WEBVTT

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 Turn with me to Acts chapter 21.

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 We are starting at verse 17 in this chapter.

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 It's page 930, if you're looking in a pew Bible.

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 It's a hot morning.

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 If you're on the sides and not getting any breeze,

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 there's still space in the front three rows.

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 So feel free to move if you desire.

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 Acts chapter 21, starting at verse 17.

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 Starting at verse 17.

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 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

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 On the following day, Paul went in with us to James,

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 and all the elders were present.

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 After greeting them, he related one by one

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 the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

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 And when they heard it, they glorified God.

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 And they said to him,

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 You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed.

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 They are all zealous for the law.

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 And they have been told about you,

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 that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,

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 telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.

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 What then is to be done?

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 They will certainly hear that you have come.

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 Do therefore what we tell you.

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 We have four men who are under a vow.

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 Take these men and purify yourself along with them

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 and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads.

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 Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you,

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 but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.

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 But as for the Gentiles who have believed,

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 we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain

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 from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood

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 and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.

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 Then Paul took the men,

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 and the next day he purified himself along with them

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 and went into the temple,

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 giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled

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 and the offering presented for each one of them.

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 When the seven days were almost completed,

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 the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple,

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 stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,

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 crying out,

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 Men of Israel, help!

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 This is the man who is teaching everywhere,

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 everyone everywhere,

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 against the people and the law and this place.

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 Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple

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 and has defiled this holy place.

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 For they had previously seen Trophimus, the Ephesian,

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 with him in the city,

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 and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

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 Then all the city was stirred up,

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 and the people ran together.

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 They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple,

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 and at once the gates were shut.

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 And as they were seeking to kill him,

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 word came to the tribune of the cohort

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 that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

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 He at once took soldiers and centurions

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 and ran down to them.

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 And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers,

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 they stopped beating Paul.

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 Then the tribune came up and arrested him

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 and ordered him to be bound with two chains.

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 He inquired who he was and what he had done.

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 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing,

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 some another.

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 And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar,

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 he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

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 And when he came to the steps,

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 he was actually carried by the soldiers

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 because of the violence of the crowd

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 for the mob of the people followed,

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 crying out,

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 away with him.

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 Recently, my wife and I,

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 on some nights when we're home

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 after the kids have gone to bed,

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 we've been watching a documentary series

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 about John Adams and the American Revolution.

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 It's been a fascinating reminder

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 some of our,

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 this country's founding history.

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 And one of the striking aspects

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 of John Adams in particular

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 is how he often found himself

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 in between two opposing sides.

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 On the one side,

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 there were the British loyalists

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 who objected to some of King George's policies

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 but were ultimately never going to break away

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 from the King of England.

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 On the other side,

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 there were the patriots

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 who occasionally broke out

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 in rowdy and even violent demonstrations.

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 One winter night,

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 some patriots formed a mob

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 around a group of British soldiers

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 standing guard in Boston.

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 They began shouting threats

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 and throwing snowballs,

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 stones, and sticks.

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 Finally, one of the British soldiers

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 fired shots into the crowd

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 and five men were killed.

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 Adams, a trained lawyer,

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 defended the British soldiers in court.

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 Successfully.

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 But later on,

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 as a delegate from Massachusetts

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 to the Constitutional Convention,

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 Adams played a leading role

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 in the independence movement,

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 persuading Congress

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 to make a decisive declaration

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 of independence from Great Britain,

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 writing much of that declaration

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 and nominating George Washington

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 to lead the American army.

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 The same pattern continued later

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 when he became president.

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 Adams was strongly opposed

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 on one side by the Republicans,

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 led by Thomas Jefferson,

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 and on the other side

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 by members of his own party,

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 the Federalists,

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 led by Alexander Hamilton.

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 Now, I wonder if you've ever

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 found yourself

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 in the midst of a complicated conflict

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 between two groups of people

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 who have a long history

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 of mistrust and misunderstanding.

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 Now, maybe it's on a personal level.

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 Maybe you've tried to come alongside

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 two friends who've had a falling out,

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 encouraging them to talk

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 to each other again

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 and begin to work out their differences.

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 And maybe that process

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 has been harder

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 than you expected it would be.

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 And it's exposed deeper levels

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 of mistrust and misunderstanding

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 and historical stuff

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 that you didn't even realize was there.

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 Or maybe you find yourself

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 in between two rival groups,

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 maybe at work

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 or in an organization

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 that you're involved in.

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 And these two groups

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 strongly disagree with one another

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 or compete with one another.

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 And maybe you agree

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 with one group more than the other,

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 but you see some validity

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 in what both of these groups are.

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 You recognize some good ideas

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 in both groups.

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 And so you maintain

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 some connections to both.

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 You don't simply take one side

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 or take the other.

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 And yet, people in both groups

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 distrust you

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 because if you're with them,

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 then you shouldn't be with them.

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 And if you're with us,

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 then you shouldn't be with them.

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 Well, this is the situation

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 in which the Apostle Paul

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 found himself in this chapter.

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 Now, so far,

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 there have been 21 chapters

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 of the book of Acts

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 which have covered

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 approximately 25 years

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 from A.D. 33,

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 the day of Pentecost,

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 to A.D. 57

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 when Paul arrives here

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 in Jerusalem.

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 But the next three chapters,

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 chapter 21,

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 the middle of 21

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 through the middle of 24,

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 cover a period

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 of only 12 days.

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 And so Luke wants to highlight

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 these events that happened

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 in Jerusalem

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 during this period

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 of less than two weeks

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 as extremely important

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 for the message

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 he's seeking to convey.

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 And what we see today

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 is that in the midst

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 of a complicated

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 and politically charged situation,

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 fraught with misunderstanding

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 and mistrust,

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 Paul sought to faithfully live out

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 the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 And as we look into this chapter,

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 I think we'll gain some insights

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 into what it looks like

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 to follow Jesus

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 and be faithful to him

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 in the midst of conflicts,

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 in the midst of situations

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 or relationships

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 that are fraught.

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 So this morning,

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 we want to look at three things.

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 First, the complicated situation

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 that Paul found himself in.

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 Second, a careful response

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 from Paul

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 and the Jerusalem elders.

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 And third, the result.

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 So first,

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 the complicated situation

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 Paul found himself in.

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 Now, this is a little complicated,

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 but let's dig in.

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 Now, remember,

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 a little background.

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 Paul was a Jewish man by birth.

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 He had been circumcised

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 on the eighth day,

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 brought up in Jerusalem,

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 trained under the well-respected

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 Rabbi Gamaliel,

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 well-versed in the Hebrew Scriptures,

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 observant of the traditions

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 of his people.

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 And then,

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 Jesus Christ

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 had called him

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 to become an apostle

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 to the Gentiles

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 and to proclaim

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 that Jesus was

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 not only the Messiah

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 for Israel,

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 but also

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 the true Savior

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 and Lord

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 for the whole world.

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 And so Paul considered

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 it his mission

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 to carry

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 the good news of Jesus

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 crucified and risen

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 throughout all the nations,

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 in particular

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 throughout the Roman Empire.

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 His next goal

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 was to get to Rome

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 and then on to Spain,

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 sort of as far west

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 as he could see.

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 on the edge

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 which would have been

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 thought of as the ends

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 of the earth.

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 And when Paul went

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 to the Gentiles,

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 calling people to follow

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 the God of Abraham,

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 Isaac, and Jacob,

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 the father of Jesus Christ,

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 he didn't say,

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 you have to become

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 exactly like

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 the Jews have been

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 for hundreds of years.

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 You have to obey

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 all the Old Testament laws

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 and everything that Moses taught,

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 all the ceremonies.

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 No.

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 He said,

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 through Jesus Christ,

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 you can be made

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 right with God

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 and you can be included

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 in God's people

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 simply by trusting

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 and believing in him.

