An Outline Of The Book Of Acts
By: David Malick
MESSAGE STATEMENT:
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS THE
MESSIAH-LORD IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL PEOPLES (JEWS AND GENTILES) IN
SPITE OF THE REJECTION OF THOSE FROM ISRAEL AND THE GENTILES
I. Introduction: Luke introduces his work literarily through a
prologue which ties the Gospel of Luke to the book of Acts,
and a through a programmatic prelude which sets the scene
for the events which are to follow 1:1-14
A. The Prologue: This is the second book to Theophilus
following the first which dealt with that which Jesus
did and taught His disciples until His ascension 1:1-2
1. Luke writes this second work to Theophilus too
(see Luke 1:3) 1:1a
2. The first book (the Gospel of Luke) dealt with
that which Jesus did and taught until His
ascension (see Luke 24:44-50) 1:1b-2a
3. Jesus ascended after He had instructed His
disciples through the Holy Spirit 1:2b
B. The Programmatic Prelude: Through a general and then
specific presentation, Luke unfolds Jesus' teachings to
the disciples concerning their role in God's
eschatoligical plan for Israel and the world, as well
as the disciples' obedient response of returning to
Jerusalem and prayerfully waiting as one body 1:2-14
1. General Statement: After Jesus' passion, He
presented Himself as alive to His disciples and
taught them concerning the Kingdom of God and to
wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy
Spirit 1:3-5
a. After His passion, Jesus presented Himself
alive to His disciples with many proofs over
a period of forty days 1:3a
b. During the forty day period, Jesus taught His
disciples concerning the kingdom of God, not
to depart from Jerusalem, and to wait for the
coming of the Holy Spirit 1:3b-5
2. Specific Development: The disciples inquire of
Jesus about the timing of God's program to Israel,
to which He explains that they are not to know the
Father's plan, and that they are to be Spirit
empowered witness of Him to all people; whereupon,
He ascends into heaven, and they are told by
angels that He will return in Glory to consummate
the Kingdom as He departed; therefore, the
disciples returned to Jerusalem as one and
prayerful waited 1:6-14
a. Jesus instructs His disciples about their
role as Spirit empowered witnesses in God's
kingdom plan 1:6-8
1) When they have come together, the
disciples ask Jesus if He is going to
restore the kingdom to Israel at this
time 1:6
2) Jesus explains to His disciples that
they are not to know when the Father is
going to complete His plan, but that
they will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon them, and that they
will be witness of Him to all people
1:7-8
a) Jesus explained to the disciples
that they are not to know when the
Father is going to complete His
appointed plan 1:7
b) Jesus tells the disciples that they
will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon them, and that
they will be a witness of Him to
all peoples 1:8
b. After Jesus has completed His charge to the
disciples, He ascends before them in glory,
and the disciples are told by angels that He
will return as He ascended in glory to
complete His eschatological program;
therefore, the disciples return to Jerusaelm
and prayerfully waited 1:9-11
1) When Jesus had completed His charge to
the disciples, He ascended into a cloud
before their eyes 1:9
2) As the disciples were gazing into heaven
at Jesus' ascension, two "men" exhorted
them to stop looking into the sky since
Jesus will return in glory to complete
the eschatological program (1:8) as He
ascended 1:10-11
3) The eleven disciples obediently returned
to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives
where they along with the women, Mary
the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brothers
prayerfully waited for the fulfillment
of Jesus' promises in unity 1:12-14
II. The promise is prepared for, received and presented as
forming a people distinct from Israel through whom God is
applying and offering the salvific benefits of Jesus'
Messiahship to all people--especially Israel 1:15--2:47
A. The Preparation for the Promise: While the brethren
(120 people) are praying, examining their times and
examining Scripture, Peter leads the Eleven in deciding
to replace Judas with God's choice (through the lot) of
Matthias as the Twelfth apostle 1:15-26
1. During the days when the 120 brethren are praying
in the upper room, Peter stands up and makes a
proclamation 1:15
2. Peter concludes that a twelfth apostle must be
appointed to replace Judas in fulfillment of the
Scriptures 1:16-20
a. Peter proclaims that the Scripture by David
through the Holy Spirit need to be fulfilled
concerning Judas who was the enemy of Jesus
and had a part in the twelve 1:16-19
1) Proclamation: It was necessary for the
Scripture through David and the Holy
Spirit to be fulfilled 1:16a
2) The Scripture spoke concerning the
apostle Judas who betrayed Jesus, whose
money bought a field, who killed himself
upon it and whose land was thus called
the "field of blood" in judgment 1:16b-
19
b. Peter recalls Messianic Psalms where the
enemies of God's King are to find their land
desolate (Ps. 69:25), and their offices are
to be replaced by more worthy people (Ps.
109:8) 1:20
c. Peter concludes from the infamous curse on
Judas' land, and from the typico-prophetic
Psalms that another apostle must be appointed
from among those who accompanied the eleven
during the training years from Jesus baptism
to His ascension 1:21-22
3. After placing two men forward and praying that God
would choose His servant, the lot falls upon
Matthias as God's choice 1:23-26
a. The Eleven place forward two men (Joseph and
Matthias), and pray that God would show His
choice of the one to replace Judas on the
basis of the heart 1:23
b. They cast lots and find Matthias to be
numbered with the Eleven to once again make
Twelve 1:24-26
B. The Reception of the Promise: When the promised Holy
Spirit came upon all of those waiting in commitment to
Christ and empowered them to speak in foreign languages
to those from the ends of the world about Christ, many
questioned, and sought, but some accused them of evil
2:1-13
1. The coming of the Spirit: On the day of Pentecost
while the disciples were all waiting for the Holy
Spirit, He came filling the house and then those
in it with an ability to speak in foreign
languages 2:1-4
a. The setting was ten days after Christ's
ascension on the "harvest of wheat" feast day
when all were together 2:1
b. The Holy Spirit suddenly manifested Himself
by coming upon the house where they were as
wind and fire and then coming upon those
Apostles and disciples who were waiting in
commitment to Him 2:2-4
2. The response of the multitude:The initial response
to the working of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus'
disciples was for some (prosolyte) Jews to
question with interest and other (Hebrew) Jews to
discard the event as sin 2:6-13
a. There were Jews (and prosolytes [devout men])
from every nation for the feast 2:5
b. The prosolytes were amazed as they heard
these Galileans speaking about what God was
doing in their own languages as well as those
of the world 2:6-12
1) The multitude heard the sound of the
Holy Spirit working and came together
2:6a
2) The multitude was bewildered because
each heard what the disciples were
saying in their own language, even
though those speaking were all
Galileans, and the languages were world-
wide 2:6b-11a
3) The content of their words were the
mighty works of God 2:11b
4) The multitudes were amazed and with
questions about the meaning of the act
2:12
c. Others who were among the multitude (possibly
Hebrew-Jews) discounted the work of the Holy
Spirit as sinfulness on the part of Jesus'
disciples 2:13
C. The Presentation of the Promise: When Peter defends the
actions of the disciples as being the work of the Holy
Spirit rather than personal evil which the accusers had
done and are doing in their rejection of the work of
God, many believe and are added to the separated people
of God 2:14-47
1. Addressing all of those present, Peter corrects
personal accusations of evil and supports his
thesis that just as the Holy Spirit has been
rejected, so too did they reject God's Messiah and
must now call upon His name in order to receive
the benefits of salvation (the Holy Spirit) which
He is bestowing as the ruling Davidite 2:14-36
a. Peter stands and exhorts all of those present
to hear and heed his words 2:14
b. Peter defends the personal purity of those
who have been speaking in tongues and
identifies this occurrence with the initial
fulfillment of Joel (2:28-32) 2:15-21
1) Peter asserts that these men are not
engaged in drink before the appointed
time on a festival day 2:15
2) Peter identifies the work of the Spirit
of God with the initial fulfillment of
Joel 2:28-32 (Acts 2:16-21)
a) "This is that" is making an
identification of fulfillment 2:16
b) Peter sees these events with the
Spirit as part of the "last days
(cf. 1 Pt. 1:20; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim.
3:1)
c) God is indwelling all believers
with His Spirit thereby fulfilling
the promise of the New Covenant
(Jer. 31; hoped for in Num. 11:39;
Joel 2:28-29). This is the "Now"
or the "Now/Not Yet"
d) Joel 2:30-31 (Acts 2:19-20)
describes what is "Yet" to come--
the cosmic signs of the Day of the
Lord (cf. Deut. 32). Luke does not
deal with this because he wants to
get to "whoever believes."
e) Joel 2:32 (Acts 2:21) is emphasized
(cf. Rom. 10:13) for those
listening to not reject what God is
doing, but to call on the Lord
c. Although the Jews ignored the signs of Jesus
as Messiah, and crucified Him as a criminal,
Peter affirms that the resurrection and
Scripture proclaim Jesus as Messiah to be
called upon 2:22-32
1) Describing Jesus as one whose authority
was vividly displayed through miracles,
Peter accuses those in Israel of having
crucified Him as a criminal in
accordance with God's will 2:22-23
2) Peter affirms Jesus as the one to be
called upon because of His Messianic
deity by recounting the resurrection as
a fulfillment of David's prophetic
expectations as expressed in Psalm 16
2:24-31
a) Peter affirms Jesus' Messianic
deity through the resurrection
2:24
b) Peter substantiates Jesus Messianic
deity by citing Psalm 16 as David's
unique words about Jesus 2:25-28
c) Peter historically emphasizes that
David (as a Spirit filled prophet)
knew that he was not writing of
himself but of his future
descendant whom the resurrection
identifies as being Jesus 2:29-32
d. After describing and affirming (through
David's words) Christ's initial ascension to
the throne where Christ rules from heaven
(Psalm 110; cf. Ps. 132:11-13; 1 Chron. 28--
29; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:19-23; Col. 1:12-
14), Peter again makes his point that the
Jesus whom they rejected is to be called upon
2:33-36
1) Jesus has ascended to the place of honor
with God and rules in fulfillment of the
promises made to David through
dispensing the benefits of salvation
(the giving of the Holy Spirit) 2:33-35
2) It is this Jesus who is ruling Messiah
whom Israel rejected that they must call
upon 2:36
2. The Response to Peter's defense was that many were
moved and became part of this separated people of
God (the church) who lived in a growing
relationship with God and one another as He added
to their numbers those who were being saved 2:37-
47
a. The response of many was to be moved and to
seek direction for rectifying their situation
2:37
b. Peter exhorted the people to repent (turn
from their earlier improper response to
Jesus) and to publicly demonstrate their
confession through baptism and they will
receive the Holy Spirit (the promise of the
New Covenant) 2:38-39
1) Peter exhorts them to change turn from
their former response to Jesus 2:38a
2) Peter exhorts them to visibly
demonstrate their private confession
through baptism 2:38b
3) Peter promises that they too will
receive the Holy Spirit because this
promise is for all who will believe (cf.
Joel 2:28; Acts 2:21) 2:38c-39
c. Peter continued to exhort the Israelites to
identify with Jesus out from those who are
his enemies 2:40
d. About 3,000 people believed, were baptized
and added to the community of God's called
out ones who devoted themselves to a growing
relationship with God and one another 2:41-
47a
1) That day three thousand people believed,
were baptized and were added to the
community 2:41
2) Those who became believers were devoted
to a growing relationship with God and
one another 2:42
3) There was an awesome awareness that God
was working in their presence 2:43
4) There was public involvement in worship
and fellowship that demonstrated unity
in the community and was pleasing to all
the people 2:46-47a
e. Summary Statement: The Lord was adding to
their numbers those being saved 2:47b
III. The Twelve witness bare effective testimony of Jesus to
Israel in a new community sustained and kept pure by the
Holy Spirit 3:1--6:7
A. Sign-Sermon: Through the literary technique of a sign-
sermon, Peter testifies to the nation Israel that
instead of receiving judgment for their sins, they may
experience the benefits of Messianic blessing if they
will repent and receive their words about Jesus as
God's Messiah 3:1-26
1. The healing of a lame man at the beautiful gate is
an individual sign of the power of Christ's name
to bring about Messianic salvation for other
individuals and the nation 3:1-11
a. As Peter and John meet a lame man outside of
the temple begging for alms, they, as Jesus'
representatives, physically heal him drawing
attention to themselves 3:1-11
1) The setting: Peter, John and a lame man
happen to meet at the "beautiful gate"
of the temple at 3:00 p.m -- the hour of
prayer 3:1-2
2) As the lame man begins to ask for alms,
Peter and John turn to him and give to
him restored physical strength as
representatives of Jesus 3:3-7
a) As the lame man saw Peter and John
about to enter the temple, he began
asking for alms 3:3
b) Focusing the man's attention upon
them, Peter does not give to the
man what he asks for, but the
restoration of his physical strenth
as representatives of Jesus 3:4-7
3) As the man joyously worshiped God in the
Temple he drew an awe filled crowed to
Peter, John and himself 3:8-11
a) The man leaped (cf. Isa. 35:6),
entered the temple with Peter and
John and joyously worshiped God
3:8
b) The people in the teimple noticed
the man, recognized who he was, and
ran in wonder and amazement to whre
Peter, John and he were 3:9-11
2. As the miracle draws attention to Peter and John,
Peter refocuses the multitude's throughts upon
Jesus whom they rejected, but should now trust for
an individual and national experience of messianic
salvation 3:12-26
a. When Peter and John see the amazed response
of the people gathering toward him, Peter
quickly identifies the miracle with their
faith in Jesus whom Israel rejected, but God,
the Father, was affirming 3:12-16
1) Peter questions the response of those
approaching in the Temple to the miracle
and them as though they had done it in
their own power or purity 3:12
2) Peter explains the miracle to have
occured because of Jesus, whom God is
showing to be great through those who
trust in Him even though Israel rejected
Him 3:13-16
a) Peter explains what has occured as
a demonstration by the God of their
fathers of how great Jesus is 3:3a
b) Peter identifies Jesus as the One
whom Israel rejected and murdered
as eveil, but the Father raised to
their witnesses 3:13b-15
(1) Jesus is the One that the
Israelites delivered to Pilate
and disowned even when Pilate
recognized His innocence
3:13b
(2) Jesus was disowned and
substituted for a murderer and
put to death by the choice of
the Israelites 3:14-15a
(3) Jesus is the One whom the
Father raised from the dead as
Peter and John are witnesses
3:15b
c) Peter identifies the powere for the
miracle to have been in the name of
Jesus in whom they have faith 3:16
b. Even though Israel ignorantly stood in God's
role as the hand against Jesus, Peter urges
them to repent of their sins so that they may
experience the benefits of Messianic
salvation 3:17-26
1) Although Israel acted in ignorance
toward Jesus, they fulfilled God's pre-
announced suffering of His Messiah as
God's enemies (cf. Isa. 53) 3:17-18
2) Israel is exhorted to return to Christ
so that they may not be judged but, be
forgiven and He may return with the
consummated blessing of the kingdom as
the prophets foretold 3:19-24
a) Becuase of Israel's hand against
God, they are exhorted to change
their mind about Jesus and return
to God's side 3:19a
b) They reason they should repent is
so that their sins may be forgiven
3:19b
c) The reason it is important for
their sins to be forgiven is so
that the blessing of the Kingdom
may come upon all (as they have to
this man) 3:20-24
(1) The repentance of the nation
will bring about the return of
Jesus as Messiah who is
presently waiting now in
heaven (cf. Ps. 110:1) 3:20-
21a
(2) The prophets foretold of the
negative consequences to their
rejection of Jesus as the
second Moses (Deut. 18:15-19;
Lk. 9:35) and king of whom
Samuel spoke (1 Sam. 2:10;
7:12 3:21b-24) 21:b-24
3) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is
designed to first benefit the Jews who
hold the word and promises of God by
enabling them to become God's messengers
rather than His enemies 3:25-26
B. The new community of believers in Jesus is Spiritually
triumphant and effective in proclaiming the message
