We studied in the previous lesson that when Paul returned to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey among the Gentile nations, the brethren and elders of the church informed him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come." (Acts 21:20-22)
The elders came up with a plan and instructed Paul, "...do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law." (Acts 21:23-24) It seemed like a good plan, but it didn't work as they had hoped.
Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. (Acts 21:31-33)
And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!” (Acts 21:34-36)
Jesus prophesied that these things would happen, “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13:9-11; Luke 21:12-15)
Jesus had also suffered this same kind of persecution by the Jews, leading up to His crucifixion, even though the Roman authorities found no fault with Him. “Behold the Man!” Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” ... But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” (John 19:5-6, 15)
Paul, formerly known as Saul, had gone from a persecutor of the church to being persecuted by the Jews also. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. (Acts 8:3) After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Jesus told Ananias in a vision, “Go, for he is 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)
This is a powerful lesson in "reaping an sowing". Accepting salvation through believing the Word of God and faith in Christ Jesus does not necessarily spare of us from the physical consequences of our actions. Earlier, Paul "sowed" fear in the hearts of Christians, And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. (Acts 9:26-27) In time, the church accepted him. But as a result, he "sowed" hatred in the hearts of the Jews, who declared, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21:28)
Whether justified or not, the point is we will all "reap what we sow"; therefore, we need to be very careful of the choices we make, the things we do, and the words we say. We may reap man's wrath and indignation because of our previous actions and behavior, but that should not stop us from changing through faith in Christ Jesus and the guidance of His Holy Spirit. Once the seed of the Holy Spirit is "sown" in each of us, we will "reap" everlasting life. We all will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (I Peter 4:5-6)
Jesus prophesied that these things would happen, “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13:9-11; Luke 21:12-15)
Jesus had also suffered this same kind of persecution by the Jews, leading up to His crucifixion, even though the Roman authorities found no fault with Him. “Behold the Man!” Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” ... But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” (John 19:5-6, 15)
Paul, formerly known as Saul, had gone from a persecutor of the church to being persecuted by the Jews also. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. (Acts 8:3) After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Jesus told Ananias in a vision, “Go, for he is 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)
This is a powerful lesson in "reaping an sowing". Accepting salvation through believing the Word of God and faith in Christ Jesus does not necessarily spare of us from the physical consequences of our actions. Earlier, Paul "sowed" fear in the hearts of Christians, And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. (Acts 9:26-27) In time, the church accepted him. But as a result, he "sowed" hatred in the hearts of the Jews, who declared, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21:28)
Whether justified or not, the point is we will all "reap what we sow"; therefore, we need to be very careful of the choices we make, the things we do, and the words we say. We may reap man's wrath and indignation because of our previous actions and behavior, but that should not stop us from changing through faith in Christ Jesus and the guidance of His Holy Spirit. Once the seed of the Holy Spirit is "sown" in each of us, we will "reap" everlasting life. We all will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (I Peter 4:5-6)
Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, (Acts 21:37-40) “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. (Acts 22:1-2)
Whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit; For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake. Reaping, sowing and fulfillment! “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent." (Numbers 23:19) Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. (Romans 3:4) All prophecy must be fulfilled, not just concerning Christ but what also what He has spoken for each of us. We will learn more about that as we continue studying about Paul's struggle with the Jews...
Whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit; For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake. Reaping, sowing and fulfillment! “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent." (Numbers 23:19) Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. (Romans 3:4) All prophecy must be fulfilled, not just concerning Christ but what also what He has spoken for each of us. We will learn more about that as we continue studying about Paul's struggle with the Jews...
No comments:
Post a Comment