Revelation 12:11a They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony
Testimony = a spoken or written statement that something is true
Life is filled with ups and downs, mountains and valleys, failures and victories, laughter, and tears, and all of these experiences and emotions have a story that goes along with them. As we go through these aspects of life, the key for all of us to understand is that God means for us to share these things via testimonies to help others who feel they cannot make it.
Throughout the Bible, there are examples of this being done, and in this blog, I am going to share two of them. The first found in John 4 shares the story of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at Jacob’s well while his disciples went into the village of Sychar to purchase him something to eat. Unlike the women in her town who came to get water in the morning, this nameless woman came to the well around noon. It is believed her questionable reputation caused her to be scorned by the women in her village, so she was there alone.
Being thirsty, Jesus asked her to get him some water to drink. This, however, surprised the woman because Jewish men usually did not speak to Samaritan women, and drinking from her utensil would deem him ceremonially unclean. From that point on, Jesus revealed He was the awaited Messiah the Samaritans were expecting, the Living Water she needed, and also revealed he knew her marital status. This encounter was so impactful the woman left Jesus and her waterpot, went into the village, and said to the men, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
In response to the woman’s testimony, the men came and met Jesus for themselves. After spending two days with Jesus and at His departure from them, they confessed, “We have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the savior of the world.”
My second example is the man who was for a long time possessed with a legion of demons encounter with Jesus in the country of the Gadarenes. This naked man was tormented, had unusual strength to break chains off of himself, and lived in the burial grounds of the dead. After fearlessly speaking with this man, Jesus, in His authority, cast the demons out of the man. The unclean spirits that were in him entered into a nearby herd of swine and caused them to run into the lake and drown.
When the townspeople heard what had happened and saw the newly delivered man sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, fear overtook them, and they asked Jesus to leave the area. As Jesus was departing, the man asked Jesus’ permission to accompany him, but Jesus told him, “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.” Happily, and being a living example of the power of Jesus to deliver the man went and testified throughout Decapolis his life-changing experience with Jesus.
In the first example, I shared the woman’s testimony was about being freed and saved from her notorious past. In the second example, the man’s testimony was about being delivered and restored emotionally, mentally, and physically. Both of these testimonies have lived on and are still inspiring lives, and as they did then, your testimony to a troubled world can do the same now.
The Word of God given to Paul by an angel came true as all of the two hundred seventy-five men that were in the Alexandrian wheat ship with him were saved after their shipwreck. As some men swam while others held onto a broken piece of the ship, they all made it safely to the shore of Melita.
The people of Melita were hospitable and built a fire for the men to warm themselves from the rain and cold. Helping Paul had gathered sticks and was laying them on the fire when a poisonous snake fastened itself on his hand. Seeing what had happened, the Melitians assumed Paul was guilty of a crime and was being punished. However, when Paul shook the serpent into the fire and continued to live, the people thought that Paul was a god.
Subsequently, Publius, the chief man on Melita, provided lodging for them for three days. During that time, Paul laid hands and healed Publius’ father, who was severely ill. This caused others on the island to come to Paul and receive their healing, and in turn, they brought gifts to him. After their three-month stay on Melita, they were given provisions for the remainder of their journey on another Alexandrian ship.
The ship sailed from Melita to Syracuse, to Rhegium, and to Puteoli, where they found some believers. Then, as they traveled by road to Rome, encouraging believers who had heard of Paul met him along the way at the Forum of Appius and The Three Taverns.
While the other prisoners were handed to the captain of the guard in Rome, Paul was able to live in a home under the custody of a soldier. Within three days, Paul gathered the leaders of the Jews who were unaware of his contention with the Palestinian Jews and explained why he was imprisoned in Rome. Interested in hearing more about Paul’s mission to the Gentile, they made an appointment and gathered again at Paul’s residence. At that time Paul expounded the Kingdom of God and the gospel message of Jesus in his usual manner from morning to evening. After much debate, with some believing while others did not, Paul sent them off with the words of Isaiah 6:9-10, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Additionally, he informed them salvation was also available to the Gentiles, and they, unlike the Jews, would receive it,
The last two verses in the book of Acts describe Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
I pray that you have read the other twenty- eight blogs on this Acts series. Also, I hope it has enlightened you on the early Christian church, its struggles, and the move of the Holy Spirit as God used men to carry the Gospel first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. As I conclude this Acts series, here are the nuggets I gained from this chapter:
Those who have a servant’s heart will continue to serve no matter the location.
