Acts 13-27

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!

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. 

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!  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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?” 

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!! 

Understand the Context (Acts 18:23-19:41)  

It seems like we just barely departed on Paul’s first Missionary Journey when we embarked on the second and now, we are finishing the second journey for the third. The Scripture speaks to this journey as covering much the same ground as the second journey (Acts 18:23). At the beginning of this trip, Paul and Silas spent much time in Galatia and Phrygia (previously called Mysia), visiting the churches established earlier, strengthening the disciples of those churches. Derbe, Lystra, Iconium and Pisidian Antioch were all started as churches during that Second Missionary Journey and Paul and Silas are returning to them now. On the second trip, the Lord told Paul to skip Phrygia, so they went directly to Troas and traveled to Greece from there. On this trip, Paul and Silas will visit Laodicea on the way to Ephesus and then to Troas (see Figure 1, below).

It is at Ephesus that Paul meets Apollos, a very well-educated Jew with that Roman name. He came from Alexandria which was internationally infamous for their great Library. Apollos was well read including an extensive knowledge of the Bible.  Apollos was a disciple of John the Baptist but was weak on the ministry of Christ after the beheading of John. Here, Priscilla and Aquila reenter the picture and provided discipleship training to Apollos on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The saving nature of the Gospel of Christ is incomplete without these three aspects of Jesus’ life. Recall that Paul states that we must acknowledge our belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to be born again (Rom 10:9-10).

What happened in the earlier verses of Chapter 19 is equally important to understanding the Gospel message. These men were introduced as disciples, but Paul immediately noticed a deficiency and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. They confessed to Paul they had not, so he shared the rest of the Gospel with them, and they were born again and demonstrated the power of their filling with the Holy Spirit. These two stories are essential to understanding how we can see evidence of when a person becomes a believer and is delivered from sin’s death. 

God’s Power (Acts 19:11-12)  

Verse 11 helps us understand that believers are not the ones who perform miracles.  God does the miracles “by the hands of” another; in this case, it was the Apostle Paul. Specifically, Luke tells us, God was able to “perform extraordinary miracles” through Paul. 

Verse 12 provides the unbelievable specifics of those extraordinary miracles. Luke tells us that it was not necessary for Paul’s hands to be involved at all. Just the taking of one of his handkerchiefs or an apron he might have worn to the sick would be sufficient to cause the healing. Luke goes farther to say that the same kind of power through garments from Paul could heal diseases and exorcise evil spirits. 

In a vacuum, if there were no other sources of information, an uninformed person might be hesitant to believe healings could take place in this way, but Scripture tells us of even greater miracles than healing by handkerchiefs or aprons. Recall that shortly after the Holy Spirit filled the first disciples during the Pentecost Ceremony, “14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them” (Acts 5:14-14). So, in these verses, the people were seeing even the shadow of Peter coupled with their faith could heal the sick. The most important information here is that God can do extraordinary things when His people have faith that He can do them. Handkerchiefs, aprons, Peter’s shadow, mud Jesus made for a blind man’s blindness, a statement from Jesus miles away cured a child. It matters not what the instrument or media used was, what matters are the power of God and the faith of the recipient. It takes Paul’s statement to the Philippian church, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” to a whole new level (Phil 4:13, KJV). 

False Motives (Acts 19:13-16)

These four verses inform us that the motive through which the person is trying to do miracles is important to the success of the effort. Verse 13 reveals there were “some Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempt[ing] to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.’” 

First, the Scripture says these were “Jewish exorcists” to inform us that they were members of the religious Jews, likely sent by the authority of the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem or a lower level Sanhedrin of another religious center. As we have seen by many of Paul’s efforts to preach Jesus as the promised Messiah, the religious Jews did not have faith that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah. That one fact would be sufficient to guarantee the failure of their prayer. Paul was able to call on Jesus’ name because he had met Him face-to-face and had full faith that He was exactly who He said He was. Those who will not acknowledge Jesus as king of kings and lord of lords would have absolutely none of the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Exorcism of spirits through the power of someone you have no belief or faith in cannot be effective. Sceva’s seven sons (verse 14) would have no authority over those spirits, and the spirits said so in verse 15, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” The spirits had no knowledge or any power these people had with their second-hand reference to Jesus. So, the man in whom these spirits resided leaped on the exorcists, overpowered them in a mighty way and caused the exorcists to run from the confrontation both naked and mortally wounded! (vs. 16). Lesson learned?? 

