
– Defers. After 2 years, Festus replaces Felix
• Before Governor Festus Acts 25
– “I appeal to Caesar”
• Before King Agrippa Acts 26
– While awaiting his appeal
Storm and Shipwreck: Acts 27
• Paul and other prisoners pick up a ship out of Sidon late in the season of October.
• They board an Alexandrian granary ship heading for Rome at Myra.
• They seek shelter from bad weather at Fair Havens; Paul tries to convince them to stay.
• They shelter there until early October—the end of the safe sailing season.
• Luke is accompanying Paul on this journey.
• They decide to winter in the better harbour at Phoenix.
• However, en route to Phoenix a storm blows them out to sea and they are in desperate straits.
• South of Cauda, they pull the boat on board, lower the sail, and let the ship run.
• The next day they jettison the ship’s cargo;
• The day following they jettison the ship’s equipment.
• At night after 2 weeks of the storm, land is near. The sailors try to escape but fail.
• After eating, they lighten the ship.
• The ship hits a sandbank in a bay off the coast of Malta and begins to break up.
• All hands are saved.
Acts 27 has a lot of marine information...
• On Malta, Paul recovers from a snake bite and heals other sick people.
• They stay three months, until the bad weather has passed.
• At Syracuse they stop for three days.
• They reach Puteoli, one of the great ports of the empire.
• Paul and friends stay with the local believers for a week.
• They now set out on the 100-mile journey to Rome.
• Paul is worried and apprehensive, but is encouraged when believers from Rome come
out to welcome him.
• Paul is kept under house arrest in Rome, awaiting his trial.
• For two years he rents a house and has considerable freedom to preach.
Paul’s Final Footprints: The Pastoral Letters
Three books of the New Testament give a few brief glimpses of Paul’s activity beyond the end of Acts. They were written to two young church leaders who had worked under Paul.
1 Timothy
Paul is out of prison, probably released from his house arrest in Rome at the end of Acts. He had recently been in Ephesus, heading for Macedonia. He left Timothy in Ephesus to continue his work (1 Timothy 1:3).
Titus (Paul’s troubleshooter)
In this letter, Paul is also out of prison. It seems that he had traveled to Crete with Titus. He knows the situation there well, so he may have been on Crete for some time. He left Titus there and now asks him to meet up at Nicopolis, where he intends to spend the winter (Titus 3:12).
Nicopolis is on the route from Crete to Dalmatia. As 2 Timothy 4:10 says, Titus later went
to Dalmatia.
Did Paul and Titus meet as agreed, before Titus continued his journey?
2 Timothy
Paul writes from prison in Rome, having been re-arrested. He has already had one trial (2 Timothy 4:16-17) and seems to expect execution soon. But he had been traveling recently.
He had left his cloak and some books at Troas (2 Timothy 4:13). He had also been in Miletus and Corinth, leaving friends at those places (2 Timothy 4:20). There is also a hint that he may have been to Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:14-15) where there had been trouble. This seems to be Paul’s final letter.
Visit to Spain?
Paul probably visited Spain too during this period of freedom. He had planned to do so before his first arrest (Romans 15:24, 28), and early tradition records a visit.
The Book of Acts (Review)
• The Birth of the Church, as distinct from Israel
• The Gateway to the Epistles: interpretation and significances
• History of the first 30 years of the Church (Rev 2 & 3: the next two thousand…)
Next Session: The Epistle to the Romans
• The Definitive Gospel According to Paul: the most comprehensive
book in the New Testament.
• Impact on History: unequaled! Grace gradually erodes to forms of
legalism...when grace becomes obscured it leads to...
• 590 - 1517 = “The Dark Ages.”
• The Kingdom of Blood, a history of the church.
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