Acts 1 – At the end of Chapter 1, the apostles have just witnessed the ascension of Jesus and are waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. So, the question I found myself asking is, how do we …
Acts
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[bible passage="Acts 2" version="ESV"]
Acts 2 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
At the end of Acts 2, we read the three essentials that contributed to a fruitful body.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 NASB
That word ‘devoted’ here in the NASB is translated ‘steadfastly committed’ in the KJV. The word devotion in my mind carries a more passive connotation than steadfastly committed. They were unwavering. Persistent. Loyal. These activities were not take-it-or-leave-it activities. They were priorities. They were habits. Out of all the things that would eat up time in their lives, these four activities took precedence over everything else.
The other aspect here is that there was a trust and a reliability factor. It was assumed that if you were part of the early church, these were the types of things you wanted to be doing with your life. It wasn’t lip service. It wasn’t saving face. It wasn’t to please your wife or your kids. It was genuine and unfaltering body life. I want us to keep that in mind when we look at these things.
Teaching
The first was the dedication to the apostle’s teaching. This teaching was authoritative because it was the foundational teaching of Jesus Christ, communicated through men who had been with Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the purpose of the forgiveness of sin, and it was available to all who would believe.
Fellowship
The second was the fellowship/breaking of bread. This could have involved partaking in the Lord’s Supper but was most likely broader in scope. It involved entangling their lives together over a meal in the same way Jesus did with his disciples as they ministered together. No matter what era you study, the sharing of a meal has always been a staple of hospitality and friendship. There is much more taking place here than just the sharing of food.
Prayer
The third was dedication to corporate prayer. It is significant that this time was shared. There is a time for private prayer and there is a time for us to come together corporately. Jesus begged his disciples to stay awake with Him and pray while He was in the garden just before His arrest. He taught His disciples how to pray. The act of gathering to share needs before the Lord was something that had been ingrained in their culture but was now enriched because of the work of Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
[bible passage="Acts 3" version="ESV"]
Acts 3 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
The miraculous signs and wonders led to opportunities to authenticate the message of the Gospel. Peter did not hesitate to give the glory back to God. In fact, he literally asked the people why they were staring so intently at them. It was not the apostles’ power, but God’s (and the name of Jesus) that healed this man.
In the era we live in, we are jaded by the continual exposure to violence in both the media and entertainment industry. The charge Peter gives here in Acts 3 is the same one he gave the Jews in Acts 2. They crucified the Son of God and it was the greatest crime in human history. Do we understand the death sentence that falls upon us as a result of our sin? Have we become so familiar with violence that the crucifixion of God’s Son no longer brings conviction upon us?
This is exactly what happens when we try to soften sin. We end up undermining the very Gospel we hope to proclaim. If our sin wasn’t costly, then what did Jesus die for? Why was he unfairly sentenced, tortured, beaten, and killed like a criminal? Humanity (you and I) decided to reject and murder the very man who came to show us how we could live for eternity in God’s Kingdom.
Then, God raised Him to life and took that sacrifice as a pardon for our sin. The aftermath of such an event should never become familiar to us. Oh God, shake us from complacency so that we do not take for granted your decision to save us when we were dead in our sins!
[bible passage="Acts 4" version="ESV"]
Acts 4 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 4:1-2 NASB
Why were the Sadducees so disturbed?
The Sadducees
- Opposed to anyone instructing the general public in spiritual matters other than the priests.
- Opposed to anyone making messianic claims and anyone teaching the resurrection of the dead.
The Sadducees were very literal in their translation of Judaism. They were traditional, holding only to the written Torah and rejecting the oral Torah. The Torah is simply the first 5 books of the Bible. In Jewish culture, they are referred to as the 5 books of Moses. Many Jews believed that Moses was given the written law (the written Torah) as well as an oral Torah (an oral version which was a more developed explanation of the written Torah).
One of the beliefs of the oral Torah was the spiritual nature of demons and angels as well as the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees, however, rejected the idea of the oral Torah and, therefore, rejected the idea that anyone could be raised from the dead.
Overall, the Sadducees represented a wealthy and traditional group of people within Jewish culture. These uneducated and untrained men, Peter and John, were challenging (1) Their Authority – because they were teaching the people about Jesus (2) Their Doctrine – because they had healed a man in the name of the risen Christ.
Jesus and Sin
The Sadducees wanted control. They wanted authority. They wanted tradition. They wanted prestige. And when their sinful idols were exposed, they had two choices. We always have two choices. They could respond with arrogance or respond with humility.