about Jesus in the midst of Satanic conflict 4:1--6:7
1. The assault from without--Peter and John arrested:
Although there were severe threats from without
upon the lives of those who would speak of Jesus
as Messiah, the Holy Spirit enabled them to stand
firm and do what was right (testify of Jesus) 4:1-
31
a. As Peter and John spoke of the power of Jesus
in the temple, they were arrested, tried and
released with only threats because there was
no incriminating evidence and public opinion
was against the rulers 4:1-22
1) As Peter and John were speaking in the
temple to the people about Jesus as
Messiah whose power had healed the lame
man, they were arrested and thrown into
jail by the religious leaders of the
temple 4:1-3
2) Even though the religious leaders tried
to silence Peter and John's message,many
thousands believed in Jesus 4:4
3) The trial of Peter and John before the
Sanhedrin concluded with warnings not to
speak in Jesus' name and their release
because the leaders had no case and
public opinion was against them 4:5-22
a) On the next day all the Sanhedrin
with all of the high priests met
together in Jerusalem to deal with
what had occurred 4:5-6
b) When Peter and John were brought
into their midst and questioned,
Peter boldly proclaimed, through
the Holy Spirit, that the miracle
was done through Jesus--Messiah
4:7-12
(1) Bringing Peter and John into
their midst, the leaders
inquired about the source of
power, and the name through
which they performed the
miracle with the lame man 4:7
(2) By the power of the Holy
Spirit Peter proclaimed that
the miracle was done in the
name of Jesus--Messiah 4:8-12
c) Although the Sanhedrin marveled at
the ability of Peter and John and
recognized the actuality of the
miracle, they forbade them to speak
of Jesus 4:13-18
(1) The Sanhedrin marveled at the
confidence of these uneducated
and untrained men who were
with Jesus 4:13
(2) The Sanhedrin was speechless
before the healed man 4:14
(3) In the Sanhedrin's conferal,
they were unable to deny the
miracle, yet, they were
insisted that Peter and John
no longer speak in the name of
Jesus 4:15-18
d) Peter and John entreated the
Sanhedrin to evaluate their
predicament because they felt they
had to speak the truth of God of
which they had been witnesses 4:19-
20
e) Although they threatened Peter and
John, they released them because
there was no basis for punishing
them, and because the people were
seeing God's hand in it all 4:21-
22
b. After praying, out of fear from Peter and
John's report, with an awareness of God's
hand in all and His enabling power, the
believers were filled by the Holy Spirit and
spoke boldly about Jesus 5:23-31
1) When Peter and John were released, they
returned to the other believers and
reported the words of the Sanhedrin
4:23
2) When the believers heard of the threats
against them, they prayed to God
remembering that He was in control of
all and thus asking for the ability to
obey now 4:24-30
a) When the believers heard of the
threats against them for speaking
of Jesus, they all prayed to God
4:24a
b) After recognizing the sovereignty
of God in creation, and even in
their difficulty, they asked that
He would give them the boldness to
speak during this time 4:24-30
(1) The praying community
recognized the Lord as Creator
of all 5:24a
(2) The praying community
recognized that God, through
David (Ps. 2) , had predicted
that their experience of
persecution for speaking of
Messiah would occur 4:25-28
(3) The praying community asked
God to oversee their situation
and to grant that they would
still speak with confidence
about Jesus as He
authenticated their words 4:29-
30
c. In response to the prayer of His believers,
God fills (enables) them to obey Him and they
do so by proclaiming Jesus with boldness
4:31
1) God responded to the prayer of the
believing community by filling them with
the Holy Spirit 4:31a
2) The believers begin to faithfully
proclaim God's word with boldness 4:31b
2. The Assault from Within--Ananias and Sapphria:
The harmonious prosperity and effectiveness of the
new community was threatened by the deception of
Ananias and Sapphira but purified through the work
of the Spirit in Peter 4:32--5:16
a. During a time of persecution, the
congregation prospered by providing for one
another's needs, and by the Apostles' clear
and powerful proclamation of Jesus 4:32-37
1) There was unity of heat and life in the
congregation of believers as they shared
their possessions with one another 4:32
2) The Apostles were witnessing to the
resurrection of Jesus with great power
(miracles) 4:33a
3) During the difficult time, everyone was
experiencing the abundant favor of God
because they, like Barnabas, were
sacrificially providing for each other
4:33b-37
a) Everyone was experiencing the
abundant favor of God even during
tumultuous times 4:33b
b) The reason the congregation was
experiencing grace was because of
people like Barnabas who gave
physically for the needs of others
4:34-37
(1) The reason the congregation
was experiencing grace was
because they were using their
physical resources as a means
to provide for the needs of
others 54:34-35
(2) Barnabas is an example of the
generous giving which people
were providing for the needs
of others as an encouragement
4:36-27
b. Ananias and Sapphira threatened the unity of
the body when they lied about the work which
they were doing for God, therefore, they both
were confronted by the Spirit through Peter,
died and brought a purifying fear upon all
who heard 5:1-11
1) Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of
property, kept back some of the proceeds
and gave a portion of it for the
Apostles' distribution to those in need
as Barnabas had done 5:1-2
2) When Peter exposes the sin of Ananias as
being a personal affront against God,
Ananias fell and died immediately 5:3-4
a) Peter Questions Ananias' intent in
falsely representing himself since
there was nothing monetarily to
gain, but only sin to commit
against God 5:3-4
(1) Peter questions Ananias'
intent in falsely representing
himself under Satan's
influence 5:3
(2) Since the land and its
proceeds were all the
possession of Ananias anyway,
Peter questions why he felt it
necessary within to lie 5:4a
(3) Peter emphasizes that the lie
was not to men but to God
5:4b
b) As Ananias was confronted he died
5:5a
3) The result of Ananias' death was that
fear filled all who heard and he
remained dead 5:5b-6
4) When Sapphira came and also lied about
the price of the land to the Spirit of
God as her husband had, she was
confronted, died and buried along with
Ananias 5:7-10
a) After some time had passed,
Ananias' wife Sapphira,not knowing
what had occurred, came in 5:7
b) When Peter asked Sapphira about the
price of the land, she confirmed
Ananias' story 5:8
c) Peter, upon questioning her motive
against God, proclaimed that she
was about to join her husband in
death 5:9
d) As with Ananias, Sapphira also died
and was buried with her husband
5) Great fear came upon the whole community
as well as everyone else who heard 5:11
c. As Satan's attack within the congregation was
defeated, they unified, proclaimed Jesus more
strongly and many people were added to the
community of believers 5:12-16
1) The Apostles performed many signs and
wonders among the Jews 5:12a
2) All were of one will as they stood in
the temple where they were warned not to
speak of Jesus 5:12b
3) Although many would not associate with
them, they were held in high esteem
5:13
4) Many people were added to the believing
community as they saw and experienced
God's kingdom healing power upon the
sick and afflicted 5:14-16
3. The Assault form without--The Twelve arrested:
Even though the Twelve Apostles are arrested, the
intervening hand of God overrules the plans of
those for evil so that His servants may be
encouraged and proclaim even more fervently the
truth about Messiah to all 5:17-42
a. The council's attempt to physically stop the
teaching of the Apostles was against the
clear movement and desire of God 5:17-26
1) The Apostles, who were experiencing the
power of God through them as they dealt
with sin within the church, are placed
in jail by the jealous Sanhedrin 5:17-
18
2) An angel of the Lord miraculously
delivered the Apostles commanding them
to return and continue speaking about
Jesus 5:19-20
3) The Apostles left the prison and entered
the temple to teach as they had been
told 5:21a
4) Although the council leaders were very
concerned when they met together and
learned of the Apostles absence, they
immediately had them returned from the
temple 5:21b-26
a) The council met together and sent
for the Apostles 5:21b
b) The officers who looked for the
Apostles reported that they were
mysteriously missing 5:22-23
c) The leaders of the Sanhedrin were
greatly disturbed when they heard
of the Apostles' absence 5:24
d) When the Sanhedrin heard that the
Apostles were in the temple
teaching, the captain quickly
brought them back with fear of the
people who were supportive of the
Apostles 5:25-26
b. In the trial the Apostles were wrongly
accused of evil, defended themselves under
God concerning Christ, and were warned,
flogged and released under Gamaliel's
intervention 5:27-40
1) When the Apostles were brought before
the Sanhedrin, the questions of the high
priest led to accusing the Apostles of
disobedience and misdirected rumors
5:27-28
a) The Apostles were brought before
the council and questioned by the
high priest 5:27
b) The point of the questions of the
high priest was to accuse the
Apostles of breaking their orders
not to speak in the name of Jesus
by noting the spread of their
teaching which accuses the council
of Jesus' death 5:28
2) Peter and the Apostles response to the
council is that they must obey God
rather than men because He has been
involved with Jesus, and they are
eyewitnesses along with the Holy Spirit
of the things concerning Jesus 5:29-32
a) Peter and the Apostles responded by
proclaiming that they must obey God
rather than men 5:29
b) The Apostles proclaimed that God of
their fathers as the One who
resurrected Jesus whom they killed
through Rome 5:30
c) The Apostles proclaimed the God of
their fathers as the One who
exalted Jesus to the position of
honor as ruler and savior for
Israel in her sin 5:31
d) The Apostles proclaimed themselves
as witness of this all along with
the Spirit of God who is given to
all who obey Him 5:32
3) Although the council desired to murder
the Apostles, they restrained their
anger to flogging, warning and releasing
them under Gamaliel's council 5:33-40
a) When the council heard the Apostles
response, they were cut deeply and
wanted to retaliate by taking the
Apostles' lives 5:33
b) Under the wise council of Gamaliel
the Apostles were flogged, warned
and released 5:34-40
(1) Gamaliel who was a respected
teacher of the Law immediately
intervened and sent the
Apostles out of the room for a
short time 5:34
(2) Gamaliel warned the council
about their intended murderous
response because that which is
of men will end of its self
while that which is of God
cannot be stopped and they
will be God's enemy 5:35-39
(3) The council took Gamaliel's
advice to not murder them,
flogged them and released them
with the same order not to
speak in Jesus' name 5:40
c. Encouraged to know that God was really with
them, the Apostles continually proclaimed
Jesus as Messiah 5:41-42
1) The Apostles left the council rejoicing
in their usefulness to God 5:41
2) Everywhere, both privately and publicly,
the Apostles continued to proclaim Jesus
as Messiah 5:42
4. The Assault from within: Grecian widows murmuring:
A Satanically motivated division between the
Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews in the believing
community was resolved by the congregation's
willingness to receive Apostolic advice and to
graciously provide for one another which led to
greater spiritual vitality 6:1-7
a. During a time when God had delivered the
believing community from a persecution and
many were becoming disciples, a division
within the congregation began 6:1
1) The time was after God had intervened
during a persecution of the communities'
leaders so that many more were becoming
disciples 6:1a
2) A complaint arose within the
congregation of discrimination against
Greek speaking Jews by those who spoke
Hebrew when food was served to their
widows 6:1b-c
a) A complaint arose by the Greek
speaking Jews against the Hebrew
speaking Jews 6:1b
b) The complaint was that the Greek
speaking widows were being
discriminated against when food was
served daily 1:1c
b. After calling together the congregation, the
Twelve encouraged them to choose seven
qualified men so that they could focus on
their ministry 6:2-4
1) The Twelve called together the
congregation of disciples within which
the trouble was occurring 6:2a
2) The Twelve did not wish to invest their
time to deal thoroughly with this
problem themselves since they would be
taken away from God's work--their
primary ministry now 6:2
3) The Twelve exhorted the congregation to
choose from among themselves seven men
who are of good reputation, spiritual
and wise to be placed in charge of the
task by the Apostles 6:3
4) The Apostles insisted upon devoting
themselves to prayer and the ministry of
the word 6:4
c. Approving of the Apostles statement, the
congregation chose seven, Greek Jews who were
spiritually qualified and had the Apostles
commission them 6:5-7
1) The whole congregation approved of the
Apostles' statement 6:5a
2) The congregation chose seven, Greek Jews
who were full of faith and the Holy
Spirit 6:5b
3) When the congregation brought their
choices before the Apostles, they were
commissioned by the Apostles 6:6
d. Summary Statement: The Word of God Continued
to spread so that many disciples continued to
increase even among the priests of Jerusalem
6:7
IV. In the wake of Jewish rebellion God's grace is sovereignly
triumphant outside of the capital of Judaism 6:8--9:30
A. The Testimony and Death of Stephen: God's word through
Stephen is vehemently opposed by the Jewish leaders who
stone him and lead an attack on the church through
Saul, but the message of grace continues 6:8--8:3
1. As Stephen is powerfully serving God, he is
attacked, placed on trial before the Sanhedrin and
falsely accused of speaking against the Law (Jesus
will change the Torah) and the Temple (Jesus will
destroy the Temple) 6:8-14
a. While Stephen was performing great signs and
wonders for God, he was argued with by a wide
section of Hellenistic Jews in Jerusalem 6:8-
9
b. When the Jews were unable to refute Stephen's
words, they insighted lies about him which
caused the Sanhedrin to arrest him 6:10-12
c. Stephen is falsely accused before the
Sanhedrin of speaking concerning Jesus
against the Law and the Temple 6:13-14
2. Answering the high priest's accusation of sin,
Stephen uses the reminder of history to teach the
Sanhedrin: (1) of the transcendence of God beyond
the Temple and (2) that they are bringing their
fathers' rebellion against God to completion 6:15-
-7:53
a. Standing before the Sanhedrin in the purity
of his life as a messenger for God, Stephen
is asked if he has spoken against the Law and
the Temple by the high priest 6:15--7:1
b. After requesting a hearing, Stephen uses the
evidence of history to answer the charges of
lawlessness so as to teach the religious
leaders that it is they who are in error and
rebellious against God as their fathers were
7:2-53
1) Stephen respectfully invites the
Sanhedrin to listen to him 7:2a
2) Abraham: God is shown to be
transcendent as He speaks to Abraham
outside of the land, and Abraham is
reflects stubbornness to God's word 7:2-
8
3) Joseph: God is shown to be transcendent
as He is with Joseph in Egypt, and
Joseph's brothers are shown to be
rebellious in their rejection of Joseph
as God's messenger 7:9-16
4) Moses: God is shown to be transcendent
through the Egyptian location, the
oracle in Midian, and wonders and signs
in Egypt, at the red Sea, in the desert,
under the nation under the oppression of
Egypt were rebellious when they did not
understand that God was giving
deliverance through Moses 7:17-43
5) Climax I: God is claimed to be
transcendent: Although God had given
the Nation a tabernacle through which to
approach Him, and David sought to build
the Lord a house but Solomon built it,
Nevertheless, God is still transcendent
(Isa. 66:1-2) 7:44-50
6) Climax II: Stephen turns the accusers
accusations against them by affirming
(through direct statements and the three
witness of Abraham, Joseph and Moses)
that they are bringing their fathers'
rebellion to completion 7:51-53
a) Stephen accuses the Sanhedrin of
intense rebellion against God just
as all of Israel and its leaders
have done in times past 7:51
b) Stephen accuses the Sanhedrin of
being like murders with the people
of old by their slaying of Messiah
7:52-53
3. In an interplay between Stephen's words and the
peoples' hostile response of murder, grace is
again proclaimed 7:54-60
a. Stephen's use of God's word cut them deeply
upon which they sought to retaliate viciously
7:54
b. In the midst of their attack, Stephen sees
and announces that God--Jesus--is there as
his vindicating Judge (Ps. 110; Dan. 7:13)
7:55-56
c. The people become enraged and drive Stephen
out of town where they stoned him for
blasphemy by a man named Saul (cf. Lev.
24:10-23; Sanh. 7:4; 2 Chron. 24:21;
Josephus, Antiq. 20.200) 7:57-59a
d. Stephen's death was willing and with the same
words of forgiveness as Jesus used (cf. Lk.
