Acts 18
Conclusion of Paul's second journey - at Corinth
Paul's missionary strategy - The key to effective evangelism
- Paul gravitated by design to the principal cities in each region. He knew that the trade and commerce will help spread the word from there.
- He then located the most receptive people in that city. In this case, the God fearing gentiles who worshiped week-by-week in the synagogue. Look out for receptive groups of people.
- Identify key webs of influence - Lydia, Crispus, Titius (may have been the same person mentioned in Romans 16:23 - Gaius) etc.
Acts 18: 9 - "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Aquila and Priscilla are seen to be of tremendous encouragement to Paul. When he arrived in Corinth, he may have been truly overwhelmed. God sends these two wonderful couples to help him.
Why does visions not occur frequently nowadays? Likely because the canon is closed, or in other words, scripture is completed.
Apollos is an apologist. His theme is 'Jesus is the Christ'. He had great speaking skills. Aquila and Priscilla were not intimidated by his skills and chose to teach him some basics of Christianity. Apollos on the other hand was humble enough to receive their instructions. There is some great teaching for us here.
1 Thessalonians 1-3
A church Paul loved
When Paul was in Corinth, he wrote a letter to the Thessalonians - a church he founded. Timothy returned from Thessaloniki and updated Paul about that church.
Paul focuses on three aspects of the Thessalonian church that he wants to develop in our lives.
1. Work of faith
2. Labor of love
3. Steadfast hope
God wants us to be people of faith, love and hope. This is the hallmark of a New Testament Christian. How should we assess a Christian's maturity?
By their biblical knowledge or the rules and legalism we follow or the experiences we have - speaking in tongues? Apostle Paul does not think these are measures of a good christian.
Do you believe in the promise of God?
Do you love the Lord, and love your neighbor?
Do you longingly await the second coming of Christ?
These are the most important signs of a good Christian.
Paul focuses this letter on the second coming of Christ. Do you live your life awaiting his coming?
1 Thess 3:13 - May you be blameless and holy, when he comes again.
Paul also focuses on mentoring; imitating. The church became imitators of Paul and Silas, and thereby of the Lord. Through that they became a model to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Similarly, we are at one instance mentees, and also mentors. Who are you following? Who are you mentoring? Are you accountable to anyone?
Finally, a glimpse from Paul's life as a good mentor - Paul considered his disciples his glory and joy (1 Thess 2:20). He says he lives only when his disciples stand firm in the Lord (1 Thess 3:8).
1 Thessalonians 4-5
Live a Holy life
Although Gallio made the expansion of Christianity easier because he chose not to outlaw it, it does not mean that there was no persecution or suffering. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. While we suffer at the hand of persecutors, we will be totally delivered from the wrath of God (1 Thess 5:9). We will never have to face the anger of the Lord, for it has been finished at the cross.
The biggest reason Paul wrote these two letters was to answer some important questions about the return of Christ at the end of the church age:
1. Christ will return physically, visibly and triumphantly at the end of the age.
2. That fact is meant to be a motivating force in the life of every believer, causing us to strive for holiness and righteousness.
- Jesus is coming - you be ready!
- Christ's return is always tied to an exhortation to holiness.
Jesus is coming - be pure, encourage one other, work hard, turn from idles, take pride in helping others, build up other believers
- We are not to try to figure out the timing of Christ's return - it is foolishness.
"Let me live as though Jesus died for me yesterday, rose for me this morning, and is returning for me tomorrow" - Richard Baxter
3. When Christ does return, all His saints will be caught up to be with Him.
4. The "parousia" (the Greek term for the second coming) will come suddenly.
5. The parousia will not occur until after the Antichrist (man of lawlessness) appears.
6. The present work of the Spirit is to restrain the influence of evil and the antichrist in our world.
Now let's talk about a premillenial view of Christ's return.
There are three schools of thought:
A) pre-tribulational school - A secret rapture happens quietly, and all the believers will be taken up to be with him. The restrain of the Holy Spirit is removed. The Antichrist appears after this event.
B) mid-tribulational - two stage coming - one stage when he comes for His saints, the second stage is when he comes with His saints. This view holds that the rapture occurs during the middle of the tribulation, after the church has suffered persecution at the hand of the antichrist.
C) post-tribulational - neither first or second. The church is on earth during the entire period of the tribulation. The saints are protected from the wrath of God much like the Israelites during the Pharaoh times.
Keep these ideas in the mind as we will soon deal with other sections in the Bible that teaches us about eschatology.