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 So Paul was

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 from a Jewish background

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 but he became

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 the apostle to the Gentiles

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 but still,

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 as the apostle to the Gentiles,

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 he was still,

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 he still loved

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 his own people,

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 the Jews.

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 And so in every Gentile city

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 where he went,

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 his first stop would be

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 the Jewish synagogue

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 and he would go there

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 and he would proclaim

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 and he would say,

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 this Jesus

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 that I'm proclaiming to you,

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 he's not a Gentile God,

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 he's not another pagan God,

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 he's the Jewish Messiah.

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 He's the fulfillment

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 of the Hebrew scriptures,

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 what God had promised

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 to our people long ago.

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 And so he would always

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 go to them first

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 and proclaim his message.

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 And here,

00:09:56.719 --> 00:09:57.859
 he also was showing

00:09:57.859 --> 00:09:58.779
 his love for his

00:09:58.779 --> 00:10:01.159
 Jewish brothers and sisters

00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:02.639
 at a time when they were,

00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:03.799
 when many of the Jewish

00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:04.959
 people in Jerusalem,

00:10:05.119 --> 00:10:05.699
 the Jewish Christians

00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:06.220
 in Jerusalem

00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:07.520
 were financially struggling.

00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:09.520
 And so as we've seen,

00:10:09.640 --> 00:10:11.700
 he collected an offering,

00:10:11.780 --> 00:10:13.000
 a large financial gift

00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:13.940
 from several

00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:14.960
 of the Gentile churches

00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:17.200
 and went on this long journey

00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:18.180
 all the way to Jerusalem

00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:19.060
 with representatives

00:10:19.060 --> 00:10:19.700
 from several

00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:20.680
 of the Gentile churches

00:10:20.680 --> 00:10:22.340
 to bring this gift.

00:10:23.160 --> 00:10:24.220
 It was a gift of grace,

00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:25.160
 a gift of generosity,

00:10:25.160 --> 00:10:26.360
 and a gift of peace,

00:10:26.900 --> 00:10:27.800
 expressing the unity

00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:29.620
 of Jews and Gentiles

00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.620
 in the body of Christ.

00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:33.040
 So that's just the background.

00:10:33.180 --> 00:10:33.900
 Paul's a Jewish man

00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:34.340
 by birth.

00:10:34.419 --> 00:10:34.959
 He was called to be

00:10:34.959 --> 00:10:36.059
 the apostle to the Gentiles

00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:37.720
 and yet he still had a heart

00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:39.459
 and a love for his own people.

00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:41.399
 So he was between,

00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:43.600
 he was loyal to both.

00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:45.059
 Now, when Paul first arrived

00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:45.559
 in Jerusalem,

00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.819
 everything seems pretty good.

00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:47.600
 Verse 17,

00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.379
 the brothers and sisters

00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:50.319
 received us gladly.

00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:52.539
 Verse 18,

00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:54.480
 on the following day,

00:10:54.579 --> 00:10:55.699
 Paul went in with us.

00:10:56.319 --> 00:10:57.220
 Us would be the whole

00:10:57.220 --> 00:10:58.000
 sort of delegation,

00:10:58.699 --> 00:10:59.620
 traveling along with Paul

00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.259
 to James,

00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:01.500
 who was sort of

00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:03.299
 the most prominent leader

00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:04.500
 of the Jerusalem church

00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:05.159
 at the time

00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:06.860
 and all the elders.

00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:08.419
 So this was sort of

00:11:08.419 --> 00:11:09.340
 the leadership council

00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:11.080
 of the Jerusalem church.

00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:12.759
 Now, at first,

00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:14.559
 they seem a bit cooler

00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.840
 in their reception

00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.600
 toward Paul.

00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:18.419
 Verse 19 says,

00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:19.419
 Paul greeted them.

00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:20.480
 It doesn't say

00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.240
 they greeted him.

00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:23.240
 But at least they listened

00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.399
 to what Paul had to say.

00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:24.820
 Verse 20,

00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.980
 they listened to Paul's report

00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:26.700
 of what God had done

00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:27.679
 among the Gentiles

00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:29.339
 and they glorified God.

00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:31.439
 And that's the same way,

00:11:32.319 --> 00:11:32.899
 if you remember,

00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:33.939
 back in chapter 11,

00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.579
 when Peter came

00:11:35.579 --> 00:11:36.639
 and reported

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.679
 what God had done

00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:39.419
 in bringing Cornelius

00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:40.120
 and his family,

00:11:40.219 --> 00:11:41.719
 the first sort of,

00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.539
 the first large-scale

00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:45.379
 Gentile conversion,

00:11:45.599 --> 00:11:46.959
 people coming to faith

00:11:46.959 --> 00:11:48.039
 in Jesus.

00:11:48.219 --> 00:11:48.839
 And Peter went back

00:11:48.839 --> 00:11:49.719
 to the church in Jerusalem

00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:50.019
 and said,

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:50.899
 look at what God has done

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:51.599
 among the Gentiles

00:11:51.599 --> 00:11:53.120
 and it says they glorified God.

00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:54.679
 And they recognized

00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.620
 what God was doing

00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:56.799
 among the nations.

00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:58.779
 So the Jerusalem elders

00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:00.019
 were supportive

00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.919
 of Paul's work

00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.059
 among the Gentiles.

00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:04.839
 Verse 25,

00:12:05.599 --> 00:12:07.979
 they also explicitly reaffirmed

00:12:07.979 --> 00:12:09.019
 the decision

00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:10.319
 of the Jerusalem council.

00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:10.939
 Now this is back

00:12:10.939 --> 00:12:11.759
 in Acts 15.

00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:16.519
 And basically what had been

00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:17.799
 discussed at that council

00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:19.879
 is what,

00:12:20.199 --> 00:12:21.519
 should Gentiles

00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:22.159
 who come to believe

00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:22.599
 in Jesus,

00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:24.099
 do they need to be required

00:12:24.099 --> 00:12:26.079
 to fulfill the Old Testament law,

00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.080
 just like the Jews?

00:12:27.400 --> 00:12:28.300
 And the answer was,

00:12:28.400 --> 00:12:28.660
 no.

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.500
 Paul, James,

00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.240
 the Jerusalem elders

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:32.960
 all agreed

00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:34.720
 that Gentiles

00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.060
 are reconciled to God

00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:37.780
 by grace,

00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.020
 through faith,

00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:39.900
 in Jesus Christ

00:12:39.900 --> 00:12:41.680
 on the same basis

00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:42.240
 as Jews

00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.060
 and not by circumcision,

00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:45.480
 not by the other works

00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:46.020
 of the law.

00:12:47.160 --> 00:12:48.220
 And so the Jerusalem council

00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:49.840
 had given a directive

00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.580
 to Gentiles,

00:12:50.640 --> 00:12:51.660
 which they're quoting here,

00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:53.200
 that they should basically

00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:54.900
 abstain from idolatry

00:12:54.900 --> 00:12:56.860
 and sexual immorality

00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:58.860
 and perhaps from

00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:01.420
 some of the cultural practices

00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:02.180
 that would have been

00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:03.120
 most offensive

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.500
 to their Jewish brothers

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.060
 and sisters.

00:13:05.660 --> 00:13:06.840
 That's probably what blood

00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.960
 and eating blood

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.580
 and eating the meat

00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.400
 of strangled animals,

00:13:09.520 --> 00:13:10.460
 those things would have been

00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:12.259
 sort of most obviously offensive

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:14.080
 if Gentile Christians

00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.680
 were doing that

00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:17.520
 alongside Jewish people

00:13:17.520 --> 00:13:18.200
 who had come to believe

00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:18.580
 in Jesus,

00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:19.420
 who were part of the church

00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:19.839
 with them.

