Tag: End of Days

Acts 23:12-35 — Kill Paul!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Jesus told Paul to be of good cheer, because he must bear witness in Rome, just as he had testified in Jerusalem. Paul is a prisoner now. The rest of Acts will follow Paul’s case as it moves through the Roman justice system. In the section before us, the Jews will not be content to leave the matter to the Romans. They will seek to kill him. This is nothing new, of course. Paul is probably used to it by now. (Acts 9:22-25, 29; 14;19f, 20:3)

To recap, Paul was arrested when he made his address to the Jews from the stairs leading to the Antonia Fortress. (Acts 21:35, 40) There is debate over where the Praetorium was (Mark 15:16), but tradition says (and many Protestants believe) that the stairs from which Paul made his speech were the same stairs that Jesus stood on at his trial. These same steps were purportedly taken to Rome in the 4th Century by Helena, the mother of Constantine:


The Scala Sancta in Rome

Rome is notorious for fake artifacts, but the Scala Sancta may be genuine. If so, it should probably be broken to pieces the same way Hezekiah broke down the brazen serpent that Moses made. (II Kings 18:4)

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 23:12-35
12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

Conspiracy is a Bible word. If you don’t believe in conspiracy theories, you don’t believe the Bible.

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

They would have done well to have listened to Yeshua, who said, But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matt 5:37; cf Jam 5:12)

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

Now the Sanhedrin is in on the conspiracy. But they forgot the cardinal rule of espionage: absolute secrecy. Paul’s nephew was nearby, and unbeknownst to the conspirators, he heard them discussing their plot.

16 And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle [Antonia Fortress], and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

I think this centurion must have been a Christian. Paul gives him an order, and he follows it without question.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

Notice how the chief captain embellishes the truth here to make himself look good. He did not know Paul was a Roman when he rescued him. In fact, he was planning on scourging Paul to elicit a confession before he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen. (Acts 22)

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

This is the third time that Paul had to escape by night because of a plot to kill him.


An escort of 470 soldiers

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 And when the governor [Antonius Felix] had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
Acts 23:12-35

So, now Paul is in Caesarea Maritima again (Acts 21:8), the capital of Roman Judea, waiting for his accusers to come down from Jerusalem so Felix can hold a hearing to determine the nature of the case against Paul.

Throughout Paul’s ordeal, he keeps his faith and embraces his situation. Paul did not seek hardship, like the Holy Fool in the Christian tradition, or like the Sannyasi in the Hindu tradition. Paul wrote I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Phil 4:12) Part of our sanctification is to deny ourselves (Matt 16:24), but in the case of Paul (and Jesus), suffering seems to be a consequence of Holiness, not a means or method to attain holiness. When suffering does come, however, it leads to a greater understanding and closeness to God for the child of God. For others, it can drive them away from God. The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay.

For the Christian, suffering is merely transitory. We understand that all our shortcomings, sufferings, and failures in this life are merely training tools. In the millennium, everyone who has received Christ as his personal Saviour will get a do-over. The people of New Haven, Connecticut, understood this. In 1796 they organized plans for a community cemetery. Located in the middle of the Yale University campus, the lintel to the arch over the entrance of the Grove Street Cemetery, completed in 1845, still bears the prophetic words, “THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED,” taken from I Corinthians 15:52.

It will be five days before the high priest and the elders come down from Jerusalem and arrive at Caesarea, along with their attack dog and lead prosecutor, Tertullus. We will see what happens next in our next post.

Father, help us to follow your will in all things and to embrace whatever Providence allows to come our way, that we may keep things in perspective, knowing that this life is but a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)

Acts 22:25-23:11 — Paul’s Defense Before the Sanhedrin

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul was about to be examined by scourging after causing an uproar. It was Paul’s comment about being sent to the Gentiles that caused the uproar, if not an all-out riot. Not knowing Hebrew, the chief captain did not know what Paul said to the crowd to get them so riled up. So, he decided to scourge Paul until he confessed whatever it was he had said. (Acts 22:24)

The year is 58 AD.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 22:25-23:11
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

Paul knows how to talk to people. Instead of saying, “You cannot scourge me! I’m a Roman!” He simply asks a question, one he already knows the answer to. (When you need something from someone, it is often better to word it as a question than as a command. ‘Can we’, ‘Can you’, or ‘Can I’ sounds better than ‘Give me this’ or
‘Do that’.)

26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

As a Roman citizen, Paul had something in common with the chief captain, Claudius Lysias, except Claudius was an ex-slave, while Paul was ‘free born’. Claudius had purchased his freedom and worked his way up through the ranks in the army.

As a citizen, Paul had rights afforded to him by Roman law. If Paul had been a Roman from Rome, I believe he probably would have been released. However, since Paul was a Jewish Roman, he was still stuck in the system (according to God’s will), being accused by the Jews.

29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The guy holding the whip immediately walks away. Even Claudius is worried he might be in trouble now.

30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

Paul always wanted an audience before the Sanhedrin. Paul himself used to be a member. This is the same council that had Jesus crucified, had Stephen stoned, and now is seeking to kill Paul, one of their own.

AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

Not a very receptive audience, to say the least. Paul is just beginning his opening statement when Ananias has someone hit him in the mouth. It looks like Paul’s claim to have lived in all good conscience before God is what upset Ananias, the high priest. Paul’s conscience was cleansed by the blood of Christ (Heb 9:14), while Ananias’ conscience was evil. (Heb 10:22)  A good conscience convicts you when you do bad. An evil conscience convicts you when you do good.

3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

God did smite Ananias. According to Wiersbe, history remembers Ananias as a corrupt ruler who favored Rome over Israel. During the revolt of 66 AD, when Ananias fled for his life to Rome, he was captured by the Jews and executed.

