2nd years Term 4 2 Week 3 Acts

0:04 Good evening, Seekers. Welcome back to the book of Acts. I hope that you've enjoyed it. And last time we were covering Acts chapter 19. We had just discussed the sons of Sceva. And now what we're going to see is many people who were doing the wrong thing begin to announce. Remember, Paul and the team are at Ephesus. And they're going to see something massive happen inside of the community. You see, where signs, miracles, and wonders are, you are sure to see people's lives being transformed and changed. So, pick up with me in verse 17. It says, "This became known to all the Jews and the Greeks dwelling in Ephesus. And fear fell upon them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was

0:50 magnified. And those who believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled 50,000 pieces of silver. So, the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed." Now, in Ephesus, we started speaking a little bit a bit about it, but there was definitely a stronghold of the demonic. There were many evil things, both superstitious as well as satanic practices, happening in that area. And so, there were many books on sorcery and ungodly, forbidden idols, and objects that people had had in their hands. And so, it measured up as much as 50,000. And so,

1:39 after seeing the sons of Sceva incident, right, many believers did not know that they were involved in the demonic. But now they began to see it. And now that they had seen the demonic, they were prompted not just to throw it away, but to actually burn it. Why burn it? Make sure that nobody could get hold of it and reuse it and fall into the trap and the lie that they were in. If we have to convert that 50,000 pieces in silver today, it would work out to roughly between 1 and 5 million dollars. [clears throat] You see, even today, and I'm not one of those people saying clean out your house, clean out your house, but I am one of those people saying clean out your house, clean out your house. Right?

2:24 So, if there are things, files, books, something that shouldn't be in your house, or something that's bothering you, then destroy them. All right? It is a voluntary decision. I'm not forcing or imposing it, but if it is bothering you, or if since you received that certain item, things have been going on, then it is time to get rid of a lot of the time the occultic will use items to create a open portal inside of our homes. So, if there is something that's bothering you, just get rid of it. All right? Spurgeon says this, "You will have enough temptation in your own mind without going after these things. If there is any habit, any practice that you have got that defiles your soul, if Christ loves you, and you

3:12 came and trust him, you will make short work of it and have done with it and have done with it forever." So, if you really love Jesus, if that certain thing is in your house, and maybe you spent a lot of money, maybe it was, you know, have sentimental value. If there's something that's bothering you, then it is worth it to get rid of it. All right? Now, I want to say with the sons of Sceva, it was an embarrassing moment, but there was a learning moment with them, and it was worth it all because after that there was a teaching of the word, there was miracles that begin to flow, and the reality of the supernatural battle became very evident with a massive and a radical renunciation of the wrong things. So, all in all, it was definitely worth it.

3:58 Verse 21 to 22. When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the spirit, and when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia to go through Jerusalem saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." So, he sent to Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Aristarchus, but he himself stayed in Asia for time. Sometime We know Paul's his way his way is always to go to minister, but then to stay a while and look after the early church. Now, we know that Luke is the author here, and Luke doesn't mention it here, but we know via Romans chapter 15 verse 25 to 31 and in 1 Corinthians 16 verse 1 to 4, the reason why Paul wanted to go through

4:44 Macedonia and Achaia then to Jerusalem was to collect and deliver a fund he'd been collecting from other churches to help the church out in Jerusalem. So, he doesn't say it here, but we know with the context of the other books why Paul sends Timothy and Aristarchus on to Macedonia while he remains behind. Verse 23 to 28. We're now going to meet Demetrius, and Demetrius was a maker of idols. He opposes Paul because his business begins to suffer. Remember what has just happened, the sons of Sceva, they've just broken and burned down roughly one 1 million to 5 million rands worth of idols and books and that kind of stuff.

5:29 So, Demetrius is an idol maker, meaning his business has gone out of business because of Paul. So, let's read. And about this time there arose a great commotion about the way. Again, you know the way by now means Christianity. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silver Smith who made silver shrines of Diana. So we know he wasn't making crosses and godly things. Brought no small profit to the craftsman. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation and said men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover, you see and hear not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away

6:16 many people saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So, not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple and the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed whom all Asia and the world worship. Now when they had heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." So, he turns around and goes, "Listen, you know, our trade is really in trouble. It's in trouble of becoming bankrupt because this Paul is preaching and people are listening." And so in Ephesus, it was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was supported this specific

7:02 temple, the temple of Diana, was supported by 127 pillars each over 60 ft high and was decorated with beautiful sculptures. All right? It lost all its history in well, it was about 1965 and there's nothing really left of it today, but it was the epicenter of Artemis worship which was a black meteorite that either resembled or it fashioned to a grotesque looking of a woman image of a woman. And the lower part was wrapped like a mummy and this idol was was with breasts and symbolizing fertility. So, it was really And this is via Hughes

7:49 that writes on this. It was really kind of a very grotesque kind of thing, but the whole world began to worship the Temple of Diana. And so, it was very famous. And of course, whenever there is something famous, there's money that can be made. And so, you know, the idols and what they were making of it, you know, the um what do they call it? The um the The word just leaves me now. If you go to a curio shop of a certain thing and there's great interest, you know, it really they can put a very high markup on it, no matter how much it was because people started believing in it, and so they would pay any price for it. And this was really the worship of the sex goddess. All right? Paul turns around, and it's not the first time we've heard