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.299
 So,

00:13:23.099 --> 00:13:25.819
 so at first,

00:13:26.099 --> 00:13:26.899
 it seems great,

00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:27.699
 right?

00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.539
 Paul comes to Jerusalem,

00:13:28.659 --> 00:13:29.379
 here's what God's doing

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.279
 in the rest of the world.

00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:31.639
 Yeah, wonderful.

00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:32.419
 Verse 20,

00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:33.899
 the Jerusalem elders say,

00:13:33.979 --> 00:13:35.179
 here's what God's doing here.

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:36.879
 You know,

00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:37.639
 while you've been traveling

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.479
 around the empire,

00:13:39.259 --> 00:13:40.419
 God's still been at work here.

00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.599
 Thousands of Jews

00:13:41.599 --> 00:13:42.299
 have come to believe

00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:43.539
 in Jesus here in Jerusalem

00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:45.799
 and Paul would have

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.740
 praised God for that too.

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.379
 But then,

00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:50.180
 it gets complicated.

00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:51.580
 You see,

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:53.000
 this wasn't just a happy reunion

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.419
 of long separated friends.

00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:55.899
 There was lots of tension

00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:56.720
 in the background.

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:57.519
 Now,

00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.180
 for one thing,

00:13:58.659 --> 00:13:59.799
 the political situation

00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:00.379
 in Jerusalem

00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:02.180
 was extremely volatile.

00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:04.060
 Tensions were rising

00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:05.560
 between the native Jews

00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.200
 who had a longing

00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:06.899
 for independence

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:08.139
 and the Romans,

00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.620
 the imperial overlords,

00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.379
 who were increasingly oppressive.

00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:13.799
 The Jews were a minority group

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.659
 struggling to maintain

00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:15.379
 their identity,

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:17.299
 cultural and religious

00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:18.299
 in the midst of a pagan,

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:20.539
 powerful empire.

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.179
 Jews lived throughout the empire,

00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:24.519
 but Jerusalem was the center

00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:26.860
 of Jewish nationalist sentiments.

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:28.960
 And so periodically,

00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.200
 around this time,

00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.500
 Jewish men would initiate

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:33.080
 violent uprisings

00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:34.840
 and then they would be

00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.980
 severely repressed

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:37.360
 by the Roman authorities.

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.340
 So just three years

00:14:38.340 --> 00:14:39.519
 before Paul arrived,

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.200
 there was an Egyptian Jew

00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:43.360
 who led 4,000 followers

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.240
 into the desert.

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.899
 He was sort of acting

00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:47.360
 like Moses all over again.

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.399
 And he organized his followers

00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.539
 to march into Jerusalem

00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:51.019
 and he said,

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:51.659
 God's going to do

00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.600
 what he did with Jericho.

00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:53.940
 The walls are going to fall down

00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:55.100
 and we're going to march in

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.680
 and I'm going to rule,

00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:56.519
 I'm going to be the king

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.060
 in Jerusalem.

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.419
 And the Roman governor

00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:01.580
 killed 400 of his men,

00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:03.159
 captured 200 others.

00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:04.740
 Somehow the Egyptian escaped.

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:07.899
 This led to a general Jewish rebellion,

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.139
 looting and burning

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:11.639
 the homes of Romans

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:12.799
 and Roman sympathizers.

00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.440
 Luke refers to this event

00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.139
 in verse 38,

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.879
 so does the Jewish historian Josephus.

00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:18.700
 It was also dangerous

00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.899
 if you were a Jew in Jerusalem

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:21.340
 who had any loyalty

00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:22.639
 to the Romans.

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:24.480
 There were these men

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.879
 who were called the assassins

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:27.460
 and they carried daggers

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:28.259
 in their cloaks.

00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:31.200
 And they would even sometimes

00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.440
 murder Jewish aristocrats

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.620
 who were suspected

00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:37.120
 of collaborating with the Romans

00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.920
 in the temple,

00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:40.240
 in the temple precinct itself.

00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:42.280
 And they'd get away with it.

00:15:43.780 --> 00:15:44.780
 So when Paul,

00:15:45.400 --> 00:15:46.980
 the apostle to the Gentiles,

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.740
 arrives in Jerusalem

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:51.160
 with a whole bunch of Gentiles

00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:52.740
 from all over the empire

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.740
 coming with him,

00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:55.340
 the immediate response

00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.500
 of many people

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.960
 was not gratitude and joy,

00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:00.980
 but rather suspicion

00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.840
 and hostility.

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:03.899
 Now particularly,

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.879
 this would have been a case

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.660
 among Jews

00:16:05.660 --> 00:16:06.560
 who were,

00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.820
 as verse 20 says,

00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:10.500
 zealous for the law.

00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:12.840
 Now that's a phrase

00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:13.740
 that should catch our attention.

00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.220
 Some Jews called themselves

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:17.200
 simply zealots.

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.080
 They were sort of

00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.300
 the political revolutionaries

00:16:19.300 --> 00:16:22.200
 who were leading violent uprisings.

00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.620
 Other Jews,

00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:25.700
 especially Pharisees,

00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.360
 called themselves

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.560
 zealous for the law,

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.300
 which meant they might not

00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:31.000
 have advocated immediate

00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.000
 violent revolution,

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.839
 but they were committed

00:16:33.839 --> 00:16:35.519
 to carefully upholding the law

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.179
 and carefully preserving

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:39.379
 their distinctive Jewish identity,

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:41.479
 trying to carve out a place

00:16:41.479 --> 00:16:42.859
 where they could be themselves

00:16:42.859 --> 00:16:45.159
 in the midst of this larger world

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:45.919
 that wanted everyone

00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.019
 to just sort of be part

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.779
 of the big empire

00:16:48.779 --> 00:16:50.579
 and be part of the melting pot

00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:51.979
 and lose their identity.

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.320
 And so they were

00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.720
 very concerned

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.899
 about carefully observing

00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:57.300
 the law

00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:58.120
 and carefully keeping

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.700
 their traditions

00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:00.800
 and carefully handing down

00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:01.639
 their Jewish identity

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.500
 from one generation

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:02.940
 to another,

00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:03.920
 and they were hostile

00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:05.220
 toward anyone

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.400
 who claimed to be a Jew

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.920
 but didn't actually

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.480
 keep the law.

00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:11.039
 Now before his conversion

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.799
 to faith in Jesus,

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.920
 Paul described himself

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:16.039
 in the same terms.

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.579
 Philippians 3,

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:17.900
 he says,

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.700
 as to the law,

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.540
 a Pharisee,

00:17:20.540 --> 00:17:21.600
 as to zeal,

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.680
 a persecutor of the church.

00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.400
 Paul was hostile

00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.220
 toward Jewish followers

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.660
 of Jesus

00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.800
 because he believed

00:17:27.800 --> 00:17:29.740
 that they were corrupting

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:31.519
 the Jewish people

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.900
 and leading the nation astray.

00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:34.960
 Now,

00:17:35.540 --> 00:17:36.200
 so that was Paul

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:36.820
 before he came

00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:37.420
 to faith in Jesus.

00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:37.700
 Now,

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.640
 some of these Jews

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.200
 in Jerusalem

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.680
 had been very zealous

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.740
 for the Old Testament law

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.519
 and for their traditions

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.340
 and they came to faith

00:17:43.340 --> 00:17:44.500
 in Jesus as the Messiah.

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.060
 They believed

00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:46.940
 that he was the fulfillment

00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:48.200
 of God's promises to Israel

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.779
 but they didn't

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.759
 immediately abandon

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.279
 all of their cultural traditions

00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:53.880
 and they didn't go

00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:55.360
 from being staunch defenders

00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:57.380
 of an independent Jewish state

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:59.019
 to being staunch supporters

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.140
 of the pagan Roman Empire.