4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Just as Jesus pointed out that He was being abused contrary to the law at his trial (John 18:23), Paul points out that it was illegal for them to hit him. But when Paul is told he is addressing the high priest, he corrects himself for calling the high priest a whited wall. This is one of the scriptures that indicates Paul had eye trouble. If Paul could see well, they should not have had to tell him he was speaking to the high priest.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Realizing that they are not going to listen, Paul makes the best of a bad situation. He gets the Pharisees on his side by bringing up the doctrine of the resurrection and reminding them that he is a Pharisee too.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Paul even has some of the scribes on his side. While it was the Pharisees that persecuted Jesus, it will be the Sadducees that persecute Paul now.

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. [fortress Antonia]
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Acts 22:25-23:11

Here is one of the main reasons that I believe Paul was in God’s will when he went up to Jerusalem. Jesus tells him to be of good cheer, because as he testified in Jerusalem, he must bear witness also in Rome. That doesn’t sound like something Jesus would say to someone who was out of his will.

From here on out, Paul knows he is on his way to Rome. This is good news as Paul has been wanting to go there. (Acts 19:21; Rom 1:13; 15:24) It will not happen right away, but having received his instructions from the Lord, Paul knows it is as good as done. They say getting there is half the fun, and Paul will have a lot to do before he arrives in Rome. It may not sound like much fun, but I think Paul enjoyed some of it. Not only was it an adventure, but the Lord was with him, and Paul knew he was doing his duty.

Paul will be a prisoner throughout the rest of Acts. Having testified to the Sanhedrin, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, will now use his court case to share the gospel with the Roman authorities. Paul began sharing the gospel with Roman officials in Acts 13:

In closing, one thing that struck me in this section was how they arbitrarily struck Paul on the mouth. Imagine going into court, and just as you are getting your first sentence out, they have someone hit you in the mouth. This sounds foreign to us because we enjoy the benefits of living in a society with individual rights derived from the Christian worldview. We have Paul to thank for that, yet things are changing. Francis Schaeffer saw this change taking place over 40 years ago. He detailed his concerns in A Christian Manifesto (Crossway Books, 1982). Schaeffer delivered the message below in 1982, based on the thesis of his book.

A PDF of Schaeffer’s remarks is available here.

When we appear before the Bema seat, hopefully we will be able to say with Paul, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:10) Doing your duty may sound like a lot of work, but there is no greater feeling than the thrill you get when you lead someone to Christ.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit day by day. Help us to focus on your Son, and not on the distractions from the world. Protect us from evil. Help us to be salt and light to those You send us to. Help us to be as patient with others as You are with us. Help us to forgive others as You have forgiven us, that we may do our duty, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 22:1-24 — Paul’s Speech to his Brethren in Jerusalem

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul was rescued by Roman guards just before being torn to pieces by the Jews in Jerusalem. He had been falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. When Paul asked the chief captain to let him address the people, he consented. We pick back up as Paul begins his speech.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your precious word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 22:1-24
MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

Some commentators say Paul was speaking Aramaic, which was the common tongue in Israel in that day, but I am not so sure. An Israeli friend of mine once told me when his Israeli son saw The Passion of the Christ (with dialogue in Aramaic), he did not need the subtitles. He understood the Aramaic just fine. I suspect that Paul may have chosen to speak Hebrew, and the people understood him. In any case, hearing Paul speak in Hebrew calmed the crowd down. They are intently listening now that they hear him speaking Hebrew.

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

It has not been all that long since Jesus was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem. Paul’s audience knew who Jesus was. They knew what this way was. When Paul says he persecuted them unto the death, they continue listening intently.

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

In Acts 9:7, Dr Luke said that those who journeyed with Paul heard ‘a voice’ but saw no man. It does not say ‘what’ voice they heard. It certainly does not say they heard the voice of him that spake to [Paul]. (See John 12:29, for a similar scenario.)

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

Again, as Paul tells about the murder of Stephen, they stay silent and continue to listen.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

They gave Paul audience unto “this word.” What word? Gentiles. The mention of the word Gentiles set the crowd off like a match to gasoline, the same way they went off when Paul was accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. Paul knew what would happen when he told them he was sent to the Gentiles, but he did not care. All Paul cared about was being a faithful witness and telling the truth. The gospel is for everyone, both Jew and Gentile. (John 3:16; Rom 1:16)

23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
Acts 22:1-24

This chapter opens the door to one of the hottest topics of the 21st Century: ‘racism’. It is also one of my least favorite topics to discuss. On a problem scale of 1 to 10, I think the greatest problem this world faces is a lack of Bible knowledge at number 10. Racism would be somewhere down around number 1. That being said, racism is a problem, although not necessarily one of the major problems facing us today. One of the best ways to fight racism, according to Morgan Freeman, is to “Quit talking about it.”

That being said, like most of our problems, the answer to the racism problem is Jesus. I recall seeing the testimony of a South African man who admittedly ‘hated’ black people for most of his life, ever since his dad had an affair with a Zulu lady. He then explained how immediately after receiving Christ, his racism was gone, and he no longer hated black people.

I can still recall the first time I saw someone who was not the same color as me. I was about four years old, and I saw a choir of inner-city children on TV singing “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” At first, I was suspicious as they looked much different than anyone I had ever seen before, but in very short order, I noticed the quality of their song. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. When I realized they were singing about Jesus, whom I had just recently met, I decided they were just like me. I was no longer suspicious of them.

Then there is the old anecdote about having your car break down in a very bad neighborhood. It’s dark; the streetlights are not working; seedy characters milling about. As you make your way down the street looking for a gas station, you see six big guys heading your way. You get a lump in your throat; your heart is beating fast now. But wait, then you notice they just came out of a church.

Views are shaped by experiences, and the Jews of Paul’s day had their share of bad experiences with Gentiles. From being slaves in Egypt, to being raided by the Assyrians, to having their city and their temple destroyed by the Babylonians, to seeing their fellow countrymen crucified by the occupying Romans, the Jews had plenty of reasons to hate Gentiles. Why didn’t Paul hate them? Because Paul knew Jesus.