Understand the Context (Acts 20: 1-21:16)

Acts 19:23-41 documents a riot in Ephesus concerning the impact of the spread of Christianity under Paul on the silversmithing industry. The issue starts out being characterized as a small disturbance in verse 23, but it intensifies quickly. The issue was brought by Demetrius who was a silversmith responsible for silver shrines of the goddess Artemis, whom many call Diana. As Paul and his team successfully preached the superiority of worshipping Jesus and rejecting all idols, the need for the silversmithing craft for idols was greatly reduced. Demetrius insisted that this would not only severely impact silversmithing in Ephesus but throughout the world who worship Artemis or any other silver images. For them, this was a matter of professional survival. The Town Clerk of Ephesus convinced the assembly they should use the courts rather than mob violence and quelled the riot.

In verses 20:7-12, Paul preached well past midnight and a fellow on the third floor fell to sleep. He fell to the floor below and died from the impact. Paul revived him and the word spread to the glory of God. At Miletus, Paul continued to preach love as an example for all. He finally convinced the elders at Ephesus that his preaching emphasized the truth of worshipping God and was not intended to bankrupt the silversmith trade. He did not repent of the preaching, but the town leaders saw his sacrifices and generosity and relaxed their charges. The competition of idol worship never ended in Ephesus nor many other locations even until today.

While Paul was in Cos, the Tyrians warned him that captivity and possible death awaited him in Jerusalem, but Paul was absolutely determined that he was called by God to present himself there. The prophet Agabus warned him of the same end by constraining himself with Paul’s belt, nevertheless, Paul was convinced that God required him to be there (21:10-14). Paul acknowledged the warnings but noted that he was called to follow Jesus no matter where that led him or what it cost. His life was in God’s hands from his calling on the Damascus Road (Acts 9).

Truth Proclaimed (Acts 20:18-21)

When Paul arrived at Miletus, he had no plans to visit the church at Ephesus, but he wanted to meet with the church leaders anyway.  So, he called them to meet him at Miletus (Acts 20:17). When they came to him, he began to review his work with them by saying that they knew from the first day that he was dedicated to being with them with all humility through the tears and trials brought upon him by the religious Jews (vss. 18-19). 

This is still another example of how Satan can use well-meaning, religiously oriented people to frustrate and slow down the work of the Lord. He knew that the synagogue represented the organized Jewish religion and the congregation would support it against Paul and his team. It is the same way today. Many times an opportunity to reach people surfaces, but it might take a schedule change or modification to “how things have always been done.” People tend to be faithful to those old ways even if the new ways might get new people into the church. We have seen that in music, worship habits and even church organization. Paul showed how we must remain sufficiently humble to try new ways to accomplish the work God has called us to do.

Paul continued that was not discouraged or threatened by the efforts of the Jews to fall back in any way from teaching and preaching them anything which seemed profitable for them and their walk with Jesus Christ. He reminded them that taught them publicly when he could and also house-to-house when he could not be public (vs. 20). And he continued testifying solemnly to the Jews and the Greeks (Gentiles) their great need to repent before God and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 21). 

Paul made sure to communicate to the elders that none of the efforts to stop or slow him down would cause him to react. Paul was very clear in his calling from God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel (Acts 9:15). He was clear and would not be hindered or deterred from what Jesus said to him. Part of that tasking was directed at meeting the needs of the leaders and congregations of believers everywhere including Ephesus.

Testimony of Grace (Acts 20:22-27)

Now, Paul announces his self-resolution of the conflict concerning whether he would go or evade a trip to Jerusalem. He reports that his meditations with the Lord have resulted in his feeling of a godly bound that he will, in fact, travel to Jerusalem. Verse 22 continues that he has not been given any knowledge of what awaits him there. Except, he says, that the Holy Spirit has “solemnly told him that regardless of the city of his travel, bonds and afflictions await him” (vs. 23).  So, Paul has the question of whether to go to Jerusalem resolved regardless of what happens to him when he gets there. As he has said before, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Phil 4:11). He is mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared to face whatever God has waiting for him.

Verse 24 continues his report on that preparation. Paul says he does not consider his life of any account dear to himself. He will not let that kind of fear or concern cloud his focus on finishing the course and the ministry that he received directly from Jesus that day on the way to Damascus. He knows that tasking was specifically to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the grace of God to all humankind through Jesus Christ (vs. 24). 

After talking of all he is prepared for, notice in verse 25 that he believes those to whom he is speaking will “never see his face again.”  The names are not listed here, but he says they are the ones among whom he went about preaching the kingdom of God. Verse 18 says he called the elders of the church at Ephesus to him. Verse 25 gives no indication that he completed that discussion or left that group. The important issue I see here is that Paul does not believe these people will ever see his face again. 