24:34; contrast 2 Chron. 24:22) 7:59b-8:1a
4. The martyrdom of Stephen immediately sparks off a
great persecution of the church by Saul 8:1-3
a. Saul led a great persecution against the
believing community 8:1
b. Stephen's body and martyrdom was proclaimed
by some devout men 8:2
c. Saul was ravaging the church and placing them
in Jail 8:3
B. The Ministry of Philip: The expansion of God's
salvation beyond the parameters of Judaism irrupts to
the Samaritans and hints at its extent toward the
Gentiles as Philip is obedient to God's direction 8:4-
40
1. The result of the first general persecution of the
church was that many went preaching the word as
did Philip among the Samaritans 8:4-13
a. A general statement: Those who were scattered
during the first persecution in Jerusalem
went about preaching the word 8:4
b. A specific example: Philip proclaimed Jesus
as Messiah to the receptive Samaritans 8:5-8
1) Philip went to Samaria to proclaim the
Messiah 8:5
2) The multitudes gave full attention to
Philip's message which was authenticated
by spiritual and physical healing 8:6-8
3) Although the Samaritans were responsive
to Simon who performed self-aggrandizing
magic, both they and he believed the
message of Jesus and identified with Him
through baptism 8:9-13a
4) Simon continued to follow Philip about
in amazement over the signs and miracles
which were taking place 8:13b
2. After witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit in
the lives of the Samaritans and especially Simon
who was an example of their spiritual degradation,
the Apostles were encouraged to proclaim the
gospel to other Semaritans 8:14-25
a. When the Apostles learned that the Samaritans
had become believers, they sent Peter and
John to pray for them that they might receive
the Holy Spirit 8:14-16
b. As the Apostles laid hands on the Samaritans,
they all began to receive the Holy Spirit
8:17
c. Simon (the magician) connected the work of
the Spirit with the ability of the Apostles
and tried to purchase it only to be rebuked
and later repent 8:18-24
1) When Simon the magician saw the
correlation between the Spirit and the
Apostles of God, he sought to purchase
this perceived ability 8:18-19
2) Peter rebuked Simon for his heart
attitude toward God and exhorted him to
pray for forgiveness which probably
occurred as he asked Peter to pray for
him 8:20-24
a) Peter rebuked Simon with a threat
of discipline by God for being so
evil in his heart toward God 8:20-
21
b) Peter urged Simon to repent and
pray for forgiveness of his heart's
attitude because at present he is
trapped by sin 8:22-23
c) Simon asked Peter to pray for him
that he would not experience God's
judgment 8:24
d. After the Apostles finished proclaiming the
word of God there, they returned to Jerusalem
preaching the good news to many other
Samaritans 8:25
3. Under the clear sovereign direction of the Holy
Spirit, the gospel touches upon the Gentile world
as Philip proclaims Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch
8:26-40
a. Philip received a message from the Lord to go
south to the road that descends into the
desert form Jerusalem 8:26
b. When Philip had gone, he came upon the
Ethiopian Eunuch who was responsible for the
queen's treasury, was a God-fearer, and
believed in the message about Jesus as
Messiah 8:27-28
1) The Spirit of God exhorted Philip to go
and join the eunuch 8:29
2) Stephen entered into a discussion about
the book of Isaiah which the eunuch was
reading and explained about Jesus
through its teaching 8:30-35
3) Upon belief by the eunuch, Philip
baptized him 8:36-38
4. As the Spirit of God took Philip away, the eunuch
was encouraged and went to his Gentile people with
the message while Philip went back up into Samaria
preaching Jesus all of the way 8:39-40
C. The Conversion of Saul: Against Saul's will, God
converts Saul who is doing the work of Satan (like
Simon), on a road (like the Eunuch) to become his
instrument to reach all peoples with the gospel as a
Stephen revived 9:1-31
1. Whereas Saul started to Damascus with power and
authority to harm believers, Jesus stopped him,
spoke with him, and blinded him so that he entered
the city waiting on God 9:1-9
a. In his driven hatred for the disciples Jesus,
Saul sought letters which would grant him
permission to arrest disciples in Damascus
9:1-2
b. After meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus
where it was witnessed that Jesus accused him
of fighting God, Saul entered Damascus blind
and fasting for God's next word 9:3-9
1) Just outside of Damascus Saul was
blinded by a light, accused of
persecuting Jesus and told to wait in
Damascus for further direction by Jesus
9:3-6
a) As Saul approached Damascus, he was
blinded by a light from heaven and
fell to the ground 9:3-4a
b) Saul heard a voice who was Jesus
and who accused him of persecuting
HIm as he attached the church 9:4b-
5
(1) Saul heard a voice accusing
him of persecuting him 9:4b
(2) Saul questioned the Lord's
identity 9:5a
(3) The voice identified Himself
as Jesus whom Saul was
persecuting 9:5b
c) Jesus told Saul to arise and enter
Damascus where he would be told
what he must do 9:6
2) The men with Saul were amazed as they
too heard the voice, but saw no one 9:7
3) As Saul stood from the ground blind and
needing to be led, he obediently went to
Damascus and waited for three days
without sight or nourishment as he was
dependent upon God 9:8-9
2. Although reluctant, Ananias went to Saul and saw
God change him from one who was blind to a strong
committed disciple 9:10-19a
a. The Lord spoke to a disciple at Damascus
9:10
b. The Lord told Ananias to go to Saul and lay
hands upon him as God's instrument to restore
Saul 9:10-12
c. Ananias informs the Lord of how dangerous
Saul is in his hatred of Christ 9:13-14
d. The Lord repeated his command for Ananias to
go because He has worked in Saul's life and
will use him to proclaim His message before
all people and teach Saul how much he must
suffer for the Lord's name 9:15-16
e. Ananias went to Saul and did as God asked of
him 9:17
f. Immediately Saul could see, arose, was
baptized, and ate since God had answered his
fasting 9:18-19a
3. Paul became a mighty spokesman for God in Damascus
and in Jerusalem among the Hellenistic Jews (as
was Stephen) and suffered persecution for his
message about Jesus 9:19b-30
a. After remaining with the disciples for
several days, Saul began to proclaim Jesus to
the Jews and had to escape from Damascus
9:19b-25
1) Saul was with the disciples for several
days 9:19b
2) Saul began to proclaim Jesus as Messiah
in the synagogues of Damascus 9:20
3) As Saul continued to proclaim Jesus to
the Jews, the people's attitude moved
from confusion to murderous hostility
against Saul 9:21-23
a) The people were at first amazed at
the reversal in Saul's attitude and
actions toward Jesus 9:21a
b) As Saul continued to confront the
Jews about Jesus, they sought to
kill him 9:21b-23
4) As the plots of the Jews became known to
Saul, he and the disciples snuck him out
of Damascus at night 9:24-25
b. After Saul was considered a part of the
Jerusalem disciples, he began proclaiming God
to the Greek speaking Jews and had to be
delivered out of town from their hand 9:26-
30
1) When Saul came to Jerusalem, none of the
disciples would associate with him out
of fear 9:26
2) It was Barnabas who bridged Saul with
the disciples by explaining God's work
in Saul's life 9:27
3) As Saul began to join the Jerusalem
disciples and speak to the Greek-
speaking Jews about Jesus, he had to be
rushed out of town to preserve his life
9:28-30
a) Saul began to move about freely in
Jerusalem with the disciples as he
spoke about Jesus 9:28
b) Saul would debate with the Greek-
speaking Jews about Jesus 9:29a
c) When the Greek speaking Jews wanted
to kill Saul, he was preserved by
being taken out of Jerusalem to
Tarsus through Samaria 9:29b-30
4. Summary Statement: The Church enjoyed peace in all
of the lands where it had spread and increased as
they grew in their understanding of fearing God
and finding comfort in His Spirit 9:31
V. The Lord lays the groundwork for the Gentile mission while
rebellious Israel slips on toward divine judgment 9:32--
12:24
A. Peter's Ministry toward the Household of Cornelius:
Although Peter and the church in Judea were at first
hesitant about reaching out to the Gentiles, the Lord
worked to prepare their hearts so that all could be
reached with the Gospel 9:32--11:18
1. First preparation: As Peter was traveling through
Samaria, he met a paralyzed man in Lydda, healed
him in Christ and saw many turn to the Lord who
saw the man 9:32-35
a. As Peter was traveling through Samaria on his
way back to Jerusalem, he came to the
believers of Lydda 9:32
b. Finding a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed,
Peter healed him in the name of Jesus 9:33-
34
c. All who saw the healed man in Lydda and
Sharon turned to the Lord 9:35
2. Second preparation: When Tabitha who was a good
woman of Joppa died, Peter came (upon request),
restored her life, and saw many believe in the
Lord 9:36-42
a. When Tabitha, who abounded in good work,
became ill and died, two men were sent for
Peter in Lydda to come and help in Joppa
9:36-38
b. When Peter came and saw all the good of the
woman, he sent them away, prayed, brought her
to life, and presented her to the saints
9:39-41
c. Many in Joppa believed in the Lord through
the raising of Tabitha 9:42
3. The Gospel to the Gentiles: Through the working
of God in the lives of Cornelius and Peter, the
gospel came to the Gentiles and the Spirit
identified them with the new community -- even in
their uncircumcised state 9:43--10:48
a. Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner
named Simon 9:43
b. Cornelius, being a God-fearing Gentile and
being told in a vision of God's favor and to
send for Peter, sent three in his care to
Joppa for Peter 10:1-8
1) There was a certain man in Caesarea who
was a God-fearing Gentile 10:1-2
2) In a vision an angel of the Lord
described God's favor toward Cornelius
and exhorted him to send for Peter in
Joppa 10:3-4
3) Cornelius sent three who were in his
care for Peter 10:8
c. As Peter is prepared by God through two
visions to view what God calls clean as
clean, he departs with the Gentile messengers
to give Cornelius a message 10:9-23
1) When Peter went to pray and became
hungry, he had a vision wherein God
proclaimed clean for Peter that which he
considered unclean (cf. Gen. 1:24; 6:20;
Lev. 11:2-47; cf. Mk. 7:19; Rom. 14:14)
10:9-16
2) While Peter was reflecting on the import
of his vision, the three messengers from
Cornelius arrived asking for Peter
10:17-18
3) While Peter was reflecting , the Holy
Spirit told Peter of the visitors and
that he should accompany them 10:19-20
4) Upon dialogue with them, Peter learned
that these messengers were from the God-
fearing Gentile, Cornelius, who had been
told to send for Peter to hear a
message, whereupon, Peter received them
and went with them 10:21-23
d. As Peter and Cornelius each proclaimed God's
working in their lives, Peter preached for
all men the forgiveness of sins if anyone
would trust in Jesus 10:24-43
1) As Peter entered Caesarea, Cornelius was
waiting with family and friends to hear
his message 10:24
2) Although wrestling with expectations and
the truth of what God had said, Peter
asked what Cornelius had called him for
10:25-29
a) Peter corrected Cornelius' response
of adoration by placing both of
them on the same level--mere men
10:25-26
b) Proclaiming the extraordinary
circumstances of this meeting of a
Gentile and a Jew, Peter proclaimed
God as the One who has said they
are clean and has told Peter to
come, and thus Peter asks for the
reason he has been summoned 10:27-
29
3) Explaining his vision and thanking Peter
for coming, Cornelius asked to hear what
God has commanded Peter 10:30-33
4) Understanding that God is not showing
partiality among people, Peter
proclaimed Jesus and the forgiveness of
sins for all who believe in Him 10:34-
43
a) Peter claimed to now understand
that God does not show partiality
among men who fear Him 10:34-35
b) Peter, describing the life, death,
and resurrection of Jesus as an eye
witness proclaimed forgiveness of
sins for everyone who believes in
Him 10:36-43
e. Because the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius
and his household while Peter spoke, they
baptized them all in their uncircumcised
state, and Peter stayed with them as one
community 10:44-48
1) While Peter was speaking, the Holy
Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his
household to the amazement of all of the
circumcised Jews with Peter 10:44-46
2) See that the Spirit of God had come upon
these Gentiles, they were identified
with the believing community in their
uncircumcised state through baptism
10:47-48a
3) Peter stayed on with Cornelius for a few
days 10:48b
4. The persuasion of those in Judea: Although the
circumcised believers in Judea were at first
critical of Peter for followshiping with Gentiles,
they heard of God's hand and glorified God for
bringing to the Gentiles salvation 11:1-18
a. When the Jewish Apostles and brethren in
Judea heard about Peter's fellowship with the
circumcision, they took issue with him 11:1-
3
b. After Peter described the series of events
climaxing in the baptism of the Spirit upon
the Gentiles, he concluded that he should not
interfere with God's work 11:4-17
1) Peter explained the events which led up
to this fellowship 11:4
2) Peter described the vision from God
which he had wherein God proclaimed
clean that which was considered unclean
11:5-10
3) Peter explained the arrival of
Cornelius' men and the vision which
Cornelius had had to invite Peter to
come and speak the words of salvation
11:11-14
4) Peter explained how the Holy Spirit came
upon Cornelius and his household when he
spoke as a symbol of God's identifying
them with the new community of believers
11:15-16
5) Peter concluded from all of this that if
God was working in this way among the
uncircumcised, he was no one to stand in
the way 11:17
c. Upon hearing Peter's report, those who
questioned from the circumcised quieted down
and glorified God who was giving salvation
now to the Gentiles 11:18
B. The Continuing Hostility of Jerusalem: While the
mission to the Greek-speaking Jews begins to flourish
in Antioch, Jerusalem continues in its rebellion
against the Apostles and slips toward a suggestion of
judgment with the death of Herod 11:19--12:24
1. As the work reached the Gentiles of Antioch, their
lives became markedly different to the point of
character alignment with Christ and providing for
Jerusalem in need 11:19-30
a. Although most of those who were scattered as
a result of Stephen's persecution only shared
God's work to the Jews, there were some who
came to Antioch and preached Jesus to the
Greek-speaking Jews as well 11:19-20
b. God was with those who spoke to the Greek-
speaking Jews and many believed in Jesus
11:21
c. When the church in Jerusalem heard about the
belief of the Greek-speaking Jews, they sent
Barnabas who encouraged their obedience and
team taught with Saul for over a year bring
about people with Christian character 11:22-
26
d. When the Antiochan church heard of the famine
which was about to occur, they sent relief
through the care of Barnabas and Saul 11:27-
30
2. Even though Jerusalem continued in its persecution
of the church through the martyrdom of James and
the imprisonment of many, including Peter, God
sovereignly delivered Peter, who then told the
brethren who were praying 12:1-19
a. At the time of the famine relief visit, Herod
(Agrippa I) initiated a persecution against
the church which included the imprisonment of
many, the martyrdom of James, and extended to
include the imprisonment of Peter 12:1-4
1) At the time when the famine relief was
being sent by Antioch, Herod (Agrippa I)
was persecuting the church by
imprisoning some and slaying James, the
brother of John 12:1-2
2) When Herod saw that his attack against
the Church was pleasing to the Jews he
extended it during the Passover season
to include the imprisonment of Peter
12:3-4
b. While Peter was in prison under heavy guard,
he was delivered by an angel of the Lord
12:5-11
1) While Peter was in prison, the church
was praying for him 12:5
2) On the very night when Herod was about
to bring him forward before the people,
while Peter was heavily guarded, an
angel of the Lord delivered him, in his
confusion, from his imprisonment 12:6-
10
3) When Peter was outside of the prison,
and the angel had disappeared he
realized that the Lord had delivered him
from Herod and the Jews 12:11
c. When Peter realized what had happened to him,
he went to the house of John-Mark's mother,
Mary, and after a considerable delay because
of their amazement, relayed to them what God
had done, told them to tell James and the
brethren, and then left 12:12-17
1) When Peter realized the deliverance
which God had brought, he went to the
house of Mary, the mother of John-Mark,
where there were those who were praying
for him 12:12
2) Peter knocked on the door, but was left
outside by the servant Rhoda in her
excitement from seeing him 12:13-14
3) Although those who were praying did not
at first believe Rhoda's report of
having seen Peter, Peter kept knocking,
so they let him in and he relayed to
them what had happened exhorting them to
report this to James (Jesus' half
brother) and the rest of the brethren;
then he left 12:15-18
3. Herod ruthlessly slew the guards responsible for
Peter when Peter could not be found, and was then
slain by God when in Caesarea he refused to give
glory to God from the people of Tyre and Sidon who
were attempting to placate his anger by calling
him a god 12:19-23
a. Setting: Herod, not being able to find Peter,
had the guards responsible for his escape
executed, and went to Caesarea 12:19
1) When Herod searched for Peter and was
not able to find him, he examined the
guards and had those who were
"responsible" executed 12:19a
2) Herod then went from Judah to Caesarea
(the place from where God's work has
been progressing) where he spent some
time 12:19b
b. While Herod was in Caesarea and the people
from Tyre and Sidon placated him in an
attempt to take away his anger but calling
his address to them the words of a God rather
than a man, God stuck him dead because he did
not defer glory to God 12:20-23
1) While Herod was in Caesarea the people
from Tyre and Sidon came to him seeking
reconciliation of their differences for
the sake of food which Herod had control
over 12:20
2) On an appointed day, Herod began
addressing them (perhaps at some Roman
games) 12:21
3) The people responded by crying out that
he had the voice of a god and not a man
12:22
4) Because Herod did not rebuke them and
give glory to God, the Lord immediately
struck him dead 12:23
4. Summary Statement: The word of God grew and
multiplied 12:24
VI. Even though most Jews continually reject the gospel message,
Paul as a genuine Apostle is demonstrated to spread the true
Gospel of God's grace to all peoples--both Jew and Gentile
12:25--16:5
A. Paul's first missionary journey: Paul's missionary
work is demonstrated to be truly of God as he and
Barnabas proclaim the grace of God to all peoples (Jews
and Gentiles) and encourage the church to persevere
under persecution 12:25--14:28
1. Prelude to the first missionary journey: When
Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem with
John Mark to the church in Antioch, they were set
apart for a work which the Lord had for them by
the command of the Holy Spirit at a worship
service of the leaders of the church 12:25--13:3
a. Setting: Barnabas and Saul returned to
(textual problem) Jerusalem from having