Jesus is the way, the [TRUTH], and the life. To know Jesus is to know the truth. If you embrace and tell the truth, you will be considered an idiot, like Prince Myshkin in Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot. The Idiot was Dostoyevsky’s personal favorite among his own writings. A commentary on the way people naturally lie to navigate their way in polite society, The Idiot shows what happens to someone who always tells the truth. In the end, Prince Myshkin, the idiot, went mad. Paul was beheaded. Jesus was crucified. But that was not really the end, now, was it. Paul went to heaven. (II Cor 5:8) Jesus rose again, and ascended into heaven as his disciples watched. Myshkin was a fictional character, but had he been real, he would be in heaven too.

So as for the racist nature of the Jews in Chapter 22, the problem was not ‘racism’. That was only a symptom of the larger problem: they needed Jesus.

You need Jesus. I need Jesus. Everyone needs Jesus. We will see what happens next in our next post, but in the meantime, if you still have not received Jesus as your personal Saviour, say this prayer:

Father in heaven, I realize I am a sinner. Thank You for sending your Son to die for me. Lord Jesus, thank You for the precious blood You shed for me at Calvary. Please come into my heart; I receive You as my personal Saviour. Lord, I repent of my sins and ask You to take control of every area of my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:15-40 — Paul Goes up to Jerusalem – Happy Birthday America!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Paul returned to Israel. In this post, Paul will come full circle back to Jerusalem, from whence he began his third mission trip. We are entering the last section of Acts now. In this post, we will set the table for everything else that follows. Paul’s return to Jerusalem will set off a chain of events that will lead to Paul’s witness before Caesar Nero.

Give us understanding, Father, and fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we may assimilate your precious word into our hearts, that we may be transformed, that our minds may be renewed, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:15-40
15 And after those days we took up our carriages [luggage], and went up to Jerusalem.
16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

Paul returns to Jerusalem with an entourage of fellowservants. He is bearing a gift from the brethren in Macedonia and Achaia for the poor saints at Jerusalem. (Rom 15:26; Acts 24:17) This shows how the Christians in Jerusalem were having a tough time because of persecution, and also how their Gentile brethren were able to help. (Rom 15:27)

18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James [the half-brother of our Lord]; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Dr Luke skips over the part about them glorifying the Lord for the Gentile believers so fast it is easy to miss. In the same sentence, Dr Luke goes into their concerns that Paul may be misunderstood, which, of course, he will be.

21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

None of this is true, of course. Paul circumcised Timothy for this very reason, so people would not get the wrong impression. He is in Jerusalem to keep the feast of Pentecost. (Acts 20:16) However much Paul tried to make matters clear, though, there were always those who made themselves Paul’s enemies.

22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

This shows why Paul may have taken the vow in Acts 18. Paul said he was all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (1 Cor 9:22)

25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Again we see the declaration from Acts 15 for Gentile believers. At this time, the Jewish believers in the early church were still very much keeping the law. As long as they were trusting Jesus for their salvation, they were free to do so.

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed [assumed] that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

Jesus said My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer, citing Isaiah 56:7, but Gentiles were strictly forbidden beyond the Court of the Gentiles, on pain of death. The Romans allowed the Jews to enforce this custom.

Like the pagan temples Paul has been preaching against, the temple in Jerusalem had become an abomination, since the administrators rejected Christ and continued to trust in the blood of beasts brought for sacrifice. Jesus therefore said the temple would be destroyed (Matt 24), which, of course, it was in 70 AD.

They have been preparing to rebuild the temple for a long time now. Eventually, the temple will be rebuilt (Rev 11), and the Antichrist will be worshiped in it. (II Thess 2:4) In the millennium, however, Jesus will be glorified in the temple in Jerusalem. (Hag 2:9)

31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

Ironic, is it not, that Paul is rescued from the Jews by the Romans?

33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. [ie, the Antonia Fortress]
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

Paul was just as comfortable with Greek as he was with Hebrew, being from Tarsus. The chief captain was surprised to hear Paul speaking Greek, since he mistook Paul for an Egyptian dissadent who had been causing problems in Judea:

38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean [ordinary] city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

Being from Tarsus afforded Paul the approval of the chief captain, Claudius Lysias. (Acts 23:26) He allowed Paul to speak to the crowd when he realized Paul was not who he thought he was.

40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Acts 21:15-40

I’m afraid we will have to leave off here. In our next post, we will look at Paul’s speech to his fellow countrymen. In this post, we saw the beginning of the persecution that the Holy Spirit has been warning Paul would meet him in Jerusalem. Jesus said Paul would bear his name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). Paul has already taken the gospel to some Roman officials. Now he is getting to know the chief captain in Jerusalem, Claudius Lysias. Before he is done, Paul will also stand before Antonius Felix, Porcius Festus, and king Agrippa II, together with his sister, Bernice. He will also meet Publius of Malta before finally standing before the emperor of the Roman Empire, Caesar Nero. This is one of the reasons I believe Paul was in God’s will in going to Jerusalem. Paul is fulfilling his destiny. All together, Paul will witness to eight important Romans in government that we know of:

In closing, Happy Birthday America! As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of our sacred Declaration of Independence, I am heartened to see people from around the world changing their opinions about us after getting to know us a little better.

The World Cup visitors are a reality check for Americans who are not thankful for all God has blessed us with, like the girl at the beginning of the video below:


Finally, Whitney Houston started singing in the choir at Newhope Baptist Church in Newark when she was five years old. She went on to sing the greatest rendition of our national anthem ever recorded (IMO). Rest in peace, Whitney.

Father, thank You for 250 years of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; please give us one last Great Awakening, for your glory, Father. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:1-14 — Paul Returns to Israel, Stands by his Convictions, Prepares to go up to Jerusalem

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

Throughout this study in Acts, we have seen how the Holy Spirit speaks to his people and leads his church. I recently finished reading The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee, and the last part of the book proved to be most interesting. It shows how our spirits not only receive leadings from the Holy Spirit, but how the enemy can place thoughts in our minds as well. This explains a lot about human behavior, especially among those who do not know Christ. (II Tim 2:26)

Understanding this is fundamental if we are to take control of our own thoughts. (II Cor 10:5) In doing so, we can quash petty squabblings and arguments that seem to come out of nowhere. When we rebuke the enemy, we can then take control of the situation and let the Holy Spirit have his way. This works for evangelism, too.