8:35 it that Paul goes, "Listen, we don't worship anything or any god made with hands." This was a direct hit on Demetrius's work. Why? Because he was an idol maker. He made idols using his hands. So, he made it as close to the Temple of Diana, and he was selling it, and it was going well, but now people were no longer buying those kind of the shrines. And so, I mean, you can imagine what kind of effect this has in their society. Now, wouldn't that be amazing if Christianity could influence the trade of a community? I'm just thinking years ago where the shops were closed on Christmas Day, you know, or Christmas Eve, but not so anymore because Christianity is no longer influencing

9:20 trade the way that it did. So, there was a society change that was happening right? For example, a Roman officer named Pliny wrote a letter to another officer named Chiron describing how people were not going to the shrines anymore because of Christianity's influence. Pliny wanted to know what he should do about it. So, imagine if our belief can change society, can can restrict the wrong kinds of a trade. Imagine Christianity stops selling cigarettes, you know, or makes it less less easier to get hold of, or alcohol, or imagine what life would be. Imagine the less of

10:07 gender-based violence if people weren't getting so out of hand drunk. All right? So, Demetrius was clever how he goes about it. He goes and he doesn't go alone with his appeal. He goes and he he gets the crowd behind him. He gets people on his side and he he kind of he he plays the thing of how dare Paul insult the temple of Diana because there are still people that believe in the temple of Diana. And he uses a general kind of statement like everybody's believing in the temple of Diana. The whole world was worshipping, which I don't think is really the truth, but that's what we do. Whenever we want to get people on our side, we begin to over extreme it so that they can join our opinion. We over exaggerate it.

10:54 And so, um notice something that Paul did not blaspheme against the goddess of Diana. Paul was just on a pro-Jesus campaign. He wasn't going against anything, but now Paul is going to get, as per usual, himself into some trouble. Verse 29. So, the whole city was filled with confusion and rushed to the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions. And when Paul wanted to go to the people, the disciples would not allow him. And then some of the officials of Asia who were his friends saying to him pleading that he not go to the venue to into the theater. Some therefore cried one thing

11:40 and some the other for the assembly was confused and most of them did not know why they'd even come together. Underline that. So many times people get involved in things and they're not even sure why they're involved in it. And they drew Alexander out of the great multitude and the Jews putting him forward and Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted to make his defense to the people. But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice they cried out for about two hours, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." For two hours, students, they cry out. They so solemnly believe in the wrong thing. I mean, we can barely cry out Jesus is Lord for two hours before people getting distracted and on a Sunday wanting to go check if their chicken isn't burnt. But

12:28 there was a great and interesting thing happening in this town. And so many times in the history of Christianity, that's what we see. We see people begin to move and we see the counterattack coming from the enemy. We see heresies. We see all these kinds of things starting to happen. Now, I want to say if you don't know about the Salvation Army, the Salvation Army was was put in place to take out the Skeleton Army because what happened was um the Skeleton Army would oppose with threats and violence. They would be pimps and bar owners. And so the Salvation Army came and they overthrew the Skeleton Army to do a great work. It

13:14 was in a counterattack. So, I just want to say, how is the church globally counterattacking the world or have we gone asleep? Have we fallen asleep like the disciples? So, for two hours they cry out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." Think how this must echo. Think Think how And I mean, we may not be saying great is Diana of Ephesians, but are we saying great is the Bulls or the Buca Amabuca? Right? Great is a political party? Great is a certain shop or a certain brand? Great is Facebook and social media and TikTok? Great is material

14:00 wealth? Great is getting drunk or getting high? What I'm trying to say is they spent 2 hours defending what they believed in. If you're spending 2 hours on social media, are you not doing the same thing? Are you not indirectly shouting, "Great is Facebook. Great is TikTok. Great is Instagram." And I'm not knocking you if you're on these platforms. I'm just saying what we look at the longest is what we become. What we put the most effort into is what we value. And so, the city clerk is able to calm down this crowd because they really don't want Paul to go. Paul is eager to go. He doesn't mind going. I mean, this

14:45 is a man on a death mission. He's on death row in any case, so he couldn't care less. He just wants to He said that that scripture to live is is to live is Now, the whole scripture loses my whole mind. But, to die is gain. You know, he's quite happy to die. Verse 35 to 41. And when the city clerk had quietened the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there that does not know the city of the Ephesians' temple is God and not that great goddess Diana and the image which fell down from Zeus? therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers

15:31 of the temple nor blasphemers of your goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charge against one another. But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. If we are in danger of being called in question for today's uproar, and there be no reason which may give account to this disorderly gathering. And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. So, this clerk gets up because listen, what has really been done here? These guys didn't do any harm, didn't steal anything. You're saying that they're saying something, and just because they're saying something, that's kind of civil matter. Go take it up with the civil court. But what you're doing

16:18 right now, there is no reason for it. And if we have to be questioned on it, you're going to be putting disre- in in disrepute. So, God really works mightily in this town, but the devil as well, because there will always be a pushback. But when you get pushed back, you're not being pushed down, just shove the devil. Right? And so this chapter teaches us all a permanent lesson that when the disciples have a true revival, that society gets a revolution. When there is true revival, the area should change. Something about the economy should change. Think of the Welsh revival. Think of all the revivals that we've studied, that you've had a look at, that you've studied on your own

