ACTS 18

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1After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, 3and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. 4And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean From now on I will go to the Gentiles."
 
7Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. 8Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. 9And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; 10for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city." 11And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
 
12But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, 13saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." 14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; 15but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters." 16And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
 
17And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.
 
23And having spent some time there, he left and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

NOTE 2 issues here in chapter 18: FIRST-The idea of a tent-maker. We normally think in terms of a tent-maker being a job that a part-time pastor must do to pay the bills. But I believe it's more than that. Paul was so caught up in his calling to "love God and to love your neighbor as yourself", he saw it as his higher calling to present Jesus and His kingdom to the Jews, the Gentiles and to kings. Yes, he supported himself through making tents, but it was not because he was a part-time anything. Today, I believe all jobs could be viewed as "tent-making", because your work is not your primary purpose on earth. But you have a higher calling from God. Your job may pay your bills, but there is a greater reason for you to be alive today-to fulfill the calling of God on your life. And, if you don't know what that is, start with loving God with all your heart, strength and mind and loving your neighbor as yourself." And as you gather and enjoy the fellowship of others who are like-minded, you will find Jesus showing up and leading out in your life with His opportunities and orders.

SECOND-The impact of touching people. When Paul felt totally rejected by the Jews at the synagogue, he began teaching Jesus and the Kingdom at a house next door to the synagogue. He didn't do this to start another synagogue (church), but to make himself available to touch more interested people. NOTE that Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed. He is mentioned later in the letter to the Corinthians. Also, note that God touched another leader of the synagogue through Paul being brought to court. After the Jews were rejected by the judge, the people beat up Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue. Then note who wrote the first letter to the Corinthian church of Jesus, Paul and Sosthenes!

One more illustration of touching people. Paul first met up with Acquila and Priscilla, a couple in the same trade, and they came together. They even followed along with him as he left Corinth. When they were in Ephesus, they heard Apollo speak well concerning Jesus. However, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Apollo went on from there using his giftedness even more effectively, because Paul touched Aquila and Priscilla and they, in turn, touched Apollo.

This is how the Jesus movement spreads!

ACTS 17

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1Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." 4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
 
NOTE Paul's custom was to "go to church" (synagogue). He doesn't criticize it, yet goes to look for the God-fearing who might be attracted to JESUS PLUS NOTHING, for those whose hearts are leaning in and are attracted to Jesus as God's Messiah. And the Jewish leadership stirred up the people and threw them out of the city! Then, there is an interesting comparison here. Look at verse 10.
 
10The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Thessalonica and Berea. Each had a synagogue where Paul and Silas went in to speak. In Thessalonica "some were persuaded and a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and leading women." But Luke goes on to say that in Berea they found the people more noble-minded than in Thessalonica, real eager students of the word, testing out all that was said. What's most interesting to me is the apparent "noble-minded" reception of the Gospel by the Bereans didn't prove to be nearly the impact that it was to the Thessalonians. After only 3 Sabbaths the believers at Thessalonica really "got it." Once they received the Gospel, they spread the message of the Good News throughout most all of Asia Minor. The Bereans church didn't experience such impact! YOU CAN'T JUDGE WHAT WILL COME FROM PEOPLE'S INITIAL RESPONSE TO JESUS. REAL FRUIT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO GROW.
 
16Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 17So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. 18And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20"For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean." 21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

While Paul is waiting in Athens, he has a divine appointment. This is the first totally non-synagogued (non-churched) audience he has spoken to and therefore handles his message of Jesus differently.
 
22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23"For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD ' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'
 
29"Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." 32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this." 33So Paul went out of their midst. 34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

NOTE that Paul is speaking to a non-synagogued group of people who were not familiar with the Scriptures. So he does the following:

FIRST-Paul affirms their religious zeal as he observes all of the idols of worship. How many ministers would berate the idols and criticize their worship?

SECOND-Paul picks up on an inscription on one of the altars to an unknown God and uses this as a stepping-stone for his message.

THIRD-He appeals to their common-sense belief that there is a HIGHER POWER Who has created everything gives us life and breath.

FOURTH-He doesn't quote Scripture, but quotes one of their famous poets. This is because his audience wouldn't have been familiar with the Scripture. Since all truth is God's truth, then even truth from a local poet can move a person's heart toward God.

FIFTH-He doesn't mention Jesus' name, but only speaks of this one Man whom God appointed to die and be resurrected.

