The God Who Saves Sings Songs of His Victorious Love Through You

Salvation Belongs to God

(Acts 23:12-35, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 30, 2013)

[12] When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. [13] There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. [14] They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. [15] Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

Paul needed to be saved from danger. He had already found salvation in Jesus Christ from the worst danger that anyone can face. The eternal wrath of God had been averted through the salvation that came to Him through Jesus Christ. He now needed the lesser salvation of being kept safely from his many enemies so that he could eventually testify to the truth of Christ in Rome. Could Jesus be counted on for that salvation too?

[16] Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. [17] Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” [18] So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” [19] The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” [20] And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. [21] But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” [22] So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

The number of people that were against Paul seemed overwhelming. How could they be stopped? The Lord Almighty made Paul's young nephew hear the truth, and through this one young man, Paul's life was saved. The salvation that was impossible for man to accomplish was not hard at all for God.

[23] Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. [24] Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” [25] And he wrote a letter to this effect:
[26] “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. [27] This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. [28] And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. [29] I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. [30] And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”Not only is God powerful to save, He is very able to work through powerful people to accomplish His purposes. A secret plot was exposed and right order was established. The supremacy of Christ over all was expressed wonderfully in this one act of deliverance.

[31] So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. [32] And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. [33] When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. [34] On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, [35] he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.Paul had been taken from the hands of a mob who wanted to kill him at once. So far he had been able to testify to that mob of what he had seen and heard that had changed his life forever. He was also able to speak before the ruling religious council of the Jews in Jerusalem under the protection of the Roman Tribune, Claudius Lysius. In that very challenging meeting, Paul had been led to change the topic of discussion away from Jewish ceremonies and away from himself as religious enemy #1 to a topic that was far more important: the eternal purpose of God to bring about a solution to the sin and misery in this world.

Oddly enough, everything was taking place according to schedule, not the schedule of man's strategy, but the schedule of God's glorious sovereignty. What looked like a train wreck was actually the perfect plan of Almighty God, who is very able to appoint praise for the glory of His Name even from infants who shout out “Hosanna in the highest!”

Paul would be taken to governor Felix in Caesarea. He would be able to testify again about the hope of the resurrection, and then would be kept safely for two years. Felix would be replaced by Festus who would try to accommodate the Jews by changing the venue of Paul's case back to Jerusalem, where many Jews were preparing another ambush against Paul. God would deliver him again from that danger as Paul would challenge that proposed change of venue by appealing to Caesar. This is how Jesus worked it out that Paul would get to the capital of the Empire where he would have an opportunity to testify to the facts about Jesus to both Jews and Romans.

The Lord Jesus Christ, who saved Paul from the eternal wrath of God, saved Paul from lesser dangers as well. A large number of enemies who have made a plot to kill a man may not feel like a lesser danger when one first hears of it. We have a tendency to panic. The God who gave His Son for our salvation, will He not graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32) We are more than conquerors through Him.

If we are going to make it through the loneliness of prison, we need to know some songs. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi they were singing songs in the middle of the night. What songs do you have prepared in your hearts for your prison days?

You may not be planning on any prison days. Fair enough, but you are not the God who has all power and authority. Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob was not planning on prison. Many face the experience of being alone. They had not planned on that. Some are not able to achieve the joys that they had imagined would fill their latter years. What songs will you and I be singing if we find ourselves in that kind of prison.

Jesus has already delivered us from the prison-house of sin. He is also able to meet us in the prison of loneliness and despair. Our enemies who are not only outside us, but even inside us, may want us to take up this familiar tune: “Nobody knows the troubles I've seen...” The Lord has a better song for us, a song of the God who saves us. All things are possible with Him. He specializes in making the wrath of His enemies to praise Him.

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 3 – Many foes

Gospel Passage: Mark 10:17-31 – All things are possible with God

Sermon Text: Acts 23:12-35 – A foiled plot of the Jews will lead Paul to governor Felix in Caesarea

Sermon Point: Many foes can easily be defeated by the one God of our salvation.

What is the Christian hope? Does believing it make a difference?

The Hope

(Acts 23:1-11, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 23, 2013)

[23:1] And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” [2] And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. [3] Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” [4] Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” [5] And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”Paul was a Jew. He could not be called a non-practicing Jew. He had been brought up in the ways of Pharisaic Judaism and had devoted himself to a consistent life in accord with what he understood about God, God's Word, and God's will. That was why he was able to say before the Jewish ruling council in Jerusalem that he had lived his life before God “... in all good conscience up to this day.”

