WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.859 Please turn in your balls to Acts chapter 21. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:09.439 We're in Acts 21 this morning and then Acts 22 tonight. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:11.240 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.579 And I think two younger relatives of his. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:34.460 He was a sailor. 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:43.960 And so for the hour and a half journey, he taught the two young people opposite and me reluctantly about sailing. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:49.579 And what he kept talking about was fair winds and ill winds. 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:52.980 Fair winds and ill winds. 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:59.100 I know nothing about sailing, but if it's a fair wind, the wind's with you, isn't it? 00:00:59.100 --> 00:01:00.960 And you can go as quickly as you can. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:02.700 Ill winds are against you. 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:10.640 And as I was kind of trying to study Acts 21, actually Acts chapter 21 is all about fair winds and ill winds. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:14.280 And there's times when things are going great. 00:01:14.420 --> 00:01:15.680 It's really encouraging. 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:17.120 The wind is behind you. 00:01:17.460 --> 00:01:20.020 And there's the joy of the Christian life. 00:01:20.020 --> 00:01:26.680 And then there's also in Acts 21, ill winds, where everything seems against you and everything seems to be going wrong. 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:33.360 And what we'll see in Acts 21 is fair winds and ill winds in the Christian life go together. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:36.260 Passage divides into three. 00:01:36.360 --> 00:01:38.540 Verses 1 to 14, you see Paul's journey. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:40.600 He's in Turkey. 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:42.140 He's passed by Ephesus. 00:01:42.360 --> 00:01:43.800 He's met the elders there, remember. 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:46.300 He's got eight companions with him. 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:54.620 And they are carrying tens of thousands of pounds of money, possibly even more. 00:01:55.679 --> 00:02:00.319 The nine of them are on their way to Jerusalem with this gift, with this offering. 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:06.799 The money has been given by non-Jews, Gentiles, non-Jewish Christians, 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:11.759 to feed and clothe the Jewish Christians who live in Jerusalem area. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:17.159 And the gospel had come to the Gentiles from Jerusalem. 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:23.699 And so now those who'd received the gospel are giving back to the mother church, so to speak. 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:28.379 They're expressing their oneness with the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:30.159 It's an expression of fellowship. 00:02:30.799 --> 00:02:33.680 And in verses 1 to 14, the fair winds are blowing. 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:40.919 In every sense of the word, Paul's journey and his companions' journey is given to us in some detail. 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:45.799 The first day they set out to sail at sea, they sail 45 miles. 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:49.219 The next day, they do 70 more. 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:51.779 The third day, they do 70 more. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:54.539 That's some going, isn't it, when you're on a small boat. 00:02:55.159 --> 00:02:58.039 You don't get out of sight of the land, of the shore. 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:03.099 And you bob along 45 miles, 70 miles, 70 miles. 00:03:03.579 --> 00:03:04.560 There's a fair wind. 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:10.560 They end up in this place, Putara, on the south coast of Turkey. 00:03:10.819 --> 00:03:14.400 Then they sail for Phoenicia, or Syria as we might call it. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:16.199 They sail past Cyprus. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:20.020 And at last, they come to the land at Tyre. 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:27.360 Verse 4, what would you do if you were in a great hurry to get to Jerusalem? 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:32.420 If you were carrying thousands of pounds of cash for the poor, 00:03:33.320 --> 00:03:36.720 but you find yourself on a ship that's got to unload its cargo, 00:03:37.180 --> 00:03:40.740 and it's got to stay in Tyre for seven days, what would you do? 00:03:42.340 --> 00:03:43.240 What would you do? 00:03:44.760 --> 00:03:49.060 Verse 4, having sought out the disciples, we stayed there seven days. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:51.500 Paul has their companions. 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:52.960 They arrive in Tyre. 00:03:53.140 --> 00:03:54.200 They can't move on. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:55.420 What do they look for? 00:03:55.419 --> 00:03:58.780 What would you look for in a strange town? 00:04:00.339 --> 00:04:01.399 They look for the Christians. 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:03.979 There's no church buildings. 00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:06.019 They won't be for another 350 years. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.839 But they look for the Christians, and eventually they find them. 00:04:10.859 --> 00:04:13.679 And I want you to immediately notice that their hearts 00:04:13.679 --> 00:04:16.959 are knit together right away with these believers. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:22.800 Only a week later, they say goodbye to them. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:27.560 And the whole group of Christians entire come with Paul and his companions 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:29.480 to the very boat itself. 00:04:30.400 --> 00:04:33.780 And they kneel down on the shore together, and they pray together. 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:39.419 And the church I grew up in, grew up in Swansea, it's a university city. 00:04:40.119 --> 00:04:46.639 But at that point, there were very few internationals that came, and not lots at all. 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:50.579 And there was one student who came to our church, who had been about kind of 1981, 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:52.119 who was from Kenya. 00:04:52.239 --> 00:04:53.079 His name was Ben. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:56.620 Ben, he was like a celebrity, you know? 00:04:56.939 --> 00:04:58.240 An absolute celebrity. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:04:59.759 And he was there three years. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:01.919 He made a massive impact on the church family. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:07.300 And when he left to go back to Kenya, and Andrew will remember this, 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:09.500 the whole church went to Swansea train station. 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:14.839 There's photos of us all there, waving goodbye to Ben from Kenya. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:16.879 Why do we do that? 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:19.040 Well, because he'd won our hearts. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:22.720 Because we were affectionate towards him. 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:23.339 We loved him. 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:25.819 And so it was in the early church. 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:29.540 In less than seven days, these Christians have become family. 00:05:30.939 --> 00:05:32.560 They've never met before. 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:33.980 But it's such an encouragement, isn't it? 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:35.339 To have this sort of fellowship. 00:05:35.339 --> 00:05:40.719 Verse 4, again, having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days, 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:45.739 and through the Spirit, they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 00:05:48.139 --> 00:05:50.099 The early church had prophets. 00:05:52.459 --> 00:05:58.259 Now, you only find prophets when the Bible is actually in the process of being written. 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:03.739 It doesn't mean that these particular prophets were writing the Scripture, 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:10.860 but it is only at times in history when the Bible is actually being written that you find prophets. 00:06:12.280 --> 00:06:15.600 The New Testament isn't fully written at this point. 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:22.280 There are prophets in the churches, and they bring direct revelation from God to the people 00:06:22.280 --> 00:06:24.280 while the Scriptures are being written. 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:31.639 When the Scriptures have been written, there will never be another prophet in the history of the world. 00:06:33.359 --> 00:06:37.879 As is made perfectly clear, isn't it, by the last chapter of the Bible in the book of Revelation. 00:06:38.939 --> 00:06:44.000 Once Scripture is finished, there cannot be any more prophets. 00:06:44.539 --> 00:06:47.419 But there were prophets at the time of the early church. 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:53.379 And some of them are telling Paul in this little church, in those seven days, that he's not to go up to Jerusalem. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:55.520 Now, we have a problem. 00:06:57.080 --> 00:06:58.120 Did Paul disobey? 00:06:59.960 --> 00:07:04.020 Or was it simply like later on with Agabus, as we'll see in a minute, 00:07:04.280 --> 00:07:07.879 was it simply that they were saying that when you get to Jerusalem, there will be trouble? 00:07:08.080 --> 00:07:08.939 That is God's Word. 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:13.579 And then they concluded that he shouldn't go up. 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:19.379 Whichever way it was, Paul was a prophet to remember, as well as an apostle. 00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:25.139 He's reminded in this wonderful time of Christian fellowship, 00:07:26.019 --> 00:07:28.620 that though there are fair winds, ill winds are coming. 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:34.939 And so when you get fair winds that blow, you cannot forget ill winds. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:37.939 And the journey is traced to us. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:40.860 They go from one place to another, from verse 7. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:41.759 He comes to Ptolemus. 00:07:42.019 --> 00:07:45.040 And he only stays there a day, but he doesn't forget to greet the Christians. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.219 They come to Caesarea, and they stay with Philip. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:49.579 We've met Philip before, haven't we? 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:51.399 Act 6, one of the original deacons. 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:53.899 And it must have been some household. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:58.279 Philip, Mrs. Philip, the four unmarried daughters, who were prophetesses. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:02.319 And nine visitors carrying thousands of pounds. 00:08:03.779 --> 00:08:08.240 They stay there a little while, but the prophetesses aren't the only ones bringing the message. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:13.199 Storming down from Jerusalem is a man we've met before, Agabus. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:17.399 Compelled with the weight that the message he's carrying. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:23.420 And he comes into the room, there's Philip, Mrs. Philip, four daughters, Paul, his eight companions. 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:25.560 Maybe other Christians as well. 00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:27.279 And here he is, verse 11. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:35.620 Coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, thus says the Holy Spirit. 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:44.939 This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:47.419 Don't think of a leather belt. 00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:49.439 Don't think of that. 00:08:50.099 --> 00:08:50.779 With a buckle. 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:52.219 Go back to the first century. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:56.919 He unwinds this long cloth belt, piece of cloth. 00:08:57.799 --> 00:08:59.919 That would have been holding Paul's garments together. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:01.719 It could have been five or six feet long. 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:03.939 And he binds his own hands and feet. 00:09:04.699 --> 00:09:05.740 And he gives a prophecy. 00:09:06.339 --> 00:09:08.939 He says, thus says the Holy Spirit. 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:15.980 So note there that like the Old Testament prophets, he is speaking with the same authority. 00:09:17.300 --> 00:09:20.140 He says, this is God's word, not my word. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:22.380 And he gives a prophecy. 00:09:25.400 --> 00:09:30.220 Note that like the Old Testament prophets, he's speaking in God's name. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:32.900 This is God's word, not mine. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:34.380 Thus says the Holy Spirit. 00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:39.580 The same Holy Spirit that worked in the prophets Isaiah, Elisha, Daniel. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:41.220 Here is a word from God. 