00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:00.580
 I mean,

00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:02.580
 you know,

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:04.140
 what exactly would have been

00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:05.559
 the Christian political view

00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.100
 back then?

00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:07.600
 Do you support

00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:09.519
 a Jewish independent state?

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:09.799
 Well,

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.580
 some people are doing,

00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:12.880
 are leading violent revolutions

00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.500
 or do you support

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.740
 a pagan Roman Empire?

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:17.539
 Well,

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:19.259
 it's complicated.

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.160
 You know,

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.859
 as a side point,

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:24.420
 this is one illustration

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.620
 of why it's important

00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:27.000
 that Christianity

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.819
 not be rigidly identified

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:31.279
 with only one ethnic group

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.660
 or one set of cultural traditions

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:35.579
 or one political party

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.799
 or one nation.

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:38.480
 Now,

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:38.880
 obviously,

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.960
 being a follower of Jesus

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.740
 should shape

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.160
 all those things,

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:42.759
 should reshape

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.759
 our ethnic identity,

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.359
 our political views,

00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.440
 our cultural traditions,

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:48.640
 and on some issues,

00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.720
 the implications of that

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.019
 are more clear,

00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:52.660
 but in other areas,

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.519
 it's complicated

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.420
 and it often takes time

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.059
 to discern

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:57.019
 what it means

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:58.339
 to faithfully live out

00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.519
 the gospel of Jesus

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:01.079
 in different situations.

00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:02.599
 So,

00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.259
 the Jewish Christians

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.779
 in Jerusalem,

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.559
 by and large,

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.599
 continue to be zealous

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.160
 for the law,

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:08.019
 zealous for their traditions,

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.839
 cultural and religious traditions.

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.859
 They would observe the Sabbath,

00:19:11.459 --> 00:19:12.479
 they'd observe Passover,

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.639
 keep kosher,

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.939
 circumcise their sons,

00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.879
 and they would recognize

00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:18.419
 as believers in Jesus

00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:19.539
 that the deepest meaning

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.539
 of these rituals

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:22.939
 was found in the Messiah Jesus,

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.339
 but they held pretty tightly

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:26.219
 to the traditions

00:19:26.219 --> 00:19:27.019
 they had inherited

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:28.339
 all the way back from Moses.

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:30.659
 Now,

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.599
 not only that,

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.599
 second problem,

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.319
 they were also,

00:19:34.979 --> 00:19:36.299
 or here's a problem,

00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:37.659
 they were also misinformed

00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.379
 about Paul,

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.039
 verse 21.

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.899
 They have been told

00:19:40.899 --> 00:19:41.559
 about you

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.839
 that you teach

00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.539
 all the Jews

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.559
 who are among the Gentiles

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.500
 to forsake Moses,

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.299
 telling them not

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.379
 to circumcise their children

00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.680
 or walking according

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.440
 to our customs.

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.779
 Now,

00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:51.579
 that word forsake

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.799
 is a very strong word.

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.819
 It's the Greek word

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.799
 from which we get

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.279
 the English word apostasy.

00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:59.059
 It meant political

00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:01.039
 and or spiritual rebellion

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.859
 and sort of desertion

00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:04.019
 of the Lord

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.700
 and his people.

00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:07.099
 So,

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.659
 here's the problem.

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.680
 Thousands of followers

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.140
 of Jesus,

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:12.300
 especially new believers

00:20:12.300 --> 00:20:12.840
 in Jesus,

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.920
 who are zealous

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.660
 for the Jewish law

00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.100
 in Jerusalem

00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:15.900
 and they've heard

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.480
 that Paul,

00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.840
 the apostle to the Gentiles,

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.000
 is telling all Jews

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.480
 everywhere,

00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.820
 forsake the law,

00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:22.360
 forsake your traditions,

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:23.700
 forsake your people.

00:20:24.800 --> 00:20:25.140
 And so,

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.340
 Paul comes to Jerusalem

00:20:26.340 --> 00:20:27.860
 with all these Gentiles

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.460
 wanting to deliver

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.380
 this gift

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.600
 to promote peace

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.080
 and unity in the church.

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.240
 You know,

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.740
 you might wonder,

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.200
 why didn't,

00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.019
 why doesn't Luke

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:37.079
 actually tell us

00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:38.200
 about this gift

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.819
 right here?

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.039
 Paul would have

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.579
 delivered it.

00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:43.539
 I think the reason is

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:46.059
 he didn't highlight

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.539
 the gift

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.779
 because it didn't have

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.819
 that effect

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.059
 that Paul had hoped for.

00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:51.680
 Right?

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.460
 These Jewish believers

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.200
 zealous for the law,

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.259
 here's that Paul's coming

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:57.420
 and Paul had supposedly

00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.259
 taught all the Jews

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.480
 ever to forsake the law

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.259
 and he brought

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.039
 all this money

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.319
 to the Jerusalem elders.

00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.639
 Their response

00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.819
 most likely would have been,

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.839
 is he trying to bribe them?

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.839
 Is he trying to pay us off

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.759
 to forsake Moses?

00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:12.259
 Is he a secret agent

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.279
 of the Roman Empire

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:15.200
 trying to destroy our nation?

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:18.200
 This was the complicated situation

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:19.359
 Paul found himself in.

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.779
 Fraught with mistrust

00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.980
 and misunderstanding

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:24.480
 and all kinds of

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.359
 historical baggage.

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:28.259
 Now, second,

00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.240
 Paul and the Jerusalem

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.179
 elders' response.

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.979
 Verse 22 to 26.

00:21:34.459 --> 00:21:35.559
 So the Jerusalem elders

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.199
 make a proposal.

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:36.839
 They say,

00:21:36.899 --> 00:21:37.179
 Paul,

00:21:37.459 --> 00:21:39.199
 here's how you can

00:21:39.199 --> 00:21:40.399
 set things straight.

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.659
 How you can show everyone

00:21:42.659 --> 00:21:44.059
 that you're not

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.279
 teaching all Jews

00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:45.659
 everywhere

00:21:45.659 --> 00:21:46.399
 to forsake the law

00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:46.759
 of Moses,

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.399
 but in fact,

00:21:47.479 --> 00:21:48.079
 as a Jew,

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.799
 born as a Jew,

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.119
 and still loving

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.619
 your people,

00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.919
 you respect the law

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:53.699
 and you're willing

00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:54.539
 to live by it.

00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.399
 You see,

00:21:56.459 --> 00:21:57.119
 what people were saying

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.579
 about Paul

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.899
 wasn't exactly true.

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.539
 Paul never commanded

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:03.139
 Jewish believers in Jesus

00:22:03.139 --> 00:22:04.539
 to immediately forsake

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.719
 their distinctive

00:22:05.719 --> 00:22:07.479
 cultural traditions.

00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:08.939
 He didn't say,

00:22:09.219 --> 00:22:09.779
 you must stop

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.559
 observing the Sabbath.

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.699
 You must stop

00:22:11.699 --> 00:22:12.479
 celebrating Passover.

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.719
 No, he never said that.

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.799
 Now, he did say

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:19.139
 that that's not necessary

00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:22.059
 to be right with God.

00:22:22.719 --> 00:22:23.579
 That's not necessary

00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.459
 for Gentiles.

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.479
 To do those same things.

00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:30.039
 And he said

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.740
 to Jewish believers,

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.039
 he said,

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:31.759
 you have to accept

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.559
 Gentile Christians

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:34.240
 as equal members

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.279
 of the family of God,

00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:37.339
 not as second-class citizens.

00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:38.319
 Now,

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:40.659
 now you might ask,

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.240
 what about these

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.899
 Jewish Christians

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:43.500
 in Jerusalem,

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.979
 zealous for the law?

