Please take out your copy of God's Word and turn to Acts chapter 18.
! Acts chapter 18.
Acts chapter 18 in our text for this morning will be verses 1-23.
! This is Luke's second narrative account of Jesus' life.
His first is the Gospel according to Luke, which is about Jesus' earthly ministry.
His second is the book we're studying this morning and have been for quite some time,
often called the Acts of the Apostles, which I like to call the Acts of the Risen and Ascended Jesus.
It was written that we might witness the working of Jesus by the agency of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His church.
In today's text, we will note the conclusion of the Apostle Paul's second missionary journey.
But first we're going to see his arrival and ministry in the city of Corinth.
He has traveled now down through Macedonia.
He's in Europe now.
From Philippi to Thessalonica and then to Berea.
He has been beaten and imprisoned.
He has escaped a mob riot and he has been chased out of the region.
He has gone further south to Athens where he sees gospel fruit, but it seems not much.
And in verse 1 of chapter 18, Luke records for us,
after this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Corinth was on the land bridge that connects the Peloponnesian Peninsula with mainland Greece.
I'd encourage you to look at that.
You may even have a map in the back of your copy of God's Word that would show you this little island,
this little bridge, this little land bridge between the two.
Not an island, a land bridge.
It was, therefore, in a very strategic location as the city of Corinth had two ports,
one on the east coast, the other on the west.
In order to save a 200-mile journey around the peninsula,
many ships were taken out at one port, and I found this so fascinating as an aside,
and rolled on logs for four miles through the city to be put in the other port.
This was easier.
This was more efficient than sailing all the way around the peninsula.
Also of interesting note, in AD 67, so beyond the time of our text today,
Nero began a canal that was not completed until 1893.
Now if you look at a modern map, you'll see a canal that cuts across that land bridge.
The town of Corinth was a transient town.
Lots of sailors, lots of tradesmen,
very little stability in the town,
and as such it was full of vice.
What comes to my mind when I think of Corinth is
what happens in Corinth stays in Corinth.
People coming and going all the time and living licentiously as a result.
1,500 feet above the city of Corinth was the Acropolis,
where the temple of Aphrodite was.
Each evening the temple's 1,000 priestesses,
who were ritual prostitutes,
would descend the mountain into the city for the quote-unquote worship of Aphrodite.
Corinth surpassed other Greek cities in wickedness,
and that's saying a lot.
It actually became the phrase,
to Corinthianize,
was common in this day,
which meant to practice whoredom,
to Corinthianize.
It was a dark and depressing city.
And we find Paul there discouraged.
As he reflects upon his time in Corinth,
when writing to the church there in 1 Corinthians 2.3,
he says,
and I was with you in weakness,
and in fear,
and much trembling.
I was not encouraged,
I was discouraged when I came to you.
Do you ever feel discouraged in your faith?
Has your labor in the gospel ever been or felt fruitless?
I know that our common discouragement shared amongst our church
comes because we see so many people come,
but then also so many people go.
Those of us who stay here can often feel discouraged
as we send people out.
But beloved, this should not be so.
We are positioned in a place,
in a unique way,
to minister far and wide the Word of the Lord.
We have seen this across the past eight years.
We gather and go each week here in this area.
And we gather in Dahlonega.
And we go to the ends of the earth.
Is that an encouraging reality?
Or a discouraging one?
Saying goodbye to people that we love
will always be bittersweet.
It should never not be.
Have some element of bitter to it.
It's hard to say goodbye
to people that we know and love
and share our lives with.
But I contend with you today
that it ultimately ought to be sweet.
It ought to be an encouragement
to our souls to see people sent forth.
And this is going to get tested.
It's been tested in the past.
We've sent a lot of people out from this place.
I noted to you last week
that if you take our start date,
we just honestly,
we kind of picked a random date.
When do we actually exist as we exist?
We said January 1 of 2009.
And you come to the present day,
there are only six people
who are original members of our church
that have had an uninterrupted time here.
Only six.
Across eight years.
And that's not been because of turmoil.
And I know a lot of you are fresh
and new to the life of our church.
We've had a very good and growing congregation.
We haven't had massive upheavals and upsets.
And all of a sudden,
we're one number
and then we're half that number
because people got upset
and got in clubs
and took off.
We've never had any kind of controversy like that.
But people have come
and they have been trained up,
we hope, by grace.
And then they've gone.
Gone off to other places.
We've seen people go all over the world.
We've seen people spread across the southeast.
Last year,
we had the great blessing
of starting another church
in Oakwood, Georgia.
