Summary of 1 Corinthians 8:

Paul is answering another question of the Corinthians and first Paul cautions the Corinthians that knowledge can be deceiving.  You think you know when in reality you may not.  But love builds up and supersedes knowledge.

So with respect to eating food for idols:  we (Christians) know there is only One, True God.  But others do not.  Albeit it’s okay for Christians to eat food sacrificed to idols (because we know it’s just another cow basically) others who do not know God are committing a sin because they are looking at it in a religious sense.  They are following the Christians’ example.  (You know, the ubiquitous saying amongst children “But so-and-so ate the apple so why can’t I?”)

This food Christians ate brings us no closer to God; but it brings those unbelievers farther from God.  So Paul says to be careful in exercising your freedom when it could hinder those away from God.  Paul says this is a sin against Christ:  doing something we know can pull others away from Him.  Christians must sacrifice for others.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 9:

Paul declares he is an apostle with the right to be supported by the church.  By right Paul can share in what he reaps just like a soldier, a farmer, and a shepherd share in what they reap.

But Paul says he did not use this right because it might hinder the gospel of Christ.  It is commanded by the Lord that Paul can receive support but he himself is choosing not to. He boasts of this!

Paul preaches the gospel because he is compelled to spread the Word.  He becomes all things to all people in order to win people for the Lord and share in an eternal reward and not an earthly one.  Paul refuses all things that would hinder his reward or him finishing the race.  His crown is one that will last forever in this race we all run.  Paul runs and fights all for an eternal prize to which he won’t be disqualified from.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 8-9

3) He made sure that his actions were not a stumbling block to the weak. He uses the example of not eating certain foods if it causes others to sin against Christ. He puts up with things so as not to hinder the gospel. He makes himself a slave to win people to Jesus. He becomes like a Jew, a Gentile, like the weak to save some. He does this to get a crown to last forever.

4) Sin, homosexuality

5) Although Paul has the rights and the freedoms to behave how he wants and do what he wants, he chose not to so that he could bring others to Christ.

6) Personal Question. My answer: You don’t have to be right all the time. It’s better to be humble and like Jesus than pompous and not. I can try not to be right all the time, apologize more, be more giving of my time.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 8-9

1 Corinthians 8 is a great passage that counters the “me” society. Life is not about you; it’s about others.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 8-9

1 Corinthians 8:

The meat offered on pagan altars was usually divided into three portions. One portion was burnt in honor of the god, one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat, and the third portion was given to the priest. If the priest didn’t want to eat his portion, he sold it at the temple restaurant or meat market.

The meat served and sold at the temple was generally cheaper. In that day and age when many were poor and couldn’t afford food, this was an important question.

The issue raised many questions for the Corinthian Christians: Can we eat meat purchased at the temple meat market? What if we are served meat purchased at the temple meat market when we are guests in someone’s home? Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple?

Instead of talking about food, Paul first talks about knowledge and love. Christian behavior is founded on love, not knowledge; and the goal of the Christian life is not knowledge, but love.

We really don’t know anything. The knowledge that is important is the knowledge God has of those who love Him.

Because there is only One True God, idols are not competing gods. Idols are therefore nothing in the world, and are only so-called gods.

Indeed, in the ancient world, there were many, many different gods – and even gods known as the unknown god to cover any gods one might have missed (Acts 17:23).

When Paul calls Jesus Lord, he uses the Greek word kurios, and this word would have meant something to Bible reading people in Paul’s day.

Leon Morris on Lord: “This term could be no more than a polite form of address like our ‘Sir.’ But it could also be used of the deity one worships. The really significant background, though, is its use in the Greek translation of the Old Testament to render the divine name, Yahweh… Christians who used this as their Bible would be familiar with the term as equivalent to deity.”

If idols are really nothing, it must mean nothing to eat meat sacrificed to nothing idols, and it must mean nothing to eat in the buildings used to worship these nothing idols. While this is true, Paul explains why they should abstain.

Paul asks the Corinthian Christians who know there is nothing to an idol to remember that not everyone knows this. And if someone believes there is something to an idol, and they eat meat that has been sacrificed to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

No one is less spiritual for abstaining from meat sacrificed to idols.

To influence the weak brother to go against his conscience is actually to sin against Christ. The Corinthian Christians who abused their liberty might have thought it was a small matter to offend their weak brothers, but they did not understand they offended Jesus Christ.

Theme of 1 Corinthians 8: Our actions can never be based only on what we know to be right for ourselves. We also need to consider what is right towards our brothers and sisters in Jesus.

• It is easy for a Christian to say, “I answer to God and God alone” and to ignore his brother or sister. It is true we will answer to God and God alone, but we will answer to God for how we have treated our brother or sister.

1 Corithians 9:

Paul defends his apostolic position before the doubting Corinthian Christians.

Paul asserts his rights as an apostle, as if he were a lawyer arguing a case. The words defense (apologia) and examine (anakrino) are both legal words, taken from the Roman law court. Paul feels like he’s on trial, or that he has already been “found guilty” by the Corinthian Christians.

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

• Paul means that he has the right to eat and drink at the expense of the churches he served.
• Paul makes it clear that he had the right to expect support for not only himself, but for his family, also.
• Paul has the right to be supported by the people he ministers to. In Deuteronomy 25:4,

Just as strongly as Paul affirms his right to be supported by the people he ministers unto, he will also affirm his right to not use that right, if using it might hinder the gospel of Christ.

Anyone who preaches the gospel has the right to be supported by those he preaches to.

The Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel: We have no record of those specific words of Jesus, but in two places He states the principle. In Matthew 10:10 (for a worker is worthy of his food), and in Luke 10:8 (Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you).

Remember that Greek culture, which the Corinthian Christians approved so much, looked down its nose on all manual labor. Even though the Corinthian Christians seemed to think less of Paul because he worked with his own hands to support himself, it did not embarrass Paul at all. He will boast about it!

Paul’s ministry was not just a matter of choice or personal ambition; it was something he was called to, something he had to do.

Paul was free to do what he wanted, but bringing people to Jesus was more important to him than using his freedom selfishly.

Paul did not change his doctrine or message to appeal to different groups (he denies this in 1 Corinthians 1:22-23), but he would change his behavior and manner of approach.

Paul was willing to offend people over the gospel, but he wanted to offend them only over the gospel.

An Athlete’s Attitude

Sporting events were big in Paul’s day as well as in our own. This was especially meaningful to the Corinthians, because their city was the center for the Isthmian Games, second in prestige to the ancient Olympics.

Paul often uses figures from arena competition (at least twelve different references in his letters), including examples of runners, boxers, gladiators, chariot racers, and trophies.

To compete as an athlete, one must go intos strict training. Roman athletes had to train for ten months before being allowed in the games.

An athlete must refuse things that may be fine in themselves, but will hinder the pursuit of his goal. Even so, the Corinthians must refuse things that are fine in themselves (like meat sacrificed to idols), because having them may hinder the pursuit of the important goal: an imperishable crown, a heavenly reward that will never pass away.

Paul made sure that his body was the servant, and his inner man was the master. The desires of his body were not going to rule over his entire self.

1 Corinthians 9:27: Paul did not think the body itself was evil; after all, it belongs to Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20); nor would he agree with later ascetics who punished their bodies in a quest for super-holiness. Through the centuries, Christians known as flagellants would literally whip, beat, and torture themselves in a misguided attempt to fulfill this verse. Usually, these Christians thought they could pay for their sins through such self-torture, and they refused to recognize that Jesus paid all of the penalty of their sin.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 10:

Continuing from 1 Corinthians 9 where Paul says it is more important to give up some things for the sake of winning the race Paul uses the Exodus as an example of a people who started strong (under God’s watchful eye, were baptized, and ate spiritual food) but were disqualified in the end and ended up scattered over the desert because:

They were idolaters; sexually immoral; tested the Lord; and they grumbled.

These are warnings for us to stand firm and don’t fall!  We all face temptations but God is faithful and only gives us what we can bear and always with an out.

Therefore flee from idolatry and do not eat of food sacrificed to pagans.  You cannot have your cake and eat it too!

Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.  You must seek the good of others.  Everything in it is God’s and we must do everything for His glory.  Do not seek your own good but the good of others.  Follow Christ’s example.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 11:

Paul says the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.  Men should not cover their heads in prayer because he is the image and glory of God; whereas, women should because they are the glory of man.  Woman came from man and was created for him.  Thus, women should have a sign on their head.

Yet men and women are interdependent.  They need one another.  Men are to respect women just as much as women are to respect men.

Paul chastised the Corinthians again for their divisions and irrelevance for the Lord’s supper and others.

Paul explains that the body and blood of Jesus were to be taken as a Holy Communion and to proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  If you take communion in an unworthy manner you are sinning.  You must examine yourself before partaking and judge yourself before the Lord (by confessing your sins) so the Lord does not have to.  For the Lord’s judgment is discipline.  So have proper manners when you come together!

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 10-11

7a) Do not be idolaters, sexually immoral, test the Lord, and don’t grumble.

b) Personal Question. My answer: I know in my heart that I have the strength via God and that there’s a way out.

8 ) Personal Question. My answer: Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. We should keep others in mind when we are making choices, and do it for God. I try to be cognizant of others and where they are at in their Christian journey and choose my actions because of it.

9) Personal Question. My answer: The head of every man is Christ; the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Head in this sense means authority not inferiority.  Thus, man has authority over women just as Christ has authority over man and God has authority over Christ. (verse 3). Corporate worship is when we gather together publicly to worship God. I believe it’s about our hearts more than our appearance. As long as we are doing it all for Him and in a manner not distracting to God, we’re good.

10) Part personal Question. My answer: The problem was the meaning of food when Christians gathered together to eat. Holy Communion is a reverent act which we must approach as such and is different than having dinner togehter. We must examine ourselves (verse 28), come to Jesus and repent as we are being cleansed of our sins. Our heart must be right otherwise we are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord (verse 27). Here is a place where going through the motions is a bad idea!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 10-11

I had to look up what was meant by corporate worship. Here’s the definition:  the time when we gather together as a congregation publicly for the purpose of praising God. Here are related verses:

In the New Testament, we see commands for the church to pray (Col 4:2-4, 1 Tim 2:1-2), to read Scripture publicly (1 Tim. 4:13; Col. 4:15, 16), to listen to preaching and teaching (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 4:13), to baptize believers (Matt 28:19) and share the Lord’s supper (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11); to encourage each other and praise God in song (Eph. 5:19, Heb 13:15), and to give of their finances (1 Cor 16:1-2). 1 Cor 14:26 is clear: every one of these things that we do together, must be done “for the strengthening of the church” – to edify others.

God has defined how we should approach him corporately, and so it is possible to offer wrong worship. God is rightfully so jealous for his own glory that he reveals to us in scripture the ways that we are to approach him when we gather publicly. He does this so that our worship won’t be confused with other religions and gods; he does it so that we will be blessed, as he knows what is best for us. That being said, it’s a heart issue; not an appearance issue.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 10-11

1 Corinthians 10:

In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul established two principles. First, an idol really is nothing, and it was fine for Corinthian Christians who understood this to act according to this knowledge, in regard to themselves. Second, for Christians love is more important than knowledge. So even though I may “know” eating meat sacrificed to an idol is all right for myself, if it causes my brother to stumble, I won’t do it, because it isn’t the loving thing to do.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul showed how important it is for Christians to give up their “rights.” Just as Paul gave up his “right” to be supported by his own preaching of the gospel, so some of the Corinthian Christians must sometimes give up their “right” to eat meat sacrificed to idols, based on the principle of love towards a weaker brother. In the end of chapter 9, Paul showed how a Christian must be willing to give up some things – even “good” things – for the sake of winning the race God has set before us, otherwise we will become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27) in the competition of the Christian life.

Paul brings in the Israelites in Egypt and the blessings they had:

• The cloud of Shekinah glory overshadowed Israel throughout their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. During the day, the cloud sheltered them from the brutal desert sun, and during the night, it burned as a pillar of fire. It was a constant, ready reminder of God’s glory and presence (Exodus 13:21-22).
• All Israel came through the Red Sea and saw God’s incredible power in holding up the walls of the sea so they could cross over on dry ground. Then they saw God send the water back to drown the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:21-31). This was not only an amazing demonstration of God’s love and power, but also a picture of baptism – by “passing through water,” all of Israel was identified with Moses, even as by “passing through water,” a Christian is identified with Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-4).
• All of Israel was sustained by God’s miraculous provision of food and drink during their time in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35 and 17:6). This was a remarkable display of God’s love and power for Israel, and a pre-figuring of the spiritual food and drink we receive at the Lord’s table (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
• Israel even had ancient versions of the two Christian sacraments we receive to this day: baptism and communion. The word sacrament was used for the oath of allegiance that the soldiers of the Roman legion took to their emperor. The early Christians considered communion and baptism to be an “oath of allegiance” unto Jesus Christ.
• Israel even had the presence of Jesus Christ with them in the wilderness! Here, in identifying the Rock that followed them, Paul builds on a rabbinical tradition that said Israel was supplied with water by the same rock all through the wilderness, a rock that followed them. Some Bible scholars today debate as to if the rock followed Israel, or if the water followed Israel (as in a stream). The point is the same: Jesus Christ was present with Israel in the wilderness, providing for their needs miraculously. What blessing, what privilege!

Despite all these blessings and spiritual privileges, the Israelites in the wilderness did not please God.

What the Corinthians were Doing to Not Please God

• Eating sacrificial meat, making other stumble
• Engaged in idolatry
• Engaged in sexual immorality
• They complained

Paul’s warning: “If it happened to Israel, it can happen to you. Be on guard.”

We can learn from Israel’s mistakes.

Temptation

Our temptation is not unique. Many other men and women of God have faced the same or similar temptation, and have found the strength in God to overcome the temptation.

God has promised to supervise all temptation that comes at us through the world, the flesh or the devil. He promises to limit it according to our capability to endure it – according to our capability as we rely on Him, not our capability as we rely only on ourselves.

Satan would destroy us in a minute if God would let him, even as he wanted to destroy Job (Job 1:6-12) and Peter (Luke 22:31), but God will not let him. God keeps us from things we can’t handle. But what we can and can’t handle changes over the years. And he provides a way of escape.

In the thinking of that part of the ancient world, to eat at the same table with someone indicated friendship and fellowship with that person. Since you ate of one bread, that made you one body, because you both shared of the same food at the same table. So to eat at the table of a pagan temple restaurant was not as innocent as it seemed.

The cup of blessing was the last cup presented in the Passover ceremony; this was the cup that Jesus blessed at the Last Supper, and the one interpreted as “the new covenant in my blood.” When early Christians took communion, they were aware of its connection to Passover and with the Last Supper of Jesus with His disciples.

Your Rights

Just because something is fine for me does not mean I should do it. My own “rights” or what I know to be permitted for myself are not the standards by which I judge my behavior. I must consider what is the loving thing to do towards my brothers and sisters in Jesus.

Notice that Paul does not prohibit socializing with non-Christians, he only prohibits the meal of fellowship at the pagan temples.

The purpose of our lives isn’t to see how much we can get away with and still be Christians; rather, it is to glorify God.

1 Corinthians 11:

How few today are willing to say what Paul said! Instead, because of compromise and ungodliness, we are quick to say, “Don’t look at me, look at Jesus.” While it is true we must all ultimately look to Jesus, every one of us should be an example of those who look to Jesus.

Keep the traditions —Paul was not talking about ceremonies and rituals, but about basic teaching and doctrine.

With this understanding, we see Paul describes three “headship” relationships: Jesus is head of every man; man is the head of woman, and God (the Father) is head of Christ. Because Paul connects the three relationships, the principles of headship are the same among them.

Authority in the Bible

It is essential to understand that being under authority does not equal inferiority. Jesus was totally under the authority of God the Father (John 5:19 and 8:28), yet He is equally God (John 1:1, 8:58, and 10:30). When God calls women in the church to recognize the headship of men, it is not because women are unequal or inferior, but because there is a God-ordained order of authority to be respected.

The idea of a head covering was important in this (and many other) ancient cultures. To wear the head covering (or veil in some translations), was a public symbol of being under the authority and protection of another.

“It was a custom, both among the Greeks and Romans, and among the Jews an express law, that no woman should be seen abroad without a veil. This was, and is, a common custom through all the east, and none but public prostitutes go without veils.” (Clarke)

In some cultures today, wearing a hat or some other kind of head covering is a picture of humility and modesty. In the same way, the head covering had an important cultural meaning among the ancient Corinthians.