00:22:45.939 --> 00:22:46.699
 Was that the most

00:22:46.699 --> 00:22:48.939
 mature Christian view

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:51.539
 to hold so tightly

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:54.000
 to observing the Sabbath,

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.960
 celebrating Passover,

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:55.799
 keeping kosher,

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.900
 circumcising your children?

00:22:58.840 --> 00:22:59.299
 Well,

00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:00.240
 Paul would have said no.

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.880
 Paul's attitude was,

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.820
 neither circumcision

00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:04.740
 nor uncircumcision

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.600
 counts for anything

00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:07.320
 but a new creation

00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:08.740
 in Christ.

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:10.160
 Galatians 6.15.

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.160
 So,

00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.240
 Paul didn't share

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.279
 these Christians' zeal

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.700
 for the Jewish law.

00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:17.539
 He was willing

00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.279
 to abide by it.

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.700
 He was willing

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.400
 to live by it

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.819
 when he lived

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:20.500
 among the Jews.

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.340
 But,

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.860
 you know,

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.380
 he didn't think

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.880
 it was that crucial

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.519
 in the end.

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:27.779
 So,

00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.539
 he would have disagreed

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.259
 with them a little bit

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.259
 about their priorities.

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:32.299
 But he still recognized

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.840
 them as brothers

00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:33.700
 and sisters in Christ

00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.720
 and he extended himself

00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.500
 in order to demonstrate

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.740
 love for them.

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:40.539
 And Paul's an example here

00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:42.400
 of a Christian

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:44.839
 who sees another group,

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.220
 Christian,

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.940
 or group of Christians

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.259
 and says,

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:46.500
 you know,

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.799
 I don't think they have

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.740
 the best understanding

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.779
 of some of these things.

00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:51.140
 I wouldn't totally agree

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.660
 with them.

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.440
 But you know what?

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.319
 I'm going to extend myself

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.380
 to love them.

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.019
 I'm not going to just

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.779
 keep my distance

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.839
 because I don't like them

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.079
 and I don't like quite

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.120
 the way they do things.

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.299
 But I'm going to

00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:05.240
 do all that I can

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.579
 while being faithful

00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.200
 to Christ

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.039
 to show that I love them

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.480
 and care for them.

00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:11.839
 So,

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.579
 here's a proposal.

00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:13.960
 Verse 23,

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.339
 Jerusalem elders

00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:15.960
 made a proposal.

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.859
 Here are four men,

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.500
 Jewish believers in Jesus,

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.279
 who made a temporary

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.279
 Nazarite vow.

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:20.980
 If you want to know

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.940
 about a Nazarite vow,

00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.980
 read number six.

00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.680
 It was basically a vow

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.839
 of temporary devotion

00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.900
 to God,

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.259
 a special devotion to God

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.200
 for a temporary period.

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.759
 In particular,

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:32.299
 it involved a commitment

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.900
 to abstain from alcohol,

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.019
 from grapes,

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.039
 from grape juice,

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.079
 from haircuts,

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.279
 and from dead bodies.

00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:39.819
 Now,

00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.259
 that might seem

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:42.039
 a little odd to us,

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:45.139
 but it was sort of like

00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:47.779
 undertaking an extended fast,

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.799
 or choosing to never

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.539
 drink alcohol,

00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:52.700
 or going on a missions trip

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:54.180
 as an expression of

00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.599
 devotion to God

00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:57.039
 and service to his people.

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.099
 All right,

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.720
 it's not something

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.660
 that every Christian

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.500
 has to do,

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.259
 but it's a legitimate expression

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.740
 of devotion,

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.640
 of faithful devotion

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.119
 to God.

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.160
 So these men

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.539
 had taken on this vow

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:11.160
 for this temporary period.

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:11.819
 They were coming

00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.500
 to the end of their vow.

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.240
 When they would complete

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:13.779
 their vow,

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.220
 they'd go to the temple,

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.680
 shave their head,

00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:18.660
 and they'd offer their hair,

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.559
 sort of symbolizing

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.579
 this whole time

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.759
 that they had

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.819
 set themselves apart

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.740
 for special devotion

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.140
 to God.

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.879
 They would offer it

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.960
 as a sacrifice.

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.559
 It would actually be

00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.640
 burned up on the altar,

00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.380
 and they would also offer

00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:32.360
 a quite expensive offering.

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.220
 One male lamb,

00:25:34.780 --> 00:25:35.660
 one ewe lamb,

00:25:36.120 --> 00:25:36.700
 one ram,

00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.860
 one basket of bread,

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.820
 plus a drink offering

00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:39.540
 for each of them.

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.080
 And that would be

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.620
 the completion

00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.360
 of their vow.

00:25:43.020 --> 00:25:44.160
 And some of those offerings

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.360
 would be shared

00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:45.880
 and eaten

00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:47.420
 as a sort of celebration.

00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.560
 So they would sort of be

00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:50.980
 making an offering to God

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.940
 and hosting a big party

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.180
 for everyone

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.380
 who was there

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:55.140
 at the same time.

00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:57.360
 So,

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.540
 the Jerusalem elders say,

00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:58.860
 Paul,

00:25:59.060 --> 00:26:00.100
 why don't you go with them,

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.800
 purify yourself

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:02.540
 along with them,

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:04.120
 go through the purification ritual,

00:26:05.520 --> 00:26:06.140
 and that way

00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:07.940
 you can be ritually pure,

00:26:08.020 --> 00:26:08.920
 you can pay their expenses.

00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:10.820
 And that'll be a public sign,

00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.780
 and everybody will see

00:26:11.780 --> 00:26:13.560
 that all these accusations

00:26:13.560 --> 00:26:14.759
 are clearly false,

00:26:15.540 --> 00:26:16.720
 and so they won't be offended

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.380
 by your coming here

00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:17.900
 to Jerusalem.

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.200
 Verse 26,

00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:20.240
 Paul agreed to the plan.

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.259
 Now maybe some of you

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.740
 are wondering,

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:26.099
 should Paul really

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.200
 agree to this plan?

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.120
 I mean,

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.359
 how could Paul,

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.180
 believing that

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.460
 Jesus had broken down

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.279
 the dividing wall

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.460
 between Jews and Gentiles,

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.319
 how could he go back

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.180
 into that temple

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.500
 in Jerusalem

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.980
 and participate

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.680
 in worship there

00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.220
 any longer?

00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:43.039
 Was Paul compromising

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:43.660
 his principles

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.440
 and going along

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.519
 with a misguided plan

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:46.599
 which ended in disaster?

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.259
 But Luke doesn't give us

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.140
 any indication

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:52.420
 that the plan

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.120
 was misguided.

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.380
 Or that Paul's

00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.279
 intentions were wrong.

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.420
 In fact,

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.299
 in chapter 23,

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.059
 verse 11,

00:26:59.220 --> 00:26:59.920
 the Lord Jesus

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:02.079
 stood by Paul

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.339
 and said,

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.259
 take courage,

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.460
 for as you have

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.079
 testified

00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:07.240
 to the facts

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.779
 about me

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.579
 here in Jerusalem,

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.720
 so you must testify

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.620
 also in Rome.

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.779
 So the Lord Jesus

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.660
 himself comes to Paul

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.440
 and encourages him

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:14.700
 and says,

00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.779
 you faithfully testified

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:17.099
 about me

00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:18.160
 here in Jerusalem.

00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.279
 Jerusalem.

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.420
 And it's also

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.140
 consistent with

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.960
 Paul's principles

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:23.540
 in his letters.

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:25.420
 So in 1 Corinthians 9,

00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:26.160
 Paul says,

00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:26.960
 to the Jews,

00:27:27.560 --> 00:27:28.500
 I became like a Jew

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.460
 to win Jews.