Acts 19-20
Focus on the church in Ephesus
Paul spent 3 years in Ephesus - the longest time he spent in any one place. In this chapter, Paul encounters a group of people who had heard enough to be disciples, but their knowledge, and therefore their practice, was seriously deficient. Paul asked them if they received the Holy Spirit. They admitted that they were followers of John the baptist, who apparently knew Jesus as the savior and Lord. Paul then lays hands on them and they receive the Holy spirit. This gives us some theological dilemma. Some believers use this passage to suggest that the gift of Holy spirit is accompanied by the speaking of tongues. Some say Holy spirit comes only with the laying of hands.
Remember that this incident is really an unusual one. These people were believers of John the baptists, and probably were not the average Christian believer today. They had not even heard of the Holy spirit. Paul sensed something was wrong. He then goes fishing with a diagnostic question. Read what John Stott has to say about this passage.
Paul is then expelled from the synagogue after 3 months of preaching. We then see power encounters between Paul and a society filled with the occult and sorcery. Demetrius and the idol makers suggest that Christianity is not good for their economy. The raising of Eutychus from the dead and Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders are interesting to read.
Acts 21-22
Paul leaves Ephesus and arrives Jerusalem
The first section describes the parting of Paul from Ephesus elders. Paul's determination to go to Jerusalem was linked to the relief offering he had been collecting from the Gentile churches for the Jerusalem church. There were numerous prophecies warning Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Was Paul ignoring God's word? Did Paul forfeit a longer period of ministry? We do not know. But this is again a testament to the providence of God (Romans 8:28). If it was a mistake, God overruled that, and made Paul's trip a blessing. Paul ended up in Rome, via Jerusalem - this illustrates the doctrine of providence.
Women in NT were just as much as gifted as men - see the description of the daughters of Philip. Agabus also shows us another aspect of prophesy. What really did the prophets do? Forth-telling and fore-telling.
The leaders of the church in Jerusalem must have been both pleased and distressed to see Paul arrive in the city. Paul joins some of the men who have taken vows and are undergoing cleansing rituals, with disastrous results. One of the great principles of Paul's ministry is again revealed here - culturally acclimatized evangelism. He was a gentile in that territory. He was a Jew when it mattered. This is not hypocrisy. He does not break any moral principles, or twists his own words.
Chapter 22 contains Paul's testimony. His Roman citizenship plays an important role here and will for the rest of the book of Acts.
Conclusion of Paul's second journey - at Corinth
Paul's missionary strategy - The key to effective evangelism
- Paul gravitated by design to the principal cities in each region. He knew that the trade and commerce will help spread the word from there.
- He then located the most receptive people in that city. In this case, the God fearing gentiles who worshiped week-by-week in the synagogue. Look out for receptive groups of people.
- Identify key webs of influence - Lydia, Crispus, Titius (may have been the same person mentioned in Romans 16:23 - Gaius) etc.
Acts 18: 9 - "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Aquila and Priscilla are seen to be of tremendous encouragement to Paul. When he arrived in Corinth, he may have been truly overwhelmed. God sends these two wonderful couples to help him.
Why does visions not occur frequently nowadays? Likely because the canon is closed, or in other words, scripture is completed.
Apollos is an apologist. His theme is 'Jesus is the Christ'. He had great speaking skills. Aquila and Priscilla were not intimidated by his skills and chose to teach him some basics of Christianity. Apollos on the other hand was humble enough to receive their instructions. There is some great teaching for us here.
1 Thessalonians 1-3
A church Paul loved
When Paul was in Corinth, he wrote a letter to the Thessalonians - a church he founded. Timothy returned from Thessaloniki and updated Paul about that church.
Paul focuses on three aspects of the Thessalonian church that he wants to develop in our lives.
1. Work of faith
2. Labor of love
3. Steadfast hope
God wants us to be people of faith, love and hope. This is the hallmark of a New Testament Christian. How should we assess a Christian's maturity?
By their biblical knowledge or the rules and legalism we follow or the experiences we have - speaking in tongues? Apostle Paul does not think these are measures of a good christian.
Do you believe in the promise of God?
Do you love the Lord, and love your neighbor?
Do you longingly await the second coming of Christ?
These are the most important signs of a good Christian.
Paul focuses this letter on the second coming of Christ. Do you live your life awaiting his coming?
1 Thess 3:13 - May you be blameless and holy, when he comes again.
Paul also focuses on mentoring; imitating. The church became imitators of Paul and Silas, and thereby of the Lord. Through that they became a model to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Similarly, we are at one instance mentees, and also mentors. Who are you following? Who are you mentoring? Are you accountable to anyone?