provided relief in Judea (cf. 11:29), picked
up John Mark (cf. 12:12) and thus returned to
Antioch 12:25
b. Calling: In the church at Antioch there were
many spiritual leaders gathered to worship
God when the Holy Spirit spoke to them to
send off Barnabas and Saul for the work which
he has for them, and they commissioned and
sent them off 13:1-3
1) In the church at Antioch there were many
spiritual leaders: prophets and teachers
13:1
a) Statement 13:1a
b) A listing: Barnabas, Simeon who was
called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen a member of the court of
Herod the tetrarch, and Saul 13:1b
2) As with Pentecost in Acts 1--2, a
special group is gathered for prayer and
the Holy Spirit speaks to them to set
Barnabas and Saul apart for the work
which He has for them, whereupon, they
are commissioned and sent off by the
leaders 13:2-3
a) While these leaders are worshiping
and fasting, the Holy spirit spoke
to them to set Barnabas and Saul
apart for the work which He had
called them 12:2
b) After fasting and praying, the
leaders commissioned and sent
Barnabas and Saul off 12:3
2. The First miracle of Paul--a moicrocosom: Paul's
ministry is previewed as offering salvation to all
peoples, however, as the Jews reject it they
become blinded (cf. Bar-Jesus in Acts 13:11; Roman
Jews in Acts 28:25-27), while the Gentiles believe
(Sergius Paulus) 13:4-12
a. Setting: Being sent out by the Holy Spirit
Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark went down to
Seleucia, and then sailed to Cyprus 13:4
b. At Salamis and throughout the island to
Paphos they proclaimed the word of God in the
synagogues of the Jews 13:5-6a
c. When they encountered a Jewish false prophet
named Bar-Jesus and a Gentile proconsul named
Sergius Paulus, they proclaimed the word of
God leading to blindness in the Jew's
rebellion, and salvation for the Gentile
13:6b-12
1) At Paphos they encountered a Jewish
false prophet named Bar-Jesus and the
proconsul, Sergius Paulus, who asked to
hear the word of God from Barnabas and
Saul 13:6b-7
2) Elymas the magician (Bar-Jesus) stood
against Barnabas and Paul seeking to
prevent the proconsul from the faith
13:8
3) Saul accused Elymas of perverting the
straight way of the Lord (cf. John the
Baptist Luke 3:4) and brought about
blindness upon him so that he had to be
led about by the hand (cf. Luke 1; Acts
9; Acts 28) 13:9-1
4) The proconsul believed when he saw what
had occurred and heard the teaching of
the Lord 13:12
3. The Mission in Pisidian Antioch--the message to
the Jews is clarified: Paul and Barnabas proclaim
Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promises through
David whereupon some believe, many Jews reject and
persecute them, and they leave proclaiming the
message now to the Gentiles, judgment upon those
Jews who rejected and encouragement to the
disciples who remain 13:13-52
a. Setting: Paul's party left Paphos, had John
leave them to return to Jerusalem at Perga,
whereupon, they went up to Pisidian Antioch
13:13-14a
1) Paul and his company set sail from
Paphos and came to Perga in Pamnphylia
13:13a
2) John left the party and returned to
Jerusalem (perhaps due to the movement
toward the Gentiles? cf. 15:38) 13:13b
3) The party passed on from Perga and came
to Antioch of Pisidia 13:14a
b. Message to the Jews: On the Sabbath day Paul
and Barnabas when to the synagogue and after
the reading of the Scriptures proclaimed
Jesus to be the fulfillment of God's promises
through David bringing forgiveness of sin if
they will believe in him and not stumble over
this amazing work of God 13:14b-41
1) On the Sabbath day, they went to the
synagogue, and were asked to speak a
word from God after the customary
reading from the Law and the Prophets
13:14b-15
2) As Paul addresses Jews and God fearers,
he identifies Jesus as the fulfillment
of the Davidic promise made to the
fathers through a historical review,
present occurrences and fulfilled
Scripture to exhort his readers to
believe in Him for the forgiveness of
there sins, and not to stumble over this
amazing work of God 13:16-41
a) Historical review: Tracing God's
goodness to the nation, Paul
affirms to Jews and God-fearers
that the Lord's promised savior for
the nation through the line of
David was testified by John the
Baptizer to be Jesus 17-25
(1) Paul stood up and addressed
the men of Israel the God
fearers present 13:16
(2) Paul traces God's goodness to
the nation by delivering them
from their Egyptian captivity
through leading them to the
land of promise 13:17-19
(3) Paul traces God's goodness in
providing leaders for the
nation from the Judges,
through Samuel, Saul, and
David 13:20-22a
(4) Paul amplifies God's promise
to David to bring about a
Savior for the nation Whom he
identifies as having been
Jesus 13:22b-23
(5) Paul emphasizes that John
testified of Jesus as this
savior (cf. Lk. 16:16) 13:24-
25
b) The proclamation about Jesus: Paul
proclaims that Jesus is the
fulfillment of the promised Messiah
through David whom Israel killed
and God raised up in accordance
with the Scriptures 26-37
(1) Paul again addresses his
audience as Jews and God-
fearers 13:26a
(2) Paul claims that his party has
been sent this message of the
already mentioned salvation
through Jesus 13:26b
(3) Paul identifies those who live
in Jerusalem as having
fulfilled Scripture in their
ignorance by having Jesus
falsely killed by the Romans
13:27-29
(4) Paul proclaims that God raised
Jesus from the dead as was
witnessed by those who were
with Him from Galilee to
Jerusalem and are now His
witnesses 13:30-31
(5) Through His resurrection Jesus
is the fulfillment of God's
promise to the fathers in
accordance with the Scriptures
regarding David (Isa. 55:3;
Ps. 2:7; 16:10) 13:32-37
c) Conclusion: Paul exhorts his
brethren to believe in Jesus for
the forgiveness of their sins and
not to stumble over this amazing
work of God 38-41
(1) Paul exhorts his listeners
(brethren) that to believe in
Jesus so that they might
experience the forgiveness of
sins which the Law could never
accomplish 13:38-39
(2) Paul warns his listeners from
history using Habakkuk 1:5
that they need to beware lest
this seems so amazing that
they will not believe it
13:40-41
c. While the initial response to Paul's message
was that some believed while many wanted to
hear more, the fuller response the next
sabbath was that the Jews became jealous over
the overwhelming interest in Paul and
Barnabas' message and refuted them,
whereupon, Paul and Barnabas proclaimed that
they would now go to the Gentiles, many
Gentiles believed, the Jews persecuted the
team, and Paul and Barnabas left for Iconium
with a curse upon the Jews and the converts
greatly encouraged 13:42-52
1) When the people went out they begged to
hear about this on the next sabbath
13:42
2) When the meeting was over many Jews and
devout converts to Judaism followed Paul
and Barnabas who encouraged them 13:43
3) The larger response was that many came
to hear the Gospel the next sabbath, the
Jews, out of jealousy, refuted Paul and
Barnabas, who then proclaimed the
necessity to go to the Gentiles,
whereupon many Gentiles believed, the
Jews persecuted Paul and Barnabas, they
left for Iconium proclaiming judgment
upon them, and the disciples where
encouraged who remained 13:44-52
a) The next sabbath almost the whole
city came out to hear the Gospel
13:44
b) Out of jealousy over the
multitudes, the Jews contradicted
and reviled Paul 13:45
c) Paul and Barnabas proclaimed that
it was necessary to proclaim the
word of God to the Jews first
(because it concerns their
promises), but since they reject it
and the eternal life which they are
offering, they will turn to the
Gentiles as they fulfill Isaiah
49:6 13:46-47
d) When the Gentiles heard this they
rejoiced and many believed 13:48
e) The word spread throughout the
region 13:49
f) The Jews stirred up persecution
against Paul and Barnabas and drove
them out of the district 13:50
g) The disciples symbolically
proclaimed judgment upon the Jews
in Antioch by shaking off the dust
from their feet (cf. Lk. 9:5;
10:11; Acts 18:6; 22:22-23) and
moved on to Iconium 13:51
h) The disciples were not discouraged,
but filled with joy and the Holy
Spirit 13:52
4. The Mission in Iconium-a response repeated: When
Paul and Barnabas spoke the gospel again in a
Jewish synagogue in Iconium, they divided the city
between those who believed their message and those
who did not and thus persecuted them so that they
fled with the message to Lystra and Derby 14:1-7
a. At Iconium Paul and Barnabas spoke in a
Jewish synagogue, and many of both Jews and
Greek-speaking Jews believed 14:1
b. When Paul and Barnabas were persecuted by
unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, they left a
divided city for Lystra and Derby where they
preached the gospel 14:2-7
1) The unbelieving Jews turned the Gentiles
against the brethren 14:2
2) Paul and Barnabas stayed a long time
speaking boldly and bearing witness to
their word with signs and wonders 14:3
3) The people were divided between the Jews
and the Apostles 14:4
4) When the Jews and Gentiles made an
attempt to stone Paul and Barnabas, they
fled to Lystra and Derby where they
preached the gospel 14:5-7
5. The Mission in Lystra: The message to the Gentiles
is clarified: 14:8-23 After Paul demonstrated
the saving work of God through the healing of a
lame man, and the people began to worship him and
Barnabas as pagan gods, He instructed them toward
the living God who created and blessed all of
creation, whereupon he persevered persecution by
the Jews, and returned to the churches in Galatia
to encourage them to persevere in their newly
established faith 14:8-23
a. Sign: Paul demonstrates the saving work of
God through the healing of a crippled man
(cf. Acts 3) who was listening to his message
14:8-10
1) Setting: At Lystra there was a crippled
man who listened to Paul speak 14:8-9a
2) When Paul saw that the man had faith to
be made will he commanded him to, "Stand
upright" and the man was healed 14:8b-
10
b. Sermon: When the people began to honor Paul
and Barnabas as Greek gods, they turned them
from their pagan understanding to an
examination of the living God who is creator
and blesser of all 14:11-18
1) The response of the People: The people
identified Paul and Barnabas as Greek
gods to be honored through sacrifice
14:11-13
a) When the people saw what Paul had
done they identified them with gods
14:11
b) The people called Paul and Barnabas
names of Greek gods--Hermes and
Zeus--and brought sacrifices to
offer to them 14:12-13
2) The response of Paul and Barnabas: When
Paul and Barnabas saw what was
occurring, they immediate pointed the
people away from them to the living God
who is creator of all and has provided
witness of Himself through blessing to
all peoples 14:14-17
a) When they heard what was occurring,
Paul and Barnabas rent their
clothes and ran out to speak to the
people 14:14
b) Paul and Barnabas not only question
the activity of the people, but
point them from their polytheism to
the one living God who is creator
of all and who has shown Himself
through the blessing he has
graciously given to all 14:15-17
(1) Paul and Barnabas questioned
the people as to why they were
doing this since they were men
like the people were 14:15a
(2) Paul and Barnabas urged the
people to turn from their
empty idols (cf. 1 Ki. 16:2,
13, 26; 2 Ki. 17:15)to a
living God who was creator of
all 14:15b
(3) Paul and Barnabas explain that
in the past the nations have
been allowed to go their own
way, but not without a witness
from the living God who
brought about fruitfulness and
prosperity for all 14:16-17
3) The response of the people: This speech
barely dissuades the crowd from
sacrificing to them 14:18
c. Suffering for the gospel: After Paul was
stoned in Lystra, he persevered by returning
into the city, and then went with Barnabas
back to Derby, Iconium and Antioch to
proclaim the gospel, encourage the disciples
to persevere, and to set up leaders in each
church 14:19-23
1) Although Paul was stoned by Jews from
Antioch and Iconium, he rose up and re-
entered the city 14:19-20a
a) Paul was stoned and drug out of the
city for dead by Jews from Antioch
and Iconium who stirred up the
people 14:19
b) When the disciples gathered around
Paul he rose up and entered the
city 14:20a
2) Paul returned to Lystra, Iconium, and
Antioch to encourage the brethren that
they should persevere through trials
until the coming of the Kingdom, and he
established leadership in the churches
14:20-23
a) The day after Paul was stoned, he
and Barnabas went to Derby where
they preached the gospel and made
many disciples 14:20-21a
b) Paul and Barnabas returned to
Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch where
they strengthened the disciples to
faithfully persevere through
trials, and appointed elders in
each church 14:21b-23
(1) Paul and Barnabas returned to
Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch
14:21b
(2) Paul and Barnabas strengthened
the disciples to continue in
the faith during the many
tribulations which will come
before the Kingdom 14:22
(3) Appointing elders in every
church, they committed the
disciples to the Lord in whom
they believed 14:23
6. Postlude to the first missionary journey: Paul
and Barnabas returned to Antioch speaking the word
of God in Perga, and reported all that God had
done on the journey, remaining with the church a
long time 14:24-28
a. Paul and Barnabas passed through Pisidia and
came to Pamphylia, spoke the word in Perga,
and went down to Attalia 14:24-25
b. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch,
reported all that God had done even for the
Gentiles on the missionary journey, and
remained with the church for a long time
14:26-28
1) They sailed to Antioch where they had
been commissioned for the missionary
journey 14:26
2) They told the church in Antioch all that
God had done including opening for them
a door of faith to the Gentiles 14:27
3) They remained for a long time with the
disciples in Antioch 14:28
B. The Jerusalem Council: When Paul and Barnabas' gospel
message to the Gentiles came under criticism by Jews
who desired for the Gentiles to keep all of the Mosaic
law (including the ceremonial--circumcision), it was
vindicated by a council of Apostles and elders in
Jerusalem, and they were restored to active ministry in
Antioch, whereupon Paul returned to the field to
strengthen the churches with Silas (a Jerusalem
supporter), and Timothy (a physical example of the
decree) by sharing the decree with the growing churches
15:1--16:5
1. Prelude to the Council--Controversy over the Law :
Because the ministry of Paul and Barnabas toward
the Gentiles is threatened by those from the Jews
in Judea who insist that the Gentiles must keep
all of the Law including the ceremonial aspects of
circumcision Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem to
deal with the question 15:1-5
a. When some men came down from Judea insisting
that Gentile converts be circumcised and keep
the Law of Moses, Paul and Barnabas strongly
refuted them, and were sent to deal with the
question in Jerusalem 15:1-2
1) Some men came down to Antioch from Judea
teaching that one needed to follow the
law of Moses with respect to
circumcision in order to be saved 15:1
2) Paul and Barnabas argued greatly with
those from Judea and were sent along
with others by the church in Antioch to
the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to
deal with this problem 15:2
b. As Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Jerusalem,
they were well received and proclaimed to all
the work that God had done through them,
especially towards the Gentiles 15:3-4
1) The party including Paul and Barnabas
passed south through Phoenicia and
Samaria encouraging all of the brethren
as they reported the conversion of the
Gentiles from their mission 15:3
2) When the party came to Jerusalem, they
were welcomed by the church and the
Apostles and reported all that God had
done with them on their journey 15:4
c. Some believers who were part of the Pharisees
objected to Paul and Barnabas' work on the
basis that it was necessary to exhort the
Gentiles to keep the law of Moses including
circumcision 15:5
2. The Council's deliberations: Peter, Paul &
Barnabas, and James all confirm God's work among
the Gentiles, concluding that the Law should not
be imposed upon them, but that they should temper
their actions for the sake of unity among Jewish
believers in their midst 15:6-21
a. Setting: Two groups, the Apostles and the
elders, are gathered together to consider the
question 15:6
b. Peter speaks for the Apostles: After there
had been much debate, Peter, as the first
apostle to the Gentiles, called the addition
of the Law a test of God because He had
identified all people as saved when they
believed in the grace of the Lord Jesus 15:7-
11
1) Peter spoke after there had been much
debate 15:7a
2) When Peter addresses the brethren, he
does so as the "Apostle to the Gentiles"
and identifies the addition of the
Mosaic Law with a test against God who
has confirmed salvation for all peoples
through the grace of the Lord Jesus
15:7b-11
a) Peter addressed the audience as
Brethren 15:7b
b) As the Apostle whom God chose to
first proclaim the gospel to the
Gentiles, Peter affirms that the
addition of the Law is an offense
against God because He has not
distinguished between peoples, but
has made salvation available for
all by the grace of the Lord Jesus
15:7c-11
(1) Peter presents himself as the
"Apostle for the breaking of
the news to the Gentiles"
because God chose him from
among them all to first
proclaim the gospel which they
believed 15:7c
(2) Peter asserts that God Himself
confirmed the genuiness of the
Gentiles' heart by bestowing
the Holy Spirit upon them just
as he had upon the new
community at Pentecost, thus
making no distinction between
the groups 15:8-9
(3) Therefore, Peter concludes
that the addition of the Law
is a test of God's judgment
since no one has been able to
obey it 15:10
(4) Therefore, Peter affirms that
Salvation comes the same for
both Jews and Gentiles--
through the grace of the Lord
Jesus 15:11
c. Barnabas and Paul speak: While all of the
people were quiet after Peter's address, Paul
and Barnabas also attested to the signs and
wonders which God had done through them among
the Gentiles 15:12
d. James speaks for the elders: Agreeing with
Simeon, James cites the prophets as support
for his conclusion that the Gentiles should
not be bothered with the Law, but should be
urged to act appropriately for the sake of
their unity with Jewish believers among them
15:13-21
1) After Paul and Barnabas finished
speaking, James spoke to the question
urging the brethren to listen to him
15:13
2) James agreed with Simeon, cited the
prophets as support for a time when
Gentiles would stand along side of Jews
as Gentiles in the people of God, and
urged that they not be bothered with the
Law, but that they might be careful to
keep unity among Jewish believers
through personal restraint 15:14-21
a) James affirmed that the prophets as
a whole agree with the words of
Simeon (Peter's Hebrew name) about
how God has visited the Gentiles to
take them into his people 15:14-15
b) James proclaims from the example of
Amos 9 that a time was foreseen
when Gentiles would stand as
Gentiles by Jews in the people of
God 15:16-18
(1) Option 1: James refers not to
Amos 9 so much as an existing
testimonia (like an accepted
excerpt from a catechism)
which affirms the truth that
in the future, Gentiles will
be along side of Jews as
Gentiles in the Kingdom
(2) Option 2: James cites one
well known example from the
LXX of Amos 9:11-12 where the
reference is to "men" and not
the "judgment of Edom" (MT).
