As we've studied the book of Acts this winter, we've been exploring the explosive rise of Christianity. So many times, our focus is on how we can be better as “individuals.” In this series, it’s how we can be better together as “the church.” There is nothing more humbling than to realize how high Christ has set the bar for his pastors and church. Sometimes it feels our lives and church are but a shadow of what we read in Acts. For that matter, what we read in Acts is but a shadow of what we read of Christ’s life and ministry, in the gospels.
My continual prayer is that God transform us to hunger and thirst for Christ's Kingdom and Righteousness. May we more fully believe in Jesus, abiding in him for life! May we be transformed, more fully becoming like Jesus through the presence and power of his Holy Spirit. May we more fully build what God would have us build, as households, as the people of God. May we more fully embrace—braving—Jesus’ mission in this world!
On Easter we're going to launch a new series called “Soul Strong.”
Maybe these past months you’ve observed the utter tenacity with which these great Apostles (men like Peter, James, John, or Paul)… or leaders like Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, John Mark, Luke… couples like Aquilla and Priscilla… women like Lydia (the list is long)… the tenacity… with which they served God.
So many people, even Christians, feel anything but strong. Think about what adjectives you would use to describe people today. Would you say people around you are Strong? Resilient? Courageous? Hopeful? Standing Firm? Resolute? Would you say people are facing down life's challenges well, with a strong sense of purpose and grace? With integrity? How about facing life, persevering in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control?
Sadly, we'd be more apt to describe people as anxious, uncertain, maybe “harassed or helpless?” Trying to find their way but without hope, without God? Without Word or Faith? What would it look like for us to armor up, spiritually? What would it look like for God to fit us with everything needed to let our soul shine through every battle? Easter is an ideal time to invite someone to join us as we discuss these things.
This morning we're in Acts 21-24. At this point, the gospel has for all practical purposes, touched every corridor of the Greek-Roman Empire. Only the city of Rome itself, and perhaps the Emperor himself, remains. In Acts 1:8 Jesus’ commanded his apostles to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. As we come to Acts 21, Paul is headed back to Jerusalem to report all that God has been doing through his Holy Spirit. In that 1st Generation, the mission given by the Holy Spirit is being completed! We too can finish well.
Let's talk through the story of Acts 21-24, and draw out some application along the way. In Acts 21, Paul is definitely making his way back toward Jerusalem. As he travels, no matter how obscure the place, a vast network of Christian converts is emerging. One of the dynamics fueling the gospel is Christian hospitality! The Church was the first century Air B&B! One caveat… Paul wouldn’t stay in empty homes. He'd stay with families for days, or a church for a week.
When he'd depart, tears would be shed! As Paul departs Tyre, Acts 21:5-6 Luke writes, “When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, 6 we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home.” Back in Ephesus Paul shed tears and wept with Elders at Ephesus.
As Paul travels along he tells the believers he is headed to Jerusalem. While in Tyre, Luke writes in Acts 21:4, “We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.” Everyone understands trouble awaits Paul in Jerusalem. As Paul arrives in Caesarea, he reconnects with Philip the Evangelist. Philip has four daughters who prophesied! While with Phillip, Luke reports in Acts 21:10-12, “After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.” What you should see here is every spirit-filled person, and especially those with prophetic gifts and the Holy Spirit, is warning Paul trouble awaits in Jerusalem.
Now this is very important. We've seen in Acts how the Holy Spirit has directed the mission. Earlier, when Paul tried to enter Asia Minor the Holy Spirit prohibited, blocked him! That is not what is happening in Acts 21. The Holy Spirit is not prohibiting Paul from returning to Jerusalem, He is warning Paul about the cost of doing so.
It's also Luke and Paul entourage saying to Paul, “this is a good idea.” In Acts 20:13-14 Luke writes, “13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
There is so much to reflect upon in these chapters. There was a moment in the gospels, when hostilities were at a fever pitch, when the enemies of God were stirred to rage, the Bible tells us Jesus set his face like flint to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 says, "Now when the time was approaching for Him to be taken up [to heaven], He was determined to go to Jerusalem [to fulfill His purpose]." Luke 9:51 is an echo of Isaiah 50:7 where God’s servant says, "For the Lord GOD helps Me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed." Only Peter was foolish enough to try and stand in Jesus’ way, and we remember how Jesus rebuked Peter, “get behind me Satan.”