Under these words of Paul, women are free to pray or prophesy, but only when as they demonstrate that they are under the authority of the male leadership of the church.

If a woman refuses to demonstrate being under authority, she may as well be shaved of her hair. In some ancient cultures, the shaving of a woman’s head was the punishment given to an adulteress.

Having a woman’s head shorn or shaved meant different things in different cultures. In Jewish law, it was the mark of adultery (Numbers 5:11-31). In the Greek world, it could be the mark of a prostitute or lesbian.

God has established an order of authority, the principle of male headship, both in the church (1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 2) and the home (Ephesians 5:23).

God created Adam first, and gave Him responsibility over Eve.

Since one reason for male headship is the order and manner in which God created man and woman – something which was present before the fall – this passage makes it clear that before and after the fall, God has ordained there be a difference in the roles between genders, even in the church. The fall did not cause the difference in gender roles (in the church and in the home), and the difference in roles is not erased by our new life in Jesus.

Adam was not created for Eve, but Eve was created for Adam – and this principle applies to every “Adam” and every “Eve” through history. Genesis 2:18 declares God’s intention in creating Eve: I will make him a helper comparable to him. Eve was created to be a helper to Adam, meaning that Adam was “head” over Eve, and she was called to share and help his vision and agenda. Genesis 2:22 says, He brought her to the man. Adam was not brought to Eve, but Eve was brought to Adam – her head. It is an idea offensive to the spirit of our age, but the Bible in this passage clearly teaches that (in the church and in the home) man was not made for the benefit of woman, but woman for the benefit of man.

A third reason God has established male headship in the church is the presence of angels in corporate worship.

Angels are present at any assembly of Christians for worship and they note any departure from reverent order. Apparently, angels are offended by any violation of propriety.

Our struggle is bigger than ourselves. God has eternal things to teach the universe through us (Ephesians 3:10-11, 1 Corinthians 4:9, and 1 Peter 1:12).

Our culture, having rejected the idea in a difference in role between men and women, now rejects the idea of any difference between men and women. The driving trends in our culture point towards men who are more like women, and women who are more like men – and styles, clothes, perfumes, and all the rest are pushing this thought.

The Bible is just as specific that there is no general submission of women unto men commanded in society, only in the spheres of the home and in the church. God has not commanded in His word that men have exclusive authority in politics, business, education, and so on.

The failure of men to lead in the home and in the church, and to lead in the way Jesus would lead, has been a chief cause of the rejection of male authority.

Citizens do not have the same respect for government’s authority; students do not have the same respect for the teacher’s authority; women do not have the same respect for men’s authority; children do not have the same respect for parent’s authority; employees do not have the same respect for their employer’s authority; people do not have the same respect for the police’s authority; and Christians no longer have the same respect for church authority.

Men and women need each other, so there is no place for a “lording over” of the men over the women.

The man who rules in the church or in the home without love, without recognizing the important and vital place God has given women, is not doing God’s will.

Lord’s Supper Different Than Other Food

In this, Paul refers to the early church custom of combining the love-feast (like a shared-dish supper) and the Lord’s Supper.

Because the risen Jesus so often ate with His disciples, it made sense to the early church that eating together went together with celebrating the Lord’s Supper.

In that day, at common meals, it was expected that the “upper class” would receive better and more food than the “lower class.” This cultural custom was carried over into the church, and the Christians weren’t really sharing with one another

In theology, and in church custom, the Lord’s Supper is often called the eucharist. This word comes from the ancient Greek phrase used here for given thanks.

We remember the Last Supper was actually a Passover meal, when Jesus, together with the disciples, according to Biblical commands and Jewish traditions, celebrated the remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt to the Promised Land, beginning in the book of Exodus.

The breaking of bread and the drinking of wine were important parts of the Passover celebration. Jesus took these important pictures and reminders of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, and added to them the meanings connected with His own death on the cross for us.

In taking the bread, we are called to remember Jesus’ body broken for you. The Passover meal featured unleavened bread, made without yeast both because yeast is a picture of sin and corruption in the Bible, and because in bread, yeast needs time to work – and in their haste to leave Egypt, the Israelites had no time to let their bread rise.

The unleavened bread used at a Passover meal had the scorch-mark “stripes” and holes from baking that looked like “pierce” marks. In the same way, the body of Jesus was broken for us. He was without sin (as the bread had no leaven), and His body bore stripes and was pierced (as the bread appeared to be).

In receiving the cup, we are called to remember the blood of Jesus and the new covenant. The Passover meal featured several cups of wine, each with a different title. The cup Jesus referred to was known as the cup of redemption, and Jesus added to the idea of redemption from slavery in Egypt the idea that His blood confirmed a new covenant that changed our relationship with God.

What is the New Covenant?

• It’s an inner transformation that cleanses us from all sin: For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more (Jeremiah 31:34).
• It’s  God’s Word and will in us: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).
• It’s  a new, close, relationship with God: I will be their God, and they shall be My people (Jeremiah 31:33).

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can have a new covenant relationship with God. But many Christians live as if there is no inner transformation. They live as if there is no cleansing from sin. They live as if there is no word and will of God in our hearts. They live as if there is no new and close relationship with God.

While the Lord’s Supper does look back to what Jesus did on the cross, it also looks forward to the coming of Jesus, and the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

In Matthew 26:29, Jesus spoke of His longing expectation for the day when He would take communion with His people in heaven, which is the ultimate Lord’s Supper.

The precise nature of the bread and the cup in communion has been the source of great theological controversy.

Paul warns the Corinthian Christians to treat the Lord’s Supper with reverence, and to practice it in a spirit of self-examination. However, this is not written with the thought of excluding ourselves from the table, but of preparing us to receive with the right heart.

Paul does not refer to eternal judgment, but to corrective judgment. There is no article “the” before “judgment,” so it is not the judgment. This chastening is not a judge condemning a criminal; it is a father correcting disobedient children.

It isn’t just good manners, it shows love towards others. If you wait for one another, then everyone gets enough to eat, instead of some being gorged and others going home hungry.

Don’t “pig out” at the church common meal, because it might mean someone else doesn’t get enough to eat. If you are that hungry, eat at home!

Summary of 1 Corinthians 12:

Gifts given by the Spirit are different for everyone and to be used for the common good.  All determined by God.

The body is made up of many parts but all forming one body.  Just like mankind.  We have many gifts but all of one Spirit.  All parts depend on each other in order to properly function.  We are all the body of Christ and have a part to play.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 13:

One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible.  Paul describes love as indispensable.  It must be present in everything we do or it is all for nothing.  Love is a verb.  It shows action.  It is patient, kind, protects, trusts, and perseveres.  It does not envy, boast, is proud or rude, or a score-keeper.

Love never fails and is eternal.  In Heaven, faith and hope fall away.  But love remains.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 14:

Paul says prophecy is better than speaking in tongues because prophecy can be understood by others and helps other.  He who speaks in tongues only helps himself.  Speak clearly and try to excel in gifts that build up the church and not just yourself.

If you do speak in tongues, pray you may interpret it for the benefit of others.

Prophecy helps the unbeliever for if an unbeliever heard you speaking in tongues he would think you are nuts!  But an unbeliever can understand prophecy and will be convinced he is a sinner and repent and turn to God.

Worship should be for the strengthening of the church.  An interpreter must be present when speaking in tongues.  Prophecy should be instructional and encouraging.  Women should not speak in the realm of church authority.  This is the word of God.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 12-14

11) Gifts given by the Spirit are different for everyone and to be used for the common good.  All determined by God. The Holy Spirit is the only one who allows you to say “Jesus is Lord.” The Spirit gives the gift of the message of wisdom, knowledge, faith, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, or speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues.

12) Personal Question. My answer: Perhaps one of the most famous parts of the Bible. If you have love, true love from the heart, everything else will fall into place.

13) Personal Question. My answer: The challenge is to love people. Through prayer is the only way to love others truly.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 12-14

Love this part of the Bible. So beautiful and elegant. There are powerful words here, about spiritual gifts, when to use spiritual gifts and their purpose, and of course, how everything is meaningless without love. When we come together at a church, it’s to strengthen us, and it’s not about us.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 12-14

1 Corinthians 12:

The word “gifts” is added by the translators. Literally, Paul now addresses spirituals, after discussing all the areas of Corinthian carnality. But adding gifts is justified by the context.

Clarke defines spiritual gifts as “Gracious endowments, leading to miraculous results… these all came by the extraordinary influences of the Holy Spirit.”

Paul, in his letters, names three things he does not want Christians to be ignorant of:

1. Don’t be ignorant of God’s plan for Israel (Romans 11:25).
2. Don’t be ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1).
3. Don’t be ignorant about the Second Coming of Jesus and the eternal state (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Spiritual Gifts

Paul lists nine spiritual gifts in the following verses, and more in other places. There is only one Giver, who works through the diverse gifts.

The gifts are diverse, the ministries are different, and the activities are diverse. But it is all the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God doing the work through the gifts, the ministries, and the activities.

Ministries probably has in mind the different “gifted offices” in the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, as Paul also described in Ephesians 4. Paul’s point is clear: though there are different offices, it is the same Lord granting the offices and directing the service.

The Greek word for activities is energemata, where we get our words energy, energetic, and energize from. It is a word of active, miraculous power. Activities is the same word as working in 1 Corinthians 12:10 (the working of miracles). Differences of activities means that God displays and pours out His miraculous power in different ways, but it is always the same God doing the work.

The gifts are the work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus, and Father God.

The Holy Spirit is always present in and among Christians. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, He may abide with you forever (John 14:16). However, at some times the Spirit’s presence is more apparent than at other times.

The purpose of the manifestation of the Spirit is to benefit the whole church family, not just a particular individual.

1. This is the unique ability to speak forth the wisdom of God, especially in an important situation, as shown in Stephen (Acts 7) and Paul (Acts 23).
2. The unique ability to declare knowledge that could only be revealed supernaturally, as shown in Jesus (Matthew 17:24-27) or Paul (Acts 27:10, 27:23-26).
3. The gift of faith is the unique ability to trust God against all circumstances, as Peter did when he walked out of the boat onto the water (Matthew 14:22-33).
4. Gift of healing — God’s healing power
5. Gift of miracles —  Literally dynameis, or “acts of power.” This describes when the Holy Spirit chooses to “override” the laws of nature (as a pilot might use manual controls), working in or through an available person.
6. Prophecy — The telling-forth of God’s message in a particular situation, always in accord with His Word and His current work.
7. Discerning of spirits —  The ability to tell the difference between true and false doctrine, and between what is of the Holy Spirit and what isn’t (Acts 8:18-23 and 16:16-18).
8. The gift of tongues is a personal language of prayer given by God, whereby the believer can communicate with God beyond the limits of knowledge and understanding (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).
9.  The gift of the interpretation of tongues: This gift allows the gift of tongues to be of benefit for those other than the speaker, as they are able to hear and agree with the tongue-speaker’s words to God.

Satan appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He deceives with a false, tempting message (Genesis 2:16-3:5). There can be lying spirits in the mouths of prophets (1 Kings 22:21-23 and 2 Chronicles 18:20-22). Satan can speak right after God speaks (Matthew 16:23). Sometimes people who seem to say the right things are really from the devil (Acts 13:6-12 and 16:16-18). It is important to test the word of anyone who claims to speak from God (1 John 4:1-3). Satan can work deceiving miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 and Revelation 13:11-14). The devil will try to infiltrate the church with false teachers (Jude 4 and 2 Peter 2:1-2).

Tongues have an important place in the devotional life of the believer, but a small place in the corporate life of the church (1 Corinthians 14:18-19), especially in “public” meetings (1 Corinthians 14:23).

When tongues are practiced in the corporate life of the church, it is to be carefully controlled, and never without an interpretation given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).

The ability to pray in an unknown tongue is not a gift given to every believer (1 Corinthians 12:20).

Gifts are given by God for His will.

Paul uses the brilliant illustration of the human body to relate the working of the community of Christians. Even as every cell in a human body is linked by a common root (a common DNA code), yet the parts of our body (members) look different, are treated differently, work differently, and accomplish different purposes.

The body must have different parts and gifts, or it would not work together effectively as a body.

The Corinthian Christians should care for one another because they are all part of the same body.

Helps: This has in mind those who help, or assist, others in doing the work of the Lord.

Though the Holy Spirit gives the gifts, it is good and proper for us to desire them, and to ask for them, all in submission to the plan of God.

Paul will explain the more excellent way in 1 Corinthians 13, with a focus on love, not the gifts themselves.

1 Corinthians 13:

Gifts are meaningless without love.

In Paul’s day, many Jews believed angels had their own language, and by the Spirit, one could speak it.

Apparently, there are angelic languages men can speak by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Paul uses the ancient Greek word agape. The ancient Greeks had four different words we could translate love. It is important to understand the difference between the words, and why the apostle Paul chose the Greek word agape here.

Eros was one word for love. It described erotic love. It refers to sexual love.

Storge was the second word for love. It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child, or between family members in general.

Philia is the third word for love. It speaks of a brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership. It might be described as the highest love of which man, without God’s help, is capable of.

Agape is the fourth word for love. It is a love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It is love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given. It gives because it loves; it does not love in order to receive. According to Alan Redpath, we get our English word agony from agape. “It means the actual absorption of our being in one great passion.” (Redpath) Strictly speaking, agape can’t be defined as “God’s love,” because men are said to agape sin and the world (John 3:19 and 1 John 2:15). But it can be defined as a sacrificial, giving, absorbing kind of love. The word has little to do with emotion; it has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another.

We can read this chapter and think that Paul is saying that if we are unfriendly, then our lives mean nothing. But agape isn’t really friendliness; it is self-denial for the sake of another.

Many Christians believe the Christian life is all about sacrifice – sacrificing your money, your life, for the cause of Jesus Christ. Sacrifice is important, but without love, life is useless.

At the beginning, we see love is described by action words, not by lofty concepts. Paul is not writing about how love feels, he is writing about how it can be seen in action. True love is always demonstrated by action.

Eight things love is not: not envious, not proud, not arrogant, not rude, not cliquish, not touchy, not suspicious, not happy with evil.

Envy murdered Abel (Genesis 4:3-8). Envy enslaved Joseph (Genesis 37:11, 28). Envy put Jesus on the cross: For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy (Matthew 27:18).

Moses was kept from the Promised Land because he became provoked at the people of Israel (Numbers 20:2-11).

Four more things love is: strong, believing, hopeful, and enduring. Spurgeon calls these four virtues love’s four sweet companions.

We could replace the word love with the name Jesus and the description would make perfect sense. We can easily say, Jesus suffers long and is kind; Jesus does not envy… and make it through the whole chapter.

Virtually all commentators agree that which is perfect is fulfilled when we are in the eternal presence of the Perfect One, when we are with the Lord forever, either through the return of Christ or graduation to the eternal.

i. The ancient Greek word for perfect is telos. Considering the way the New Testament uses telos in other passages, it certainly seems to speak about the coming of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:8, 15:24, James 5:11, Revelation 20:5, 20:7, 21:6, and 22:13).

Paul uses this term to describe complete, unhindered fellowship with God. 1 John 3:2 tells us when we get to heaven, we shall see Him as He is. There will be no more barriers to our relationship with God.

In Exodus 33:11, it says the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. In Exodus 33, face to face is a figurative expression, meaning free and open fellowship.

What makes heaven really heaven is the unhindered, unrestricted, presence of our Lord, and to know just as I also am known will be the greatest experience of our eternal existence.

It should all come back to faith, hope, and love. If it doesn’t, we need to receive God’s sense of priorities, and put our focus where it belongs.

Love is greatest because it will continue, even grow, in the eternal state. When we are in heaven, faith and hope will have fulfilled their purpose.

Love is also the greatest because it is an attribute of God (1 John 4:8), and faith and hope are not part of God’s character and personality

If you lose love, you lose everything.

1 Corinthians 14:

We must pursue love.

Gift of Tongues

With the gift of tongues, the speaker addresses God, not men. If we misunderstand this, we misunderstand Acts 2 and think the disciples preached to the crowd in tongues on the day of Pentecost. Instead, they spoke to God and the multi-national crowd overheard their praise to God.

In contrast to the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy is directed to men. It is God speaking supernaturally (often “naturally supernaturally”) through people to people. Edification is “building up.” Exhortation is encouragement.  Comfort has the idea of not only consoling, but also strengthening.

