Doctor Luke was the "Beloved Physician turned Author" of the Gospel by his name and the Acts of the Apostles. He was known to be Paul's Physician and accompanied him on his missionary journeys. He was not an apostle of Christ nor a noted Jewish scholar. He was an astute researcher dedicated to publishing the truth .
There is nearly no debate regarding the author of the Acts of the Apostles. This Book is the latter of the two New Testament contributions from Luke, the Beloved Physician, with the first being his Gospel according to Luke, the third Book of the New Testament. The earliest versions; i.e., before the addition of chapter and verse markings in the sixteenth century found Luke's Gospel and Luke's Acts of the Apostles as a single volume. Others call Acts a sequel to Luke's Gospel.
Acts was written from Rome between 70 and 90 AD while some say as early as 64 AD. It begins with the ascension of Jesus Christ, shifts to the ministry of the Apostle Peter in Chapter 2 and shifts again to the ministry of the Apostle Paul after his conversion in Chapter 9. It ends with Paul in Rome's prison awaiting execution. Generally speaking, it is the history of the Church of Jesus Christ after He ascended.
The Acts contains an excellent outline and study guide to the first century establishment, proliferation and growth of the Church of Jesus Christ. It provides excellent detail into the attempted influence of several false teachings and the work of many dedicated teachers and preachers to keep the Church practicing Christian orthodoxy. Luke addresses his Gospel as "the former treatise" to a person named Theophilus (Acts 1:1). He says his previous work documented all the Jesus did and taught while He walked among us. In the Acts, he continues the history with what Jesus presented to humankind through His Holy Spirit and His Apostles after He ascended to the Father in Acts Chapter 1.
Jesus' tasking or commissioning for all those who follow Him is documented in Acts 1:8 as "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (KJV).
Saul of Tarsus is the name by which we first encounter the man who did more to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ than any other in the history of the church. At that first meeting, Steven was being stoned to death and the clothes of those executing him were laid at Saul's feet (Acts 7:58). Saul was better educated than than any of the contributors to Bible texts. He was a noted Scribe, Pharisee, member of the Sanhedrin, chief persecutor of the Christian Church and Roman Citizen. He sought out Christians under charge from the Sanhedrin and as a favor to Rome. But as with many of us, he had a visit from Jesus, the Christ which changed every thing he was and was to become. Instead of Saul of Tarsus, he became famous as the Apostle Paul. It all happened as he traveled to Damascus, Syria to expand his persecution of Christianity beyond the borders of Israel. Acts Chapter 9 records the details of how he was knocked off his horse and while on his back, heard a question from a man he thought was dead. The Resurrected Jesus simply asked him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts 9:4). Saul's first question was to learn to whom that voice belonged. The voice responded, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do" (9:5-6). Paul became a believer and refocused his overwhelming zeal in favor of Christ instead of against Him. He established and/or strengthened the churches shown above and wrote more than a third of the entire New Testament of our Bibles.
Throughout the Gospels, dating of the movements of Jesus is accomplished by Bible mentions of which feast He was attending. The mention of the three required feasts: Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, make the task easier. Jesus attended these feasts even when He told His friends and relatives He was not. His concern about them being taken as prisoners by Jewish religious leaders in order to capture Him was always on His mind. As Jesus finished His Early Galilean Ministry, He found that He had to do most of His ministry in the northern, and less Orthodox, province of Galilee. He made His home in Nazareth and His center of operations in Capernaum. Nevertheless, He had to attend the three required feasts to maintain obedience and accountability. So, in studying Mark, let's look for when Jesus attended each of the three required feasts between the beginning of His ministry through the time of His arrest and crucifixion . Recall that the day of His crucifixion, was the day before the Preparation Day for the Passover (Matt 27:62 & John 19:42).
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Understand the Context (Acts 13:1-41)
This set of Scripture moves somewhat abruptly into Paul’s First Missionary Journey. There will be three of them as we study and each of them are full of action. This one takes place between 46 and 48 AD and appears short in the Journey Map. Some scholars add Paul’s final trip to Rome for execution as another trip and some say Paul made a trip all the way to Spain before being executed in Rome. The Second Journey was from AD 49 to 52, and the Third was AD 53 to 57. One thing to notice about the journeys is that none of them is actually organized in Israel. By AD 46, the various persecutions were making Israel a dangerous place for Christians to be.
Also, the care associated with the growing set of churches beginning at Jerusalem, multiplying through Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth leads to an exponential job keeping track and meeting needs (1:8). What that entails can be seen by reading the remainder of the New Testament after the Acts of the Apostles. Each of the letters from the ministers or their proteges deal exclusively with the needs of individual churches, albeit the applications of the problems and their answers tend to be common to all churches. An abbreviated look at those relationships can be seen in Revelation 2-3 with the letters to the churches. The general outline for the seven churches is the name, overall conditions, good they have done, bad they have done and an encouragement for their future. Each of the Epistles to the churches contain the same materials, but longer more specific descriptions. The Book of Acts is clear a Table of Contents for the rest of the New Testament.
Chapter 13 dives directly into Paul’s First Missionary Journey. In doing so, it drives a need to become more familiar with the history, current status and predicted future for each of the churches. The capability to determine the overall, integrated status of the entire church will then provide key indicators for required actions at a church-wide or all inclusive, total church level. Our study of the Book of Acts is moving into a place where we can evaluate those levels in today’s churches.
Understand the Context (Acts 13:1-41, Cont.)
The Antioch of Acts 13:1-3 was Syrian Antioch as differentiated in the Scriptures from Pisidian Antioch of Acts 13:13-16 by the province name preceding it. Syrian Antioch was where Paul and Barnabas were called of God for Paul’s First Missionary Journey. Pisidian Antioch was the most distant city of that Journey. Paul made significant history in both those cities. At Syrian Antioch, God called Paul along with Barnabas for his first evangelistic journey. At Pisidian Antioch, Paul made his ministerial turn toward the Gentiles. (See map of Paul’s Missionary Journeys below - Larger map in Introduction above.).
As we study the various churches Paul and the other Missionary Journey traveler, we will see that there were many issues that divided churches into cooperating churches and noncooperating churches. While each of these issues were small in the times we are studying, they have become bigger as churches with like interpretations and churches doddering interpretations. What are some examples of these issues. Just looking at the map of Paul’s Missionary Journeys, we can see that the wide geography will certainly have cultural differences which will drive a full set of dietary and political issues which would generally not matter to worshipers but do matter even in weekly worship practices.
Baptism is a perfect example. While we all know and agree that the Christian church came out of Judaism, we differ on the mode and manner of baptism. The Jewish practices associated with the cleasing ceremonies of the Mikvah Pool are thoes practices that drove Christian Baptism. Paul discusses this in Romans 6:3-11. The common issue is the representation of the death, burial and resurrection of the believer just as Christ’s baptism by John symbolized the very same thing. Yet, churches are divided on whether to be sprinkled, dipped or immersed.
Similar disputes surround the Lord’s Supper or Communion. All agree that Lord’s Supper was constituted during the Passover Meal, yet we divide ourselves over symbolism, transubstantiation and consubstantiation. That is, does the bread and wine of the Communion Meal symbolize Jesus’ body and blood, actually become the body and blood in the Mass or does the body and blood of Christ coexist in the Eucharist?
Set Aside (Acts 13:1-3)
So, while Saul (not called Paul until verse 9) was with Barnabas for about a year, teaching the Gospel of Christ in Syrian Antioch, Luke also mentions a few of the prophets and teachers who were there with him. Luke mentions Simeon (also called Niger) first. Elliot’s Commentary and others, say this was a nod in the direction of Christian ministries to Africa. Delivery of the Gospel to Africa was initiated earlier when the Holy Spirit spoke to the second of God’s called deacons (Phillip) to join the chariot of the Treasurer of Ethiopia as he returned from Jerusalem reading the scroll of Isaiah. Here, we see the ministry to that continent continuing with Simeon.
Next, Luke mentions Lucius of Cyrene which was probably a more specific follow up of his mention of the “men of Cyprus and Cyrene” in Acts 11:20). These were the first evangelists to reach out in Antioch. They had some influence among the people because of their advanced work from their infamous school of medicine. We would likely agree that God can certainly use anything or anyone He wishes to reach people for His Kingdom.
Manaen, who was said to have been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, was a foster brother of Herod Antipas and Archelaus. Elliot calls attention to the writings of the Essenes of Dead Sea Scrolls fame. Recall that John the Baptist was written of heavily there and would have exposed the family to Jesus Christ through his message. So, here is a member of the Herodian family who was tied directly to preaching for the advancement of Christianity. Again, God can use whatever or whomever He wishes
Now, while all these were conducting their specific ministries for the Lord and fasting to focus their minds on Him, they were presented with a specific call from the Lord. He said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (vs. 2). Keep in mind that Jesus told Ananias that Saul was called by Him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Is this not the work of God as He opens the specific door for Saul (Paul)? Now, the evangelists continue to fast to get the clear image of the ministry God wants. When clear, they ordained Saul and his company.
First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:4-7)
God provided the calling of Saul, Barnabas and others to participate in Paul’s First Missionary Journey. When verse 4 says “they went down to Seleucia,” the map shows that distance to be 35 miles south, southwest to find the port for entry into the Mediterranean Sea. Once there, they set sail for Cyprus, a very large island, just south of Greece (Galatia on our map). They landed their boat at Salamis, a port city near the center of the eastern coast of Cyprus (vs. 4).
Their actual ministry begins in the port city of Salamis where they docked their boat. Verse 5 explains that they began to proclaim the Word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. This is an important statement because Jesus had told Ananias that Saul was chosen by Him to preach the Gospel among the Gentles, kings and the sons of Israel (9:15). So, we can expect that the time is near where Saul will have to be about the work for which God has called him. Another piece of information surfaces almost as an aside in verse 5b: “And they also had John Mark as their helper. We recall John Mark as the son of one of the Mary’s of Christ’s followers (12:12). The disciples were praying for Peter’s survival at Mary’s house the morning he was to be executed.
Verse 6 says they had preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the entire island, and when they arrived at the west coast port city of Paphos, they planned to travel northeast along the west coast of Cyprus and return to Galatia’s southern shore at Perga. But they found a magician (a Jewish false prophet) in Paphos before they could leave. The false prophet’s name was Bar-Jesus (Son of Jesus), and he was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. Luke comments that this man is highly intelligent. So, Sergius Paulus summons Barnabas and Saul, and tells them he wishes to hear the Word of God.
This, of course, is the dream of every evangelist in God’s Kingdom. This is not only one of the most powerful men in the known world, but he is known to be exceedingly intelligent, and he is asking, no, he is demanding to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul ordered the boat owner to tie up the boat and wait until Sergius Paulus finished with him. You have to love how God works!
Early Opposition (Acts 13:8-12)
Saul and Barnabas are summoned to appear before Sergius Paulus to hear the Word of God, and the word gets out almost before Saul and Barnabas get the summons. Another false prophet, this one named Elymus, is certain that Bar-Jesus will gain favor with Sergius Paulus and may result in Elymus’ loss of influence and source of income. Notice that nothing about Elymus’ concern has anything to do with the establishment of a relationship between Sergius Paulus and Jesus Christ. It has nothing to do with what is best for the proconsul and everything to do with what is best for Elymus. So, Elymus was in direct opposition to any appearance of success in linking Sergius Paulus with Saul and Barnabas which would include Bar Jesus and exclude him.
Now, we will see how the Holy Spirit of God empowers His people to speak the truth and causes physical and spiritual pain for those who oppose God’s plan. Verse 9 describes Saul’s, now Paul’s, filling of the Holy Spirit to see right through everything Elymus is doing. Note also that Elymus is at a distinct disadvantage because 1 John 4:4 says, “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” Elymus cannot and will not win. Verse 9 starts with the power of the Holy man’s eyes. It says, “Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him.” The God-inspired gaze from the Lord is more powerful than any person can manage.
First, Paul informs Elymus that he knows, “He is full of all deceit and fraud, he is the son of the devil, the enemy of all righteousness” (Acts 13:9-10). Then he asks if Elymus will cease making all the straight ways of the Lord crooked?” (13:10c). So, the announcement of the kind of person Elymus is now over. In verse 13:11, Paul is ready to announce what steps “the Hand of the Lord will take upon Elymus, and he will be blind and not see the sun for a time” (13:11a). Then Luke documents what action the Lord took over Elymus. He writes, “And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand” (13:11b). As Sergius Paulus heard and watched all these things take place, he needed no further explanations of the teachings of the Word of God. Sergius Paulus stood amazed and converted!