He could have referred to
others
(3) "After this" does not refer to
"after the church" but is the
beginning of the quotation
(4) "Rebuild the tabernacle of
David" could be descriptive of
a future event on earth, or
could refer to the initiated
rule and benefits which
presently come through Jesus
(Acts 2:30-36; 13:32-39)
c) In view of the word from the
prophets, James concludes that the
Gentiles should not be bothered,
but urged to act with appropriate
concern for unity among Jews who
would be among them 15:19-21
(1) In view of the word from the
Scriptures James concludes
that the Gentiles who turn to
God should not be troubled
15:19
(2) James affirms that Gentile
believers should be written to
and urged to act with concern
for the Jews who are among
them by not participating in
those things (from their
cultic world) which would have
offended their unity among
Jewish believers (cf. Lev. 17-
-18): eating meat offered to
idols, involvement in sexual
immorality, eating meat that
had not been properly
prepared, and eating meat with
blood in it 15:20-21
3. The Council's letters and its impact: After those
in Jerusalem had agreed to send a delegation with
a letter proclaiming the position of the council,
and affirming Paul and Barnabas, they went to
Antioch where they were greatly received, and Paul
and Barnabas resumed their leadership roles as
teachers in the community 15:22-35
a. The church in Jerusalem including the
Apostles and the elders agreed to send men
back with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch
including leaders named Judas, called
Barsabbas, and Silas 15:22
b. The church sent a letter from the Apostles
and elders of the church in Jerusalem to the
churches in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia 15:23
c. The letter to the churches acknowledged the
trouble caused by those who wished to place
the Law upon the Gentiles and refuted them by
affirming Paul and Barnabas, and only
requesting that the Gentiles abstain from
those things which would prevent fellowship
with Jewish believers 15:24-29
4. When the men reached Antioch and read the letter,
the church rejoiced, and was encouraged by Judas
and Silas, and then taught for a long while by
Paul and Barnabas after the departure of those
from Jerusalem 15:30-35
a. The men went off from Jerusalem to Antioch
where they gathered the church together, and
delivered the letter 15:30
b. When they read the letter, the church
rejoiced over the exhortation, and was
exhorted and encouraged by Judas and Silas
15:31-32
c. After some time, Judas and Silas were sent
off in peace by the church in Antioch to
Jerusalem 15:33
d. Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch
teaching and preaching the word of the Lord
with many others 15:35
1) The letter acknowledged the troubled
caused by those unofficially from them
who insisted that Gentiles keep the Law
15:24
2) The letter affirmed that the church had
come to one accord about the matter and
had sent men along with the letter to
confirm it 15:25
3) Paul and Barnabas were honored as
beloved, and men who have risked their
lives for the Lord 15:26
4) No other restrictions were placed upon
the Gentiles than that they abstain from
those things which would prevent unity
among them with their Jewish brothers
15:27-29
5. Paul's triumphant return to the field: Paul's
gospel message having been confirmed by the
leaders of Jerusalem, Paul set off to strengthen
the churches of the first journey without the
former Jewish partnership of Barnabas who had
taken John Mark (who had been unwilling to
continue the first journey) to Cyprus, but with
Silas (who had been a strong Jewish support of the
decree) and Timothy (who physically bore the sense
of the decree) to proclaim the decree to the
growing churches of Galatia 15:36--16:5
a. After some time Paul suggested to Barnabas
that they return and visit the brethren in
every city where they ministered and see how
they are 15:36
b. Although Barnabas wanted to take along John
Mark, Paul objected because he had deserted
the earlier mission in Pamphylia 15:37-38
c. Because of a sharp contention between Paul
and Barnabas, they separated and Barnabas
took John Mark to Cyprus, while Paul took
Silas and departed under the commissioning of
the Church in Antioch 15:39-40
d. Paul and Silas went through Syria and Cilicia
strengthening the churches 15:41
e. When Paul came to Derbe, Lystra and Iconium
he learned of a faithful disciple named
Timothy and invited him to join in the
journey having him as a half Jew circumcised
for the sake of unity with the Jews in the
region 16:1-3
1) Paul came to Derbe and Lystra where he
met a disciple named Timothy who was the
son of a Jewish, believing mother, and a
Greek father 16:1
2) Timothy was spoken well of by all of the
brethren in Lystra and Iconium, and Paul
wanted him to accompany him on his
journey 16:2-3a
3) Paul had Timothy circumcised for the
sake of unity with the Jews in the area
since they knew that his father was
Gentile (cf. the prohibitions of Acts
15) 16:3b
f. As the party went through the cities of
Galatia, they delivered the letter from the
leaders in Jerusalem for them to observe
16:4
6. Summary Statement: The churches were strengthened
in the faith and increased numerically daily 16:5
VII. The church's mission through the Apostle Paul is
demonstrated to be the sovereign work of God towards all
peoples 16:6--19:20
A. The Mission at Philippi: The mission through Paul and
Silas is sovereignly directed by the Holy Spirit to
Philippi where God sovereignly arranges for the
conversion of several including Lydia (an Asian woman
of commerce), and a Philippian jailer (a Greek/Roman
man) before sending Paul and Silas out of the city
16:1-40
1. Prologue: the call to Macedonia: As the party,
including at least Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke
traveled, the Holy Spirit sovereignly directed
their movement away from Asia to Macedonia 16:6-
10
a. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were forbidden by
the Holy Spirit to speak the word of God in
Asia, so they went through the regions of
Phrygia and Galatia 16:6
b. At Mysia the Spirit of Jesus did not allow
them to go north to Bithynia, so they went
down south to Troas 16:7-8
c. In a vision to Paul a Macedonian man beckoned
him to come west and help them 16:9
1) A vision appeared to Paul in the night
16:9a
2) A Macedonian man beckoned Paul to come
west and help them 16:9b
d. Those in the party (including Luke--"we")
immediately interpreted this dream as God's
sovereign direction to go to Macedonia to
preach the gospel to the people there 16:10
2. The conversion of Lydia When the party arrived in
Philippi, they sought the place of prayer by the
river on the Sabbath, and the Lord caused a God-
worshipping woman named Lydia to hear Paul's
message, whereupon she believe, and showed
hospitality to the party 16:11-15
a. Setting: The party set sail from Troas to
Macedonia through Samothrace and Neapolis to
Philippi, the leading city of Macedonia,
where they remained for some time 16:11-12
b. As the party went to a place of prayer by the
river on the Sabbath, God caused an Asian
woman named Lydia to hear Paul's message,
whereupon she believed, was baptized with her
family, and showed hospitality to the party
16:13-15
1) There not being a synagogue, on the
Sabbath the party went to a riverside
outside of the city where they supposed
there to be a place of prayer, and they
spoke to women1 who had come together
16:13
2) One woman who heard them named Lydia, an
Asian from Thyatira who was a merchant,
and a worshiper of God 16:14a
3) The Lord caused her to hear what Paul
was saying, she believed, was baptized,
with her household, and showed
hospitality to the party 16:14b-15
3. The conversion of the Jailer: God sovereignly
works to save a jailer and his family through Paul
delivering a demonized girl from an evil spirit,
which led to his being arrested and placed under a
jailer's care, where the Lord caused an earthquake
that provided the opportunity for the jailer and
his family to hear and believe in the word of God
16:16-34
a. A demonized girl: When a demonized girl
began to follow the party around and announce
their mission from God, Paul in the name of
Christ cast the evil spirit out of her 16:16-
18
1) The party was met by a slave girl who
was demonized and used for profit by her
master as a soothsayer when they were
on their way to the place of prayer
16:16
2) For many days she followed the party
around announcing that they were
servants of God who are proclaiming the
way of salvation 16:17-18a
3) Paul was annoyed by her actions, so he
cast the evil spirit out of her 16:18b
b. Imprisonment of Paul and Silas: When the
Spirit was cast out of the girl, her owners
drug Paul and Silas to the magistrates, and
charged them with disrupting the city against
Roman law, whereupon, the rulers had them
beaten and thrown under custody of a jailer
into prison 16:19-24
1) When the spirit was cast out of the
girl, her owners saw that they had lost
their hope of profit through her 16:19a
2) The girl's owners brought Paul and Silas
before the judges and charged them with
being Jews (racial) who were disturbing
the city, and whose customs are not
Roman 16:19b-21
3) The town joined in with the attack, and
the rulers had them severely beaten,
thrown into prison, and put under the
guardianship of a jailer who fastened
there feet in stocks 16:22-24
c. The Deliverance: God sovereignly works
through an earthquake to cause a jailer to
hear the gospel message from Paul and Silas,
whereupon he and his family believe and enter
into fellowship with them 16:25-34
1) At midnight, Paul and Silas were being
listened to by the prisoners as they
were praying and singing hymns 16:25
2) Suddenly there was a great earthquake
which shook the foundations of the
prison, opened the doors and unfastened
everyone's fetters 16:26
3) When the jailer awoke and saw what had
occurred, he was about to kill himself
thinking that all of the prisoners had
escaped, when Paul told him to not hurt
himself since everyone was still present
16:27
4) The jailer ran into the jail, got Paul
and Silas and asked them what he must do
to be saved 16:29-30
5) Paul and Silas explained the word of the
Lord to Him and his household, and urged
him to believe in the Lord Jesus to be
saved 16:31-32
6) A Picture of Reconciliation: That very
night the jailer washed Paul and Silas'
physical wounds and they washed him and
his family (through baptism) of their
spiritual wounds, whereupon they
fellowshiped in his house 16:33-34
4. Epilogue: God's servants are vindicated: Paul and
Silas were vindicated by the rulers of Philippi
when they learned that the team were Roman
citizens by being escorted out of prison,
whereupon, they returned to Lydia's house,
encouraged the brethren, and left Philippi 16:35-
40
a. When it was morning, the rulers ordered the
jailers to release Paul and Silas 16:35
b. The jailer announced their release to Paul
urging them to come out to peace 16:36
c. Paul refused to come out privately, but
insisted that the leaders come themselves and
lead them out because they were unjustly
beaten in a public manner as Roman citizens
16:37
d. When the leaders heard Paul's words about
being Roman citizens, they were afraid, came
to them, apologized, took them out and asked
them to leave the city 16:38-39
e. Paul and Silas left prison, went to Lydia's,
exhorted the brethren, and departed from
Philippi 16:40
B. The mission from Thessalonica to Corinth: Although Paul
experienced Jewish opposition and Gentile indifference,
he proclaimed the word of God to all peoples, both Jews
and Gentiles, under God's protection, and many came to
believe in Jesus 17:1--18:17
1. Ministry toward the Jews: The missionary party
went to the Jewish synagogues in Thessalonica and
Beroea and proclaimed Jesus as Messiah, whereupon,
some Jews, devout Greeks, and women, believed in
Thessalonica, and many Jews believed in Beroea,
but Paul had to flee under the persecution from
the jealous Thessalonican Jews from both cities
17:1-15
a. The mission to the Thessalonica--negative:
When Paul and Silas arrived in Thessalonica
they proclaimed Jesus as Messiah in the
synagogue for three weeks causing some Jews,
many devout Greeks, and leading woman to
believe, but raising jealousy in the Jews to
the point that the new disciples were
severely persecuted before the authorities
17:1-9
1) Setting: When Paul and Silas had passed
through Amphipolis and Apollonia they
came to Thessalonica where there was a
Jewish synagogue 17:1
2) When Paul entered the synagogue and
argued for Jesus as Messiah, some Jews,
many devout Greeks, and leading woman
believed and joined Paul and Silas, but
the Jews were jealous 17:2-5a
a) Paul went in, as was his custom,
and argued with them from the
Scriptures for three weeks 17:2
b) Paul explained and proved from the
Scriptures the death, resurrection
and Messiahship of Jesus 17:3
c) Some Jews, many devout Greeks, and
leading women believed and joined
Paul and Silas 17:4
d) The Jews were jealous of Paul and
Silas 17:5a
3) In an uproar the Jews sought Paul and
Silas, but could not find them so they
took Jason and some brethren before the
authorities and accused them of
disturbing the peace and of proclaiming
another king against Rome, whereupon the
leaders exacted a bond from them before
releasing them 17:5b-9
a) Using some wicked men, the Jews
gathered a crowd and set the city
in an uproar 17:5b
b) The Jews attacked the house of
Jason looking for Paul and Silas,
but when they could not find them,
they brought Jason and some of the
brethren before the authorities
17:5c-6a
c) The Jews accused Jason and the
brethren of harboring disrupters,
and proclaiming Jesus as King
against Rome (subversion as with
Jesus) 17:6b-7
d) The people and city authorities
were disturbed when they heard the
accusations, so they took from the
hostages a bond and released them
17:8-9
b. The mission to Beroea--positive: When the
party came to Beroea from Thessalonica, they
also went to the synagogue and proclaimed
Jesus as Messiah, and the Jews responded well
with eagerness and examination, but the Jews
from Thessalonica came and stirred up the
city whereupon, Paul was escorted to Athens
while Silas and Timothy remained 17:10--15
1) Setting: The brethren from Thessalonica
sent Paul and Silas away by night to
Beroea were they went to the Jewish
synagogue 17:10
2) The Jews in Beroea were more noble than
those in Thessalonica because they
received the word with eagerness and a
hunger to test Paul's word through the
Scriptures 17:11
3) When the Jews from Thessalonica heard
that word of God was being proclaimed by
Paul in Beroea, they came there also
stirring up the crowds 17:12-13
4) In response to the uproar in Beroea the
brethren had Silas and Timothy remain
with them, but sent Paul off by sea to
Athens, whereupon, he sent back message
for them to come to him as soon as
possible 17:14-15
2. Ministry towards the Gentiles: Although Paul's
ministry had little impact before the philosophers
in Athens, he had a long and fruitful ministry in
Corinth to all peoples in spite of Jewish
opposition because of the Lord's protection 17:16-
-18:17
a. The mission to Athens--negative: While Paul
was in Athens waiting for Silas and Timothy,
he became disturbed over the idolatry in the
city and began proclaiming the word of God in
synagogues and market places until at last he
spoke before the Gentile philosophers at the
Areopagus where he urged a resistant people
to repent from their idolatry and turn to the
true God who is Creator and will one day
judge the world through his vindicated
servant, whereupon most rejected, but some
believed 17:16-34
1) Setting: While Paul was waiting for
Silas and Timothy in Athens he was
provoked within when he saw the city was
full of idols 17:16
2) Paul argued in the synagogues with the
Jews and devout Greeks, and in the
market place every day with whoever
happened to be present 17:17
3) Some of the Epicurean (who liked to
enjoy life) and the Stoic (who sought to
live consistently with nature)
philosophers met Paul and were intrigued
by his teaching so they took him to the
Aeopagus for him to proclaim his new
teaching which they always wanted to
hear 17:18-21
4) As Paul stands before the Areopagus he
acknowledges their piety, but corrects
their error by proclaiming their unknown
God as the Creator of all, whom they
have dishonored, and who now commands
them to repent because they will all be
held accountable at a righteous judgment
through the one whom He has vindicated
through the resurrection 17:22-34
a) Paul standing in the midst of the
Areopagus addressed the men of
Athens 17:22a
b) Paul affirmed that they were a