When Jesus challenges your sin, how do you respond? When he starts meddling in your life and brings confrontation or accountability, how do you respond? Do you make excuses? Do you get angry and blame others? A good indication of how you respond to Jesus is how you respond to others. How do you respond to your wife? How do you respond to your husband? What about other family members? It’s nearly impossible for someone to be obedient to Jesus and then extremely combative to those close to them. So, how are your relationships these days?
In the end, they arrest Peter and John but it’s too late in the day to give them a trial. So, they lock them up overnight. During that time, Luke records this…
But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Acts 4:4 NASB
Though God’s servants were chained, His Word and His Message could not be stopped. In fact, it was thriving. The result of the suffering of Peter and John being locked up in chains resulted in 5,000 men being saved. That number, 5,000, only records men, meaning, the actual number of women and children could have been much greater. When we are faithful to planting seeds, God’s Message cannot be stopped!
And what happens next is a personal and authoritative response from Peter. He’s not speaking on his own. He’s speaking through the Spirit of God.
“He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
Acts 4:11-13 NASB
The Community
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:32-33 NASB
These are the acts of the Holy Spirit. These people exist, not for themselves, but so that they could serve and ignite others with the Good News of our Savior. This passage of Acts celebrates community within the church, but it does so with an end goal to exist as an extension of the Most High God, and to bring Salvation to a hurting and confused world. The miraculous events described here are not done by extraordinary people. They are evidence of a unified body which understood that God would do abundantly more than they could ever hope or imagine if they sacrificed their lives.
We see possessions that were formerly viewed as “mine” are now being used for the Kingdom. My house, my food, my possessions, and my land should all be used to glorify God. Anything that God blessed the early church with qualified for use among the greater body. Why has that changed today?
A really good indicator of the Holy Spirit’s presence or absence in a person’s life is the act of either giving or not giving of material possessions. It really comes down to is a misunderstanding of Jesus’ authority over the things He’s allowed you to have. It’s not your stuff. It’s His.
The Holy Spirit blessed the action and commitment of the early church by drawing the people closer to Him, revealing Himself in a way like never before, destroying their formerly selfish attitude, increasing their worship, and increasing the number of those who were saved. Why would He not do the same today?
[bible passage="Acts 5" version="ESV"]
Acts 5 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
The early church faced persecution from both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. After hearing the testimony of Peter, they were ready to kill these men just like they had Jesus. But wisdom prevailed.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.
Acts 5:34 NASB
Gamaliel was the Pharisee who instructed Paul as a young man. He was highly respected and came from a brilliant family. He stood up and addressed the Council by recalling many other failed attempts to revolt against the Romans. To the Pharisees, Jesus and his followers were just another band of zealots that had failed (in their mind) and were sentenced to be killed.
In fact, historian Josephus records 10,000 insurrections and revolution attempts in his writings. It was not uncommon. However, Gamaliel was wise. He proposed to let Peter and his crew go. If they were just another failed revolt, then they would fade out or eventually be killed. But, if they were of God, then the Pharisees themselves would be guilty of fighting against God, and they would never be able to overcome Him. When it was all said and done, Gamaliel was using risk management to access the decision at hand. His concern was valid. It was less risky to let them fail on their own than to try and fight against the Lord.
So, instead of having the apostles killed, they flogged them and sent them on their way. This is the part of this chapter that really strikes me…
So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 5:41-42 NASB
So let’s just get this straight. They were beaten and they were happy about it? Outside of the Holy Spirit, this story must seem absolutely insane to anyone who reads it. But, this is also incredibly convicting. How many times have we been mistreated by the world and complained about it? How many times have we sought to get revenge? How many times have we given up? The apostles did none of these things.
They were joyful that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for Jesus Christ. Just let that sink in a moment. Then, they went right back to teaching and preaching. Preach. Suffer. Repeat. How many of us really want to do that today? I told you it was convicting!
Acts 6 – We really have two storylines going on here. We have a great leadership move and a great Holy Spirit move both packed into one chapter. The beginning of Stephen is a great story, and …
Acts 7 – I can vividly remember the old seat belt PSA that was shown on TV all the time when I was a kid. Vince and Larry, the Crash Test Dummies, would facetiously admit that they …
Acts 8 – It’s an awesome thing when the Holy Spirit begins to transform lives and show himself in amazing and unpredictable ways. The early church was on fire and the gasoline that was fueling it was …
Acts 9 – Saul We are reminded here in chapter 9 that even the most rebellious and hard-hearted people can be powerfully used by God. In fact, I believe wholeheartedly in the saying, “whoever is forgiven much, …
[bible passage="Acts 10" version="ESV"]
Acts 10 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Many people like to ask the question, can you be saved if you are a genuine seeker and have responded to God but have not yet heard the Gospel?
