Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Acts 23.12-22 PodcastConspiracy (12-15)

Well, justice is a slow process! Too slow usually! It is especially slow when it doesn’t seem like it will end in our favor.

Justice was certainly too slow for the group of Jews who hated Paul’s guts so much that the falsely accused him of a capital crime. They had hoped that the Romans would see Paul as the instigator of the riot, flog him severely, and then execute him, but it wasn’t turning out like they wanted. Coincidentally, the Romans were protecting Paul by holding him in their military barracks until the commander could figure out exactly what was going on.

As the Jews waited to see what the Romans were going to do, they felt like Paul was slipping through their fingers. So, two mornings after Paul’s hearing with the Sanhedrin, a group of forty of them conspired together and came up with a plan to kill Paul on their own. Their plan went something like this:

“Let’s get the Sanhedrin to petition the Roman commander on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about the case, and just before he gets to the hearing, ‘Pow!’ some of us will stampede the soldiers who are protecting him, and the rest of us will kill him.”

Now I think we can all agree that this plan wasn’t very original, but at least it seemed like it would work. Usually when planning a murder, effectiveness is more important than creativity anyway. So they get certain members of the Sanhedrin on board (probably all Sadducees because at least some of the Pharisees were sympathetic to Paul) and they are ready to go!

There is another important observation that we have to make about this conspiracy. These Jews hated Paul and his Christian message so much that not only were they willing to risk their own lives to kill him but they also made a vow to each other not to eat or drink anything until they killed him. This was a very serious commitment they are making. I don’t know about you, but whenever you see me take a vow not to eat and especially drink until I do something, you can be darn sure it’s serious.

Now to help us understand the magnitude of their desire to murder Paul, I would like us to think about this: In just the United States every year there are 17,000 murders. That is 47 murders a day. I have either read or heard about some of these conspiracies and some of them are downright creative, but I can’t think of a single murder story in modern history where the murderer hated the victim so much that he or she fasted from food and drink until they carried our their plan. Murder today just isn’t what it used to be! The Bible gives us a lot of good reasons for fasting, but murder isn’t one of them. These people really wanted Paul dead!

Coincidence (16-22)

Now since these forty Jews were risking their own lives to kill Paul you can bet that they went to great lengths to keep their conspiracy confidential. That is why it is so coincidental that someone from outside their secret society would find out about their plan and tell Paul. What is even more coincidental is that the one person who caught wind of their evil plot just happened to be Paul’s nephew. How ironic is that? Up until this point in the story we didn’t even know that Paul had a sister, let alone a nephew. Paul’s sister and nephew play such an insignificant role in the story that Luke doesn’t even name them.

What were the chances of Paul’s nephew even being in Jerusalem? What were the chances that he of all people heard the conspiracy? If someone else would have heard about this, it may never have made it back to Paul. What a coincidence indeed!

Furthermore, it is coincidental that Paul’s nephew was granted access to visit him considering there was so much turmoil surrounding Paul. We wouldn’t expect visitation rights to be granted to such a high profile prisoner, but apparently he was granted permission to enter the barracks and speak with Paul. The fact that he was a close family member may have had something to do with this, which adds even more irony to the fact that it was Paul’s nephew that found out about the plot.

Once his nephew clued him into the conspiracy, Paul called for one of the centurions and ordered him to take his nephew to the Roman commander. Here is another coincidence. A prisoner doesn’t just give orders to an officer, but Paul did! And without argument or complaint, the centurion immediately obeyed and took the boy to his commanding officer.

Now you tell me—when does this actually happen? Officers simply don’t take orders from prisoners! My wife doesn’t even take orders from me! But in this case, it is a major coincidence that the centurion took the boy to his commander.

And if you think that all of this is coincidental, just wait until you see how the commander responds to the boy. It was no small thing for a Jewish boy to even have an opportunity to speak to a Roman military commander. We would expect him to be gruff, crude, and at the very least annoyed to listen to someone of such low status, yet the text says that he “took the boy by the hand”, “drew him aside”, and asked him, “What is it you want to tell me?” Well, they may as well have rolled out the red carpet since the commander treated the boy like royalty. Wow! What a coincidence!

But wait, it gets even better! After Paul’s nephew told the commander about the Jews’ conspiracy to take Paul’s life, we would expect the boy to quietly slip away and try to stay out of trouble, but that is not what he does. Look at verse 21! The boy orders the commander “Don’t give in to them.” Now he didn’t realize that young Jewish boys, with absolutely no authority, just don’t tell the most powerful person in Jerusalem what to do. A private just doesn’t give orders to a general! In essence, but the boy commanded the commander!

The commander could have and probably should have severely punished the boy for what he said and the way he said it, but surprisingly the commander almost thanks the boy. He at least treats him with respect and concern in verse 22 when he dismissed the young man and even cautioned him by saying, “Don’t tell anyone you have reported this to me.” Now this is a coincidence!

When I read this passage and see all of the coincidences in it, I can’t help but think about all of the coincidences that I have experienced throughout my life. When I was seventeen years old God revealed that he wanted me to be a pastor but I didn’t have any resources to go to Bible school. It was quite a coincidence that my pastor’s brother moved back to our hometown from Louisiana later that summer and told me about Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, a Bible school where donors pay for 100% of your tuition. Coincidentally, I applied and even though my grades in high school were sub-par, I was accepted.

Coincidentally, during my sophomore year at Moody I just happened to meet a beautiful young woman named Jennifer Bayard. Coincidentally, a week after we graduated, she became Jennifer McConnell. After this, I coincidentally won a couple of scholarships whereby I could afford grad school at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston.

Coincidentally, one Friday evening in May of 2003 I was sitting at my desk writing a paper. My wife was out of town and I was bored out of my mind. It just didn’t seem right to be doing homework on a Friday night, so I randomly started browsing job-placement websites on the internet. I know it sounds like an exciting way to spend a Friday night, but believe me when I say, “You’re better off just going to the movies.” But at least in this case I experienced another coincidence when I saw an opening at the Franklin United Church in Franklin, VT. I had never heard of Franklin before, but I was intrigued by the description of the church and community.

Coincidentally, I called about it without consulting my wife first, which again, I would not recommend. One thing led to another and a month later we interviewed and six months after that I became the pastor of this church on January 1, 2004. As you can see, I have experienced a lot of coincidences in my life!

How about you? Have you ever experienced a coincidence? As you think back through your life, can you see instances where you were at the perfect place at the perfect time? Can you see how one minor difference could have changed the whole direction of your life? Where you live, your marriage, kids, career, and every other aspect of your life has been shaped by thousands of these little coincidences! Do you see them?

Before I conclude, I should point out one more coincidence in this passage. I think it is rather ironic that God isn’t mentioned anywhere in this text. All of these amazing coincidences take place, and God is nowhere to be found. Paul’s nephew just happened to overhear the Jews’ plot to kill his uncle. He just happened to be granted access to Paul. The centurion just happened to take the boy to the commander, and the commander just happened to take orders from the boy. All of these coincidences happened and God wasn’t even there!

Do you believe that? I hope not! Just because God isn’t explicitly mentioned doesn’t mean that he wasn’t there. This passage reminds me of the Book of Esther in the Old Testament. Do you know that throughout all ten chapters of the Book of Esther, God isn’t even mentioned once? None of the Hebrew words for God—“Adonai”, “Elohim”, or “Yahweh” are ever mentioned in Esther. This is why a number of people in the early church questioned the divine inspiration of the book of Esther. How can you have a whole book of the Bible that doesn’t even mention God? For the same reason that Luke doesn’t mention God in this text. He wants to show us that even when we don’t see God in the forefront of our lives, he is always orchestrating the events from behind the scenes.

I guess now is the time for my confession. I need to let all of you know that I have set you up this morning. I led you to believe that coincidences happen in life, but the truth is that there is no such thing as coincidence! Please hear me when I say: There are absolutely no coincidences in life! On the contrary, God orchestrates and directs every aspect of our lives. He is totally sovereign and in complete control of everything. His providence guides every minute and seemingly meaningless detail of our lives. Everything we experience in life happens to us for a reason!

Did you really think that the events in this passage happened by coincidence? No way! Was it a coincidence that the commander protected Paul all along? No way! God directed all of this!

Was it a coincidence that my pastor’s brother moved back just in time to tell me about Moody Bible Institute? No way!! Was it a coincidence that I met and married Jennifer after we graduated? Absolutely not! This was God’s plan for my life before I was ever born! Was it a coincidence that we moved to Boston and I was so bored one night that I ran across a description of this church and eventually came here? No way! This was God’s plan for my life and yours too!

Do you think anything in your life has ever happened by accident or coincidence? No way! Every triumph and tragedy, every sorrow and surprise, and every distraction, disappointment, and delight we face in life has been planned and orchestrated by God.

Well, I am sorry that I set you up that way, but I felt like we would all learn the lesson better if I did. With God there is no such thing as a coincidence!

I don’t know what is going on in your life today, but I do know that it is neither an accident or coincidence! God is completely in control of your life, even if it doesn’t seem like it. And always remember—even when you can’t feel God’s hand, you can always see his fingerprints!

Law & Order is an American police and legal television drama created by Dick Wolf. It has been broadcast on NBC since its debut on September 13, 1990. Set in New York City, the series follows the professional lives of several police officers and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the criminal justice system.The series is the longest-running primetime drama currently on American television. The show was recently renewed for a twentieth season, which will tie it with Gunsmoke as the longest-running primetime drama in American television history.

The program generally follows a two-part format, with the first portion of each episode devoted to the investigation of a crime and the second portion depicting its prosecution. The show usually begins with a slice of life in New York (walking a dog in Manhattan, jogging in Central Park, etc.) unrelated to the main story until a character in the scene suddenly discovers, witnesses, or becomes a victim of a crime (mostly murder). The scene cuts to the police’s preliminary crime scene examination wherein the featured detectives make their first observations and offer theories followed by a witticism or two, before the title sequence begins. Unlike most legal dramas, the proceedings are shown from the prosecution’s point of view and indicate that it can be as difficult to convict the guilty as it is to clear the innocent.

All of Acts 22-23 would fit would make for a great episode of Law and Order. We have already seen the “Order” part of the story: a false accusation, mob violence, a bloody victim, and the victim’s press release. In today’s text, we see the beginning of the “Law” part of the episode, where the commander of the Roman army initiates the prosecution by setting up a pre-trial hearing to gather more information about Paul’s case. He is trying to determine whether Paul is an offender or a victim.

So, as we launch into this story and learn more important lessons about the Christian life and ministry, I would like to begin by repreating that famous opening line from Law and Order: “In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories.”

Scene 1 – Fulfill Our Duties (1)

As the Sanhedrin convened on short notice and gathered around Paul outside the Roman commander’s barracks for a pre-trial hearing to get to the bottom of this controversy, Paul speaks boldly in his own defense. He stared straight in to the eyes of his accusers and declared that he had a clean conscience because he fulfilled his duty to God. I believe he is specifically referring to his duty of being a witness for Jesus Christ. He had just finished telling the whole mob his conversion story whereby Jesus Christ totally transformed his life. He was not guilty of any crime, nor did he feel guilty about anything he said in his testimony about Jesus. He simply took care of his responsibility and fulfilled his duty to God. Regardless of the consequences he would face at the hands of the Romans or the Jews, his conscience was clean before God.

Doesn’t that sound great? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a consciece that is totally clean before God? Can we join Paul in his declaration?

Some of us may be thinking, “Wow! That does sound good! I would love to have a clear conscience before God, but how do you get it?” The same way Paul did. Like him, when we take care of our responbilities and fulfill our duties to God, then we have a clean conscience before God.