Understand the Context (Acts 13:13-52)
Paul’s First Missionary Journey began earlier in Syrian Antioch as he and Barnabas traveled through Seleucia, into the Mediterranean Sea to Salamis and on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:1-5). They also had John Mark as their helper on this mission. Now on the west coast of Cyprus in Paphos, they preached the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the island and were ready to depart north for the mainland. As we finished our study last week, we saw the Proconsul Sergius Paulus call for Paul and Barnabas to tell them the word of the Lord. We saw conflict arise against Paul and Barnabas by Elymus (also called bar-Jesus) apposing the Gospel. The Apostle Paul confronted the magician and sentenced him to blindness for the next year. The sentence started as soon as Paul finished speaking. Sergius Paulus saw the power of Paul’s message and believed (vs. 12).
Now, we pick up the team after they traveled north from Paphos on Cyprus to the seacoast city of Perga on the mainland of Pamphylia. John Mark left the team and returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas pressed on for about 100 miles to Pisidia Antioch (vs. 14). Luke continues that the team went to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day (Saturday) and sat down for the service.
After the leaders opened with reading the Law and the Prophets. The officials than turned to the visiting team and said if they had any words of exhortation for the people to say it (vs. 15).
So, Paul stood up, waving his hands, and saying, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.” He spoke of the history of the Jewish nation just as they had heard many times before (16-22). But when he moved on from that history to fulfilled prophecies of Christ, the promised descendent of King David, they could not see the link between David and Jesus. John (as promised Isaiah returned) said that there was coming after Him whose shoes he was not qualified to untie. Paul continued by accusing them of being responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion. He finished by reporting that God raised Jesus from the grave (vss. 23-30). The people begged him to return on Sabbath.
Mixed Responses (Acts 13:42-45)
So, as Paul finished this first opportunity to speak in the Synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, “the people kept begging him and Barnabas return on the following Sabbath” to continue (vs. 42). While this same rank-and-file membership of the Jewish faith met every Saturday with the reading of the Law and the Prophets at the center of their worship, there was little application to current events. Nevertheless, consider how desperately the people were pleading for the promised Messiah to come and release them from their bondage. They were depending on their religious leaders to interpret the Scriptures for them, and now, they have outsiders (Paul and Barnabas) connect the dots between the prophesies and their fulfillment as the took place within their sight.
Now, as the Synagogue service ends, Luke reports that many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes (Gentiles who have converted to Judaism) were following them (vs. 43). While talking with Paul and Barnabas, the people wished them Gods’ speed and God’ grace to continue their peaching and teaching the message from the Old Testament brought up to that day. When a preacher or teacher is delivering a message of truth that brings God’s people closer to Him, God’s Spirit will work inside the people to help them embrace the message for their own. At Pisidian Antioch, the message tying together Scriptural prophesies and their recent fulfillments would absolutely ignite their enthusiasm about their new understanding and hope for the future.
Verse 45 begins with the word “But.” After the excitement of the last few words, “but” means instead. The excitement of the Synagogue Officials was put back somewhat because of what they saw at the Synagogue that next Saturday. They saw crowds of people gathered together to hear a message that has been lost long ago to the hum-drum of routine religion. I shudder when someone calls me a religious person. But that was what the Synagogues offered the Jewish believers for hundreds of years after Christ died for their sins. The simple experience of the Jewish Seder meal every Passover retells the Gospel promises and concludes with the Rabbi looking toward the empty chair at the end of the table and saying, “Next year with You in Jerusalem.” Oh, why not NOW?”
Gentile Believers (Acts 13:46-48)
This is a great time to remember that Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was an extraordinary teacher, exceptional scribe, master of the Old Testament, excellent beyond the other Pharisees and trusted by the Sanhedrin to annihilate the Christian threat to Judaism. But like most of us in this room, the closer we looked; the more convinced we became. Like Paul, the day came when we looked Jesus in the face and saw the eyes of a man that cared so much for us that He offered up His life for us when WE thought we were strangers. King David said, “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth” (Psa 139:15). In short, He knew us even before we knew us.
So, Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly to explain why they started teaching on the previous Saturday, from the words of the Old Testament they all believed they knew so well. One technique of effective teaching is to start with material the student already know and will agree to in order to move forward in a common experience. But wait, Paul preached it first and found out they repudiated, rejected or disavowed the words he taught (vs. 46)! He was preaching to a gathering of people who were raised learning the Bible. It was almost a staple of life. It was a daily experience to be taken for granted. Not only did these people not have eternal life; they did not believe they were even worthy of it. They had no hope.
So, Paul and Barnabas were announcing they were turning to the Gentiles because that was where God had called them in the first place. Jesus explained that to Ananias in Acts 9:15 saying that Saul of Tarsus was a chosen vessel to me and was to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. Paul and Barnabas recognized the call was now.
So, what was the reaction of the Gentiles to this good news? Verse 48 says they were rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. And everyone of them who realized he was appointed (Greek: tasso) to eternal life, believed on the name of Jesus Christ and was saved from the penalty for his sins. There would be many more later, but all who were ready, were born anew that day.
Spread the Gospel (Acts 13:49-52)
The result of this tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pisidian Antioch that day caused a revival of power and joy all across the region (vs. 50). The Word of the Lord was spreading like wildfire. The reaction of the Religious Jews, however, was to instigate severe persecution against Paul and Barnabas to drive them out of their district. Worse, the Jews were using family division to cause that persecution. They targeted devout women of prominence and leading men, in other words, heads of families to initiate that persecution. The objective, of course, was to conceal the true source of the persecution from religious leadership to secular leadership. Evil people are masters of deception. When religious entities practice deception, they are no longer worthy of representing us.
When Jesus gave His instructions to twelve as He sent them out to witness, He told them to spread the Word to the lost sheep of the house of Israel that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. He said, “14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Matt 10:14-15, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5). Here, Paul and Barnabas practiced the same instructions against the city of Pisidian Antioch.
But as we saw, it was not the city but the synagogue that instigated the division and persecution against Paul and Barnabas. This synagogue was like many of the mid-to-late first century AD, in that their congregations were made up of Jewish believers, Gentile proselytes and God Fearers. The latter were drawn to the Jewish concept of a single God but were not strong enough in that belief to submit to full conversion with included circumcision. The “proselytes,” however, were fully committed and submitted to the Law and the Mikvah ceremony to become full converts. In Acts 15:20, at the Council at Jerusalem, James decreed, “we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.”
Understand the Context (Acts 14:1-28)
How can we forget the great joy and uplifted spirits of the people after heard Paul’s message in the Synagogue that first Saturday after their arrival in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:42-52)? The Scripture says they were begging Paul and Barnabas to return the next week with more. But Synagogue politics and finances got involved and the Jewish leaders led the prominent woman and wealthiest men to form opposition against Paul and Barnabas and the Christian message they were preaching.
As Paul and Barnabas “shook the dust off their feet” from Pisidian Antioch, and received similar treatment at Iconium, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe (vss. 13:51 & 14:6). They committed to three emphases for their ministry abroad. First, to help the fledgling saints bearing the suffering and persecution after they left a community. Second, they wanted to focus their ministries on the larger cities where the Synagogue could not control believer survival, and third, the apostles would continue to preach their message to “Jews first, and then the Gentiles” (vss. 13:46-47).
Like their experience in Pisidian Antioch and Iconium, the Jews and Greeks were meeting together in the Synagogue (vs. 1). Their message resulted in a large number of believers, but disbelievers caused doubt in minds of Gentiles. At Lystra, they healed a lame man, but crowds wanted to give credit to Greek and Roman gods (vss. 11-16). Apostles redirected Lycaonian thoughts, but still had to resist them offerings sacrifices to them (vs. 18). Jews from Antioch and Iconium won over crowds and had Paul stoned and left for dead, but he revived (vss. 19-20).
Nevertheless, Paul and Barnabas returned through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch strengthening and encouraging the disciples that it might be through many trials and tribulations that they would enter into the Kingdom of God. They appointed Elders for each of the churches as they left.
Misdirected Worship (Acts 14:11-13)
The focal passage for this week starts with us in the middle of a paragraph at Acts 14:8-18. Verse 8 tells us that that Paul, Barnabas and the team are at Lystra which is a little beyond 50 miles, southeast from Pisidian Antioch. The first stop in getting there would probably be Lycaonia and then travelling southwest to Lystra. There was a man there who was lame from birth. He was listening to Paul’s presentation as Paul looked at him and saw he had the faith to be healed (vs. 9). Paul spoke with a loud voice and said, “Stand upright on your feet.” Verse 10 says, “And he leaped up and began to walk.” My mind went immediately to Jesus’ healing of the man by the Pool at Bethesda who had been lame for 38 years (John 5). Jesus told the man to get up and take his bed with him. The man was elated, but the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of healing on the Sabbath. The man was dancing and crying. He had no care about what day it was.
Likewise, as verse 11 begins our focal verses and says, “When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, and saying in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have become like men and have come down to us.’” As the man was jumping and dancing with glee, the crowds began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker (vs. 12). The healed man was probably not aware of that discussion at all. But the crowd had watched Paul do the healing, but somehow wanted to give credit for the healing to Greek gods like Zeus and Hermes, or Roman gods like Jupiter and Mercury. This is clearly misdirected worship.
But it gets even worse, the Temple of Zeus was just outside the city gates of Lystra and the priest of that temple became aware of the discussion in the city. The priest knew that his job was to offer sacrifices to his god, Zeus, for the great and wonderful work they said he had done. So, the priest begins preparations to do so. He selected his best oxen and garlands and brought them to the city gates and announced that he was prepared to oversee the sacrifice with the crowds of the city.
Proclaiming the Living God (Acts 14:14-18)
“But when the Apostles Paul and Barnabas heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the Gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the Heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them’” (Acts 14:14- 15).
Notice first that Luke calls Paul and Barnabas “Apostles.” These men were ordained (set aside) to be sent out on this trip (Acts 13:3). They are the ones sent out – they were ordained as Apostles (Greek: apóstolos). The definition stands as “a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):—apostle, messenger, he that is sent.” Apostles of today are called missionaries. As Jewish leaders, Paul and Barnabas “tore their robes” (vs. 14). This was a blasphemy to attribute the work of our God (Holy Spirit) to a non-god. Paul and Barnabas are beyond shocked at this happening. “Why are you doing this?
Paul continued his shock by asking if they could tell they were men by the same nature they are. He yells them that they have preached the message to you that they should turn away from these wicked ways (vain things) and toward the Living God, the same One who made the Heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in it (vs. 15). Paul says that God, in His grace has allow humankind the freedom for all nations to go in their own ways, yet He maintained a witness among them as He provided rain from the heavens to bring fruitful seasons that would satisfy their hearts with food and contentment. Yet, even while he was preaching these blessing from the Lord, he had trouble keeping the people from insisting on offering sacrifices to them. They were trapped in false faith, depending on false securities having no hope.
Opposition Faced (Acts 14:19-20)
On the one hand, Paul, Barnabas and the team of missionaries were holding back the believers in false gods and their drive to offer sacrifices to them, while on the other hand, the Jewish unbelieving mobs from Antioch and Iconium had united and were coming after the missionaries (vs. 19). At Lystra, they took Paul and stoned him, dragged him outside the city and left him for dead. Many of the cities and towns had refuge dumps where trash and unclaimed bodies were left to be burned. The word frequently used for these places was Gehenna, or the place of the condemned in the afterlife. Originally, it was the place of sacrificed children to the Ammonite god, Moloch. This was done under King Solomon (10th century), King Manasseh (7thcentury) and continued into the captivity (6th century BC). During Paul’s time, they were garbage dumps, and it was there they dumped him.
Here is another great illustration of how God will preserve us until He has finished the mission for which He called us. The abused and lifeless body of the Apostle Paul was deposited in the pit of the wasted and unclaimed, believing he was successfully neutralized, but God was not finished, and this answer would not be Paul’s final chapter. Continue reading below in verse 20 to see and amazing demonstration of God’s power over man’s attempts to frustrate His will.
Verse 20 starts out with the word, "but.” In other words, “to the contrary!” As the Apostles stood around Paul, he got up and entered the city. Notice there is no pomp or ceremony. There is no documentation of shock or surprise. The Bible simply states that Paul, the one who was believed to be dead “got up and entered the city” (vs. 20). Next, just as earth shaking and awe-inspiring, the beaten, stoned and left for dead Apostle Paul departs Lystra with Barnabas for Derbe. Even Clint Eastwood would have taken a couple days to heal, but not Paul , “the next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.” The world just cannot stop the called man or woman of God until He says so!
Encouragement Given (Acts 14:21-23)
In Derbe, the Apostles preached the Gospel and were able to make many more disciples (vs. 21). Luke does not mention the amount of time or even specific numbers of new disciples made, rather, he classifies the number as “many” and leaves that interpretation for us. We know from history that many of the new churches were “house churches” or churches that met in homes instead of having some massive building with stained glass windows and 50-foot ceilings. So, the larger house churches may have peaked at a dozen members or so. But also the house churches of Jerusalem met together at Solomon’s Porches on the Temple grounds. Just two days of Peter’s, Spirit-filled preaching took the number of men to beyond 8,000 souls, just numbering the men. Hundreds of them met on Solomon’s Porches and could grow as God permitted. Nevertheless, the detailed teachings in the Scriptures were probably done in the house-church setting, especially as the persecutions increased and many Christians were forced to flee Jerusalem for survival.
