Paul Part 5

Today we will see the conclusion of the first missionary journey. Let’s jump into Acts 14.

 Acts 14

1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.4 But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.

My first thought when I read verse 12 was “Seriously?! Come on guys, get with it!” But then I realized that some day, if someone were to write a honest biography of my life, readers could probably say that pretty often about me. It’s easy to jump to a judgement on these guys in Iconium, particularly because they’re so far removed from the here and now. We need – I need – to remember that they were real people with real doubts and real fears and real pasts. Once I put myself in that mindset, I can see how they jumped to that conclusion based on their culture and society. Even the priest of Zeus was on board with it.

But Paul and Barnabas said NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! They tore their clothes! They tried to convince the people of their errors! Can you picture it? They are rejoicing and celebrating a healing and wanting to offer sacrifices, and the very fellow who healed comes running in opposing what they’re doing! It must have seemed crazy to them. They didn’t understand Paul’s purpose, only that he had healed. They didn’t understand the God alone gave that power. They didn’t understand, and they stoned Paul.

I guess they didn’t stone him well enough, because he got up sometime later and went about his business. Many believed, and elders were appointed, and they came back around to Antioch, where they began. They reported what God had done and then spent time with the disciples.

Paul is one tough cookie. It seems he’s being thrown out of cities left and right, and now he’s actually stoned? Tribulations indeed! I would be so discouraged at this point, I would probably just go home. But Paul and Barnabas press on and many believe as a result.

Friends, what is discouraging you today? What is coming between you and what God has for you? Press on. Persevere through. Lean on the Lord, and He can do great things through your time of tribulation!

Paul Part 4

Last week, we saw Paul and Barnabas embark on a missionary journey. They started off with quite a bang! Let’s see where this adventure goes next.

Acts 13:13-52
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.’
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,
“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’”
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

This is the first time we see Paul teaching. We’ve been told that he taught but here we actually get to see what he said. It’s kind of fantastic that they’re invited to speak at the synagogue. He recaps Israelite history then stresses the fact that all of that was pointing to Jesus. Paul gives them Scripture – remember, Paul knew the Law and the Prophets well – and many believed and invited them back. But when the crowd grew the following week, the Jews were jealous. So Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly, saying they would preach to the Gentiles because God called them to be a light to them. The Gentiles were honored and believed!

This made the Jewish leaders more upset – it sure does seem that Jewish leaders get upset often – and incited men and women of the city. Paul and Barnabas were expelled but they shook the dirt off their feet and went along their way.

I love the way this chapter ends. “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Persecuted? Yeah. Expelled? Sure. Joyful? Definitely.

Go, be joyful and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and shake the dirt off your feet when needed.

Paul Part 3

Acts 12:25-13:12
²⁵ When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
¹ Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?¹¹ Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Chapter 12 deals with Peter’s escape from prison and Herod’s death and the very last verse says “When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission…” I had to pause for a moment and remember what the mission was, exactly. If you check out Part 2, you’ll see that in chapter 11 some prophets, including a prophet named Agabus, from Jerusalem visited Antioch where Barnabas and Paul were preaching. Agabus prophesied about a famine and the disciples gave what they were able to give to Paul and Barnabas to take to the brothers and sisters in Judea. So they’ve just returned from this trip and they gather with some other prophets and teachers. While they are fasting and worshiping, the Holy Spirit tells them to set Barnabas and Saul apart for the Lord’s work. They all fasted, prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them out. This is the beginning of Paul’s first missionary trip. We’re going to start getting to the good stuff now!

They go out and proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues! I have a hard time remembering that the Jews are God’s people and us Gentiles are grafted in. They are the sons and daughters, we are the adopted sons and daughters. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jews first because Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.

Along the way, they met a false prophet who served a proconsul or governor. This proconsul wanted to hear the word of God but a sorcerer tried to “turn the proconsul from the faith.” Saul looks straight at this guy, “filled with the Holy Spirit” and calls him a child of the devil! He condemns him to blindness and immediately the guy’s blind. This convinces the proconsul and he becomes a believer!

What a way to start off a missionary trip! Sure, they were met by sorcerers and false prophets and such but a proconsul believed and “was amazed at the teaching about the Lord”!! That’s one heck of a kick off.

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. Paul was absolutely wretched before Christ and absolutely legendary afterwards. He’s teaching anyone and everyone who will listen about Jesus and people are coming to believe in Jesus in droves. He’s going around bringing supplies to brothers and sisters in Judea. He’s meeting with others in the faith, fasting, praying, worshiping. He’s preaching in the synagogues and to people in authority. He’s spotting deceit and trickery and calling it out for what it is. He’s pointing others back to Christ. All from the man who was known for his fierce persecution of the church!

Friends, is there anything holding you back from doing what God is calling you to? Is it your past? Paul stoned Christians and became a great missionary. Is it your insecurities? Paul was likely avoided by Christians for a quite some time before they trusted him yet here he is, being filled with the Holy Spirit. Is it your pride? Paul thought he was absolutely right and that he was doing good yet when shown his error, turned and began to let God make it right. What’s holding you back? Whatever it is, it’s not too much for God.