17:03 time. All right, Acts chapter 20. After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. So, he gives them a big hug, the riot is finished, the people have calmed down, but Paul couldn't leave without this demonstration of love to his fellow followers of Jesus. He had spent two very fruitful years right here in Ephesus, but it was now time for him to go. And so he calls him, he embraces them, and he leaves. Now, when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed there for 3 months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And

17:50 so Sopater of Beroea accompanied him to Asia, also Aristarchus and Secundus, right? Secundus is a meaning of a second slave. All right, Secundus of the Thessalonians and Gaius of Derbe and Timothy and Tyrannius, and I'm sure one of these days I'll get all these names out. Trophimus of Asia. These men going ahead waited for us at Troas. So, Paul really takes his time with his churches. He's not in a hurry. He's established them, but he's going to go and spend some time with them. He's going to encourage them, and I think that is something that we must always remember. Whatever you start, whatever

18:37 department, whatever ministry, take the time to re-circle back and encourage, to circle back and speak life, all right? So, Aristarchus and Secundus both came from Thessalonica, and Aristarchus was a name connected to Aristos, a ruling class, so he was of a ruling class. Very wealthy, very powerful, but as I said, Secundus was the name of a slave. So, you uh you have two people traveling with Paul, one very wealthy, very powerful, family family heritage. And the other one, a slave. Right? Somebody who would be a slave in a household. So, a a second uh ranking

19:23 slave. Very interesting that Paul would take somebody both of the higher and of the lower classes with him. So, verse six. But we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and in five days drawing near to Miletus, where we stayed seven days. So, again, you know, we we sailed away, we stayed seven days. Luke is busy telling us the story of what they were getting up to, verse seven to 12. Now, on the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. Paul had a very long, lengthy service.

20:12 And there were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. And in the window sat a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep, and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But when Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him, said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him." And when he had came up, he had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even until daybreak. He departed, and they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted. So, quite a things are happening here, right? Number one, Paul is speaking

20:59 right into midnight. People are getting sleepy, people are getting tired. One of the other theories is it mentions there were lamps. So, maybe the lamps had like paraffin in it and it was giving off a fume that made him lose his consciousness. He falls down. Paul goes lays on him. He goes, "Ah, this guy's fine." You know, puts life back into him and carries on preaching even until daybreak. So, I want to say that, you know, um the first certain example that we have as Christians making a practice together together. This is what they did. The first day of the week when the disciples came together. It is interesting that when we want to see miracles, when we want to see growth, we cannot forsake

21:46 the gathering of the saints. And so, I want to say this. Sunday was a normal working day. So, the chances that this gentleman was rather tired off the work, Paul going until midnight, right? And then he falls. He falls to his death. Paul goes and lays upon him, resurrects him, and carries on. So, a combination. It could have been late. It could have been the heat. It could have been the fumes. It could have been all of them. He could have maybe just fallen asleep and lost his footing. Um we don't know exactly what was the cause, but I want to say that if you're a minister and you preach and you will and people fall asleep,

22:31 don't take it down wrong. Even Paul had people falling asleep on them. So, if you see people asleep on a Sunday, just bear in mind Paul had the same thing. Charles Spurgeon said this about long services. He said, "I'd rather you get half a meal than none at all." Charles Spurgeon says, "Even if you fall asleep halfway through the sermon, I'd rather you get half a meal than none at all at all. I'd rather you come to church tired than not to come to church at all. Wesley says this. Um, he sees a a person falling asleep in his service and he shouts, "Fire! Fire! Fire!" And the person that had just nodded off jumps up and he goes, "Where's the fire?" And Wesley shouts,

23:17 "Fire is in hell for those who fall asleep in church." Um, and I thought that quite humorous. I'm waiting for the next person to fall asleep while I'm preaching. Um, I might rather go with Wesley's version than Spurgeon. But it's comforting for any preacher to think that people may fall asleep during your preaching because even with Apostle Paul, the same thing happened. Yes, Apostle Paul had spoken for many hours. It was long day for these people who had already been at work and now they're going to a service going to midnight and even to daybreak. But we know, you know, that people struggle to stay awake. People struggle to say to stay focused. All right? Um, so I I I want to to ask you this question.

24:04 If a city is under a massive plague and there's a massive sickness, all right? And the only one who can cure this plague, this sickness, the only one who knows the antidote is a doctor, but he's asleep. What does that help? Or maybe there's a passenger ship and it's going and it's the Titanic. It's about to hit an iceberg, but the captain is asleep. What use is that captain? Okay? What happens if there is a prisoner that they're about to put in exile?

24:50 Next door, there is a letter of freedom, but the person had fallen asleep at his desk and forgot to hand it in on time. What good is that person to the prisoner? So, my question is, students, what good is it for you and for the church to be asleep? Don't be asleep. Spiritually asleep. Right? So, okay. Paul talked for long even until daybreak. Right? Um he raises the guy from the dead and he's like, "Oh yeah, great. Where was I? Point number six." And just carries on preaching even until daybreak. Verse 13 to 17.