Perils are not limited to one location; they can be experienced on the sea and the land.
When the heat is turned up, snakes will be revealed.
The enemy is relentless in his attempt to destroy you.
Shake off the venomous beast.
God will take care of you.
No weapon attempting to form against you will prosper.
People are watching to see what will befall you.
Circumstances can change assumptions.
Ministry gifts are to serve everyone.
The favor that is extended to you can also bless others.
Heal the sick.
Be grateful for the kindness that is shown to you.
Everyone needs encouragement.
Time is valuable; use it wisely.
Epilogue: While in Rome, Paul wrote Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Subsequently, commentators report that due to the lack of accusers in Rome, Paul was released after his two-year imprisonment and resumed his missionary journey. Years later, Paul was arrested, and this time, he was found guilty and beheaded in Rome.
King Agrippa and those gathered with him to hear Paul’s defense about the charges placed against him by the Jews agreed that Paul was innocent and would have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar. So, Acts 27 opens with Luke and Aristarchus, the Macedonian of Thessalonica, accompanying Paul and other prisoners who were placed under the guard of Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band, as they sailed to Italy.
At Sidon, the first port to which they stopped on their way to Italy, Paul was permitted to visit his friends. Next, they continued sailing under Cyprus and over the seas of Cilicia and Pamphylia to the port of Myra. There, they boarded an Alexandrian wheat ship sailing into Italy; however, due to the winds, sailing was slow. Eventually, the ship sailed by Crete and made it to the Fair Havens near Lasea. After staying there for several days and the approaching winter weather, the captain decided to continue sailing. Sensing the danger of sailing, Paul spoke to those in charge and suggested the ship remain in Fair Haven. Unfortunately, Julius listened to the captain and the owner of the vessel, who felt that sailing to Phenice and spending the winter there would be more favorable than staying in Fair Haven.
With the soft south wind blowing, the ship took off sailing close by Crete, but then a tempestuous wind called Euroclydon started, and the waters became turbulent. Attempting to secure the ship, they used the minimum sail, undergirded the hull with ropes, and discarded unnecessary cargo into the sea. With no end in sight, days of neither sun nor stars appearing, and maritime skills unsuccessful, the occupants of the ship felt hopeless.
Finally, letting them know they should have listened to him, Paul shared this word of encouragement, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.”
It was the fourteenth day, and things were not improving when some of the ship’s crew tried to leave via a lifeboat, but the centurion and soldiers being warned by Paul of the plans of the crew severed the lines, causing the lifeboat to float away. Later that day, realizing the men had not eaten in many days, Paul encouraged them to eat some meat and gain strength for what was ahead of them. Then Paul took some bread, thanked God, and ate. Seeing what he did lifted the two hundred seventy-five men’s spirits, and they also ate.
The next day, noticing a creek with a shore, they took up the anchors and allowed the ship to run aground, which caused the back of the ship to break into pieces from the violent waves. An officer suggested they kill the prisoners so none could escape, but Julius rejected this idea. As the ship broke into pieces, some on board swam to shore while others grabbed onto broken pieces, and all two hundred seventy-six eventually made it safely to the shore.
I close with these nuggets that I gleaned from this chapter:
With God on your side, you can be a prisoner with privileges.
God will give you favor with the people in charge.
God will cause people who don’t know you to take a liken to you.
Winds can propel you, misdirect you, slow forward movement, and delay progress.
There are forces in your environment that can hinder your progress.
Though the truth is shared, men may not listen.
Failure to listen to wisdom results in turmoil.
Prophetic warnings are often ignored, causing the hearers to suffer consequences for not listening.
Safety is sometimes in unsuitable places.
The majority is not always right.
You can go from peace to turmoil in a short period.
Moving out of season can be hazardous.
Storms reveal a person’s character.
When darkness prevails, men lose their hope.
God speaks in the midst of a storm.
Crisi moves believers to the forefront.
When others are fearful a Word from God will give you peace.
Believers belong to God and were made for His service.
God can keep you and those around you safe.
Your presence will save the lives of those around you.
As you go through life challenges, hold fast to your belief in God.
Crises can take away your appetite.
You must eat for strength and to stay healthy.
Despite your circumstances, give thanks.
Your life is more valuable than material things.
Get rid of things that weigh you down.
Yeilding is necessary when a struggle is fruitless.
There are some things that you cannot fight
Sometimes, you must hold on to broken pieces.