He had been brought before this religious Supreme Court of his day because one of the Roman military officials, the tribune, was trying to understand “the real story” about Paul and those who wanted to kill him. The tribune was unable to examine Paul with torture because Paul was a Roman citizen and had certain rights. He had arranged this other examination in the hope that the religious rulers might uncover the truth about this man who might be a threat to public order.

Almost immediately, the hopelessness of the meeting was evident. The chief priest was very willing to order that Paul be physically abused without cause, the very thing the tribune knew could not be done to this Roman citizen. The interchange that followed might have escalated into a brawl had Paul not given a gentle answer to turn away wrath. As far as was possible, as much as it depended upon him, Paul was attempting to live at peace with all men. This is what he advised others to do and it was how he lived himself. (Romans 12:18)

Peaceful living required submission to lawful authority. As bold as Paul was and as dedicated as he was to following the Lord, Paul was a great example of a Christian leader who was submissive to the governors that God had placed in their various civi1 and religious roles. Even after recognizing Jesus as the Head over His church, Paul still saw the Jewish High Priest as a man worthy of honor according to Exodus 22:28, “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”

[6] Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” [7] And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. [8] For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. [9] Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” [10] And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.The controversy regarding Paul had the potential to distract everyone from those truths that matter the most. Enemies of Paul's mission to the Gentiles had formed a coalition that was dedicated first and foremost to the ceremonies of Judaism as a way of life. When they tried to expand that coalition to gather more people who would stand against their enemy, they felt the limitations of their alliance. Not all of those even on the ruling council agreed on what it meant to be a good Jew. To hold that broader coalition together against Paul the issue had to be redefined. Paul's views brought trouble wherever they were promoted. He could possibly be presented to the entire group as the problem. As long as Paul himself was the issue, and not Jesus or the right understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Apostle could be labeled as a troubler with very little evidence. For those among the Gentile rulers who also wanted to avoid trouble there might be an growing consensus to get rid of Paul.

Paul needed to redefine the issue before them. He was not the issue. Hope was the issue. Paul spoke and wrote very much about the topic of hope. Do you know what the Christian hope is? Our hope is in the coming fullness of the resurrection age. The resurrection of the Messiah was the beginning of a much larger age of resurrection. Prophets like Daniel and Ezekiel wrote very clearly about that larger hope, so that we can certainly say that the hope of the church is the same as the hope of those who were rightly reading the Hebrew Bible.

But not everyone believed the prophets. Paul knew this. By turning the discussion away from himself, Paul was able to break up the coalition that stood against him, and turn the interrogation toward those matters that might be most profitable to those who were listening. Paul understood the fault lines in first century Judaism between Pharisee and Sadducee. He understood that the true use of the biblical word “hope” would create a division that would give him an opportunity to talk to people in such a way that they might consider the biblical evidence for the beginning of the resurrection hope through the resurrection of the Messiah.

[11] The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

This strategy worked in part, though the new division was so fierce that the tribune brought the entire interrogation to an end. Paul knew not only Jewish customs and Jewish debates; he knew the God of the Jews and the Messianic King of the Jews. He had not always known Jesus, but he had met Him in a very dramatic way and continued to by directed by Him. The glorious resurrected Man who had said to him some years ago, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” continued to give direction to His ambassador.

Christ told Paul to be courageous and promised the apostle that he would speak of what he had seen and heard in another city: Rome. These afflictions that Paul would face were painful and difficult, but they could not overturn the purposes of the God who calls the entire earth to worship Him. The coming resurrection age was secure in the death and resurrection of the Son of God. The message of Jesus needed to be spoken of in Rome. Others would be unwilling to receive God's messenger, and one day they would have to answer for their rebellion against the Lord. They would only be able to go so far in their persecution of Paul. Paul would go to Felix. Felix would eventually be replaced by Festus. During the time that Festus was governor the Jews would seek to have Paul brought back to Jerusalem in the hope of killing him. Paul would then appeal to Caesar, and that would be the way that Paul would get to Rome.

We need to believe in Paul's hope. It was for that hope, the hope of Israel, that Jesus died.

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 96 – Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!

Gospel Passage: Mark 10:13-16 – “Let the little children come to Me!”

Sermon Text: Acts 23:1-11 – Paul before the religious rulers in Jerusalem, a controversy over the resurrection of the dead, and a message from the Lord

Sermon Point: In the midst of religious contention, take courage from God, and remember the hope of the resurrection.

The Lord Roars From His Heavenly Zion

A Citizen By Birth

(Acts 22:23-30, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 16, 2013)

[23] And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, [24] the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.