25:36 Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board. So, he had given orders intending himself to go on foot, and when they met at us at Assos, we took them aboard and came to Mitylene. We sailed from there and the next day came to the opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. And I'm sorry if I'm pronouncing these wrong. One day I will get the pronunciations. The next day we came to Miletus, for Paul had decided to set sail past Ephesus, so that we would not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, the day of Pentecost. From Miletus he spent he sent it to Ephesus

26:24 and called for the elders of the church. Verse 18 to 21. And when they heard when and when they had come to him, he said, "You know from the first day I came to Asia in what manner I've always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials, which happened to be by the plotting of the Jews, how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you and taught to you publicly and from house to house testifying to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. So he goes, "Listen, I have kept back nothing that was helpful." He didn't only teach topics that pleased people. He told them everything, the

27:09 whole truth. He didn't hold back. If Paul didn't limit his messages, it meant that he didn't limit his audience either. He goes from house to house, from building to building, from synagogues to schools to pretty much anywhere that that he could get, right? And so, I just want to say this. It speaks about, you know, gathering from house to house. This was simply while he was waiting for permission to get bigger buildings. Many people make this doctrine of house churches. Now, I'm not knocking house churches. I'm just saying they use the scripture out of context. The minute Paul got permission to go into bigger buildings, of course he would go for bigger buildings. He didn't limit it just to house to house, all

27:56 right? Many people go, "Oh, no. It's just a house church. God has never intended for us to have buildings." That is not entirely true. All right, verse 22 to 24. And see, now I go in spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city saying that the chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. So Paul didn't know what was ahead of him. He didn't have any reason necessarily to believe that it was bad, but it it kind of didn't trouble him. Either way, he was content. He had given it all over to

28:42 God. He had made a vow just to do what God wanted him to do. And so he goes, "Listen, of these things move me." So, if you are a person of faith, if you're a person who is called by the living God, things should not move you. Right? They might blow your hair the wrong way. They might upset you a little bit, but it should not move you. So, even uncertainty didn't move Paul. Even the thought of not knowing the things that would happen to him didn't make him fall in any shape or form. So, we don't know what tomorrow brings, but we know who holds our tomorrow, and that is God. Paul thought of himself as an accountant weighing carefully the credits and the expenses. And in the end, he doesn't

29:29 count his own life dear to him because it says, "I don't count my my life dear." Count, that word is an is is an accounting term. Count, weighing up the options, weighing the good versus the bad. And he goes, "Look, at the end of the day, I don't count my life dear to me. It doesn't matter because all that matters is how we can serve God." And the next piece he says, "So that I may finish my race with joy." Paul thought of himself as a runner. A runner in a race, and that nothing would keep him from finishing that race with joy. Additionally, Paul speaks of his race. He says, you know, "I've run the race and I've kept the faith." Paul calls it as a journey of joy.

30:14 Spurgeon also, he he preached a gospel worth dying for. And so, we need to ask, is our gospel worth dying for? Is what you're doing, what you're believing worth worth dying for? Is what you see on TikTok worth dying for? Is salvation worth dying for? And maybe not a physical death, but definitely a fleshly death. Right? So, what challenges have the people before us gone through to have Christianity available and the freedom of religion as we have it today?

31:00 Maybe for one moment we need to be thankful. Instead of being negative, being upset, just be thankful. What did Paul, the early apostles, Stephen, Peter, Jesus have to go through so that we can be at the place that we're at now? Verse 25, "And indeed now I know that you all among whom I've gone preaching the kingdom of God will see my face no more." He goes, "You all, everybody that has seen and known of Paul." Paul must have shown some great sadness here. Some great compassion, some great courage. But at this point, this must have been really hard words for his leaders to hear. Because he says, "Listen, you've seen

31:46 me, you've seen me come visit, you've seen me come spend time. You know, Paul was just previously 2 years with the Ephesians leaders. And now he goes, "This face that you see, you may not be seeing it for very much longer." And maybe it's hard for them to believe. Maybe they thought Paul was just being funny and he was just joking. But they would quickly and soon figure out what he meant. It's fascinating to think of how much this segment of Paul's life mirrored the life of Jesus. Like Jesus, Paul traveled to Jerusalem with a group of disciples. Like Jesus, Paul was opposed by hostile Jews who plotted against his life. Like Jesus, Paul [snorts] made and received three successive

32:32 predictions of his comings and sufferings, including being handed over to the Gentiles, and like Jesus, Paul declared his readiness to lay down his life. Like Jesus, he was determined to complete his ministry and not to be deflected from it. Like Jesus, he expressed his abandonment to the will of God. Would we expect any different? Is the servant greater than his master? We too should expect to know that fellowship of his sufferings, as Philippians 3:10 tells us. There's so much wrapped in the simple word therefore. Therefore, because you probably won't see, because I love you so much, because you've invested and so much of my heart is amongst you,

33:19 therefore I'm going to tell you something that is going to shock you. The word therefore, whenever you see therefore, ask wherefore is the therefore. Little bit of hermeneutics there. But Paul taught the Ephesians and those in the region for more than 2 years using a rented room from the school of Tyrannus. There are some indications or indications, rather, that Paul taught for several hours a day, and some 6 days a week. That means hundreds of hours of teaching, probably well more than 1,500 hours. He had plenty of time to take them verse by verse through the books, through the scriptures. They may They must have studied quite a