It used to be that when I would ask people if they wanted to receive Christ, if they said no, I just accepted it. It was while reading Rebecca Brown, who had read Nee, that I realized we do not have to accept the negative reply. If we rebuke Satan out loud, then change the subject (since the person we are evangelizing will be taken aback), we remove Satan’s control over his mind, which keeps him from receiving Christ. (II Cor 4:4) Then I say, I feel like I should ask you one more time, do you want to receive Christ? Then he says yes. I have seen it work this way over and over.

At the same time, we must also learn to overcome our flesh and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is easier said than done, of course, but essential if we are to be victorious and live an abundant Christian life. (John 10:10)

In our last post, Paul gave his farewell address to the elders who came down to Miletus from Ephesus. We pick back up here, going into Chapter 21.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your precious word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:1-14
1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them [in Miletus], and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos [Cō•os], and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

Passing by Rhodes, Paul may have seen the ruins of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. When Paul saw the ruins of his day, he must have felt he was living in the modern age, the same as we do.

2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

Paul was traveling on a cargo ship. His accommodations were probably quite minimal. We never read about Paul riding a horse or travelling in a carriage. We do read about him walking a lot and getting thrown in jail. Paul was a rugged man, a working man. Paul was the David Livingstone of his day.

4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

Herein arises the question of whether Paul was in God’s will, going to Jerusalem. My take on the situation is this: These disciples knew through the Spirit that bonds and afflictions awaited Paul in Jerusalem. However, I believe it was their own opinion, not God’s, that Paul should not go. The Holy Spirit had already been telling Paul what awaited him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:22f), and would continue to make it known (see below). In verse 14, when Paul pushes back, Paul’s companions will stop trying to persuade him, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city [ie, Tyre]: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

We left Philip in Acts 8. He met a nice girl in Caesarea and settled down. Now he has four daughters. Dr Luke reminds us that Philip was one of the seven deacons chosen in Acts 6. Paul was involved with the murder of one of the others, Stephen. Paul is forgiven, and Philip is happy to host him. This is true Christianity. 

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Not only does Philip have four daughters, but they prophesy. That could mean they make prophecies, or it could mean they were able to open the understanding of the Scriptures to others, show others the mind of Christ.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

The last time we heard from Agabus, he prophesied that a famine was coming. (Acts 11) His prophecies do not exactly tickle the ears, but someone has to be willing to say the things people do not want to hear. I respect Agabus for that.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Acts 21:1-14

We are at the end of Paul’s third missionary journey now. In our next post, Paul returns to Jerusalem against the pleas of his fellowservants who have been telling him not to go. The ‘we’ in verse 14 shows even Dr Luke was against it, but the truth is not found in a majority. Christians disagree about all sorts of things, but we are still family. I believe Paul knew what he was doing. Paul was willing to go all the way for God. He forsook all to fulfill God’s call on his life, which meant suffering:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Acts 9:16

Paul is the New Testament Job. Paul had a more impressive set of credentials than any of those beseeching him not to go to Jerusalem. (Eg, II Cor 11:23-28) Therefore, I trust Paul’s discernment and decision-making above those who told him not to go to Jerusalem. Paul was a man who had learned to crucify his flesh and let the Spirit lead. The Holy Spirit is a Gentleman, and He warned Paul what was coming. He did not force Paul to go. He let Paul make up his own mind. Would to God that we could let the Spirit lead us as Paul did.

Father, thank You for the apostle Paul. Help us to follow his teachings and submit to You and your Son and your Spirit in all things, that we may please You and be ready for your Son when You send Him back for us. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In closing, I have never suffered for the gospel like those we read about in the Bible, but I have certainly been misunderstood like many of them. I have had some of the nastiest lies imaginable said about me. Why? Simply for telling the truth. Recently, I watched The Mauritanian, and for the first time since publishing Dragon Slayer in 2014, I felt like someone finally told me I was right. (Thank God for attorneys Nancy Hollander and Stuart Couch.) Another film that I found inspiring was Superspreader. Sean Feucht stood against a host of people telling him he was wrong, including his own wife, to do what he knew was right in 2020. Again, I felt like someone told me I was right about what I wrote in 2014; right about the shots, right about the warped view being taught about Romans 13, right about how Christians need to tell the truth, even when everyone tells them to stop, right that the government is not God. Finally, in Dragon Slayer, I wrote that Noah’s ark has been found, and the site in question is finally getting some attention as recent experiments are confirming that it very well could be the location where the ark landed. See here also. These are just a few of the many things I wrote about that have aged well since I published Dragon Slayer 12 years ago. Whatever trials I may face for telling the truth are worth it, but telling the truth always comes with a price. Jesus was crucified for it. Then He rose again, and ascended into heaven. And He is coming back.

Acts 20:18-38 — Farewell to Ephesus

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Paul sent for the elders in Ephesus. In this post, they come down to Miletus to hear Paul’s message to them before he leaves for Jerusalem.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 20:18-38
18 And when they [the elders from Ephesus] were come to him [Paul], he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,


Ephesus, West Side

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations [Gk peirasmos], which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

Peirasmos is the same word that Matthew used to describe Jesus’ temptation by the devil, which was a test. (Matt 4:1) Likewise, our trials are tests, and they cannot come unless God allows them. (Job 1:8-2:6) Among these trials, or temptations, that befell Paul by the lying in wait of the Jews (or certain zealots among them) was being beaten with thirty-nine stripes, on five different occasions. (II Cor 11:24)

The Bible is straightforward and unapologetic about the facts. Paul was persecuted by certain of his own countrymen. He was also persecuted by Gentiles. The church began with the Jews in Jerusalem before it shifted to the Gentiles. I mention this because antisemitism is starting to snowball once again in our day, and I beseech you not to get caught up in it. For every example they give you of something bad some Jewish person or persons did, give them an example of something bad a Gentile or Gentiles did. 