Whether or not it is our goal to serve the Lord we may face troubles that seem to be more than we can handle. The Apostle Paul was one of the Lord's most faithful and fruitful servants, yet his own countrymen whom he loved wanted to kill him.

Who were these angry people who were shouting and flinging dust in the air? They were a religious mob that had been riled up by Jews who were from the province of Asia. If they understood why they were there at all, they thought that Paul, his message, and his cordial relationships with Gentiles were a threat to their way of life.

The tribune, a Roman military official, was confused by what was going on. There was nothing in Paul's demeanor to him or to the crowd that suggested that this man was a danger to society. What was it that had enraged the crowd? Paul must have some secret evil, known to the crowd and to Paul, but unknown to the tribune. He knew how he could get the answer. He would torture him until Paul told the truth. That would reveal the mystery.

[25] But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” [26] When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” [27] So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” [28] The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” [29] So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

We know the real answer to the mystery. Paul was an ambassador for Jesus Christ, the exalted King over heaven and earth. But this solution sounds like a fairy tale. When Jesus opened up the door of heaven to His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration the mystery was revealed. Jesus is the answer to what was happening to Paul in Jerusalem a quarter of a century later. Paul had seen the glorious Jesus just as the other apostles had earlier. He was changed by the One he saw. His mission and his passion were informed now by the glory of the beloved Son of God.

As Paul was about to face interrogation he added more mystery to the tribune's life. The violent opposition of the crowd did not match the outward situation. Paul seemed respectful. He spoke as one who seemed rational and measured. Here was an additional perplexing fact: Paul was a Roman citizen by birth yet he had not revealed it until the very last moment. He had rights according to the law of Rome and he could have spoken of these earlier.

Why was Paul bothering with a crowd that hated him? Why was he placing himself in a situation where he could easily lose his life? What was such a reasonable, privileged man doing placing himself in such danger? What was it about Paul that was still hidden?

[30] But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

This mystery required a closer examination. The examination could not be by flogging. The tribune would need to assemble the religious leaders in order to hear their charges against Paul. The tribune knew that there must be a “real reason” for their insistence that he deserved to die. What was it?

This Roman official was facing the passion and dedication of a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit who had been claimed by the King of heaven and earth. The floods of a dying world of Pharisaic Judaism had lifted up their voice against him. The floods of hell's minions had filled a religiously zealous crowd with anger and violent confusion. Above all the tumult of that anxious moment was a better Voice of eternal majesty. Above the darkness of Jerusalem was the bright and shining light of the glorious King of the Jews.

Jesus had faced an angry mob in this same city twenty-five years before. With all the fullness of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, Jesus endured the cross for us. Then He rose from the dead as the first citizen of a new resurrection world. From His glorious throne above He called an angry Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, into His service. Now Paul was walking where his Savior had walked before him.

Paul was born as a Roman citizen. Now he was born again as a citizen of a better country. He was an ambassador of that new shining city that Jesus opened the door to on the top of the Mount of Transfiguration. Paul, in his own way, was opening the door to that better city whenever he had the opportunity to preach the gospel.

Paul represented the King of heaven, but he served that great King here below on earth. What was he to do with his earthly advantages. He had many of them, not the least of which was his birth as a Roman citizen. One alternative was to focus on these advantages, to boast in them, and to hope that they might impress people enough that listeners would then give the King of heaven a hearing. Something feels wrong about that. Paul did not choose that method.

A better alternative was to reserve his boasting for the King who died on a cross, but to know that every advantage he had was a gift of God to be used in obedience to God's Beloved Son. We can use every blessing that the Lord sends as a ray of heavenly light when and where the King directs us to shine that light according to His own purposes. When was the right time to use Paul's gift of Roman citizenship? When he was stretched out for interrogation.

Applications:

We need to remind our souls continuously that there is a mighty God who reigns above the floods of this world. Do not be moved more by the voice of hell's flood than by the Voice of heaven's king. If you have too keen an ear for trouble on the earth, you will be knocked off your game and may start boasting in yourself or returning evil for evil.

Today we walk by faith, and not by sight. When will our faith be sight? I cannot say, but I suppose that everyone listening to my voice this morning will certainly meet the King of Glory within the next century. Our King is not on a cross any more. He is far above all rule and authority, far above every Pharisee, every Roman tribune, every mad crowd, every soldier with whips, far above every name that is named. He reigns, and “He gives more grace.” (James 4:6) Keep your eyes on Him, and always be prepared to give a reason for your hope. (1 Peter 3:15)

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 93 – The Lord Reigns

Gospel Passage: Mark 9:2-8 – The Transfiguration

Sermon Text: Acts 22:23-30 – Paul is revealed before his captors as a Roman citizen. People are wondering why he is being so vehemently accused by the Jews.