Therefore, he says in verse 26, he wants them to be assured that he is fully innocent of the blood of any person. He intensifies that claim by reminding them that he had and continues to have full and complete knowledge of Jesus’ call on him “as a chosen vessel unto Him, to bear His name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (9:15).

Understand the Context (Acts 21:17-23:35)

Recall that Paul had called the elders of the churches in Ephesus to him when he arrived in Miletus (Acts 20:17). He met with them while he remained in the city and tried to quell the issues with the silversmiths that were leading to riots in Ephesus. The silversmiths were upset that the introduction of Christianity was eliminating the orders for silver idols of Diana and may well bankrupt their businesses. We do not have any details of what Paul said to them, but the meetings discontinued when Paul left Miletus in Acts 21:1-16. 

Verse 17 begins with Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem to hear of issues developing among the leaders of the church and the leaders of the Sanhedrin. They had published the decree that is was not necessary for Gentiles to be circumcised in order to become Christians (15:24-29). But the leaders were receiving word that Paul was teaching that it was not necessary for Jews to be circumcised nor to follow the Laws of Moses. They were hearing that Paul may had lost his personal orthodoxy and sought to neutralize that charge by having him go through a period of cleansing.

When the required seven days were nearly over, Paul presented himself and others to the priests with sacrifices. Shortly thereafter the Jews saw Paul and his company outside the Temple with Trophimus the Ephesian and assumed Paul had taken a Gentile into the Temple with them, defiling that Holy Place. So, they took Paul out of the Temple and began beating him. When the commander of the Roman barracks heard of it, they rescued Paul and stopped the beating. On the way to the barracks, Paul requested that he be allowed to speak to the crowd even though they were still insisting on his death. He spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect of Aramaic and the Jews were impressed and listened to him (22:2). He recounted his testimony of how he had papers to increase his persecution of Christians in Damascus of Syria. He described how he was knocked off his beast and while laying on the ground, the voice of Jesus the Nazarene told him he must go to the Gentiles. At that point the crowd became violent, and the Romans led him away.

An Encounter (Acts 22:6-9)

So, Paul starts giving his personal testimony by telling the crowd he was providing a defense to them (22:1-2). He spoke to them using the Hebrew dialect of Aramaic, and the people were quieted.  He started with the fact that he was on his way to Damascus in the noon day sun to exercise his newly acquired powers when an extremely bright light flashed from heaven all around him (vs. 6). Next, he found himself knocked to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (vs.7). While there is no mention of a horse neither here nor in the original account in Acts 9, it is often spoken that Saul was knocked off his horse by the intensity of the light. 

At this point, all Paul could do was ask the speaker whom He was. Notice that Paul began recognizing Him as Lord from the beginning of his story. The voice responded to him saying, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting” (vs. 8). So far, Jesus initiated a very effective attention-getting mechanism of flashing the high intensity light in Paul’s face and identifying why He was speaking to Paul. Jesus was being persecuted by Paul, and He wants to know why. Paul has been knocked to his back on the ground, and his first thought is to ask who this mighty force was. Jesus responds by saying whom He is and repeats that He is the who Paul is persecuting. 

Paul must have sensed how his story might have begun to sound a bit far-fetched because he pauses in the telling of the story to offer witnesses to the facts of what happened. In verse 9, Paul offers that there were several people accompanying him on the trip and all of them can certainly testify as to the bright light, but none of them could understand the voice of the One who was speaking to him. 

Notice that Paul’s testimony is not filled with lofty religious words that many people would not understand. Rather, Paul is speaking in a language with which he knows the audience is very familiar. He is simply repeating an event and a conversation that took place and how he responded to it. He did not try to dress up the story with language to make it more miraculous or heavenly.