34:04 lot from the life of Jesus. And so Paul later warned that in these last days, people would not endure sound doctrine. That's why he took his time. That's why he taught them, so that as 2 Timothy 4:3 says, when they comes an itching to the ears, they would not fall for it. Many preachers today simply use the Bible as a launching pad, and then they go on into whatever they want to say, whatever message they want. Others may throw the Bible like a mini quotation just to illustrate their points. But they forget the power, the wonder-working power of the Lord. And so Paul is busy telling them, I've spent

34:51 this amount of time, I've told you all these kind of things, but take heed to yourselves. Pay attention to your own life, in other words. You have a high standard. In other words, take heed of yourselves. Don't fall for the the the sub you've been taught the meat. Don't fall for the immature. Don't fall for anything less. Don't drop your standard. Right? So he says to them, take heed. And then he goes, take heed to all the flock. Not only just for yourselves, but those around you. Look over them and care for them. Do it because the Holy Spirit has made you an overseer. Hence today I want to tell each and every single one of you, you are to be

35:36 accountable to one another. You are to be accountable yes to your pastors and to your leaders, but you are to be accountable to one another. You should lead a flock and past pasture it. And feed it if you are in that position. But shepherds don't only feed, they also lead. If you are a leader inside, you need to take heed for yourselves, but take heed for those around you. If you see a brother or a sister falling or backsliding or not coming to church, you are responsible. It says which he purchased with his own blood. The one important reason why they had to take heed for themselves and the flock of God, they had to do it because the

36:22 church didn't belong to them. The church belonged to Jesus. How do you look after something that is borrowed to you? I hope you look after better than something you own. Take care of it. Be extra careful with it. So, if that's the case, how should we be looking after the church, which is not ours, it is Christ's? So, the sheep needs to remember that God has appointed the shepherd. The shepherds need to remember that the flock belongs to God, not to them. Verse 29. For I know this, that after my departure, scavenger wolves will come a lot among you, not sparing the flock. Paul already knows there's an urgency, there is a warning. He goes, there's

37:07 coming savage wolves. He knew that a pastor and a leader needed to protect and feed and guide and lead. But, Paul somehow knew that the minute he moved out of the way, out of the area, there would come opportunists. There would come wolves. And they would not hold back, but see how many they could take. Verse 30. Also, from among you men will rise up speaking perverse things to draw the disciples away after themselves. Immediately, he goes, "Listen, there's going to come false teachings." So many times I'm aware that there are false teachings traveling amongst the body of Christ. And it's often that, you know, one is is

37:53 scared to deal with it. Why? Because it says that they would rise up from amongst ourselves. They wouldn't be people we didn't know. It wouldn't be people we've never met. It would be people around us that would rise up and start speaking perverse things. They would twist the good. They would twist things to get people to follow them. I've seen it in church splits, students. That's what happens. And their motivation behind it is to draw people after themselves. Can I tell you ego ego ego ego? I've seen church splits and I've seen people walk out of the movement of God because of another person's offense and issue. And can I tell you the people that went alongside

38:40 that person had the issue today are backslidden. And their salvation is on those people that bewitched them. So I want to say be very careful. I have left a church in previous years because I knew that what they were doing were not godly, it was not right, but I didn't take another person with me. I prayed that the Lord would reveal what only the Lord could reveal and I left. But I didn't bewitch any person to come with me. So Paul says listen, another this is the third way for he goes listen, you've got to be waking. This is what is about to come. The third day for is given after the urgency of taking heed. This was you know, he had spent time. He

39:28 was in constant care. He was watchful. As pastors, we need to pray. We need to pray for our pastors and our pastors need to pray for us. Now I want to say this, pastors pray. I'm not telling you to be suspicious of everybody of of anybody. I'm telling you to pray over every person. I'm telling you that that leader that person that new congregation member pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what only the Holy Spirit can reveal. Pray that the intentions are surfaced. That the heart is surfaced. Verse 32 to 35. So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the world word of his grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance amongst all those who are

40:14 sanctified. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, yourselves you know that these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who were with me. I've shown you every day laboring like this that you must support the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus as he said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Paul is going, "Listen, I'm telling you and I'm extending this to you that you should look after one another. Programs can't do it. You know, that the spirit of the age can't do it. Even great marketing can't do it. We are there to build one another up." And then he goes, "It is more blessed that to give than to receive." This is the best beatitude of all in the sermon of of of um

41:00 at the mount. Where he echoes what Jesus said. You don't have control on what you receive, but you have got control on what you give. So, it is far better to give than to receive. Verse 36 to 38. And when he said these things, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. And then they all wept freely and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. Sorrowing most of all the words which he spoke which they could see his face no more and they had comforted him to the ship. So, they weep. You know, they are obviously going to to understand more about what Paul has said. Acts 21. Now leaving Now it came to pass that when they departed with them from the set sail running a straight course to come to Cos