Now some of us might be thinking, “Okay, what are my duties to God?” Well, all Christians are called to be like Jesus. It is our duty to live lives filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. Are we fulfilling these duties?

Likewise, all Christians are called to serve Christ’s church and be his witnesses wherever we go. How are we serving the church? Are we sharing our faith in Jesus with other? When we fulfill our duties, we have clean consceinces!

Here are a few more duties to think about! If you are married, it is your duty before God to love, cherish, and serve your spouse. If you are a parent, it is your duty to provide for and protect your kids and also to shepherd their souls. If you are a farmer or teacher, it is your duty to tend the land or instruct the children. If you are a nurse or a factory worker, it is your duty to care for the sick or take care of the orders.

What are your duties? Are you fulfilling them? Is your conscience clean?

Scene 2- Respect authority figures (2-5)

Well, the high priest, Ananias, was offended by Paul’s declaration and showed his disapproval by ordering some of the council members to slap Paul across the face. This action was illegal according to both Roman and Jewish law because, as with our courts today, prisoners were presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Paul quickly shows his disapproval of this action by losing his temper. We expect Paul to respond like Jesus and turn the other cheek, but Paul shows his humanity and sinfulness by threatening and insulting him, “God will strike you, you white-washed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” His insult of “white-washed walls” is where he accused the religious leaders of being hypocrites. Just like a white-washed tomb, it looks clean and shiny on the outside, but the inside is corrupt and decayed. Interestingly, Paul’s threat that “God will strike you” came to pass just a few years later when Ananias was assassinated by militant nationalists.

The other members of the Sanhedrin were schocked at Paul’s audacity to speak to the high priest that way, and they questioned him about it. Since this was not an official meeting of the Sanhedrin and the high priest was not wearing his distinguishing garb, Paul had no idea that this man was the high priest Ananias. When Paul found out who he was he immediately apologized to the offical and quoted a verse from Exodus 22:28: “Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.” This act of apology showed Paul’s willingness to submit to God’s Word even when it was difficult and inconvenient. Although he believed that Ananias was a two-faced back-stabbing crooked corrupt hypocrite, he respected the office and did not want to speak evil about the ruler of his people.

This is a good lesson for us today. Just like Paul, there will be times when we are under the authority of back-stabbing crooked corrupt leaders, but we must be careful not to speak evil about them. Even if we don’t respect the person in the office, we should respect the position enough to keep our tongues in check. For instance, we may have some sharp disagreements wih a particular leader’s economic strategy or health care reform, but we should be very careful about what we say with our lips. We may struggle with a leader’s foreign policy or position on war; but we should be very careful with what about e-mails we forward and what we post on our Facebook page. We may not be able to stand the personal or ethical conduct of a president, governor, or senator, but we must remember that God has allowed that person to fill the position, and there is no place in the Christian life for political bashing!

Even though Ananias was responsible for Paul’s face being slapped, Paul immediately apologized to him when he realized that he was guilty of speaking evil about a ruler of his people. I wonder if any of us sitting here this morning are guilty of speaking evil about a ruler of our people? I wonder how many of us need to apologize for participating in some form of political bashing? May Christ forgive us and may we show respect for the authroties he places in our lives and ministries!

Scene 3- Employ wisdom (6-10)

Paul figured out very quickly that this direct approach to his defense wasn’t working very well, so he employed a little wisdom to the situation and decided to change his tactics. Just as before when he employed wisdom by addressing the Roman commander as a Roman citizen, now he addressed the Sanhedrin as a Pharisee. He knew that the Sanhedrin was a 70 member council made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees. He also knew that if he could pit these two religious parties against one another, it would take the focus off of him and give him a better chance for survival.

So, Paul makes his belief in the resurrection of the dead the center of his defense. He knew that the Sadducees didn’t believe in anything supernatural (resurrection, angels, spirits, and the like), but the Pharisees believed in all of them. As Paul instigated this already fierce theological debate, he got exaclty what he wanted: a great dispute broke out between the two groups and the Pharisees wound up defending him before the Roman commander. They declared, “We find nothing wrong with this man!” They even acknowledged, “What if a spirit or angel spoke to him?”

Sure enough, this caused the dispute to get so heated that the Roman commander again feared for Paul’s life and came to his rescue. The soldiers had to removed him by force and escort him to safety inside the barracks. Paul’s defense worked and his life was spared because he employed wisdom in his life and ministry.

Here is another very valuable lesson for us today. It is very important to apply wisdom to every situation we face in life and ministry. There are very few things in life where there is only one way to do it. When we learn how to step back, survey the situation, think through all of the options, and select the wisest one, we will be much more effective at whatever we do.

Paul could have kept charging through the front door by asserting his innocence and accusng the leaders of corruption, but he realized that his chances were much better if he went through the back door and got the Phariesees on his side. When some people read this passage they accused him of being manipulative; I applaud him for being wise. If Christians are to be effective in life and ministry, we need to take Paul’s example to heart. Jesus himself said, “We must be as innocent as doves and as wise as serpents.”

Think with me for a second! Where could you apply a little wisdom right now? What situations are you facing that could use some wisdom? Have you really surveyed the whole situation? Have you really thought through all of the options? Is there another way to go about it? Let’s follow Paul’s example! Let’s employ some wisdom!

Scene 4 – Take comfort in God’s presence and sovereignty (11)

As Paul was led away by the soldiers and returned to his holding cell following the hearing, he still didn’t have a very good idea of what was going to happen to him. Yes, some of the Pharisees were on his side, but the Sadducees were out for blood. He had no way of knowing how the commander would rule in this case. He couldn’t expect any help or encouragement from the Jerusalem church; it was far toodangerous for any of them to intervene at this point.

Just like a defendant awaiting a verdict from a jury in a capital case, Paul was confined to his cell and his throughts for two days. Can you imagine what went through his mind as each hour passed in silence? “What is going to happen to me? Will I live or die? Will I ever get to see my churches again? What will happen to the ministry of the gospel? Will I ever tell another person about Jesus? Will I ever get a chance to go and take the gospel to Rome?”

He must have considered all of these questions in the loneliness of that desolate cell. He must have been discouraged and distressed, if not downright depressed. Where was God in his darkest hour? Why would God allow his servant to experience such adversity?

I think most of us ask these quesrtions too. When we go through dark days and difficult nights, we ask: Where are you, God? When we experience adversity and fear, we ask: Why me, God? What could you possibly be doing with this? In times like these, it is easy to doubt God’s present and sovereignty, but let me assure you: God is always there and he is always in control! You will never experience something that God doesn’t want you to experience!

In verse 11 we learn that Jesus himself stood near Paul and gave him the exact comfort, guidance, and hope that he needed. This was not a dream or a vision! The actual resurrected Christ showed up in bodily form to assure Paul of his presence. His words “Take Courage” gave him comfort. His command to testify in Rome gave him hope and assured God’s complete control over Paul’s life.

Whenever we face adversity—whether it is related to our relationships, work, finances, or future, know that God is always there and he is always in control. His plan is always larger than what we can see. It never ceases to amaze me at how we often see God’s presence and sovereignty revealed most clearly during the darkest times of our lives.

I don’t know what kind of darkness you are going through or what kind of adversity you are facing, but I do know that God is there and he is in control!

Well, this story is certainly filled with law and order, but was justice served? I’ll let you be the judge! As we live out our Christian lives, I hope that we will all learn from Paul’s example and fulfill our duties, respect authority figures, employ a little wisdom, and take comfort in God’s presence and sovereignty!

The Pilgrim’s Progress is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print. It should be required reading for Christians who are on the spiritual path in a world of temptations.

Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory of a Christian’s journey (here represented by a character called ‘Christian’) from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City”. Along the way he visits such locations as the Slough of Despond, Vanity Fair, the Doubting Castle, and the Valley of the Shadow of Death. The story follows Christian’s journey through the pleasures and perils of the Christian life.

It is true! There are many pleasures and perils in every Christian’s life. Think about your life as a Christian for a minute! What have been your pleasures? What have been your perils?

Today’s text marks the beginning of the last section of the book of Acts. We have seen the church begin on the day of Pentecost and spread all across the world. Paul has completed three missionary journeys and it about to embark upon the final journey of his life. Unlike Christian in the Pilgrim’s Progress, Paul’s final journey begins in Jerusalem and will end in Rome. He is a prisoner for the rest of the book and the story traces his progress along the way.

When Luke wrote this final section of the book of Acts, he, like John Bunyan, intended his readers to learn to how to live the Christian life from following the actions of the lead character. So, as we follow the story of The Prisoner’s Progress this morning, I hope we will all learn some lessons about living the Christian life!

1.) Take every opportunity to testify about the gospel (21:37-22:2)

The Roman soldiers rescued Paul from the clutches of the Jewish mob that had brutally beaten him in the Temple courts. If they hadn’t come along, the mob surely would have murdered him. By the time the soldiers had carried him up the steps of the barracks, Paul had regained enough of his composure to ask the commander for permission to speak to the crowd.

The commander was impressed by Paul’s ability to speak Greek and inquired about his identity; the commander assumed that Paul was the notorious Egyptian terrorist who led an unsuccessful revolt against Rome and had escaped. Paul denied this claim and affirmed his identity as a Jew from the well-known Greek city of Tarsus. When the commander was convinced that Paul was a cultured man and posed no political threat, he allowed Paul to address the crowd.

So, Paul stood at the top of the steps of the military barracks and motioned for the crowd to be quiet. Even though blood was still running down his face from the blows this crowd inflicted upon him, he addressed them with respect by calling them “Fathers and brothers” and using the Aramaic language. When the mob heard him speak in their common language they became very quiet and were willing to listen to him.

This scene is very typical of Paul and the other apostles’ ministry. They took every opportunity, even when there were suffering pain or persecution, to testify about the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was still an extremely dangerous situation, but Paul saw an opportunity to tell people about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and he took it.

In this scene, Paul provides us with a powerful example of how to do ministry today. Like him, we should take every opportunity we have to testify abut the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most of us will never experience a beating or the danger that Paul did, yet we are so slow and shy about sharing the gospel. I believe that if we were really sensitive to our situations we would see that we have opportunities to testify about Jesus Christ every day. Whether it is with family or friends, coworkers or classmates, I hope we will see and take the opportunities God gives us to be his witnesses. And like Paul, I hope that we will learn that in every pain or persecution we have an opportunity to proclaim Christ. In every trial and tribulation, we have an opportunity to testify about Christ. In every danger we have an opportunity to declare Christ.

Take a minute ad think with me: Did you have any opportunities to testify about Christ this past week? Think deeply now! Did you take the opportunity or did you let it slip through your fingers? What will we do this week? I do hope that we will follow Paul’s example and take every opportunity to testify about Jesus!

2.) Conversion story is a powerful form of Testimony (3-21)

Now some of you may be saying to yourselves, “Okay! Okay! I get it! I would like to take those opportunities to testify about Christ, but I don’t know how.” Well, I’m glad you were wondering about that because Paul also provides an example for how we can testify about Christ. After the crowd becomes quiet and is ready to listen Paul testifies about Christ by telling them how he went from being a persecutor of Christians to a propagator of the Christian faith.

Paul was born in Tarsus but was raised in Jerusalem. He was taught by the Rabbi Gamaliel, the greatest in all of Israel at the time and he earned the ancient equivalent of a Ph.D. from Harvard. He was a member of the Pharisees and lived strictly according to the Mosaic Law. He was as zealous for God as anyone else and showed it by persecuting the followers of the Christian way. He was personally responsible for the imprisonment and death of many Christians.

One day when he was on his way to Damascus to persecute more Christians, he was blinded by a bright light and Jesus appeared to him in a vision. Paul put his faith in Jesus, converted to Christianity, and was called into the ministry. He was specifically called to take the gospel to the Gentiles.