The Jews gave us the Bible. The Jews gave us Jesus. Although most of them have still not seen the light yet, the day is coming soon when they will. (Rev 7) The bottom line is that God made us all, and if you don’t like the way He did it, take it up with Him.

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul had a public ministry, as well as house churches. His message was the same to both the Jews and the Gentiles: repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide [Gk menō] me.

In our next post, we will learn more about how the Holy Spirit has been telling Paul that bonds and afflictions abide him. Modern translations say await, but abide is the literal meaning. While the word connotes that bonds and afflictions await, Paul has already been experiencing these things. Literally, the Spirit is saying these things are here to stay.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Paul knew, through the witness of the Spirit, I believe, that this was the last time they would see him.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

Why?

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Paul was pure from the blood of all men because he did his duty to teach the full counsel of God. Paul taught Leviticus. Paul taught Obadiah. He taught everything from Acts (by living it) to Zephaniah.

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

By exhorting the elders to feed the church, he meant to feed them the word of God. Verse 28 says that Jesus is God. It says God purchased his church with his own blood. Jesus shed his blood for the church. Therefore, Jesus is God. (God the Son, the second Person in the Godhead.)

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The warning about grievous wolves is not something new. Paul had been warning them about it for three years. The wolves are still with us. If they squeeze you for money, they are wolves. (Paul said feed the flock, not fleece the flock.) If they question the word of God, they are wolves. If they demote the deity of Christ in any way, they are wolves. Is there love in their church? (John 13:35) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matt 7:20)

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

This verse reminds me of a song I learned in Goa:

Oh, the best book to read is the Bible,
The best book to read is the Bible.
If you read it every day,
It will help you on your way.
Oh, the best book to read is the Bible.

33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

Paul reminded them that he worked and paid his own way. This was Paul leading by example:

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The liberal Jesus Seminar voted on which verses Jesus actually said, and the only thing they agreed Jesus definitely said was this above. They either questioned or rejected everything else Jesus said. Satan has attacked the word of God in this way from the very beginning (Gen 3), because the gospel is how Jesus brings life and immortality to light. (II Tim 1:10) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Pet 1:25)

36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Paul was a man of prayer. To effectively minister the word of God, one must be a man of prayer.

37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Acts 20:18-38

The emphasis in this section is on the grace of God and the word of God. Specifically, the gospel of the grace of God (v 24) and the word of his grace (v 32).

By declaring unto the Ephesians all the counsel of God (v 27), Paul fortified them with the gospel of grace. Grace (unmerited favor) tells me I am forgiven. (I John 1:9) The gospel of grace tells me I can eat meat if I want to. (I Tim 4) The gospel of grace tells me that God loves me on my worst day. (Rom 7:24f) The gospel of grace tells me that Jesus will never leave me or forsake me because of my faith in Him — not because of how good I am. (Thank God, because I’m not good.) The gospel of grace tells me There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:1) If you have doubts, read Hebrews 11 and notice how over and over it says by faith (not works) they were able to accomplish all they did. If you still have any further doubts, consider this:

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:16

The more I abide in the word of God, the more I increase my faith (Rom 10:17), which is why Paul taught all the counsel of God.

In this section, we also see an emphasis on Paul’s suffering and how the Spirit had been testifying that Paul’s suffering would continue (v 23). It was this suffering that produced the revelations Paul gave us. The plain truth is that although our flesh resists suffering with all its strength, suffering produces fruit.

When the missionaries were kicked out of China in the early 1950s, there were less than a million Protestant Christians in China. (Far less, conservative scholars tell us.) Today, after years of persecution and suppression of the church under Communist rule (and no missionaries), there are over 100 million Protestant Christians in China. According to the Bible, it’s good to suffer. (Gal 5:22; Phil 3:10; II Tim 2:12; 3:12; Heb 5:8; Jam 5:10; I Pet 2:21; 3:14; 4:1, 13; et al)

We are coming to the end of Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul’s first three missionary journeys took place over about ten years, circa 48-58 AD. In our next post, Paul will continue on his way to Jerusalem. We will see the Holy Spirit continue to testify about the persecution that is in store for Paul. That persecution came, just as God said it would. In our day, the Holy Spirit is testifying that the great tribulation period is coming. We do well to heed this warning and prepare accordingly by abiding in Christ.

Father, help us to abide in your word and to abide in your Son through trusting in the gospel of his grace, that we may be prepared against the day of his coming. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 20:13-17 — Paul Goes to Miletus, Calls the Elders from Ephesus

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Paul went through Macedonia and Greece, then doubled back and went to Troas, where he taught an all-night Bible study and performed a miracle when Eutychus fell from the third-story loft.

As we pick back up in Acts 20, Paul’s company is leaving Troas for Assos by ship, but Paul felt like going to Assos by himself on foot, which is about a fifteen-mile hike.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 20:13-17
13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

I would like to know why Paul went alone on foot to Assos. Unfortunately, it is impossible to know since Dr Luke does not tell us. It may have been for the witnessing opportunities, or it could just be that Paul needed some alone time. They say that smart people need more time alone. I suppose that may apply to highly spiritual people as well, and Paul was both.

14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

Paul is now in the Area of the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. Ephesus, the first church on the list, is where Paul spent three years teaching and preaching. The harbor where Miletus was located was eventually filled in with silt, the same as the harbor where Ephesus was located. Today, they are both miles inland from shore, but in Paul’s day, they were on the coast. When Paul called for the elders of the church (v 17), they probably came down by ship from Ephesus to Miletus. Ephesus is about 36 miles north of Miletus.