Cornelius was described as a devout man who feared God and gave alms to Jewish people. He prayed to God continually which could have meant three times per day as this is the Jewish custom. Being described as a devout man meant that he worshiped the God of the OT, kept the OT law, attended synagogue, and observed the Sabbath. However, he had not converted to Judaism, most likely because he was a centurion. So, by Jewish standards, he was still considered ritually unclean because he was a Gentile.
We have here a prime example of the question were are exploring. Cornelius was a genuine seeker who had responded to God but knew nothing of the Gospel. Here we can confirm that God works in the supernatural to drawn seeking people to Him. God’s main message to Cornelius is to investigate. He invites Him to draw even closer. There is action required, however, and Cornelius obeys.
At the same time, God is working on Peter. After his puzzling vision, which challenges everything he believes about food being clean/unclean in the sight of God, Cornelius’ men show up. Peter invites them in as God continues to break down the borders that separate Jew from Gentile.
The beauty here is that Peter took advantage of the opportunity that was before him and listened to the Spirit. He didn’t rely on his human thoughts. He didn’t rely on being raised to hate Gentiles. He didn’t rely on Jewish teaching telling him that the Gentiles could never be God’s chosen people. Peter let the Holy Spirit speak radically in the moment and it transformed not only his thoughts but the lives of the Gentiles who were there before him.
How is God asking you to put aside your human thoughts to pursue the plan He’s asked?
[bible passage="Acts 11" version="ESV"]
Acts 11 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Unfortunately, the attitude that Peter experiences here in Acts 11 is all too common in our church culture today. People these days want to know, what is your background, what church did you grow up in, what’s your theology, or what’s your stance on such-and-such. I don’t believe these are unimportant issues, but the point is, they are not the most important issue. When it really comes down to it, the most important thing is Jesus.
Peter knows this. He’s just been with Gentiles who proclaimed Christ as their Savior. In addition, these Gentiles also received the Holy Spirit. He saw it with his own eyes! When he returns, all his Jewish buddies want to know why he was hanging around with the wrong crowd. Fast-forward thousands of years and we have the same thing happening today.
I realize there’s a lot of grey area when it comes to this subject, but it burns me when I hear of a person who was trying to come to church and was told, “Sorry, we don’t accept people like you.” The beauty of Jesus Christ is that he didn’t give one rip what gender, race, religion, or social status a person had. He came to save the lost, plain and simple. And in order to save the lost, He willingly demonstrated his love for them.
The simplicity of this act boils down to this; when we try and control, or manipulate, or judge who we think should be or has been saved, we are not representing the Christ who died for humanity. Peter didn’t quite understand why these Gentiles were receiving the Spirit. He maybe was even a little concerned or caught off guard. But he knew one thing; he was to go and make disciples of all nations. ALL nations.
We as the church need to get off our high horse when it comes to showing Christ to others. We have to understand that in order to be like Jesus, they first need to experience Jesus. And when you read through the Gospels, we see a man who was counter-cultural in the way he distributed grace to those who would not have gotten a second look from most people.
Their past, their theology, their opinion on hot topics; all of those will all be fine once they know Jesus Christ. So let’s do our job, and show them Jesus instead of trying to determine their worth. Peter shows us that the least likely of all people in our minds may be the very ones God is going to reach next for his kingdom!
[bible passage="Acts 12" version="ESV"]
Acts 12 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
King Herod never saw it coming. The grandson of the infamous Herod the Great was part of long line of family dysfunction that fought against the people of God many times throughout history.
His grandfather, Herod the Great, tried to kill Jesus in Bethlehem. The horrific massacre known as “The Slaughter of the Innocents” killed every baby boy 2 years or younger in an attempt to put an end to the coming Messiah. In this case, the cliche fits: like grandpa, like grandson.
The Bible tells us that while the slaughter was going on in Bethlehem, Jesus and his family had escaped to Egypt as Joseph was warned ahead of time. During Jesus’ time in Egypt, Herod the Great suffered a miserable death. It was fitting for a man who was equally miserable in his rule as king. In fact, with the proof of ancient historical texts, modern-day physicians tell us Herod the Great suffered an extremely painful death complicated by a case of maggot-infested gangrene of the genitals. Not so “great.”