41:47 the next day to Rhodes and from there Patara. And finding a ship sailing over Phoenician, they went aboard to set sail. So, it says when they departed them, right? In other words, it wasn't easy departing. Paul had really poured his life into these people. And now he's going to go verse three to four. When they had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed in Tyre. For the ship was was to unload her cargo. And finding disciples, we stayed there 7 days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. Second time we've seen this. There is a warning for him not to go. Verse 5 to 6. When

42:32 they came to the end of those days, we departed and went our way. And they had all accompanied with us, the wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. And when we had taken leave of to of one another, we boarded the ship and then returned home. So, they, you know, were just following what the Holy Spirit said, but they they had a unique kind of pre-meeting there on the shore. They just begin to pray. Verse 7. When they had finished their voyage from Tyre, they came to Ptolemais and greeted the brethren and stayed with them 1 day. The next day, we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea and entered the house of Philip the Evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now, this

43:19 man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. So, Philip the Evangelist, lovely title. He was known because of the work he was doing, the good news he was presenting to the people. And it's interesting that these four daughters, who had the gift of prophecy, none of them seemed to tell Paul anything about his upcoming time in Jerusalem, even though they could prophesy. The Holy Spirit could have used these four virgins, but the Holy Spirit is going to choose to use somebody different. Verse 10 to 14. And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And when he came to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Lord, so shall the Jews at

44:05 Jerusalem." Remember, the Holy Spirit warned him not to go to Jerusalem. Here Agabus is telling what's going to happen when he goes. Um and deliver you to the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both those that had placed pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I'm not ready not only to be bound for I I'm sorry, I am ready not only to be bound, but also to Sorry. Uh for I'm ready not to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." So when he could not be persuaded, we ceased saying, "The Lord of the will of the Lord be done." So here comes this

44:50 other prophet, not one of the four virgin daughters, and he binds his hands and your feet and he goes, "Listen, this The minute you put your feet in Jerusalem, this is what's going to happen to you." And Paul goes, "Mhm, I'm fine." Not only that, but I'm ready to die. I mean, for most of us, if we heard that this kind of thing was going to happen to us, we would want to I mean, if it was the last 24 hours that you were alive on Earth, you thinking of where you can get the best ice cream and taste the best pizzas and do the most sightseeing, not to see if you can go get a whole city or a town saved, right? But Paul's heart was so pure. Even though these Holy Spirit warnings had come through, they were intended to prepare Paul, not to stop him, to prepare him.

45:38 So verse 15 to 16, "After those days, we packed and went up to Jerusalem. Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple with whom we were to lodge." Verse 17, "When they came to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly." Of course, they wanted to receive him gladly that only been blessed by Paul's ministry. And on the following day, Paul went with us to James and the elders were present. And when he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done amongst the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. So, he is busy, you know, recounting like the only way a really good detailed

46:25 man can every single thing that has happened, how people's lives have changed. Remember the sons of Sceva and that whole city and he's telling them and encouraging them like, "Listen, guys, I was on this ministry trip and this happened and that happened." In other words, he's come with a good testimony. Verse 20. Then they say to him, "See, you see, brother, how many miracles of the Jews there have been of those who have believed. And they're all zealous for the law, but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are amongst the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs." Now, if you remember correctly, Paul said to Timothy what? Go and be circumcised. Why? Cuz everybody knew that his dad was Greek.

47:11 So, Paul, if he asked his 2IC to be circumcised and nowhere up until that now we've seen Paul say such a thing. I mean, I'm just saying. What then? The assembly must certainly meet for they will hear that you have come. >> [snorts] >> So, he goes, "Listen, they're zealous, but they're still zealous for the Lord." You see, we can be so radical, but radical for the wrong things. The Christian community of Jerusalem had heard bad false rumors about Paul. They had heard that he had become essentially an anti-Jew, which wasn't the case. He still loved the Jews and he was just hoping to shed some light on what they believed. And based on Romans chapter 14, it seemed that Paul didn't have a problem with the Jewish Christians. He He wanted

47:56 them to continue to observe their old customs. Why? Cuz remember he had just fulfilled a Nazarite vow, which was a Jewish custom for him to grow his hair and take it back. So, at no way did Paul ever go against. But that's what the enemy does. He makes up lies. Verse 23 to 25. "Therefore, do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them to be purified with them and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, that we may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing. And that you yourself also walk orderly to keep the law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided

48:43 that they should observe no such thing except that they should keep themselves from offering to idols, from blood, and from things strangled, and from sexual immorality." So, Paul didn't mean that they had to perform any Jewish rituals to be right with God. Paul would rightly refuse to compromise, right? So, his stance was you don't have to do it, you don't have to not do it, but if you're doing it to get closer to God, you're missing it. Verse 26. "Then Paul took the men, and the next day after being purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each of them." So, he had shown them that their ceremonies were kind of

49:28 useless, not destructive, just useless, useless towards salvation. Verse 27 to 30. "Now, when the seven days had almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up a whole crowd. And they laid hands on him, crying out, 'Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place. Furthermore, he has also brought the Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place. You see, there it comes again. They hated him speaking resurrection and they hated the fact that somebody who was not a Jew could serve God the way only they were special enough to serve God. All right? Whom suppose that Paul had brought into the temple. And all the city was