No matter what happens, the spoken Word will come to fruition.
Though others around you may not believe, do not let that hinder you from believing.
Instead of returning to Jerusalem to stand trial with the Jews, Paul opted to take his appeal to Ceasar, so following the standard procedure, Festus was required to specify the charges being brought against Paul in a correspondence sent to Caesar. Hence. Acts 25 ended with Festus requesting King Agrippa’s assistance in finding a charge that he could use in the letter to Caesar.
Chapter twenty-six opens with Paul standing in front of King Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, staff members of Festus, and leading citizens of Caesarea, and the king permits Paul to speak. Knowing the king was knowledgeable of Jewish customs and affairs, Paul was elated to talk to him. First, he shared the fact that, from childhood in Tarsus, he received training, and it continued in Jerusalem, where he lived the life of a Pharisee. He explained he was being judged for his belief in the promise God made to his forefathers, which culminated in the resurrection of Jesus.
Continuing as he did in the past when defending himself, Paul shared his prosecution of the saints, his encounter with Jesus, his conversion on the road to Damascus, and his ministry assignment to the Gentiles. He summarized his mission activity to the Jews and Gentiles as opening their darkened eyes, delivering them from the powers of Satan, preaching their forgiveness of sins, and their placement among the sanctified. Paul said this Godly task was obediently carried on in Damascus, Jerusalem, and all the coasts of Judaea until, in Jerusalem, the Jews caught him in the temple and attempted to kill him. However, with the help of God, Paul revealed that he continued to share with both great and small the message of Jesus’ suffering and resurrection.
At this point, Festus interrupted Paul and proclaimed, “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.” This did not offend Paul, for he answered, “I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.” Then, Paul continued appealing to King Agrippa’s awareness of current events in the Jewish nation. Paul asked the king, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.” Subsequently, the king responded, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Paul ended his defense desiring all that heard him would become believers. ; Thus, the chapter ends with those present conferring amongst themselves and determining Paul was innocent of the charges brought against him and would have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.
As usual with this series, I will close with nuggets I gleaned from the chapter.
Be elated over the opportunity to share your testimony.
Be not ashamed or fearful of sharing your testimony with people of every culture and socio-economic status.
When you are defending yourself, it is good to know your audience.
Your lifestyle is known among the people you reside.
Though they did not wholly understand, Israel’s forefathers were given a promise of a Messiah for which they hoped.
Desiring salvation for all was the objective of Paul’s ministry.
For some, being brought before kings and governors is God’s plan for their life.
No matter what, don’t stop sharing the gospel message of Jesus.
God will cause men to acknowledge your innocence.
After you witness to people, there will be some that are almost persuaded to be a Christian.
In the end, your witnessing serves as judgment to those who rejected the Gospel.
“When at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” This quote is seen in the actions of the high priest and the chief of the Jews, for several times they have attempted to get Paul under their jurisdiction so they might kill him, and chapter twenty-five reveals their latest attempt. Paul has been imprisoned for two years in Caesarea, and his enemies have not forgotten about him. Thus, they try yet another time to get Paul using Festus, the newly appointed governor.
Prior to taking up residence in Caesarea, Festus visited Jerusalem. While there, he met with the high priest and the chief of the Jews, who, desirous to have Paul moved back to Jerusalem, shared falsities with him about Paul. However, Festus refused their request and instructed them to accompany him to Caesarea, where they could legally state their accusations.
The day after they arrived in Caesarea, Festus held a hearing, and the Jews voiced their unsubstantiated complaints. When given an opportunity to speak, Paul said, “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all.” Festus, wanting to gain the goodwill of the Jews, inquired of Paul if he wanted to go back to Jerusalem and stand trial, but Paul stated as a Roman citizen, he rather make his appeal to Caesar. With that being said and after conferring with his council, Festus stated, “Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go,” and thus he continued Paul’s imprisonment.
Several days later, King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice, arrived in Caesarea and met with Festus. Subsequently, thinking the king was probably more knowledgeable in matters of the Jewish faith, Festus shared his encounter with the Jews in Jerusalem. He shared their accusations concerning Paul, the tribunal he held in Caesarea, which was not what he expected but rather a religious dispute on whether Jesus was alive or dead, and finally, Paul’s appeal to Caesar. Upon hearing these details, King Agrippa consented to meet with Paul.