Just like Jesus, Paul is resolute, determined to go up to the Jerusalem. His face is set like flint and everyone including God Himself knows it. Nobody dares make the mistake of Peter, to stand in his way. Whether he is to be bound, or die, Paul is ready. But again, there is so much to say here. Paul isn't returning to Jerusalem, gratuitously hoping his death, or martyrdom will somehow add to the once and for all sufficient death of Christ. He isn't going to die for the sins of the world, and become savior of mankind. Paul is going to announce one final time to the Jewish authorities that Christ died, was buried, and was raised on the third day. As Paul says in Romans, he ‘d rather he himself be accursed and cut off than live with the thought his Jewish brethren perish without hope, without Christ. He wants that one, last sermon, one last shot at converting his brethren.
Well, as it goes in Acts 22, Paul returns to Jerusalem. There is a great reunion of believers. There is a meeting and celebration as Paul reports all that has been done. But its once again in Jerusalem, the believers warn Paul that there are ferocious men who believe he's denied Moses, and the Law, and everything good. They urge him to shave his head, to honor the celebration underway in Jerusalem, and to show himself as being under the law. The truth is that like Christ, Paul's enemies were already resolved to kill him.
In Jerusalem, Paul peacefully enters the temple to worship but when he's seen there is violently seized and accused of being against Moses. A riot breaks out. Paul is violently attacked by mob who scream, “get rid of him!” and “wipe him off the face of the earth” and “he should not be allowed to live!” They have gospel derangement syndrome. Jesus… Resurrection… Paul derangement syndrome! By the end of Acts 22 Paul is “rescued" by the Roman authorities who beat him and bind in him prison. But of course, Paul asks to give his defense to the crowd. In reality, the actual doctrine that made Paul's enemies most deranged was when he says in Acts 22:1 “God sent him far away to announce salvation to even Gentiles.”
What might the love of Jesus cost us? Wipe this man off the face of this earth. He should not be allowed to live. As the Roman authorities beat Paul, he reminds them that though he is a Jew, he is a true, fully born citizen of the Roman Empire, with full status and legal rights. In other words, Paul didn't go to Jerusalem to gratuitously be martyred for martyrdom’ sake. He evokes his full rights and demands to be protected. Of course, the Roman authorities hand Paul over to the Chief Priests and Sanhedrin anyway, hoping to gain favors.
While in Jewish custody, Acts 23:2-3 says, “2 The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.” And then unlike Jesus, who remained silent before his accusers, Paul says to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?”
But of course, Paul goes too far here, not realizing that the person is speaking to is Ananias the High Priest! Those standing nearby are aghast at Paul, “Do you dare revile God’s High Priest?” To revile the High Priest was to not only violate the Law of Moses, but it was also revile God himself, who installed such a man in that position of authority. Paul immediately explains, Acts 22:5, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,” and then Paul reiterates Moses law.
In Acts 22 when Paul is giving his testimony, the crowd canceled him the moment he explained God has sent him to declare hope to even Gentiles. But in Acts 23 Paul gives a full-throated testimony and declaration of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. And Paul, of course, declares his own hope in a bodily resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous. All of this talk of resurrection causes the Sanhedrin and Pharisees to descend into violent debate. Again, it’s gospel and resurrection derangement syndrome. Things get so nasty in Jerusalem Acts 23:12 tells us, a group of forty Jews bind themselves to death to kill Paul.
But during the night, in Acts 23:11, the Lord had spoken to Paul, “Have Courage. For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome." Here again Spirit is orchestrating his mission! There was no eternal purpose for a Jerusalem martyrdom. The Holy Spirit had in mind to send Paul even further yet, to Rome, to the Emperor himself, to bear witness to the kings of the world that a Greater King has ascended to an even greater throne. Paul is God's instrument to put the Kings and Nations on notice! WOW! Just think about that. Jerusalem was put on notice (AD 70). How Caesar would be put on notice. And how? Paul will make a legal appeal and defense all way up chain of command starting with Felix (Governor) all the way to the Emperor himself. Next week we will pick up the story in Acts 24. You won't believe what Holy Spirit is about to do! PRAYER: BE BOLD!