Just like Paul, we all have a conversion story that is a powerful witness for the gospel. We all have people, places & events, and the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in our stories, but they are different for each of us. The people, places, and events in your conversion story are different from the people, places, and events in my conversion story. The way the Holy Spirit brought you to faith is different from the way he brought me to faith.

Before you protest too much in your own mind, let me correct a common misconception; I have heard far too many people say, “Well, my conversion story isn’t very good!” That is ridiculous! Don’t ever let me catch you saying something like that! Every conversion story is equally good and God uses every one of them. If your story involves some kind of deliverance from a heinous sin or addiction, great! If your story involves some kind of dramatic transformation, wonderful! If you have grown up in a Christian home and can’t remember a time when you didn’t believe, fantastic! If your story involves some long gradual uneventful process where you don’t know exactly when you really believed, awesome! All of these are powerful stories that God will use to bring others to faith; then, your story will become a part of someone else’s.

I have heard many people say, “I wish my conversion story was like Paul’s!” Really? Are you sure? The vision of Jesus sounds cool, but how about living with the guilt of knowing that you murdered other Christians? How about receiving a rebuke directly from Jesus? How about not being able to see anything for three days, having to be led around by someone else’s hand? You might want to think about just being content with your own conversion story.

How do we testify about Jesus Christ? Well, there are many ways to do it, but telling our conversion story is one of the most powerful ways. Paul shares his conversion story three times just in the book of Acts. How about us? Are we sharing our conversion stories? They are powerful ways of testifying for Christ!

3.) Unfortunately, sometimes Tradition Trumps the True Gospel (22)

Yes, conversion story is a powerful form of testimony, but I don’t want anyone to think that revival is going to start every time you tell your story. Sometimes you will see positive results, but other times your story will be met with apathy or even hostility. How did the crowd respond to Paul’s conversion story? Not very well! Look at verse 22!

As soon as Paul told the crowd that God had sent him to share the gospel with the Gentiles, they immediately stopped listening, raised their voices, and started shouting, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” They threw off their cloaks and threw dust in the air as a protest to Paul’s story. These actions express their frustration and prejudice with Paul using the word “Gentile”. This is a classic case of tradition trumping the true gospel. Even though the Old Testament is filled with passages describing Israel’s responsibility to be “a light to the Gentiles,” it had become their tradition to cast Gentiles off as filthy, dirty, second-class citizens that God didn’t care about. They were so steeped in their own tradition that they could not recognize Jesus as the Messiah or the truth of the gospel. Although they were supposed to be light bearers, they themselves had yet to embrace the true light.

Unfortunately, much of the world lives in the same darkness today. Their commitment to religious tradition has blinded them to the truth of the gospel. Many people want their religious rituals but they have very little interest in following Jesus Christ. They sing their hymns on Sunday morning but they take God’s name in vain and curse others the rest of the week. They like to share their prayer requests publicly on Sunday morning, but little time is spent seeking God privately through the week. We keep our churches neat and clean on the outside, but our souls are caked and cluttered with sin on the inside. Why is it that so many people love religion, but so few really love Jesus?

I hope that none of us sitting here this morning will ever let religious traditions or rituals blind us from the gospel or become obstacles to us in following Jesus. I hope that none of us will ever respond to the gospel the way the crowd did in our passage. If you have been walking in darkness, I hope that you will embrace the light of Jesus Christ!

4.) God does not want us to suffer unnecessarily (23-29)

As the crowd erupted with hostility, the commander realized that nothing constructive was going to take place, so he ordered that Paul be brought inside the barracks. He had already had trouble getting the truth out of the crowd in regard to what Paul had done to arouse such a riot, therefore he assumed that Paul would need some incentive to speak the truth. He ordered Paul to be stretched out and flogged while he was being questioned. This flogging was probably the traditional brutal Roman scourging with whip that had pieces of bone or metal on the tip of the leather. It was intended to break the skin and induce a tremendous amount of blood flow. It was the same type of punishment that was inflicted upon Jesus before his crucifixion.

Just as the centurion was about to snap the whip across Paul’s bare back, Paul asked him a rather interesting question: “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” Paul knew his legal rights and invoked them in this situation. It was against Roman law to flog a Roman citizen without being found guilty in a trial.

When the commander found out that Paul was a Roman citizen he became frightened because he already violated the la by ordering the flogging. Paul turned the tables on him and when he realized that Paul had been born a Roman citizen (something that he could not even claim for himself) he quickly changed his tune and backed off. Paul avoided a brutal flogging by invoking his legal right. Even though Paul was willing to suffer death for Christ’s sake, he did not take on unnecessary suffering.

In this scene Paul provides us with a proper Christian attitude toward suffering. Like Paul, if God calls us to martyrdom, we should be willing to die for Christ, but we do not have to take on unnecessary suffering. Some Christians throughout church history have glorified suffering so much that they have denied it in unhealthy ways. Even today some Christians have a martyr’s mindset about everything they face in life, but this is not the way of the Apostle Paul or New Testament Christianity.

There are plenty of sufferings that God sends us that are completely beyond our control. He calls us to perseverance and endurance to form our character and make us rely on him, but if there is something we can do to alleviate our suffering, by all means, do it! If you are being illegally treated because of your Christian principles, protest it! If you are sick, go to the doctor! If you are in an abusive relationship, get out of it. God does not want us to silently bear this pain when there is something that can be done about it! God didn’t want Paul to sit back and endure an illegal lashing unnecessarily and neither does he want us to endure suffering unnecessarily.

Let us take every opportunity to testify about the gospel! Remember that our conversion stories are powerful testimonies! Unfortunately, sometimes people’s attachment to tradition clouds their view of the gospel! And let us endure suffering for Christ, but not unnecessary suffering!

Good morning, my name is Trophimus! I am a Gentile from the great city of Ephesus in the province of Asia. I was converted to Christianity under the ministry of the Apostle Paul and have been his friend and fellow missionary worker ever since. I accompanied him on his trip along the Aegean coast all the way to Jerusalem. We were delivering an offering from the Asian churches to the poor Christians who were suffering in the Holy Land. I had never been to Jerusalem before and was anxious to see the city where my Savior died for me.

When we reached Caesarea we were warned that we would face persecution when we got there, but we had already faced persecution in Ephesus, so I wasn’t too worried. But I should have been! I had no idea that we would encounter such hostility. I thought mob violence like what we experienced there only occurred in Roman cities like my own, not in religious cities like Jerusalem.

Well, this morning I want to tell you the story of how Paul was falsely accused and charged, and how God used some very unlikely people to rescue him. I personally learned a lot from the experience and I believe that you can learn from it too. It is a story that must be told!

False Accusations (27-30)

My story begins when we first arrived in Jerusalem. We had a wonderful welcome by the Jerusalem church and their pastor James. We exchanged reports about our respective ministries and everything seemed fine, until James told us about the rumor that had spread all over the city that Paul had been telling Jews all over the world that the Law of Moses didn’t matter anymore. To prove the rumor false Paul agreed to go through the purification rites at the Temple and pay the expenses of four men so they could complete their Nazarite vow and have their heads shaved.

When the seven days of purification were almost completed, a group of Jews from my hometown of Ephesus, who were in Jerusalem the Pentecost feast, reaffirmed that rumor and spread a new one about Paul. They accused Paul of bringing me into the Temple precincts. Now Paul and I both knew that it was unlawful for a Gentile to go inside the Temple and that this offense was punishable by death. I didn’t even come close to going inside the Temple, but some of the Jews had previously seen me with Paul and assumed that I had gone into the Temple with him. Even if the accusation had been true, I should have been the one they apprehended, but they were obviously not concerned about me; Paul was the one they were after.

They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, all the while shouting that he teaches Jews everywhere to turn their backs on the Law. When they saw how much this infuriated the crowd, they heightened the hostility by falsely accusing him of bringing me into the Temple precincts.

Well, this accusation really got the crowd excited; they were ready to kill Paul right on the spot. This is when I learned how destructive false accusations can be. Lies can destroy a person’s life very quickly. There wasn’t anything Paul could have done to prevent what happened. He was simply trying to do the right thing, but these people really had it out for him.

I guess this is just the way it goes in a sinful world. Sometimes we will be persecuted for our faith and other times just because someone doesn’t like us. We may face false accusations and rumors because someone is jealous of us or simply because of something we have said or done. Have you ever been falsely accused of something? If so, you know how destructive it can be! It can ruin your reputation and sometimes you whole life. This false accusation almost ruined Paul’s life!

The whole city was aroused! People came running in from all over the place! So much screaming and shouting that you couldn’t understand what people were saying! It was mass chaos and confusion! Amid the hysteria I saw them take Paul and start to beat him while they drug him away from the Temple. I heard that the Temple police had shut and locked the gates of the sanctuary. In light of the false accusation me entering the inner court, they were very anxious to preserve the sanctity of the sacred space. They were also concerned about protecting the holy place from being desecrated by the ensuing violence of the crowd and by its possibly fatal outcome.

An Unlikely Rescue (31-36)

While the angry mob was fiercely attacking Paul and beating him to a bloody pulp, somehow news of the riot reached the commander of the Roman garrison who was stationed in the Antonia fortress. It was connected to the northwest side of the Temple outer courts. Within minutes the officers and soldiers appeared and began breaking up the riot. When the Jews who were beating Paul saw the soldiers coming they immediately stopped beating Paul because they knew that they were breaking the law by rioting. When I saw the soldiers picked Paul up off the ground and the mob stepped back, I knew that God had heard my prayer. Even though the commander formally arrested him, bound him in handcuffs, and chained him to two soldiers, I knew he was safer with them than he was at the hands of the Jewish mob. I’m sure the commander thought that Paul was a criminal who had committed some horrible crime, but regardless of what he had done, he had to be dealt with legally. When I saw Paul with chains on his hands and feet I remembered what the prophet Agabas had told us a week earlier—when he took Paul’s belt and wrapped it around himself as a visual prediction of what would happen to him. It happened just as he predicted.

Then the commander asked Paul who he was and what he had done to cause so much chaos. Paul was still trying to recover from the brutal beating he sustained, and before he had a chance to respond, the crowd started shouting all sorts of things: insults, vulgarities, and more false accusations. Since the commander could not get the truth out of anyone, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.

When the crowd heard the commander’s orders and realized that their chances of finishing Paul off were slipping through their fingers, they threw aside their fear of the Romans and made one more push to get him. The soldiers had to lift Paul over their heads to get him up the steps and away from the crowd. They barely got him inside!

As the soldiers carried Paul inside the barracks and I whispered another prayer for his protection, I though about the profound irony of the situation. God used the most unlikely people to rescue him. It is amazing to think that Roman soldiers would rescue a Jewish missionary from the clutches of his own people, but I guess that is just how God works. He has always used unlikely people to accomplish his will on earth. Think about that for a minute: Has God ever used an unlikely person to minister to you? Maybe, like Paul, you were in a dangerous situation and God sent an unlikely person to rescue you. Maybe you were suffering from disappointment or depression and God sent an unlikely person to encourage you. Maybe you had some other kind of need and God used an unlikely person to provide for you! Can you think of an unlikely person who has ministered to you?

Or maybe it has been the other way around! Maybe you have been the unlikely person who has ministered to someone else. You might think that you are an unlikely candidate to minister to someone else, but God is likely to use the unlikely. I hope that when the opportunity arises that you will be that unlikely person. If God can use gruff Roman soldiers to deliver his servant, he can use you!

Another Unlikely Rescue

As I watched Paul disappear into the barracks and I heard the crowd chanting “Away with him! Away with him!” I couldn’t help but think about another unlikely rescue that occurred in this same city 25 years earlier.