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:51.559 It says, so shall the Jews in Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 00:09:53.580 --> 00:09:55.539 Paul has come on a mercy mission. 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.659 Giving a gift of love to the church in Jerusalem. 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:02.179 And he's already been told trouble awaits. 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:04.779 But now here is Agabus. 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:06.359 And he says, it's going to be worse than that. 00:10:06.439 --> 00:10:08.899 When you get to Jerusalem, the Jews will hand you over to the Gentiles. 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:11.120 And you will be bound by your hands and your feet. 00:10:13.239 --> 00:10:19.959 Philip, Mrs. Philip, the four daughters, the eight companions, plead with Paul, don't go, don't go. 00:10:22.599 --> 00:10:26.299 God's word through Agabus did not forbid him to go. 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:32.879 God's word from Agabus says this is what will happen when you do go. 00:10:34.719 --> 00:10:38.599 It was those who heard the word pleaded with him not to go. 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:42.519 There's fair winds blowing out there. 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:46.639 What fellowship, what friendship, what solidarity. 00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:51.059 It's a marvellous thing, isn't it, to go through the Christian life with Christian friends. 00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:57.439 It's a marvellous thing to go into Christian homes and spend your time there. 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:02.760 It's a marvellous thing to meet Christian young people who love the Lord. 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:04.440 But there's trouble ahead. 00:11:05.900 --> 00:11:13.300 And when the fair winds are blowing, God won't let Paul forget that there are going to be ill winds blowing. 00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:18.000 Now at this point I need to stop and I wish I didn't have to stop. 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:27.159 Over the past kind of 60, 70 years there are churches that have said there are really three types of prophets. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:31.719 They are saying what nobody has said before. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:35.379 The Bible says there are two types of prophets. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:41.000 There are true prophets and there are false prophets. 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:46.879 But many churches in the UK want to say there are three types of prophets. 00:11:49.359 --> 00:11:50.399 There are false prophets. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:51.879 I don't think they talk about them very much. 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:58.699 And there are true prophets of the sort like Ezekiel and Obadiah who wrote books. 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:03.439 But they want to say there's a third type of prophet. 00:12:04.819 --> 00:12:08.339 Who speaks in God's name but he doesn't carry the same authority. 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:14.180 So for example the Old Testament prophets. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:16.780 They can't make mistakes. 00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:24.820 But this new type of prophet, even though they speak in God's name, they can occasionally get it wrong. 00:12:26.180 --> 00:12:27.060 They can make mistakes. 00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:34.899 When you listen to them, they may be 80% right, 90% right, 70% right, a little bit right. 00:12:35.439 --> 00:12:36.199 You've got to sift it. 00:12:38.119 --> 00:12:41.239 And the big passage that they go to is they say, well Agabus didn't get it quite right. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:45.279 Agabus is one of those third types of prophets that didn't get it quite right. 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:46.099 Look at verse 11. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:13:00.200 And they say actually that didn't happen, did it? 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:04.899 They say the Jews didn't bind him and the Gentiles didn't receive him. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.680 They grabbed him. 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:06.940 Agabus got it wrong. 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:13.940 Well before the end of this sermon, we will see Paul in two chains. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:20.000 Two chains means chains on the hands and chains on the feet. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:26.779 And we will see Paul being attempted to be killed by the Jewish people and the Romans intervening. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:32.800 And when the Jews who are trying to kill Paul see the Romans, they stand back. 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:36.080 And Luke is silent about what happened next. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:41.580 But Paul himself tells us in chapter 28 of this book that he was handed over to the Gentiles. 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:45.399 Agabus' prophecy was exactly fulfilled. 00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:52.019 And we will see over the coming weeks that again and again the Romans say release this man. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:56.800 And again the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem say never, never, never. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:06.600 They put enormous pressure that not only should Paul not be released but that he should be condemned. 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:12.340 So he was kept in chains which is very, very unusual for a Roman citizen. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:21.300 Agabus' prophecy was not only fulfilled on one occasion but actually over the next couple of years we'll see it's fulfilled numerous times. 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:27.539 When a man speaks in the name of God. 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:30.539 If he is a true prophet. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:34.699 He knows what is the word of God and what are his own thoughts. 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:37.080 Agabus' prophecy was a true prophet. 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:37.879 Agabus' prophecy was a true prophet. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:43.460 No true prophet would mix up his own thoughts on the word of God. 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:45.180 It rules out modern day prophets. 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:48.020 Agabus was a true prophet. 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.600 Agabus' prophecy was a true prophet. 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:48.600 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:54.960 and he is reminding Paul that where fair winds blow, ill winds follow. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.840 So that's Paul's journey. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:58.360 Let's move quickly into Paul's arrival. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.540 Verses 16 to 25. 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.340 He now walks with the others. 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:08.440 He travels 70 or so more miles from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 00:15:11.060 --> 00:15:13.620 It's two days for a good worker, three days for most. 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:18.180 He arrives in Jerusalem where there's hostility towards him. 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:23.340 And not only by the unconverted Jews, but by the converted Jews who are believing rumours. 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:25.519 Where will he stay? 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:28.480 Where is he going to get his head down for the night? 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.840 Fortunately, there's a man who's been converted. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:34.259 He owns a large house in Jerusalem and he stays there. 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:35.800 He's one of the early disciples. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.840 Perhaps he's one of those men that was converted on the day of Pentecost. 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:42.800 And Paul and his friends and his relations stay there. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:53.419 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing to us the house of Manasson of Cyprus, an early disciple whom we lodge. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.099 Verse 17. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:58.560 And when he'd come to Jerusalem, the brothers receive him gladly. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.019 The joy of Christian fellowship. 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:05.720 The next day he's able to see James and all the other elders of the Jerusalem church. 00:16:06.819 --> 00:16:12.699 And they said to him, verse 20, if you look down, you see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:15.540 They are all zealous for the law. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:25.500 And they've been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.340 That is a lie. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:33.160 We've seen, haven't we, Paul just a few chapters ago had circumcised Timothy. 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:37.660 And Paul himself, a few months ago, had made a vow with a ritual haircut. 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:43.219 There's often rumours about preachers of the gospel. 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:48.959 And here there is an ill, chilling ill wind that's blowing. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:52.899 Fair winds, they welcome gladly, lovely fellowship. 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.679 Welcome from the elders. 00:16:55.559 --> 00:17:00.199 They listen to what God has done through Paul and they're thrilled by it. 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:07.740 But ill winds because there's suspicion and animosity and tension and bad feeling. 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.600 And rumours. 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:13.299 And people believe those rumours. 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:18.080 So the elders come up with a wonderful plan which will backfire. 00:17:18.860 --> 00:17:20.019 They say here are four men. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:26.080 I can't go into all the details because I don't think anyone else can either because I'm not sure we understand them all. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:31.759 And so here are four men who've made a vow and they're coming to the end of their vow. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.319 Their vows are for a certain time. 00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:36.879 And at the end of their vow they will have to make offerings. 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:43.000 And when their vow is over they will have their head shaved to show that they're released from the vow. 00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:47.339 And they say, you sponsor them, Paul. 00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:50.879 You get purified richly with them. 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:54.179 You go into the temple for their final exercises. 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:59.560 And when people see you in the temple with those people and their vows. 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:03.160 When they see that you're paying for their offerings and sacrifices. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:05.460 They will know that the rumours about you aren't true. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:10.279 That you're not someone who just kicks off the old ceremonial law. 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.700 Paul agrees. 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:17.680 It's an example, isn't it, of for the Jew he became a Jew. 00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:23.140 He would not have done any sacrifice that was a sacrifice for sin. 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:26.900 Because he understood very well that there's only one sacrifice for sin. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:28.420 The Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:35.100 But because Paul is so concerned about peace in the Christian church. 00:18:35.780 --> 00:18:42.420 And because Paul is so concerned for the Jewish believers who've come to know the Lord Jesus. 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:47.420 He agrees to the strategy that's suggested to him by the elders of the church. 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:50.600 Remember, this is Paul. 00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:57.300 Who will stand up and he'll say, you don't have to be circumcised to be saved. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:06.460 This is Paul who will stand up and say to those Gentiles, you do not have to become Jewish to be born again. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:09.819 But it is for the peace of the church. 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:11.039 For his love. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:14.819 For his Jewish brothers and sisters. 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:17.620 He will submit himself to this. 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:21.620 In the words of the great theologian Kenny Rogers, 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:24.640 Paul knew you've got to know when to hold. 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.180 When to fold up. 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.920 When to walk away. 