Enter grandson, Herod Agrippa I. Sporting his grandfather’s same pride and arrogance, he decides to mess with the early church. He starts by having the apostle James killed by the sword. Seeing this pleased the Jews, he decides to improve his charisma by throwing Peter in prison as well. In prison, Peter was under the confinement of 4 sets of 4 guards each. Herod thought he had everything covered and under control.
Just like his grandfather, he fought against God. And, just like his grandfather, he didn’t learn from his mistakes. And in one of the more horrific deaths of the Bible, he is struck down dead and covered in worms.
Herod’s greed was fueled by political dominance. We see that this is a primary method by which Satan works to disrupt the plans of God. Remember when Satan promised Jesus all the domain and its glory?
And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Luke 4:6 NASB
In the secular world, Herod was looked at as a champion. He was winning. He had power and control. He used his political sledgehammer to make his mark on Christianity. However, God had a much bigger plan in mind. Although the church was under attack, it was actually spreading. It was growing stronger. It was unstoppable. Though it seemed for a time that Herod had dismantled God’s plan, he would be utterly humiliated in the end.
The lesson is two-fold. First, don’t fight against God. It seems like a no-brainer, but where are we pursuing selfish gain over kingdom gain? Where are we becoming a hindrance to what God is trying to move forward? Where are we struggling for power and control like Herod? Second, we must understand that if we are faithful to walking with God, we will experience times when we feel defeated. Some would question that statement, but I believe it’s just the reality of life.
I’m sure there was great sadness and grief over the loss of James. But God was doing much more. He had set a time limit on Herod’s life. He rescued Peter. And he was priming the apostles to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. There is always so much more going on than what we can see on the surface.
[bible passage="Acts 13" version="ESV"]
Acts 13 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Paul and Barnabas visit multiple synagogues and work there way across the island of Cyprus from east to west. When they reached Paphos, they encounter a snag. A Jewish false prophet by the name of Bar-Jesus seeks to stop them. Let’s take an in-depth look at this individual.
Bar-Jesus literally means ‘son of Jesus.’
He was masquerading as one with power and authority and blatantly associating himself with Jesus. This could indicate that he ran around in Christian circles or that he simply wanted the power or authority that came with that name. Remember, in Matthew 7 Jesus Himself condemns those who did all kinds of miracles in His name but never knew Him.
He was a smorgasbord of spirituality.
As I mentioned, his name indicated he possibly ran in Christian circles. The text also indicates he was Jewish and practiced the magical arts being described as a magician. He most likely would use any power he could to assist Sergius Paulus. Luke frames him as a serious threat to the Christian faith for these very reasons. He had knowledge, power, and influence.
A religious advisor for Sergius Paulus.
Rome used a proconsul to rule over their territories. It was common for these rulers to acquire certain individuals such as a Bar-Jesus which would help them to govern by using their power to see into the future. It gave them an edge in their leadership. The IVP commentary suggests…
“Bar-Jesus must have been the court-astrologer, who at the same time claimed to know the magic formula by which the bonds of fate could be broken.”
IVP Commentary
The crucial verse which helps us to understand why there is such a disagreement here between Paul/Barnabas/Mark and Bar-Jesus is found in verse 7. This man (Sergius Paulus) summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. Scripture tells us that after Sergius Paulus began seeking to hear about Jesus, that’s when the enemy sprang forward to deter him from hearing the truth in any way possible. This is an absolute and practical application for us today.
The enemy is fine with you going to church, singing songs, reading Scripture, and even performing miraculous events in the name of Jesus! It’s when you begin to seek truth and actively pursue a relationship when he springs into action and will do whatever it takes to derail that growth from happening.
This is the most difficult part of our Christian walk. The seeking of God’s heart and denial of our own ways is a constant relationship that requires a humble attitude of repentance. Going through the motions with a little bit of Jesus – that’s fine. To Satan, you’re no different than the unbeliever. But committing to the truth whole-heartedly as we can assume Sergius Paulus is doing here triggers an all-out war. That’s when the gloves come off.
Where have you neglected an authentic relationship with Jesus for “spirituality?” What is your Bar-Jesus which has sprung forward to keep you from this pursuit? Do you recognize the signs of the enemy when he jumps into action to prevent you from going deeper?