The scene was very similar. There was a man who came into the city and was welcomed warmly, but a few days later he was the victim of vicious false accusations. Those lies led to a false arrest and mob violence. He, like Paul, was beaten to a bloody pulp, and the Romans came for him too, but instead of doing the right thing and standing for justice, they caved into political pressure and nailed his hands and feet to a cross and left him to die. Instead of the crowd shouting “Away with him!” they shouted “Crucify! Crucify!” No one came to his aid! No unlikely person tried to rescue him! Instead of the soldiers lifting him over their heads to safety, they lifted him onto a cross to die.

And so you ask, how was this an unlikely rescue? Well, it is a matter of who got rescued. You see, Jesus was not the one who got rescued; he was the unlikely one who did the rescuing. It is absolutely amazing to think that God would send his own Son to rescue us from our sins. The man who knew no sin became sin for us, suffered on the cross, and rose on the third day so that we could be delivered from the penalty and power of sin.

Yes, God’s own Son was an unlikely candidate to be sacrificed for our salvation. I know that this unlikely person has completely transformed my life; has he transformed yours? He will rescue you from sin and hell if you put your faith in him. I know that if Paul was here with us now, he would tell you the same thing. So, you see, in a way this was an unlikely rescue!

My name is Trophimus from the city of Ephesus and that is my story. I hope you will learn from it as much as I have. I hope that you will persevere through false accusations, realize that God uses unlikely people to accomplish his will, and always remember that Jesus is the unlikely one who can rescue us from our sins. Before I go, let me pray with you!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Back in 1991 the country music industry still had some talent. Instead of teenage girls whining about their latest breakup with their boyfriend and wasting precious airtime like they do today, the songs back then had a little depth and they actually sounded like country music. One of the songs that reached #1 on the Billboard Country charts that year was the band Diamond Rio’s debut title “Meet in the Middle.” Some of you might remember these words:

It was seven hundred fence posts from your place to ours
Neither one of us was old enough to drive a car
Sometimes it was raining, sometimes it would shine
We wore out that gravel road between your house and mine

Chorus
I’d start walking your way, You’d start walking mine
We’d meet in the middle ‘Neath that old Georgia pine
We’d gain a lot of ground ‘Cause we’d both give a little
And their ain’t no road to long When you meet in the middle

It’s been seven years tomorrow since we said our vows
Under that old pine tree, you ought to see it now
Standing in the back yard reminding me and you
That if we don’t see eye to eye there’s something we can do

Back before I was married I used to belt this song out when I was driving down the road all the while thinking that I knew what it was all about. I still sing along when I hear it on the radio, but now that I am married, I still don’t know what it is talking about! Obviously, this song is about compromise!

The dictionary defines “compromise” as a basic negotiation process in which both parties give up something that they want in order to achieve a goal that is agreeable and beneficial to both parties. That is a good definition, but the dictionary fails to tell us that compromise is hard! That part about giving up something we want is extremely difficult.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t really like to compromise! I would rather just get what I want and do things my way. But we all know that if we are going to stay married, keep our jobs, and have some friends, it requires some compromise. Do you know that compromise is also necessary for a healthy church? Now compromise usually isn’t on our list of spiritual disciplines or fruits of the spirit, but if God’s church is to function in such a way as to make disciples and accomplish his will here on earth, compromise is crucial!

In this morning’s text Luke shows us a wonderful example of compromise in the church. Paul and his companions finally arrive in Jerusalem, bringing his third missionary journey to a close. After he exchanges pleasant greetings with the Jerusalem church, he and the church run into a little problem which calls for a compromise. As we see Paul’s actions in Jerusalem, we find a model for ourselves to compromise without compromise today!

1.) Ministry Reports (17-20a)

Paul’s third missionary journey finally comes to an end with his arrival in Jerusalem. When they entered the Holy City the believers there received them with a spirit of warmth and hospitality. They were genuinely glad to see them and eagerly anticipated Paul’s report of God’s work among the Gentiles. So, the next day they set up a meeting between Paul and his missionary companions and James, who was Jesus’ biological brother and pastor of the Jerusalem church, and the rest of the elders of the church.

When the meeting convened, Paul greeted them warmly and proceeded to present a detailed report of everything that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. As he recounted how many Gentiles became believers in cities like Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and Thessalonica, James and the elders praised God. The Jerusalem church was genuinely thrilled to hear about all the wonderful things God had done.

When Paul finished his story, James reciprocated with a story of his own. He told Paul about the wonderful things God had been doing right there in Jerusalem. Thousands of Jews had believed and had become zealous for the law while Paul had been away. Historians have estimated that the church had grown to somewhere between twenty-five and fifty thousand people since the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. Paul and James both shared powerful stories of God’s work in them, through them, and among them.

These verses underscore the importance of sharing publicly about the work that God has accomplished in us, through us, and among us with the whole church community. These stories encourage, edify, and challenge everyone who hears them. They help our faith grow and equip us to share our faith with others.

Paul and James ministered in different places among different people. Paul ministered to Gentiles along the Mediterranean coast and James ministered to Jews in Jerusalem. They needed to share with each other so they could learn from one another and be encouraged by one another. They didn’t enter a bragging competition like so many people do today, where they compare how many people they have evangelized or what they have done for God. They simply shared what happened and gave the credit to God.

Likewise, God uses us in different places among different people and in different ways. It is so good for us to hear these reports and stories. For the benefit of the whole church, are you willing to share what God has done in you, through you, or among you? This year we have already heard some powerful testimonies in our Stories of Faith series, and I hope we will hear many more. If you haven’t shared, I hope you will do it again. There are enough stories of faith right here in this church to encourage and edify us every Sunday for years to come. What is it that God wants you to share with your church community? Will you do it?

2.) Ministry Compromise (21-26)

Well, as it is with so many things in life, just when this meeting seemed to be going well, a problem arises. These Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, who were very zealous about keeping the Law of Moses, had heard a rumor that Paul was teaching the Gentiles to turn away from the law. They were concerned about issues of circumcision and other Jewish customs. James knew that these new believers thought that Paul had turned his back on the Law of Moses and was concerned about how they would receive Paul. Therefore, he proposes a compromise!

James knew of four Jewish Christians who were about to complete a Nazarite vow, that is some vow they make to God and they do not cut their hair until the vow is fulfilled. He suggests that Paul should go through the act of ritual purification with them and pay their expenses at the Temple so that their heads could be shaved. If Paul did this publicly, the Jewish Christians would know that the rumors were false and that Paul had not turned his back on Moses’ law.

James helps to facilitate the compromise by reiterating their church’s position toward Gentile believers that they determined at the Jerusalem Council—that Gentile believers did not have to be circumcised, but they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.

Even though it must have been frustrating for him to jump through these hoops to dispel the rumors and publicly declare his Jewishness, he recognized that for the sake of the unity of the church and for the benefit of all parties involved, it would be best for him to compromise and do what James was asking. For the greater good, Paul was willing to meet the Jerusalem church in the middle.

We have before us an example of personal sacrifice for the benefit of the whole community. We have an example of compromise for the greater good. If we are going to live a healthy and successful life, we have to learn how to compromise. We have to learn how to compromise in virtually every area of our lives. For instance (most of you already know this, but just in case you don’t), if you are married, you have to learn to compromise. If you work in a place where you have a boss or co-workers, you have to learn to compromise. If you are part of a church community, you have to learn to compromise.

As a matter of fact, if you want to maintain a healthy relationship with anyone, compromise is essential. Think about it! The person who always insists that it’s “my way or the highway” is the person who doesn’t have many friends.

Just like Paul in this text, we face many situations and circumstances which call for compromise. Yes, it’s hard! Yes, sometimes it’s not fair! Yes, it always demands sacrifice! Yes, it’s incredibly frustrating, but for the good of the marriage or the company or the church or the community, are you willing to meet in the middle?

Compromise without Compromise

I think most of us have at least a fair understanding of the importance of compromise in our relationships and organizations, but we have only been speaking of compromise in the positive sense. There is another type of compromise that is negative—when we sacrifice too much to meet someone else’s demands or desires. How much compromise is too much compromise?

Some scholars believe that Paul sacrificed too much to meet the Jerusalem church—they say that in his attempt to compromise he compromised too much. They charge Paul with caving into political pressure and sacrificing the true gospel of Jesus Christ. They say that Paul should have stood his ground and insisted that the rumors about him were not true and he should have clarified that Moses’ Law does not and can not save souls.

What do you think? Did Paul sacrifice too much? Did he misrepresent the very gospel he had proclaimed to avoid an argument with James and the leaders of the Jerusalem church? Did he compromise too much?

Well, that is the million dollar question, isn’t it? How much is too much? How do you compromise without compromise?

I, along with the majority of New Testament scholars, don’t think that Paul compromised too much and here is why—when he agreed to enter into the purification rites and pay the expenses of these four men to help them fulfill their vow, Paul neither sacrificed his personal integrity or the message of the gospel. Paul certainly would have preferred to not jump through these hoops to keep peace with Jerusalem, but what they were asking him to do didn’t conflict with his conscience nor misrepresent his message. If they would have asked him to do something that was morally wrong or distorted the gospel, he wouldn’t have done it.

I think this is a good rule of compromise for us to follow today. If it is not a matter of personal integrity or gospel truth, there is room to meet someone halfway, but if the issue collides with either of these, we can’t compromise. So, for example, if your spouse finds a way to double your tax return by fudging just a few numbers—No compromise! If a friend tells you to go ahead and drink a few more—“Getting drunk isn’t so bad””—No compromise! Never compromise your personal integrity!

Likewise, never compromise the gospel of Jesus Christ. If someone tries to convince you that Jesus didn’t die or rise from the dead—No compromise! If someone tells you that you can get to heaven by being a good person—No compromise! If someone says that there is another way to salvation other than through Jesus Christ—No compromise!

Well, there you have it—Compromise without compromise! I hope that the next time we have a disagreement or dispute with someone, as long as it doesn’t sacrifice our personal integrity or the gospel message, that we will remember Paul’s example before the Jerusalem church! “We can gain a lot of ground if we just give a little—there ain’t no road too long if we just meet in the middle!”

Good morning, my name is Luke! I am a Gentile by birth, a medical doctor by trade, a disciple of Jesus Christ by faith, a missionary by calling, and a companion of the apostle Paul by providence. I am also a writer by choice. I have written a biography of the life and death of Jesus Christ and I am currently working on a sequel called “The Acts of the Apostles” whereby I tell the story of how the Christian church started in Jerusalem and spread to the ends of the earth.

I have completed about two thirds of the story, but even though I was there for most of it personally, I have been having difficulty writing about the end of Paul’s third missionary journey. I want to tell it in the form of a travel log, but I’m not exactly sure how to do it. Hmm, if I told you the story this morning I wonder if it would it help me write about it? I bet it would! What do you say? Do you want to hear the story? OK, here it goes!

Miletus (1a)

After swinging through Macedonia and Greece one more time, we bypassed Ephesus altogether because Paul did not want to get bogged down. He was in a hurry to make it back to Jerusalem for the Pentecost holiday celebration. So, we made a quick stop in the city of Miletus instead.

Even though Paul didn’t want to go to Ephesus, he desperately wanted to speak to the elders of the church one last time. So, he called for them and they came. Then Paul delivered one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard him preach. He covered the full gamut of principles they would need for their church to survive, let alone thrive.

After he finished speaking, our whole team knelt down with the elders and prayed. We prayed for their leadership and the success of the Ephesian church. They prayed that the Lord would protect us and bless our ministry on the way back to Jerusalem. The whole event was very emotional. We embraced and kissed each other. Many of the elders and members of our team wept as they accompanied us to our ship. I overheard one person say that their hearts were broken when Paul told them that he had plans of going to Rome and that he would most likely never see them again. It was an incredible display of love and community!