pious people becuase of their many
idols, one of which was to the
unknown God 17:22b-23a
c) Paul proclaims the identity of
their unknown God as the Creator
who made all, does not need man,
but gives all things to man so that
they might seek after Him 17:23b-
28
(1) Paul exclaims that he wishes
to proclaim the identity of
their unknown God 17:23b
(2) Paul proclaimed the unknown
God as the Creator of heaven
and earth who does not live in
temples made by men (man is
thus accountable to Him)
17:24
(3) God is not dependent upon man,
but gives all good things to
all men including life,
breath, and their existence as
nations 17:25-26
(4) God has given to men so that
they might seek Him since He
is not far away as even their
Greek poets (Epimenides and
Aratus, Phainomena 5) noted
17:27-28
d) Paul proclaims that man has
dishonored this unknown God by
making images of Him since we are
like him -- His offspring 17:29
e) Paul proclaims that even though God
has overlooked the times of
ignorance from the past all men
should now repent because he will
judge all men in righteousness
through the one whom He vindicated
by raising him from the dead 17:30-
31
(1) Paul proclaims that God
overlooked the times of
ignorance 17:30a
(2) Paul proclaims that now God
commands everyone everywhere
to repent 17:30b
(3) The reason God commands
everyone to repent is because
He will one day will one day
judge the world in
righteousness through a man
whom He has vindicated through
resurrection from the dead
17:31
5) Although many either mocked Paul or
delayed decision for another hearing,
some did believe in his message and
followed him out from among the people
17:32-34
a) When they heard of the resurrection
of the dead some mocked Paul
17:32a
b) Others wanted to hear more about
Paul's teaching some other day
17:32b
c) Paul went out from among these
people 17:33
d) Some people joined Paul and
believed in Jesus including
Dionysius the Areopagite, and a
woman named Damaris 17:34
b. The mission to Corinth--positive: From
Athens Paul went to Corinth and proclaimed
the word of God to all peoples having a long
and fruitful ministry under the Lord's
protection in spite of Jewish opposition
18:1-17
1) Introduction: After the event in
Athens, Paul went to Corinth where he
met a Jewish couple to live and work
with, and proclaimed Jesus to the Jews
and the Greeks, especially after Silas
and Timothy joined him 18:1-5
a) After the event at the Areopagus,
Paul left Athens and went to
Corinth 18:1
b) Paul found those to stay with and
work with in Corinth--a Jew and his
wife from the Rome (after Claudias'
decree, A.D. 49-50) named Aquila
and Priscilla 18:2-3
c) Paul argued in the synagogue every
sabbath persuading Jews and Greeks
18:4
d) When Timothy and Silas joined Paul
in Corinth, Paul used all of his
time proclaiming Jesus as the
Christ to the Jews 18:5
2) Paul had a long and fruitful ministry to
all peoples in Corinth in spite of
Jewish opposition because the Lord
protected him as He had promised 18:6-
17
a) When the Jews rejected Paul's
teaching he announced their
responsibility for their actions
and that he would now go to the
Gentiles as he went among those who
believed in his message 18:6-8
(1) When the Jews rejected Paul's
teaching, he explains that he
went to the Jews first, but
now he is not responsible for
their death (cf. "Watchman"
imagery of Ezk. 33:1-9), and
thus that he will go to the
Gentiles 18:6
(2) When Paul left the synagogue
he went among those who
believed his message: to the
house of Titus Justus (a
worshiper of God), Crispus,
the ruler of the synagogue and
his household, and many other
Corinthians who believed and
were baptized 18:7-8
b) In a vision the Lord commissioned
Paul not to leave Corinth (as in
other cases, cf. Acts 13--14; 17),
but to stay and proclaim His word
to the many people He had there
under His protection, and Paul did
for one and a half years 18:9-11
(1) The Lord spoke to Paul one
night in a vision 18:9a
(2) The Lord told Paul to not be
afraid to speak for Him
because He would protect him,
and because he had many in
Corinth who would believe
18:9b-10
(3) Paul stayed a year and six
months in Corinth teaching the
word of God to the people
18:11
c) The Lord's promised protection
(18:10) is demonstrated as Paul is
acquitted by Gallio from the Jews'
indictment, and the leader of the
synagogue is beaten by the crowd
18:12-17
(1) When Gallio was proconsul of
Achaia (A.D. 51 [to 55]), the
Jews made a united attack upon
Paul and brought him before
the tribunal 18:12
(2) Paul was accused by the Jews
of breaking Roman law by
proclaiming worship which is
different than that of Judaism
18:13
(3) Before Paul could speak in his
defense Gallio dismissed the
charge against him by the Jews
because it was not a civil
matter, but a inner-religious
matter (cf. Lk. 23) 18:14-16
(4) Sosthenes, the ruler of the
synagogue, was seized, and
beaten by the crowd (Jews) in
front of the tribunal, but
Gallio ignored the event (like
Pilate?) 18:17
C. The Mission at Ephesus: Paul's ministry of the word of
God to all peoples reaches its climax in Ephesus where
those whom he equipped are left to trained other
powerful teachers, where he taught for over two years
bringing the word of God to all peoples, where he
greatly demonstrated apostolic power through bestowing
the Holy Spirit, and through miracles of healing and
exorcism, and where all of Ephesus was moved to fear
the Lord Jesus and many believers repented of their
activity in the occult as false Jewish exorcists were
humbled by evil spirits who knew of Jesus and Paul
18:18--19:20
1. Ephesus is bypassed again to leave Priscilla and
Aquila: Although Paul did leave Corinth with
Priscilla and Aquila and landed in Ephesus where
he spoke the word in the synagogue, and was
entreated to stay, He declined to stay, left
Priscilla and Aquila there and returned to the
church in Antioch where he remained for awhile
before returning to the mission fields of Galatia
and Phrygia to strengthen the disciples 18:18-23
a. Setting: After the event before Gallio, Paul
stayed longer in Corinth and then left with
Priscilla and Aquila for Syria 18:18a
b. At Cenchreae Paul had his hair cut from a
personal vow (perhaps for in thanksgiving for
God's preservation, cf. 18:10) 18:18b
c. Although Paul arrived in Ephesus, left Aquila
and Priscilla there, spoke in the synagogue
and was asked to stay on, he declined
(perhaps before the seas closed for winter)
agreeing to return if the Lord allowed it,
and left Ephesus 18:19-21
d. Paul returned to Caesarea, greeted the church
(in Jerusalem), went to Antioch, spending
some time there, and then returned to the
region of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen
the disciples 18:22-23
2. Priscilla and Aquila instruct Apollos: In Paul's
absence, Priscilla and Aquila meet and instruct a
gifted Alexandrian Jew concerning all of the truth
about Jesus, whereupon, he is sent to Corinth to
help the brethren in their public debates from
Scripture with the Jews about the Messiahship of
Jesus 18:24-28
a. Setting: A well educated, eloquent,
Alexandrian Jew, named Apollos who knew the
Scriptures came to Ephesus 18:24
b. Having been taught in the way of the Lord,
Apollos accurately spoke and taught the
Jesus, but he only knew the baptism of John
18:25
c. Apollos began to speak boldly of Jesus in the
synagogue only to have things explained to
him even more fully by Priscilla and Aquila
18:26
d. Wishing to go to Achaia, the brethren
(Priscilla and Aquila) of Ephesus encouraged
him and sent him with a letter so that he
would be well received by the brethren 18:27
e. When Apollos arrived in Corinth, he greatly
aided the church as he argued well with the
Jews in public showing from the Scriptures
that Jesus was the Messiah 18:28
3. Paul Apostolically bestows the Holy Spirit on
twelve men: While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul
returned to Ephesus, and was used to instruct,
baptize and bestow the Holy Spirit upon about
twelve disciples whom he met 19:1-7
a. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul returned
to Ephesus 19:1
b. While Paul was in Corinth, he met about
twelve disciples whom he taught about the
baptism of Jesus, laid hands upon, and
received the Holy Spirit 19:2-7
1) Paul found some disciples (of Jesus?)
who did not know about the Holy Spirit,
but had only been baptized into the
baptism of John 19:2-3
2) Paul explained that John's baptism was
for repentance to urge people to believe
in Jesus, whereupon, the disciples were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
19:4-5
3) When Paul laid hands upon the nearly
twelve disciples, the Holy Spirit came
upon them and they spoke with tongues
and prophesied 19:6-7
4. Paul speaks the word of God so that all in Asia
hear: After Paul had spoken boldly for three
months in the synagogue, and was rejected, he
moved to the hall of Tyrannus and boldly
proclaimed the word for over two years so that all
peoples in Asia, both Jews and Gentiles, heard
19:8-10
a. Paul entered the synagogue in Ephesus, and
spoke boldly about the kingdom of God for
three months 19:8
b. When some in the synagogue spoke evil of the
Way before the congregation, he withdrew with
his disciples and argued daily in the hall of
Tyrannus 19:9
c. Paul continued to daily present the word of
God for two years with the result that all of
the residents of Asia heard the word--both
Jews and Gentiles 19:10
5. Paul demonstrates the uniqueness of God's power:
The Lord affirmed the message of Paul about Jesus
through great miracles of healing by the hand of
Paul, and the humiliation of some false Jewish
exorcists thus causing Jesus' name to be feared in
all of Ephesus, and causing many believers to
repent of their activity in the occult 19:11-19
a. Positively: God did many extraordinary
miracles by Paul including the healing of the
sick and the deliverance of people from evil
spirits 19:11-12
1) God did estaordinary miracles by the
hands of Paul 19:11
2) Handkerchiefs or aprons were carried
away from the body of Paul to people who
were sick and they were cured of
diseases and evil spirits 19:12
b. Negatively: When some Jewish exorcists tried
to cast out spirits in the name of Jesus whom
Paul preached, the spirits acknowledged Jesus
and Paul, but severely humiliated the
exorcists causing all in Ephesus to honor
Jesus, and many believers to repent of their
evil, satanic practices 19:13-19
1) Some itinerant Jewish exorcists (seven
sons of the Jewish high priest named
Sceva) tried to cast out spirits in the
name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches
19:13-14
2) The evil spirits acknowledged Jesus and
Paul, but not these exorcists and worked
through the demonized to beat them up
and cast them out naked 19:15-16
3) The humiliation of the Jewish exorcists
spread to all of the people of Ephesus
causing them to become fearful, and
extol the name of Jesus 19:17
4) The result of the humiliation of the
false exorcists was that many believers
came confessing and divulging their evil
practices and burning their valuable
satanic books 19:18-19
D. Summary Statement: The Word of the Lord grew and
prevailed mightily 19:20
VIII. The Church's mission through the Apostle Paul is
demonstrated to not be anti-Gentile or anti-Jewish in spite
of their rejection, but a proclamation of the Gospel to all
peoples--including the Jews 19:21--28:31
A. As Paul goes to Jerusalem he demonstrates that his
message is to all peoples--even those who reject him of
the Gentiles and the Jews 19:21--26:32
1. Paul is shown to be a messenger to all peoples--
even though they may reject him: Through two
parallel scenes regarding an uproar concerning the
temple of Artemis in Ephesus followed by a
positive speech to the leaders of the Gentile
church there, and an uproar concerning the temple
of YHWH in Jerusalem followed by a positive speech
to the people of Jerusalem, Paul demonstrates
himself to be a messenger to all peoples--both
Gentiles and Jews--even though many from each
people group may reject him 19:21--22:30
a. Paul among the Gentiles some of whom reject
his message: Even though some Gentiles
rejected the message of the Way in Ephesus
because it threatened to disrupt their
financial security in the false goddess
Artemis, Paul still encouraged those among
the Gentiles who believed in Jesus to follow
his example by being faithful to their
calling even in the face of difficulties
19:21--20:38
1) Negative--Temple riot: While Paul was
in Ephesus before his journey west, a
riot arouse against the Way because of
the threat it brought upon the temple of
Artemis, but it was not focused, even
overriding the Jews together with those
from the Way, and was dismissed as being
groundless, and threatening to the city
of Ephesus 19:21-41
a) Paul stayed in Ephesus a while
having already sent his helpers,
Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia
where he intended to follow as he
pursued his concluding trip through
Macedonia, and Achaia, and then on
to Jerusalem and Rome 19:21-22
b) While Paul was staying in Ephesus,
Demetrius, a silversmith insighted
a riot against the Way because its
proclamation threatened the future
of Artemis and thus their
profession 19:23-31
(1) While Paul was staying in
Ephesus, a great stir arose
concerning the Way 19:23
(2) A silversmith named Demetrius
who made shrines of Artimis
stirred up a crowed against
Paul because he believed that
Paul's faith threatened his
future business and the future
of Artemis from her fame in
Asia 19:24-27
(3) The crowd became mobilized in
their anger and took two
Macedonian, companions of
Paul, Gius and Aristarchus
into the theater 19:28-29
(4) Paul wished to go among the
crowed but he was dissuaded by
disciples and Asiarchs 19:30-
31
c) The crowd was not unified in their
concern, and they also shouted down
Alexander who tried to make a
defense for the Jews to the crowd
19:32-34
(1) Many charges were cried out
because the assembly was not
unified 19:32
(2) A Jew named Alexander was put
forth to make a defense for
the Jews to the crowd, but he
was also rejected as the crowd
cheered for Artemis 19:33-34
d) Quieting the mob down, the town
clerk urged the crowd to do nothing
rash and to disperse since all of
Asia is aware of the place of
Artemis in Ephesus, since those
taken hostage have done no wrong,
and since disputes need to be taken
to provided forums for attention
lest the city be charged (by Rome)
of rioting 19:35-41
(1) The town clerk quieted the
crowd down 19:35a
(2) The town clerk urged the crowd
to do nothing rash since all
of Asia knows of Artemis
presence in Ephesus 19:35b-36
(3) The town clerk acquitted Gaius
and Aristarchus from illegal
activity toward Artemis 19:37
(4) The town clerk urged any
disputes to be settled in the
legal forums provided because
they were about to be charged
with rioting by Rome 19:38-40
(5) The town clerk dismissed the
assembly 19:41
2) Positive--Testimony to Gentile
Christianity: Paul encourages the
Gentile churches to be faithful to its
calling as he has been faithful to his
calling 20:1-38
a) Setting/statement of ministry:
After the uproar in Ephesus, Paul
went to Macedonia and Greece
encouraging the churches, but was
threatened by a Jewish plot as he
was about to sail for Syria, so he
went back through Macedonia and
sailed from Philippi to Troas where
he met those from his party waiting
for him 20:1-5
(1) After the uproar in Ephesus,
Paul encouraged the disciples
there and left them for
Macedonia 20:1
(2) Paul encouraged the believers
in Macedonia and went to
Greece 20:2
(3) Paul stayed three months in
Greece and decided to go back
to Jerusalem through Macedonia
because of a plot set against
him by the Jews as he was
about to sail for Syria 20:3
(4) Those accompanying Paul
(Sopater of Beroea,
Aristarchus and Secundus of
Thessalonica, Gaius and
Timothy of Derby, and Tychicus
and Tromphimus from Asia) went
ahead and waited for Paul in
Troas of Asia 20:4
(5) After the days of unleavened
bread Paul's party sailed from
Philippi and arrived in Troas
were they stayed for seven
days 20:5
b) Sign of ministry: Although the
church was not in agreement with
Paul's words (probably about
leaving them not to see them
again), God confirmed that he was
speaking for God through the
revival of Eutychus, thus the
church was greatly encouraged at
Paul's departure 20:7-12
(1) On Sunday, the day before his
departure, Paul dialogued with
those from the church until
midnight 20:7
(2) Because of the fumes from the
lamps in the upper room a
youth named Eutychus fell
asleep and out of the third
story window to his death
thereby disrupting the
discussion with Paul 20:8-9
(3) Paul's words are confirmed to
the people as he restores the
boy's life to him as the
prophets Elijah (1 Ki.