Sermon Point: Our citizenship, and every other advantage that we possess, serves the purpose of our service to the Lord.

What have you seen? What have you heard? Are you a witness?

You Will Be a Witness for Him

(Acts 22:1-22, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 9, 2013)

[22:1] “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” [2] And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet.

How did Paul get in this situation? As he stood at the top of the stairs, rather than rush in away from a violent crowd, he begged to address the crowd that had just been beating him up. He knew his calling from God. Paul's passion was to fulfill his mission from Christ.

And he said: [3] “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. [4] I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, [5] as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.What was Paul's passion prior to his “Damascus Road” experience? He was once passionate about Pharisaic Judaism. That was his heritage. Paul's status regarding locale was complex. He was a citizen of Rome and a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, but he was raised in Jerusalem. He became a follower of a Pharisaic teacher named Gamaliel who was quoted earlier in Acts.

Paul was passionate about the law and the customs of Judaism, and he wanted to see all Jews follow those teachings. He believed that Christianity, “this Way,” was more than flawed. It had to be stopped. In his zeal against Jesus and the church he had the support of the high priest and whole council of elders who also wanted to see Jews who believed in Jesus punished. But something happened to Paul when he was on the road to Damascus that changed his passion.

[6] “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. [7] And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ [8] And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ [9] Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. [10] And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ [11] And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.What happened to Paul on the road? There was a great light from heaven shining around him. That light was from a Being who questioned Paul. He identified Himself as Jesus of Nazareth. Paul had been persecuting Jewish followers of Jesus, but Jesus told Paul that such harassment of His people was direct persecution of Him.

Those who were with Paul had a change in their immediate duties. The man they were serving was now blind. His companions led him by the hand. In the twinkling of an eye, this proud Pharisee was brought so low that he could not have walked into the city without someone helping him along. Paul had met God, and now he would meet one of the Jewish believers in Jesus, Ananias, whom he would have previously arrested. This Ananias would serve him as a brother.

[12] “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, [13] came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. [14] And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; [15] for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. [16] And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’What happened to Paul in Damascus through the ministry of Ananias? Ananias was a devout and good man according to the Jews in Damascus. He served Paul by speaking words of healing to him from God. Through this ministry, Paul was able to see again. Ananias also spoke a word of clarity for Paul's soul. Paul would be a witness for Jesus. In the beginning of Acts the remaining eleven disciples wondered who the replacement for Judas would be. They did their best to follow the Lord's directives and set apart a man to join them in their apostolic ministry. Now God led Ananias to the apostle who we have followed for many chapters through this book of Acts.

Paul would know the will of God. He had seen the glorious Jesus. He had heard a voice from the mouth of the Son of God. This would not be only for his private reflection. He was being sent as a witness for Jesus of what he had seen and heard. Other apostles had heard and seen Jesus in prior years. Paul saw Him as a glorious heavenly King who calls and redirects people.

[17] “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance [18] and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ [19] And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. [20] And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ [21] And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”What was the message that Paul received upon returning to the temple? When Paul returned to Jerusalem, he saw Jesus saying to him that the Jews there would not accept his testimony about the Lord. He had been one of their own. He had shared their passion to rid the earth of men like Stephen. But Jesus told him what He had earlier revealed to Ananias. “He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) Now Paul heard of His own calling with his own ears, “I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”

[22] Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”

What was the reaction of the crowd to Paul's account of Jesus sending him far away to the Gentiles? This claim was more than the zealous crowd could stand. They could not accept that the God of the Jews would send one of their own off to the Gentiles. They did not merely oppose Paul's testimony. They believed that he should not be allowed to live.

What does this passage teach us regarding religious contention? Though Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth and though he can change a man like Paul and send him forth as His ambassador, this does not mean that the mission will be without contention. In the remaining passages in this book we will learn many lessons on that topic. For now we can be content with this one point: Clarity of calling makes a big difference in the face of violent religious contention. Are you clear about your calling? Your life is not an accident. God had a purpose in making you who you are and in calling you to Himself. What have you seen and heard? Are you willing to live as a witness of what you have seen and heard?