Paul recognized the gift of tongues was valuable for himself, because in 1 Corinthians 14:18 he wrote I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all. But it was not valuable for him to speak to others with the gift of tongues.

Speaking in tongues at a meeting of the church benefits no one else; it is simply putting sounds into the air, not words and ideas into the minds and hearts of others.

Language itself is a gift from God. We can communicate with language because we are made in the image of God.

The goal must be mutual benefit at church meetings. If there must be tongues, there must be interpretation, so there can be edification.

Speaking in tongues communicates with God on a spiritual level, passing by our understanding.

Paul here quotes from Isaiah 28:11-12. In Isaiah 28, the prophet Isaiah announces judgment to the people of Israel.

In the Isaiah 28 passage, tongues were a sign of judgment upon the Israelites.

Paul sees the gathering of the church as a time when people come to participate and to give to one another, not merely to passively receive.

The goal of coming together as a church is not to be entertained, nor even to be “pleased” with a “blessing.” We gather for edification, for the spiritual building up we need to live lives that glorify Jesus Christ outside the walls of the church. As Paul said in Ephesians 4:12, the goal is the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Our Christian lives are lived on the outside, and we come to be strengthened, built up, and equipped when we come together as a church family.

Tongues in a church meeting are to be carefully regulated. If you must speak in tongues at your church meetings, do not do much of it.

Paul believes prophecy should be regulated. The gifts of the Spirit are never to be made the focus of congregational life. Worship and the Word are the focus, and the gifts flow under God’s direction around the focus of worship and the Word.

In the ancient world, just as in some modern cultures, women and men sat in different groups at church. Among the Christians in Corinth, there seems to have been the problem of women chattering or disrupting the meetings with questions.

When you come together as a church, it is far better to be a blessing to someone else; therefore, prophecy is much more useful than tongues.

God is a God of order and peace, and He wants order when the church comes together. When the gifts of the Spirit are given an unscriptural focus, it discredits the true work of the Holy Spirit, and often leads people to deny the gifts because they see unbiblical excess.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 12:

Gifts given by the Spirit are different for everyone and to be used for the common good.  All determined by God.

The body is made up of many parts but all forming one body.  Just like mankind.  We have many gifts but all of one Spirit.  All parts depend on each other in order to properly function.  We are all the body of Christ and have a part to play.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 13:

One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible.  Paul describes love as indispensable.  It must be present in everything we do or it is all for nothing.  Love is a verb.  It shows action.  It is patient, kind, protects, trusts, and perseveres.  It does not envy, boast, is proud or rude, or a score-keeper.

Love never fails and is eternal.  In Heaven, faith and hope fall away.  But love remains.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 14:

Paul says prophecy is better than speaking in tongues because prophecy can be understood by others and helps other.  He who speaks in tongues only helps himself.  Speak clearly and try to excel in gifts that build up the church and not just yourself.

If you do speak in tongues, pray you may interpret it for the benefit of others.

Prophecy helps the unbeliever for if an unbeliever heard you speaking in tongues he would think you are nuts!  But an unbeliever can understand prophecy and will be convinced he is a sinner and repent and turn to God.

Worship should be for the strengthening of the church.  An interpreter must be present when speaking in tongues.  Prophecy should be instructional and encouraging.  Women should not speak in the realm of church authority.  This is the word of God.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 12-14

14) To strengthen the church, to be built up, and equipped as a church family. To focus on God and the truth, not individuals. Spiritual gifts should not be a distraction.

15) So that people can learn and be encourged. Confusion is not from God.

16) Personal Question. My answer: No clue, to be honest. We all like to think we are doing good things in this world and helping others, but are you really? Encouraging others, supporting others, listening to others, offering advice when asked, and just being there are concrete ways to build others up.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 12-14

Love this part of the Bible. So beautiful and elegant. There are powerful words here, about spiritual gifts, when to use spiritual gifts and their purpose, and of course, how everything is meaningless without love. When we come together at a church, it’s to strengthen us, and it’s not about us.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 23, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 12-14

1 Corinthians 12:

The word “gifts” is added by the translators. Literally, Paul now addresses spirituals, after discussing all the areas of Corinthian carnality. But adding gifts is justified by the context.

Clarke defines spiritual gifts as “Gracious endowments, leading to miraculous results… these all came by the extraordinary influences of the Holy Spirit.”

Paul, in his letters, names three things he does not want Christians to be ignorant of:

1. Don’t be ignorant of God’s plan for Israel (Romans 11:25).
2. Don’t be ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1).
3. Don’t be ignorant about the Second Coming of Jesus and the eternal state (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Spiritual Gifts

Paul lists nine spiritual gifts in the following verses, and more in other places. There is only one Giver, who works through the diverse gifts.

The gifts are diverse, the ministries are different, and the activities are diverse. But it is all the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God doing the work through the gifts, the ministries, and the activities.

Ministries probably has in mind the different “gifted offices” in the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, as Paul also described in Ephesians 4. Paul’s point is clear: though there are different offices, it is the same Lord granting the offices and directing the service.

The Greek word for activities is energemata, where we get our words energy, energetic, and energize from. It is a word of active, miraculous power. Activities is the same word as working in 1 Corinthians 12:10 (the working of miracles). Differences of activities means that God displays and pours out His miraculous power in different ways, but it is always the same God doing the work.

The gifts are the work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus, and Father God.

The Holy Spirit is always present in and among Christians. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, He may abide with you forever (John 14:16). However, at some times the Spirit’s presence is more apparent than at other times.

The purpose of the manifestation of the Spirit is to benefit the whole church family, not just a particular individual.

1. This is the unique ability to speak forth the wisdom of God, especially in an important situation, as shown in Stephen (Acts 7) and Paul (Acts 23).
2. The unique ability to declare knowledge that could only be revealed supernaturally, as shown in Jesus (Matthew 17:24-27) or Paul (Acts 27:10, 27:23-26).
3. The gift of faith is the unique ability to trust God against all circumstances, as Peter did when he walked out of the boat onto the water (Matthew 14:22-33).
4. Gift of healing — God’s healing power
5. Gift of miracles —  Literally dynameis, or “acts of power.” This describes when the Holy Spirit chooses to “override” the laws of nature (as a pilot might use manual controls), working in or through an available person.
6. Prophecy — The telling-forth of God’s message in a particular situation, always in accord with His Word and His current work.
7. Discerning of spirits —  The ability to tell the difference between true and false doctrine, and between what is of the Holy Spirit and what isn’t (Acts 8:18-23 and 16:16-18).
8. The gift of tongues is a personal language of prayer given by God, whereby the believer can communicate with God beyond the limits of knowledge and understanding (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).
9.  The gift of the interpretation of tongues: This gift allows the gift of tongues to be of benefit for those other than the speaker, as they are able to hear and agree with the tongue-speaker’s words to God.

Satan appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He deceives with a false, tempting message (Genesis 2:16-3:5). There can be lying spirits in the mouths of prophets (1 Kings 22:21-23 and 2 Chronicles 18:20-22). Satan can speak right after God speaks (Matthew 16:23). Sometimes people who seem to say the right things are really from the devil (Acts 13:6-12 and 16:16-18). It is important to test the word of anyone who claims to speak from God (1 John 4:1-3). Satan can work deceiving miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 and Revelation 13:11-14). The devil will try to infiltrate the church with false teachers (Jude 4 and 2 Peter 2:1-2).

Tongues have an important place in the devotional life of the believer, but a small place in the corporate life of the church (1 Corinthians 14:18-19), especially in “public” meetings (1 Corinthians 14:23).

When tongues are practiced in the corporate life of the church, it is to be carefully controlled, and never without an interpretation given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).

The ability to pray in an unknown tongue is not a gift given to every believer (1 Corinthians 12:20).

Gifts are given by God for His will.

Paul uses the brilliant illustration of the human body to relate the working of the community of Christians. Even as every cell in a human body is linked by a common root (a common DNA code), yet the parts of our body (members) look different, are treated differently, work differently, and accomplish different purposes.

The body must have different parts and gifts, or it would not work together effectively as a body.

The Corinthian Christians should care for one another because they are all part of the same body.

Helps: This has in mind those who help, or assist, others in doing the work of the Lord.

Though the Holy Spirit gives the gifts, it is good and proper for us to desire them, and to ask for them, all in submission to the plan of God.

Paul will explain the more excellent way in 1 Corinthians 13, with a focus on love, not the gifts themselves.

1 Corinthians 13:

Gifts are meaningless without love.

In Paul’s day, many Jews believed angels had their own language, and by the Spirit, one could speak it.

Apparently, there are angelic languages men can speak by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Paul uses the ancient Greek word agape. The ancient Greeks had four different words we could translate love. It is important to understand the difference between the words, and why the apostle Paul chose the Greek word agape here.

Eros was one word for love. It described erotic love. It refers to sexual love.

Storge was the second word for love. It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child, or between family members in general.

Philia is the third word for love. It speaks of a brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership. It might be described as the highest love of which man, without God’s help, is capable of.

Agape is the fourth word for love. It is a love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It is love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given. It gives because it loves; it does not love in order to receive. According to Alan Redpath, we get our English word agony from agape. “It means the actual absorption of our being in one great passion.” (Redpath) Strictly speaking, agape can’t be defined as “God’s love,” because men are said to agape sin and the world (John 3:19 and 1 John 2:15). But it can be defined as a sacrificial, giving, absorbing kind of love. The word has little to do with emotion; it has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another.

We can read this chapter and think that Paul is saying that if we are unfriendly, then our lives mean nothing. But agape isn’t really friendliness; it is self-denial for the sake of another.

Many Christians believe the Christian life is all about sacrifice – sacrificing your money, your life, for the cause of Jesus Christ. Sacrifice is important, but without love, life is useless.

At the beginning, we see love is described by action words, not by lofty concepts. Paul is not writing about how love feels, he is writing about how it can be seen in action. True love is always demonstrated by action.

Eight things love is not: not envious, not proud, not arrogant, not rude, not cliquish, not touchy, not suspicious, not happy with evil.

Envy murdered Abel (Genesis 4:3-8). Envy enslaved Joseph (Genesis 37:11, 28). Envy put Jesus on the cross: For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy (Matthew 27:18).

Moses was kept from the Promised Land because he became provoked at the people of Israel (Numbers 20:2-11).

Four more things love is: strong, believing, hopeful, and enduring. Spurgeon calls these four virtues love’s four sweet companions.

We could replace the word love with the name Jesus and the description would make perfect sense. We can easily say, Jesus suffers long and is kind; Jesus does not envy… and make it through the whole chapter.

Virtually all commentators agree that which is perfect is fulfilled when we are in the eternal presence of the Perfect One, when we are with the Lord forever, either through the return of Christ or graduation to the eternal.

i. The ancient Greek word for perfect is telos. Considering the way the New Testament uses telos in other passages, it certainly seems to speak about the coming of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:8, 15:24, James 5:11, Revelation 20:5, 20:7, 21:6, and 22:13).

Paul uses this term to describe complete, unhindered fellowship with God. 1 John 3:2 tells us when we get to heaven, we shall see Him as He is. There will be no more barriers to our relationship with God.

In Exodus 33:11, it says the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. In Exodus 33, face to face is a figurative expression, meaning free and open fellowship.

What makes heaven really heaven is the unhindered, unrestricted, presence of our Lord, and to know just as I also am known will be the greatest experience of our eternal existence.

It should all come back to faith, hope, and love. If it doesn’t, we need to receive God’s sense of priorities, and put our focus where it belongs.

Love is greatest because it will continue, even grow, in the eternal state. When we are in heaven, faith and hope will have fulfilled their purpose.

Love is also the greatest because it is an attribute of God (1 John 4:8), and faith and hope are not part of God’s character and personality

If you lose love, you lose everything.

1 Corinthians 14:

We must pursue love.

Gift of Tongues

With the gift of tongues, the speaker addresses God, not men. If we misunderstand this, we misunderstand Acts 2 and think the disciples preached to the crowd in tongues on the day of Pentecost. Instead, they spoke to God and the multi-national crowd overheard their praise to God.

In contrast to the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy is directed to men. It is God speaking supernaturally (often “naturally supernaturally”) through people to people. Edification is “building up.” Exhortation is encouragement.  Comfort has the idea of not only consoling, but also strengthening.

Paul recognized the gift of tongues was valuable for himself, because in 1 Corinthians 14:18 he wrote I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all. But it was not valuable for him to speak to others with the gift of tongues.

Speaking in tongues at a meeting of the church benefits no one else; it is simply putting sounds into the air, not words and ideas into the minds and hearts of others.

Language itself is a gift from God. We can communicate with language because we are made in the image of God.

The goal must be mutual benefit at church meetings. If there must be tongues, there must be interpretation, so there can be edification.

Speaking in tongues communicates with God on a spiritual level, passing by our understanding.

Paul here quotes from Isaiah 28:11-12. In Isaiah 28, the prophet Isaiah announces judgment to the people of Israel.

In the Isaiah 28 passage, tongues were a sign of judgment upon the Israelites.

Paul sees the gathering of the church as a time when people come to participate and to give to one another, not merely to passively receive.

The goal of coming together as a church is not to be entertained, nor even to be “pleased” with a “blessing.” We gather for edification, for the spiritual building up we need to live lives that glorify Jesus Christ outside the walls of the church. As Paul said in Ephesians 4:12, the goal is the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Our Christian lives are lived on the outside, and we come to be strengthened, built up, and equipped when we come together as a church family.

Tongues in a church meeting are to be carefully regulated. If you must speak in tongues at your church meetings, do not do much of it.

Paul believes prophecy should be regulated. The gifts of the Spirit are never to be made the focus of congregational life. Worship and the Word are the focus, and the gifts flow under God’s direction around the focus of worship and the Word.

In the ancient world, just as in some modern cultures, women and men sat in different groups at church. Among the Christians in Corinth, there seems to have been the problem of women chattering or disrupting the meetings with questions.

When you come together as a church, it is far better to be a blessing to someone else; therefore, prophecy is much more useful than tongues.

God is a God of order and peace, and He wants order when the church comes together. When the gifts of the Spirit are given an unscriptural focus, it discredits the true work of the Holy Spirit, and often leads people to deny the gifts because they see unbiblical excess.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 15:1-11:

Paul reminds the Corinthians about the gospel:  Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and then raised on the third day.  He appeared to Peter, the Twelve, 500 brothers, James, the apostles, and to Paul. By the grace of God Paul was saved.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11:

3a) Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and then raised on the third day.  He appeared to Peter, the Twelve, 500 brothers, James, the apostles, and to Paul.

b) If Jesus doesn’t rise from the dead, then we won’t rise from the dead at Christ’s Second Coming. The Resurrection is the subject of every sermon we find in the Book of Acts. (Paul actually answers this very question in the next section (1 Corinthians 15:12-19), so unsure why we are answering it here). If Christ did not rise, then Christianity is a false belief.  Our preaching is useless and so is our faith.  Worse, we are found to be false witnesses about God.  We would still be in our sins and lost forever.

4) This, in part, speaks to the redeeming work of Christ in our lives.

5) Personal Question. My answer: Many ways. You can point to historical records of the time. The truths in the Bible. How history supports Christ’s resurrection.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Last go around in 2012, we did 1 Corinthians 15-16 in one day.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

The word gospel means “good news.” As the word was used in ancient times, it didn’t have to describe the message of salvation in Jesus Christ; it could describe any good news. But the best news ever is that we can be saved from the punishment we deserve from God because of what Jesus did for us.

The Corinthian Christians first received the gospel. The message of the gospel must first be believed and embraced.

You have to receive, stand, and hold fast to the Gospel: past, present, and future. You never stop working for God.

Paul did not make up this gospel. He received it (and not from man, but from Jesus Christ, according to Galatians 1:11-12), and Paul delivered it

At the core of the gospel are things that happened – actual, real, historical events. The gospel isn’t a matter of religious opinions, platitudes, or fairy tales; it is about real historical events.

Crucifixion Explained

The victim’s back was first torn open by scourging. As he hung on the cross, with each breath, the painful wounds on the back scraped against the rough wood of the upright beam.

When the nail was driven through the wrists, it severed the large median nerve. This produced excruciating bolts of pain in both arms, and resulted in a claw-like grip in the victim’s hands.