17:21ff) and Elisha (2 Ki.
4:34) had to other youths
20:10-11
(4) When Paul left the church they
were greatly comforted because
of the boy in their presence
20:12
c) Sermon of Ministry: Although Paul
bypassed Ephesus, he called the
Ephesian elders from Miletus and
encouraged them as he prepared to
take leave of them for the last
time in the face of persecution, to
follow his example and thus to
protect the church from false
teachers, and to serve them rather
than take from them, thus, with
tears they left one another 20:13-
38
(1) Setting: Paul went from Troas
by land and met the party at
Assos where they sailed to
Mitylene, then opposite Chios,
then Samos, and then to
Miletus bypassing Ephesus so
that Paul might hurry to
Jerusalem by Pentecost 20:13-
16
(2) From Meletus Paul called the
elders from the church in
Ephesus to speak to them
20:17-18
(3) Paul reviews his past devotion
to them in teaching repentance
and belief in Jesus for
salvation to both Jews and
Gentiles 20:19-21
(4) Paul proclaims his willingness
to leave them and go toward
the persecution which the
Spirit says awaits him as he
returns to Jerusalem
continuing to testify to the
gospel of grace which he
proclaimed to them 20:22-28
(5) Paul urges the Ephesian elders
to guard those in the church
and the church itself from
deceiving false teachers
20:29-31
(6) Paul committed the elders to
the Lord and urged them to
follow his example of not
taking, but giving to the weak
20:32-35
(7) When Paul finished speaking to
the elders they prayed, and
full of love said goodbye to
one another as they brought
him to the ship 20:36-38
b. Paul among the Jews who reject his message:
Being willing to suffer for the sake of
Jesus, Paul attempted to demonstrate that he
was not anti-Jewish by participating in
temple activities only to be falsely accused
of being against the Jews and the temple,
whereupon he was delivered, defended himself
before the people as being Jewish himself,
and having a message from God for all people,
and going more to the Gentiles because of
Israel's rejection, only to again be rejected
by the Jews and spared from a Roman flogging
because he was a Roman citizen 21:1-22:29
1) Negative--Temple riot: As Paul
journeyed to Jerusalem he was warned of
persecution which awaited him,
proclaimed his willingness to die for
the Lord Jesus, and then entered into
the persecution as Asian Jews stirred
the crowd by falsely accusing him of
speaking against the people and
profaning the temple, only to be
delivered to the steps of the barracks
by Roman soldiers 21:1-37Setting:
During Paul's journeys from Miletus to
Jerusalem he was warned by the Holy
Spirit of the persecution which awaited
him in Jerusalem, but proclaimed his
willingness to even die for the Lord
Jesus if need be (as Jesus did) 21:1-16
a) Paul and the party traveled from
Miletus to Cos, Rhodes, Patara, and
to Tyre of Syria 21:1-3
b) The party stayed in Tyre for seven
days with disciples who told Paul
through revelation by the Spirit
not to go to Jerusalem, but the
party left the city with an escort
of disciples and sailed on to
Ptolemais and then went to the
house of Philip in Caesarea 21:4-8
c) At the house of Philip a prophet
named Agabus proclaimed that Paul
would be bound in Jerusalem and
delivered to the Gentiles, but Paul
proclaimed his willingness to
suffer for the Lord Jesus against
the protest of the people, and he
was committed to the Lord's will
(cf. Lk. 18:31-32; 22:42) 21:9-14
d) Paul and the party then went up to
Jerusalem with some of the
disciples from Caesarea including
Mnason of Cyprus 21:15-16
2) When Paul came to Jerusalem, he
proclaimed his ministry among the
Gentiles, was warned to demonstrate that
he was not against the Law for Jews, and
attempted to do that, when Jews from
Asia stirred up a crowd accusing Paul of
speaking against the Jews and profaning
the temple, only to be rescued to the
steps of the barracks by Roman soldiers
21:17-36
a) When the party came to Jerusalem
they were well received, reported
to James and the elders of
Jerusalem all that God had done
through Paul for the Gentiles, were
warned of the rumors circulating
that Paul was against the Law, and
were urged to demonstrate that Paul
was not against the Law even though
the Gentile mission was good 21:17-
25
(1) When the party came to
Jerusalem they were well
received by the brethren
21:17
(2) On the next day Paul and the
party visited James and the
Jerusalem elders and reported
all that God had done among
the Gentiles through Paul and
they glorified God 21:18-20a
(3) James then reports to Paul
that among the thousands of
Jews who have believed many
are zealous for the Law and
will be upset when they learn
that Paul is in town because
there is a roomer that he is
telling Jews to forsake the
law 21:20b-22
(4) James urges Paul to
demonstrate that he is not
against the law by
participating in the
ceremonial service of those
completing their vows 21:23-
24
(5) James again affirms the
Gentile mission of Paul by
reciting only the prohibitions
mentioned in the council of
Acts 15 21:25
b) As Paul went to demonstrate that he
was not against the practice of the
law by Jews, Asian Jews stirred up
the crowd with false accusations
that Paul was against the Jews and
had profaned the temple with
Gentiles so that Paul's life was
only spared through Roman soldiers
who took him to the steps of the
barracks 21:26-36
(1) On the next day, Paul took
those whose vow he was going
to pay for in a demonstration
of his commitment to the Law
for Jews to the Temple, and
gave the offering for himself
and them 21:26
(2) When the seven days of
purification were almost
completed, Jews from Asia
stirred up a crowd against
Paul falsely proclaiming that
he spoke against the Jewish
people, and that he had
defiled the temple by bringing
Gentiles into its Jewish
courts 21:27-30
(3) All of Jerusalem was aroused,
seized Paul, drug him out of
the temple, shut the temple
gates and tried to kill him
only to stop when the Roman
tribune and his solders
arrived 21:31-32
(4) Paul was delivered from the
midst of the crowd by the
Roman soldiers to the steps of
the barracks as the crowd
cried, "Away with him!" 21:33-
36
3) Positive--Testimony to unbelieving Jews:
As Paul was about to be led away from
the crowd he was given permission to
address them, whereupon he identified
him as a Jew like they, but with a
mission from God to all peoples which
has been amplified among the Gentiles
because of Jewish rejection, whereupon
the crowd wanted Paul dead, and the
Romans almost had him flogged until they
learned of his Roman citizenship 21:37-
-23:10
a) Setting: As Paul was about to be
led by the Roman soldiers into the
barracks, he spoke to the tribune
in Greek, corrected his mistaken
identification of Paul for an
escaped Egyptian slave and received
permission to speak to the people
21:37-40a
(1) As Paul was about to be
brought into the barracks he
spoke in Greek to the Tribune
21:37
(2) The Tribune thought Paul was
an escaped Egyptian who led a
revolt with four thousand men
21:38
(3) Paul identified himself as a
Jew from the major city of
Tarsus in Cilicia and
requested that he might speak
to the people, which he was
given 21:39-40a
b) When Paul gained the attention of
the people, he defended himself
against the accusations that he was
anti-Jewish by proclaiming that he
and his mission were Jewish (like
they are), but God gave him a
universal mission which Jewish
rejection made more Gentile 22:1-
21
(1) Setting: Paul gained the
attention of the people from
the steps, and began to speak
his defense to them in Hebrew
(Aramaic) as brethren and
fathers 21:40b--22:1
(2) Paul identifies himself as
being just as Jewish as his
audience is 22:3-5
(3) Paul describes his conversion
to the Way in Jewish terms and
his commission from God to
witness to all peoples 22:6-
15
(4) Paul describes his movement to
the Gentiles as being a divine
command because his Jewish
brethren would reject his
testimony about Jesus 22:16-
21
c) The response to Paul's message was
that the Jews wanted him to be
killed and the Romans almost had
him flogged until they learned that
Paul was a Roman citizen 22:22-29
(1) When Paul spoke of the Gentile
nature of his mission, the
Jews demanded that he be
killed 22:22
(2) In the riotous activity of the
crowd the tribune had Paul
brought into the barracks to
be scourged in order to find
out why the people were
against him 22:23-24
(3) When the tribune learned that
Paul was a Roman citizen, he
was not scourged and the
tribune was fearful for having
bound him 22:25-29
2. Paul's declares his message to be for all people--
especially the Jews: As the Jews accuse Paul of
doing wrong against the law and the temple (like
with Jesus and Stephen), Paul declares before the
Sanhedrin, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa that his
message, concerning the resurrection of Jesus, is
the hope Israel's future and is for all peoples,
especially Israel as the fulfillment of Scripture
23:11--26:32
a. Paul's first apology: When Paul was brought
before the Sanhedrin by the tribune on the
next day, he proclaimed that he had been pure
since God's calling of him, that he was
devoted to the law more than those trying
him, and that the reason he was on trial was
because of the hope of Israel, the
resurrection from the dead, which divided the
party, caused the Pharisees to acquit Paul,
caused the tribunal to deliver Paul to the
barracks, and led to the Lord's affirmation
that he would also testify of Him in Rome
22:30--23:10
1) Setting: On the next day the Tribune
brought Paul before the Sanhedrin in
order to learn the real reason why the
Jews accused him 22:30
2) Looking intently at the council Paul
said that his conduct had been blameless
since his call by the Lord 23:1
3) When Paul was struck for his statement,
he rebuked the "high" priest for his
hypocritical use of the Law and affirmed
his loyalty to the law 23:2-5
a) The high priest commanded those by
Paul to strike him after he had
proclaimed his purity 23:2
b) Paul reviled the high priest as a
hypocrite because he breaks the law
by ordering that Paul be struck
while claiming to judge Paul by
means of the law 23:2-3
c) Those near by questioned Paul for
reviling the high priest 23:4
d) Paul recanted (in a play of words
which suggests that their view of
the priest's position is not the
same as God's view) in a desire to
show himself as one who respected
the law which he quoted from Exodus
22:27 23:5
4) When Paul saw that the council was
divided between Sadducees and Pharisees,
he noted that he was on trial for the
hope (of Israel), the resurrection from
the dead, which led to a division
between the groups, the tribunal's
departure with Paul to the barracks, and
the Lord's encouragement of Paul that he
would speak in Rome as he had in
Jerusalem 23:6-11
a) When Paul perceived that the
council was divided between
Sadducees and Pharisees, he
proclaimed that he was a Pharisee,
and that he was on trial for the
hope (of Israel)--the resurrection
of the dead 23:6
b) When Paul mentioned the
resurrection, the council divided,
the Pharisees supported Paul, the
tribune had to take Paul back to
the barracks for his protection,
and the Lord appeared to Paul
exhorting him that he would testify
in Rome as he had in Jerusalem
23:7-11
(1) When Paul mentioned the
resurrection, the assembly of
Pharisees and Sadducees was
divided because the Sadducees
did not believe in the
supernatural including the
resurrection, angels or
spirits, while the Pharisees
did 23:7-8
(2) With the rise of a great
clamor, the Pharisees' party
moved closer to Paul's message
by proclaiming Paul to be
without guilt since he could
have been spoken to by a
spirit or an angel 23:9
(3) When the discussion became
violent, Paul was taken by the
tribune away from the
Sanhedrin to the barracks
23:10
(4) The following night the Lord
came to Paul and encouraged
him to be encouraged because
he would testify about Him in
Rome as he had in Jerusalem
23:11
b. Paul's second apology God sovereignly
preserved Paul from a plot by the Jews
against his life by having the tribunal of
Jerusalem deliver Paul to Caesarea where Paul
defended himself before the Jews as being
innocent of any charges brought against him,
and being on trial because of his
proclamation of the hope of Israel through
the resurrection, whereupon Felix refused to
decide the trial as he became involved in his
own self-interests 23:12--24:7
1) Through the "coincidence" of Paul's
nephew overhearing about the plot to
kill Paul, he was delivered under armed
guard to Caesarea to the governor,
Felix, with a letter of explanation and
held under guard until his accusers from
the Jews arrived 23:12-35
a) A group of Jews made an oath to
fast until they killed Paul through
a plot with the chief priests and
elders to ambush him on his way to
another trial 23:12-15
b) The son of Paul's sister heard
about the ambush, informed Paul,
and then under Paul's direction
informed the tribune 23:16-22
c) At 9:00 p.m. the tribune had Paul
escorted away from the Jewish
threat to Caesarea with 200
soldiers, 70 calvary, and 200 armed
troops, and with a letter to
governor Felix commending himself
(falsely), explaining the
circumstances, and announcing that
he had given the case over to him
23:23-30
d) After Paul is escorted to Ceasarea
and Felix read the letter, he was
held under guard in Herod's
praetorium until his accusers came
and Felix would hear the case
23:31-35
2) When the Jews came before Felix with the
accusations that Paul disrupted society
and tried to profane the temple, Paul
dismissed the first charge as having no
evidence, and argued that he was only on
trial because of his belief in the
resurrection, whereupon, Felix refused
to be decisive about either Paul's
message or Paul's case because of his
own self-interests 24:1-27
a) Setting: After five days the Jews
arrived with the high priest
Ananias, elders and a spokesman
named Tertullus to lay their case
down against Paul 24:1
b) After honoring Felix, Tertullus
(with the Jews) accused Paul of
being a danger to society, and one
who tried to defile the temple
24:2-9
c) Paul, as a better orator than
Tertullus, honored Felix, dismissed
the question of societal disruption
due to the lack of evidence, and
argued that he was only on trial,
as a good Jew, for his belief in
the resurrection of the dead 24:10-
21
(1) Under the recognition of
Felix, Paul first responded by
also honoring Felix 24:10
(2) Secondly, Paul negated the
charge that he was a danger to
society by referring to his
peaceful activity when he came
to Jerusalem, and by noting
that the Jews have no evidence
for such a charge 24:11-13
(3) Finally, Paul proclaimed that
the reason he was on trial
before Felix was because of
his belief, as a member of the
Way, and as a good Jew, in the
resurrection of the dead as
the hope of the Messianic
kingdom 24:14-21
d) Felix responded to the trial by
offering Paul a measure of freedom
while he waited for a decision, and
by delaying to decide personally
about Paul's message, or Paul's
freedom because of his own self-
interest 24:22-27
(1) Felix, having a knowledge of
the Way, put off his decision
of the trial until Lysias the
tribune who had delivered Paul
to Felix arrived 24:22
(2) Felix then had Paul kept in
custody, but with a measure of
liberty allowing his friends
to care for him 24:23
(3) After some days, Felix then
came with his wife, Drusilla,