We’ll look more into Paul’s first missionary journey next week. In the mean time, I encourage you to read through Acts like a novel. Sometimes it’s good to take it verse by verse and break down the meaning and the context. Sometimes, though, it’s good to get an aerial view and just read the story.

Paul Part 2

The first time we see Paul – he’s still Saul at this point – he is at the stoning of Stephen. It seems to be a unimportant detail wedged into the end of Acts 7.

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Then we flip the page and read the very first sentence of chapter 8.

¹ And Saul approved of their killing him.

It goes on to say that persecution broke out and everyone was scattered except the apostles. Saul began to destroy the church.

Anybody else feel their heart breaking a little? Paul is this big hero of the missionary world. He spent most of his life sharing the gospel and writing the New Testament. I don’t know about you, but I think of Paul as a faith giant. But he’s not. Saul was a sinner. Saul tried to destroy the church.

By the way, I highly encourage you to go read the rest of Acts 8. It’s awesome, particularly verse 4. 

The next time we see him, Acts 9, he becomes a Christ follower and starts preaching! Now this is the guy that comes to mind when I think of Paul! Then we get to Acts 11 and we get to see some of the work he does alongside Barnabas.

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

²² News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.²⁴ He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

²⁷ During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.²⁸ One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) ²⁹ The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. ³⁰ This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Saul, a wretched sinner who approved of the stoning of Stephen, worked with Barnabas in Antioch teaching them. This is when the term “Christian” came about. I love how God took something terrible – stoning and persecution – and turned it into something fantastic – growth of the church! The Christ followers scattered because of fear of death but instead of hiding or cowering, they used it as an opportunity to spread the word among the Jews and Greeks. 

I like the story of Saul so much because of the simple fact that he was absolutely wretched before he found Jesus and absolutely legendary afterwards. Friends, Jesus died for you. Not in spite of your past but because of it. Because of your sinfulness, you CANNOT stand before God and be called blameless. You will stand before Him one day. Will He call you righteous in that moment?

The only way to be counted as righteous before God is place your faith in Jesus Christ. That He died on the cross, paying for your sins. That He rose from the grave, conquering death. When you do that, when you trust Jesus, you are washed white as snow.

Friends, don’t let another day go by without trusting in Christ alone. Nothing stands in your way. No matter your circumstances, Jesus is waiting for you.

Saul to Paul

This week, we’re jumping into the New Testament for Missionary Monday to talk about the man who murderously threatened the Lord’s disciples, Saul, and how he became Paul, God’s chosen instrument. Let’s start off by reading Acts 9:1-31

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

First let me say, way to go, Ananias. That took some incredible faith to go to Saul knowing his purpose there was to arrest anyone who believed Jesus was the Messiah. Once there, he spoke boldly to Saul and called him brother! I am just thoroughly impressed with Ananias.

Second, I love that Saul went immediately to the synagogues. He thought the Way was disrupting the Old Testament system, but now that he understands that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament, he wants as many people to hear about it as possible! He baffled the Jews by proving Jesus is the Messiah. Saul PROVED that Jesus is the Messiah! To prove means, “to cause a person to unite with one in a conclusion or come to the same opinion, to prove, demonstrate,” according to the Blue Letter Bible. Saul caused, or tried to cause, others to unite in the idea that Jesus is the Messiah! I am again blown away by the awesomeness. I hope that when I talk about Jesus, when I act as a missionary, I cause others to unite in the conclusion that Jesus is the Messiah. Rather, I hope that God unites others through me. Saul needed a divine revelation from God to do that!

Saul is such a beautiful picture of what Christ can redeem. This guy was going out of his way to persecute the Church. So much so that others heard of him, and he struck fear into believers. But God used him anyway! God didn’t say, “You’ve been persecuting me, Saul, I will strike you dead here and now!” Nor did He say, “You’ve done too much wrong; I cannot use you.” NO! God said, “Stop persecuting me. I have a plan and a purpose for your life!” What a mighty God we serve to take a man who murderously threatened His people and turn him into a great spokesman.

Because he was causing such a stir, the Jews conspired to kill him, but he escaped by cover of night. And the disciples were afraid he was working undercover, but Barnabas vouched for him and told of his actions in Damascus. Next the Hellenistic Jews tried to kill him when he tried to debate with them, but the believers sent him to Tarsus. Then “the church …enjoyed a time of peace.”

And they all lived happily ever after! What a nice way to wrap up this little story. We later see Saul comes to be called Paul in Acts 13, but it seems a little uncertain when exactly his name changed. I can’t wait to dig deeper next week into more of Paul’s life with you! 

P.S. It was brought to my attention that missionaries could be defined as those who share the good news about Jesus and therefore only in the New Testament. Old Testament folks that share the good news about God would be considered prophets, which works for some like Isaiah but not so well for Esther. What do you think? Should anyone who tells the good news about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit be considered a missionary? Should there be two categories of missionaries, those who tell that Jesus is to come (Isaiah), and those who tell of how He already came (Peter)? Should we leave out Old Testament folks entirely and focus on New Testament? Am I getting wrapped up in semantics, or is it important to distinguish between various purposes and time frames? 
What do you think? Comment below to help me out, please!