16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Acts 20:13-17

Paul has become well-acquainted with suffering by now, and he still has a lot more to come, but is that a bad thing? I recently listened to The Gulag Archipelago (an abridged audio version), something I have been meaning to do for a long time now. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was a stalwart believer in Marxism-Leninism when he was imprisoned in 1945, but after years of unimaginable suffering in the Soviet GULAG system, Solzhenitsyn embraced Christianity. He considered his time suffering in prison a blessing, as it made him understand the importance of the development of his soul and the unimportance of everything else he used to think was important. Solzhenitsyn’s revelations on the nature of the soul and the human condition are truly Pauline in their depth of wisdom. For example:

“If only it were all so simple. If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

To know Jesus is to invert one’s thinking on just about everything. Nobody would suppose that suffering is a blessing without divine revelation (Phil 1:29; 3:10; II Tim 2:12; 3:12 et al), but that is precisely how Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn attained his wisdom. Likewise, that is how Paul attained his wisdom, beginning with the blindness he was struck with on the road to Damascus. Before Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus, he was like Nabal, such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. (1 Sam 25:17) It was only after being struck blind that Paul saw he was wrong about Jesus. After years of suffering, Paul had the mind of Christ. (I Cor 2:16)

What I find so salient about The Gulag is how it shows where the human heart goes apart from Christ. It gives insight into how this fallen world works, what really matters in life, and why Christians are persecuted for telling the truth. Jesus told the church in Smyrna,

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10

Like Paul, many of the other authors of the Bible spent time in prison. Countless other Christians have likewise been imprisoned or suffered for their faith in other ways. Solzhenitsyn found his faith in prison, but many of his fellow prisoners were there simply for the crime of believing in Christ. That was the cause of all Paul’s suffering, yet the fruit of that suffering is worth far, far, far more than any comfort Paul could have had by denying Christ. Every believer from Adam to Job to Paul to you and I get insight and understanding from suffering. I like the mountain top, but I grow in the valley.

Paul is going to impart his wisdom to the church in Ephesus in our next post. When the elders from the church in Ephesus come down to Miletus, Paul will give them an update on his current situation, a recap of his ministry to Ephesus in particular, and a prophetic warning about what is coming after his departure. I look forward to unpacking what Paul has to say to the elders from Ephesus.

Father, thank You for the suffering You allow in our lives. It is more precious than we understand or know. It draws us closer to You and gives us understanding. We love You, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Thorn

by Martha Snell Nicholson

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne

And begged Him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own

I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart

I cried, “But Lord, this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.

“This is a strange, a hurtful gift which Thou has given me.”

He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”

I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,

As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,

He take the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

Acts 20:1-12 — Paul Revisits Macedonia and Greece, Raises the Dead in Troas

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In Acts 20, Dr Luke picks back up where he left off at the end of Acts 19. In our last post, Paul was in danger of being torn apart by an angry mob, but his disciples intervened. (Acts 19:30) The situation was eventually diffused by the townclerk. (Acts 19:35ff)

As Acts 20 begins, they are moving on from Ephesus to Macedonia. Timothy and Erastus had already been sent on ahead. (Acts 19:22)

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit, give us understanding, and speak to our hearts through your word. Your servants are listening, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Acts 20:1-12
1 And after the uproar [in Ephesus] was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

Paul revisits the churches he planted throughout Macedonia, before coming to Greece, where he abode three months:

3 And there abode three months. [Cf I Cor 16:5,6] And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

At this time, Paul wrote his Letter to the Romans from Corinth. Our map does not show Paul returning to Athens, but I think it is likely he passed by Athens to check on the believers there as well, since he was in Greece for three months.

Paul was warned of the danger that awaited him on his trip to Syria by ship, so he changes his plans and returns through Macedonia. I can just see the looks on the faces of the Jews who laid in wait for Paul after the ship set sail, and they realized Paul was not on it. ‘Ooooh that malefactor Paul… Foiled again.’

4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius [Gī´•ǝs, or Guy-us] of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.

Again, Paul sends some of his team ahead, ostensibly to start the work of the ministry and prepare for Paul’s safe arrival. Sending his team ahead is a prudent security measure.

It was at this time that Paul wrote II Corinthians from Philippi.

6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Paul left Dr Luke behind in Philippi on his second missionary journey to pastor the church there. Now Dr Luke joins them again, as we see the pronouns ‘us’ and ‘we’ return in Chapter 20. (See Acts 17:1; cf 16:16f)

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread [take holy communion], Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

There is something especially beautiful about a candlelit home-church Bible study. That this was an ‘upper room’ Bible study makes it even more beautiful.

9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

Eutychus was a common Greek name meaning ‘Good Fortune’. It was not so fortunate to fall out of the loft, but it was good fortune that Paul was there to raise him from the dead. Did Eutychus become a believer? I like to believe so.

When I was a young man living in Huntington Beach, I met a girl who was sickly as a baby and would not eat anything until a pastor came to her parents’ house and prayed for her. As soon as he said “Amen,” she grabbed a shake that was on the table and drank it. After that, she started eating normally. Miracles still happen and you do not have to be the apostle Paul to perform one.

11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten [this seems to be a normal meal, or possibly what the early church called a love feast (pot luck)], and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

A candlelit upper-room Bible study with the apostle Paul teaching until daybreak, with a miracle in the middle of it all, that included holy communion and a meal, now that is one Bible study I would like to have attended!

Paul had quite the healthy constitution. He did not worry about sleeping to prepare for his departure. He preached all night, then left in the morning.

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
Acts 20:1-12

 

Let’s take a closer look at verse 7. It clearly states that they were meeting on the first day of the week to have holy communion (cf I Cor 16:2). As Gentile Christians entered the church, they wanted to meet on the day Jesus rose again (the Lord’s day), not the day He was still in the grave. This became a bone of contention with some of the Jewish believers. Therefore, Paul addressed the issue in his Epistles (Rom 14:5; Col 2:16). It is still a bone of contention today with legalistic Christians who do not fully embrace the New Covenant of grace or heed the teachings of Paul on the matter:

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Romans 14:5

There are stories about Constantine changing the Sabbath, which are nonsense. Saturday is still the sabbath, and I do not think that is disputed. Basically, the debate boils down to the law and grace, the same debate that was taking place in Paul’s day.