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.799 And you've got to know when to run. 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.240 We're going to see that again and again. 00:19:32.379 --> 00:19:37.599 That Paul, he changes his behaviour. 00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:40.000 Not to contradict the dark gospel. 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:45.039 But because he is so passionate about Jewish and Gentile believers. 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:48.359 That's thirdly, we've seen Paul's journey. 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.319 We've seen Paul's arrival. 00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:50.359 Let's see Paul's arrest. 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.799 Paul takes the man. 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.980 He goes into the temple with him. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:57.379 He goes through the various rituals of purification. 00:19:57.380 --> 00:20:00.180 The time of their vow was coming to an end. 00:20:00.800 --> 00:20:02.720 There's a week of special things to do. 00:20:03.260 --> 00:20:04.260 And he's involved with that. 00:20:06.520 --> 00:20:11.960 But you see, Paul had seen there were people from all over the known world in Jerusalem. 00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:14.220 At that time, it was Pentecost. 00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:15.340 People came to Jerusalem. 00:20:15.760 --> 00:20:17.900 There were Jews from Asia who knew Paul. 00:20:18.300 --> 00:20:19.720 And his friend, Trophimus. 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.480 They knew him too. 00:20:20.540 --> 00:20:21.360 He was a Gentile. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:28.759 These Jewish people had seen Paul walking through the streets of Jerusalem with Trophimus. 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:33.719 And now they see Paul with unknown men in the temple. 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:38.219 They'd seen him with Gentiles in the city. 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:41.839 And now they see him with unknown people in the temple. 00:20:42.199 --> 00:20:43.799 And two and two makes five. 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:51.700 And they assume that the people he's been walking around with in the streets are the same people that he's been walking around with in the temple. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:56.799 That Paul had brought a non-Jew into the temple. 00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.639 A Gentile. 00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:00.339 And the outcome is a riot. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:01.919 Verse 28. 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.460 Can you see it? 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:11.079 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stood up the whole crowd, laid hands on him, crying out, men of Israel, help. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:22.620 This is the man who's teaching everyone, everywhere, against the people, against the law, against this place, the temple of God. 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:29.259 Moreover, he's even brought Greeks into the temple and he's defiled this holy place. 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:30.000 It was a lie. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.799 It was a misreading of the evidence. 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.619 It was false. 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:39.220 But the devil uses falsehood, doesn't he? 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:47.640 And when the devil can't answer truth with fact, he has to answer truth with falsehood. 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:54.619 And when the devil can't destroy the gospel message, he has to destroy the gospel messenger. 00:21:54.619 --> 00:22:03.599 And when the devil knows that people are beginning to understand, he sows seeds, weeds, to make them misunderstand. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:09.839 And where the fair winds are blowing, he will make sure there are ill winds blowing. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:15.139 And if God wasn't in control, he would ruin it completely. 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.740 But praise God, he is in control. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:20.319 The whole city is a riot. 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:23.019 Paul is taken out of the temple. 00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:26.299 The doors are shut and they are in the process of killing him. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.679 They're beating him. 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:35.680 Fortunately, in the providence of God, the Roman cohort comes onto the scene. 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:41.700 Right next to the temple is the tower with barracks. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:48.340 With steps coming down from the Roman barracks and right into the outer court, the troops come. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.380 They can be there in minutes. 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:55.180 And in the mercy and the kindness of God, the Romans arrive. 00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.920 When they appear, the Jews step back. 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:03.780 And later on, he and Paul's word is handed over and chained. 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:05.340 Agabus' prophecy is fulfilled. 00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:12.280 The crowd is so hostile that Paul has to be carried up in the air so that the angry mob can't get hold of him. 00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:16.600 Acts 21 is a difficult chapter to preach. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.540 It's such a mixture. 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:20.619 There's fellowship and prayer. 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.359 There's hospitality and joy. 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.839 There's pleasant travel. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.539 There's laughter. 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:29.339 Christians surrounding Paul and his companions with love. 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:32.039 Welcoming him and rejoicing in him. 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.899 Receiving God's word. 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:37.500 But there's also rumours and suspicion. 00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:43.359 And the promise of future persecution and hate and misunderstanding. 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.980 And twisted evidence. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:49.099 And riots and beatings. 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:51.640 And near murder and chains. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.059 And just escaping with his life. 00:23:55.059 --> 00:24:00.119 And if you follow apostolic Christianity. 00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:04.399 Do not be surprised if there are fair wins. 00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:06.940 If there are good times. 00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:08.059 Great times. 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.259 Encouraging times. 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:10.440 In church life. 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:12.000 Many good moments. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:14.859 But don't be surprised. 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:17.319 When there are ill winds. 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.319 And there is spite. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.659 And there is spite. 00:24:20.439 --> 00:24:20.919 Of others. 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:23.720 And there are broken relationships. 00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:26.099 And your own heart. 00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:27.779 Broken beyond measure. 00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:30.319 That is the Christian life. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:35.220 One of my favourite places in London. 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:38.339 Is the tiny little watch shop. 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.599 In Piccadilly station. 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.459 If you've got an old watch. 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.799 It's the best place to go. 00:24:43.699 --> 00:24:45.279 And it's a tiny little cubby hole. 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:48.379 It's probably the size of this kind of carpet here. 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.539 And when you go. 00:24:49.899 --> 00:24:51.579 And you take an old watch like this. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:54.079 The man puts his thing on his eye. 00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:56.000 And he takes the back off your watch. 00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:58.500 And he'll show you the workings of your watch. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:01.539 And when you see an old watch like this. 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:03.900 You'll see that there are wheels going one way. 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:06.980 And there are wheels going the exact opposite way. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:09.500 And there are parts moving in every direction. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.579 And there's a stopper in the watch. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.400 That stops it. 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.359 Stops it. 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.299 Stops it. 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.059 So it ticks. 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:19.099 And you can watch him work on old watches. 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:21.799 Wheels going one way. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.339 Wheels going that way. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:27.420 And the wheels have to go in opposite directions. 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.440 For the watch to work. 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:34.140 And you'll see the stopper. 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:36.920 Keeping stopping the wheels. 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.259 As it ticks. 00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:45.940 And the whole mechanism is going in different directions on an old watch. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:50.019 And when you look at your Christian life. 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:54.460 You will see things that are very hard and very difficult. 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.299 And maybe awful. 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:58.539 Things that you would love to stop. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.419 And when you look at your life. 00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:04.099 You will see things that seem to be going well. 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:06.639 And are happy and encouraging. 00:26:07.919 --> 00:26:10.879 And there are things in your life that are going in different directions. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:12.759 Wheels going in different directions. 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.740 Things that are for you. 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.119 The winds that are for you. 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.799 And things that are against you. 00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:19.079 The winds that are against you. 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:21.460 And you might look today. 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:23.659 And you might think nothing is going right. 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:26.159 Nothing is working out. 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.819 But the promise of Acts 21. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.000 And the promise of the Bible. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:34.039 Is that God is working out his plans. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:38.579 And God is working out his purposes. 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:42.679 And all things work together for good. 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.419 For those who love him. 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:46.399 Who are called according to his purpose. 00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:49.980 And you are in the place. 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:52.319 God wants you to be. 00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:55.579 And he is making you into the person. 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:57.199 That he wants you to be. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:27:00.420 And so we look at Acts 21. 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:03.200 With the fair winds and the ill winds. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.120 And we look at our lives. 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:07.140 With the fair winds and the ill winds. 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:10.059 And it is a marvellous assurance to us. 00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:12.240 To carry on. 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.580 To keep on going. 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:17.400 To keep living for the Lord Jesus. 00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.380 This week. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.660 And the rest of our lives. 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.279 Let's pray.