So, the next day, amidst royal trappings, King Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, military officers, and city leaders gathered to hear from Paul. After Paul was brought into the courtroom, Festus opened the inquiry by sharing his history of involvement with Paul. Additionally, he voiced his desire to have the king assist him in formulating a charge against Paul that he could forward to Caesar in Rome, and chapter twenty-five ends with this request.
As I’ve done previously, I close with these nuggets I gleaned from Acts 25:
Your enemies are relentless in their evil activities.
Your enemy continuously plots to kill you.
Beware of people’s possible hidden agenda when you are trying to please them.
Check the validity of people’s complaints.
Resist the pressure to do something with which you are not at ease.
Unfortunately, time does not help murderous hatred to subside.
For your own safety, know your citizen’s rights.
A good magistrate will have a council with whom they can confer.
When God is with you, He can turn things in your favor.
Toward your ultimate destination, there are stops along the way.
Summons to appear before Felix, the Roman governor, to present their case against Paul, Ananias, the high priest, members of the Sanhedrin, and Tertullus, their lawyer, arrived in Caesarea within five days.
Tertullus opened the prosecution, verbally flattering the governor before describing Paul as a profaner of the Temple, which was a capital charge that the Romans would allow the Jews to kill a person for doing this. He labeled Paul as a leader of a sect known as the Nazarenes, a seditionist, and an instigator of treason against the Roman government. Additionally, he voiced that all of this could have been avoided if Claudius Lysias, the chief captain, had not forcefully interfered, and he concluded his case with his companions, concurring with Paul’s indictment.
When Felix gave Paul an opportunity to speak, he proved the charges made against him were not substantiated. He shared that for the short length of time he was in Jerusalem, he would be unable to organize a sedition. Also, in his defense presentation, Paul admitted he believed in the Jewish laws and books of prophecy, he believed in a future resurrection of both the righteous and ungodly, and he had a clear conscience before God and man. Paul ended his defense, revealing that his mission in returning to Jerusalem was to bring financial aid to the needy and to worship God with fellow believers. Thus, when he was in the Temple following protocol and making his sacrificial offerings, he did not instigate a riot. Besides all of this, Paul noted the persons who initially brought the charges against him were not present.
Knowing the actions of Christians, Felix adjourned the proceedings and the verdict until the arrival of Lysias, the garrison commander. Meanwhile, he had Paul detained in prison with visitation privileges and provisions.
The scripture records that a few days later, Paul had the opportunity to share the faith with Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He ministered so effectively on righteousness, self-control, and future judgment that it left Felix fearful, and he sent Paul away to be called back at a later date. Over the next two years, hoping to receive some bribery money from Paul, Felix occasionally met with him, and when Porcius Festus was replacing him, he left Paul in prison to gain favor with the Jews.
Here are the nuggets I have gleaned from this chapter:
When those in authority summon you, you must appear.
Some people use flattery to gain favor with those in charge.
Unfortunately, due to jealousy, those in leadership will sometimes make false accusations about you.
People with ill intent toward you will falsely label you.
Challenging people to prove their lies about you is a must when you are innocent.
God will allow you to find favor in unexpected places.
Acts 23 opens with Paul, a prisoner of Rome, appearing before the Sanhedrin to provide clarification for the Roman chief captain of his offense. First, Paul declared his innocence and righteous lifestyle, which enraged Ananias, the high priest, and he instructed a man to slap Paul’s mouth. Not knowing why this assault occurred, Paul responded, “God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?” Then Paul was told his statement was against the high priest, to which he acknowledged it was not right to speak against a high priest.
Paul recognized that there were two different doctrinal groups present, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, so he framed his defense around this information. Declaring alignment with the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection from the dead, Paul orchestrated a rift between them and the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or eternal spirits.
When the Pharisees voiced their acceptance of Paul’s beliefs, the dissension between these two factions became so chaotic that the chief captain had Paul forcefully escorted back to the castle. The scripture records that night, the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”
On the following day, a group of forty-plus Jews joined together in an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they murdered Paul. However, learning of the planned ambush, Paul’s nephew came to the castle and informed him of it. Paul had his nephew relay this information to the chief captain, who then, at night, under heavily armed guards had Paul escorted to Felix the Governor in Caesarea. Additionally, he sent a letter sharing the events that led to Paul’s arrest, his continuous intervention in keeping Paul a Roman citizen alive, and his conclusion that this was a religious dispute between the Jews and Paul, which was not worthy of death. After reading the letter and finding out Paul was a citizen of Cilicia, which was under his jurisdiction, Felix agreed to a hearing with Paul and his accusers. And so ends Acts 23, but before I stop, here are the nuggets that I gleaned from this chapter:
Witnessing for Jesus can be life-threatening.