50:13 disturbed and the people ran together and seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple and immediately the doors were shut. All right? So, again the crowd has come together. They are great amount of crowds. Um and they are very upset with what Paul has been teaching. Verse 31 to 36, we're going to read about how a Roman soldier actually rescues Paul. Now, as they were seeking to kill him, remember the vision of the Lord? News came to the commander of the garrisons that all Jerusalem was in uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them and when they saw the commander, the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

51:00 Then the commander came near and took him and commanded him to be bound, remember the vision, with two chains and asked who he was and what he had done. And some amongst the multitude cried one things and others and some another. So, when he could not ascertain the truth because the tumult, he commanded him to be taken to the barracks and when he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers, underline that, because of the violence of the mob. That he couldn't even get through the crowd. That's how angry they were that they actually had to pick him up. For the multitude of people followed after crying, "Away with him." Right? Paul has been seized by, you know, a crowd. Here comes these this

51:46 centurion and these gods and they take him, you know, out of the temple, put them into the barracks because everybody wanted to kill him right there in the outer court in that area. Paul was so close to death at this point. He must have just thought, here we go. I mean, they tried to stone me, you know, I've been lowered down the wall, been beaten. Like, all right, Lord, remember the vision to to you know, to die is gain or to to to have Christ is gain. So, this is the end, guys. It's okay. And when they saw the commander, the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. So, Paul had already been beaten. Now, they take two chains, which means they handcuffed Paul to a soldier on

52:32 either side. And again, at this point, I think Paul is immediately thinking about that prophecy of Agabus that he just had right? And away with him doesn't mean throw him in prison. What they mean is kill him. Kill him. They don't want him away with him like you would throw away an empty cardboard box. Verse 37-39. Then, as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I speak with you?" Paul, like, your timing. They're trying to carry you away, the soldiers, to keep you alive. And he goes, "Sorry. Hi. Can I please have a word?" He replied, "Can you speak Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago

53:20 stirred up rebellion and led 4,000 assassins into the wilderness?" But Paul said, "I'm a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city, and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people." Now, it's quite a surprise because um there's a lot of paraphrasing going here and and he's going, "Listen, aren't you who exactly are you that you think I should allow you to speak?" And the minute Paul identifies himself as a Roman commander, remember I told you the previous times, he never once played the Roman citizen card because if you're a Roman citizen, you weren't allowed to be treated in that way. Now for the first

54:07 time he's going, "Listen, I'm a citizen of Tarsus. I'm not a terrorist. I have citizenship." And at this moment when his life was in danger from this angry mob and everything was going that he goes, "Can I have a word?" Of course, we know what is going on in Paul's mind. He wants to preach. Verse 14. So when he had given them permission, Paul stood on the stairs, right? Platform. He motioned his hands to the people and there was great silence and he spoke to them in the Hebrew language saying, I just want to say at this point, he's standing on steps. He's bound to two guards. He is a troublemaker according to everybody. Everybody's pretty much shouting kill him like, "Take him out."

54:54 And now he waves his hand around and everybody listens. Very interesting, very dramatic moment. Very massive opening to another sermon. But the silence falls and this is the opportunity Paul had waited for a lifetime. It was time to speak to the Jews because the Jews were the one that were persecuting him. And I want to go into Acts 22. I know we don't have too much time left, but I'm going to go into Acts chapter 22 because remember sometimes the chapters are put there in for reference, but it's not a break in the story. So he's still standing on the step. He's still bound with two guards on either side and now he begins to talk and he goes, "Brethren and fathers." These were the people that

55:40 were beating him up before the Centurion and the guards arrived. "Hear my defense before you now." And when they heard that he had spoken the Hebrew language, they all they kept all the more silent. "I'm indeed a Jew, born of Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in the city at the feet of Gamaliel." Remember Gamaliel? "Taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous towards God, as you are today." He finds a common denominator, as he always does. Nothing new. He goes, he He finds the nicest way to put it is, "You guys were zealous, but for the wrong thing." So, he goes, "Zealous towards God, as you are today." Like, I

56:26 get the fact that you are passionate. I was also passionate. Verse 4 to 5, "I persecuted this way," in other words, Christianity, "to death, binding and delivering them into prisons, both men and women. As also the high priest bears with me, and all the council of the elders, from whom I received the letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those that were to Jerusalem to be punished." Paul goes, "Listen, I was the one, just like you, doing these kind of things." And now he's going to tell them about what happened in the in on the way to Damascus. Verse 6 to 11, "Now, it happened as I journeyed that I came near Damascus, that at about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. I fell to the ground, and I I heard a voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, why are you

57:12 persecuting me?' So, I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I'm the Jesus of Nazareth, whom are you persecuting.' And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me. So, I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go to Damascus, and there you will be told the things of which are appointed for you to do. Since I could not see for the glory of the light being led by the hand to those who were with me, I came to Damascus. Paul was determined to put the undertone that he was a persecutor of Christians. He did that until he had an encounter. In other words, one encounter could change everything. Paul wanted them to assess who they were

57:57 really persecuting. Who are you? You're not persecuting Paul. You're persecuting Jesus. And so, he talks about this bright light that we know and he carries on. He goes in verse 12. Then a certain Ananias, a devoted man according to the law, having a good testimony with the Jews who dwelt there, came to me and he stood and he said to me, "Brother Saul, receive your sight." And at that time, that same hour, I looked at him and he said, "The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know his will and see the one the just one and hear the voice of his mouth that you may be witnesses to all men which have seen and heard. And now, why you are wait Why Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, wash your sins, the calling of the name of the Lord."