The Aegean Coast (1b-3)

As we boarded the ship, we literally had to tear ourselves away from the Ephesian elders. They knew we had to move on, but they just didn’t want to let go. Well, eventually the ship set off and we were sailing on the open sea. We were headed straight for the island of Cos. I had always wanted to visit Cos because there was a famous medical school there which was founded by the great Hippocrates, who many people call the father of medicine. As a medical doctor myself, I was very much interested in visiting the school and was somewhat disappointed when we had to leave the next day.

We kept on moving quickly although it would have been nice to see some of the sights along the way. After we left Cos, the next day we came to the beautiful port city of Rhodes. The first thing we noticed was the huge statue of Colossus, which I was told was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It stood over one-hundred feet tall. Again, we did not get a chance to get a closer look, because we could not be deterred from our mission.

The following day we went on to Patara where we boarded a larger boat that took us across the Mediterranean Sea toward Phoenicia much faster. After a few days we passed by the southern end of the island of Cyprus. From the ship we could see the city of Paphos, where Paul told us about how he and his old friend Barnabas converted the proconsul Sergius Paulus in spite of the sinister ploys of a sorcerer named Bar-Jesus. When we saw Cyprus, we knew we were within a few days of arriving on the coast of Syria.

Tyre (4-6)

Before we knew it, we landed at the port in the city of Tyre, and we finally stayed in one place for more than a day. This time we had no choice because our ship needed to unload its cargo. We wound up staying there for seven days. While we were in Tyre we happened upon a group of Christians who provided food and lodging for us while we were there. They told us that the gospel had come to Tyre when Christians fled from the great persecution in Jerusalem twenty years earlier.

I was amazed by their love and hospitality. Even though we had just met them, they treated us just like family. When the cargo was finally unloaded and it was time to board the ship again, all of those families walked with us to the port. We knelt down with them on the beach and prayed with them. To this very day, anytime I am on a beach I remember those wonderful people and press my knees into the wet sand and pray for them again. Well, it broke our hearts to have to say good-bye, but the ship was leaving and we had to go. Within the bonds of Jesus Christ, it is amazing how much love can be established in such a short period of time.

Ptolmais (7)

Well, we only went a short distance down the coast before we pulled into Ptolemais, which had been named after the Ptolemy dynasty of Egypt. We were only there for a day, but again we ran into some Christians who put us up for the night and took care of our needs. Again, I was amazed at the display of love and hospitality we encountered simply because we were followers of Jesus Christ. We only stayed with these believers one day but it was as if we had been friends for years. It is always so wonderful to connect with other believers. I wish that we could have stayed with them longer, but we had to sail on to Caesarea.

Caesarea (7-9)

As we were getting off the boat at the port in Caesarea, we learned that Philip the Evangelist was living there. Although none of us had ever met Philip before, we all had heard about him. His reputation preceded himself. He, along with Stephen the first Christian martyr, was one of the seven men chosen to serve the widows in the Jerusalem church. After Stephen was stoned and the persecution broke out in the city, all of the Christians except for the apostles fled the city. It is said that Philip made his way to Samaria where he continued to proclaim the same gospel that we have been preaching.

He preached boldly and performed many miracles and delivered people from demonic powers. He shared the gospel with a great sorcerer named Simon Magus and thousands of people put their faith in Jesus as a result of his ministry. He was also the one who shared the gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch who took the gospel back to his home country. Indeed, Philip was a powerful evangelist and I was hoping that we would have the chance to meet him.

Well, not only did we get to meet him but when he found out that Paul and his companions were in town, we all stayed with he and his family. We loved hearing first hand about how the gospel spread to Samaria and Ethiopia and he was very interested in hearing how Paul and the rest of us took the gospel across Asia and into Macedonia and Achaia. As an evangelist, he was overwhelmed with joy as he heard how the gospel was being proclaimed all over the world.

Philip also had four daughters who all had the gift of prophecy. The Holy Spirit was strong in them and he used them to speak many words of encouragement to us. As I listened to these girls I was struck by the irony of how God uses people in his kingdom. God used those four young girls to minister to a group of older professional missionary males.

This reminded that God is not respecter of persons or positions. He will use anyone regardless of gender, age, experience, or anything else. That should be a lesson for all of us today. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, young or old, or rich or poor—God will use you! Don’t let anyone tell you that God can’t use you to minister to others. I thank the Lord for those girls!

Agabus’ Prophecy & Paul’s Courage (10-14)

After we had spent a few days in Caesarea, a powerful prophet named Agabus came over from Judea. Paul had great respect for him because years earlier he had correctly predicted that a severe famine would come upon the whole Roman world and would hurt Jerusalem in particular. His prophecy allowed the church in Antioch to take up a collection and be delivered to the Jerusalem church by Paul and Barnabas. Many lives were saved by his prophecy.

When Agabus found us in Caesarea we quickly learned that he had another prophecy that was intended to save a life. This time his prophecy was for Paul himself. He warned him not to go to Jerusalem because he would be arrested and handed over to the Gentiles. As he spoke these worlds, he asked Paul to remove the belt from his cloak and hand it to him. When Paul gave him the belt, Agabus tied it around his hands and feet as an object lesson for what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem. It was a powerful demonstration and deeply affected all of the believers. Some broke down and began to cry and we all pleaded with him not to go. If this is what was going to happen to Paul, many of us wondered what would happen to us if we accompanied him there. As the tears streamed down our faces, we begged him not to go!

Paul had a solemn and determined look on his face when he looked at us and asked, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am not only ready to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” We all knew that he meant it and we marveled at his courage and resolve, but we still didn’t want him to go. We continued to plead with him until we all realized that we were wasting our time. In spite of the truth of the prophecy, he was convinced that it was God’s will for him to go. None of us wanted to admit it, but in our hearts we knew that he was right. Eventually, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

As soon as I heard those words I couldn’t help but remember our Lord’s final journey to Jerusalem. Just like Paul, he knew he was going to die but that didn’t stop him from fulfilling God’s plan for his life. Just like us with Paul, his disciples too did not want him to die and they tried to prevent the inevitable. The night before Jesus was crucified, he pleaded with his father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “If you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” The two scenes were frighteningly similar.

As I thought about Jesus’ courage to die for me and Paul’s courage to die for Jesus, I began wondering about my own courage to die for Jesus. I knew that if I went on with Paul to Jerusalem there was a good chance I would be arrested and executed with him. I guess that is the question we all have to ask ourselves: Do I love Jesus enough to die for him? If and when the time comes, will I have the courage to be faithful to the end? I guess that is what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. True disciples follow Jesus no matter what! Maybe the question I should have been asking myself was: “Am I a true disciple of Christ?” Paul was a true disciple! How about you?

The Home of Mnason (15-16)

After I decided that I was going with Paul all the way to Jerusalem and whatever that entailed, we began to make preparations for our 64 mile walk to the city. Before we left, some of the disciples from Caesarea took us to the home of Mnason where we spent our last few days. He was originally from the island of Cypress and had been a Christian for many years. Like the Christians in Miletus, Tyre, Ptolemais, and Philip in Caesarea, he showered us with love and hospitality. He provided us with food, lodging, and supplies for our journey.

It was here at Mnason’s house where I reflected on our whole journey thus far. I was still blown away by the bond that people have in Jesus Christ. So many Christians that we didn’t even know took us into their homes and provided our needs just because we claimed the name of Christ. It was like we were instant family.

Well, I guess that is exactly right. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ we are adopted into God’s family. Other Christians become our brothers and sisters and we treat each other as such. We should love each other, show hospitality to each other, and provide for each other’s needs. I suppose that is not always the way it turns out, but that is definitely the way it should be!

Is this how you treat other Christians—with love, hospitality, and support? What about hugging, kissing, weeping, and prayer? I sure hope that this church will embrace others with warm open affection and a community life like I experienced in all of those other cities. This is the kind of community God wants us to be! This is the kind of Christian God wants us to be!

Well, thank you for listening to my story! I hope you learned as much from hearing it as I have from telling it! Telling you my story has definitely helped me figure out how I want to write it. Who knows, maybe it will even get published someday! Well, its time for me to go. I write all of this down before I forget it! In the spirit of Christian love and community, let me pray with you before I go!

In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire. For graduation, his parents gave him a trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: No Reserves.

Turning down high paying job offers after graduation from Yale University, he entered two more words in his Bible: No Retreats. Completing studies at Princeton Seminary, Borden sailed for China to work with Muslims, stopping first at Egypt for some preparation. While there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month.

A waste, you say! Not in God’s plan. In his Bible underneath the words No Reserves and No Retreats, he had written the words No Regrets.

Wow, here is a man who didn’t live a long life, but he lived a life with no regrets. Wouldn’t you like to live a life with no regrets? I think most of us would! How do you do it? Today’s text answers that exact question!

As Paul and his companions left Troas, they sailed south along the Aegean coast until they finally reached Miletus. This would be his last stop in the province of Asia before making the long journey across the sea toward Jerusalem. He knew this would be the last time he would ever see the Christians of Asia face to face, so he called for the Elders of the Ephesian church, which wasn’t far, to meet him in Miletus.

Here, Paul gives his farewell address to these church leaders before he says his last goodbye. He reflects on his ministry during his three years in Ephesus and then addresses the uncertainties of the future. Among Paul’s ministry in Ephesus there were many triumphs as well as tragedies, but he didn’t regret any of it.

In this farewell address to the Ephesian elders, Paul reveals thirteen characteristics of a life and leadership with no regrets. If we want to someday sit down, reflect back over our lives, and not have any regrets, we need to start living these characteristics today! Let’s take a look at them!

1.) Humility (19)
Before Paul was converted he was a man of tremendous pride and hostility, but after he saw the light and became a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit filled him with an incredible measure of humility. He came to the realization that his life was not about himself; his goal was not to be happy or prosperous, but to please God alone. As Paul shared his life with the people of Ephesus, they saw his humility in the way he served the Lord.

Just like Paul, if we want to look back on our lives with no regrets, we need to realize right now that the world doesn’t revolve around us. We put our dreams, desires, and goals in God’s hands, not ours. Humble people consider others better than themselves. How much humility do we exhibit in our lives?

2.) Passion (19)
In addition to humility, Paul mentions that he served the Lord with tears. This is a reference to his passion. He loved the Ephesians and wanted them to follow Jesus so much that it moved him to tears. Even when the Jews plotted to take his life, his passion for God and people compelled him to stay in Ephesus and continue his ministry. If he wasn’t passionate about what he was doing, he would have given up and drifted to something or somewhere else.

So many people go through life and are not passionate about anything; they have a “ho-hum-whatever” attitude toward everything. They don’t feel on a deeper level and then look back on their lives and say, “I never did anything!” What are you passionate about? How are you using your passions to minister to others?

3.) Courage (20)
In verse 20 Paul alludes to courage as a characteristic of a life and ministry with no regrets. Paul showed his courage in Ephesus by not hesitating to preach anything that would be helpful. It would have been easier to shy away from certain subjects in his preaching, but he knew that wouldn’t be beneficial in the long run, so he preached boldly and courageously. Also, he showed courage by his willingness to preach publicly as well as privately. He knew he could be persecuted for preaching in either context, but his courage carried him through.

You should never refrain from doing something that you believe God wants you to do because you are too scared—you will regret it the rest of your life. Fear paralyzes us and leaves us wondering about what might have been.

One of the biggest regrets of my life was not helping a young woman when I should have. She was being bullied by her boyfriend in a park where I was playing Frisbee with some friends. I confronted the guy but didn’t follow through. I knew I should have done something but I was too afraid to get involved. I regret it to this day. That lack of courage left me physically sick to my stomach for three weeks afterwards, and I made a vow that I would never make that mistake again.