And I don't know about you guys,
but when we get together all together
at things like the picnic yesterday,
I feel that loss a little more.
Like I recognize how much I miss
some of those people
when I see them again.
Like, ah,
it was so good
when I got to see you every week
and now it seems to be only
a couple times a year.
We recently sent out
Ash and Janine Harris.
Ash took a job
in Boone, North Carolina.
I mentioned earlier,
Oziama,
Obele,
going to Brazil soon.
Kirby and Leanna White
are going to soon be leaving
in just a couple of weeks,
going to Washington State
where Kirby is from.
Michael and Lauren Shealy
are moving.
He's being commissioned
and stationed.
They're moving to Columbus, Georgia.
Daniel and Carly Walker
are going back to Madison County
at least for a season.
We don't know how long
at this point,
but they will be gone
for a bit of time.
And Phillip and Natalie Akins
are going to Canton
for jobs there.
And I may have missed somebody.
I really tried not to,
but I may have missed
someone who will be leaving us
probably for good.
There are countless others.
College students,
many of you are going to be gone
after this Sunday.
And the summer will be
a little bit more quiet
without you here
and you will be missed.
I'm becoming further
and further convinced
that faithful gospel ministry
leaves much room
for discouragement.
But,
I want to be encouraged
in the midst
of faithful gospel ministry.
So join me in our text
for today
to that end.
That is where we're aiming
to be encouraged
in the midst
of faithful gospel ministry.
Beloved,
this is God's word to us.
It was written for His glory
and for our good.
And we would all do well
to listen to it
in order to believe
its promises
and obey its commands.
Begin reading in verse 1.
After this,
Paul left Athens
and went to Corinth.
And he found a Jew
named Aquila,
a native of Pontus,
recently come from Italy
with his wife Priscilla
because Claudius
had commanded
all the Jews
to leave Rome.
And he went to see them.
And because he was
of the same trade,
he stayed with them
and worked,
for they were tent makers
by trade.
And he reasoned
in the synagogue
every Sabbath
and tried to persuade
Jews and Greeks.
When Silas and Timothy
arrived from Macedonia,
Paul was occupied
with the word,
testifying to the Jews
that the Christ
was Jesus.
And when they opposed
and reviled him,
he shook out his garments
and said to them,
your blood be on your own heads.
I am innocent.
From now on,
I will go to the Gentiles.
And he left there
and went to the house
of a man named Titius Justice,
a worshiper of God.
His house was next door
to the synagogue.
Crispus,
the ruler of the synagogue,
believed in the Lord
together with his entire household.
And many of the Corinthians
hearing Paul believed
and were baptized.
And the Lord said to Paul
one night in a vision,
Do not be afraid,
but go on speaking
and do not be silent,
for I am with you
and no one will attack you
to harm you,
for I have many in this city
who are my people.
And he stayed a year
and six months
teaching the word of God
among them.
But when Galio
was proconsul of Achaia,
the Jews made a united attack
on Paul
and brought him
before the tribunal,
saying,
this man is persuading people
to worship God
contrary to the law.
But when Paul
was about to open his mouth,
Galio said to the Jews,
If it were a matter
of wrongdoing
or vicious crime,
O Jews,
I would have reason
to accept your complaint.
But since it is a matter
of questions
about words and names
and your own law,
see to it yourselves.
I refuse to be a judge
of these things.
And he drove them
from the tribunal.
And they all seized
Sosthenes,
the ruler of the synagogue,
and beat him
in front of the tribunal.
But Galio paid no attention
to any of this.
After this,
Paul stayed many days longer
and then took leave
of the brothers
and set sail for Syria
and with him
Priscilla and Aquila.
At Kincray,
he had cut his hair
for he was under a vow.
And they came to Ephesus
and he left them there,
but he himself
went into the synagogue
and reasoned
with the Jews.
When they asked him
to stay for a longer period,
he declined.
But on taking leave of them,
he said,
I will return to you
if God wills.
And he set sail
from Ephesus.
When he had landed
at Caesarea,
he went up
and greeted the church
and then went down
to Antioch.
After spending
some time there,
he departed
and went from one place
to the next
through the region
of Galatia
and Phrygia,
strengthening
all the disciples.
Now,
that is a lot of text,
right?
And the information
comes at us
almost in a rapid-fire sense.
And so,
I understand
if you're already going
why
verses 1-23.
So it's my hope
to wrap it together
for you
thematically
by helping us
consider
five ways
that God
encourages
the souls
of His discouraged
servants.