to hear Paul speak of Jesus,
but delayed any kind of
commitment to Paul's message
of justice and self-control
24:24-25
(4) Felix also delayed any
decision concerning Paul's
case as he waited for payment
by Paul, and as he offered a
political favor to the Jews
upon his replacement by
Porcius Festus 24:26-27
c. Paul's third apology In trials before Festus
and Agrippa which proclaimed the innocence of
Paul, and that he must go to Rome in
accordance with his appeal, Paul proclaimed
himself to be innocent of any wrongs against
the Jews, and that he was only announcing as
a faithful Jew commissioned by Jesus, the
hope of Israel, for all peoples through the
resurrection of Jesus 25:1--26:32
1) When the Jews came to Caesarea at the
requirement of Festus to try Paul, Paul
denied all of the false charges by the
Jews, and chose to appeal to Caesar
rather than be returned to Jerusalem for
trial because he was innocent, and
should be tried before Rome; Festus
granted his appeal 25:1-12
a) While Festus was in Jerusalem, he
was urged by the Jews to return
Paul to Jerusalem for trial (so
that they may ambush him), but
Festus refused exhorting them to
come to Caesarea and present their
case against Paul before him 25:1-
5
b) In about ten days, Festus returned
to Caesarea and set forth a trial
in which the Jews brought many
indefensible charges against Paul
24:6-7
c) In a trial before Festus, Paul
denied all of the false charges by
the Jews, and chose to appeal to
Caesar rather than be returned to
Jerusalem for trial because he was
innocent, and should be tried
before Rome; Festus granted his
appeal 25:6-12
(1) Paul proclaimed that he had
not acted against the law of
the Jews, the temple nor
Caesar 24:8
(2) Festus, now wishing to do the
Jews a favor (cf. 25:3), asked
Paul if he now wished to go up
to Jerusalem to be tried 25:9
(3) Paul declined to go up to the
Jews because he was innocent,
because he was being tried as
he ought to be before Caesar's
tribunal, and because he in
his innocence would rather
appeal to Caesar (cf. 23:11)
25:10-12
(4) Festus, after conferring with
his council proclaimed that
Paul would go to Caesar as he
had appealed 25:12
2) In a trial arranged by Festus before
King Agrippa, Paul proclaimed himself as
merely a faithful Jew who once was
against Jesus, but met him on the
Damascus road, and has been proclaiming
faithfully ever since the hope of Israel
through the resurrection of Jesus to all
peoples, whereupon, Agrippa announced in
private that Paul was innocent, and
could go free if he had not appealed to
Caesar 25:13--26:32
a) Setting: Several days after Paul's
trial before Festus, Agrippa and
Bernice came to visit Festus,
Festus explained the Jewish nature
of the trial with Paul, and Agrippa
agreed to hear Paul on the next day
25:13-22
(1) After some days, the king,
Herod Agrippa, and Bernice
arrived at Caesarea to welcome
Festus 25:13
(2) Festus explained (in a self-
flattering manner) Paul's case
to Agrippa as not being about
(secular) evils, but about
Jewish matters, and the
resurrection of Jesus, so that
Paul was now being held to be
sent to Rome 25:14-21
(3) Agrippa requested to hear Paul
on the next day, and was
Festus agreed 25:22
b) On the next day when Paul came
before Agrippa in the "audience
hall", Festus announced that even
though he found none of the charges
assigned by the Jews to be valid,
Paul had appealed to Caesar, and
thus now he was seeking Agrippa's
help in evaluating the case so that
he could send a reasonable letter
along with the case to Caesar
25:23-27
(1) On the next day, Agrippa and
Bernice entered the audience
hall with great pomp, and Paul
was also brought in to the
hall 25:23
(2) Festus then addressed King
Agrippa concerning Paul's case
proclaiming that even though
all the Jews believed that
Paul should die, he found him
innocent, but was now allowing
this trial to take place
because Paul had appealed to
Caesar, and Festus did not
know what to write about the
trial as he sent Paul to Rome
25:24-27
c) When Agrippa gave Paul permission
to speak Paul defended himself by
proclaiming before this discerning
judge of Jewish matters that He is
a Jew, who once vehemently stood
against the name of Jesus, but now
because of his experience on the
Damascus road with Jesus, proclaims
to all peoples (Jews and Gentiles)
that Jesus is the fulfillment the
Scriptures' hope of resurrection
for all 26:1-23
(1) Agrippa gave Paul permission
to speak for himself, and he
began 26:1
(2) Paul honors Agrippa as his
judge because he is familiar
with the customs and
controversies of the Jews, and
he urges him to listen
patiently 26:2-3
(3) Paul identifies himself as a
well known Jew, and that he is
on trial for the Jewish hope
of the resurrection 26:4-8
(4) Paul explained that he once
vehemently stood against the
name of Jesus Christ, and
those who held to it, but on
his journey to Damascus he
was met by Jesus who
commissioned him to go and
proclaim forgiveness of sins
through faith in Jesus for all
peoples--Jews and Gentiles
26:9-18
(5) Paul proclaimed to Agrippa
that he was obedient to the
heavenly vision proclaiming
Jesus to all peoples--the Jews
in Damascus, Jerusalem, and
through all Judea, and the
gentiles--to repent and do
appropriate good works, and
this is why the Jews tried to
kill him in the temple 26:19-
21
(6) Paul then testifies that God
has helped him to this day so
that he could proclaim to all
peoples what the Jewish
Scriptures foretold, namely,
that Jesus is the first of the
communal resurrection--He is
the Jewish hope 26:22-23
d) Festus interrupted Paul's defense
with a discounting of the
Scriptures as an authority in this
hearing 26:24
e) Paul objects that he is not mad,
and urges Agrippa to consider what
he has said in view of the
scriptures which he does believe
26:25-27
(1) Paul objects that he is not
"mad", but speaking the sober
truth 26:25
(2) Paul (as a model evangelists)
then appeals to King Agippa to
consider what he has said in
light of the scriptures (the
prophets) which he does
believe 26:26-27
f) King Agrippa questions whether or
not Paul is trying to make him into
a Christian 26:28
g) Paul answers in the affirmative to
Agrippa and again proclaims his
mission to all peoples as one who
wishes that all who presently hear
him may become a Christian 26:29
h) Agrippa, Bernice, and those with
them arose, and then proclaimed in
private that Paul was innocent, and
could be released if he had not
appealed to Caesar 26:30-32
B. Paul goes as God's vindicated messenger to Rome among
receptive Gentiles, then presents his message in Rome
to Jews who reject it, whereupon he proclaims his
message to all peoples 27:1--28:31
1. Paul is shown to be God's vindicated messenger to
receptive Gentiles: In this long journey to the
center of the Gentile people (Rome), Paul is
vindicated by God as His messenger, and the
Gentiles are demonstrated to be receptive to the
mission in accordance with God's word 27:1--28:16
a. When the rulers (Festus and Agrippa?) decided
that they should sail to Italy, they
delivered Paul with other prisoners to the
centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named
Jusius 27:1
b. The party (with Paul as prisoner, Luke the
writer, and Aristarchus, a Macedonian [cf.
Col. 4:10; Philemon 24) set to sea on a ship
of Adramyttium (a seaport of Mysia) traveling
down the Asiatic coast 27:2
c. Although the trip to Rome was characterized
by enormous trials, Paul was vindicated by
God as the Gentiles followed his words and
found physically salvation, and Paul was both
thankful and encouraged in Rome because God's
word had come to pass when brethren came from
all around to great him 27:3--28:15
1) The next day the ship put in at Sidon
where Julius (the centurion) allowed
Paul leave to be with his friends and to
be cared for 27:3
2) From Sidon they sailed east and north of
the Island of Cyprus because the winds
were against them, then west past
Cilicia and Pamphylia to Myra in Lycia
where they change ships to one from
Alexandria sailing to Italy 27:4-6
3) They sailed slowly for many days,
arrived with difficulty off Cnidus and
sailed because of the wind to the south
of Crete to a place called Fair Havens
near Lasea 27:7-8
4) Because of the difficult sailing, and
because dangerous winds of winter were
near (the fast of the Day of Atonement),
Paul advised the rulers not to set sail
without loosing much cargo and many
people, but the centurion paid no
attention to him, and they set sail to
reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, for
the winter 27:9-12
5) With a gentile breeze from the south,
they sailed along the shore of Crete
27:13
6) When a severe storm lasting fourteen
days came upon the ship, all was nearly
lost, but God spared all on board to the
island of Malta as they listened to the
words of Paul 27:14--28:1
a) Soon a "north-easter" which Luke
compares to a typhoon struck down
from the land, and being unable to
fight it, they drifted along until
they secured the dinghy near Cauda
27:14-16
b) Several desperate measures were
taken to secure the ship from
drifting into land (they got the
dinghy on board, they set a loose
anchor [or lowered the mainsail],
and were driven by the storm 27:17
c) As the storm raged they threw cargo
overboard the next day, and on the
third day cast out the tackle
[spare cargo] of the ship by hand,
because all hope of being saved was
being abandoned due to their
inability to navigate to dark
skies, and the severity of the
storm 27:18-20
d) Paul, reminding them that he had
foretold them of this calamity,
urged them all to be encouraged
because an angel of the Lord whom
he worships told him that night
that he would have to stand before
Caesar, and all would be saved on
the ship, even though the ship
would be lost, and they would have
to run on to some island 27:21-26
e) On the fourteenth night of the
storm they were drifting through
the central Mediterranean (the sea
of Adria) when sounding produced
decreasing fathoms so that they
lowered four anchors to prevent
them from running into land, and
prayed that morning would come
27:27-29
f) Sailors attempted to escape through
the lowering of the dinghy, but
Paul declared that only those who
stayed with the boat would be
saved, so they cut away the dinghy
27:30-32
g) In the morning of the fourteenth
Paul encouraged all to eat since
they would all be saved, whereupon,
they eat and then threw overboard
the excess wheat 27:33-38
h) When morning dawned they saw a
beach and attempted to sail upon
it, but they ran the vessel
aground, and as it began to break
up, the soldiers intended to kill
the prisoners lest they should
escape, but the centurion, wishing
to save Paul, intervened and all
escaped to the land--called the
island of Malta 27:39--8:1
7) When they arrived on the island of
Malta, Paul was vindicated through not
being harmed by a snake bite, and the
natives were cured of their illnesses as
they came to Paul, causing them to send
the party off to Rome with all that they
needed 28:2-10
a) When they arrived on the island of
Malta, the natives (barbaroi)
welcomed them all and kindled a
fire to keep them warm from the
rain and cold 28:2
b) As Paul was gathering a bundle of
sticks, a viper bit him, and the
natives identified this as justice
from the gods upon him 28:3-4
c) When Paul did had no harm from the
viper, the natives changed their
minds and called him a god (Paul is
vindicated) 28:5
d) The party also stayed with a chief
man of the island named Publius,
and Paul healed his ill father,
causing the people to come for
healing, and to send them off to
sail for Rome will all that they
needed 28:7-10
8) The party set sail for Italy, were met
by brethren along the way, and by
brethren from the district of Rome when
they arrived causing Paul to give thanks
to God and to be encouraged 28:11-15
a) After three months they set sail
for Italy on an Alexandrian ship
with the twin Greek navigation
gods, Castor and Pollux, as their
figurehead 28:11
b) They put in at Syracuse (on the
south-east of Sicily) for three
days, and then arrived at Rhegium
(on the toe of Italy), then they
came to Puteoli (in the Bay of
Naples) where brethren were found
with whom they stayed for seven
days, then they came to Rome 28:12-
14
c) The brethren at Rome came from as
far away as the Forum of Appius
(the Appian Way, 43 miles from
Rome) and Three Taverns (33 miles
south of Rome) causing Paul to
given thanks and to be greatly
encouraged that God's word had come
to pass 28:15
2. Paul declares his Gospel to be for all peoples
even though the Jews reject it: The hardness of
Israel toward's the mission is demonstrated again
through those in Rome, but Paul continues to
proclaim the message to all peoples 28:16-31
a. Setting: In Rome Paul was allowed to stay by
himself under the protection of a Roman
guard, and so after three days, he called
together the leaders of the local Jews 28:16-
17a
1) In Rome Paul was allowed to stay by
himself with a soldier that guarded him
28:16
2) After three days, Paul calls together
the local leaders of the Jews 28:17a
b. When Paul met with the local Jews (two times)
he first proclaimed that he was not anti-
Jewish, but in prison for the hope of Israel,
then he proclaimed Jesus as the hope of
Israel, and told those who rejected his
message that they were falling into the
national pattern of disbelief, thus the
message would go to the Gentiles who would
listen 28:17b-28
1) Paul explains to the local Jews that he
is not a prisoner because he is against
the Jews, but because he proclaims the
hope of Israel 28:17b-20
a) Paul explains to the Jews that even
though he had done nothing against
the people of the customs of the
Jews, he was a prisoner in Rome to
see Caesar because the Jews in
Jerusalem falsely plotted against
him 28:17b-19
b) Paul proclaims to these Jews that
he is a prisoner because of the
hope of Israel 28:20
2) The local Jews proclaim that they have
not heard any word about Paul from
Jerusalem, but that they do desire to
hear more about the "sect" of Judaism
know as the Way which is being spoken
against everywhere 28:21-22
3) On an appointed day Paul proclaimed from
Morning until evening to the many Jews
who came to him about the "hope of
Israel" (the kingdom, Jesus from the Law
and Prophets) 28:23
4) The Jews were divided over Paul's
testimony: some were convinced, and some
disbelieved 28:24
5) Before the Jews departed Paul proclaimed
to those who disbelieved (from Isaiah
6:9-10) that they were falling into the
national pattern of not believing and
thus becoming hard hearted 28:25-27
6) Paul also proclaims that in light of
Israel's hard heartedness, the message
is going to the Gentiles because they
will listen (as was proven in chapter
27) 28:28
7) Note well: Verse 29 is not in the best
manuscripts
c. Summary Statement: Paul lived in Rome for
two whole years welcoming all who came to him
and preaching the hope of Israel (the kingdom
of God, and Jesus as Messiah) openly and
unhindered 28:30-31
___________________________
1 Everett Ferguson writes, "Macedonian woman had greater
independence and importance in public affairs. This coincides
with the greater prominence that women held in the Macedonian
churches (notice esp. the women associated with the Philippian
church*Acts 16:14-15; Phil 4:2-3). Under the influence of the
Macedonian princesses women came to have greater freedom in the
Hellenistic Age" (Backgrounds of Early Christianity, 71).