When the time comes, will we have the courage to stand up and do the right thing? Will we speak the truth, even when it’s not popular? Will we get involved even when it’s inconvenient? Or will we live with regrets?

4.) Gospel-Focused (21)
Of the many things that can be said about Paul’s life and ministry, there is one thing of which we can be sure: he was centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have his preaching in Acts and his letters to his churches to prove it. In verse 21 he says that he preached the same gospel to both Jews and Greeks. He didn’t try to distort or change the gospel, but he declared plainly that repentance to God and faith in Jesus Christ are necessary to receive salvation from sin and hell. Repentance means to turn away from sin to God. Everything Paul said and did was centered on the gospel.

How about us? Are our lives centered around the gospel? Have we truly repented from our sins and turned to Jesus Christ in faith? Do we wake up every morning thankful that our sins are forgiven? Are we sharing this message with the people in our lives?

5.) Faithfulness (22-24)
Another characteristic of a life with no regrets is faithfulness. We see Paul’s faithfulness to God and his ministry despite difficult circumstances in verses 22-24. He tells the Ephesian elders that he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem in spite of not knowing what would happen to him when he got there. He had a sense that he would eventually be put in prison and suffer greatly, but that was not going to stop him from finishing the race and completing the task that God had given him—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. He would be faithful to the end, even if it cost him his life.

Will we be faithful to God to the end? Are we being faithful now? Paul knew that there are far more regrets for unfaithfulness in life than there are for faithfulness in death!

6.) Realism (25)
Paul was always realistic about his life and ministry. He never strayed to the extremes of sugar-coated optimism or wallowed in the perilous pit of pessimism. In verse 25 he is completely honest and realistic with the Ephesian elders when he says that they will never see each other again. This is characteristic of Paul’s overall life and ministry and is seen explicitly in this verse!

Are we realistic people? Being overly optimistic sets us up for disappointment, heartbreak, and ultimately regret. Being overly pessimistic prohibits us from trying new things or pushing ourselves to greater heights, and therefore ultimately leads to regret. Realism helps us to be balanced and live with no regrets. This reminds me of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Optimism is too hot; pessimism is too cold; but realism is just right!

7.) Innocence (26-27)
In verse 26 Paul declares his innocence from the blood of all men. This is not a reference to moral innocence, although Paul did exhibit a high degree of moral character, but there he means innocence from any responsibility should the Ephesian church fail. He had told them everything they needed to know to walk well with God, for he declared to them the entire counsel of God. What Paul says here is that he is clean with respect to any guilt regarding people’s lives. (Bock 629) If they didn’t follow God, it wasn’t his fault. He did everything he could to help them!

How about us? Are we innocent in this regard? Are we helping others around us know and do everything to walk well with God?

8.) Shepherd (28-31)
Verse 28 marks a change in the mood of Paul’s farewell address. He leaves the indicative mood of reflecting on his own ministry and now moves to the imperative mood of challenging the Ephesian elders to be the leaders that God has called them to be. He begins by challenging them to be good shepherds. In verse 28 he gives them three commands. First, watch over his your life. Just as a literal shepherd cannot take care of his sheep unless he takes care of himself—eats, sleeps, keeps himself safe, etc., there is no way they can take care of their church unless they take care of themselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

The second command is to keep watch over all the flock. Just as a shepherd provides for and protects his sheep, Paul commands these elders to provide for the spiritual needs and spiritually protect the church. The third command is simply to “be shepherds of the church of God”. Paul reminds them that it is God’s church, not theirs; and that Jesus bought it with his own precious blood.

Then in verses 29-31 he warns the elders that savage wolves will come in and attack the flock. These wolves (people who seek to destroy the church) will come from outside and inside the church. They will distort the truth and manipulate people away from the faith. It is the shepherd’s job to watch out for these wolves and protect the sheep.

Church leaders, how carefully are we watching over our lives? Are we making sure that the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of our own lives and families are being met? Are we providing for and protecting the church that God has entrusted to us? If we want to look back on our lives with no regrets, let us be good shepherds.

Even if you are not a church leader, we have all been called to be shepherds at some level. If you are married, you are called to shepherd your spouse. If you are a parent, you are called to shepherd your children. Most of us are pretty good at providing for their physical needs, but are we providing for their spiritual and emotional needs? Are we protecting them from spiritual harm? If we want to live with no regrets, let’s be good shepherds!

9.) Word-Centered (32)
As Paul concludes his farewell address, he commits the Ephesian elders to God and specifically to the “word of his grace.” God’s word has the power and grace to build them up in the faith and sanctify their souls. Paul knew that for their own benefit and the benefit of the whole church, they needed to be committed to God’s Word.

Are our lives centered on God’s Word? How well do we know the content of the Bible? How often do we really read it and think about it? Are we obedient to it? You will never regret the time you spend reading the Bible!

10.) Hard Work (33-35a)
Throughout Paul’s ministry he was never jealous of anyone else’s money or possessions. He was not lazy nor did he take advantage of anyone financially. He worked hard as a missionary: preaching, teaching, counseling, writing, etc. He also labored with his hands making tents and other leather products to provide his own physical needs and he contributed to the needs of his companions. His hard work was an example to everyone that benefited from his ministry. If you read Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, you will discover that Paul had no tolerance for laziness.

Are we people who work hard to provide our needs and the needs of others, or are we the type of people who just expect other people to take care of us? Proverbs 10:26 says, “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him.” No one can stand a lazy person! Laziness always leads to regret, but hard work brings satisfaction!

11.) Generosity (35b)
Paul’s hard work allowed him to be generous towards others. He reminds the elders of Jesus’ famous words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Paul was always generous and wanted the Ephesians to live lives of generosity, for this is a characteristic of a life with no regrets!

Isn’t this the way it is with generosity? I can think of numerous times when I felt compelled to give, but for one reason or another I didn’t, ant then I regretted it afterwards. On the other hand, I can’t think of a single time that I have acted in generosity to someone else and regretted it later. It hurt to give at the time, but I didn’t regret it in the long run. How generous are we?

12.) Prayer (36)
In verse 36 Luke tells us that when Paul finished his farewell address, he knelt down and prayed with the elders. This shows Paul’s commitment to solemn prayer. He completely trusted in the Lord and prayed that the Lord would empower their ministry and bless their church. Praying for and with other believers was an important and regular part of Paul’s ministry.

Again, I have never regretted any time I have spent praying for or with other fellow believers, but I can think of numerous times prayer wasn’t a priority for me and I regretted it later. Church leaders, are we praying for the flock God has entrusted to us? Flock, are you praying for your pastor and your church leaders? No one ever regrets a life of prayer!

13. Love (37-38)
Finally, just before Paul boards the ship and heads off to sea, the elders express their great love for Paul with tears, hugs, and kisses. This may sound strange to us in America today, but kisses were culturally appropriate as many men in the ancient world expressed affection with a kiss. There are many cultures even today where it is perfectly common for men to kiss each other. This does not go over well in our culture, so gentlemen, when you greet me at the door after church this morning, a handshake will be just fine.

In all seriousness, the final characteristic of a life and leadership with no regrets is love. Love God and people with all your heart! Love you family! Love your friends! Love your co-workers! Love your enemies! Love those people who are hard to love! Your life and leadership will be better for it, and you won’t have any regrets!

Yes, it is a long list! It is impossible to live up to all of these things! But the more we practice them and make them a large part of your daily lives, when our lives on earth come to an end, like William Borden and the apostle Paul, to a large degree we will be able to say, “No regrets!”

Luke tells us the story of Paul’s second and third missionary journeys in Acts 16-19, and he has primarily focused on Paul’s ministry to unbelievers. Now in chapter 20, as Paul’s third missionary journey comes to a close and he begins to head back to Jerusalem, he highlights Paul’s ministry to believers. Paul’s model for ministry always included both non-Christians and Christians.

Likewise, we should strive for a balance of sharing the gospel with unbelievers and ministering to believers. So, in today’s text Luke shows us two ways in which we minister to other Christians: encouragement and support. As Christians, it is our ministry to encourage and support other Christians.

1.) As Christians, it is our ministry to encourage other Christians. (1-3,7-12)
Paul had planned to leave for Macedonia and eventually head back to Jerusalem much sooner, but the riot in Ephesus held him up for a few months. Once the uproar had quieted down and the church was fairly stable, he felt like it was time to proceed with his original plan. Before leaving, he called for the disciples to gather so that he could say “Goodbye” and encourage them one last time. They had just been through a riot and were no doubt still facing the lingering effects of persecution. The Greek word translated her as “encouraging” is “parakaleo” which literally means to urge, console, comfort, and cheer up. It was vitally important to lift the spirits of these believers to help them keep the faith in the midst of darkness and difficulty.

Luke uses this same word “parakaleo” again in verse 2 in reference to Paul’s ministry to the churches in Macedonia and Greece. He shared “many words of encouragement to the people” because they were suffering in various ways. It was not popular to become a Christian in these cultural contexts. Conversion and baptism often invited harassment, abuse, and sometimes all-out persecution. These fledgling churches were small and new, and they needed all the encouragement they could get. In addition to verbal encouragement, we can assume that Paul encouraged them by simply spending time with them, praying with them, and sharing God’s word with them. The first time he entered these cities his goal was to evangelize non-believers; this time his goal was to encourage the believers.

In verse 12, he uses the word “parakaleo” one more time. The believers in Troas were greatly encouraged when Paul raised the young man Eutychus from the dead. This all happened one Sunday when Paul came together with the church at Troas to worship. They celebrated communion together and Paul preached. Since he was only going to be there for the day, their meeting continued throughout the day and even into the night.

Now even though there were many lamps all over the upstairs room where they were meeting, there was a young man named Eutychus who had heard enough of Paul’s preaching for one day, and somewhere around midnight he sunk into a deep sleep. It is bad enough that he fell asleep when listening to one of the greatest preachers in the history of the world, but what makes it even worse is that he fell sleep while reclining against a third story window. He fell the whole way to the ground and died. If there was any doubt that he really died, we must remember that our narrator, Luke, was a trained medical doctor. Surely, he confirmed the young man’s death.

Once the man was pronounced dead, Paul came down, embraced the man’s body, and miraculously brought him back to life. You would think that after such an occurrence they would have called it a night, but they took him back upstairs, gave him something to eat, and Paul picked up right where he left off and continued preaching to daylight. After Paul left and they took Eutychus home the whole church was encouraged by what they encountered.

Now before I apply this idea of encouraging other Christians, there is another important lesson to learn from this story: Don’t fall asleep in church! Now I know that it would be extremely difficult to imagine anyone falling asleep in any of my sermons; they are so interesting, inspiring, and invigorating, but I guess if someone could fall asleep during one of the Apostle Paul’s sermons, I guess it is possible for someone to fall asleep in one of mine.

But I want to give you all fair warning: If you do doze off, slouch down, bump your head off the pew, and fall over dead on the floor, don’t expect me to come running over to you, give you a hug, and bring you back to life. I don’t have the gift of healing like Paul, nor am I as compassionate as he was. There you have it: Consider yourself warned!

Well, we better get back to what this passage is really teaching us. Luke uses the word “parakaleo” three times to describe Paul’s ministry to believers. Therefore, we would be wise to follow Paul’s example for our own ministries. Yes, sharing the gospel with non-believers is important, but so is encouraging those who already believe. Just take a second and look around at the faces of your fellow believers; we all have problems; we can all use a little encouragement. While you’re looking at them why not just say, “I’ve got problems, I could use a little encouragement!” Make sure it is someone other than your spouse; they already know you have problems.