Five ways
that God
encourages
the souls
of His
discouraged
servants.
And I'm going
to give those
five to you
and then we'll
take them
one at a time.
So number one,
God encourages
the souls
of His
discouraged
servants
number one
with new
partners.
Number two
with provision.
Number three
with His
presence.
Number four
with protection.
I guess they all
start with P's.
Number five,
with purpose.
In so many ways
I'm not a good
Baptist,
but in that way
I am.
I like to
alliterate.
So firstly,
God encourages
the souls
of His
discouraged
servants
with new
partners.
We see Him
in this new
city
by Himself.
He does not
have
Silas and
Timothy.
His missionary
band has been
split up for
various
circumstances.
And we find
Him by
Himself,
but He
seeks out,
it would
seem,
He finds
a Jew
named
Aquila,
a native of
Pontus,
and his
wife
Priscilla.
And He
joins
Himself
to them.
They are
also
tent makers
by trade
and He
stays with
them and
He works
with them.
And the
Bible does not
tell us of
the conversion
of Aquila
and Priscilla,
but they
were likely
already
Christians
at this
point,
having come
from the
church that
already existed
in Rome.
We can
fail as we
study Acts
to remember
that the
Gospel was
not just
going forth
into the
world on a
single front.
It wasn't
just Paul
and his
missionary
band that
was preaching
the good
news of
Jesus Christ.
But followers
of Jesus
Christ were
doing what
followers of
Jesus Christ
do.
They were
taking the
message of
God's saving
work to
all people.
Luke's
narrative is
primarily about
the Apostle
Paul's ministry
as it should
be and as it
serves us
well, but the
Gospel is
going forth.
And so it's
likely that this
couple have
already become
part of the
church in
Rome before
ever meeting
Paul.
Likely.
We don't
know for
sure, but
likely.
And God
in His
gracious
providence
brings new
partners in
the Gospel
to Corinth
ahead of
Paul.
Catch that.
Before Paul
ever gets
there, Aquila
and Priscilla
are there.
Brought there,
partners of the
same trade,
they give him
a place to
stay,
they give
him a
livelihood
upon his
arrival.
And the
way in which
they arrive
there, Luke
records for
us because of
the command
of Claudius
that all
the Jews
had to leave
Rome.
That decree
is mentioned
here in this
text and
one other
place in
all recorded
history by
a Roman
historian named
Suetonus,
I think,
who wrote
70 years
after the
fact the
following.
As the
Jews were
indulging in
constant
riots at
the instigation
of
Crestus,
Claudius
banished them
from Rome.
It's just one
sentence,
this one
mention of
this thing
that happened
by this
Roman historian
Suetonus.
Now,
the word
he uses
here,
Crestus,
a name,
a formal
name,
Crestus,
is just
one letter
variation from
the Latin
for Christ
Christus.
So many
presume that
what was
happening in
Rome was
because of
the preaching
of the
gospel,
Jews were
doing what
so many
Jews seem
to do
in this
day.
They were
getting
furious
about the
preaching
of the
good news
of Jesus
Christ and
were rioting
as a result.
And what
Suetonus
has understood
some years
later,
hearing the
telling,
he keeps
hearing this
name,
that there
was a
man there
that was
causing
all of
this.
Now,
that is
still
possible.
There was
actually a
guy named
Crestus
causing the
Jews to
riot in
Rome.
But I
think more
likely,
he just
made a
mistake in
the hearing
of the
word and
recorded it
as
Crestus.
So,
probably,
the Jews
are in an
uproar all
the time
because of
the preaching
of the
good news
of Jesus
Christ.
And Claudius
sends them
away from
Rome.
And that's
how
Aquila and
Priscilla find
themselves in
Corinth to
become new
partners in
gospel ministry
with Paul.
And they also
become partners
with them in
their living
situation and
in their
livelihood.
The text
says that they
are tent
makers.
If you're
familiar with
the life of
Paul,
you've probably
heard him
spoken of as
a tent
maker,
we can
tend to
use that
term of
bivocational
ministers,
that they're
tent makers,
they do some
other work to
earn their
livelihood than
just preaching
the gospel.
But interestingly,
the Greek word
used for
tent makers
could also
refer to
leather
workers.
It could
also be
leather
workers.
And I
always had
this picture
in my
mind of
Paul with
canvas,
sewing canvas
tents,
but tents in
this day were
made from
animal skin.
They were
made from
leather.
So likely
they made
tents,
but they
also may
have made
many other
things.
Maybe in
Corinth all
the rage
was to
have an
original
Priscilla
purse.