This reminds me of another issue that has become a bone of contention in these last days: the doctrine of the pretrib rapture. There are stories about the Plymouth Brethren creating the pretrib doctrine, specifically John Nelson Darby. I have had the pleasure and honor of fellowshipping with the Plymouth Brethren in both Southern California and Goa, India. In fact, I got to know some in Goa very well, and I remain in touch with them. I can tell you from experience that one thing that marks these Christians (now as in Darby’s day) is an intense interest in and study of the word of God. It was undoubtedly this deep study of the word of God that convinced the Plymouth Brethren of the pretrib doctrine. Before I knew the word of God all that well, I used to think that preachers probably just taught the pretrib doctrine to make people feel better. However, after teaching every Book in the Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, with an emphasis on the study of Bible prophecy, I am thoroughly convinced that the pretrib view is correct.

One thing I have noticed about people who attack the pretrib view is their typical lack of Bible study. I once saw Hank Hannegraaff get clubbed like a baby seal in a debate with Tim LaHaye on this topic. (A debate which has been memory-holed and is impossible to find on the web.) One notable exception, though, is Dr Kent Hovind. However, although Dr Hovind is a devout student of Scripture, he specializes in creation science. I have even heard him say that he previously held the pretrib view “because I hadn’t studied it.” To think Kent Hovind is correct about his current position on the timing of the rapture because he is well-versed in creation science is like assuming someone is a grammar expert because they are a spelling bee champion.

One of the most laughable claims I hear about the pretrib view is that it is a ‘fringe view’ that the church has never held, when it is, in fact, the view of the largest denomination in North America: the Southern Baptists.

For more on the pretrib view, see here and here.

For a deeper dive, I humbly recommend my first book, Where Did All the People GO? (and its sequel, Dragon Slayer Jesus Christ.)

Moreover, a study in I Thessalonians and II Thessalonians would be most helpful. In I Thessalonians, Paul laid the groundwork for the doctrine of the rapture, which takes place before the great tribulation period. In II Thessalonians, Paul laid the groundwork for the doctrine of the second coming, which takes place at the end of the great tribulation period. In closing, John Nelson Darby did not invent the pretrib view; Jesus did:

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. [It can happen at any time.]
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy [through faith alone in Christ alone] to escape all these things that shall come to pass, [not go through them, but escape them] and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:34-36

Not only do we have this passage, but the passage in Luke 17, where Jesus said just as Noah and Lot were saved before destruction came (the flood and the judgement of Sodom), thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:30) Then, of course, we also have the passage in John 14, where Jesus told us not to let our hearts be troubled because He is coming back to get us. If He meant after the great tribulation period and not before, that would be troubling. But if He meant before, which He did, that is comforting. I will not let my heart be troubled knowing that.

Acts 19:23-41 — Paul in Ephesus Part III

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul had just sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, as he stayed behind in Ephesus. (As discussed in our last post, Paul may have went with them for a short trip to Philippi and then returned to Ephesus.) Paul’s teaching ministry was bearing much fruit as the gospel was going out into all Asia. (Acts 19:10) This is how the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3 were formed: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (and also the church in Colossae).

As the capital of the Roman province of Asia, Ephesus was a strategic location for Paul’s ministry. Its massive harbor made it an economic powerhouse. The heavy traffic by land and by sea fostered the spread of the gospel.

Ephesus was also home to the Artemision (the temple of Artemis), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was four times larger than the Parthenon and overlooked the city of Ephesus. (See below.)


Layout of Ephesus (2nd Century)

For breathtaking photos of the ruins of Ephesus, see here. All that is left of the temple, Artemision, is one partial pillar. That is something to think about.


Artist rendition

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 19:23-41
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

The KJV translators follow their usual practice here of using the name of the Roman counterpart to Artemis, Diana.


The Farnese idol of Artemis.

This idol was so famous and influential that one of Paul’s associates was named after it. In Titus 3:12 we find one Artemas (lit Gift of Artemis).

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

One of the features of the Second Great Awakening in America was the massive transformation that took place in towns that were touched by the revivals. For one thing, the bars went out of business. That kind of transformation was taking place in Ephesus, and the people who made their livelihood from the temple were fit to be tied.

35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts 19:23-41

As Chapter 19 ends, we see the townclerk enter as the voice of reason, and cooler heads prevail. Despite the ancient backdrop, I think this part of Acts feels quite contemporary. The more things change, the more they stay the same. In recent history, we saw a similar mob mentality in the age of Covid. The idol was not Artemis, but Anthony Fauci. They were even selling devotional candles with his image on them. I believe one day, there will be another event like Covid, but today, the massive data centers they are building in America (some 5426) are the new temples. These data centers (along with those being built in other countries) are creating a massive amount of wealth, dwarfing the wealth of the silversmiths in our narrative. What the world is going to look like once these data centers are completed is anyone’s guess, but I believe it will be a very big change.

As the world changes and new temples come and go, will you be caught up in the hysteria like the Ephesians in Acts 19? Or will you trust in your Bible and be content with your faith, as Paul and his friends were?

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22

Acts 19:13-22 – Paul in Ephesus Part II

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, we saw how Paul was getting along in Ephesus with his teaching ministry that began in a synagogue, then moved into the school of Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. In the midst of this revolution, Dr Luke includes a story about certain exorcists who find out the hard way that the deliverance ministry is not to be entered into lightly.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 19:13-22
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Paul had become quite well known. His gospel had become quite well known. Miracles resulting from Paul’s ministry, with people being healed and delivered from evil spirits, were getting quite well known. When certain of the vagabond Jews saw what was happening, they thought that they would try their hand at deliverance as well.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

As sons of a Jewish priest, they were probably priests as well. As sons of Sceva, who was chief of the priests, they were certainly well acquainted with the Scriptures. Whether they were believers, it does not say, but by saying Jesus “whom Paul preacheth,” it sounds like they did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They have the right idea by using Jesus’ name. When dealing with the enemy, one should always use Jesus’ name. (I certainly cannot rebuke Satan in my own name.) However, rebuking the enemy in Jesus’ name only works if you know Him. 