We all go through times in our faith and life when we have doubts and experience depression. We all struggle with sin and sometimes wonder why God allows bad things to happen. We know we need encouragement. So do other Christians!

Think about it for a minute. Is there anyone in your life who you know could use a little encouragement? Is there anyone that you haven’t seen at church for awhile and you wonder how they are doing? Is there anyone that you work with or go to school with that you know is going through a difficult time?

There are many ways we can encourage other believers. We can give them a phone call or make something for them. We can visit them and simply spend time with them. Personal presence and verbal encouragement are so powerful! We can also encourage others by sending them a card or writing them a letter. Did you know that while Paul was in Ephesus he wrote 1 Corinthians and sent it to encourage the believers at Corinth?

Paul made a lot of personal sacrifices to encourage other Christians. Are we willing to sacrifice some of our personal time and resources to encourage other Christians? Don’t leave church this morning without having at least one person in mind who you are going to encourage this week! As Christians, it is our ministry to encourage other Christians!

2.) As Christians, it is our ministry to support other Christians. (4-6)
As Paul began to make his way back to Jerusalem he was accompanied by a host of converts from each of the geographical regions where Paul planted churches. Luke names them individually and tells us where they are from, but why? What difference does it make for us to know who these men were and where they were from? It makes sense when we understand the broader context of Paul’s journey back to Jerusalem.

Luke doesn’t mention it here, but we learn later in Acts 24 and from Paul’s letters that he went back to the Gentile churches to ask for financial contributions to support the poor Christians in the church at Jerusalem. This offering would be a tangible expression of the solidarity of the Gentile Christians with the church from which the gospel first radiated. The long list of companions in verse 4 probably represents the churches that made contributions. Almost all of Paul’s Gentile churches are mentioned, therefore signifying the strength and scope of the support for the Jerusalem church. Paul and each of these Christians saw it as their ministry to support other Christians.

Just like Paul and the other Christians, it is our ministry to support other Christians. There are many ways for churches and individuals to do this, but let me make a few recommendations. For individual Christians, supporting our local church where we are members should be our top priority. This is the center of our Christian community and it is where we gain the most personal benefit to our faith. Nothing should take precedence over the faithful and generous support of the local church.

It is also wise and good for individual Christians to support Christians outside the context of the local church. This could happen by pledging support to a foreign missionary, supporting a child through an organization like Compassion International, supporting a rehab facility like Teen Challenge, or something else. Very few of us have the means to support all of these, but we can at least support one or two in addition to our local church.

Likewise, our church can support other Christians in a variety of ways. I think it is helpful to use that same distinction of local and foreign for the church. We should always be ready to respond to needs of fellow believer’s right here in our own church and community. If someone loses their job or their house burns in a fire, or some other disaster or emergency comes up, our church should be ready to offer support.

It is also good for us to think beyond our local context as well. There are fellow Christians who are serving the Lord all over the world who need our support. Again we can’t support everyone, but we should be supporting someone. I am so glad that when a need arose in the Jerusalem church, the Gentile churches responded with financial support but they also sent a personal representative.

I have to be honest with you this morning, I have felt God challenging my heart in the area of financial support this year more than any other year of my life. I want to say to God, “Whoa, hold up a second, don’t you know that we are in the middle of an economic collapse?” but the reality is that he already knows that! I want to tell him, “A financial crisis is the time to hunker down, cut costs, and protect what you have,” but all I hear him saying is, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!” I have had to ask myself, “Where is my treasure? Where is my heart?” When we see other Christians and ministries struggling, it should cause us to count our blessings and be even more generous with our support. As Christians, it is our ministry to support other Christians!

How are we responding to the needs of other Christians? Are we offering generous and faithful support? Or are we too busy trying to protect what we have?

Yes, Paul always balanced his ministry by ministering to Christians and non-Christians alike. When we think about ministering to other Christians, encouragement and support are two wonderful ways to do it. As we close in prayer today, I would like to ask us to spend a few minutes in silence before God as we discern who in our lives might need some encouragement and support.

But before we do, consider these words by American writer and poet William Arthur Ward:
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.

Let’s pray.

The City of Ephesus
The city of Ephesus was one of the major tourist traps of the ancient world. As the capital of the province of Asia it was large and held significant political and economic influence. It was strategically located on the coast of the Aegean Sea at the mouth of the Cayster River and was on the main trade route from Rome. On the west it was hemmed in by large rolling hills which shield it from view. The view of the coastal city from the hills was breathtaking.

Ephesian architecture was magnificent. In addition to the 25,000 seat outdoor amphitheater that hosted a variety of political and cultural events, it was the home of the great shrine of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It covered an area four times as large as the Parthenon in Athens; it was supported by 127 pillars, each sixty feet high and was crafted by the best sculptor of antiquity. (Bruce 378)

Artemis, Ephesus’ major goddess, was known as a goddess of fertility and as “mistress of the wild beasts”, a child of Zeus and Leto, and sister of Apollo. In the Roman religion she was known as Diana. In ancient mythology she was a virgin who helped women in childbirth, a huntress with bow and arrow, and the goddess of death. (Bock 607)

As a cosmopolitan city with many things to see and do, Ephesus attracted tourists from all over the world. As pantheism was the major religion of the day, tourists flocked to worship at the temple of Artemis. And as with any tourist trap, local merchants know that there is a lot of money to be made.

Just like today if you walked through Central Park in New York City, you have endless opportunities to purchase tee shirts that say “I Love New York” or blue and white baseball caps that bear the hideous symbol of a capital “N” over a capital “Y”. You can buy a much more attractive cap in Boston.

One time I was walking in New York City and a guy came up to me and asked me if I wanted to buy a watch. He had dozens to choose from. I couldn’t believe it when he sold me a brand new Rolex for forty dollars. It was real too! I promise!

Yes, there is a lot of money to be made off of tourists. The craftsmen and merchants of Ephesus knew this well. For years the silversmiths created little silver shrines of the goddess Artemis and sold them to the tourists just outside the temple. They made a fortune from this business. That is why they were so furious with Paul.

Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus
Paul had been in Ephesus for over two years preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, baptizing believers, healing the sick, and delivering those possessed by demons. Even though two years is not a long time, God blessed Paul’s ministry and he enjoyed incredible success. The whole city heard the gospel and many people responded by putting their faith in Jesus Christ. They repented from their sins and were forsaking the Greco-Roman pantheistic religion. Even their sorcerers publicly burned over four million dollars worth of magic books.

A Problem in Ephesus
As Christianity grew it had a profound influence on the surrounding culture. When people forsook Artemis worship and turned to Jesus Christ, there was no more need for silver shrines, Paul taught that man-made gods are no gods at all. This economic shortfall in the shrine business infuriated the silversmiths.

Demetrius, the president of the silversmiths’ union, realized that the influence of Christianity was killing their business, organized a meeting of all the artisans and tradesmen who were affected. He warned them that if they didn’t put a stop to this Christian influence they were in danger of losing their jobs and their goddess Artemis would be discredited. She would be robbed of her divine majesty.

With deep economic concerns and passionate religious motivations they ran out into the streets protesting the Christian faith by shouting their mantra: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” They were trying to remind the citizens of Ephesus of their religious heritage. Their enthusiasm stirred up the crowed and soon the whole city was in an uproar. The mob of protesters apprehended Gaius and Aristarchus, two of Paul’s fellow workers from Macedonia and rushed them into the theater, the best place in the city to hold a massive demonstration.

When Paul caught wind of the demonstration and found out that the mob was holding two of his friends captive, he wanted to go to the theater and speak to the crowd, but the other members of the church tried to persuade him that it was too dangerous. Even some of the high ranking officials of the province, who were no doubt Christians and good friends of Paul, begged him not to go to the theater. Eventually, they convinced him, and he decided not to go.

As with many protests and demonstrations, the whole assembly was in confusion. Some are crying out for one solution, others for another. Still most of the others simply got caught up in the excitement and didn’t even know what was going on or why they were there. The Jews wanted to protect their reputation in this mess, so they pushed Alexander to the front to show that Jews and Christians were not the same, and that Christians should be blamed for the fiasco. But when he got up to speak, the crowd was in no mood to listen to him. In spite of his attempts to quiet the crowd and give a defense before the people, when they realized he was Jew, they shouted him down by repeating their chant “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Justice in Ephesus
Finally, the city clerk entered the theater and addressed the crowd. As the executive office of the city, it was his job to maintain order and justice. So, he assured the crowd that Ephesus was famous all over the world for being the guardian of the temple of Artemis and that they should not be overly concerned about the Christians. Then he addressed the silversmith union directly by defending the Christians. They hadn’t robbed any temples or directly blasphemed their goddess.

The city clerk restored order by telling the crowd that if they had a grievance against the Christians, they could press charges and work through the legal system. As it was they were the ones in jeopardy of being charged with a crime. Rioting was clearly against the law and the city clerk was not about to put up with mob violence. After he made his point, he dismissed the assembly and everyone left quietly.

1.) Christianity influences culture from the inside out!
Paul’s ministry in Ephesus lasted less than 3 years, but it had an enormous effect on the city and the whole province of Asia. When he entered the city he saw an abundance of immorality, sorcery, idolatry, and many other things that were inconsistent with his Christian values and worldview, but notice how he didn’t focus on any of these things. He didn’t start a program to help the city become morally educated. He didn’t launch a campaign to stamp out witchcraft. He didn’t compel his followers to destroy the idolatrous temples or shrines. Do you know what he did instead? He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ!

He understood that he was ministering in a pagan culture, and he didn’t get distracted by all of these external issues. He simply aimed for the heart and faithfully proclaimed the gospel. He knew that as more and more individual lives responded to the gospel that Christianity would eventually influence the surrounding culture; but it would happen from the inside out rather than the outside in. He preached the gospel so effectively that many Ephesians became Christians; and when so many Ephesians became Christians that the goddess Artemis lost her influence and no one wanted to purchase the silver shrines.

I wish more churches, ministries, and individual Christians would follow Paul’s example. American Christianity has become so consumed with maintaining its cultural influence that it has forgotten to share the message of Jesus Christ. We have spent so much time trying to change the externals that we have neglected the one thing that brings lasting internal change: the gospel!

If we really want to change our culture for Christ, I recommend spending less time lobbying politicians and spend more time telling our family members and friends about who Jesus is and what he has don for us. Let’s spend less time marching in protests and rallies and spend more time telling our co-workers and classmates about how Jesus has transformed our lives. Let’s spend less time telling people that they should only listen to Christian music, watch Christian movies, wear Christian tee-shirts, go to Christian schools, and drink Christian beer, and spend more time loving people like Jesus loves them. (By the way, in case you were wondering, Samuel Adams is a Christian beer; Budweiser is a pagan beer!)

God used Paul’s preaching to change the culture of one of the largest and most important cities in the ancient world. Ephesus would become a stronghold of Christianity throughout the next few centuries. Christianity changes culture from the inside out!

2.) People who refuse to be influenced by Christianity often respond with hostility.
The second lesson we learn from this passage is that people who refuse to be influenced by Christianity often respond with hostility. The crowd is hostile toward the Christians because the Christian’s lifestyle was a challenge to their own. Once again, however, the believers are not on a campaign against others. They simply allow the difference in lifestyle to speak for itself, and they trust in God’s protection in the midst of the testimony. This protection comes in part from outsiders who have a sense of justice and fairness. When those who desire justice speak up, the church is protected. (Bock 614)

Just last week I heard about a Bible study group in San Diego that go shut down because they were supposedly breaking a law. Listen to an exerpt from the report by the San Diego Channel Six News:

Members of a San Diego prayer group say local government is trying to regulate whether they can pray with friends in a private home. The county’s chief executive vehemently denies the claim. The Jones family has hosted a weekly bible study at their Bonita home for the past five years. Usually, anywhere from 5-25 or so friends join them for dinner and bible discussion every Tuesday night.But now they say county land use officials want to put a stop to their weekly religious gathering, by requiring them to purchase an expensive permit… On Good Friday, April 11, the family was surprised to find county officials at their door.” She asked me if we sang songs, said Amen, praised the Lord or not. I don’t even think I answered because I was so taken aback” said Mary Jones. Jones said the “insinuation” was questions over whether the services were “of religious nature.” She said there were no questions or comments about there being a parking problem.The family was given a warning to “cease and desist” their “religious gathering” until they are granted a “major use permit.”