A Paul
belt,
something like
that.
But this is
the work
that they're
doing when
they're
there.
You'll also
note that
Priscilla and
Aquila go
with him.
So verse
18,
after a year
and a half
and in
this trial,
Paul stays
many days
longer.
Luke records,
we don't know
exactly how
long,
but many
days longer
than he
takes leave
of the
brothers and
sets sails
for Syria
and with
him go
Priscilla
and Aquila.
And then in
verse 19,
when they
come to
Ephesus,
he leaves
them there
and along
with Apollos,
they become
the beginning
of the church
there at
Ephesus.
So they
become partners
with him,
new partners
with him
in gospel
ministry.
Beloved,
this is
God's
church.
It belongs
to him.
Christ's
family church
at Dahlonega
is his.
And if you
are a follower
of Jesus Christ,
you are
God's
children.
And he
will not
leave us
alone.
Partners in
ministry
will go.
They will.
I think
if we're
doing
faithful
ministry,
if we're
looking out
to the
world,
partners in
ministry
will go.
But they
will also
come.
They will
also come.
We have
new opportunity
for new
relationship
and new
investment.
And those
who come
are of great
benefit to
us in
that way.
Paul writes
to the
Philippian
church in
chapter 1
verses 3
through 5
of Philippians.
I thank
my God
in all
my remembrance
of you.
Always in
every prayer
of mine
for you
all making
my prayer
with joy.
Why?
Because of
your partnership
in the
gospel.
From the
first day
when he
came to
them,
when they
became
believers,
until
now.
And so
here's Paul
from a
distance
writing a
letter to
the
Philippian
church,
thanking
God,
praising
him for
the
partnership
they
still
had.
So God
encourages
the souls
of his
discouraged
servants
with new
partners.
Secondly,
he does
so with
provision,
and just
as a
side
alliterated
point,
with provision
from old
partners.
believers.
We see
in the
first part
of verse
5 that
Silas and
Timothy
arrive from
Macedonia.
You may
recall that
when Paul
was in
Athens,
he was
waiting for
Silas and
Timothy to
rejoin him
as he had
left them in
Berea with
orders to
come to
him as
soon as
possible.
That's
what he
was there
doing,
and then
as Paul
does,
as he's
waiting,
he went
about
preaching
the good
news of
Christ.
You can
see Acts
17,
15,
and 16
about that.
Now Luke
does not
record for
us that
Silas and
Timothy ever
found Paul
in Athens,
but many
have suggested
that they
did and
were sent
back into
Macedonia so
they would
have gone
north once
again to
Paul before
they joined
him in
Corinth.
So he
meets up
with them
in Athens,
he sends
them back
out,
he goes
on to
Corinth,
and then
they later
rejoin him.
I tend
to agree,
and here's
why.
In 1 Thessalonians
3,
verses 1 and
2,
Paul writes,
Therefore,
when we
could bear
it no
longer,
we were
willing to
be left
behind at
Athens
alone,
and we
sent
Timothy,
our brother
and God's
co-worker in
the gospel of
Christ,
to establish
and exhort
you in
your faith.
So I
think,
therefore,
when we
could bear
it no
longer,
as Paul
and Silas
and Timothy,
and then
we were
willing to
be left
behind at
Athens
alone,
as Paul
and Silas,
because they
sent Timothy
to the
Thessalonians.
Are you
catching that?
So at
very least
we can
see that
it's
probable,
it's very
likely,
that Timothy
left them
in Athens,
and then Silas
may have
also been
sent
somewhere.
But either
way,
they come
and they
find him.
They find
him coming
from Macedonia,
they find
him.
And when
they find
him,
midway
through
verse 5,
Luke
records,
in the
ESV,
Paul was
occupied
with the
Word,
testifying to
the Jews
that the
Christ
was
Jesus.
So we've
seen him
earlier in
the text,
right?
He seems
to be
working
during the
week and
attending
the synagogue
on the
weekends,
on the
Sabbath,
our
Saturday.
But here,
Paul's
occupied with
the Word.
Acts 18.5
in the
NASB
translation
says this,
but when
Silas and
Timothy came
down from
Macedonia,
Paul began
devoting
himself
completely
to the
Word.
And I
think that's
a better
rendering of
the middle
part of
verse 5.
That is to
say,
when Silas
and Timothy
came and
joined Paul,
he began
to be
occupied,
meaning,
he spent
all week
long.
He was
able to
set aside
tent making
for the
sake of
spending
more time
in gospel
proclamation.