Beyond the excruciating pain, the major effect of crucifixion was inhibiting normal breathing. The weight of the body pulled down on the arms and shoulders and hindered exhalation. The lack of adequate respiration resulted in severe muscle cramps, which hindered breathing even further. To get a good breath, one had to push against the feet, and flex the elbows, pulling from the shoulders. Putting the weight of the body on the feet produced searing pain, and flexing the elbows twisted the hands hanging on the nails. Lifting the body for a breath also painfully scraped the back against the rough wooden post.

“Not uncommonly, insects would light upon or burrow into the open wounds or the eyes, ears, and nose of the dying and helpless victim, and birds of prey would tear at these sites. Moreover, it was customary to leave the corpse on the cross to be devoured by predatory animals.” (Edwards)

Death was from acute shock from blood loss, being too exhausted to breathe any longer; dehydration, stress-induced heart attack, or congestive heart failure leading to a cardiac rupture. If the victim did not die quickly enough, the legs were broken, and the victim was soon unable to breathe.

We get our English word excruciating from the Roman word “out of the cross.”

Why Does the Death of Jesus Matter?

God the Father laid upon God the Son all the guilt and wrath our sin deserved, and Jesus bore it in Himself perfectly, totally satisfying the wrath of God in our place.

As horrible as the physical suffering of Jesus was, this spiritual suffering – the act of being judged for sin in our place – was what Jesus really dreaded about the cross. This was the cup – the cup of God’s righteous wrath – that He trembled at drinking (Luke 22:39-46, Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15). On the cross Jesus became, as it were, an enemy of God, who was judged and forced to drink the cup of the Father’s fury so we would not have to drink that cup.

Isaiah 53:3-5 puts it powerfully: He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

The burial of Jesus is positive proof that He really died, because you don’t bury someone unless they are really dead, and Jesus’ death was confirmed at the cross before He was taken down to be buried (John 19:31-37).

Jesus’ burial is also important because it fulfilled the Scriptures which declared, And they made His grave with the wicked; but with the rich at His death (Isaiah 53:9). Jesus was buried in the tomb of a rich man (Matthew 27:57-60).

The gospel is that Jesus took our punishment for sin on the cross, and remained a perfect Savior through the whole ordeal – proved by His resurrection. Jesus conquered sin, which is what the resurrection represents.

He rose the third day after His death. This also demonstrates Jesus’ credibility, because He proclaimed He would rise three days after His death (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19).

Jesus’ death was planned (Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, Hosea 6:2, Jonah 1:17, and Psalm 16:10, Genesis 22)

Eye-Witnesses To Jesus’ Resurrection

Though no one saw the actual resurrection of Jesus, many people saw the resurrected Jesus. Paul now calls forth these witnesses to the resurrection, to establish beyond all controversy that Jesus was raised from the dead in a resurrection body.

Five hundred brethren isn’t detailed in the gospels, but is suggested by Matthew 28:10 and 28:16-17. During the time after His resurrection, but before His Ascension, Jesus met with His followers on many different occasions.

James, the brother of Jesus, who is seen as a prominent leader in the church in Acts 15. Significantly, in the gospels, Jesus’ brothers are hostile to Him and His mission (John 7:3-5). Yet in the first chapter of Acts, Jesus’ brothers are among the followers of Jesus (Acts 1:14). What happened to change them? Certainly, this meeting of the resurrected Jesus with His brother James had some influence.

John 20:26-31, John 21:1-25, Matthew 28:16-20, and Luke 24:44-49. mentions many meetings that are not described in the gospels. These meetings were important in proving to the disciples that Jesus was who He said He was. At these meetings He ate with them, comforted them, commanded them to preach the gospel, and told them to wait in Jerusalem for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit after His ascension.

The changed character of the apostles, and their willingness to die for the testimony of the resurrection, eliminate fraud as an explanation of the empty tomb.

Why didn’t Paul mention the appearances of Jesus to the women at the tomb as evidence of Jesus’ resurrection? Probably because in that day a woman’s testimony was not received in law courts. It was true, and it was good evidence for the apostles at that time, but the world of that day would reject that testimony, because it came from women.

Paul regarded himself as the least of the apostles because he persecuted the church of God. Paul always remembered how he had sinned against Jesus’ church. He knew that he was forgiven; yet he remembered his sin.

Paul felt – rightly so – that his sins were worse because he was responsible for the death, imprisonment, and suffering of Christians, whom he persecuted before his life was changed by Jesus (Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1-2, Galatians 1:13, Philippians 3:6, and 1 Timothy 1:15).

Saving and Changing Grace

The grace that saves us also changes us. Grace changed Paul. You can’t receive the grace of God without being changed by it. The changes don’t come all at once, and the changes are not complete until we pass to the next life, but we are indeed changed.

We work in a partnership with God, not because He needs us, but because He wants us to share in His work. Paul understood this principle well, writing, “for we are God’s fellow workers” in 1 Corinthians 3:9.

Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it? The answer is, “Yes!” God does it, and we do it. Trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work and work as hard as you can! That is how we see the work of God accomplished.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 15:12-34:

Some Corinthians did not believe in the resurrection of the dead which means their preaching is useless and faithless if so. They would be a false witness.  Faith is futile and you are still in sin.

All die but Christ will make them alive again.  First Christ then those who belong to him.  End will come when Jesus has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.  He will reign until he destroys his enemy and death.  God will be all in all when everything (except God) is under him and then the Son will be made subject to Him.

Paul says if there is no resurrection then everything is in vain.  He dies every day.  Don’t be misled by those ignorant of God.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

6) According to Paul, if Christ has not been raised then the following five things would be true.

1. Christian preaching is empty and so in anyone’s faith because the object of the faith, Christ, is not whom He said He was.
2. The apostles are liars for testifying to a resurrection that did not occur.
3. No forgiveness has been granted for anybody’s sin.
4. Those who have died believing in Christ have no hope.
5. If hope in Christ is limited to this life, Christians are to be pitied above all people.

There Is No Meaning For Humanity If Christ Is Not Risen

Without the resurrection, Christianity has no meaning for humanity – its founder would have been a liar and a failure, and its followers would have no hope. Thus the importance of the resurrection to Christian faith cannot be overestimated.

7) Personal Question. My answer: Jesus died for my sin and eternal life.

8 ) Personal Question. My answer: Relatives, strangers I encounter.

Conclusion BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

A hugely important passage in the Bible of Paul explaining why if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, our faith would be meaningless.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34:

The Corinthian Christians did not deny Jesus’ resurrection; they denied our resurrection. They were influenced either by Greek philosophy (which considered the resurrection undesirable, thinking the state of “pure spirit” superior), or by the thinking of the Sadducees (which thought the world beyond to be just wishful thinking). The bottom line is that the Corinthian Christians believed we lived forever, but not in resurrected bodies.

ii. Remember that resurrection is not merely life after death; it is the continuation of life after death in glorified bodies, which are our present bodies in a glorified state.

If there is no resurrection, then Jesus is not risen, and Paul and the other apostles have preached in vain and are liars. There is no real, resurrected Jesus whom they serve.

Faith is futile and you are still in sin.

Put another way:

• If there is no principle of resurrection, then Jesus did not rise from the dead.
• If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then death has power over Him and defeated Him.
• If death has power over Jesus, He is not God.
• If Jesus is not God, He cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins.
• If Jesus cannot offer a complete sacrifice for sins, our sins are not completely paid for before God.
• If my sins are not completely paid for before God, then I am still in my sins.
• Therefore, if Jesus is not risen, He is unable to save.

Those who have already died are dead forever as well.

It is true that being a Christian solves many problems; but it also brings many others. Paul, (like the preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes) saw little ultimate value in life if there is only this life to live.

The divinity of Jesus rests on the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 1:4).

The sovereignty of Jesus rests on the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 14:9).

Our justification rests on the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 4:25).

Our regeneration rests on the resurrection of Jesus (1 Peter 1:3).

Our ultimate resurrection rests on the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 8:11).

Firstfruits

Firstfruits is the ancient Greek word aparche. In the Septuagint, this word is used for the offering of firstfruits and in secular usage the word was used for an entrance fee.

Jesus was the firstfruits of our resurrection in both senses. In the Old Testament, the offering of firstfruits brought one sheaf of grain to represent and anticipate the rest of the harvest (Leviticus 23:9-14). The resurrection of Jesus represents our resurrection, because if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:5). The resurrection of Jesus also anticipates our resurrection, because we will be raised with a body like His. “As in the firstfruits offered to God, the Jews were assured of God’s blessing on the whole harvest; so by the resurrection of Christ, our resurrection is insured.” (Trapp)

The Feast of Firstfruits was observed on the day after the Sabbath following Passover (Leviticus 23:9-14). Significantly, Jesus rose from the dead on the exact day of the Feast of Firstfruits, the day after the Sabbath following the Passover.

The offering at the Feast of Firstfruits was a bloodless grain offering (Leviticus 2). No atoning sacrifice was necessary, because the Passover lamb had just been sacrificed. This corresponds perfectly with the resurrection of Jesus, because His death ended the need for sacrifice, having provided a perfect and complete atonement.

The resurrection of Jesus is also the firstfruits of our resurrection in the sense that He is our “entrance fee” to resurrection. Jesus paid our admission to the resurrection!

Paul communicates the same ideas found in Romans 5:12-21. Adam (by man) is one “head” of the human race, and all mankind was brought under death by Adam. The second Adam, Jesus Christ (by Man) is the other head of the human race, and Jesus brings resurrection to all that are “under” His headship.

In Ephesians 1:10, Paul reveals God’s eternal purpose in history: that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him. Paul wrote of the “gathering together” of all things in Jesus, or of the “summing up” of all things in Him. Here, in 1 Corinthians, he looks forward to the time when all things are resolved in Jesus Christ and He presents it all to God the Father, giving glory to the God who authored this eternal plan of the ages.

Paul refers to the one-thousand-year reign of Jesus described in Revelation 20:1-6. After that time, there will be a final, Satan inspired rebellion (Revelation 20:7-10), which Jesus will crush and finally and forever put all enemies under His feet.

The expression under His feet is an Old Testament “figure for total conquest.” (Mare)

Death will be present during the millennial reign of Jesus (Revelation 20:9 and Isaiah 65:20), but afterward, death will be abolished. It is truly the last enemy that will be destroyed.

Simply put, God the Father will always be God the Father, and God the Son will always be God the Son, and for all eternity they will continue to relate to each other as Father and Son.

What was being baptized for the dead? It is a mysterious passage, and there have been more than thirty different attempts to interpret it.

Die Daily

How can we die daily? Spurgeon gives seven steps to dying daily in a sermon titled Dying Daily.

1. Every day carefully consider the certainty of death.
2. By faith put your soul through the whole process of death.
3. Hold this world with a loose hand.
4. Every day seriously test your hope and experience.
5. Come every day, just as you did at conversion, to the cross of Jesus, as a poor guilty sinner.
6. Live in such a manner that you would not be ashamed to die at any moment.
7. Have all your affairs in order so that you are ready to die.

The book of Acts does not record an occasion when Paul faced wild animals in an arena. It may simply be unrecorded, or Paul may mean “beasts” figuratively, in reference to his violent and wild human opponents (as he faced at Ephesus in Acts 19:21-41).

Paul’s third proof for the resurrection in this section is also compelling. If there is no resurrection, then there is no future judgment to consider.

By keeping evil company, the Corinthian Christians were being conformed to this world, and they needed to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Christians must let the Word of God shape their thinking, not the evil company of this world.

This is not a quotation from the Old Testament, or even from the words of Jesus. Paul quotes from an ancient, secular comedy play, Thais, written by Menander. Though he was a pagan, Menander told the truth at this point, and Paul (more properly, the Holy Spirit) had no problem quoting a pagan who did tell the truth at a particular point.

For Christians to resist God’s process of transformation by the renewing of our minds is to neglect the knowledge of God. To remain willfully ignorant of the truth is sin.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 15:35-58:

Pauld answers the question about what kind of body the raised dead will have. God gives us a body. Paul says there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies.  All flesh is not the same.  God gives each seed its own body.  The body on earth is perishable.  It will be raised imperishable.  It is in dishonor but raised in glory.  It is weak but will be powerful.  It is natural but will be spiritual.  We will bear the likeness of a man from Heaven when resurrected.

The body will be changed as flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.  Death will end when the mortal become immortal.  Jesus will conquer death!

Stand firm and allow nothing to move  you.  Do the work of the Lord because you know it is not in vain.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

9) Imperishable, glory, power, spiritual, the bodies will be changed.

10) Personal Question. My answer: His ultimate plan is for us to be with Him, which is why we are given new bodies because flesh and blood cannot be with God. God has a plan, as always.

11) Personal Question. My answer: I’m pretty sure we’ve answered this one before. Gives me faith and hope to fight the daily fight.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

It’s cool to think how our bodies will appear in the afterlife.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

God raises the dead is the simple answer here, but Paul elaborates.

“Foolish one” is the correct translation here.

Paul says our bodies are like “seeds” which “grow” into resurrection bodies. When you bury the body of a believer, you are “sowing” a “seed” that will come out of the earth as a resurrection body.

Even though our resurrection bodies come from our present bodies, we should not expect that they will be the same bodies or just “improved” bodies.

There are all different kinds of “bodies” in God’s creation, including celestial bodies. Our resurrection body will be a heavenly (celestial) body, suited for life in heaven, not only life on this earth.

While our present bodies are adapted for the environment of time and earth, our resurrection bodies will be adapted for the environment of eternity and heaven.

Our resurrection body will be glorious!

“Three glimpses of the body’s glory were seen, in Moses’ face, in Christ’s transfiguration, and in Stephen’s countenance.” (Trapp)

The first perfect man, Adam, gave us one kind of body. The second perfect man, Jesus the last Adam, can give us another kind of body. He is a life-giving spirit.

The resurrection body of Jesus was material and could eat (Luke 24:39-43), yet it was not bound by the laws of nature (Luke 24:31, 24:36-37).

Since sleep is a softer way of describing the death of a believer, Paul tells us that not all Christians will die, but there will be a “final generation” who will be transformed into resurrection bodies at the return of Jesus before they ever face death.

The remarkable, instant gathering of Christians unto Jesus in the clouds has been called the rapture, after the Latin word for caught up in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.

There will come a day when in God’s eternal plan, He gives those dead in the Lord their resurrection bodies, and then in an instant He gathers all His people to meet Jesus in the air. All the redeemed on the earth at that time will rise up to meet the Lord in the clouds, and will receive their resurrection bodies.

Either the present dead in Christ are with the Lord in a spiritual body, awaiting their final resurrection body; or because of the nature of timeless eternity, they have received their resurrection bodies already because they live in the eternal “now.”

The Last Trumpet

Scholars disagree on what is the last trumpet.

Those who believe that Jesus gathers His people after He has poured out His wrath on a Jesus-rejecting world sometimes argue that it is the last trumpet of judgment, cited in Revelation 11:15-19.

• The last trumpet may not refer to the last trumpet of the seven trumpets of Revelation at all, but simply refer to the last trumpet believers hear on this earth.
• This last trumpet may be connected with the trumpet of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, but not with the trumpets of angels in Revelation 11. A distinction may be made between the trumpet of an angel and the trumpet of God. Chuck Smith points to a grammatical construction that would be different if this trumpet were the trumpet of Revelation 11.
• Ironside says that the last trumpet was a figure of speech that came from the Roman military, when they broke camp. The first trumpet meant, “strike the tents and prepare to leave”; the second trumpet meant, “fall into line”; the third and last trumpet meant “march away.” This last trumpet describes the Christian’s “marching orders” at the rapture of the Church.

Death is defeated by resurrection. Death has no power over the person found in Jesus Christ.

The principle of resurrection also proves that we are not under the law any longer. We are no longer subject to the penalty of the law (death), and we are set free from sin. Sin is the ultimate cause of death (Romans 6:23, Genesis 2:17), and the result can’t be defeated unless the cause is defeated.

Paul brilliantly links together the ideas of sin, death, and our identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection in Romans 6:1-14.

The defeat of death is only possible for those who live through our Lord Jesus Christ. For others, there is resurrection and eternal life, but unto damnation. If you are an unbeliever, death is not your friend; it is your enemy.

Because we know death is defeated and we have an eternal, resurrected destiny with Jesus Christ, we should stand firm and unshakable all the more for Him right now. We should work hard in everything now, working for the Lord, because right now counts forever!

Summary of 1 Corinthians 16:

Give to God’s people (Jerusalem).  Paul says he will try to come to them in person and if Timothy comes make him welcome and have nothing to fear for he is doing the work of the Lord.  Apollos will come shortly as well.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous and strong.  Do everything in love.

Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (bearers of the letter we’re reading) should be recognized for their service.

Grace and love to all.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 16

12) Personal Question. My answer: Truthfully, not a whole lot here besides how Paul let Timothy go where God led him. Where God leads, you follow.

13) Personal Question. My answer: None, right now. I always need help from God to stand firm.

14) Personal Question. My answer: Give more money to charity.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 16

I love the idea of giving as you are led and not to feel pressured to give. I personally didn’t get much out of the questions. I feel unhelpful to you all today.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 24, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 16

Now concerning is used again in this letter (see also 1 Corinthians 7:1, 8:1, and 12:1). It means Paul is replying to something the Corinthian Christians asked about.

Paul refers to a collection he gathered for the saints in Jerusalem. In several other passages it speaks of this effort among many different churches to help the poor Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30, 24:17, Romans 15: 26, 2 Corinthians 8:13, 9:9-12).

Why was the church in Jerusalem so needy? There may be many reasons. We know they supported a large number of widows (Acts 6:1-6) and were in the midst of famine (Acts 11:27-30).

Helping the Poor According to the Bible

• Benevolence distribution is a potential source of conflict and division, and it is the job of deacons to prevent such problems by their wise, Spirit-led actions (Acts 6:1-7).
• The church has an obligation to help the truly needy (James 1:27).
• The church must discern who the truly needy are (1 Timothy 5:3).
• If one can work to support himself, he is not truly needy and must provide for his own needs (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
• If one can be supported by their family, he is not truly needy and should not be supported by the church (1 Timothy 5:3-4).
• Those who are supported by the church must make some return to the church body (1 Timothy 5:5, 5:10).
• It is right for the church to examine moral conduct before giving support (1 Timothy 5:9-13).
• The support of the church should be for the most basic necessities of living (1 Timothy 6:8).

The Corinthians were commanded to take an offering, but not every Christian was commanded to individually give. They had to give as God put it on their heart to give.

They were not against meeting on the Sabbath; they just knew that all days were alike to the Lord (Colossians 2:16-17), and wanted to celebrate the day Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:1).

Every Christian should be a giver, because God is a giver (John 3:16).

You should seek God about your gift at home, and prepare it at home. This makes one seek the Lord more in their giving, and helps them resist any manipulation to give.

Believers who have more should give more. We should give proportionately; that is, if you give $10 a week when you make $100 a week, you should give more money when you make more money.

Paul didn’t want to manipulate anyone! He wanted giving from the heart, as each heart heard from God, and not in response to a high-pressure fund-raising program.

Paul calls giving a charis – a grace, a gift freely given. Paul calls it a grace, “because it flowed from their free love towards their poor brethren… or because their sense of the free love and grace of God to them, was that which moved them to that charitable act.” (Poole)

Sometimes Paul called giving a koinonia, which means “fellowship, sharing” (2 Corinthians 8:4, 9:13, Romans 15:26).

Sometimes Paul called giving a diakonia, which means “a practical service or ministry” (2 Corinthians 8:4, 9:1, 9:12-13).

Paul leaves all his plans up to the will of the Lord. He planned to go through the region of Macedonia, visiting Corinth. But things happened differently than he planned. Instead, Paul made a soon, painful visit to Corinth to personally confront them in some areas.

Paul asks the Corinthian Christians to respect Timothy when he comes.

This echoes Paul’s later words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12. Apparently, Timothy suffered from both a lack of confidence and a lack of respect. It was important for God’s people to not take advantage of this in Timothy, and it was important for Timothy to never give others reason to despise him.

Wherever Timothy was, he was on his way to see Paul, and would probably stop in Corinth on the way.

Christians are to be like strong soldiers, on guard, watching for their Lord’s return.

Jesus commanded us to watch (Matthew 24:42, 26:41, Mark 13:37).

Paul warned Christians to stand fast in their liberty in Jesus (Galatians 5:1), in Christian unity (Philippians 1:27), in the Lord Himself (Philippians 4:1), and in the teaching of the apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Fun Fact: This is the only place in the New Testament where the word translated be brave is used (andrizomai). Literally, it means, “to act like a man.” Be brave in the King James Version is quit you like men. That is a good, accurate translation of the idea behind the ancient Greek word.

Christians are told to be strong in passages like Ephesians 6:10 and 2 Timothy 2:1.

These were the three men who brought the questions of the Corinthian Christians to Paul. As Paul sends them back with this letter, Paul asked that they be received as devoted servants of the Lord.

Stephanas was the head of the household, and Fortunatus and Achaicus were two household slaves of his, who accompanied him on his visit to Paul. Fortunatus and Achaicus were common names for slaves or freedmen (former slaves).

Aquilla and Priscilla were a married couple who ministered with Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:1-3, 18:24-28). Now they were in Ephesus with Paul and sent their greetings to the Corinthian Christians.

Jewish custom and early church tradition indicate that the holy kiss was a common greeting in that culture.

Paul had a secretary write the letters as he dictated them.  Often he added a personal note at the end in his own handwriting

Marana tha is Aramaic for O Lord, come! This was one of the earliest words of the Christian vocabulary.

Paul’s final word (before the Amen) is Jesus. He has emphasized Jesus from beginning to end in this letter.

Summary of Acts 21:16-36:

We pick up Paul right at his arrival in Jerusalem.  He was greeted warmly and then meets with James and all the other elders to give an account of his travels.  Immediately, there is a concern that needs to be addressed:  the Jews have mistakenly been informed that Paul is teaching the Jews to turn away from Moses and their customs.  They are angry.  So to appease them, we suggest you take four men and pay their expenses to be purified.  Then everyone will know the rumors are false and that you are living in obedience to the law.

Paul agrees and complies.  However, some Jews see him at the temple and repeat the rumors to the crowd and also throw in a lie about how Paul brought Greeks into the holy place in the temple, a lie based on a false assumption of association.

The angry mob seized Paul, beating him, fully intending to kill him for such a perceived violation of Jewish law.  However, when the Romans found out an uncontrolled riot was taking place, they ran to see what the commotion was all about.  The Romans arrested Paul and tried to figure out what was going on.  Unable to do so due to crowd noise, they remove Paul to the barracks.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 2: Acts 21:16-36

3) Paul agreed to keep the peace, for the others. He did it so as not to be a barrier to Jesus. Obeying customs is doing things because they’ve been done forever. Obeying God is just that — obeying God. Both can be right as long as they are in tune with God and His word.

4) Many people make false accusations either intentionally or unintentionally. Some choose the smallest violations and try to make them a big deal, all with the intent to harm you. They do so because they are jealous, power-hungry, or hold misguided beliefs. Christians should defend themselves, using non-violence unless your life is threatened.

5) Part personal question. My answer: God has a plan, so this false accusation is part of God’s plan. It helps me to know everything is in God’s hands — the good and the bad. It’s for our good, to strengthen our faith in Him and His word.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 2: Acts 21:16-36

You gotta feel sorry for Paul. The poor guy can’t get a break. He’s been persecuted and faced death and here he goes again. Luckily, God is with him (and all of us) in our trials.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 2: Acts 21:16-36

Bible scholars date Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem at 57 AD, 25 years after chapter 1 of Acts.

Paul reports about his travels to the elders and his successful conversions. Yet, while Paul was away, he has gained a reputation as anti-Jewish since he has been converting Gentiles and not requiring the law. Most of the Christians in Jerusalem at this time were Jewish and still followed the customs of the law.

Based on Romans 14:4-6, it seems that Paul didn’t have a problem with Jewish Christians who wanted to continue to observe old customs and laws. It seems that he himself did so sometimes, such as when he took and fulfilled a vow of consecration in Acts 18:18-21

So the elders asked Paul to make a token vow of consecration to appease these naysayers. Paul agreed.

Many commentators believe this was a terrible compromise on Paul’s part; that he was a hypocrite. Yet the motive behind Paul’s sponsorship of these Christian Jews completing their Nazirite vow is explained in 1 Corinthians 9:20: And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law.

The charges against Paul in Acts 21:28 were an echo of the charges Stephen was executed for (Acts 6:13).

The crowd was enlarged because it was feast-time (Acts 20:16). It was enraged because they believed Paul not only preached against the people, the law, and the temple, but also profaned the temple by bringing Gentiles into its inner courts.

It was absolutely prohibited for Gentiles to go beyond the designated “Court of the Gentiles” in the temple grounds. Signs were posted which read (in both Greek and Latin): “No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the temple and enclosure. Any one who is caught trespassing will bear personal responsibility for his ensuing death.” The Romans were so sensitive to this that they authorized the Jews to execute anyone that offended in this way, even if the offender was a Roman citizen.

Paul was no stranger to near death experiences (Acts 14:5, 19). Luckily for Paul, more than 500 Roman soldiers were stationed only two flights of stairs from the Court of the Gentiles.

The Romans didn’t sympathize with Paul, but they were interested in keeping public order, so they arrested Paul both for his own protection and to remove the cause of the uproar.

Two chains means Paul was handcuffed to a solider on either side. Paul must have immediately remembered the prophecy of Agabus (Acts 21:11).

When the mob cried out for his death, Paul must have remembered when he was part of such a mob, agreeing with the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54-8:1).

Or, perhaps, it even reminded him of the trial of Jesus: “The shout Away with him! which pursued him as he was carried up the steps was the shout with which Jesus’ death had been demanded not far from that spot some twenty-seven years before (Luke 23:18; John 19:15)

Boice on Away with him! “They did not mean, ‘Take him away from the temple area.’ They meant, ‘Remove him from the earth.’ They wanted him dead.”

Summary of Acts 21:37-22:29:

After Paul’s arrest and beating by the out-of-control mob, he asks to speak to the mob in his defense.

Paul tells them his origins: he’s a Jew who used to persecute followers of Jesus until Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and God commissioned him to the Gentiles.  This angered the crowd when Paul mentioned the Gentiles (for they believed the Gentiles were not equal with the Jews in God’s eyes), and the Roman commander ordered Paul be flogged and questioned about why the crowd was so incensed.

Here, Paul invokes his Roman citizen privileges (illegal to flog a citizen until found guilty in a court of law and illegal to chain a citizen), and the commander immediately changes course, appalled that he put a Roman citizen in chains.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 3: Acts 21:37-22:29

6) Paul tells of his time when he persecuted those who followed the Way, how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and blinded him. He tells of how Ananias tells him he was chosen by God and how God sends him to the Gentiles.

7) Personal Question. My answer: “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” Basically, the crowd wanted to kill Paul when he said God sent him to the Gentiles. The crowd is letting prejudice get in their way of justice. They are swept up by mob mentality and about to execute an innocent man. I learn to just be wary of decisions I make carelessly based on preconceived beliefs I may hold.

8 ) Personal Question. My answer: Unsure. I was raised a Christian, and it’s a pretty boring story no one wants to listen to. For me, I’d rather speak of my continued faith than how I came to Jesus.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 3: Acts 21:37-22:29

I love how Paul uses his Roman citizenship when he needs to. It’s so amazing how God had Paul’s life planned so that he would be a Roman citizen in a time when being a Roman citizen saved your life.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 3: Acts 21:37-22:29

The language was a surprise because both the language and phrasing showed that Paul was a man educated in the Greek world, not a rabble-rouser.

The Roman commander bound Paul with two chains (Acts 21:33) because he suspected Paul was a troublemaker. Yet, he gave Paul permission to speak to the crowd, probably because he hoped that Paul’s speech might quiet the mob. At first, it did quiet the people down.

We are called to follow Jesus so we shouldn’t be surprised when events in our lives are like events in Jesus’ life. There may be a time of temptation in the wilderness, a time when people come to us with needs only God can meet, a time when we seem at the mercy of a storm, a time when we must cry out to God as in the Garden of Gethsemane, a time when we must simply lay down our lives and trust God will gloriously raise us up. We, like Paul, are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

Paul’s Defense

Note that Paul will choose to defend himself, while Jesus did not.

Paul began his great defense before the Jews the same way Stephen did: Men and brethren and fathers, listen. (Acts 7:2)

“Paul gave a magnificent defense. He actually used the word ‘defense’ (Acts 22:1). In Greek it is the word apologia, from which we get our word ‘apology.’ It refers to a formal defense of one’s past life or actions.” (Boice)

Paul’s Conversion Story

Paul began telling the story of his life before Jesus Christ and then his conversion.

Luke told the story of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9. After that, Paul told the story in some way at least four more times in the New Testament, each with its own intention.

1. Acts 22: Telling the story to persuade the Jews.
2. Acts 26: Telling the story to persuade the Gentiles.
3. Philippians 3: Telling the story for theological understanding.
4. 1 Timothy 1: Telling the story to give encouragement.

Paul noted that though he was born outside of the Promised Land, he was brought up in Jerusalem, and at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the most prestigious rabbis of the day (Acts 5:34).

“I understand why you have attacked me. I was once an attacker also. I understand where you are coming from.” Paul had been a Christian for more than twenty years, but could still relate to those who were not Christians.

Paul was misguided until he encountered Jesus. He was actually persecuting Jesus Himself.

In persecuting Jesus, Paul was spiritually blind, and then he was also physically blind – and had to be humbly led by the hand into the city of Damascus.

Acts 22:14 is a wonderful capsule of the duty of every one before God: To know His will, to see the Just One (Jesus), and to hear the voice of His mouth (His word).

Paul had an impressive vision of Jesus while in the temple; yet he never referred to this vision in his letters, and seems to only mention it now out of necessity. Paul’s Christian life was founded on God’s truth, not spiritual experiences, and he didn’t even like to talk a lot about his spiritual experiences.

When Paul was touched by God in Damascus, he was told then of his call to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15), so the words from Jesus to him in the temple at Jerusalem were not new. However, we can see that in his first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion, it would have been easy for Paul to care so much for the conversion of Israel that he would want to concentrate on that – that’s why Jesus gave him the reminder in the temple.

God’s Plans for Paul

Paul made it clear that it wasn’t his idea to preach to the Gentiles; this was God’s plan, not his. He hoped it also explained to the crowd why he seemed so friendly to the Gentiles: Paul was simply obeying Jesus and His word to him.

The Jewish Christians could not stand the idea that God might save Jews and Gentiles alike and in the same way.

From now until the end of the Book of Acts, Paul will be in Roman custody. As far as this book is concerned, this was the end of his time as a free man, though not the end of his witness or his usefulness to God and God’s people.

It is suggested that Paul be beaten with a scourge. This was quite different from being beaten with a rod or a normal whip (which Paul had experienced, 2 Corinthians 11:24-25). Men often died or were crippled for life after a scourging.

“This was not the normal Jewish flogging, which was bad enough, but the dreaded Roman flagellum. It was a beating so severe that in some cases it resulted in the death of the victim.” (Boice)

The penalty for lying about one’s Roman citizenship was significant. It wasn’t the kind of thing people commonly lied about, so the commander could simply ask Paul directly.

“The point was not that the tribune doubted Paul’s claim, but rather he was implying that anybody could become a citizen these days!” (Marshall)

“How the citizenship was acquired by Paul’s father or grandfather we have no means of knowing, but analogy would suggest that it was for valuable services rendered to a Roman general or administrator in the southeastern area of Asia Minor.” (Bruce)

God’s Plans for You

Paul was an extremely rare individual. It was uncommon to find such an educated, intelligent, devout Jew who was also a Roman citizen. God would use this unique background to use Paul in a special way, even as he wants to use your unique background to use you in a special way.

Summary Acts 22:30-23:11:

Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin to face charges against him.  Paul says he has fulfilled his duty to God with a good conscious.  The high priest took offense to this statement and had Paul struck.  Paul tells Ananias God will strike him down and accuses him of corruption and of violating the law.  When told Ananias was the high priest, Paul says he didn’t know that.

Then Paul cleverly divides the Sadducees from the Pharisees by bringing in Jesus whom Luke explains, saying the Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection whereas the Pharisees do.

The Pharisees want to release Paul; the Sadducees want him dead. Paul is taken back to the barracks for his own protection where the Lord appears to him at night, saying to take heart for he is to go to Rome.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 4: Acts 22:30-23:11

9a) The high priest Ananias ordered Paul be struck on the mouth when Paul offended him, saying he had a good conscious. Paul tells Ananias God will strike him down and accuses him of corruption and of violating the law (Deuteronomy 25:1-2 says you must be found guilty before being punished or beaten). Paul cleverly divides the Sadducees from the Pharisees by bringing in Jesus whom Luke explains, saying the Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection whereas the Pharisees do. A fight breaks out between the two factions, and Paul is taken back to the barracks since the Romans are afraid he will be ripped apart.

b) Personal Question. My answer: Here, people are hypocrites and petty. God always protects the faithful as He does with Paul by having him brought back to the barracks.