Assaulting someone because of their beliefs can lead to repercussions.
If you are innocent, say so.
It is always right to respect leadership.
When people hate you, they will go to the extremes to end your life.
God will cause the evil plots of men to be revealed.
God sends unexpected help when you need it the most.
God will cause men to protect you in dangerous times and situations.
God will cause those in authority to rescue you as needed.
Despite the danger, God’s will for a man’s life will be fulfilled.
When presenting your defense, you must be strategic and know who is present.
God strategically places people around us to assist us when needed.
Acts 21 concluded with Paul getting ready to speak to the mob that attempted to kill him prior to his rescue by the Roman military. Chapter twenty-two begins with Paul having received the approval of the chief captain to speak; thus, he stood on the stairs of the tower of Antonia and presented his defense to the people. Speaking to those gathered in their native Hebrew language, Paul caught their attention and caused them to listen quietly.
Paul began by sharing his lineage, his religious and educational training, and his previous zeal for persecuting the Christians. He shared the events of his conversion on the road to Damascus to capture and bring back Christians to Jerusalem to be punished. However, while traveling, a light from heaven shone on him, causing him to fall to the ground. He heard a distinct voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” to which he responded, “Who art thou, Lord?” Jesus then said, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. ”Those traveling with Paul saw the light, but only he heard the voice.
He revealed that due to temporary blindness from the light, he was led to Damascus by his companions, following the instruction from the Lord. In Damascus, his future was revealed to him by Ananias, a godly, law-abiding, respected Jew who visited him and said, “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Furthermore, at the command of Ananias, Paul received his sight.
When Paul returned to Jerusalem, he had a trance while in the temple praying. In a trance, he was directed by God to leave Jerusalem quickly because of his past persecution, and the Jews would not believe he had been converted nor accept his message. Agreeing with God, Paul acknowledged his cruelty to the Christians and his part in the death of Stephen.
When Paul announced, God said, “Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles,” the listeners became furious, shook off their clothes, threw dust into the air, and yelled for Paul to be killed. This prompted the chief captain to bring Paul into the castle and interrogate him by scourging. However, Paul stopped this from happening by informing the centurion, who related the information to the chief captain, that he was a Roman citizen. After questioning him, the chief captain canceled the scourging.
Acts 22 concludes on the next day with the chief captain unshackling Paul and commanding the Jewish Sanhedrin council to appear before him so that he might seek out Paul’s case.
Here are the nuggets that I gathered from Acts 22:
Sharing your credentials may be necessary to gain people’s attention.
Despite possible harm when able share your testimony.
In your testimony, share the good and the bad.
Thank God for those that can lead you when you are unable to see.
Command the sight of the blind to be restored.
As needed, God will reveal your future to you.
Following God’s instruction can save your life.
Citizenship yields benefits.
Despite knowing the fate that awaited him in Jerusalem, Paul, with resolve, continued on his journey. He sailed to Rhodes, onto Patara, and then to Tyra, where he met with fellow believers during his seven-day port stay. Without success, some of the believers told Paul he should not go to Jerusalem. Still, he would not be stopped, and on his departure, the believers and their families accompanied Paul to the seashore, where they knelt and prayed before returning to their homes.
Sailing on to Ptolemais, Paul briefly met with the brethren before sailing on to Caesarea, where he and his companions visited the home of Philip the evangelist. Additionally, the scripture noted Philip had four virgin daughters who were referred to as “prophetesses.” While there, Agabus, the prophet from Judaea, came and, taking Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it. Then said, “Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” Hearing this, those present attempted to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem. Nevertheless, Paul responded, ‘What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So, the brethren said, “The will of the Lord be done.”
Leaving Caesarea, Paul, his missionary companions, along with some Caesarea disciples accompanied Paul to Jerusalem, where they stayed in the home of Mnason. Paul, who the brethren in Jerusalem cordially received met with James and the elders to share what had occurred among the Gentiles during his third missionary journey.
Though the men gathered and praised God for what He did, they expressed their alarm over a rumor circulating about Paul. It was rumored Paul taught the Gentile converts to forsake the teaching of Moses concerning circumcision and the practices of their forefathers. To help dispel these rumors it was suggested that Paul join and pay the expenses of four men who were taking a temporary Nazarite vow and undergoing a purification rite in the temple. The leaders also affirmed their previous recommendations to the Greeks remained the same.