A bit
of a
proof to
this,
2 Corinthians
11.9
And when
I was
with you,
this is
Paul,
when I
was with
you and
was in
need,
I did
not burden
anyone,
for the
brothers who
came from
Macedonia
supplied my
need.
I think
he's
referring to
Silas and
Timothy when
they come
from
Macedonia,
so I
refrained
and will
refrain from
burdening you
in any way.
So they
bring this
provision to
him which
enables him
to no longer
be a tent
maker but
to devote
himself fully
to gospel
proclamation,
at least for
this frame
of his
ministry.
God
provides
for his
own.
God cares
for his
people and
this should
greatly
encourage our
souls.
God
cares,
beloved,
about every
tiny little
detail of
your little
life.
In
Matthew
chapter 10
verse 29,
Jesus says,
as recorded
by Matthew,
are not
two sparrows
sold for a
penny,
and not
one of
them will
fall to
the ground
apart from
your father.
So even
this very
cheap bird,
which would
have been
the poor
person's
sacrifice at
the temple,
two sparrows
sold for a
penny are
precious in
God's sight,
and yet we're
more precious
than those
two sparrows.
Luke,
however,
records the
same speaking
by Jesus.
in this
way,
Luke
chapter 12
verse 6,
are not
five sparrows
sold for
two pennies,
and not
one of
them is
forgotten
before God.
So in
one text we
see that
two sparrows
are sold
for a
penny,
and in
another text
we've got
five for
two pennies,
which seems
to confuse
the price
of sparrows.
I suggest
to you
that if you
were a poor
person and
you went to
the temple
and you
bought four
for two
pennies,
they threw
in an odd
sparrow.
And beloved,
you and I
are the odd
sparrow.
God cares
for us.
So God
encourages the
souls of His
discouraged
servants with
new partners
and with
provision
coming by
the hand of
old partners.
And He also,
and most
importantly,
encourages the
souls of His
discouraged
servants with
His presence.
With His
presence.
Paul seems
to be so
discouraged at
this point that
God visits
him in a
vision.
In a very
special way,
he comes
alongside
Paul in a
vision in
verse 9.
And he says,
do not be
afraid, but
go on speaking
and do not
be silent,
why?
For I
am with
you.
For I am
with you.
Jesus made
this very
promise to
the apostles
in Matthew
chapter 28,
verses 18
through 20.
And Jesus
came and
said to
them,
all authority
in heaven and
on earth has
been given
to me.
Go therefore
and make
disciples of
all nations,
baptizing them
in the name
of the Father
and of the
Son and of the
Holy Spirit,
teaching them
to observe
all that I
have commanded
you.
There's the
great commission,
the command
given to all
followers of
Jesus Christ,
and he ends
it this way,
and behold,
I am with
you always
to the end
of the age.
And we do
not want to
forget that
that wonderful
promise at the
end of verse
20 is coupled
with Jesus'
proclamation at
the beginning of
verse 18.
all authority
in heaven and
on earth has
been given
to me.
So we have
the all-powerful
ascended Jesus
Christ with
us always.
How is it that
God's presence
is with us?
Jesus, who is
God, says to
the apostles,
I am with you
always.
And to Paul,
for I am
with you.
And he says
the same to
all his people.
But how?
How?
How is this
accomplished?
Right?
How is the
presence of
Christ experienced
by his people?
In 2 Corinthians
13-14, Paul
writes this to
the Corinthian
believers,
the grace of
the Lord Jesus
Christ and the
love of God
and the
fellowship of
the Holy Spirit
be with you
all.
This is a
classic
Trinitarian
text where we
see all of
the persons of
the Godhead
in a single
verse.
But today,
note the
phrase,
be with you.
How is it?
How is it
that all of
these aspects
of who God
is,
is with us?
It's by the
fellowship of
the Holy Spirit.
If you are a
follower of Jesus
Christ,
if you are
regenerate,
you are such
because the
very Spirit of
God dwells
within you.
and He uses
a tool to
accomplish His
purposes in
our life.
It's His
Word.
I cannot say
it to you
enough.
I will not
grow tired of
saying,
God's Word
is authoritative.
It's powerful.
It's inerrant.
It is sufficient
for our living.
We live in an
age where the
Word of God is
being altogether
thrown out.
I have met
across the past
couple of weeks
people who
profess to
follow Jesus
Christ who
have no
familiarity with
the Bible
whatsoever.
Just in
talking with
them about
what the
Gospel even
is.
Regular
attenders of
churches in
our area that
have no
idea.