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Sometimes we run across brothers or sisters who have received Christ, but because of some besetting sin they have or had, they are struggling with demonic oppression. People like this are not dangerous. But the person in the section before us was not a Christian. He was under the control of a powerful demon. People like this are very dangerous. I would not attempt to cast a demon out of someone like this. If someone feels led to this sort of ministry, they have to be prayed up, studied, and clothed in the armor of God before getting started. If you are going to cast a demon out of someone, it’s always a good idea to fast and pray first to prepare. (Matt 17:21 KJV; Mark 9:29 KJV) Furthermore, if there is any unconfessed sin in your life, that needs to be dealt with before you cast a demon out of someone, especially someone like we have in our passage here. The seven sons of Sceva are examples of what can happen if you are unprepared.

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

So here we have another Romans 8:28. When people heard what happened, it showed them just how real spiritual warfare is. This led to repentance and revival.

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

The silver pieces referred to here were probably drachmas, which had various sizes but most likely weighed 4.3 grams. At today’s market price for silver ($78.46/ troy oz), the value of their books was around US $542,352, yet they put a torch to them to please God and draw close to Jesus.

This principle is not limited to occult objects or books. I heard about a lady who inherited a liquor store. Instead of selling the inventory, however, she poured it all out. On the other hand, I have known Christians who lived in depressed areas where the only job they could find was working at a beer bottling company. I believe God’s grace was upon them. Contrariwise, Christians who like to drink cocktails at home church on Bible study night, or throw keg parties after church, are weak and unfruitful. They have not learned the principle of Acts 19:18, 19.

Satan is incredibly legalistic. If you have one of his books or objects in your house, he feels he has a legal right to be there, too. This is the principle behind the legend that a vampire cannot enter your house unless he is invited. What is not a ‘legend’, however, is the Torah. Moses wrote:

26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
Deuteronomy 7:26

20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Again, we see Romans 8:28 at work here. Although the seven sons of Sceva appear to have failed, their failure led to a revival that furthered the gospel.

21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

We see the work of the Holy Spirit here. Paul did not make an intellectual judgment about his next move. Otherwise, it would say Paul purposed in his mind. It is in our spirit that we communicate with the Holy Spirit. When we are born again (John 3:3), our spirit is reconnected to God. We sense his leading. When we let this leading take precedence over our mind and our flesh, we are in the spirit. Paul was so tuned into the Spirit (eg, I Cor 5:3), that he could say, For in him we live, and move, and have our being; Paul’s Letters are filled with instruction on conquering the flesh and being filled with the Spirit, but how much effort do Christians typically put into this endeavor? Speaking for myself, not enough. 

22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Acts 19:13-22

For a more in-depth study, now is a good time to read I Corinthians. It appears that Paul wrote his first Letter to the Corinthians during his stay in Ephesus. He had received a letter (I Cor 7:1) and a report (I Cor 1:11) about issues that needed to be addressed. This took place circa 55 AD. While the Euthalian tradition cites Philippi as the origin of the Letter (I Cor postscript, KJV), internal evidence points to Ephesus. (I Cor 16:8) On the other hand, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Paul made a short trip to Philippi and wrote the Letter before going back to Ephesus. As our section ends with verse 22, Timothy and Erastus are sent to Macedonia. Since we have only a truncated history in Acts, Paul could have gone with them to Philippi and then returned to Ephesus.

My takeaway from this post is threefold: First of all, if I am going to do something for God, I cannot use half measures. The seven sons of Sceva ended up naked and wounded because they were not ready for the task. Second of all, even if I fail when I try to do something for God, there will be some good that comes from it. (Rom 8:28) This was certainly the case with the seven sons of Sceva.

Thirdly, if you have questionable objects in your home, if you watch filth on the Internet, if you are smoking pot or engaging in other behavior that is not pleasing to the Holy Spirit, you are going to be like the children of Israel who were wandering around in the desert for 40 years, defeated. They should have been in the Promised Land, but they doubted and failed. (I Cor 6:9f)

The Book of Joshua, on the other hand, is a picture of the victorious Christian life. When Achan, the Son of Carmi, committed a trespass in the accursed thing (Joshua 7), he was dealt with swiftly, and the victory continued as Joshua led them in the Promised Land. We have a similar situation in I Corinthians 5, with one notable difference: Unlike Achan, Paul told them to welcome the sinner back after he repented. (II Cor 2:7) We are under grace, not law. When we trust Jesus and obey Him, He leads us into a Land of Promises. (I Cor 6:11)

In conclusion, Christianity is not a game. If we are going to live the victorious Christian life (John 10:10), we have to do what the Christians in Ephesus did. They got rid of anything that was not pleasing to the Holy Spirit and were dedicated to the word of God. We will never be perfect; even Paul said he had not apprehended, but we have to do our best. That is all any of us can do. (Phil 3:13f)

In our next post, Paul is going to get into trouble with some of the local tradesmen in Ephesus. Paul was the ultimate change agent, and change can be messy.

Father, thank You for the history we have recorded for us by Dr Luke, and for keeping your promise to preserve it for us. Your word is a treasure like none other. Your precepts are life everlasting. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PS: For an advanced study on spiritual warfare, I recommend Blood on the Doorposts (Chick Publications, 1994), by William Schnoebelen. Understanding the principles of spiritual warfare is very helpful, even if you do not plan on going into the deliverance ministry. All of us deal with spiritual warfare, and Satan is alive and well on planet earth. He will be locked up one day, but for now, the Bible calls him the god of this world. (II Cor 4:4) For example, here is a picture I took in Rome. Apparently, this is where you go to buy your costume if you get invited to the Illuminati Ball:

(Or if you want to go to the Carnevale di Venezia.)