10a) Lord appears to Paul and tells him, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

b) Personal Question. My answer: Everyday strength that I am doing the right thing.

11) The gospel will go with Paul to Rome.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 4: Acts 22:30-23:11

Paul knows he shouldn’t be beaten unfairly without a trial (Deuteronomy 25:1-2) and he knows he must obey God through obeying the leaders of the day (Exodus 22:28).  Further, he knows he is on trial because of his belief in Jesus and that this is also God’s will. God tells Paul He has more work for him, just like He has work for us each day of our lives.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 4: Acts 22:30-23:11

Luke presents the Roman commander as a fair and upstanding man

The Sanhedrin was the Jewish congress or parliament. Paul would be given the opportunity to speak before the group that he was once a member of. Acts 26:10 clearly says that Paul had a vote – usually, that would be used as a member of the Sanhedrin.

Paul would logically think this was the opportunity of a lifetime, to preach to those he loved so much and knew so well.

God had revealed a plan to Paul right at his conversion. Paul was a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake (Acts 9:15-16). Paul knew the general plan; but just like us, he didn’t know how it would all work out. He had to trust God, just like every believer.

Men and brethren: According to William Barclay, this address meant that Paul was bold in speaking to the council, setting himself on an equal footing with them. The normal style of address was to say, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel.”

Paul’s claim of a good conscience offended the high priest. He thought that someone accused of such serious crimes should never claim a clear conscience.

Punch in the Face

This order was illegal, for the Jewish law said, ‘He who strikes the cheek of one Israelite, strikes as it were the glory of God,’ and ‘He that strikes a man strikes the Holy One.’” (Hughes)

The Ananias who was high priest at this time did no honor to the office. He was well known for his greed; the ancient Jewish historian Josephus tells of how Ananias stole for himself the tithes that belonged to the common priests.

Whitewashed wall; a white veneer of purity covering over obvious corruption.

Paul exposed the hypocrisy of the man who made the command.

The men of the council were supposed to be example of the Law of Moses. The command to have Paul struck was in fact contrary to both the spirit and the letter of the law. Deuteronomy 25:1-2 says only a man found guilty can be beaten, and Paul had not yet been found guilty of anything.

God will strike you: “Paul’s words, however, were more prophetic than he realized. Ananias’ final days – despite all his scheming and bribes – were lived as a hunted animal and ended at the hands of his own people.” (Longenecker)

He agreed that it was wrong to speak evil of the ruler of your people (Exodus 22:28). Yet Paul excused himself, claiming that he did not know that the man who commanded the punch was Ananias, the high priest.

This isn’t unreasonable, since Paul had been away from the council and the high circles of Jewish authority in Jerusalem for more than 20 years. Probably, he simply didn’t recognize the man who gave the command to strike him as the high priest. However, some think he did not know because Paul’s eyesight was bad. This is an inference from Galatians 4:14-15 and 6:11, as well as from early written church traditions.

Others think that Paul was sarcastic, with the idea “I didn’t think that anyone who acted in such a manner could be the high priest.”

So, Paul gave up on preaching the gospel, and did what he could to preserve his liberty before a council that wanted to kill him.

Paul Divides the Sanhedrin

Paul referred to his heritage as a Pharisee, and declared, “concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged.” He knew this was a matter of great controversy between the two parties.

Sadducees were the theological liberals of their day, and denied the reality of life after death and the concept of resurrection. Luke rightly wrote of them, Sadducees say that there is no resurrection; and no angel or spirit.

The Pharisees were more likely to find some ground of agreement with Paul, being the more the Bible believers in the Jewish world of that time. They took the Bible seriously, even if they did err greatly by adding the traditions of men to what they received in the Bible.

Usually the Sadducees and the Pharisees were bitter enemies, but they were able to unite in opposition against Jesus (Matthew 16:1, John 11:47-53) and Paul.

The Pharisees recommended a return to advice of their great leader Gamaliel as recorded in Acts 5:38-39 to not fight against God.

Rescued by the Roman Commander Again

Paul had the opportunity to preach to a huge crowd of attentive Jews on the temple mount and it ended in failure. Then he had the opportunity to preach to the influential Jewish council, and it also ended in a fistfight. However, Paul did his part; God must do the rest.

Later Paul seemed to suggest that this tactic of bringing up the resurrection controversy in the way that he did was not good. He suggests that it was “wrongdoing” on his part (Acts 24:20-21).

The Comforting Hand of Jesus

This must have been a difficult night for Paul. His heart longed for the salvation of his fellow Jews (Romans 9:1-4), and two great opportunities came to nothing. It would be no surprise if Paul blamed himself for the missed opportunity before the Sanhedrin. It could be said that his reaction to the punch commanded by the High Priest spoiled everything.

It was in the darkness of that night when the fears came upon Paul; when his trust in God seemed to falter; when he worried about what God was going to do and if he was going to make it. It was in the darkness of that night that Jesus came to Paul and stood by him.

Jesus’ physical presence (as it seems was the case) with Paul was a unique manifestation. But Jesus promised every believer to always be with them (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus knew where Paul was; He had not lost sight of Paul because he was in jail. God knows where you are today; even if you are hiding it from everyone else, God knows where you are.

Paul was alone, but he wasn’t alone; if everyone else forsook him, Jesus was enough. Better to be in jail with the Lord than to be in heaven without him.

Paul had been miraculously delivered from jail cells before; but this time, the Lord met him right in the jail cell. We often demand that Jesus deliver us out of our circumstances, when He wants to meet us right in them. We sometimes think we are surrendering to Jesus when we are really only demanding an escape. God wants to meet us in whatever we face at the moment.

Jesus would not have said be of good cheer unless Paul needed to hear those words. Paul knew his situation was bad, but he didn’t know the half of it! The next day, forty Jewish assassins would gather together and vow to go on a hunger strike until they murdered Paul. Paul didn’t know this would happen, but Jesus did.

You might think that things are bad right now, but you may not even know the half of it. But Jesus knows, and he still says to you, be of good cheer. Why? Not because everything is fine; but because God is still on His throne, and He still holds to His promise that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Be of good cheer is only one word in the ancient Greek, and is used five times in the New Testament – each time by Jesus.

1. Jesus told the bedridden paralytic, Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you (Matthew 9:2).
2. Jesus told the woman with the 12-year bleeding problem, Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well (Matthew 9:22).
3. Jesus told His frightened disciples on the Sea of Galilee, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid (Matthew 14:27).
4. Jesus told His disciples the night before His crucifixion, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
5. And here, in Acts 23:11 – Jesus told Paul, be of good cheer.

God had more for Paul

Paul really wanted to go on to Rome (Acts 19:21 and Romans 1:9-12). Sometimes we think that just because we want something a lot, it couldn’t be God’s will for us. But God often gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).

The timing of this promise was especially precious. It didn’t look like Paul would get out of Jerusalem alive; much less make it to Rome. God not only knows what we need to hear, but He also knows when we need to hear it.

Summary of Acts 23:12-35:

The next day, 40 Jews plot to kill Paul, but Paul’s nephew warns Paul and tells the commander. The commander then arranges for Paul to be transferred to Caesarea via Antipatris to the governor. The governor agrees to hear Paul’s case when his accusers arrive, having Paul kept prisoner in Herod’s palace in the meantime.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 5: Acts 23:12-35

12) They are still angry that Paul is teaching the Gentiles, claiming that they can come to Christ just as easily as the Jews can. They may believe the lie that Paul did indeed sneak a Gentile past the Court of Gentiles, that he was anti-Jewish, and that he didn’t observe their laws anymore. The Jews have long believed they were superior to everyone as God’s chosen people, so this offends this belief.

13) There is no true reasons, but some include: jealousy, the need to hate someone or blame someone for their problems, miscommunications, misconstrued beliefs, etc.

14) Personal Question. My answer: I have no situation compared to Paul’s where my life is in danger. Unsure here. I am looking for a new job, perhaps, but I’m in no hurry.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 5: Acts 23:12-35

If you have to lie to accomplish what God “tells” you, then it’s not from God.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 25, Day 5: Acts 23:12-35

In the days of Paul and Jesus, there was a secretive group of Jewish assassins who targeted the Romans and their supporters. They were dagger-men, because they often concealed daggers and stabbed Roman soldiers as they walked by. It seems that these same kind of assassins now targeted Paul.  Zeal and devotion by themselves never prove that someone is right with God.

Their lie was a sin; and men who should have been committed to the law of God were instead happy to sin against Him. They were zealous, but still willing to lie and sin to accomplish their supposedly godly goals.

Fun Fact: This is the only mention in the Bible of Paul’s family.

God had to protect Paul because Jesus promised that he would go to Rome to testify of Him (Acts 23:11).

Paul had committed no crime; yet he was a prisoner. Because the Roman commander suspected he might be a revolutionary of some kind, Paul had to be kept in custody until the facts of the case could be discovered.

470 trained Roman soldiers would escort Paul out of Jerusalem. It was as if God wanted to exaggerate His faithfulness to Paul, and show him beyond any doubt that the promise of Jesus was true.

Not only did Paul escape Jerusalem alive, he did so riding a horse – actually, several horses were made available to Paul.

In his letter, Lysias implied that he learned of Paul’s Roman citizenship right away, and he said nothing of the way Paul was bound twice and almost scourged for the sake of interrogation.

For Luke, this was the important line in the letter. It is possible that Roman officials reviewed the Book of Acts before Paul’s trial before Caesar. Here, Luke showed that other Roman officials had judged Paul “not guilty.”

“One of Luke’s prime motives in writing his twofold history is to demonstrate that there is no substance in this charge of subversion brought not only against Paul but against Christians in general – that competent and impartial judges had repeatedly confirmed the innocence of the Christian movement and the Christian missionaries in respect of Roman law.” (Bruce)

The 200 soldiers only went as far as Antipatris because the most dangerous part of the road was only up to this point.

Apparently, learning that he was from Cilicia meant that Felix would indeed be responsible to hear and rule on his case.

This would be Paul’s first opportunity to speak to someone at this level of authority (the governor). This was the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise made to Paul some 20 years earlier: that he would bear the name of Jesus to kings (Acts 9:15).

Paul’s Next 5 Years

This began a two-year period of confinement for Paul in Caesarea. After that he spent at least two years in Rome. Taken together with travel time, the next five years of Paul’s life were lived in Roman custody.

Paul lived many years with great freedom, and had to trust the promises of God through those years. He also had to trust the promises of Jesus in his years of little freedom – and to know that God could work just as powerfully through those more difficult circumstances.

Paul needed to receive the promise of Jesus – both promises from 20 years before, and promises recently made – to receive them with confident faith, allowing those promises to make a difference in how he thought and felt. Every believer must do the same.

Acts describes Paul’s three missionary journeys along the northeastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Here, the Romans ruled, and it was a time of Pax Romans, or Roman peace, where Paul could travel in relative safety. As a Roman citizen, Paul could go anywhere, and everyone spoke Greek. Romans built hundreds of miles or roads, many of which exist even today.

God had set Paul up for this job. He was a Pharisee who studied with Gamaliel, and he fully understood being Jewish and being a Roman citizen. He used his knowledge of languages to connect with people, and he performed miracles when needed (such as the guy who fell out the window). Paul established many churches and helped to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders. Not bad for a life well lived. Plus, he got to see and experience God and Jesus.

Summary of Acts 24:

Ananias shows up in Caesarea with a fancy lawyer, Tertullus, who begins by flattering Felix and then listing false charges against Paul. Paul defends himself by denying all charges except for following Christ and believing in Christ’s resurrection. Thus, Paul has a clear conscience before God and man.

Paul denies all accusations and states the real reason he is on trial:  because he believes in the resurrection of the dead (i.e. Jesus). Felix again defers a decision on Paul’s case. Felix sent for Paul to explain the Christian faith to him and his Jewish wife but fear sank into him and he dismissed Paul back to his prison cell. Felix was also secretly hoping for a bribe.

Felix leaves Paul in prison to appease the Jews for 2 years and is replaced by Festus.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 2: Acts 24

3) Paul is called a troublemaker, and he is accused of stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is accused of being a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and of trying to desecrate the temple. Paul merely points out that his accusers cannot prove anything, and he admits to following Christ, worshippping God, agreeing with the Law and the Prophets, and having the hope of resurrection.

4a) Faith in Jesus Christ, righteousness, self-control, and the judgement.

b) Because as non-believers, Paul probably mentioned they were going to Hell.

c) Because they are afraid, they don’t understand God, they don’t see evidence of God, they believe God is illogical, they can’t reconcile suffering with a loving God, they don’t need a god, they don’t want to be accountable to a god, and they are afraid of what others might think of them if they turn to God.

5) Personal Question. My answer: Paul shared the gospel no matter his situation. I, too, can share the gospel no matter my situation as well.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 2: Acts 24

Note: Paul says again (24:16) how his conscience is clear before God and man, the same words that got him struck by Ananias in 23:1. Paul never deviates from the truth no matter the consequences. What we all should do.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 2: Acts 24

The Jewish leadership brought a man named Tertullus – a skilled lawyer – to present their case.

The presence of such high officials at the court of Felix reminds us of how serious the Jewish leadership was about obtaining a conviction against Paul.

Antonius Felix began life as a slave. His brother Pallas was a friend of the emperor Claudius; through such influence, he rose in status – first as a child gaining freedom, and then through intrigue he became the first former slave to become a governor of a Roman province.

The Sin of Flattery

Flattery is an often-neglected sin, one that the Bible speaks about more often than one might think. Romans 16:18 speaks to us of those who do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. Jude 1:16 speaks of those who mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.

Four different times the Book of Proverbs connects flattery with the sin of sexual immorality. Many people have been seduced into immorality through simple flattery.

The charges against Paul were that he was politically dangerous and that he had profaned the temple. Basically, that he was terrorist.

The reference to Paul being a Nazarene was intended to connect him to a generally despised and lowly place. It was term of slight scorn used for the followers of Jesus. Nazareth had a poor reputation as a city (John 1:46).

Tertullus gave an unintended compliment as he described the extent of Paul’s work in the Roman Empire.

Profaning the temple was the only really specific charge against Paul; but Tertullus gave no evidence for this charge because there was no evidence. This was a fabricated charge based on rumor only (Acts 21:26-29).

Paul used no flattery in his address to Felix. Paul’s accusers gave no witnesses either.

Tertullus called Christianity the sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5) Paul called it the Way.

Came bringing alms refers to the collection Paul made for Judean Christians among the Gentile churches of the West (Galatians 2:10, Romans 15:26, and 2 Corinthians 8-9).

Felix’s Decison by Indecision

Felix avoided a decision under the pretense of waiting for more evidence through the Roman commander Lysias. But Felix clearly had enough evidence to make a decision in Paul’s favor.

Felix tried to walk a middle ground. He knew Paul was innocent, yet he did not want to identify himself with Paul’s gospel and the Christians. So he made no decision and kept Paul in custody.

Felix wanted his wife to hear Paul’s testimony, either as a curiosity or so that she could advise him. After all, he claimed to have insufficient evidence for a decision.

Drusilla was the sister of Herod Agrippa II and Bernice mentioned in Acts 25. Drusilla was beautiful, ambitious, and about 20 years old at this point. Felix seduced her away from her husband and made her his third wife.

Why Was Felix Afraid?

The gospel should make those who are intent on rejecting Jesus afraid.

Felix rejected Jesus under the pretense of delaying his decision.

Many respond to the gospel in this way; they express their rejection through delay, by delaying their decision to commit to Jesus Christ – but it is rejection none the less. The Bible tells us to come to Jesus in repentance and faith today: Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Felix seems to have been a completely ineffective leader since he couldn’t make any decisions. If you don’t choose Christ today, you could die tomorrow, and then you are damned for eternity.

Under Roman law, the type of custody Paul was in could only last two years. Felix showed that he was willing to break Roman laws by keeping Paul for more than two years.

Felix refused to release Paul, though he knew that he was innocent. He did this for the same reason Pilate condemned Jesus while knowing His innocence. They both acted out of pure political advantage.

In a way, people like Felix and Pilate are the guiltiest of those who reject Jesus Christ. They know what is right but refuse to do right purely out of the fear of man. They have an eternally fatal lack of courage.