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.100
 To those under the law,

00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.000
 I became as one

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.560
 under the law,

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.640
 though not being myself

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.200
 under the law,

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.860
 that I might win

00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.720
 those under the law.

00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.120
 In other words,

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.620
 Paul is willing

00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.500
 to stretch himself

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.640
 and extend himself

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:43.740
 to love

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:45.180
 the people

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.920
 that he was with.

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:47.820
 Now,

00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.180
 and particularly

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:49.720
 he was willing

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.160
 to do this

00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.780
 because the Jerusalem

00:27:50.780 --> 00:27:51.880
 elders were very clear

00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.780
 in what they said to him,

00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.860
 we're supportive

00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.500
 of what you're doing

00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:55.460
 among the Gentiles

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.700
 and we agree

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.940
 with the Jerusalem council,

00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.620
 salvations by grace

00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.040
 through faith

00:28:00.040 --> 00:28:00.759
 in Jesus Christ

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.400
 and that's it.

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:03.120
 So that was clear

00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:05.040
 and because that was clear,

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.480
 Paul could go along

00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:08.860
 with a temple

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.879
 purification ritual

00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:12.119
 because it wasn't wrong.

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.339
 It wasn't off limits.

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:17.059
 So two implications

00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.839
 before we go on.

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.859
 I know this is complicated.

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.779
 I know it's hot.

00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.579
 Hang in there.

00:28:22.439 --> 00:28:22.919
 First,

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:24.000
 as a follower of Jesus,

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.500
 some beliefs

00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.079
 and practices

00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:27.199
 are non-negotiable

00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:29.379
 and others are not.

00:28:30.379 --> 00:28:30.619
 Right?

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:32.199
 There's one unchanging gospel

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:32.819
 of Jesus,

00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:34.039
 the Messiah,

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.479
 the one and only,

00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.659
 the crucified and risen,

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.699
 Lord and Savior.

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:41.500
 The moral law of God

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:44.219
 is also unchanging

00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:45.099
 in Old Testament

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.199
 and the New Testament

00:28:46.199 --> 00:28:48.259
 which is summarized in

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.119
 love the Lord your God

00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:49.939
 with all your heart,

00:28:50.479 --> 00:28:51.339
 soul, mind, and strength

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.059
 and love your neighbor

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.740
 as yourself.

00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:54.479
 And things like

00:28:54.479 --> 00:28:55.139
 the Ten Commandments

00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:56.319
 sort of flesh some of that out.

00:28:57.159 --> 00:28:58.779
 And the New Testament teaching

00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:00.959
 of Jesus and the apostles

00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:03.019
 fleshes that out.

00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.299
 what does that mean

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.559
 to love God

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:07.200
 above everything else

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.920
 and love our neighbor?

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.720
 And that's something

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.160
 we don't,

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:11.559
 we cannot compromise on.

00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.900
 Now the ceremonial law

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:15.059
 was different.

00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:16.299
 It was a temporary shadow

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.220
 pointing forward

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.400
 to the reality in Christ.

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.879
 So there's some things

00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:22.359
 that are non-negotiable

00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.940
 as Christian believers,

00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:25.420
 but other things are.

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.299
 In different situations,

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.660
 the practical application

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:30.360
 of some of these

00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.120
 biblical principles,

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.080
 what does it look like

00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:33.740
 to love your Jewish neighbor?

00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:34.759
 What does it look like

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:36.460
 to love your Gentile neighbor?

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.680
 That was going to look

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.700
 different for Paul.

00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:40.180
 You know,

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.900
 what does it look like

00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.740
 in today's world

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.620
 to love your Muslim neighbor?

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.880
 Well, that might look

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.860
 a little different

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:48.000
 than what does it look like

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.980
 to love your secular,

00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:50.640
 happy pagan neighbor

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:52.279
 who doesn't really want

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.779
 anything to do

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.740
 with any religion at all.

00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:55.540
 What does it mean

00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:56.060
 to communicate

00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:57.620
 the gospel of Jesus Christ

00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:59.939
 to very different kinds

00:29:59.939 --> 00:30:00.599
 of people who are coming

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.859
 with very different assumptions

00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:03.139
 about what Christianity

00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.719
 is about

00:30:03.719 --> 00:30:04.619
 and what it means

00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.379
 to follow Jesus?

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.899
 It's the same message.

00:30:08.739 --> 00:30:09.799
 We're not just changing

00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.559
 the message to,

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.639
 you know,

00:30:12.699 --> 00:30:13.739
 please whoever we're with,

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.099
 but there will be

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.699
 different ways

00:30:15.699 --> 00:30:16.619
 of communicating it.

00:30:18.699 --> 00:30:19.219
 Second,

00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.959
 it's worth the trouble

00:30:20.959 --> 00:30:21.799
 to build bridges

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:23.579
 with other Christians

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.679
 who have different

00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:25.559
 ethnic backgrounds,

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:27.019
 different political views,

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.819
 different cultural traditions.

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.400
 Right?

00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:30.779
 It would have been

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.099
 much easier for Paul

00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.859
 to do one of two things.

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.680
 Stay in Jerusalem

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:37.079
 his whole life,

00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:38.680
 hang out with

00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.660
 the Jerusalem Christians,

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:41.680
 and observe the law

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:43.039
 without fail.

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.519
 Or,

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:46.460
 hang out with the Gentiles.

00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:48.440
 Stay out in the Roman Empire,

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:50.240
 don't bother with those,

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.519
 you know,

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.879
 fussy Christians in Jerusalem.

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:55.440
 But no,

00:30:55.520 --> 00:30:55.880
 Paul

00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:58.160
 was going to build bridges

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.140
 because he loved them

00:30:59.140 --> 00:31:00.020
 and he recognized

00:31:00.020 --> 00:31:00.800
 that we're all part

00:31:00.800 --> 00:31:02.160
 of the family of God

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.180
 through Christ together.

00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:05.700
 And so,

00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:07.260
 the gospel calls us

00:31:07.260 --> 00:31:08.480
 not to just surround

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.680
 ourselves with other Christians

00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:11.460
 who think the same way

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.420
 you do about everything

00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.500
 and earn roughly

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.380
 the same amount of money

00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.720
 or in the same stage

00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.360
 of life as you

00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:17.580
 or have about the same amount

00:31:17.580 --> 00:31:18.440
 of formal education,

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.740
 but to intentionally

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:21.000
 extend ourselves

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.660
 to people who are different

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:25.039
 and who are part

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.559
 of this church

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.660
 or part of another church

00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:28.779
 and to make the effort

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:30.140
 to express

00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:32.380
 that we're part

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:33.119
 of one body

00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:34.319
 in Christ.

00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:36.880
 So,

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:37.579
 we've seen the complicated

00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:38.380
 situation Paul

00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.099
 found himself in.

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:40.319
 We've seen a careful

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.259
 response from Paul

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.119
 and the Jerusalem elders

00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:42.960
 and finally we see

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.519
 the result.

00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.140
 Paul extended himself

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:48.579
 to show his loyalty

00:31:48.579 --> 00:31:49.480
 to his own people.

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.660
 The result was not

00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.960
 that everyone recognized

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:55.119
 him for who he really was

00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.079
 and loved him

00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.940
 and was so grateful

00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.539
 and recognized

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.400
 all the sacrifices

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.019
 that he had made

00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.160
 traveling hundreds of miles

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:01.559
 all the way to Jerusalem

00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.400
 to show his love

00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:03.119
 and build bridges.

00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.099
 No,

00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:07.640
 people turned on him,

00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:09.400
 falsely accused him,

00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:10.440
 beat him,

00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.779
 and tried to kill him.

00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.420
 Ironically,

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.240
 Paul was accused

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.559
 in verse 28

00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.819
 of defiling the temple

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:18.700
 when he was in the process

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.339
 of carrying out

00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.339
 a purification ritual.