I attended
a meeting of
our association
of churches
this past
week that
lasted three
and a half
hours and the
Bible was not
referenced once.
a group of
pastors,
me and the
Association of
Missionaries,
the only ones
with Bibles on
our table ready
to use them.
And as a note,
I didn't get a
chance.
I was asked to
pray so I packed
a lot of
scripture into my
prayer at the
end.
Altogether in
some cases,
just entirely
dismissed it.
But beloved,
if we want to
experience the
presence of God,
the Spirit of
God is with us
and He's going
to use the
Word to help
us to do
so.
And I hope
as a Christian
you have spent
time in God's
Word, that you
have been changed
by it and that
you have felt
that presence
in it.
God speaks to
me through
His Word.
As I take it
up and as I
read it, I see
and savor His
goodness.
He speaks
into me.
The Bible
reads me,
exposes my
sinfulness,
leads me in
obedience.
I can be
close to
God because
I have
His Word.
Martin Lloyd
Jones said
this, and I
just wanted to
include, I
put this on
your bulletin,
Andy, thank
you for making
it fit, because
this is often
the way I feel
as I meet
with God in
His Word.
Analogy by
the great
Dr. Lloyd
Jones, a man
and his little
child are walking
down the road and
they are walking
hand in hand.
And the child
knows that he
is the child of
his father and
he knows that his
father loves him
and he rejoices in
that and he is
happy in it.
There is no
uncertainty about
it all, but
suddenly the
father, moved
by some impulse,
takes hold of
the child and
picks him up,
carries him in
his arm,
kisses him,
embraces him,
showers his love
upon him, and
then he puts
him down again
and they go on
walking together.
We need that
experience and
it is waiting for
us by the power
of the Spirit
in His Word.
Take it up and
read.
Whoever comes
and whoever
goes,
Jesus is with
us and Jesus
is enough.
God encourages
the souls of
His discouraged
servants with
new partners,
with provision,
with His
presence,
and with
protection.
In the same
vision,
middle part of
verse 10,
Jesus says
to Paul,
and no one
will attack you
to harm you.
Luke tells us
that Paul is
able to
minister for a
year and a
half without
harm, which is a
pretty astounding
thing in the
ministry of Paul.
That does not
mean that Paul
didn't experience
conflict.
He has set up
camp, and I love
that he did,
right next door to
the synagogue.
The Jews didn't
want to hear him
anymore.
He said,
I'm going to go
to the Gentiles,
and he went
right next door to
the synagogue
itself.
I am confident
that across this
year and a half,
people just didn't
go, yeah,
yeah, Paul,
let's ignore him
for a while.
They are still
upset at him,
but he does not
receive harm.
And Luke records
a specific conflict
for our benefit.
This story about
Galio and the
Jews bringing Paul
before Galio is
to make that
point.
Like, Jesus made
a promise to him
that he wouldn't
be harmed and
kept that promise,
and here's an
occasion that that
happened.
So, Galio was
the proconsul of
Achaia, young in
that position,
some have
supposed the
Jews made a
united attack on
Paul because
Galio was young.
They knew they
didn't have a
legitimate claim
against Paul,
and so they
thought that they
could wrap him
up in a power
trip and get him
to deliver some
kind of judgment
against Paul.
And the charge
they brought,
verse 13,
is this man is
persuading people
to worship God
contrary to the
law.
And other
times,
the trial
and execution
of our Lord
and Savior,
Rome got
involved in a
way Rome
should not
have gotten
involved.
But by God's
providence,
they did,
and in this
case,
by God's
providence,
they didn't.
Galio stayed
out of it.
If we're a
matter of
wrongdoing or
vicious crime,
oh Jews,
I would have
reason to
accept your
complaint.
But he
dismisses it
rather.
By God's
grace,
Galio issues
a summary
judgment and
just throws
the case
out.
From his
perspective,
the issue
was merely
an issue
of semantics.
Clearly
not.
Paul is
saying the
one way
to worship
the true
and living
God is
through the
personal work
of Jesus
Christ.
It wasn't
just a matter
of semantics,
but from
Galio's
perspective,
it was.
Eh,
the God
of the Jews.
Worship
him however
you want
to.
He viewed
their charge
as a
theological
debate and
not as a
matter of
judicial
concern.
I love
that Luke
records for
us as
Paul stands
trial so
many times.
We're going
to see a
lot of
Paul standing
trial in
the coming
chapters of
Acts.
But in
verse 14,
he says,
but when
Paul was
about to
open his
mouth,
he got
interrupted.