And, some joined up with him and believed. Others decided to hear more later.
Christians spend too much time talking to themselves like "preaching to the choir". Paul is demonstrating how to relate to a non-churched audience and he does it without all the "normal" things we think might be important to say.
When we use Christianese and do not relate to our world, our world cannot relate to our God. We just keep talking to ourselves!

Instead of judging the world and talking to ourselves, we must be about judging ourselves and talking to the world!

ACTS 16

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Five years ago Paul was in these cities and now he returns to find them vibrant and growing. That must have been an encouraging experience for him to see the fruit of his labor. Then he found a special disciple: 1Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra and a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 5So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number daily.
 
Because Paul perceived Timothy to be so special, he believed he could be very effective coming alongside Paul to reach the same people was to reach. Therefore, he required Timothy, as an adult, to be circumcised. What an amazing act of devotion on Timothy's part, yet probably no one was shocked at this, knowing how faithful and outstanding Timothy had proven to be.
 
12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days. 13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

In Philippi there was no synagogue for Paul and Timothy to orbit around. But where the Jews were unable to have a synagogue they had a place of prayer and these places of prayer were usually by the riverside. On the Sabbath Paul and his friends took their way there and talked with the women who met in that place. They met a special lady that day, Lydia.
 
14A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

The extraordinary thing about Paul's work in Philippi is the amazing cross-section of the population that was won over to Christ. Lydia came from the very top end of the social scale; she was a purple merchant. The purple dye had to be gathered drop by drop from a certain shell-fish and was so costly that to dye a pound of wool with it would be the equivalent of a small fortune. Lydia, wealthy woman and merchant prince that she was, was attracted to Jesus.

NOTE her immediate reaction was to offer the hospitality of her house to Paul and his friends. When Paul is describing her character he says that the believer should be "given to hospitality". There is no better place to show hospitality than in someone's home. In the fellowship of Jesus, your home is an open door!
 
22The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
 
25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!" 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

You just can't give up, no matter how tough your situation is. The Lord is very capable of coming through on your behalf. Don't give up on Him, no matter how dark it seems to be! The response from the jailor was incredible! He had been LISTENING in on Paul and Silas as they sang and prayed, then when the supernatural happenings took place, he instantly asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
 
31They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

After the prison scene was over, 40They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

NOTE 4 things in this chapter. 1. People came to faith after listening to the Good News-Lydia at the place of prayer and the jailor overheard Paul and Silas singing and praying. All that is required is that you be interested!

2. Both Lydia and the jailor, once they entered into a genuine faith relationship with Jesus, turned on the hospitality. Lydia invited them to stay with her. The jailor took them home to clean up their wounds.

3. The entire households of Lydia and the Philippian jailor also came to faith in Jesus. Your influence is very clear and God has brought many around you who will come to Jesus. All for just hanging around these people.

4. Their hospitality focused around their homes. This is what we've lost in many circles-THE HOME. It's the home where people are most comfortable and feel very safe.

Two questions come to mind: FIRST-Are you listening with your heart? Are you leaning in to learn more about Jesus?

SECOND-Are you willing to use your home to make people feel more comfortable and safe?

The JESUS MOVEMENT of the 21st Century is happening outside the local, organized church. This movement is the largest, fastest growing movement in our world today. My philosophy of life is to find out where the Lord is moving and go there immediately to be with Him and His people! 

ACTS 15

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1Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. 4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
 
Talk about ADD-ONS. Circumcision would test out your faith for sure! Again, we see the nature of fallen man wanting to be right as opposed to everyone else. In a sense, it's much like the NOT INVENTED HERE syndrome that frequently pops up in relationships.
 
6The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8"And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 

10"Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11"But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." 12All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Peter played a great role here among the leadership in Jerusalem and backed up the reports coming from Paul and Barnabas. NOTE he says, "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith." Then he nails the point with, "We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus." By the way, this is how everyone is saved-through the GRACE OF GOD. The only way anyone will get into heaven will be through the grace of God and nothing else or as I like to say, JESUS PLUS NOTHING.

Therefore, there is nothing you can do nor is their any doctrinal system that you must believe or follow in order to get in, because it is ONLY THROUGH HIS GRACE. Do you see it? God will deal with each person fairly, knowing each person's heart, and will appropriate His grace as He wills. Once understood, your pride will take a great beating!

James came to the conclusion that they should not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles. However, he did suggest and all agreed to encourage the Gentile believers to be most sensitive to the Jews and not unnecessarily offend them. So, they sent a letter by way of Silas and Judas which outlined 3 points of encouragement.
 
28"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell."
 