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:23.720
 As a Christian,

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.339
 especially if you're

00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.019
 a Christian leader,

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.019
 you may be at times,

00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:29.240
 despite your best efforts,

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:29.880
 misunderstood.

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.279
 You may be falsely

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.759
 or even irrationally

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.319
 accused.

00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.599
 As we read earlier,

00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.160
 Jesus said,

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.740
 blessed are you

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:40.680
 when others revile you

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.559
 and persecute you

00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.500
 and utter all kinds

00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.660
 of evil against you

00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:44.559
 falsely

00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:46.180
 on my account.

00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:47.599
 Now,

00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:48.380
 those last two phrases

00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:48.880
 are important,

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.539
 falsely

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.859
 and on my account.

00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.359
 It doesn't mean

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:52.899
 blessed are you

00:32:52.899 --> 00:32:53.799
 when people revile you

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.359
 and say all kinds

00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:55.059
 of evil against you

00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.859
 for whatever reason

00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:57.119
 just because you're a jerk.

00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.079
 No,

00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.680
 falsely

00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.859
 on the account of Jesus.

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.019
 Rejoice and be glad

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.819
 for great is your reward

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.200
 in heaven.

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:08.259
 See,

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:08.799
 at different times

00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.299
 in his ministry,

00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:09.960
 Paul took the heat

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.720
 from both sides.

00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.119
 In Philippi,

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.980
 he was seized

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:13.940
 and dragged

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:14.599
 into the marketplace

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.940
 by pagan Gentiles

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:17.240
 who said,

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.279
 these men are Jews.

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.599
 They're disturbing

00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:20.180
 our city,

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.059
 advocating customs

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.759
 that aren't lawful

00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.620
 for us Romans

00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.299
 to practice.

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.539
 And then he gets

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.019
 to Jerusalem

00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:26.680
 and he's seized

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.099
 and dragged

00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:27.680
 out of the temple

00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:28.819
 by law-observant Jews

00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:29.200
 who shouted,

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:29.759
 men of Israel,

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.140
 help.

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:31.539
 This is the man

00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:31.920
 who's teaching

00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.700
 everyone everywhere

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:34.839
 against our people

00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:35.779
 and our law

00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.700
 and our temple.

00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:39.299
 He got it

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.000
 from both sides.

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.339
 Of course,

00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:41.079
 both accusations

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:41.679
 can't be true

00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:42.500
 at the same time.

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.659
 Part of what Luke

00:33:44.659 --> 00:33:45.519
 is trying to do

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:46.960
 in the book of Acts

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.539
 is to sort of show

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.740
 all the accusations

00:33:49.740 --> 00:33:50.639
 that were thrown

00:33:50.639 --> 00:33:51.480
 at Paul

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.059
 and the early Christians

00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:55.059
 and to say,

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:56.919
 well,

00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:58.960
 if you look carefully,

00:33:59.359 --> 00:33:59.960
 none of them

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:00.579
 are true.

00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:05.839
 Now,

00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:06.299
 interestingly,

00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:07.659
 the other Christians

00:34:07.659 --> 00:34:08.259
 in Jerusalem

00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.440
 don't appear

00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.299
 in the story again.

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:12.559
 unlike the believers

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.539
 in some other towns,

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.619
 they don't visibly

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:16.299
 come to Paul's defense

00:34:16.299 --> 00:34:17.679
 when he was attacked.

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:18.719
 Now,

00:34:18.759 --> 00:34:19.779
 perhaps they wanted to

00:34:19.779 --> 00:34:21.420
 but simply weren't able to

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.239
 because of the mob.

00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:24.880
 Perhaps they were afraid

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:26.860
 of their own safety,

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.719
 their own reputation,

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.579
 and they held back.

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.360
 We don't know.

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.599
 By God's providence,

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.440
 it was the tribune,

00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:34.179
 which is the Roman

00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:35.119
 military commander,

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.340
 who stepped in

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.239
 and saved Paul's life

00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:38.099
 from the angry mob.

00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:41.400
 So God accomplishes

00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:41.799
 his purposes

00:34:41.799 --> 00:34:42.819
 in all kinds of ways.

00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:44.619
 Now,

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.519
 our passage ends

00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:46.759
 with verse 36.

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.579
 The soldiers carrying

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.679
 Paul up the steps

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.460
 into the barracks,

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.279
 into the fortress,

00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:53.239
 and the mob of the people

00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:53.819
 cried out,

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.119
 away with him.

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.579
 Paul came all the way

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:58.139
 to Jerusalem

00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:59.779
 to demonstrate

00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:02.339
 grace and peace

00:35:02.339 --> 00:35:04.119
 from Jesus Christ

00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:05.299
 to the Christians there,

00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:08.800
 and to show love

00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:11.060
 to all his fellow Jews,

00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:12.260
 Christian and non-Christian.

00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:14.960
 The end result was

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.900
 he almost got crucified.

00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:18.460
 Now, of course,

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.300
 he didn't get crucified.

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.420
 And in the next few chapters,

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.680
 what we'll see

00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:24.400
 is that Paul

00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:26.100
 is actually vindicated.

00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:28.720
 And all the accusations

00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:30.240
 that were thrown against him,

00:35:31.180 --> 00:35:31.800
 he's pronounced,

00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:33.500
 he's publicly declared

00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.180
 not guilty.

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:35.819
 And so we'll see

00:35:35.819 --> 00:35:36.619
 Paul's defense

00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:38.019
 over the next

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.940
 several chapters

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:39.500
 and acts

00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:42.219
 of himself

00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:42.980
 and of the gospel

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.440
 of Jesus.

00:35:45.399 --> 00:35:46.000
 But, you know,

00:35:46.039 --> 00:35:46.500
 when you step

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.099
 into the middle

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:49.500
 of a complicated conflict

00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:50.960
 between groups

00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.259
 of people

00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:52.179
 that have a long history

00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:52.739
 of mistrust

00:35:52.739 --> 00:35:53.379
 and misunderstanding,

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:54.739
 when you seek

00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:55.599
 to faithfully live out

00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.539
 the gospel of Jesus

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.500
 and extend grace

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:57.960
 and peace

00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.859
 through Jesus Christ,

00:35:59.819 --> 00:36:01.500
 part of the message

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.159
 of this passage

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:03.199
 is that you might get

00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:04.779
 beat up,

00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:06.359
 falsely accused,

00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.319
 and rejected.

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.879
 It doesn't always go well.

00:36:11.299 --> 00:36:12.399
 But if that happens

00:36:12.399 --> 00:36:12.899
 to you,

00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:14.460
 you won't be the first

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:16.519
 and neither was Paul

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.000
 the first.

00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:21.779
 Before Paul,

00:36:21.879 --> 00:36:22.419
 there was Stephen,

00:36:23.279 --> 00:36:24.519
 the martyr in Jerusalem.

00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:26.659
 And before Stephen,

00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:28.099
 there was Jesus Christ

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.500
 himself.

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:32.340
 And what did Jesus Christ

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.940
 do when he came

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.599
 into this world?

00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:36.039
 He stepped into the middle

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:38.179
 of the most complicated

00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:39.840
 and fraught

00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:41.159
 relationship

00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:42.320
 of all.

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.400
 The relationship

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.300
 between a holy

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:46.699
 and pure God

00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:48.820
 and his sinful

00:36:48.820 --> 00:36:49.639
 and rebellious

00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:50.559
 people.

00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:54.159
 The history

00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:55.960
 of opposition

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.679
 and enmity

00:36:56.679 --> 00:36:57.940
 stretched all the way

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:58.679
 back to the beginning

00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.639
 of the human race.