But notice that all of verse 21 follows the word “after,” that is, “After they had preached the Gospel to that city (Derbe) and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God’” (vss. 21-22). Part of Paul’s encouragement was to let the disciples know that faith will be tested to build strength.
At the end of verse 21, we saw that Paul, Barnabas and the team returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. These were the cities where Paul and many others were persecuted for their faith. But Paul knew that the survival of the church was totally dependent on the strength of the believers. So, Paul encouraged them and appointed Elders for the churches to lead them and to be the primary contacts for Paul and the others to send more materials and updates on other churches. In the next two of Paul’s Missionary Journeys, we will see him returning to these churches even as he establishes and builds many more. The Epistles that follow the Book of Acts are letters that show the Apostle’s communication with and support for those churches and helping them see the great wonders of church growth all across the domain. Paul and the Team prayed, fasted and laid hands on the members and their new Elders on every visit. Even today, across each of the denominations, news of the great successes of God’s people serve to strengthen, encourage and grow us into better servants for Him.
Understand the Context (Acts 15:1-35)
The last point on this chart should actually be the first. It goes directly to the Point of the Council at Jerusalem (50 AD) and its importance to the world of Christendom as time marched forward. Jerusalem remained the Capital City of Judaism and, since Christianity came out of Judaism, it had its leadership there as well. James, a half-brother of Jesus (some say cousin) was the leader of the Christian church after James, the Apostle and brother of John was beheaded by Herod. After Paul’s First Missionary Journey completed in Syrian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to meet with James and the other leaders and discuss the results of the Journey. The topic almost immediately turned to the question “How do Gentiles become Christians?” Verses 1-5 states the question as, “Must a Gentile convert to Judaism before becoming a Christian?
Verses 6-21 reveal two major beliefs. The Mosaic faction believed that only believing Jews could become Christians. They believed that Jesus was a Jewish Messiah, therefore, He was only available to the Jewish believers. The second faction was led by Peter as evidenced by his experiences with Cornelius (Acts 10). These people were not Jews, yet they experienced all the signs and wonders experienced by the Jews Peter preached to on Pentecost (Acts 2). Peter’s stand was that the same demonstrated miracles of God’s Holy Spirit in both groups meant they were equal in God’s eyes.
The final opinion of the Council agreed with Peter’s statements and delivered the simple statement that the only path the salvation in Jesus is trough faith in Him (vss. 22-29). The letter to be carried to all synagogues to be read to the congregations was, “19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Judas and Silas sent with letter.
Requirements for Gentiles (Acts 15:7-9)
With all the Bible expertise held by the Scribes, Sadducees, Pharisees and Priests, one would think the question of what to do with Gentiles entering the faith would be mute. First, and of utmost importance, the Abrahamic Covenant clearly states, “1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:1-3, KJV). The phrase saying “all families of the earth be blessed” goes beyond the Jewish families alone. Nevertheless, the first major issue taken out of Paul’s First Missionary Journey is “How can Gentiles become Christians?” According to Peter, “[God] made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9, author’s brackets). Even the cleansing routines of the Mikvah procedures were used as recognition ceremonies to accept “the strangers among us” as proselytes into the Jewish faith throughout Leviticus (19:33-34, Jewish Attitudes Toward Proselytes | My Jewish Learning). So, God always had a plan for proselytes from other religions to become full members of Judaism.
In verse 7, Peter opens the discussion of how Gentiles can be saved by describing his experiences with Cornelius years earlier (Acts 10). And of course, it was Peter who preached the first two sermons under the power of the Holy Spirit and saw 3,000 men saved one day and 5,000 men saved the second day (Acts 2:41 & 4:1). So, he had more first-hand experience in seeing the results of people being born again than anyone else. Calling his experiences with Cornelius’ house the same could probably only be stated with authority by Peter. Nevertheless, Peter does not limit the work of God, but rather sates that “God, who knows the heart of man, tesified to them by giving them that same Holy Spirit. Further, Peter describes the results of that Holy Spirit being given to them by saying that these people’s hearts were cleansed by faith in Jesus Christ.
Not Bound (Acts 15:22-26)
After Peter’s lively testimony as tO what he had seen, James picks up the gavel and states emphatically that the prophets had spoken from God on this earlier (vss. 13 21). First, Amos 9:11-12 says, “11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations that are called by my name, saith Jehovah that doeth this” (ASV). Then he adds his final judgement on the question of how Gentile can become Christians. He says, “19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. 21 For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath” (vss. 19-21).
When these words were presented by James to the rest of the leadership, “It seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church” to accept these words and send to all the churches and to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (vs. 22). Judas and Silas were the men they selected to be the authoritative messengers from the leadership of the Christian church to Antioch.
This was the message delivered to Antioch, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. 24 “Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 25 it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, the leaders of the Christian church are sending a letter to the churches beginning at Antioch by trusted and honored men of our number to reveal our single-minded answer of faith.
Believers Rejoice (Acts 15:27-31)
The continuation of the letter to be delivered contains some of the specifics of the thoughts of the leadership. First, they wanted to introduce Judas and Silas to the receiving community as men the leaders trusted to communicate in the words of the report and make sure all questions were answered. First, Jerusalem wants to establish the fact that they are not intending to lay upon the Gentiles any more requirements than they already have, except for these barest of essentials (vs. 28). First, that the Gentiles abstain from anything which has was sacrificed to idols (vs. 29a). Second, that they abstain from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals (vs. 29b), and third, that they abstain from sexual immorality” (vs. 29d). The letter summarizes, “If you can keep yourselves from these things, you will do well” (vs. 29e). And the letter ends with the farewell greeting. From here, Judas and Silas are to open for questions or feedback.
So, now the letter is delivered to the people, and Judas and Silas remain for questions. The local congregation is called together, Judas and Silas are introduced to them, and they have the letter read to them (vs. 30). Now, comes the moment of truth. The leaders of the Christian Church in Jerusalem have heard the testimony from those who were there and saw all that took place. James and the other leaders have formulated what they hope will be the final review of the question on what Gentiles must do to be saved. They documented their recommendations, and they are in the hands of the first readers at Antioch for their reaction. Verse 31 says simply, “When they had read it, they rejoiced because the letter was so encouraging to them.”
Now, the work turns to sharing the letter with all the other churches and the unreached in the many cities not yet seen by Paul and Barnabas. So, we will see in the next few verses that Paul and Barnabas begin their discussions for Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, who should go with them and when they should start.
Understand the Context (Acts 15:36-16:10)
We spoke at length last week about the Council at Jerusalem and its immense importance not only to solve the problem of what must Gentiles do to be saved, but also to create a mechanism for addressing and solving issues in Christendom, in general. The Council, led by the Apostle Peter, that Great Fisherman and supported by James, Jesus’ half brother and at least two other leaders, Judas and Silas, determined that Gentiles were not required to become proselytes to Judaism in order to become Christians. They were required to “abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood” (Acts 15:20). The Council published a letter stating these findings and establishing them as official Christian Doctrine from that time forward. Judas and Silas were selected from the Council to accompany Paul and Barnabas to deliver the letter with stand as Council Representatives for any questions or feedback.
Barnabas asked to take John Mark on the journey, but Paul refused and selected Silas to accompany him (vss. 15:36-38). So, Barnabas and Mark sailed for Cyprus while Paul and Silas departed by land for Derbe, Lystra, Lycaonia and Pisidian Antioch (vss. 39-41, see map below). Both missionary teams were sponsored by Jerusalem, and both served to strengthen and grow churches and appoint Elders to lead them. The churches were flourishing and growing daily (vs. 16:5).
Paul added Timothy to the team in Lystra. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was Greek, so Paul had him circumcised because the Jews where they were ministering knew he was Greek and would have excluded him from any ministry meetings in the Synagogues (vss. 1-3). They were delivering the Council’s letter to all the churches in the area, as well.
They were ministering throughout Phrygia and Galatia but forbidden by the Spirit to enter Asia Minor. The Spirit also prevented them from entering Bithynia so, passing by Myasia, they were in Troas. It was there that Paul saw a vision and diverted the team to Macedonia to preach the Gospel there.
Plan Threatened (Acts 15:39-41)
Anything Satan can do to cause division between the ministers of God’s work, he will certainly do. At the beginning of Paul’s Second Ministry Journey, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but Paul apposed taking him because he had abandoned the team in Pamphylia during the First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:13). The division was so great that Barnabas and Mark sailed for Cyprus separately while Paul and Silas departed by land for Derbe, Lystra, Lycaonia and Pisidian Antioch (vss. 15:39-41. See map above). As usual, Satan overplayed his hand and the division he caused lead to two, fully supported missionary teams saving souls, planting new churches and helping older churches grow and prosper.
The leaders of the Christian movement just had a major victory. The efforts of the Mosaic branch of Jewish believers said the only way a Gentile could become Christian was to first become a Jewish Proselyte by honoring the Law of Moses (including circumcision and the other 555 derivative laws), celebrating the Feast Days and the three required annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem. But we see those who had seen Christian Conversions argue that the Law of Moses had nothing to do with them. The testimony of Peter, who had experienced over 8,000 Christian Conversions of Jewish believers and an untold number of Christian Conversion of Gentiles in Cornelius’ house, there was absolutely no difference between the Jewish and Gentile conversions. The people involved heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they believed in their hearts that Jesus died and was resurrected by God. They displayed the filling by the Holy Spirit through obvious gifts of the Spirit like speaking in or hearing languages they had never learned or heard before. Paul followed Peter’s testimony saying that, regardless of whether a person was a Jew or a Gentile, the conversion experiences were identical. Just like Abraham, the people confessed their belief in Jesus Christ and that faith through God’s grace caused their conversion (Gen 15:6).
The Council at Jerusalem endorsed and documented the identical Christian Conversions for Jews and Gentile, alike. They added only superficial rules that Gentiles must abstain from things offered to idols, blood, thing strangled and sexual immorality to be fully recognized. This was a colossal victory and now Satan was trying to reestablish a foothold in the already conquered ground. He would be defeated again and still!
Plan Activated (Acts 16:1-5)
Part of God’s plan was to activate Timothy, Paul’s disciple, as a part of the team on Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (vss. 16:1-3). Recall that Paul had established a practice of going to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. That is, even though he was chosen and ordained by Jesus Christ as a minister to the Gentiles, he would present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews, first. Mark was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. Worse, where Paul and Silas were ministering, everyone knew Timothy and that his father was a Greek rather than Jewish. In fact, Timothy was admired across the entire region where Paul was ministering (vs.6). So, Paul thought it best to have Timothy circumcised because of the Jews and to accelerate his preparation for ministry on this Second Missionary Journey.
Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him on this trip because of his fame in Lystra and Iconium. Having a person who is well known and trusted would open doors for ministry he could not have opened otherwise. So, as they were passing through the cities of this region and passing out the paper published by the elders and apostles of the faith in Jerusalem, Timothy could be invaluable as a known and trusted resource from that area. That is, a known and trusted resource among the Jews and the Gentiles alike. It was almost like instant credibility.
Luke includes a summary phrase here saying, “So, the churches were being strengthened in faith and were increasing number daily” (vs. 5). In other words, the way God was working among the people of the towns and cities of this region and even having Timothy express his faith in Jesus Christ was having a huge impact on spreading the Gospel and seeing people saved here.
Plan Altered (Acts 16:6-7)
Verses 6 and 7 speak to an issue which repeats itself often and cannot be ignored when it happens. Paul, Silas and Timothy are moving through the region where God gave them open doors, but there are areas where the Spirit inside them told them they could not go. Verse 6 speaks specifically about the Holy Spirit telling the team they were not permitted to enter Asia Minor. This is a last-minute specific modification of a general instruction from the Lord.
For example, we have been studying the Book of the Acts of the Apostles as documented by Paul’s disciple and physician, Dr. Luke. We know that he has told us of the great statement of mission that we call the Great Commission in Acts 1:7-8 saying, “He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” So, Paul has this decree from the Lord saying he has general authority to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the “Uttermost parts of the earth,” but God is revealing a specific limitation to that direction. Now, his orders are that he is to go to the uttermost parts of the earth except Asia Minor and Bithynia. Notice that Paul knows not to argue with the Holy Spirit of God. It is a thing of trust. God can modify His directions for us at any time, for any purpose, for any reason. Sometimes God’s grace is such that He might reveal to us why He took the action He took; other times He may not share His reasons. Either way, God’s grace is sufficient.