Sight Restored (Acts 22:10-12)

Now, when we reach the point in Paul’s testimony where he understands who is involved in this discussion, Paul is ready to yield himself to the Lord over his life. He asks simply, “What shall I do, Lord?” (vs. 10). Paul instinctively knew that the Lord did not open this conversation with him in such a dramatic, hard-hitting way to simply be recognized. No, Jesus did this for a purpose. He was looking for one of the most obvious illustrations of repentance available in the pages of our Scriptures. Saul of Tarsus was a man fully and completely dedicated to erasing the Christian movement. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He was raised and educated to master the content of the Scriptures and apply them in all their power. He knew the Scriptures were hard against heresy and anything that violated “2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:2-3).  God is holy and separate. No one is allowed to claim he is God. As a member of Jerusalem’s Sanhedrin, Paul set about to eliminate a movement that headed by a man who claimed to be the Son of God, the Christ and even God, Himself. These were crimes worthy of death for the One making the claims and anyone following and/or supporting those claims. In his mind, Paul was zealously pursuing justice against these crimes and the associated criminals.  He never considered the possibility that Jesus might have been the only being who could have legitimately claimed to be God accurately. I still get chills when I read or hear Jesus’ words to the Pharisees, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘Before Abraham was, I am!’” (John 8:58).

So, Paul was to change directions and get up and go to Damascus, not to persecute or prosecute, but to meet Ananias and begin preparation for declaring the deity of the Christ he just met for the remainder of his life. Paul would be the one sought by the Sanhedrin to execute. He would feel the lashes of the whip, the abandonment of friends and family and the executioner’s sword. Preparation begins in that first appointment with Ananias in Damascus and one of the most powerful men in the world would have to be led by the hand to meet him because he has been humbled into dependence of others. 

Sight Restored (Acts 22:13-16)

Ananias received a separate vision from the Lord; one which he initially rejected because of his knowledge of exactly who Saul was and how he could lose his life by being identified to him. Only Jesus’ words that Saul was a chosen vessel for Him to deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel could cause him to take such a risk (Acts 9:15). But Jesus said it, Ananias accepted it and he stood next to Saul saying, “Brother Saul, receive your sight” (vs. 22:13). Paul says that at that very time, he looked up at him (Ananias). Ananias explained to Saul that he had been specially set aside and appointed by the God of our father to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. Paul continues repeating the words of Ananias, “For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.” (vs. 15).  As Paul tells the story of what Ananias said and did, it was a direct fulfillment of Jesus’ direction for the new life, that born-again life away from Saul of Tarsus and into the Apostle Paul. Here is where that transformation begins.  

It seems it was only a few hours earlier that Jesus was saying to a blinded Paul, “Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do” (vs. 22:10). Now, Saul, who has become Paul, describes how he was told by Ananias, “16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (vs. 22:16). 

Saul, who was one of the most powerful men in the world was ordered by Jesus to “Get up and go to Damascus for Ananias,” and now, just a few days later, he is told by Ananias, “Get up and be baptized.” Can you see the awesome reversal of character of this man. He had life and death authority over thousands of men, women and children, but now, he is being directed to go from place to place in preparation for a ministry of leading people to Jesus Christ, establishing churches all over the continent and taking the Message of Jesus Christ to Gentiles, Kings and children of Israel.  The “all powerful” has become the “all obedient.” Without the inside out change the Master is so very good at doing, no person, much less Saul of Tarsus, would be capable of doing it. 

Understand the Context (Acts 24:1-26:32)  

Remember way back to Acts 9:15 where Jesus told Ananias the Saul was a chosen vessel to take the Gospel to Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel? We spent most of the book watching Paul present the Gospel to Gentiles and the children of Israel but somehow missed where he took the Gospel to kings. But here, in Chapters 24-26, we see Paul presenting the Gospel to Kings. Last time, we saw Paul taken to the Sanhedrin with charges of relaxing his orthodoxy because of too much contact with Gentiles and teaching heresy to religious Jews; i.e., Jews need not follow the Law of Moses. Paul was arrested, beaten and sent to Sanhedrin where they schemed to execute him (Acts 22-23). The Romans again rescued Paul and, because he was a Roman citizen, sent him to Felix, the Roman governor. Paul claimed the Roman privilege of appealing to the emperor. 

The process began with the local Governor and that was Felix. He heard the case twice but continued to delay for two full years and then he retired. Festus was his replacement, but he had no knowledge of either Judaism or Christianity (25:1-5). He finally asked Paul to allow him to try the case back in Jerusalem. Paul knew that was almost certain death and refused.

Festus decided to take Paul’s case higher before taking him to Rome. Agrippa was one of the last kings of Judea. Here is where we see Paul fulfilling Jesus’ statement that he would present the Gospel to Kings (Acts 9:15). It is difficult of overstate the importance of believing that God will cause His prophecies to be fulfilled. The wise men from the East believed God would fulfill His prophecies and followed a bright star that would take them to Bethlehem about two years after the birth of Jesus. Had they not studied and believed, they would have missed visiting Herod and asking him about the birth of the King of the Jews. His fear and murderous attitude resulted in the infamous “Slaughter of the Innocents” but also the warning for Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape. Having Jesus come out of Egypt for Nazareth set the fulfillment of other prophecies saying Christ would come out Egypt and that He would be a Nazarene.  