00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:02.419
 The Gentiles,

00:37:02.759 --> 00:37:03.399
 the nations

00:37:03.399 --> 00:37:03.980
 of the world,

00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:05.000
 had walked in darkness

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:06.480
 of idolatry

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.759
 and immorality,

00:37:08.179 --> 00:37:08.980
 having exchanged

00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.579
 the glory

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:11.219
 of the one true God

00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:11.960
 for the love

00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.679
 of created things.

00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:15.339
 The descendants

00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:15.879
 of Abraham

00:37:15.879 --> 00:37:16.679
 had been called

00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:17.099
 by God

00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:17.659
 to be a light

00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.639
 shining in the darkness.

00:37:19.919 --> 00:37:20.279
 And yet,

00:37:20.379 --> 00:37:20.819
 over and over,

00:37:20.899 --> 00:37:21.440
 they had refused

00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.679
 to listen to God's word

00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:24.460
 and often became

00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:24.940
 no better

00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:26.239
 than the nations

00:37:26.239 --> 00:37:26.839
 around them.

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.339
 And so,

00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:29.779
 in the fullness

00:37:29.779 --> 00:37:30.279
 of time,

00:37:30.359 --> 00:37:30.839
 Jesus stepped

00:37:30.839 --> 00:37:31.460
 into the middle

00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:33.579
 of that complicated

00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:35.179
 and messy

00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:37.559
 and volatile

00:37:37.559 --> 00:37:38.199
 relationship

00:37:38.199 --> 00:37:39.539
 between the creator

00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:40.039
 God

00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:41.500
 and rebellious humanity,

00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:43.039
 between the God

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.440
 who had made

00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:44.480
 covenant promises

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:45.699
 and his unfaithful

00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:46.099
 people.

00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.980
 And Jesus came

00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:49.300
 to extend grace

00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:51.639
 and make peace

00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:53.519
 once and for all.

00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:54.920
 And he came

00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:55.380
 to the city

00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:55.960
 of Jerusalem

00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:57.579
 where God

00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:58.039
 had promised

00:37:58.039 --> 00:37:58.800
 to make his name

00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.480
 known to all

00:37:59.480 --> 00:37:59.980
 the world.

00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:04.579
 And he was arrested,

00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:07.219
 slandered,

00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:08.440
 beaten,

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:09.699
 mocked.

00:38:09.900 --> 00:38:10.519
 And the mob

00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:10.980
 of the people

00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:11.440
 cried,

00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:12.980
 away with him.

00:38:14.300 --> 00:38:14.980
 And the Roman

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.519
 authorities,

00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:16.179
 though they formally

00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:17.219
 declared his innocence,

00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:18.319
 handed him over

00:38:18.319 --> 00:38:19.599
 to the crowd

00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:21.159
 to be crucified.

00:38:22.779 --> 00:38:23.099
 You see,

00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:23.859
 Jesus Christ

00:38:23.859 --> 00:38:25.480
 paid a great price

00:38:25.480 --> 00:38:27.059
 to reconcile us

00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.459
 to God.

00:38:31.259 --> 00:38:32.219
 And that's what

00:38:32.219 --> 00:38:34.079
 Luke wants to remind us

00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:35.239
 of above all.

00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:38.899
 That Paul was following

00:38:38.899 --> 00:38:39.480
 in the footsteps

00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:40.219
 of the crucified

00:38:40.219 --> 00:38:41.219
 and risen

00:38:41.219 --> 00:38:42.059
 Messiah,

00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:42.779
 Jesus.

00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:45.099
 And that Jesus

00:38:45.099 --> 00:38:46.019
 stepped into the middle

00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:47.259
 of the relationship

00:38:47.259 --> 00:38:48.039
 between humanity

00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:48.619
 and God

00:38:48.619 --> 00:38:51.259
 so that we might

00:38:51.259 --> 00:38:53.440
 receive his grace

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.579
 and know his peace

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:56.840
 through his death

00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.820
 and through his resurrection.

00:38:58.780 --> 00:38:59.599
 And it's because

00:38:59.599 --> 00:39:00.679
 of what he has done

00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:02.119
 and the power

00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:02.639
 of his spirit

00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:03.320
 working in us

00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:04.039
 that we are also

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:04.480
 enabled

00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:06.400
 to enter into the midst

00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:07.579
 of sticky situations

00:39:07.579 --> 00:39:10.360
 and sometimes

00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:11.199
 to bear the brunt

00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:12.179
 of others'

00:39:12.280 --> 00:39:12.860
 mistrust

00:39:12.860 --> 00:39:14.140
 and misinformation

00:39:14.140 --> 00:39:15.559
 and accusations

00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:17.280
 and seek to be

00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:18.480
 faithful followers

00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.400
 of Jesus Christ

00:39:19.400 --> 00:39:20.280
 in the middle of that.

00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:24.039
 Jesus was crucified

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:25.480
 but he was also

00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:25.980
 resurrected.

00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:28.800
 And God vindicated him,

00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:29.539
 God proclaimed

00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.180
 to everyone

00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:31.880
 that he was the

00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:33.059
 righteous Savior

00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:34.200
 and the risen Lord.

00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:36.280
 And God promises

00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:37.200
 that as we follow

00:39:37.200 --> 00:39:38.360
 Jesus that whatever

00:39:38.360 --> 00:39:39.579
 sufferings we are

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.140
 called to endure

00:39:40.140 --> 00:39:40.900
 along the way,

00:39:40.900 --> 00:39:42.460
 that he also promises

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:44.639
 eternal glory.

00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:47.079
 Let's pray.

00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:53.860
 Father, we thank you

00:39:53.860 --> 00:39:55.500
 that in your great love

00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:55.960
 for the world

00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:57.619
 that you sent

00:39:57.619 --> 00:39:58.619
 your one and only son

00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.360
 so that whoever

00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:01.340
 would believe in him

00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:01.840
 would have,

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:02.800
 would not perish

00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:04.160
 but have eternal life.

00:40:04.760 --> 00:40:05.579
 We thank you,

00:40:06.280 --> 00:40:06.500
 Father,

00:40:06.680 --> 00:40:07.559
 for what you have done

00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:09.619
 to reconcile us

00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:10.139
 to yourself.

00:40:12.039 --> 00:40:12.859
 Lord, we pray

00:40:12.859 --> 00:40:13.500
 that you would make

00:40:13.500 --> 00:40:14.279
 us peacemakers

00:40:14.279 --> 00:40:18.599
 in a troubled world,

00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:21.139
 peacemakers

00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:22.239
 between different people,

00:40:23.339 --> 00:40:23.980
 peacemakers

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:25.799
 especially in your church.

00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:29.159
 And Lord,

00:40:29.259 --> 00:40:30.420
 that we would be messengers

00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:32.319
 of this gospel of peace,

00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:34.779
 that because you

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:36.620
 stepped into the middle

00:40:36.620 --> 00:40:40.480
 of the relationship

00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:41.400
 between people

00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:41.980
 and God,

00:40:42.980 --> 00:40:45.980
 that we can be

00:40:45.980 --> 00:40:47.200
 reconciled with you,

00:40:48.060 --> 00:40:49.120
 that we can be forgiven

00:40:49.120 --> 00:40:49.940
 of our sins

00:40:49.940 --> 00:40:50.800
 and welcomed

00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:51.500
 into your family

00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:51.900
 forever.

00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:54.840
 Lord, we thank you

00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:56.320
 for that great good news.

00:40:56.420 --> 00:40:57.380
 We pray that you would be

00:40:57.380 --> 00:40:58.400
 our vision.

00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:01.220
 Lord, that we would

00:41:01.220 --> 00:41:02.100
 fix our eyes on you,

00:41:02.900 --> 00:41:03.700
 the author and finisher

00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:04.299
 of our faith.

00:41:04.919 --> 00:41:06.039
 We pray this in Jesus' name.

00:41:06.339 --> 00:41:06.579
 Amen.