Plan Confirmed (Acts 16:8-10)
So, now we find Paul and the team passing through Myasia as they came down to the city of Troas (vs. 8). Looking at the map of Paul’s Missionary Journeys (above), we can see the blue denim-colored line going from Pisidian Antioch over to Troas with no stops or skips. Troas is at the Southwestern point of Myasia (present-day Turkey) where the Turkish Straits joins the Black Sea on the North of Turkey to the Aegean Sea on the South of Turkey. In 2019, this strait saw 40,000 vessels and 650 million tons of cargo (Pryce, 2020). Troas became Istanbul, and later, Constantinople where the Roman Emperor, Constantine moved the rebelling segment of the Roman Church when they rejected the doctrine of the infallibility and universal dominion of the Roman Bishop (now Pope) and establish the Greek Orthodox church in 800 AD. The formal split was documented as 1054 AD with both agents of the split claiming to be the original church of the apostles of Jesus Christ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East%E2%80%93West_Schism).
It was here that Paul received a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and appealing to him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (vs. 9). Verse 10 says that Paul immediately recognized the validity of the vision saying that God had called them to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Macedonia. This vision and Paul’s response to it sends Paul across the Aegean Sea making this the preaching of Christ in what is now Europe. It is also a strong revelation of how God leads, God’s way of persuading, Paul’s submission to God’s will, confidence in God’s direction and a reminder that we should not push ahead so hard that we might miss a word from God on what we are doing.
Understand the Context (Acts 16:11-17:15)
Last week, we saw Paul, Silas and Timothy skipping over the entire provinces of Mysia and Bithynia (present day Turkey) to Troas, a seacoast city where the Black Sea empties through the Bosporus Strait into the Sea of Marmara into Aegean Sea (see map below, Figure 1). Paul received a vision from the Lord to go to Macedonia and left immediately. He arrived in Macedonia at Neapolis at traveled west to the ancient Roman city of Philippi. The problem the team faced was that there was no synagogue from which to start their approach to the city, as was their custom. However, they learned of a place on the riverbank where a group of women met to pray and joined them (Acts 16:11-15). One of the ladies was named Lydia and had a home large enough to invite the four missionaries to stay there. These verses are a part of our focal study.
The team also learned of a possessed slave girl who made a great deal of money for her owners from her divining (fortune telling). When she first saw the missionaries, she proclaimed them to be “Servants of the Highest proclaiming the way of salvation” (16-24). After several days, Paul became annoyed at her distraction and cast the demon out of her. When her owners discovered she had lost her capability to tell fortunes, they dragged Paul and Silas into the marketplace and complained to the magistrate that they had stolen the girl’s talent and their source of income. They were arrested and beaten with rods. The jailer was told to secure them well, so he put them in the inner prison and chained their hands and feet into the stocks.
They were supernaturally released (see more under focus), the jailer and his family were born-again and they told the magistrate they would not leave quietly because he had cause Roman citizens to be illegally flogged. They spent a few days at Lydia’s home, encouraged the brethren they met there and departed for Thessalonica (17:1-9) and Berea (17:10-15). Thessalonica had a synagogue, but the missionaries were not received well at all. A mob attacked the but could not find them. At Berea, the same mob again tried to capture them, but they escaped.)
Witness at the River (Acts 16:11-15)
So, the missionaries arrived at Troas knowing that their stay would be short due to Paul’s vision from the Lord that he must go to Macedonia. The team rented passage on a ship and traveled by sea from Troas into the Aegean Sea to the island of Samothrace about halfway across the Aegean toward Macedonia (see may above). Then they made their way to the other side of the Island and departed for the mainland of Macedonia to land at Neapolis the next day. The remainder of the journey would be on land. It was a short trip of about 10 miles from Neapolis to Philippi the same day. Some literature says that Neapolis was the seaport for Philippi.
Philippi was an ancient Roman colony founded in 168 BC and a chief city of Macedonia (16:11). The city had about 10,000 people in the days of 50 or 51 AD when Paul’s team landed there. They would have found that population largely retired military and political figures who were given land by the Roman Empire. As such, it was a wealthy city with very little Jewish influence, and certainly without a synagogue. Paul, Silas and Timothy agreed in their minds to stay at Philippi for some days (16:12).
On the Sabbath, they went to the riverbank just outside the city gate supposing it would be a good place for prayer. As they sat down together, however, they began talking with a group of women who had also were gathered there (vs. 13). One of them, whom we would later know as Lydia of Thyatira, was a merchant of fine fabrics. She was also a worshipper of God and was listening to the study as Paul led it (vs. 14). The Lord had opened her heart to respond to the teaching as Paul presented it. As he finished, she spoke and said, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay” (vs. 15). The woman’s suggestion sounded good to the missionaries, so they followed her to her dwelling place that same day. The missionaries were witnesses there.
Witness in Jail (Acts 16:29-34)
In this Scripture we find Paul and Silas had been arrested for casting the demon of divination out of a slave girl, and by doing so, they removed the capability for making a significant income from her owners. They dragged Paul and Silas to the marketplace and presented them and their complaint to the magistrate. He arrested Paul and Silas and had them severely beaten with rods. He instructed the jailer to put them in a secure place, so the jailer put them in the inner prison and chained their hands and feet in the stocks. An earthquake shook the prison and released them.
Picking up at verse 29, the jailer was trembling with fear because the chains were broken, and the prison doors were all opened. Earlier, he had taken out his sword to commit suicide believing all the prisoners were gone and he would be executed. But Paul and Silas stopped him and said, “Stop. Do not harm yourself. We are still here.” Now we see the jailer falling before them asking, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (vs. 30). They said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (vs.31). Verse 32 continues that Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to the Philippian jailer together with all who were in his house. Then the jailer immediately took them and washed their wounds, and he was baptized, he and all his household (vs. 33). And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household (vs. 34). Paul and Silas were clearly witnesses in the jail.
Witness upon Release (Acts 16:35-40)
Now, the next day arrives. Paul and Silas are at the jailer’s house, the jailer is at work and the chief magistrates send their policemen with directions to release Paul and Silas from imprisonment (vs. 35). The jailer reports these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore, come out now and go in peace” (vs. 36). The jailer seems to think that the release alone is food for great celebration, but Paul says to them, “not so fast! You have illegally beaten two Roman citizens in public without a trial, and have thrown us into prison and now want to send us away quietly?” Paul finishes verse 37 by insisting, “no, indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.”
The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard they were Romans, and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city (vss. 38-39). They went out of the prison and entered Lydia’s house. When they saw the brethren gathered there, they encouraged them and then departed the city. Paul and Silas were once again witnesses for Jesus Christ as the left the city on their own terms and testified for the entire group in Philippi that night.
Understand the Context (Acts 17:16-34)
Leading people to a relationship with Jesus Christ can be a lot less time consuming if we can learn something of the background of the prospects before we start. One aspect of that background is culture. How do the people believe before we start talking to them? For the people in Athens, they were steeped in the knowledge culture. They knew the arts, literature and philosophy. As a matter of fact, Athen was a seat of Greek knowledge. They were masters of sculpture, literature and historic background on the development of their country. Their philosophical background comes from the giants of the craft like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus and Zeno. Each of these masters had large followings of faithful practitioners in their particular view of knowledge.
They followed that way of life into their religious pursuits by following a number of gods from various nations and belief systems. Homer was an eighth century BC poet who wrote The Iliad and the Odyssey which document the mythology of the gods of early Greece. It showed the belief structure of gods which were intimately involved in the daily lives of their subjects. Paul, Silas and Timothy were introducing these believers in polytheism to a life of monotheism. Examining the number of statues present on Mars Hill, took their polytheism seriously.
Paul saw an opportunity to reach these people for Christ if he could exploit their statue to the unknown god as a single god who is greater than all the others, those lesser gods. A God who created all that existed, cared enough about His subjects to send His own son to pay the sin ransom for all of them. After giving His life to atone for them, He was placed in a tomb, but God raised Him to ensure eternal life for all humankind if we would only believe and acknowledge the Son for who He was/. It is through the resurrection of God’s Son that we have the reminder of the power of One who cannot be constrained by death; rather, He got victory over death for Himself and for those who believe He is who He says He is. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is the one true God and Paul and Silas was introducing Him in Athens.
Recognize God’s Sovereignty (Acts 17:22-26)
When Paul and Silas reached the Areopagus (Mars Hill), they saw the statues of the twelve major deities of the Greek Pantheon: Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus. Is it any wonder that Paul made the statement, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects” (Acts 17:22)? As Paul walked through and examined the various inscriptions, he found one saying, “To an Unknown God” (vs. 23). In their open admission that they did not know the names of all their gods, Paul proclaimed that it was this Unknown God whom he wished to address them. Then he began to describe the characteristics of this God they openly admitted they did not know.
Paul began in verse 24 with the fact that it was this God who created the heavens and the earth and all that dwell therein. It is this God who cannot be contained in a temple or worship center made with hands; this God is pervasive. Paul continues that this God cannot be served with human hands as if He needed anything from humankind (vs. 25a). To the contrary, this God actually provides life and breath to all living creation; God is self-sufficient (vs. 25b). Paul says, as a matter of fact, this God brought all nations of humankind who live anywhere on earth into existence from one man whom He created (vs. 26a). Further, Paul says that God decided when each human being would live , where they would live and how long each one would live (Va. 26b).
We recognize these characteristics of God as Infinite, God had no beginning or end; He is Immutable, God never changes; God is righteous, God is inherently good and incapable of evil (Psa 34); Omniscient, God knows everything and nothing is hidden from Him; Omnipotent, God’s power has no limit; and Omnipresent, God is everywhere at the same time. Paul was trying to describe a God who was unlike any of the pagan gods his audience knew. In Homer’s volumes (referenced earlier), the behaviors of the various gods therein were like humans. They made errors, they sinned, they were jealous, they were angry, they were vengeful. David correctly invites us in Psalms 34:8, “Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.” The Hebrew word for good here is towb (pronounced tobe). It means, “good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, × fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, × most, pleasant, pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured)” (Strongs, 2895 & 2896). Trusting in this kind of Being is truly a blessing!
Know Him (Acts 17:27-29)
So, after the endless details Paul used to describe this Unknown God, he begins to draw the string of decision for his listeners. He asks because of all these things God has revealed, will they find themselves seeking this God for themselves? Could it be that Paul’s words are sufficiently compelling to draw these people to God? Or, perhaps (he says) maybe they might grope around in spiritual blindness and find Him naturally. He assures the searchers that He is not far from them and that if they search, they will surely find Him. Paul hints at the deeper theology that God orders the very steps of our everyday lives. His full intention is to bring us into a purposeful collision with Him that requires that decision of us. Free will determines that the decision is ours, nevertheless, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). In other words, when God reveals the full knowledge of who He is and the unlimited, never-ending love He has for us, a negative decision is only possible by a true fool (Psa 14:1, 53:1). In truth, there is a vacuum God designed into us which cannot be filled with anything but Him (1 Tim 2:4 & 2 Pet 3:9). We will never enjoy peace or the feeling of wellbeing until we respond to that unmistakable called of God.
I recall that in those final moments of atheism, I stood in the pew at invitation time asking myself, “What other piece of information must I have? What am I missing that prevents me from saying yes to this invitation?” The personal history of what God did to bring me to that point leaves no argument concerning who orchestrated the search, the education and the moment of final decision that forced me to ask, “what else.” God made the decision when He created Adam that he would spend eternity with him. That was the whole purpose of the creation. And for each of us, God brings us to the age of accountability, gives us the full set of information to chose to follow Him and takes us to that point where having the full knowledge of the impact of our choice, He forces the question He made me ask, “What more do you need to know?” Paul looked in the faces of those that day, knowing what God had done, and he linked one more piece of knowledge to the equation by quoting their own poets saying, “For we are also His children” (Aratus, Phaenom, vs. 5; Cleanthus, hymn to Jupiter; and others). Paul interprets that, since we are God’s children, we should know better than thinking that God’s nature can be captured in the arts of gold or silver or any other stone. No, the Divine Nature, the being one with God cannot be captured in things made by hand. God is speaking to Paul’s Athenian audience just as he did to you or me, “What else do you need to know to make this decision?” What else could God give in addition to His only Son?”
Repent and Believe (Acts 17:30-34)
Verse 30 provides one of those opportunities for misunderstanding the whole idea of being saved (justified). Let us look closer. In the past, the Athenians admitted that they had no knowledge of the Unknown God, but Paul just preached an entire sermon geared to undo that ignorance. Now, he is saying that God has provided this new knowledge and will overlook the past of not knowing. But in the spirit of the Athenians now knowing the truth, Paul says it is now time to make a decision to acknowledge Jesus Christ as that Unknown God. I do not use the word repent here because repentance is a result of being justified not a cause. Most of us can understand how many times we made decisions to go on a diet but just as many times, the diet has failed. We can only lose weight when we have a change of heart, and a person certainly cannot live a righteous life without the power of the Holy Spirit who comes when we are justified. As a second illustration, recall how many New Year’s resolutions we have made that did not last the first week of the New Year.