Complying with the leader’s suggestion on the following day, Paul went to the temple and interacted with the Jews. All went well until the seventh day when some Asian Jews saw Paul in the temple and falsely accused him of bringing a Gentile into the temple and polluting it with his presence. They had previously seen Paul with an Ephesian man in Trophimus, and unfortunately, they thought he had accompanied Paul into the temple. Stirring up the city, the Jews caught Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and closed the doors.
As the city mob was about to kill Paul, hearing what was happening, the chief captain took centurions and soldiers to the place where Paul was being beaten, rescued him, and bound him with chains. The chief captain demanded the mob to tell him what the commotion was all about; however, some cried one thing, and some another. Therefore, the chief captain had Paul taken to the castle while some of the mob still attempted to assault him, and others cried out, “Away with him.”
When Paul requested to speak to the captain, who, before being corrected, mistakenly thought Paul was the Egyptian who had previously led an insurrection with 4,000 men, allowed him to do so. Paul told him, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia which is no small town. I request permission to talk to these people.” Chapter twenty-one ends with Paul, after receiving the captain’s approval, standing on the castle stairs and addressing the quiet crowd in the Hebrew language.
Here are the nuggets I gleaned from Acts 21:
God will send warnings of pending danger via the prophets.
When you receive a word, it is up to you to decide what to do with it.
Some people are not scared when faced with the prospect of death.
When someone feels strongly about an action, they will be undeterred by the words of people.
Commit unresolved issues to the will of the Lord.
Sharing a testimony of the things God has done should bring gladness to the hears.
Unfortunately, some people will find fault over the things you do.
Some suggestions that people make are unfruitful.
Trying to appease your opposers does not always work.
Being trilingual, Paul spoke Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
God will not allow you to die before your appointed time.
After the tumult ended, Paul met with the disciples and bade them farewell before heading to Macedonia. Being a responsible and caring missionary, Paul traveled through various cities, revisiting and encouraging the new believers who resided in those areas. Arriving in Greece, he stayed for three months until an insidious plot by the Jews against him was revealed. This caused him to divert his sailing plans and travel by land.
Traveling part of the journey with Paul into Asia were seven Gentile companions: Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timotheus, Tychicus, and Trophimus. Finally boarding a ship at Philippi and joined by Luke, Paul arrived in Troas and, on that Sunday, fellowshipped with the Troas brethren. Paul preached into the night, and a young man named Eutychus, who was present and sitting on the windowsill, fell asleep and fell out of the window. Landing three stories below, Eutychus died; however, Paul went and gathered him in his arms, and life was restored in Eutychus. Happily, they returned to the third floor and had communion, and Paul continued preaching until dawn, when he departed the gathering.
Now sailing, Paul traveled through Mitylene, Chios, Samos, Trogyllium, and into Miletus, where he requested that the leaders from Ephesus meet him. When they arrived, he shared a farewell address, which included his ministry time in Ephesus, his present situation, and their future responsibilities. Paul told how he humbly, boldly, with impeccable behavior, served the Lord and preached the same message to the Jews and Greeks of faith in Jesus Christ. He discussed his emotional state, the opposition he experienced, and being compelled to go to Jerusalem despite the prophesied ill fate that awaited him when he arrived there. He warned the leaders to watch out for the flock because there would be wolves who would come with evil intentions. Additionally, Paul entrusted the leadership to God, who would build them up. He reminded them to take care of the poor, for it was more blessed to give than to receive. Knowing they would never meet again, Paul ended his farewell address by kneeling and praying for those gathered. Chapter twenty ends with a great deal of crying and kissing as the leaders sadly walk Paul back onto the ship.
Here are the nuggets I gleaned from Acts 20:
Your safety is essential while you are involved in ministry.
Revisiting and encouraging new converts is beneficial.
Though rewarding missionary work can be laborious and life-threatening.
Traveling with a missionary team provides support and allows ministry responsibilities to be shared.
Human bodies can only stay awake for so long before becoming tired and falling asleep.
The power of God is able to raise the dead.
Use every opportunity to share the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
The minister’s character should be exemplary.
Leaders must watch out for the people in their care.
Direct leadership to God, who is able to keep them.
Saying farewell to people you love can be emotional.
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