A Changed Life (Acts 26:19-23)  

Here we pick up Paul during his presentation of the Gospel to King Agrippa fulfilling the words of Jesus to Paul on their encounter on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9). Jesus told Ananias that he was to heal the sight of Saul of Tarsus for he was a chosen vessel to present His Gospel to the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel. Paul had served for years founding new churches and returning to strengthen them all over Israel, Asia Minor and Greece.. He had been stoned and left for dead, imprisoned, lashed, condemned by the Sanhedrin, which he served for years to eliminate all Christians and Christianity, but now they wish to take his life for being weak in the faith.

Nevertheless, Paul was under arrest and required to defend himself before King Agrippa on the way to Rome to exercise the right of a Roman citizen to appeal his conviction to the emperor. Paul knew that failure in that appeal would result in capital punishment. He tells King Agrippa that he was never disobedient to the teaching of the prophets nor the Law of Moses as the Sanhedrin has charged. He says he has been declaring the message of Jesus Christ from the day he first received a heavenly vision from the Lord. He was stressing to all in Damascus, Jerusalem and throughout all Judea that they should follow Christ and turn (repent) to follow God. 

Paul says he was before King Agrippa on this occasion with the help of God to testify to the small and great quoting nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would be happening in the future regarding the advent of the Messiah. They said together that the Messiah (Christ) was to suffer, die and be buried, but by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim the light of God to the Jewish people as well as the Gentiles (vs. 23). 

So Paul had just completed three missionary journeys where he preached the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles, alike. Furthermore, Paul was now presenting the Gospel to a king which completely fulfilled his original charge from Jesus on the road to Damascus. The only controversial thing Jesus said to Agrippa was regarding Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. It split the Jews who listened to Paul’s testimony and it may have the same impact on Agrippa.  

Opposition (Acts 26:24-26) 

Of course, Governor Festus was standing by and had the opportunity to hear Paul’s words to the King as well. While Paul was still speaking with Agrippa, Festus spoke with a very loud voice that Paul must have been totally out of his mind; that his great education must be driving him insane (vs. 24). But Paul protested strongly and told Festus that he surely was not out of his mind but was speaking of things the King was very knowledgeable. So, it seems that Paul knew a lot more about King Agrippa than Governor Festus did. Paul knew that Agrippa was well educated in the Judaism and Christianity. Agrippa knew and understood everything Paul was trying to deliver as the Gospel of Jesus Christ making Festus look foolish as he was trying to be wise in the sight of Agrippa. It was not working.   

In verse 26, Paul reiterates that the king knew all about these matters therefore, Paul could speak openly to the King about these things with great confidence, because the King understood everything Paul was saying to him and, it was within God’s previous revelation to him. Recall that Paul also knew that Festus was completely unaware of the doctrine (theology) of both Judaism and Christianity. So, while Festus was responsible for Paul as his prisoner, Paul was totally responsible to deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ to King Agrippa under his specific call from Jesus to preach the Gospel to Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). 

Paul explains to Festus that he is fully confident that the words he was preaching to the king were words that the King was not only familiar with, but with which he was well informed and fully cognizant.  As I read this discussion, I could see the full embarrassment of Festus as he shows himself as an uniformed failure as a subject of the King. Festus knew nothing of the subject the King would be discussing with the prisoner, and he was fully uninformed regarding the King’s personal knowledge of the topics to be discussed. If King Agrippa had the same attitude that the Queen of Hearts in Alice and Wonderland, Agrippa would be screaming, “Off with his head!!” But Agrippa shows himself as much more wise, informed and mature than Festus.

Understand the Context (Acts 27:1-28:31)  

Some have suggested that Paul’s journey to Rome was just another missionary voyage for him – it was not. As in our previous study, Paul knew that whatever city he entered, there would be strife, abuse, bondage and potential death. Paul knew he was called personally by Jesus Christ, and he would be absolutely invincible until the Lord achieved His mission through him. Paul knew Rome and the activities necessary to get him there constituted his final voyage, and its end would be his end. 

Last time we saw Paul absolutely bent on going to Jerusalem to stand before his Christian leadership to report on the many new and existing churches he visited. He was also to go before the Sanhedrin because they had new charges against him the basically stating that he was becoming more Gentile than Jew. Not only would they suggest he was no longer fit to be a leader in Judaism, they also charged that he was no longer worthy of life. 