Old Testament Passage: Deuteronomy 30:1-6 – Return to the Lord your God

Gospel Passage: Mark 7:5-8 – This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me

Sermon Point: Paul's appointed calling was to take the good news of a Jewish Messiah to the non-Jewish world. What is our appointed calling?

Are all religions crazy and dangerous?

What seems to be the problem, officer?

(Acts 21:27-40, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 2, 2013)

[27] When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, [28] crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” [29] For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

Paul was the problem. At least that is what some people thought. They had seen him back home in what was called “Asia” (Turkey), and considered him to be a troublemaker, someone who stirred up people in the synagogues. Now they had traveled to Jerusalem to be around their own people for some holy days that were a part of their religion. And there he was. They had heard from others that this divisive man was in Jerusalem. Something had to be done with him.

What were they thinking when they grabbed Paul? “Of all places where he should not be, this Paul was in the holiest place on the face of the earth, the temple in Jerusalem. He was the one who was telling non-Jews that they did not need to be Jews in order to know the love of God and to worship and serve Him. He was always teaching against Jews and against the temple. Now here he was, right in the temple, pretending to be a faithful Jew. What a hypocrite!”

This was not the plan of the church leaders when they urged Paul to go to the temple to do something Jewish. They had hoped that Paul's simple participation in Jewish rituals would help people see that Paul himself lived as a Jew, and that his enemies were spreading lies about him. Instead, his presence in the temple led to violence and confusion rather than honest clarity.

[30] Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. [31] And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

It may be hard for us to imagine this kind of disturbance since we do not live in a place where the citizens are passionate about religious rituals. People here are free to practice whatever faith they wish or none at all. We cannot imagine anyone seizing a man and dragging him out of a church when all he was doing was quietly participating in a worship service.

We do have religious people in our town, and we do have those who are devoted to the Lord who gather together in various places for worship. But none of them would do what these people did to Paul. Not all religious people are violent against those who disagree with them. The most offensive thing that might happen to a non-Christian visiting here today is that too many people might greet him and someone might ask him if he would like to sign the guest book.

Yet those who reject religion might be tempted to think that all religious people are the same. We have to disagree. What makes some religious people want to kill, and other religious people hope that the new person signed the guest book? Whatever the answer to that question might be, it was very clear that day in Jerusalem that Paul was attacked by those who wanted to kill. This was not the case only in the temple. All Jerusalem was stirred. So much so that news of the commotion reached the soldiers who were in charge of preserving the peace.

[32] He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. [33] Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. [34] Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. [35] And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, [36] for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”

The person in charge of the Roman military presence there, the tribune of the cohort, took some soldiers and ran to the place where a crowd of people were beating up Paul. Again, what is it that leads some people to religious violence. I am not aware of anyone in our region who would do this. In Jerusalem around the year 57 or so, about 25 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there was a sizable group of people in the city that hated this temple worshiper so much that they grabbed him, dragged him out of the temple, gathered a crowd, and started beating him up. Even after the soldiers broke it up, the mob was still yelling, “Away with him!”

[37] As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? [38] Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” [39] Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” [40] And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

This crowd was not only violent. It was also confused. We may not have any religious violence in our place and time, but we do have plenty of confusion. In Acts 21, Jews were confused because they had believed lies about Paul's message. They were not the only ones confused.

In one of the funniest moments in the New Testament we read the words of the tribune, surprised that Paul is able to speak Greek. “Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” His information is off a bit. He does not know it yet, but this bruised man is a very educated Jewish citizen of Rome who has given his life to teaching the only religious good news that has ever been spoken.

He has good news from the Lord, the God of heaven and earth–good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He brings a message that includes some important facts that are of first importance, “... that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

This was Paul's passion, and it led him from being a fallible man of violence and confusion to being a fallible man of clarity and sacrificial love. Though he knew very well that he was imperfect, he had come to believe in the one Man who was perfect who died at the hands of an angry and confused mob for our sake, and then rose from the dead. This gospel that Paul preached would soon not need Paul any more. No amount of hatred or confusion could stop it. Paul is a messenger of God's everlasting purposes. This God, who is our dwelling place, will not be stopped. He sent His Son to bring good news.

You cannot afford to hate the gospel of God. You cannot be content with confusion about Jesus, the Bible, and heaven. Do not be carried away by a mob that will not beat up anyone, but will be complacent about matters of first importance. Find out the real story that makes us not want to murder people that are different from us, but to have them sign our guest book.

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 90:1-2 – Lord, you have been our dwelling place... from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Gospel Passage: Mark 1:1-15 – The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Sermon Point: God's purposes will not be stopped by man's confusion and violence.