58:44 Ananias had good credentials, people knew of him and so he throws him into the story because it was powerful for his audience to know. Paul would use his testimony when it was necessary to get people to realize that there is a living God. Verse 19 to 20. So, I said, "Lord, they know that I'm in every synagogue imprisoned and beat those who believe in you. And when your blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I was standing consenting." This is the the time that we realize back all the way when we're talking about Stephen that was being martyred. Saul/Paul was there. Consenting to his death, guarding his clothes of those killing him.

59:30 Paul goes, "Listen, I you don't understand. I was there. I was so powerful. I was so persuaded that when they killed Stephen, it was me. I was there." Verse 21, then they said to him, "Depart, for I send you far from here to the Gentiles." And then he so he says, "Listen, after doing all of this and having this encounter, I get told to depart." It was for his own safety, yes. But this would be a journey where God would take him and teach him. Paul made it clear that it wasn't his idea to preach to the Gentiles cuz he goes "Listen I was sent by God to do this. This was part of God's plan, not mine." He also he hoped it also explained to the crowd

1:00:16 why he seemed to be so friendly towards the Gentiles because God had instructed him to do it. He was simply obeying. And this is the thing with them, the Gentiles. But this was the message, you don't Sorry, I lost my note there for a moment. So, he loved the Gentiles, right? He would love them and love them even more. Why? Because God had asked him to. It was everything in the name of Jesus. He was brought up not to be associated with them, not to show kindness towards them, not I told you how they had to treat a non-Jew. And so the crowd, they tried to kill Paul, had then listened intently to his

1:01:04 whole sermon. Once they were in rage because of that one word, Gentiles. The mob listened carefully up until this point because in their minds they didn't mind him talking about Jesus. They They mind him having an encounter, but the minute he says the word Gentiles, there comes a problem. Verse 24, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and they said that he should be examined under scourging so that he might know that they shouted so against him. Paul was so passionate addressing this crowd. Paul had really, you know, it was a

1:01:50 massive riot. He had an opportunity. He used this opportunity to preach. But the minute he speaks about the Gentiles, they would carry on. Now, examined under scourging means that you would be beaten. All right, with a rod or a whip. But men often died or were left crippled because of this process of scourging. And this is where Paul is about to find himself. Verse 25 to 26. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman?" Here he plays his Roman citizen- citizenship. "And uncondemned?" When the centurion heard that, and told the commander, saying, "Take care of what you do, for this man is a

1:02:37 Roman." He turns around and goes, "Listen, I'm already bound. I'm already tied. They're going to start scourging me. Scourging you either leaves you dead or crippled." And he goes, "Listen, I am a Roman citizen." Meaning you cannot do this unless you are sure of my crimes. And they hadn't yet convicted him. Verse 27 to 29. Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" And he said, "Yes." The commander answered, "With a large sum I obtained the citizenship." And Paul said, "I was born a citizen." Then immediately those who were about to examine withdrew from him, and the commander was so afraid after he found out that he was a Roman because he had bound him. Because he knew that to touch a Roman citizen would put

1:03:23 him in line for death. He could be killed because of that. He goes, "Listen, the the Roman commander goes, I paid a lot to become a citizen." Paul goes, "No, no, I was born one." Verse 13. The next day, because he wanted to know for certain that he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds and the commanded the chief priests and all the council to appear and brought Paul down before and and set him before them. All right, I will pick up verse 23 next time as we carry on with this trial for Paul. But I mean, let's just quickly Sorry, I just want to make a note that I don't forget where I am. Let's quickly just put this last session um sort of into

1:04:10 into context for you. Just one moment. I should be okay. So, I mean, if you look at everything that has been going on, you know, you you see Paul's journey, you've seen him preach, go from place to place. I mean, undoubtedly really passionate, really sold out. I think when we listen to all these quotes about Paul, a lot of things begin to make sense now which didn't make sense before. Listening to him say, "Listen, you know, to to to have Christ is really gain." It doesn't matter if you lose your life or your materialistic or your fake branded success. To have Christ is so much gain. You can see how Paul every so often times speaks to his audience. His love, his compassion as he

1:04:56 goes and he he goes back and he cares and he builds and this is just Paul for you. So, I leave this thought with you. How much are we willing to do for the kingdom of the Lord. How much are you willing to say? Or do we compromise? Do we contaminate? Do we water it down? It's a thought for you. Bow your heads and close your eyes where you're joining from. Father God, I thank you, Lord, that as we have been studying the book of Acts, Father, I thank you, Lord, that that passion, that ability, that commitment that was on Paul's life will rest upon ours, every student, Father. I thank you, Lord, that we will become

1:05:42 radical like Paul, Father. That we will be rooted and founded and be steadfast. And as Paul said, that we would fight the good fight. That as you viewed our lives as a race, we too would view it as a race. And thank you, Father, that when our race is done, you will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." In the mighty name of Jesus, and everybody said, "Amen and amen." Students, I'm going to be live with you the last five chapters of the book of Acts. God bless you. See you next week.