30So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. I've got to believe that these new Gentile believers were greatly relieved that they were not going to be forced into the Law of Moses and especially to be circumcised. OUCH!

Now, while they were there something funny happens: 32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. You can count on it. Prophets with a word from God, itching to challenge these new believers went a little over time in their speaking. I intimately understand this!
 
36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."

This spirit of always being concerned about the rest of the fellowship, to see how they are and encourage them to hang in there, is a vital evidence of the fellowship of Jesus. You don't have to go on a "mission trip" or a "missionary journey" for this. It ought to be present in the local fellowship as well. We are family!
 
37Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Here is one of those incidents that can be found frequently throughout the Bible, where things aren't going so well, people aren't getting along or people are acting wrongly toward God and one another. If you were the author of the Bible and you wanted people to be attracted to your message, most likely you wouldn't include the underbelly of the church of Jesus. You would probably cover it up a bit. But here we have a strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas as to personnel and they actually parted ways over it. Both were used mightily, but just in different directions! It's almost like this incident happened in order to multiply their effectiveness in visiting and encouraging the disciples throughout the world.

In this chapter you can get a little clearer picture as to how the movement of Jesus multiplies through life-on-life ministry and encouragement in the name of Jesus. NOTE that there aren't many mass gatherings so far as we observe the Acts of Jesus among His disciples. not many large crusades in stadiums, not many evangelistic blitzes, but in the power of the few the message of Jesus is spread in a viral manner. It's catching! And, it's interesting that neither Paul nor Barnabas set out to work alone, but went on their mission trips two-by-two. Maybe Jesus was on to something, when He sent His disciples out two-by-two. Evaluate the things you are presently doing for the Lord and be careful to take another or others along with you. I like to think of this strategy as JESUS FIELD TRIPS! Try it out!

ACTS 14

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1In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.
 
It's important to note here that this new movement of the Way-the followers of Jesus-didn't avoid the synagogue or criticize it's bureaucratic systems, but continued to attend for a higher purpose. Those of you who are participating in the 21st Century Jesus movement that is growing rapidly around the world, must embrace the same pose with respect to the organized church today. There is no need to criticize it or avoid it. In fact, there is good reason to attend in order to attract more God-fearing, Jesus-loving people into the movement.
Paul had the opportunity to speak at the synagogue, since all visiting Rabbi's are invited to address the assembly. In this case, a large number of people believed his message of the Good News of Jesus.
 
8At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked. 9This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he leaped up and began to walk. 11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us." 12And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

Because of this spectacular miracle they began to worship them as Zeus and Hermes. Even the priest of Zeus in that city was leading the way. But then NOTE what happens next.
 
14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. 16"In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." 18Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. 19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

NOTE, the same people who were all excited about the healing and were ready to worship Paul and Barnabas, are now ready to kill them! But why the turn? NOTE the reason for the worship was the "showy" part of the miracle (or the "vain things" mentioned here), but when they were confronted by the real miracle worker, the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, they were easily incensed to hate Paul and Barnabas.

This is very common today as well. People are attracted to the external, the showy part of ministry, because there is a real sense of control. But when confronted with the living God, there is no way you will able to control the situation.

I experienced this many years ago in a church board meeting. A young man, who was really enjoying the incredible growth and attention and power he was sensing because of it, made this same dramatic pivot in the period of about an hour. I was resigning from my position, so he used all his charm to keep me from making this move, telling me that I was the greatest Bible teacher he had ever heard. But when he knew there was no way I was going to change my mind, he became so angry, spinning out of control, and used many adjectives against me-stupid, ignorant, irrelevant, obstinate, and more unmentionables. He was so upset that he was losing out on the "vain things" and turned against me in a most embarrassing way (for him and the board). It made no difference what the living God was doing among us.

Since Jesus apprehended my life in a fresh way over the last 4 years, I've seen this same shift in attitude among some of our people. As long as I kept the show (the "vain things") going, all was good. But, as soon as I moved into a pose of following the living God (Jesus), there was little show left. Only the reality of walking with Jesus, walking with others and waiting on Jesus to lead out. To these people I once was a beloved pastor, now I am someone who let them down and don't care.

Now, this next section fascinates me: 21After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." 23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they spent a long time with the disciples.

Even after the rejection in those cities, they came back to strengthen and encourage the disciples in the faith. I love this. Again, as we saw yesterday, it isn't about whose fellowship it is. It's all about Jesus and those who want to be His disciples. WE WALK BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE-HIS NAME IS JESUS!