So, let us quickly look at the salvation experience. There are three parts of that experience separated by the three verb tenses in the Scripture. Simply put, we have been saved from the penalty of sin when we are born again. This is Justification. Paul says there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. These are the justified. Then we enter a life-long period of growth and changes in Jesus Christ brought about by the Holy Spirit living inside us. This is called Sanctification as we are being saved from the power of sin. This is where repentance fits. When we are equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can turn our backs on sins we have become slaves to, and put them behind us; that is, repent. The final phase of salvation is when we will pass from this life to the next after death. At that time, we will be saved from the presence of sin. In Heaven, there will be no more sin; this is glorification. You can see which of these the Bible writers are talking about by the context of their statement. In verse 30, Paul is talking about being born again, and therefore, being justified.
Verse 31 assures us that God has determined a day in which all of us will be judged for righteousness. Hebrews 13:5 says, “It is appointed for all men, once to die and then the judgement” (Heb 9:27). For those of us who are born again, our sins have been judged on the cross of Christ and there is no condemnation remaining for us (Rom 8:1). For those who have not been born again, the Great White Throne of Judgement is where your sins will be judged (Rev 20:11-15). The summary sentence of that judgement is verse 15 saying, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Satan is the master of providing stumbling to distract people from being born again. At the end of Paul’s sermon on judgement and being born again, he mentions that Jesus was raised from the dead (Acts 17:31). Verse 32 tells us that when the crowd heard him say that Jesus was resurrected, some sneered while other tried to put off the discussion until later (32). Verse 33 says that Paul left the discussion at that point, but verse 34 says that some believed what Paul said and followed Christ through him. These were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them (17:34)
Understand the Context (Acts 18:1-22)
In Athens, Paul, Silas and Timothy found a people steeped in religion and worshipping many gods (polytheists) but having no knowledge of the God of the Universe, Jehovah, nor His Son, Jesus, the Christ. Paul was able to preach the Gospel to them and some believed and were baptized. The majority, however, attacked Paul and his Gospel to the point that Paul, once again, announced his turn toward the Gentiles with his message of the Christ. Looking at our Map of Paul’s Missionary Journeys, we can see that Corinth is only a few miles west of Athens near the southern most tip of the Grecian peninsula. People of many faiths and cultural understandings resettled in Corinth after fleeing their original homes. This caused Corinth to be multicultural and multi theistic.
The Emperor Claudius of Rome expelled many people who would not accept the Roman edict that the emperor was a deity. Paul’s new friends and fellow tentmakers, Aquila and Priscilla, were two of these. They departed Rome in 49-50 AD with Claudius’ newer edict that Jews were not welcome in Rome. They were welcomed in Corinth, however, where a large Jewish population was already in place. While Athens had no synagogue for Paul to perform his usual start up, Corinth had one, and that was where Paul would initiate his ministry for Christ.
Paul’s message of Jesus as Messiah was widely rejected at Corinth so, he once again turned his back on the Jews in favor of the Gentile community. Conveniently, there was a God-fearing Greek homeowner immediately next to the synagogue named Titius Justus. Paul set up his ministry headquarters in that home. The response to Paul’s new outreach was outstanding and many Gentiles were converted to Christianity. Nevertheless, Paul experienced a vision from Christ one night telling him that a severe persecution was coming toward him, but that Jesus was solidly behind him and would cover him with His strength. Paul made an extended stay there even as the Jews decided to formally charge him in Gallio’s court. Gallio initially thought it was a valid charge but dismissed it after closer review. It was a great victory for Christianity.
Build Relationships (Acts 18:1-4)
Recall that Paul had somewhat of a mixed response to his message that God was their “Unknown God” in the midst of all the statues of their many gods. The turning point for many of them was his comment that God raised Jesus from the dead. Acts 17:32 reported that some sneered at that comment (rejected) while others just wanted to discuss it at another time (put it off). Nevertheless, many others were converted, and several leaders were mentioned by name. With the church at Athens well started, Paul traveled to Corinth, just a few miles to the west (vs. 18:1).
The Corinth trip begins with Paul meeting Aquila and Priscilla, a couple of fellow believers and tentmakers as he was. Aquila was a native of Pontus, a region of Asia Minor on the southern coast of the Black Seas inside the Roman Empire. He had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla because Claudius commanded that all Jews must leave Rome (49-50 AD). Paul came to them because they were in the same tentmaking trade as he was. Paul typically served in the ministry bivocationally to minimize his cost to the new churches. At Corinth, Paul stayed and worked with Aquila and Priscilla. I used this couple as an illustration of early bivocational ministers in my book, Bivocational: Today’s Tentmaking Ministers (Felsburg, Xulon Press, 2018).
Verse 4 tells us of their primary function for being in Corinth, they were “reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” This was Paul’s modes operando for starting his ministry in each city he visited. Most evangelists recognize that the more of a common core of experience we can build with the prospect, the more the prospect might trust the presenter when it is time for sharing the Gospel. Things held in common with the prospects are good starts. Another important part of sharing the Gospel is learning what God has done in the lives of the prospects before taking too much for granted. Even the simplest questions like, “Hasn’t God given us a beautiful day” or “God has certainly blessed you guys with a beautiful home” can help discover whether the couple believes in God at all. Their answers could range from believers saying, “Yes, He has” to unbelievers saying, “What’s God got to do with it?”
Share the Gospel (Acts 18:5-11)
Verse 5 reveals that Silas and Timothy were delayed in Macedonia for some period, but when they joined Paul at Corinth, began a period of complete devotion to sharing the Word and solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. Recall that Paul was talking to the people in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day. This would consist of Paul, a Master Teacher from the Sanhedrin, addressing religious Jews, Gentiles who have become proselytes into the Jewish faith and Gentiles from other faiths who were interested to the Jewish belief in one God. All three would be somewhat skilled in the content of the Old Testament and particularly, the Law or Pentateuch. The Jews, as a dominated and occupied nation, were waiting attentively for God’s Messiah to save them from the persecution, obscene taxation and poverty of their current lot. So, the study and resulting knowledge of the promised Messiah was common in all three groups. Paul needed only to draw attention to the content of those promises to get acceptance and attention. But mentioning Jesus of Nazareth as that Messiah seemed to produce violence and hatred wherever Paul taught.
Recall also that Jesus had come to eliminate the penalty of sin for all who would believe (Rom 8:1). Peter reminds us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Satan has no interest in people accepting Jesus for whom He is – that is akin to losing that person as a resource for him. So, Satan will use every supernatural trick he can to keep all people from believing the Gospel. Paul warns us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12). The entire dark side of the universe is bent on preventing us from helping people find and accept the Savior.
Paul certainly realized this when he saw the people of the synagogue rejecting and even blaspheming the Savior (vs. 6). He simply assured them that their blood was on their own hands, and he was turning his efforts to the salvation of the Gentles. So, Paul left ministry to the Jews in the synagogue and aligned with Titius Justus, a worshipper of God who owned the house next door to the synagogue, to continue his ministry in Corinth (vs. 7).
Not all was lost from Paul’s ministry in the synagogue, Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household and when many of the Corinthians heard of this, they followed Christ, believed and were baptized, also (vs. 8). Further, verse 9 tells us that Paul received a visit from Jesus, Himself in a vision at night telling him not to be afraid, but go on preaching and do not be silent because He is with him and “no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city” (vss. 9-10). Now that is about the strongest statement of supernatural support in most of the Scriptures! How did Paul react? Verse 11 tells us that Paul believed God and settled in Corinth for a full year and a half, teaching the Word of God among the people of Corinth. And that settles that!!
Follow God’s Lead (Acts 18:18-21)
Verse 18 reemphasizes that Paul the next remained in Corinth for far longer than he had planned, and he did so with the full and personal direction of Jesus, Himself. And having done so, Paul takes leave of the brethren and puts out to sea for Syria. Paul makes sure he coordinates with Silas and Timothy (the brothers who were with him) and tells them that he is standing down at Corinth and moving on to the next endeavor. Paul takes the new friends he met on the Second Missionary Journey, Priscilla and Aquila, to sea and to Syria with him. What is the hidden statement here? First, Paul is not “taking a break from the ministry” when he leaves Corinth. He is moving to the next part of his missionary journey. Second, he is taking a full half of the ministry team with him to do the next step. This was not a move of rest, recouperation or reconstruction, this was a simple move of knowing when one facet of ministry is ending, preparing to support that ministry for follow-on efforts and constituting the ministry team for the next leg of the campaign. Paul did all of this on his way to Ephesus for his next effort. Luke’s last comment in verse 18 is that Paul shaved his head in support of a vow he made. What that vow was, is not shared at this time.
So now, verse 19 opens in Ephesus where he separates from Priscilla and Aquila so he can go to the synagogue in Ephesus to reason with the local members and leaders. Again, Paul takes management control to assign that part of the team to the tasks which are best suited for that part of the team. This part of the Scripture does not reveal the actual timing of events but does tell us that what Paul did at the synagogue was well received and the leaders wanted him to stay there longer than originally planned (vs. 20a). But the second part of verse 20 lets us know that Paul did not feel led to stay at Ephesus longer; that is, “he did not consent.” Rather, Paul took leave of them and advised them that he will return to them again if God so wills that he do that. The statement is invaluable for the discipleship of the leaders and members of the synagogue and the church which will soon form from the converts from Paul’s efforts. The entire membership of any organization needs to know that their leader is dedicated to God and will respond to direction from only Him. Too many leaders and members of Christian churches today try to sense what the members want and bend the ministry in that direction. What all of us should be doing is seeking the face of God to hear what He wants us to do. Pastors and churches who do otherwise are working outside the will of God and risk loss of that ministry and/or membership. The Lord’s work must be led by the Lord and not political, secular or career motivations. When this issue was solved by Paul, he set sail from Ephesus. He does not share with us where he was going, but we see that he landed at Caesarea and went up to greet the church (Jerusalem?) and went down to Antioch. These were the final steps of an orderly completion of that Second Missionary Journey of Paul.
Understand the Context (Mark 11:1-12:44)
Jesus remains totally focused on His appointment at Jerusalem for the cross. It was for the cross that He came. It will be the most significant accomplishment of humankind since their creation by the Father. Jesus said, “I have come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). On the cross, He will save the believing world from the penalty of sin. Chapter 11 starts by telling us that Jesus and the apostles stopped off at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus on their way to Jerusalem. Lazarus was the man Jesus raised from being dead after four days. He was also targeted for death by the Sanhedrin because of his testimony of being raised. This home was close to the Mount of Olives and one of Jesus’ favorite places for prayer, the Garden of Gethsemane.
Once there, Jesus charged two apostles to continue near Jerusalem to select a donkey which was an offspring of a donkey and had never been ridden before. Zechariah 9:9 prophesied the promised King would reveal Himself on such an animal. This is the revelation of the Messiah prophesied by Daniel 9:25 to occur 69 weeks of years (173,880 days) after the commandment goes forth to rebuild Jerusalem (Neh 2:6). Jesus also wanted to celebrate the Passover with His apostles, so they prepared an upper room for Him. This is where Jesus would establish the Lord’s Supper.
Mark speaks here of Jesus’ entering the Temple grounds and finding dishonest salespeople selling animals for sacrifices and exchanging money to the local currency for purchasing the same or other needs after their long trips to celebrate the Jewish Holy Days. On the way to the Temple Jesus was hungry and passed a fig tree where food should have been available (Mark 11:12-14). There was none and the apostles would see that tree dead the next day (20-21). But the size and intensity of the crowd receiving Jesus coming to Jerusalem of the donkey reinforced the fear of the Jewish and Roman leaders that this man might well be able to overthrow their leadership; hence the High Priest Caiaphas decided, “Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not” (27-33, John 11:50).
Chapter 12 provides very plain and logical parables showing the applications of Jesus’ teachings. Verses 1-12 describe the evil farmers who murdered their landlord and his son to steal the land they farmed for them. In 13-17, Jesus made sure the people knew that they must render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s. The question was whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. In 17-27, Jesus further inflamed the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, by assuring all gathered that He was not the God of the dead but the God of the living. Then He was challenged by the leaders to determine which commandment was the greatest of the ten (28-34). Jesus said the most important was to love God with all you have and are, and the second was to love your neighbor as you love yourself (30-31). Jesus closes with three short parables of great importance: whose Son is the Messiah (35-37), the pride and foolishness of the religious leaders (38-40) and how the smallest offering is greater than the largest when it is given out of poverty (41-44).