Summary of Acts 25:

Festus immediately has to deal with Paul as the Jews again request a trial in Jerusalem where they intending to ambush Paul and kill him. Festus, not wanting to give in to the Jews, denies this request and says they must travel to Caesarea to make their charges.

Paul again denies all charges at this new trial.  Festus, wanting to ingratiate himself with the Jews, asks Paul to go to Jerusalem for trial. Here, Paul invokes his right (as a Roman citizen) to appeal to Caesar in Rome for Paul has been called to go to Rome, not Jerusalem.

King Agrippa arrives for a visit with Festus, and Festus discusses Paul’s case with him, saying that it seems to be a religious dispute rather than any crime committed. Festus admitted he didn’t know what to do so Paul asked to be tried before Caesar.

Festus convenes an audience with Agrippa and brings Paul in. Festus says there is nothing Paul has done deserving of death, but Paul has insisted he wants a trial before the emperor. Festus is reluctant to send Paul to the emperor with no charges against him (this was customary for the Romans to send a written explanation of the charges to the emperor).

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 3: Acts 25

6) Festus immediately has to deal with Paul as the chief priest and Jewish leaders appeared before Festus and presented the charges against Paul. They request a trial in Jerusalem where they intending to ambush Paul and kill him. Festus, not wanting to give in to the Jews, denies this request and says they must travel to Caesarea to make their charges.

Festus travels to Caesarea and calls Paul before him. The Jews went there as well and bring more serious charges against Paul, which, of course, they could not prove. Paul says has done nothing wrong in violation of Jewish law, against the temple, or against Caesar. Paul, after having been asked to delay his trial again by going to Jerusalem, invokes his right to appeal to Caesar. Festus agrees to take him there.

7) Paul is human and can’t take this anymore. I’m sure he is feeling the calling to preach the Gospel, so he invokes his right to see Caesar to decide once and for all. I think we all get to the point where we have to say “enough is enough” in our lives and end whatever trial is dragging itself out. Paul handles everything with poise and class, as we should as well.

8 ) Part Personal Question. My answer: For many reasons. He is protecting Paul’s life since the Jews want to murder him. Paul is witnessing to the Roman leader, such as Felix. Paul is spreading the gospel to Rome once he arrives. Paul is given time to write/dictate many of his letters during his time in prison. It’s a time of rest and replenishment as well, allowing Paul to prepare for the challenges he will face in the years ahead. In sum, God has more important work for Paul to do in prison than out of prison.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 3: Acts 25

Last time BSF did the study of Acts, Acts 24, 25 & 26 was in one lesson. I think the days of long passages are over since that is one of the biggest complaints of those in BSF is the lessons take too long. I will be insanely curious to see how BSF does Isaiah, which I remember we had many days where we covered many chapters in a day in order to get through the material. Now that BSF is only 30 weeks instead of 32 weeks, the study of Isaiah will be a challenge indeed.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 3: Acts 25

Acts 24 ended with the transition from the governorship of Antonius Felix to that of Porcius Festus. Felix was undoubtedly a bad man, but history tells us Festus was a basically good man. He governed well, despite all the problems left him by Felix.

Upon arriving at Caesarea, the capital of the Judean province, he immediately made the trip to Jerusalem, probably the most important city of the province.

The Jewish leaders knew Paul would be acquitted. Thus, they prepare to murder him. If your religion makes you a liar and a murderer, there is something wrong with your religion.

We don’t know if Festus knew the intentions of the Jewish leaders or not. Either way, he refused to grant their request for a change of venue, and this was another way that God protected Paul.

Many in the Bible were the target of false accusations (such as Joseph and Daniel). Yet in another sense, every follower of Jesus is the target of false accusations by the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Thankfully, Jesus is our defense against condemnation and false accusation (Romans 8:33-34).

Though he was a good man, Festus also understood that it was important for him to have and keep good a good relationship with the Jewish people of his province.

Festus found it difficult to decide the case. Paul’s standing as a Roman citizen apparently prevented Festus from commanding the trial to be moved to Jerusalem, so he asked Paul about this.

Paul saw through the plot against his life. Perhaps it was through supernatural knowledge, or perhaps through God-given common sense and deduction. Therefore, he demanded to stand trial before Caesar.

Rightly and wisely, Paul wanted to avoid martyrdom if he could. He wasn’t afraid to face the lions, but he didn’t want to put his head in a lion’s mouth if he could avoid it.

Paul’s appeal made sense. He was convinced that the evidence was on his side and that he could win in a fair trial. He also had reason to wonder if his current judge (Festus) was sympathetic to his accusers, the religious leaders among the Jews.

It was the right of every Roman citizen to have his case heard by Caesar himself, after initial trials and appeals failed to reach a satisfactory decision. This was in effect an appeal to the supreme court of the Roman Empire.

Paul appealed specifically to Caesar Nero, who was later an notorious enemy of Christians. But the first five years of his reign, under the influence of good men around him, Nero was regarded as a wise and just ruler. Paul had no reason at this time to believe that Nero would be anti-Christian.

Herod Agrippa

Herod Agrippa II ruled a client kingdom of the Roman Empire to the northeast of Festus’ province. Agrippa was known as an expert in Jewish customs and religious matters. Though he did not have jurisdiction over Paul in this case, his hearing of the matter would be helpful for Festus.

King Agrippa’s great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred the first apostle, James. Now Paul stood before the next in line of the Herods, Herod Agrippa.

Bernice was Agrippa’s sister. Secular history records rumors that their relationship was incestuous.

Herod Agrippa II didn’t rule over much territory, but he was of great influence because the emperor gave him the right to oversee the affairs of the temple in Jerusalem and the appointment of the high priest.

Festus appealed to the strong tradition and system of law. He would not condemn Paul without a fair trial.

Agrippa’s curiosity meant that Paul would have another opportunity to speak God’s truth to a Gentile ruler. This would be the third such opportunity for Paul in Acts 24-26 (Felix, Festus, and now Agrippa).

Surrounded by the important and powerful people of Caesarea and beyond, Paul came into the auditorium. All the pomp and pageantry was meant to communicate who was important, and who wasn’t important.  This was another tremendous opportunity for Paul.

It was important for Luke to record these words of Festus. They clearly state that Festus understood that Paul was innocent.

Festus wanted to use this trial to prepare an official brief for Paul’s upcoming trial before Caesar.

After all, Festus simply could not send Paul to Caesar with a letter that said, “I really don’t know what this man is accused of and he is probably innocent of any wrongdoing, but I thought I should send him to you anyway.” That was no way to be popular with Caesar.

Paul was so innocent that Festus could not actually describe or specify the charges against him. Isn’t this insane just how much the Jewish leaders wanted Paul dead?

Summary of Acts 26:1-23:

Agrippa asks Paul to speak.  Paul recounts his background, having been born a Jew and lived as a Pharisee, and states he is on trial because of his hope in God’s promises and his belief in how God raises the dead. Paul admits he persecuted Christians jealously until Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and commissioned him to teach the gospel to the Gentiles.

Paul obeyed his vision, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen regarding Christ.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 4: Acts 26:1-23

9a) Paul emphasizes that all know how religious he is since he used to be a Pharisee, and he’s on trial today because of his hope in what God has promised (Jesus) and his belief in how God raises the dead. He recounts his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and how he has been faithful to what Jesus told him to do — carry the Good News to the Gentiles. He is saying exactly what the Prophets and Moses have said.

b) Faith, fearlessness, passion, self-control

10) Part Personal Question. My answer: God’s lifework is for Paul to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul was faithful and was richly rewarded. I can be too.

11) Personal Question. My answer: Doubt. Whether my goals are God’s goals.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 4: Acts 26:1-23

I love when history crosses the path of the Bible that can be proven.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 4: Acts 26:1-23

Paul stood before the man whose great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred the first apostle, James. Agrippa’s family history made him unlikely to receive Paul warmly.

Though he was a prisoner, Paul was happy to speak before Agrippa. First, because he was pleased to have the evidence of his case examined closely by the highest officials, but also because he was pleased to preach the gospel to kings and rulers.

In the auditorium in the city of Caesarea Paul spoke to Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, commanders of the Roman Legion, and all the prominent men of Caesarea (Acts 25:23).

This was a partial fulfillment of what the Lord promised Paul at his conversion: Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15)

Paul was born in Tarsus, several hundred miles from Jerusalem. Yet at a relatively young age he came to live at Jerusalem.

Not only was Paul a faithful Jew, but was known as a faithful man among the Jews, living according to the strictest sect of the Pharisees.

Paul’s trust in Jesus was an outgrowth of his trust in the hope of the promise made by God.

It should be especially easy for Agrippa to believe that God raises the dead, given some clear statements in the Old Testament (such as Job 19:25-27), the nature of God, and the intuitive grasp of the eternal among mankind.

Before his conversion, Paul believed he must persecute the followers of Jesus. Some he imprisoned, some he killed, and some he forced to renounce Jesus.

Paul later speaks of the great regret he had over his prior life as a persecutor (1 Corinthians 15:9, 1 Timothy 1:15). Perhaps the fact that he compelled them to blaspheme weighed especially on his conscience.

Paul having a vote implies that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, having a vote against Christians who were tried before the Sanhedrin (as Stephen was in Acts 7).

If Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, it also means that at that time he was married, because it was required for all members of the Sanhedrin. Since as a Christian, he was single (1 Corinthians 7:7-9), it may mean that Paul’s wife either died or deserted him when he became a Christian.

This is Paul’s fullest account yet of his experience on the Damascus Road. He first noted that he went on his mission of hate and persecution with the authority and commission of the same religious leaders who now accused him. What hypocrites!

“Kick against the goads” is a proverb in use at the time that meant “you are only hurting yourself.” A goad was a sharp tool farmers used to control their oxen hooked to a plow.

Paul repeats the words from Acts 9:3-6.

As Jesus spoke, Paul understood that Jesus was alive, not dead. He understood that Jesus reigned in glory instead of being damned in shame. He realized that in persecuting the followers of Jesus he persecuted Jesus, and in persecuting Jesus he fought against the God of his fathers.

Paul had to repent – make a transformation of mind leading to transformed action – instantly. Paul lived a moral life, so he didn’t have to repent of immorality – but of misguided religious zeal and wrong ideas about God.

His eyes were not yet opened physically, but Jesus sent him to open the eyes of others (both Jews and Gentiles).

Jesus then told Paul of four results that would come from the opening of the eyes:

1. Being turned from the darkness to the light.
2. Being turned from the power of Satan to God.
3. To receive forgiveness of sins.
4. To receive an inheritance among God’s people.

Christians are sanctified (set apart from sin and self), and they are sanctified by faith in Jesus (not by works or spiritual achievement, but by their connection of love and trust to Jesus).

One can’t turn to God unless they do repent – and actions will confirm true repentance.

It was only because he sought to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles that the Jews seized him and tried to kill him.

The three main points to Paul’s preaching:

1. Jesus’ death,
2. Jesus’ resurrection,
3. The preaching of this good news to the whole world

Summary of Acts 26:24-32:

Festus calls Paul insane.  Paul challenges Agrippa on his beliefs, confronting him with the question of if he believes in the prophets. Agrippa accuses Paul of trying to convert him, and Paul readily agrees, praying all who are listening to him believe as he does.

Agrippa agrees that Paul is not doing anything worthy of death or punishment and says Paul could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 5: Acts 26:24-32

12) Part Personal Question. My answer: Festus calls Paul insane about dead people rising up. Agrippa asks Paul is he is trying to convert him. Paul says yes, he is trying to convert them and that he is speaking the truth. Paul never backs down. He states the truth and stands by it despite risk to his personal safety. Inspiring, indeed.

13) It’s intangible, their eyes are closed from understanding, it sounds too good to be true or to simple, and they don’t want to be beholden to God.

14) Personal Question. My answer: It’s important to witness about God. I should credit Him more for everything.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 5: Acts 26:24-32

Background History:

These trials of Paul is very well documented both in the Bible and in other secular sources such as Roman records.  We are still in the first century AD, around 60 AD.  The Roman Empire is at its height and dominates the known world.

The key to understanding these events is to understand Roman citizenship.  Traditionally, in Ancient Times there were not rights.  The ruler of your country could kill you whenever he or she felt like it.  You obeyed; you didn’t question; you worked hard; you stayed out of trouble.

The Romans changed all of this.  They instituted a Republic where the people had rights and voted to choose their rulers.  But this was only afforded to certain people, Roman citizens.  The vast majority of the people were still under subjugation and slavery but it was a step in the right direction.

Roman citizens had certain rights.  One of these rights was the right to a trial where the crime must be presented and proved before punishment was handed down.  A Roman also had the right to appeal to Caesar (this is not Julius Caesar the man but all rulers were known by the title of Caesar after him), the emperor, to hear the trial and decide if the accused felt they were not getting justice elsewhere.  And as Roman citizens, this privilege had to be granted.

Paul, as a Roman citizen, had this right, which he invokes time and time again.  Why?  Because God himself has told him he is to go to Rome (Acts 23:11) and Felix and Festus want to send him to Jerusalem.  Appealing to Caesar is the only way Paul can see right now to get to Rome.

So what would have happened if Paul had been released?  Well, we’ve been told twice now that the Jews are just waiting to ambush him (Acts 25:3; 23:12-15).  In Chapter 27 of Acts, Paul is handed over to a centurion for escort to Rome.  So Paul is protected.  Also, the trip is free; the Romans pay for his journey there.

Most likely Paul would have been hunted down and killed soon after his release before he could make it to Rome. And Rome is where God wants Paul so Paul is doing everything in his power to get to Rome in obedience to God.

God is amazing, isn’t he?  He chose Paul who is a Jew and a Roman citizen (how he obtained citizenship is unclear) to teach the Gentiles and who is uniquely positioned to carry out God’s will in Roman Times.  He has all the advantages and God uses them to His glory.  Awesome!

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 26, Day 5: Acts 26:24-32

The gospel, when properly proclaimed and lived, will make some people think we are crazy. Paul put it this way: the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18).

God may sometimes act above reason, but never contrary to reason.

King Agrippa knew about Jesus, and Paul appealed to his knowledge of the open, historical events that were the foundation for Christian faith.

Paul’s message was characterized by truth and reason, because it was based on historical events (such as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus), things which were not done in a corner, but open to examination.

The historical foundation of Paul’s message made it true. As for reason, it simply isn’t reasonable to ignore or deny things that actually happen. Who Jesus is and what He did must be accounted for.

Paul did this because he knew that if Agrippa did believe the prophets, truth and reason would lead him to believe upon Jesus. He wanted to connect what Agrippa already believed to what he should believe.

With this, Paul brought the challenge and a point of decision directly to Agrippa. This is a good and often necessary part of the presentation of the message of who Jesus is and what He did for us – calling the listener to decision.

Almost being a Christian means that you almost have eternal life and will almost be delivered from the judgment of hell; but almost isn’t enough.

Far from being admired for how far he did come, Agrippa condemned himself even more by admitting how close he has come to the gospel and how clearly he has understood it, while still rejecting it.

A Christian is:

• In light instead of the dark
• Turn to God and away from Satan
• Forgiven for sins
• With God’s people
• Set apart by faith in Jesus

What Stumbling Blocks Did Agrippa Face to Becoming a Christian?

• Bernice. Sitting next to Agrippa, she was a sinful, immoral companion, and he may have rightly realized that becoming a Christian would mean losing her and his other immoral friends. He was unwilling to make that sacrifice.
• Festus. Sitting on the other side of Agrippa, Festus believed Paul was crazy. Thus, Agrippa thought Festus would think him crazy if he converted. He wanted the praise of men over the praise of Jesus.
• Fear. Paul was in chains; could he be in chains, too, if he believed?

Agrippa also saw there was no evidence offered to support the accusations against Paul, and he respected Paul’s great integrity even while rejecting Paul’s gospel. So, Agrippa and the others pronounced a “not guilty” verdict.

Was Paul’s Appeal to Caesar the Right Thing to Do?

Some people believe it was wrong, and that Paul was trusting in the power of the Roman legal system instead of in the power of God.

We should see the fulfillment of God’s plan through all these events. By his appeal to Caesar, Paul will have the opportunity to preach to the Roman Emperor the way he had to Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, thus fulfilling the promise that Paul would bear My name before…kings (Acts 9:15).

The appeal to Caesar, and his subsequent journey to Rome at the Empire’s expense, were also the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit’s purpose that Paul should go to Rome (Acts 19:21, 23:11). This also answered a long-standing desire in the heart of Paul to visit the already present Christian community there (Romans 1:9-13).