So, Paul stood before the Sanhedrin and they made their accusations and as soon as Paul mentioned that he was called by Jesus to reach out to the Gentiles, they demanded his death. The attack was so severe the Roman guard was called to save him because he was a Roman citizen. Paul opted to stand before the Emperor as was his right as a Roman. They sent him to Governor Felix on the way and he was imprisoned while Felix procrastinated for two full years before he retired turning Paul over to Governor Festus who was ignorant of both Judaism and Christianity. After Paul refused to allow Festus to send him to face the Sanhedrin again, Festus took Paul to King Agrippa. 

Paul’s presentation to Agrippa was sufficiently compelling that Agrippa suggested that if Paul had a little more time, he could even lead him to Christ. Paul celebrated Agrippa’s comment but had to keep Paul’s wish to stand before the Emperor. He sent Paul away where he would suffer shipwreck and near death, but an angel promised no one would suffer death. Paul would lead many of the imperial guard to Christ while waiting for his death sentence to be exacted. 

Call to Trust (Acts 27:31-34)  

Now, Paul is on a ship on the way to Rome when a storm occurs. The storm was vicious in itself but the fact that they saw no stars or other navigational aides for days, put them in a very dangerous situation. As the Roman centurion weighed options for what he might do with the 276 people (mostly prisoners) aboard the sinking ship, Paul recommended the separating of the ship from the lifeboat saying that they must cut the connecting rope if they hoped to be saved (vs. 31). The centurion finally agreed and cut the boat loose from the ship (vs. 32). Both vessels survived the night, but the days without knowing where they were relative to the land or other obstacles weighed heavily on the crew and their passengers.

As morning dawned, Paul saw another problem. The soldiers were so worried about their prisoners escaping and the potential loss of the boats that they had not eaten for two weeks (vs. 33). Their strength was greatly dissipated, and they would probably lose everything. So, Paul continued to encourage them to eat and replenish their strength. He reminded them that he had received a visit from an angel of the Lord, and told Paul that not a single life would be lost, but the boats would not survive (vs. 23 & 34). 

The earlier description of the actions the crew took to save themselves and the boats show just how serious the situation was. The mild southern wind before the storm had driven them closer to the shore of Crete which made running the boat ashore much more likely. Then the violent Euraquilo wind made navigation impossible, so they let the anchor down and gave way to the wind driving the ship wherever it would. They had already begun to throw their cargo overboard to lighten the ship (vss. 18-19). But they worried that they were close enough to the shallows of Syrtis that they might run aground at any minute, especially with no stars or sun to enable proper navigation for nearly two weeks. As the sailors began to lose heart, they let down the boat pretending to help control the ship but actually planning to escape and leave the others to themselves (vs. 30). Nevertheless, Paul had his vision from the angel a kept reminding them to trust him.

Act in Faith (Acts 27:35-38)

Paul had to personally demonstrate that he believed what he said, so he took some bread and prayed God’s grace over it where all could see him (vs. 35). After the prayer, Paul broke the bread and began to eat it. Verse 36 says they were all encouraged by his actions and began to eat as well. The food served to nourish them and give them the strength to perform their duties but also allowed them to have some hope of surviving this ordeal. It seemed like everything in nature was determined to have them perish in the sea. The fact that the professional sailors were trying to abandon ship certainly reinforced that feeling. When they saw Paul eating, the rest of the people had some example of faith to follow. 

Verse 37 shows that Luke documented the fact that there were 276 souls on that ship. When they finished eating, they felt there was less need for wheat for future meals and began to throw more of it overboard. Recall that they were still being battered around by the storm, but somehow the leaders were sufficiently encouraged that the journey would soon come to a gracious ending. 

There are a mixture of feelings and actions here to examine. First, of course, is the fact that Paul, having full knowledge of the angelic vision he experienced, convinced the ship’s passengers to eat. That action resulted in the leaders allowing more supplies to be thrown into the sea. The fact that they were decreasing their food supply appears to show their belief that the event might be ending sooner than they were thinking earlier. There are no comments on what convinced the sailors who were abandoning the ship earlier to change their minds, but the reminder of how many people were aboard showed everyone was still on the ship. 

Second, the fact that they were still working on lightning the ship showed that they believed the ship might still be valuable for the remainder of their time on the sea. Certainly, as long as they were on the sea and had no knowledge of where they were, it would be better to be aboard the ship than in the sea. There is some small glimmer of hope being shown after the meal Paul helped them enjoy.