Zealous (Mark 11:15-17)
When Jesus entered the Temple the next day, He was not upset or surprised at what He saw there. He knew that more than a million people came there for at least three of the Jewish Feasts each year, and that only a small portion lived a short distance from the Temple. The rest had to travel long distances from their home to the Temple, and as they made the trip, they would have to bring the animals for sacrifice with them. The rules for only offering a perfect animal with no flaws to the Lord were very clear. The priest receiving the animals could not offer a flawed beast and would have to reject it. So, rather than risking the injury of a perfect animal traveling from their homes to the Temple, various brokers would have the perfect animals for sale within the Temple courtyard. The service was a valuable one and greatly needed. The problem was that many of the merchants were using purposely misadjusted scales or setting terrible exchange rates between the difference coins. It was not the product nor the need that angered the Lord. It was extraordinary profits the salespeople were exhorting from His worshippers. It was dishonest and was certainly no example of how to love one’s neighbor.
Jesus overthrew the tables and chairs of the sellers because they were mistreating their fellow citizens by using incorrect exchange rates for the various currencies and faulty measuring scales for weighing the exchange of money. They were also carrying their supplies and purchasers through the worship areas of the Temple, showing total disrespect for the Holy Place and the worshippers therein. Jesus clarifies the large distance between what was going on at the Temple and how far away from the worship of God it was. Truly, these people were taking the House of Worship and turning into a den of thieves. Jesus simply was not going to tolerate the mistreatment of the people who came to the Temple believing it was a holy place.
It was good that those services for exchanging currencies was available, but the methodologies were flawed and the example for worshipping Jehovah was completely absent from the Temple’s courtyards. John 2 reveals to us that this was not the first time Jesus felt it necessary to clear this area. The clearing documented by John was done shortly after the first miracle, the changing of water to wine at the wedding feast in Cana. The cleansing in Mark and the other synoptic Gospels was done shortly before His arrest; that is, one was at the beginning of His ministry and the other was at the end. This adds even more justification for Jesus’ anger here. He must have thought His teachings should have been sufficient with only one cleansing of the Temple.
Jealous (Mark 11:18-19)
So, while Jesus worked hard in the final days of His ministry to make Temple worship more conservative and godly, the scribes and chief priests were angered by His work (vs. 18). Maybe part of their anger was because they knew it should have been them who were monitoring the quality of worship and adherence to the Law of Moses. The scribes were those of the most learned of the Jewish leaders. They worked for years if not decades to prove they could be trusted with the sacred work of copying the hundreds of holy scrolls entrusted to them. They knew more about the fulfillment of the prophet’s words than anyone else in Israel. They knew of the more than 300 prophecies of Old Testament prophets that had been fulfilled by this Man Jesus.
The chief priests were those responsible for the daily worship and consistent teachings of the scriptures given them. Their frequent presentations from God’s word gave them practiced expertise in its content. They knew of who Jesus was. Nevertheless, our focus scripture tells us that it was these two groups of people who decided that Jesus had to be murdered. And from above, we see the reference to the words of Caiaphas that it would be fitting that this one man dies for the survival of the rest of the nation. The scripture provides insight into their mindset at the time. “For they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine” (vs. 18). The feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000 men (plus their families) along with the recent response of the entire city as Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah of God riding the colt of a donkey into the city showed numbers approach half a million that might respond to Jesus’ calling (Zech 9:9). Their fear was justified, of course, just for the size of these crowds, but for those waiting for the Messiah, the crowds were predictable and proper.
Notice what might be missed in Mark 11:19, that Jesus was able to walk freely and unimpededly out of the city when evening began to show. While the scribes and chief priests had already decided He must die, and that decision only confirmed earlier decisions for Him and His friend Lazarus, no one so much as challenged His withdrawal from the city. “And when even was come, He went out of the city” indeed (vs. 19).
Miraculous (Mark 11:20-25)
Jesus had cursed the fig tree on the way from Bethany to Jerusalem the day before (vss. 12-14). Now, the apostles are passing by that tree a day later and noticed it was dried up from its roots (vs. 20). Peter reminded Jesus (as if that was necessary) that this was the tree He cursed the day before (vs. 21). It seemed that Peter was surprised that when Jesus cursed the tree, it was actually cursed to death. So, Jesus answers the astonishment of Peter and the others that they should have faith that what they say in the power of God’s Spirit will be accomplished. That is, the fig tree died because Jesus said so in faith, by the Spirit.
Jesus continues to use the event to teach His apostles. He says, “Truly, I say unto you…” (vs. 23a) He prefaces His words to them that they can rely on His words to be completely true. Whenever His teaching (or ours) is far removed from what most people would believe, He adds these words to His teachings.
Now for the actual teaching: “That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (vs. 23b). Jesus makes His point with a purposeful exaggeration (or figure) that we can move mountains with the power of our prayer if we will only believe what we ask for. He may not have meant that we could move the actual millions of tons of dirt by prayer, but we can literally move mountains of trouble placed in our lives or the lives of others by simply praying and believing. Recall the testimonies I have shared with you about the woman whose breast cancer was sent into immediate remission with a single prayer, the woman who was comatose and expected to die when unplugged from her machines, but she got up and walked out of the hospital with a single prayer, and the young lady convulsing from Satan’s attack stopped and walked away in full control of herself with just one simple prayer. Jesus proved the power of His transferred authority by sending out the twelve and later sending out the seventy (Matt 10.5 & Luke 10:1). He extended that authority to each of us when He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).
So here, when Jesus says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” we can believe Him and accept that power on His word (Mark 11:24). Further, it should not be surprising that Jesus’ very next comment has to do with eliminating a key detriment to successful prayer: unforgiveness. He says, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses (Mark 11:25-26). It might seem to some that we have switched topics, but the power of the Holy Spirit to “do greater things than these,” is dependent on a right heart and spirit. Forgiving others is a part of righteousness under God. Not only did Jesus echo this command in Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, He also emphasized forgiveness when it is associated with our giving (Matt 6:12-15, 5:23).
Understand the Context (Mark 12:1-13:37)
Last week, we studied Mark 11-12 and saw Christ seemingly appose every powerful person in Jerusalem. He knew they were already predisposed to ending His life, but He confronted them anyway. The issue broke down to this: Jesus had a responsibility to prepare His apostles for life after He was gone. He knew this was His last week until after the Resurrection. He had to present a model for the apostles to imitate after He had returned to the Father. So, whenever He was approached or apposed, He responded as He would want His apostles to respond.
This week marks a major change. Jesus is leaving the Temple and returning to Bethany. Chapter 13 of Mark’s Gospel enters a review of the many activities associated with the end times. The study of these times is called eschatology. We recall the prophecies of Jeremiah 31:31-35 saying, “31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” These verses promise the Old Testament passing away and a New Testament beginning. Hebrews 9:15-23 explains that a Covenant is not in place until the One establishing that Covenant is dead. The Old Covenant was established repetitively with the sacrificial deaths of animals. The New Covenant would be established once and for all time through the blood of Jesus Christ.
The New Testament period began with the death of Jesus and will continue until He comes for us. In the Revelation, God reveals through the apostle John a set of seven churches in Chapters 2 and 3. Revelation 4:1 shows the Rapture of the Saints and the Church ceases to be mentioned through Revelation until the Second Coming of Christ in Chapter 19. So, the period of the Church Age would last from Jesus’ death until the Rapture of the Saints. The periods after the Church is taken off the earth are the Seven Year Tribulation period, the Second Coming of Christ, the One Thousand Year Millennial period, and the Eternal Kingdom of God.
King Herod was a master of manipulation of his subjects. He invested great sums of money and resources in building an elaborate Temple for the Jews to practice their religion in hope of using that religion to control them for years to come. As they are leaving Jerusalem, the apostles spoke to Jesus regarding the beauty of the architecture and the massive stones. Jesus informed them that these stones would be brought down so that not even one stone would be left standing. (He was speaking of the destruction brought in 70 AD as Rome’s General Titus would lead the destruction of Jerusalem and her Temple. So, Jesus’ teachings are on avoiding false teachers and warning us that all the violence and suffering they would be seeing were simply precursors to a of Great Tribulation. In Mark 13, Matthew 24 and Luke 21, Jesus presents the chronology for those events.
Be Ready (Mark 13:24-27)
After Jesus warns that the beautiful architecture will be destroyed, the apostles press Him for more detail on when these things will take place and what the sign will be when they will be fulfilled (13:4)? Jesus lists the coming of false Christs and false prophets, wars and rumors of wars, nations going up against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms, earthquakes, famines and troubles and warns that these will just be the beginnings of sorrows (13:5-8). Believers will delivered up to councils, beaten in synagogues and charged before kings and rulers because of their beliefs in Christ (vs. 9). But the Gospel will continue to be published among all nations and Jesus will provide your needed defenses before the courts as families turn against their own members. The period between the death of Jesus of Nazareth (which establishes the New Covenant) and the Final Judgement is called the Church Age (Rev 2, 3 & 20:11-15).
It is during the Church Age that the Gospel of Christ is preached to all nations and multitudes of people are born again and rescued from the penalty of their sins (Rom 8:1). At the conclusion of the Church Age, Jesus will return on a cloud (that is, not touching the earth) for those who believe in Him (Acts 1:9-11, 1 Thes 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:52-57, Rev 4:1). He will bring the souls of those who have already died with Him, raise their bodies to rejoin their souls on the cloud and issue them their eternal bodies. Then He will call up all those who were alive at His coming and receive them into the clouds for their new bodies, as well. Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will be left on the earth to continue their lives as they were.
Jesus then says that an abominable word of desolation will be spoken (or the abomination of desolation will take his place) in the Temple to end daily sacrifices and establish the beginning of a seven-year period of Tribulation such as the world has never known (Dan 11:31, 12:11). The Tribulation will be comprised of two, three and a half year periods called the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation. During these periods, a multitude of new people will become believers and will be ushered into Heaven just as the Pre-Tribulation saints were (Rev 7:1-12).
Picking up with verse 24 in the current study, after that seven-year tribulation, Christ’s Second Coming takes place and those who were born-again during that period are collected from across the entire planet and taken to join those who were taken seven years earlier (Rev 19). God will condemn the Anticrhist and the False Prophet to the Lake of Fire (Second Death) forever, and Satan will be chained for 1,000 years as believers reign with Christ during the thousand-year Millennial Period. Jesus will release Satan for a short period before the New Jerusalem comes to earth and send him to the Lake of Fire with the False Prophet, the Antichrist and all those not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev 19:20, 20:15). There is never an escape.
Be Aware (Mark 13:24-31)
In verse 28, Jesus provides an illustration of how one should remain aware of the coming periods in the end times. Many of the apostles still recalled the fig tree that Jesus cursed on the way to Jerusalem (Mark 11:13-14). Jesus says that when the fig plant is still young, but the tender branches and new leaves appear, it is easy to know that Summer is near (vs. 28). Likewise, He says, when you begin to see these prophesies come to pass, you know that these things are near, even at the doors (vs. 29).
So, the starting point for our reaction to these teachings is to understand each of the prophesies and their relationships to one another. The reason, of course, is to know that if one prophecy is fulfilled, the ones related to that prophecy is on the way, as well. This why Jesus was illustrating prophecy fulfillment to observations of fig tree. Just as you can predict when Summer is imminent by the leaves on the fig tree, you can predict the fulfillment of a linked prophecy once the initiating prophecy is underway. Mark 13:24-25 say, “24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” Therefore, as the tribulation period draws to an end (initiating prophecy), one is justified in expecting to see the sun darkened, moonlight cut off and stars beginning to fall (linked prophecy).
Verses 30-31 provide a key piece of information regarding when these prophecies will take place. Jesus is saying that this generation will not pass until all these things are done. So, we can have confidence in when the prophecies will be fulfilled as long as we can define what the generation mentioned is.
In terms of the aforementioned Church Age, that may well be the generation mentioned. The Church Age certainly includes the time from the death of Jesus of Nazareth, the establishment and growth of the Church, the Rapture of the Saints, the Tribulation Period, the Second Coming and the Millennial Period. Further, Revelation 8:12 and 9:2 speak of the sun being darkened during the fourth and the fifth trumpets. Since the Tribulation has not yet begun; the sun, moon and stars prophecy is at least seven years in our future. Jesus adds one more statement in verse 31 to make sure we understand that these prophecies are as certain as the existence of the heaven and earth, and that His words shall never pass away.
Be Alert (Mark 13:32-37)
Just as Luke does in Acts 1:7, Mark quotes Christ as saying, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32). Jesus says there is no one who can know the specific date or time, but one can know the relative time of when one prophecy will occur relative to another prophecy. So, since we do not know the date or time, we need to be ready, be aware and be alert. Mark adds the further advice that we need to “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (vs. 33). Therefore, because we do not know the date nor time, we need to listen closely to the information from the Scriptures, apply the information we have received to the information provided for other events which may happen to trigger His actions. As above, we know that this section of prophecy takes place after the Tribulation Period (Ref: Mark 13:24), so when the abomination of desolation takes place, we will have seven years before these events.