He didn't
have to
say anything
and the
charges were
dismissed.
Now,
does
following
Jesus Christ
mean that
we'll never
come to
any harm?
Absolutely
not.
Those who
desire to
live godly
in Christ
Jesus will
be persecuted
in some
measure.
People are
going to
dislike the
message of
Jesus Christ.
So,
Paul certainly
didn't avoid
harm in
other cases.
He had been
harmed up to
this point.
He will be
harmed beyond
this point.
But at
this time,
a way that
God encourages
him as he
protects him.
And we
can see
that as
the Jews
are very
unhappy
with this
dismissal
of the
charges that
they brought,
they turn,
and I think
it's right to
understand this,
we see they
all seized.
Driven from
the tribunal,
verse 17,
and they all
seized
Sosthenes.
They all
being those
Jews who
had brought
this united
charge against
Paul.
Sosthenes,
we find out
in 1 Corinthians
chapter 1,
verses 1 and
2,
is a follower
of Jesus
Christ.
When Paul
wrote that
letter,
he says,
Paul,
called by the
will of God
to be an
apostle of
Christ Jesus
and our
brother
Sosthenes
to the
church of
God that
is in
Corinth.
So,
either
A,
Sosthenes
was already
a Christian,
right?
Much like
Crispus,
who was the
prior leader
of the synagogue,
had become a
believer with
all of his
family.
Sosthenes
could have
also been a
follower of
Christ and
still there
in charge.
He's already
a Christian
and he's
persecuted,
physically harmed
for his
faith.
Or,
I prefer the
first one,
so you know,
but,
or,
he made the
case against
Paul poorly.
He was the
representative.
He was the
DA in this
case.
And he made
the case against
Paul poorly.
And it was later
that he became a
Christian and they
were furious with
him because he
didn't make the
case well and
therefore they
beat him.
Point being,
whether or not
we escape
harm,
the promise
that God is
always in
loving control
remains true.
He is with
us.
He is in
control.
Romans 8,
31,
what then shall
we say to
these things?
If God is
for us,
who can be
against us?
So,
we see this
protection.
We pick up a
little bit more
about that
protection and
what it meant
to Paul,
I believe,
by looking at
verse 18.
After this,
Paul stayed,
it's after this
trial,
Paul stayed
many days
longer and
then took
leave of the
brothers that
sailed for
Syria and
with him
Priscilla and
Aquila.
At
King
Cray,
not very far
away,
they landed.
He had cut
his hair
for he was
under a vow.
He shaved
his head
for he was
under a vow.
And this vow
would have
been a
Nazarite vow.
You can read
about this if
you're interested
in it from
Numbers 6.
And this
term Nazarite
comes from the
Hebrew word for
consecrated
or separated.
And Jews
made vows
to God
to thank
him for
past blessing
or to
petition him
for future
blessing.
I think in
this case
to thank
him.
He's now,
he's past
this year and
a half time,
he's past
this trial,
and he has
made a vow
in order to
thank God
for his
good pleasure
in staying
harm from
him.
The criteria
for a
Nazarite vow
were as
follows.
The person
who made a
vow had
to abstain
from alcohol,
vinegar,
or any food
with grapes
in it.
They had
to allow
their hair
to grow
until the
period of
time set
forth in
the vow
was complete,
so it
might be
30 days,
it might
be 60
days,
but they
couldn't
cut their
hair during
that time.
Some of
you may be
familiar with
Samson.
Samson had
made a
lifelong vow,
and he
didn't do
any of these
things for
his lifespan.
Third,
they couldn't
be made
unclean by
exposure to
a dead
body.
Not really
important at
the time.
They had
to avoid
dead people
as well.
At the
completion of
the vow,
the head
was to be
shaved,
and a series
of offerings
were to be
made.
There were
three offerings
that were to
be made,
and one of
those offerings,
the peace
offering,
the hair was
to be placed
on the same
offering fire
and burnt.
This is the
prescription found
in Numbers
chapter 6.
Now, the
exact nature
of Paul's
vow is
obscure,
but as I
said before,
I think it
was likely
made for
that past
protection.
It was a
way that
he was
being thankful
for what
God had
done for
him.
And Paul
did not
see his
adherence
to Jewish
tradition
in contradiction
with his
faith in
Jesus Christ,
but in
this case,
practiced
the spirit
of this
tradition
as a matter
of thanking
God for
what he
had done.
Now,
of interesting
note,
and to
that point,
a Nazarite
was meant
to break
the vow,
end the
vow,
by shaving
their head
at the
temple.