Summary of Acts 27:1-26:

Paul and his companions (267 men in total) boarded a ship for Rome.  Julius, a Roman centurion, was in charge.  They landed in Sidon where Paul was allowed to meet his friends and receive supplies from them.  Then they pass Cyprus with heavy winds keeping them from landing and out across the sea to Myra in Lycia.

They switched ships and sailed until Cnidus.  The wind was still blowing hard as they made their way to Fair Havens on the island of Crete.  Much time had been lost and it was now Autumn where winds blew incessantly over the Mediterranean.  Paul advised the centurion to stay in Crete for the winter but he was ignored.

They set sail and a huge northeaster swept down from the island, catching the ship, and pushing it along.  The men had to throw the ship’s cargo and tackle overboard and they drifted for days, losing hope of being saved.

Paul then tells the men to take heart for they will be saved and only the ship and cargo will be lost (he tells them this after he says “I told you so.”).  An angel of God stood beside him and told him he and the crew would make it safely to Rome because he had to stand trial, but that they would run aground on some island.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 2: Acts 27:1-26

3) Paul was warning the sailors to listen to him because he had been visited by the Angel of the Lord and that he had been given a foresight of what would happen. He was ignored.

4) He tells them that they will live through this crisis because God told them that they would.

5) Personal Question. My answer: God intends for Paul to get to Rome one way or another. The storms give God an opportunity through Paul to predict the future and hopefully get some to believe when it comes true.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 2: Acts 27:1-26

Again, we did Acts 27 & 28 in Lesson 31 last go around in one day.

Great lesson for the coronavirus that is affecting most people worldwide. God has got this; we only have to believe.

Why did the men throw the cargo, tackle, and lastly the food overboard? To lighten the ship. A heavy cargo makes the ship sit deeper in the water, which is dangerous in shallow water. So the men threw the cargo overboard so the ship would sit higher in the water in case they were blown near land where their boat would get destroyed on the shallow reefs, rocks, and harbors. If the bottom of the ship ran aground miles from any shore, they faced the prospect of being tossed into the sea. Thus, when you are faced with life or death, everything (even the grain) becomes expendable.

Lightening the ship also stabilizes it in rough seas. If the ship got tossed to one side and became unbalanced, a heavy ship would be more likely to follow the energy and due to inertia (the law where objects in motion want to stay in motion), it would tip over.

Further, throwing cargo overboard makes the ship go faster in case the men wanted to try to outrun the storm.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 2: Acts 27:1-26

It was common for Roman soldiers to accompany the transport of criminals, those awaiting trial, and merchant ships filled with grain going from Egypt to Rome.

Aristarchus and Luke (notice the us of verse 2 and beyond) accompanied Paul on this voyage. The favor Paul enjoyed from Julius (as in Acts 27:3) meant he was allowed to take these companions with him.

The ship first sailed to Sidon, where Paul met with Christians and could receive care from them. The Roman commander gave Paul a lot of liberty because he wasn’t a condemned man (yet), but waiting for trial before Caesar. Paul’s godly character and display of Christian love were also helpful in gaining favor.

Paul was different from the other prisoners on board. The other prisoners were probably all condemned criminals being sent to Rome to die in the arena.

The ship was a grain freighter, taking grain grown in Egypt to Italy, but they were meant to be steered by oars, not the wind. As winter approached, the weather became more dangerous for sailing.

2 Corinthians 11:25 tells us that by this time, Paul had already shipwrecked three times. He, like most everyone, knew that sailing in this season was dangerous.

It isn’t a surprise that the centurion had more respect for the opinion of the chief sailor and the owner of the ship than for Paul’s opinion. They both had much to lose if the ship didn’t make it to Rome.

Taking a vote of the crew, they decided to sail on to the harbor of Phoenix. The port at Phoenix was on the same island of Crete and only about 40 miles away. It didn’t seem unreasonable to be able to make it to Phoenix and be spared a miserable winter at Fair Havens.

This wind was feared among ancient sailors for its destructive power. Helpless to navigate with this wind in their face, all they could do is let her drive.

Cables to undergird the ship was a normal emergency measure, helping to prevent the ship from breaking apart in a storm.

The fear of crashing on the Sytris Sands (an infamous wrecking area of ships off the coast of North Africa) made them go with the wind and give up hope of navigating the ship in the storm.

Throwing the ship’s cargo and equipment overboard was obviously a last-ditch attempt to save the ship. After all, these were worth a lot of money back then.

Acts 27:37 tells us there were 276 people on board, both passengers and crew. They had little hope that they would survive.

Showing God in the Midst of Disaster

As a messenger of God, Paul hoped to bring hope to these passengers and crew who had given up all hope. His point wasn’t simply to tell them he was right, but to bring them good news.

This wasn’t a direct appearance of Jesus (as in Jerusalem, Acts 23:11), but of an angel. God’s word came to Paul different ways at different times. God never forgets those who belong to Him and serve Him.

In his strong moments, Paul knew he would make it to Rome because God promised it. Yet in the storm (here, a literal storm) it was easy to doubt and Paul needed the assurance.

This implies that Paul sought God for the safety of everyone on the ship. He already had a promise for his own safety, but that wasn’t enough for Paul. He labored in prayer for the safety and blessing of those with him, believers and not-yet-believers.

Paul encouraged them to take heart just a moment before (Acts 27:22). He repeats the encouragement again, this time in light of the revelation from God. “You have reason to take heart – God has given me assurance of your safety, and I believe God.”

Paul didn’t say, “I believe in God.” Every demon in hell agrees with the existence of God. Paul declared his total confidence in God’s knowledge of his situation and His promise in his situation.

Paul believed God when there was nothing else to believe. He couldn’t believe the sailors, the ship, the sails, the wind, the centurion, human ingenuity or anything else – only God. This was not a fair-weather faith; he believed God in the midst of the storm, when circumstances were at their worst. Paul would say along with Job: Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him (Job 13:15).

A certain island means that God did not tell Paul everything about what was going to happen. Paul had to trust that God knew which island they would run aground on, even if Paul didn’t know.

God only reveals what we need to know. He’s got the rest.

Summary of Acts 27-44:

After two weeks adrift, the men wanted to abandon ship and head to the lifeboats, but Paul told the centurion they would die if they did so. So they stayed with the ship (finally, they listened to Paul!). Then Paul urged them to eat, and he gave thanks to God for the bread that was multiplied miraculously. They were all encouraged. After eating, they threw the grain overboard to lighten the ship.

The next day, they saw land and decided to run the ship aground. The ship struck a sandbar before making the beach, so the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so they wouldn’t escape when they swam. But the centurion wanted to save Paul’s life so no one was killed. Everyone reached land safely by swimming or floating on pieces of the ship.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 3: Acts 27:27-44

6) Paul told the centurion they would die if they abandoned the ship and went to the lifeboats. So they stayed with the ship (finally, they listened to Paul!). Then Paul urged them to eat, and he gave thanks to God for the bread that was multiplied miraculously. They were all encouraged.

7) God kept his word and saved everyone on board by having Paul predict a plan that wouldn’t work and by God implementing his own shipwreck plan that got everyone to land safely.

8 ) Personal Question. My answer: That God has got it, and I shouldn’t worry. Prayer is the answer.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 3: Acts 27:27-44

Storms in our lives grow up, shape us, and mold us. It’s how we respond that matters.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 3: Acts 27:27-44

The threat of shipwreck and death made them men of prayer.

The sailors didn’t care for the passengers. Seeing a chance to save their own lives in the darkness, they hoped to abandon the ship leaving the passengers.

Paul knew two reasons why they had to stay together. First, the ship’s passengers desperately needed the crew’s expertise, and it would be fatal if the crew abandoned the passengers. Second, Paul probably sensed that God’s promise to give him the lives of the whole ship’s company assumed that they would stay together.

There are hints that Paul regarded this meal as communion at the Lord’s Table for the Christians present.

Throwing out the wheat into the sea reflected their great desperation. This was the last of the essential cargo of the ship, after they had already lightened the ship (Acts 27:18). This was a struggle for survival. after all, if you’re throwing your food overboard, you are expecting to die.

They came to an island called Malta. The place where the ship came aground is now called St. Paul’s Bay.

“If they missed Malta, there would have been nothing for it but to hold on for 200 miles until they struck the Tunisian coast, and no one could have expected the ship to survive that long.” (Bruce)

As the ship was stuck fast on shore, the still-stormy sea pounded the weakened vessel and started breaking it apart. All on board had to jump ship or be broken up with it.

To the soldiers, it made sense to kill the prisoners, because according to Roman military law a guard who allowed his prisoner to escape was subject to the same penalty the escaped prisoner would have suffered – in the case of most of these prisoners, death.

God gave Paul favor in the eyes of this Roman centurion, and that favor kept Paul and all the prisoners alive – in fulfillment of the word spoken to Paul, God has granted you all those who sail with you (Acts 27:24).

God’s word never fails.

Summary of Acts 28:11-31:

After three months, they procured a ship and set sail for Rome, landing in Syracuse on the island of Sicily and then traveled on up the coast of Italy to Rome. In Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself while awaiting trial with a soldier to guard him.  [Scholars believe Paul was held for four years].

Paul speaks to the leaders of the Jews to explain why he is in chains and the leaders say they have heard nothing bad about Paul and are here to learn about Jesus Christ.  He preached to the Jews from morning till evening all about the kingdom of God and Jesus. Some were convinced; others were not. And they argued about it, so much so Paul quoted Isaiah, saying their eyes did not perceive nor their ears understand.  Paul proclaims that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles who will listen.

For two years Paul preached the gospel boldly in his home to all those who came.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 5: Acts 28:11-31

12) Paul was met by some brothers who had heard he was coming. Paul lived by himself with a soldier to guard him.

13) “Boldly and without hindrance to preach the kingdom of God and Jesus.”

14) Personal Question. My answer: Usually good. Just keep living and writing.

15) Personal Question. My answer: God’s word never fails. He keeps His promises. His goodness is infectious.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 5: Acts 28:11-31

Such words of hope under such dark times. Life will get better; God promises.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 27, Day 5: Acts 28:11-31

Syracuse was a famous city in the ancient world, being the capital city of the island of Sicily.

Archimedes, the famous mathematician, had lived at Syracuse. When the Romans conquered the island, a solider put a dagger to his throat as he worked on a math problem, drawing in the dirt. Archimedes said, “Stop, you’re disturbing up my equation!” and the soldier killed him.

As Paul and the others made their way northward up the Italian peninsula, they spent time with fellow followers of Jesus they met along the way.

Paul Treated Like Emperor

Paul was greeted outside Rome by Christians from city who came to meet them. They honored Paul by greeting him as the emperors were greeted when they arrived at Rome: they went out to meet him as he came into the city, walking the long journey (about 43 miles or 69 kilometers) to the Appii Forum to welcome Paul and his companions.

They had received Paul’s letter to the Romans a few years before, so they probably felt like they knew him already – and they certainly wanted to honor him.

“Luke is far from giving the impression that Paul was the first person to bring the gospel to Rome… the presence of those Christians – the brothers, as Luke calls them – provides evidence enough that the gospel had reached Rome already.” (Bruce) There were Jewish people from Rome present at Peter’s preaching on Pentecost many years before (Acts 2:10), so there had probably been Christians from and in Rome from the beginning.

One could say that they treated Paul as if he were a king. “It was a custom when an emperor visited a city for the people to go out and meet him and escort him back into the city.” (Horton)

Yet, during his second Roman imprisonment, Paul was left alone and forgotten (2 Timothy 4:9-16), meaning that in some sense, the Christians at Rome didn’t (or perhaps couldn’t) maintain their love and honor of Paul.

Finally, the promise of Jesus was fulfilled. Paul determined that he would go to Rome as early as his third missionary journey (Acts 19:21, Romans 1:15). At Jerusalem, Jesus promised Paul he would make it to Rome (Acts 23:11) and repeated the promise during the two weeks of storm at sea (Acts 27:23-25).

“Now, at the very end of the book, the apostle comes to Rome. Thus Jesus’ prophecy that his disciples would be his witnesses ‘to the ends of the earth’ is fulfilled.” (Boice)

Paul and Rome

When Paul came to Rome, the city had existed for almost 800 years. The famous Coliseum was not yet built; but the prominent buildings were the temple of Jupiter, the palaces of Caesar, and a temple to Mars (the god of war). At the time, Rome had a population of about two million – a million slaves, and a million free. Society was divided into roughly three classes: A small upper class, a large class of the poor, and slaves.

This was a happy moment for Julius the centurion, who fulfilled his duty and successfully brought all the prisoners from Caesarea (Acts 27:1) to Rome – with much help from Paul.

Paul wasn’t in a normal prison. He was allowed to dwell by himself and provide his own living space (a rented house according to Acts 28:30). Yet he was constantly under the supervision of a Roman guard, and often chained. The rotation of the guards gave him a constant supply of people to talk to.

“To this soldier he would be lightly chained by the wrist…the soldier would be relieved every four hours or so, but for Paul there was no comparable relief.” (Bruce)

In Philippians 1:13, written from this Roman custody, Paul told of how his message reached the palace guards of Rome. Though he was the prisoner, he had a genuinely captive audience.

Paul followed his consistent practice of going to the Jews first in every city he came to as an evangelist. It took him only three days to have a meeting with the leaders of the Jews in Rome. Paul told them:

• He had not forsaken Israel and that they were still brothers to him.
• He was innocent of any crime against the law or the Jewish people.
• The Romans were ready and willing to release him.
• He did not make a counter-suit or accusation against the Jewish leadership that had accused him.
• He was a prisoner because of his belief in Israel’s Messiah, the hope of Israel.

Paul spoke of the kingdom of God and gave an exhaustive study of how the Old Testament spoke of Jesus – from morning till evening.

God brought a spiritual kingdom that would take root in men’s hearts before it took over the governments of this world. Most of the Jewish people of Jesus’ day and of Paul’s day looked for a political kingdom, not a spiritual kingdom.

Many hear and reject simply because they don’t want to turn to God and be healed of their sin.

To those who respond to the gospel with faith, he is a messenger of life. But to those who reject Jesus, the preacher adds to their condemnation. To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life. (2 Corinthians 2:16)

In just a few years after Paul’s rebuke of those Jews who rejected Jesus, the Jewish people of Judea were slaughtered wholesale and Jerusalem was destroyed. God’s judgment was coming, and part of Paul’s frustration was that he sensed this.

Paul spent more than two years at Caesarea waiting for his case to be resolved (Acts 24:27). Now he spent another two years waiting for his case to be heard before Caesar.

Probably, Paul continued his work as a tentmaker (leatherworker) to supply the rent for his house (as in Acts 18:1-2 and 20:33-35). Paul was always a hard-working man.

Though Paul could not travel, he could teach and preach to all who came to him – and this he did. He also wrote letters; we have these two years of Roman custody to thank for the letters to the Ephesians, the Philippians, and the Colossians.

These two years were not wasted, and God didn’t waste Paul’s time in Rome. God never wastes our time, though we may waste it by not sensing God’s purpose for our lives at the moment.

Paul eventually had his appearance before Caesar Nero. It’s entirely reasonable to believe that he boldly and powerfully proclaimed the gospel to him – as God had promised he would (Acts 9:15 and 23:11).

It seems likely that Paul was acquitted of these charges, and by most estimates was free for another four or five years until he was arrested again, imprisoned, condemned, and executed in Rome at the command of Nero in A.D. 66 or 67 – as the historical traditions of the early church state.

Probably, Luke did not record Paul’s appearance before Caesar because the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts were written to give the Roman court the background and facts of Paul’s case in his trial before Caesar.

God’s Word Cannot Be Stopped

As Paul came to Rome, the sea, the soldiers, and the snake all threatened his life. But God delivered him from them all. Through Paul, God shows that God’s man, fulfilling God’s will, cannot be stopped – though all kinds of difficulty may come in the way.

Matthew 22:1-14 is a parabolic illustration of the Book of Acts. God prepared a feast for Israel, and invited them to come (in the days of Jesus’ ministry), but they would not come. Then, He sent out a second invitation, after all things were ready. But they did not come then either; instead, they killed God’s servants who brought the message of the feast. Finally, God invited all that would come, including Gentiles – but they could only come if they were clothed in the garments of Jesus.

Trusting in Jesus, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Father, the word of God will continue to spread without hindrance and continue to change lives for the glory of God. The Book of Acts really is a never-ending story.