Later, San Diego County apologized to the family and told them that they did not need a special permit to host a Bible study in their home. County officials blamed the mistake on “unclear language in the zoning ordinance.” They also said the county is taking steps to improve its policies and procedures.

There is no doubt about it, there are many people who refuse to be influenced by Christianity and respond to it in hostility. As Christians who have been called to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth, we should not be surprised when people respond to us or our message with hostility. Regardless of the hostility we face, may we always be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Paul’s ministry had a profound effect in Ephesus. As the gospel was preached and more people became Christians, the whole culture began to change. If you are discouraged by where our culture is at right now and where it is heading, I encourage you to share the gospel. It has power to change a whole culture from the inside out. And even if we face hostility, it is worth it!

One night this week I got home late from an exhausting day of ministry and I just wanted to wind down by watching a half hour of television before I went to bed. As usual I flipped a few channels and felt frustrated because I didn’t see anything of interest—American idol is finished for this year. So, I went with the best option I could find—a PBS documentary of the explosion of Krakatoa, which is a massive volcano on a small island in Indonesia. I have always been intrigued by volcanos, so when I heard about the explosion on August 26–27, 1883, which was among the most violent volcanic events in modern and recorded history, my interest was piqued.

It was facinating to learn that the eruption was equivalent to 200 megatons of TNT—about 13,000 times the nuclear yield of the Little Boy bomb that devastated Hiroshima, Japan during World War II and four times the yield of the Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear device ever detonated.

The 1883 eruption ejected approximately 21 cubic kilometres of rock, ash, and pumice. The cataclysmic explosion was distinctly heard as far away as Perth in Western Australia, about 1,930 miles away, and the island of Rodrigues near Mauritius, about 3,000 miles away. Near Krakatoa, according to official records, 165 villages and towns were destroyed and 132 seriously damaged, some 40,000 people died, and many thousands were injured by the eruption, mostly from the tsunamis that followed the explosion. The eruption destroyed two-thirds of the island of Krakatoa.

The explosion of Krakatoa was one of the world’s greatest displays of natural power in the history of the world! God displays his incredible power through what we call natural phenomenon all the time. We see it in volcanic eruptions, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and avalanches, and the like. God displays his power over and through the natural world all the time!

But what about the spiritual world? How does God display his power in and through our spiritual lives? Luke answers that question for us in this morning’s passage. As he describes Paul’s ministry in the city of Ephesus he highlights four ways in which God displays his mighty power spiritually. They are all seen in the context of ministry: the baptism of the Holy Spirit, preaching, healing, and exorcism. Let’s take a closer look!

1.) God’s Power is Revealed through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (1-7)
As Paul embarked upon his third missionary journey, he crossed through Cilicia, Lyconium, and Asia visiting and encouraging the churches that he planted on previous journeys until he reached the city of Ephesus. After briefly preaching here on his way home from his second missionary journey, he made good on his promise to return “if it is the Lord’s will”. Apollos had already left Ephesus and landed in Corinth.

Upon entering Ephesus he encountered 12 men who were disciples of John the Baptist. Discerning that they had some kind of knowledge about Jesus, he asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. They did not even know that the Holy Spirit had been made available.

This response compelled Paul to dig deeper into their spiritual background by asking what baptism they received and they affirmed that they had only received John’s preparatory baptism of repentance. Hence, Paul filled them in on all of the works of Jesus, gave them a more robust explanation of the gospel, including the events of Pentecost. When they gained a fuller understanding of the Christian faith, they believed and Paul baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus. God’s power is clearly displayed when Paul lays his hands on them; they received the Holy Spirit in Pentecostal fashion, where they immediately spoke in tongues and prophesied. Through baptism and the laying on of hands, God’s incredible power was manifested by tongues and prophecy.

Just as he did on the day of Pentecost and here with these 12 men, today God baptizes people with the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. When we truly become a Christian, the Holy Spirit begins to live inside of us, gives us at least one spiritual gift, and supernaturally empowers us to carry on Jesus’ work in this world. Water baptism is an outward symbol of the internal baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Now I have some Pentecostal friends who say that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is always followed by speaking in tongues, prophesying, or some other charismatic manifestation, but I don’t believe this is true. Sure, we saw the crowd on the day of Pentecost speak in tongues and the men here and it is an incredible display of God’s power, but if you read through the whole book of Acts, the only pattern you see in reference to speaking in tongues is that there is no pattern. So, today when we put our faith in Christ and are baptized by the Holy Spirit, some people will experience these manifestations and others will not.

Either way, God’s power is displayed when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts and works in our lives. Have you been baptized by the Holy Spirit? Have you truly committed your life to Jesus Christ?

2.) God’s Power is Revealed through Preaching (8-10)
After this initial encounter with the 12 men, he eventually begins his ministry in customary fashion by preaching in the synagogue. For a period of three months he labored to persuade them of the truth about the kingdom of God—that is to say, all that is implied in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When the crowd at the synagogue became obstinate and refused to put their faith in Jesus, he decided to leave their open ridicule, took the people who did believe, and set up shop in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

Tyrannus is usually supposed to have been a lecturer who regularly taught there, but it is possible that he was the owner of the building who rented it to Paul in the afternoon when it wasn’t used for its regular function. Paul most likely spent his mornings and evenings doing his trade of leatherwork and spent his afternoons preaching the gospel to anyone who would listen.

In verse 10 Luke presents an astonishing detail. For two whole years Paul carried on his preaching ministry in Ephesus, and God revealed his power through it in that everyone in the province of Asia, including both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. God displayed his power through Paul’s preaching! From Ephesus, the word of the Lord spread all over the area. Most likely all seven churches of Asia addressed in the book of Revelation were founded at this time. This province was intensively evangelized, and remained one of the leading centers of Christianity for many centuries. (Bruce 366)

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is a sermon written by the Congregationalist preacher Jonathan Edwards, first preached on July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut. Edwards was not considered a charismatic orator. He read his sermons, and when he looked up at all it was to stare at the rope for the church bell on the back wall. He knew that in order for lost sinners to come to Christ, their only hope for salvation, they must first be brought to the realization of the desperate state they were in and the horrendous eternal consequences of it. He brought many of his listeners to that realization this day with “remarkable effect.” Such was the power and passion of his words that moans and groans filled the sanctuary and people fainted as he spoke.

This was one of the key sermons that sparked the First Great Awakening, a massive movement of Christian conversions, all across northeastern America in the 1740’s. Just as with Paul, God’s power was displayed through the preaching of Jonathan Edwards!

Yes, even today God displays his awesome power through preaching. God even uses the worst preachers, which I am one, to get his word across, and he uses it to transform people’s lives. Think about it! The reason why we are hear this morning is because someone told us about the love of God and the grace of Jesus Christ.

3.) God’s Power is Revealed through Healing (11-12)
In verses 11-12 Luke summarizes how God displayed his power through Paul’s ministry of healing. Notice that Luke attributes these extraordinary miracles to God, not Paul. If it hadn’t been for God’s divine power, he wouldn’t have been able to heal the sick or drive out demons. The extraordinary character of these miracles is seen in the fact that Paul wasn’t even present for some of the healings. Simple handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul proved effective in curing the sick. God’s power was greater than anything that the people of Ephesus had ever encountered before. Their own magicians and sorcerers could not conjure up any displays of this magnitude. This whole scene is reminiscent of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and was instantly cured when she touched the edge of his cloak. Similarly, God’s power is again displayed through healing.

Today all over the world we continue to read about and personally witness miraculous healings. Sure, many times God uses doctors and medication to heal people, but there are many other times where he steps in, defies the laws of logic and science, and heals people from all sorts of physical and psychological ailments. He continues to display his power through healing!

4.) God’s Power is Revealed through Exorcism (13-22)
At the end of verse 12 Luke alludes to the fact that Paul was performing exorcisms and delivering people from demonic spirits throughout Ephesus. In verses 13-20 he gives us a more detailed glimpse of how God’s power is displayed through exorcism. There were seven brothers, all sons of Sceva the chief priest, who no doubt witnessed some of Paul’s exorcisms. Even though they did not believe his message or become followers of Christ, they were impressed by his spiritual power. They went around trying to exorcise evil spirits, imitating Paul by invoking the name of the Lord Jesus.

One day the brothers tried to exorcise a demon from a man by this method, but the demon answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” the demon exposed them for the impostors that they were and the possessed man jumped on the seven brothers and beat them to a naked bloody pulp. They were lucky to escape the house with their lives; the demon supplied supernatural strength to be able to pummel seven men.

When news of this event spread throughout the city, everyone was gripped with fear and the name of the Lord Jesus gained more respect and credibility. This prompted a massive event of public confession and many of those who practiced sorcery and magic publicly burned their scrolls and spells. When they calculated the value of all of these scrolls, it added up to about fifty thousand drachmas. A drachma was the equivalent to a day’s wages. This would be more than four million dollars in today’s currency.

Luke marks this incredible display of power with a summary statement in verse 20. As a result of God’s power being displayed through exorcism, the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. Sometime after this, Paul decides to return to Jerusalem before he goes on to Rome.

On July 31, 1838, the people of Mottlingen, a small town on the outskirts of Germany’s Black Forest, turned out to welcome their new pastor. A zealous thirty-three-year-old, Johann Christoph Blumhardt had spent years preparing for such a position, and was now looking forward to marrying his fiancé Doris, raising a family, and shepherding his church. But he could never have anticipated the events that he was about to encounter.

For four years his work followed the same course as that of any rural pastor until he came in touch with a girl by the name of Gottliebin Dittus. Gottliebin suffered from an illness that was reminiscent of demonic possession as described in the New Testament. For months pastor Blumhardt watched with distress the increasing suffering and torment of this young woman. Feeling something dark at work in her, he finally took up the fight with the power of darkness. In the year in which his son Christoph was born, in 1842, he exclaimed: “We have seen enough of what the devil can do. Let us now see the power of the Lord Jesus.” The fight against the demonic stronghold commenced and lasted two years. The dark power was finally broken and conquered, and the evil spirits driven out. Gottliebin was completely healed of all bodily and spiritual misery. The fight ended in victory with the words from her lips, “Jesus is victor! Jesus is victor!”

As a consequence of this victory a movement of repentance swelled, taking hold of Blumhardt’s whole parish and extending to the neighboring towns and villages. From all sides people streamed to pastor Blumhardt. The inbreaking of kingdom power transformed the entire village of Möttlingen. There were healings, confessions, and numerous conversions. Marriages were saved and enemies were reconciled. A strange new manifestation of God’s world took sway. From this time on, pastor Blumhardt’s rallying cry was “Jesus is victor!”

Pleased don’t be fooled into believing that demons don’t exist or that they don’t possess people today. Likewise, don’t be fooled into believing that we are helpless in the face of demonic attack. God displays his power over Satan and the demonic through exorcism.

Paul’s ministry in Ephesus is one of the great Krakatoas of the Bible. We have seen God’s power clearly displayed over the spiritual world through four means of ministry. I hope these pictures of God’s mighty power will shock our sensibilities, grow our faith, increase our love, and deepen our commitment to the Great Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!