Paul's not
at the
temple in
Jerusalem,
is he?
He's a
long way
from the
temple in
Jerusalem.
Paul seems
to be more
concerned with
the timing
of his
completion of
the vow
than the
location of
the completion
of his
bow.
So he
shaves
his head
before going
to Jerusalem.
Now,
how do I
know that
he went
to Jerusalem?
Well,
I don't.
I think I
know he
went to
Jerusalem.
Verse 22,
Luke records
this,
when he
had landed
at Caesarea,
which is
north of
Jerusalem,
he went
up and
greeted the
church,
and then
went down
to Antioch.
And always
in this day,
Jerusalem was
always up,
and everything
else was
always down.
So he
went south
to Jerusalem,
and then
he went
north to
Antioch,
but Luke
would have
recorded it,
he went
up to
Jerusalem,
and he
went down
to Antioch.
So he
likely took
his hair
with him,
and went
through some
practice there
in Jerusalem.
So,
God
encouraged the
souls of
his discouraged
servants
with protection.
And I
just wonder
how often
we lose
sight of
God's good
favor upon
us,
and the
ways in
which he
keeps us
safe and
prevents harm
for us.
And finally,
God encourages
the souls of
his discouraged
servants with
purpose.
With purpose.
In verse
six,
you see a
very,
seemingly
very fruitless
ministry at
the synagogue.
They opposed
and they
reviled him.
And when
that happened,
he did
something that
he doesn't
do in most
of the
synagogues
he goes
to.
He shakes
out his
garments,
which was
a sign
of judgment.
It was a
way of
saying,
I don't
even want
the dirt
I picked
up in
your presence
to go
with me.
You have
heard the
gospel message
and you
have not
responded
in faith.
It was a
sign of
judgment.
And the
language he
uses is
very strong
to that end.
Your blood
be on your
own heads.
I am
innocent.
From now
on,
I will go
to the
Gentiles.
And he
doesn't
mean that
in an
absolute
sense.
We know
that Paul
is the
apostle to
the
Gentiles.
He still
will make
a habit
of going
into the
synagogue
and preaching
the gospel
to the
Jews.
But he
means there
in that
city and
we see
him go
next door
to the
house of
Titius
Justice.
So even
after declaring
judgment
against the
Jews,
Jews were
converted.
God still
had a
purpose.
We see
in verse
8,
Crispus the
ruler of
the synagogue,
which must
have just
enraged
the Jews,
believed in
the Lord
together with
his entire
household.
And they've
been adding
more to
the number.
And many
of the
Corinthians
hearing Paul
believed and
they were
baptized.
The very
last part of
the vision
that Paul
sees,
Jesus says
to him,
I have
many in
this city
who are
my people.
So the
encouragement
that he
brings to
Paul is
this renewed
vigor for
his purpose.
God has
good purpose
to save
people.
And he
reminds Paul
of this by
saying,
keep going,
don't be
afraid,
preach the
good news
of Jesus
Christ because
I have
many in
the city
who are
my people.
People will
respond by
my intervention
to the good
news of
the gospel.
So Paul is
able to
say this.
He writes
to the
Corinthian
believers in
1 Corinthians
chapter 2
verses 1
through 5
which I
read to
you
verse 3
previously.
He says,
And when I
came to
you,
brothers,
did not
come
proclaiming
to you
the testimony
of God
with lofty
speech or
wisdom which
they loved.
For I
decided to
do nothing
among you
except Jesus
Christ and
him crucified.
And I
was with
you in
weakness
and in
fear and
much trembling.
And my
speech and
my message
were not
implausible
words of
wisdom but
in demonstration
of the spirit
and of power
so that your
faith may not
rest in the
wisdom of
men but in
the power
of God.
And that
purpose that
God has given
to each and
every one of
us ought to
encourage us
when we are
discouraged.
The point of
our lives and
certainly the
point of the
life of this
church is not
that we get
together and
huddle together.
Not that we
create a safe
environment for
all of us to
feel like we're
not quite so
weird in.
But that we
might gather
together to be
fueled and
equipped in
order that we
would go.
That's why we
come together.
And some of
us are going to
go back to
campus or to
a job or to
our neighbor.
Some of us are
going to go much
much further.
We should
praise God for
every mile that
he covers with
the good news of
Jesus Christ using
us.
Beloved, our
time is brief.
And Jesus
Christ is coming
back.
Let us not be
discouraged in our
labor, but rather
be encouraged with
new partners, with
provision, with
his presence, with
protection, and with
purpose.
Let's pray
together.