After we “Take heed,” we need to remain watchful for associated events, and we must pray. We need to pray specifically for all the people the Spirit lays on our hearts that they will have the right relationship with Christ, so they can enter into His glory along with us. Now, since these things are to take place after the Tribulation, we will have been in Heaven for seven years, but there is no information in Scripture that says we will stop praying when we enter Heaven.
Jesus says this is like the man taking a far journey who left his home in the hands of his servants, gave them authority to manage it, assigned tasks to each of them and commanded the porter to oversee the work (vs. 34). As he left, he told them to watch, therefore, because no one knows when the master will return, nor whether it will be in the evening, or at midnight, or in the early morning or late morning (vs. 35). So, watch therefore, unless the master comes and finds you sleeping. So, Jesus reissues the charge to all involved and He catches all the rest of us as He says, “Watch!” Look for the signs of the age. Watch to see if there is enough time to handle another project while waiting for the Master to return. Watch, unless the Master will return and find His servants idle. What would be the fitting response of the Master?
Understand the Context (Mark 13:1-14:52)
Much of what we studied last week in Mark 13 looked at a series of events that would culminate in the return of Christ for His Church and the establishment of an everlasting Kingdom of God. This week, we return to the ugliness of hundreds of Bible scholars (scribes, sadducees, pharisees and priests) who were experiencing the First Advent of God’s promised Messiah. They represented the top level of knowledge and practice within Judaism. Christ was promised for them and to them. Yet, at this point in history, they were rejecting Him; and worse, they were making firm plans to murder Him. The documented statements made here (if proven) would bring guilty verdicts of premeditated murder for everyone involved. And this, is the body of religious experts charged with maintaining and advancing the causes of Jehovah for His creation.
Here (Mark 14) we begin with the Sanhedrin formulizing a plan for taking the life of Jesus without inciting a riot among His followers. In other words, their united concern was not that of taking the life of a noted and respected teacher in their midst, but rather, how to do it without inciting a riot. To that end, their first decision is that they cannot do it during the Passover when hundreds of thousands of visitors would be watching their every move.
Meanwhile, in Bethany, a few of Jesus’ followers are anointing Jesus for His burial (14:3-9). The use of the expensive perfume to do the anointing so inflamed one of Jesus apostles that he decided to betray Jesus to the religious leaders at the very next opportunity (10-11). Nevertheless, Jesus continued to make preparation for His demise. He directed two of His followers to go into the city to prepare for His celebration of the Passover Meal with the twelve. He described everything He was looking for in the city, and the apostles found it exactly as He said it would be (12-16). Later, while they were eating the meal, Jesus revealed to them that the one who would betray Him was sitting at the same table with them that night (17-21).
When they left the meal and made their way to the Mount of Olives where the Garden of Gethsemane was, Jesus followed up on His comment about the betrayer. Peter told Jesus that while many others might betray Him, he would never do such a thing (27-31). Jesus told Peter that he would deny he ever knew Him three times before the rooster crowed that morning. Everything Jesus said to the apostles regarding the activities of that night were completely fulfilled (32-52). Jesus was betrayed, judged by the priests, condemned to death, turned over to the Gentiles (Romans), beaten, humiliated and eventually murdered.
Distressed (Mark 14:32-34)
In the details of the study for this week, we find Jesus and His apostles going to the Mount of Olives where there was a place in which Jesus loved to pray, the Garden of Gethsemane (vs. 32). He asked the apostles to sit just passed the entryway while He took Peter, James and John a few steps farther (vs. 33). There He began to feel deeply troubled and horribly distressed. He said to Peter, James and John to wait for Him and keep watch while He went a few more steps into the garden (vs. 34). There His soul became sorrowful even unto death.
Jesus left eight of the eleven apostles at that entry point to the Garden. There were eleven because Judas was in the process of betraying the Savior to the high priests. He separated out the Inner Circle of Peter, James and John to go a few steps farther with Him. He asked all of the eleven to pray for Him as He faced the most difficult task of His 33-year life. In a manner of minutes, He would be taken prisoner and stand before the chief priests and later the Sanhedrin. Jesus knew and each of the religious scholars knew that He was God’s Messiah. Yet, in their hypocrisy, greater care for human approval and survival among the Romans, they would not only claim He was not who He said He was, but rather, a blasphemer and liar who claimed to be God. They would say their law required that Jesus die for His claims. Why was this so hard for Jesus to do? It was because He was watching 71 elders of Israel whom He loved condemn themselves for all eternity. He had the power to have them lap the floor like dogs, but He would allow it all.
Surrendered (Mark 14:35-36)
So, Jesus went forward a little farther and fell with His face to the ground (vs. 35). He spoke to the Father in words that only these two could have mustered. Jesus asked only that this hour might pass from Him. We know that Jesus knew all things as early as the eternity past. He was not a part of God’s creation; rather, He was God, Himself. There were no secrets. Humankind would be given everything beyond their imagination in the Garden of Eden, but they would reject it in favor of a taste of the knowledge of good and evil. As Jesus watched Adam and Eve fall that day, He knew they would require a Savior to bring them back to the God who created them. He knew that thousands of years in the future, He would be on His face in another Garden where He would come face-to-face with the task of allowing vile men take His earthly life in the cruelest ways. He would be allowed no basic dignity. While He was the One who created them all; He would get nothing in return. And. Worse, Jesus had the power to reverse it all, but if He used that power, humankind would be lost. So instead, Jesus used the sweetest language available between two beings and called the Father, “Abba.” He said I know you can take this cup from me, but I accept that is not your will.
Luke’s Gospel states, “He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Luke was a medical doctor and he was describing a condition known as hematidrosis (National Institute of Health – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827523/#:~:text=Hematohidrosis%20is%20a%20very%20rare,%2C%20psychogenic%2C%20and%20unknown%20causes.). There is a picture in this link of a twelve-year-old girl experiencing the phenomenon. It is caused by acute stress to a point where the small blood vessels in the face begin to fracture and their blood comes through the surface of the face like sweat. Jesus was experiencing a level of stress and anxiety far beyond what most of us will ever experience. The Gospel song says, “He could have called 10,000 angels, but He died alone for you and me!” (https://youtu.be/mP563vwmQB0). He knew He had the power to end the torture, but He said to the Father, “Not My will, but Thine be done!”
Weak (Mark 14:37-39)
Here Jesus is reminded of the weakness of humankind. He prayed and suffered until blood poured like sweat, but the eleven He chose, slept through it all. He came face-to-face with the truth that He was not just another man; rather, He was also God in the flesh. While the others had run out of energy hours before, Jesus “had been drinking at the well!” He had energy, power and stamina left over when others had nothing left. Yes, the human in Him was tired and well spent, but He had just been through the worse task that anyone could have: He had to acknowledge the supremacy of God. He talked to the Father, and they agreed on what was going to happen. No, it would not make it easier for Jesus to endure, but the understanding of its necessity was now clear.
He came away from where He was praying to find Peter, James and John asleep once again. He thought, “Oh, could you not watch with Me for one hour?” (vs. 37). But in His loving mind, He must have looked at the slumbering Peter and thought, “there is the man who will insist on being crucified up-side-down saying, ‘I am not worthy of dying like my Master’.” He looked at James and saw the first leader of the Christian church until he became its earliest martyr. But it would be the death of James which caused the Church at Jerusalem to spread all across the world. Then He must have looked at John. He saw his youth as he slept there that night, He saw John as the only apostle who stood there at the foot of the cross holding tightly to Mary, the Savior’s Mother, but He also saw the wrinkled and cracked skin of the very old man who suffered decades on Patmos, but when released, reviewed the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and added a fourth Gospel to capture those special times between Jesus and “the apostle He loved.”
But for now, there lies the three top leaders who will carry the work of spreading His word to the rest of the world. He must have spoken to the Father and said something like, “Oh Lord, I recall the day when I thought Adam and Eve were so very weak to give up everything for a taste of knowledge but look at these three. These are the best of the twelve as they nap while I suffer. Father, I will do what I must do tonight and tomorrow. But I will rise and teach these men again. I love them so!
Betrayed (Mark 14:40-42)
Verse 40 documents the third return of Jesus to where the three apostles were, and again, He found them sleeping. He states it was because their eyes were heavy, and they had no response to Him for why they were sleeping. Yet, I think most of us have had this experience in a much less important context. Several times while attending college and seminary, I could not put the correct priority on an upcoming test or examination until the night before. So, I would cram for the test and sometimes only get an hour or two of sleep before the test started. I could feel the weight of those eyelids trying to shut my eyes while taking the test. While I can identify with the idea of needing sleep, I have problems believing that the apostles understood the gravity of the current situation. In just a few minutes, Judas Iscariot would lead a mob of soldiers to where Jesus and the other eleven were praying. They would take their Leader captive and the sleepy apostles would scatter just as Jesus said (Matt 26:31, Mark 14:27). Even those closest to Him would scatter after His arrest.
But this time Jesus says, “Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners” (vs. 41). Jesus knew that the time had come and that the dreaded events that made Him sweat drops of blood were about to begin. So, Jesus told them a few seconds later that it was time to “Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth Me is at hand” (vs. 2). The Scripture does not reveal to us how many minutes passed between verse 41 where He told them to sleep on and verse 42 where He told them to rise up. But we do know that it must have seemed like only seconds.
Let me briefly mention another event that happened at the arrest. Verse 47 tells us that one of the apostles cut off the ear of high priests’ servant. John tells us Peter cut off Malchus’ ear and Dr. Luke tells us Jesus immediately reconnected the ear (John 18:10, Luke 22:51).
Understand the Context (Mark 14:17-15:47)
Talking of how quickly history moved from the Passover Meal to the Crucifixion has more to do with the goals of the writer, Mark. than the reality of the situation. John, Matthew and Luke found several chapters of commentary between these events. Mark was a much shorter Gospel and was geared toward the needed of the Roman believers or potential converts. Much of the extremely important information pertinent to the Jewish believers is not included for the Gospel designed for meeting Roman or gentile needs.
There is a lot of conjecture in the literature about who might have owned the upper room used for the Last Supper and potentially the sight of the Acts 2 first appearance of the Holy Spirit. There is no firm answer to that question and early disciples like Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea are also mentioned. Nevertheless, it was in that room that Jesus revealed that one of those eating the Passover with Him would betray Him (Mark 14:17-31). There, He also established the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14: 22-26).
Later that night, they would arrive at the Garden of Gethsemane after passing by the Mount of Olives where Peter would pledge his full support and loyalty to Jesus. Jesus had to correct him and tell him he would deny Him three time that night and say he never knew Jesus (Mark 14:29-31). Mark, which was influenced by the apostle Peter, was also critical of Peter on his denial of Christ and his sleeping while Jesus prayed.
Jesus was arrested that night as Judas identified where the Christ would be found in the Garden. After the Sanhedrin determined Jesus was guilty and condemned Him to death, they had to turn Him over to Pilate, the Roman Governor. He was the one who had the authority for carrying out a death penalty. Pilate stated that Jesus was innocent, in fact, he said he could find no fault in Him at all (Luke 23:4, 14 & John 18:38, 19:4,6). Still, he acquiesced to the crowd and condemned Him (Mark 15:1-20). Jesus was crucified at 9 AM and the skies went dark at noon (15:33, 38-39). Nearly tortured to death before His crucifixion, Jesus would give up His spirit and die by 3 PM. The veil separating the Holy of Holies from the people in the Temple was ripped in two from the top to the bottom signifying the end of the separation between God and humankind. Jesus had cancelled the sin debt forever (John 19:30).
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea received permission to take Jesus’ body off the cross. They laid Him to rest in Josph’s new tomb, At the insistence of the Jewish religious leaders, Pilate assigned the twenty-man Roman watch on the tomb. He said, “make it as sure as you can,” as if he knew Jesus could not be held back (Matt 27:65). But, on Sunday morning….!
Crucified (Mark 15:24-27 + 28)
Crucifixion was a method of capital punishment used among the Persians, Seleucids, Carthaginians, and Romans from about the 6th century BC to the 4th century AD (Encyclopedia Britanica). (Notice that the dates were after the prophecies of the Messiah’s crucifixion in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.) Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, abolished it in the Roman Empire by early 4th century AD out of veneration for Jesus, the most famous victim of crucifixion. It was used for capital punishment to be a deterrent to crime. The placement of the nails in the nerve centers of the wrists and the tendons behind the ankles provided for securely holding the victim for as much as a week before death. It was seldom from the wounds but rather from asphyxiation or lack of oxygen to the lungs. The pressure on the victim’s torso made breathing nearly impossible, so the victim would have to push up on the nails behind his ankles to allow a breath, causing severe pain at the nerve centers in front of the Achilles Tendons. The payment for a few cc’s of air was unbearable pain. Death was considered a gift for the victims.