Finally, a glimpse from Paul's life as a good mentor - Paul considered his disciples his glory and joy (1 Thess 2:20). He says he lives only when his disciples stand firm in the Lord (1 Thess 3:8).
1 Thessalonians 4-5
Live a Holy life
Although Gallio made the expansion of Christianity easier because he chose not to outlaw it, it does not mean that there was no persecution or suffering. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. While we suffer at the hand of persecutors, we will be totally delivered from the wrath of God (1 Thess 5:9). We will never have to face the anger of the Lord, for it has been finished at the cross.
The biggest reason Paul wrote these two letters was to answer some important questions about the return of Christ at the end of the church age:
1. Christ will return physically, visibly and triumphantly at the end of the age.
2. That fact is meant to be a motivating force in the life of every believer, causing us to strive for holiness and righteousness.
- Jesus is coming - you be ready!
- Christ's return is always tied to an exhortation to holiness.
Jesus is coming - be pure, encourage one other, work hard, turn from idles, take pride in helping others, build up other believers
- We are not to try to figure out the timing of Christ's return - it is foolishness.
"Let me live as though Jesus died for me yesterday, rose for me this morning, and is returning for me tomorrow" - Richard Baxter
3. When Christ does return, all His saints will be caught up to be with Him.
4. The "parousia" (the Greek term for the second coming) will come suddenly.
5. The parousia will not occur until after the Antichrist (man of lawlessness) appears.
6. The present work of the Spirit is to restrain the influence of evil and the antichrist in our world.
Now let's talk about a premillenial view of Christ's return.
There are three schools of thought:
A) pre-tribulational school - A secret rapture happens quietly, and all the believers will be taken up to be with him. The restrain of the Holy Spirit is removed. The Antichrist appears after this event.
B) mid-tribulational - two stage coming - one stage when he comes for His saints, the second stage is when he comes with His saints. This view holds that the rapture occurs during the middle of the tribulation, after the church has suffered persecution at the hand of the antichrist.
C) post-tribulational - neither first or second. The church is on earth during the entire period of the tribulation. The saints are protected from the wrath of God much like the Israelites during the Pharaoh times.
Keep these ideas in the mind as we will soon deal with other sections in the Bible that teaches us about eschatology.
Acts 19-20
Focus on the church in Ephesus
Paul spent 3 years in Ephesus - the longest time he spent in any one place. In this chapter, Paul encounters a group of people who had heard enough to be disciples, but their knowledge, and therefore their practice, was seriously deficient. Paul asked them if they received the Holy Spirit. They admitted that they were followers of John the baptist, who apparently knew Jesus as the savior and Lord. Paul then lays hands on them and they receive the Holy spirit. This gives us some theological dilemma. Some believers use this passage to suggest that the gift of Holy spirit is accompanied by the speaking of tongues. Some say Holy spirit comes only with the laying of hands.
Remember that this incident is really an unusual one. These people were believers of John the baptists, and probably were not the average Christian believer today. They had not even heard of the Holy spirit. Paul sensed something was wrong. He then goes fishing with a diagnostic question. Read what John Stott has to say about this passage.
Paul is then expelled from the synagogue after 3 months of preaching. We then see power encounters between Paul and a society filled with the occult and sorcery. Demetrius and the idol makers suggest that Christianity is not good for their economy. The raising of Eutychus from the dead and Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders are interesting to read.
Acts 21-22
Paul leaves Ephesus and arrives Jerusalem
The first section describes the parting of Paul from Ephesus elders. Paul's determination to go to Jerusalem was linked to the relief offering he had been collecting from the Gentile churches for the Jerusalem church. There were numerous prophecies warning Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Was Paul ignoring God's word? Did Paul forfeit a longer period of ministry? We do not know. But this is again a testament to the providence of God (Romans 8:28). If it was a mistake, God overruled that, and made Paul's trip a blessing. Paul ended up in Rome, via Jerusalem - this illustrates the doctrine of providence.
Women in NT were just as much as gifted as men - see the description of the daughters of Philip. Agabus also shows us another aspect of prophesy. What really did the prophets do? Forth-telling and fore-telling.
The leaders of the church in Jerusalem must have been both pleased and distressed to see Paul arrive in the city. Paul joins some of the men who have taken vows and are undergoing cleansing rituals, with disastrous results. One of the great principles of Paul's ministry is again revealed here - culturally acclimatized evangelism. He was a gentile in that territory. He was a Jew when it mattered. This is not hypocrisy. He does not break any moral principles, or twists his own words.
Chapter 22 contains Paul's testimony. His Roman citizenship plays an important role here and will for the rest of the book of Acts.