Severe flogging prior to crucifixion reduced the victim’s time before death because the loss of blood would lead to loss of conciseness, further hindering breathing. The victim was stripped of all belongings in the process, hence the casting of lot for their clothes (vs. 24, Matt 27:35, Psa 22:18). That is, the soldiers carrying out the death sentence could claim their clothes (vs. 24).
Verse 25’s mention of the third hour means three hours after sunrise, so roughly 9:00 AM. The deterrent of crucifixion was aided by posting a sign over the head of the victim declaring the charges for which the victim was terminated, as if to say, “if you do this crime, this could be you, next.” Verse 26 says Jesus was crucified because He was “the King of the Jews.” Claiming to be a king over a Roman Governor was certainly worthy of death under their law: The Emperor was king and god over all. Documenting that Jesus was crucified between two thieves obviously fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12, “and He was numbered with the transgressors.” Verse 28 came into question because it says just that. During the use of the scrolls, a scribe would sometime make notes in blank spots to remind himself of facts when teaching. If that scroll was later used as a source for a new scroll, the note could be copied into the formal text. That may be what happened here and why the text was not in earlier versions of the scroll. The spirit of the same text is included in Luke 22:37 yet, remains unquestioned.
Mocked (Mark 15:29-32)
With all the demonstrations we have seen of late, this mocking topic almost makes sense in a horribly sick way. Think first of the hate it must take to see three men nearly naked hanging from nails hooking them to large pieces of lumber. The skills of the soldiers executing the condemned men is perfected to the point that they were flawless at getting the nails through the skin and muscles in a way that missed puncturing any veins by measures of just a millimeter or two. Puncturing the vein would allow the criminal to die far too quickly. Death over a few days of asphyxiation was the Roman goal. So, the condemned were in the most terrible pain anyone could imagine as they slowly approached death. Now, imagine hecklers passing by and hurling insults at them. In Jesus’ case they reminded Him of statements He made that about restoring the Temple in three days, but He was speaking not of the massive Temple in Jerusalem, but rather the temple of His own body (John 2:19-22).
Nevertheless, they jeered at Him saying, “Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross” (vss. 29-30). The chief priests and the scribes chimed in saying, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save” and “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe” (vss. 31-32). Even those who were crucified on each side of Him joined in with the heckling of Jesus. What makes this so absolutely vile, in my mind, is that none of them understood that He was paying the high price for their sins, both corporate and personal, through His willingness to stay on that cross. If He did what they asked Him to do, they would be eternally in their sin and the burning of Hell as the appropriate penalty. Yet, they continued trying to cause Him to give up His mission.
Dead (Mark 15:33-39)
Now, the sixth hour, like the third hour, is measured from the sunrise, so the time advertised in verse 33 was 12:00 or the noon hour. It was at the noon hour that the sun would be at its highest point, but on this day, darkness covered the entire land. It stayed dark until the nineth hour according to verse 34 when Jesus spoke, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Now, before making some deep theological analysis about how God turned His back on Jesus because He wore the sin of all humankind, let us recall that Jesus is in this situation at the Father’s will. Jesus came here at the Father’s direction with the mission to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus had just spent a couple hours pleading with the Father to let this cup pass from Him. Jesus knew what He was about to do, and He was in sufficient agony that He sweat drops of blood because of the great stress of the assignment. Yet, Jesus said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36).
So, could it be that Jesus had another reason to say those specific words? How about the fact that Psalm 22 is a Psalm written by King David around 1,000 BC, and it has a factually accurate description of crucifixion at least 300 years before it existed anywhere (Psa 22:11-21). Could one of those reasons He spoke the first verse was to cause people to associate Psalm 22 with what was happening to Him? Yes, it is also true that Jesus wore the sins of all humankind. Yes, it was repulsive. And Yes, God brought the darkness to decrease the light on what Jesus was doing. God created us for fellowship with Him. What Jesus was doing would bring believing humans to Him without spot or blemish.
Some of those who heard Jesus’ words thought He might be calling on Elijah to come and save Him. They told the soldiers to give Jesus something to drink so, they could see if Elijah came to help Him. One of them ran to get a sponge dipped in vinegar to offer Him. Jesus refused it and instead, cried out with a loud voice and gave up His spirit (vs. 37). Recall that Jesus had said, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:18). It was at this point that Jesus gave up His life.
Immediately after, the veil that separated the Holiest of Holies from the people of the congregation was ripped in two from the top to the bottom (vs. 38). This was done to emphasize that the work of Jesus Christ had eliminated the sin that separated humankind from their Creator. Sin was no longer a barrier. The centurion who was responsible for the execution of Jesus heard Jesus cry out and give up His Ghost, he announced, “Truly this man was the Son of God” (vs. 39). It was a lonely place on Calvary after Jesus surrendered to death. Two of His disciples who were very wealthy members of the Sanhedrin decided to go to Pilate and ask that Jesus’ body be released for burial (the next day was the preparation day for the Passover). Pilate verified the report of His death and released Him. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were the men who took Jesus down and laid Him in Joseph’s tomb which had never been used.
Understand the Context (Mark 14:53-16:20)
In our thirteen-session study of Mark, we saw the greatness of the fulfilling of the promise of God through the Prophet Jeremiah. He said, “31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jere 31:31-34, Hebr 8:8-12). Instead of trying to get people to follow Him through the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant, He established a New Covenant where He sacrificed Himself for us and eliminated sin as a barrier between God and Humankind, forever, for all who will believe. Jesus said His charge from God was “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). All those God lost through the Old Covenant because of the penalty of sin, Jesus promised to get back for Him through His blood. Jesus signaled the successful completion of God’s goal with the shout of the Greek word tetelestai (English: “It is finished”) from the cross as He gave up His spirit (John 19 30). Paul summarized the entire meaning of it all with the words, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1a).
But Jesus’ teachings were rejected by the Jewish leaders who wished to maintain religious control over the people for the sake of the Roman occupiers. Jesus’ teachings were contrary to their goals in that His words released humankind from the bondage to religion in favor of the freedom of relationship. John said it well in John 1:11-13, “11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” We are no longer mere worshippers, but sons and daughters of God. Bill Gaither wrote “I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God. I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod. For I'm part of the family; the family of God.”
The Jewish leaders emphasized religious bondage, hard taxes and obedience to their leadership through the Law of Moses rather than the love and pardon offered by God through Jesus Christ. It cost Him His life; although He came for the purpose of dying to abolish the Old Covenant and usher in the New, He said, “The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matt 26:24, Mark 14:21, Luke 22:22). Many celebrated the death and burial of Jesus as an end of His threat to their personal livelihoods. Rather, He proved on Sunday morning that His death and burial were only needed as vehicles for His triumphant resurrection from the dead, proving His victory over the grave for all of those who believe. Paul said, “54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:54-57).
Sought (Mark 16:1-4)
As we discussed in our meeting yesterday, when Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body off the cross (after getting Pilate’s permission) they prepared it for burial with nearly a hundred-pound weight of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39). They prepared Him quickly because the sundown would usher in the Jewish Preparation Day. Likewise, early Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene, Mary Mother of James and Salome came to the tomb, they brought spices that they might anoint Him for burial (Mark 16:1). These were all well-meaning measures that matched well with the traditions of the day. But all of them missed the fact that Jesus said He would only be there for three days and nights (Matt 20:19, 27:63; Mark 8:31, 10:34; Luke 18:33, 24:7). John 20:9 says, “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” In short, no one acted as though they believed that Jesus was going to rise again; to the contrary, they were bringing spices to prepare the body for final burial.
So, in our reference text at verse 2, we see the three ladies coming to the tomb with their spices that they had purchased before the Sabbath began. Now, that the sun was rising, the Sabbath was over, and they were free to move about outside their homes. The mention of them coming “very early in the morning the first day of the week” shows they went to the tomb as soon as possible when it was legal for them to be there, so they might complete the anointing begun by Nicodemus and Joseph Friday, very near sunset (vs. 2).
As they approached the tomb, the very real issue of the very large stone which was rolled in front of the grave came vividly to their minds (vs. 3). They recognized immediately that rolling that stone away was not a task that could be done by them, alone. Certainly, they must had seen or heard of the Roman watch of soldiers assigned to place a Roman seal on the stone and guard the tomb (Matt 27:65). Most references say the size of that stone could have been between several hundred pounds to more than a ton. Their question was a very wise one, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?”
The beginning of the many shocks of that day would be the fact that the stone was already moved before they arrived (vs 4). Matthew’s Gospel tells us, “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it” (Matt 28:2). So, once the stone was in place and the Roman watch of some 16 to 20 men sealed the stone as being in place, it was not moved by any of them.
Risen (Mark 16:5-8)
The surprise of seeing the stone rolled away did not hinder the approach of Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James or Salome. Verse 5 says they entered the sepulcher as soon as they were near to it. There were at least two questions that could have been in their minds as they quickly approached the opened tomb. One would have been “Who moved that stone?” and the other might be “Since the stone is moved back, is everything in order inside the tomb?” Their minds were not going to stay in wonder very long because there was a guide inside the tomb waiting for them (vs. 5). The Scripture says he looked like a young man and was sitting on the right side of the tomb. He wore a long, white garment, and he scared the ladies.
The man spoke to them and said, “Be not affrighted” (vs. 6). While I realize the angel was trying to calm the ladies’ shock, it has always been humorous to me that whatever our reaction is to something so terrorizing, the first words from the person there is not to be terrorized. So, the angel continues, “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” The angel tried to sooth them somewhat by sharing with them all the detail he knew. He did not say the tomb was vandalized or that someone had broken in and stole Jesus’ body; rather, he told them simply, “Jesus, the one you are looking for was the one who was crucified, but he is risen and is no longer here.” He shows them the place where Jesus was initially laid, but tells them they need to go their way to meet him.
The angel wants the ladies to go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus had gone ahead of them and will meet them in Galilee just as He said He would (vs. 7). Many question why Peter’s name was separated from the other disciples. I believe it was because Jesus wanted Peter to specifically know that Jesus wanted him there even though Peter was feeling like he no longer deserved to be a part of them after the denials that he even knew Jesus. Verse 8 tries to capture the shock in their minds as they depart to go to where Jesus was. First, it says they departed quickly and fled from the sepulcher because they trembled and were amazed or shocked. This whole scene was far too much for the three ladies to process. The Leader they loved was not where He was placed after His death. Second, the immense rock that was rolled in front of the tomb was rolled away, but they did not know how or whom. They were talking with some supernatural person who was helpful but no less scary than the rent of scene. And third, Jesus wanted to meet them in Galilee. As they left, their natural demeanor was one of fear to talk with anyone. They said absolutely nothing to anyone they saw along the way because they were absolutely terrorized by everything they were experiencing (vs. 8).
Seen (Mark 16:9-14)
If this section was not so true to the actual behaviors of most human beings, it would be worthy of skipping. It mentions the first sightings of the Risen Christ by Mary Magdalene, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and even His visit to the ten with Thomas missing. As we will see, Jesus was not passive in His words describing their unbelief.
Let us back up to Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene at the tomb as described by Mark 16:9-11. Mary was the first to see Jesus at the tomb (vs. 9). After she had seen and spoke with Him, she went to the disciples and told them of the conversation while they were in deep grief at Jesus’ death (vs. 10). The disciples would not believe Mary’s report that Jesus was alive.
Verses 12-13 tells the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus the day of Jesus’ resurrection. They also reported the sighting, but the disciples refused to believe them as well.
Mark does not report Jesus’ visit to the ten when Thomas was absent (John 20:19-25). Thomas stated that he would not believe Jesus was alive unless he could touch His wounds from the crucifixion.
Verse 14 of Mark’s account tells of another visit of Jesus to the eleven and He upbraided (railed at, reviled, defamed) them for their lack of belief and hardness of heart toward those who had reported seeing Him but they refused to accept their reports. The Scripture reports that each of these visits were followed with Jesus instruction to go to the disciples and tell them He was alive and would meet them. Yet, they would not believe.
Many of us have had similar events when we would share with unbelievers regarding our experiences with Jesus Christ or even how we first began to believe in Him. Unbelievers have no power against Satan, so their attempts to discredit or outright deny a report of an encounter with Christ can be expected. But, it is damaging and discouraging at a whole new level when a believer shares his or her encounters with Christ and believers refuse to acknowledge their reports. Think of the harm that denial might do if it is done in the presence of unbelievers or those weak in their faith. For some of them, there may never be another chance for them to acknowledge Jesus Christ as God’s Son and Savior of all humankind. Jesus says, “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea” (Matt 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2). The Greek word for “one of these little ones” is mikros. It can mean little in size, quantity or belief. We must be without charge of hindering the message of Jesus to those in need.
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