Acts 14 – When Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra speaking to the people, they saw a lame man who gazed intently at them as they spoke. Prompted by the Spirit, Paul asked the lame man to …
Acts 15 – The first question we want to know is, who was right and who was wrong between Paul and Barnabas? I feel that when we approach it from that angle we really miss Luke’s point. …
Acts 16 – I want to focus on a somewhat bizarre section of this chapter – the end. It struck me that Paul, after being told he and Silas have been released from jail, demanded that the …
Acts 17 – It’s interesting to ponder how each person responds to the Gospel differently. Some, who we think will understand, (the Jews in Paul’s case) end up being the most hostile and resistant. Others, however, are …
[bible passage="Acts 18" version="ESV"]
Acts 18 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Corinth had a bad reputation for being a city chock full of immorality. It was known as the hub for Aphrodite (fertility goddess) worship. It was also known for having a major temple dedicated to Apollo. Among the Greeks, it was a well-known and interchangeable phrase to refer to someone steeped in sexual immorality as a “Corinthian” even if they weren’t from Corinth.
As he did many times in a new city, Paul started by bringing his message to the Jews. After it became apparent that they were not open to the Gospel, he moves almost exclusively to the Gentiles. I’m sure Paul was relieved to get a message from the Lord promising his protection as he had been beaten badly in other cities. That message was enough to propel Paul into an aggressive and determined state of mind. We need this many times in our lives. When we open the Word, we can be encouraged that the promises of God are readily available to His children.
Immediately after receiving this message from the Lord, the text states that Paul set up camp. He knew he would be in Corinth for awhile and he knew he would be protected while he was there. For a year and a half, Paul told everyone he could about the Gospel. This infuriated the Jews and they had heard enough. Ironically, there was a new proconsul named Gallio who was appointed by the Roman senate to govern the province of Achaia. The Jewish leaders undoubtedly planned to take advantage of this new governor by bringing charges against Paul.
And, that’s exactly what they tried to do. The problem was, Gallio wasn’t budging. In fact, it’s very likely God hardened Gallio’s heart toward the Jews in order to fulfill his promise to protect Paul during his time in Corinth. Once the charges were brought, Paul didn’t have to say a word. Keep in mind, this decision not only had ramifications for Paul personally, but the Jews wished for Gallio to ban Christianity completely. Judging Christianity to be illegal would have sent the church reeling as persecution would have been looked upon favorably by the Roman government.
However, God already had a plan. Gallio considered Christianity to be a sect of the Jewish religion and therefore not a crime against Rome. He basically told the leaders to work it out on their own. All of this is a reminder to us of how God protects us as He’s promised. For some Christians today, hearing a promise like Paul received can send them into a comfortable and complacent mindset. Instead of warring for the Gospel, they take it as a moment to relax. Do we trust God enough to invest like Paul did? God’s Word was enough for Paul. He was all in.
[bible passage="Acts 19" version="ESV"]
Acts 19 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Paul in Ephesus is a great reminder for our churches today. From his investment, we know that Ephesus was just the start of Christianity in Asia Minor. The churches in Revelation were all born from this journey to the Ephesians. This is a fascinating fact alone. However, consider how he handled the details as they occurred.
First, he goes to the local synagogue and tries to explain the Kingdom of God to the Jews for three long months. They rejected him. So, he takes those who do believe and develops a program for training them at the school of Tyrannus (a philosopher). For two years, he organized this intense training for all new converts in Ephesus. Two years!
And this leads us to a great application. When we step away from those who continually reject the Gospel, we are freed up to actually invest in those who are starving for spiritual nourishment. Paul could have spent two years trying to turn Asia Minor upside-down through the Jewish synagogue. But, he didn’t. Why? Because Paul was a man of priorities. He wasn’t going to throw his pearls before swine. His task was to get the Message out to Asia Minor and these few believers he invested in would be the ones to do it.
Incredibly, verse 10 states that during this 2-year training program, all in Asia Minor heard the message of Jesus. Let that sink in for a moment. It’s an incredible feat! So we can conclude that Paul was not just teaching his disciples, but he was also sending them. It was not a program suited to increase in knowledge, but rather, to increase the Gospel. And yes, there is a big difference. We can assume that many of these students of Paul were the founding fathers of the 7 churches we read about in Revelation.
So, there are many questions we can ask ourselves. Who do we need to step away from and who needs us to step in? Are we gaining more Biblical knowledge in order to benefit ourselves or increase the Gospel? How many of us are creating “training programs” with the people we are close with? These are tough questions which require personal reflection and meditation on the Word. But, they are relevant.
If we assume that these students of Paul were indeed the individuals who founded the 7 churches of Asia Minor, we should be very encouraged. In just two years, Paul’s deep spiritual investment produced immense fruit through these early churches. Where are we called to the same?
[bible passage="Acts 20" version="ESV"]
Acts 20 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
In a bittersweet scene, Paul lays it all on the line for the leaders of Ephesus as he departs for Jerusalem. He knows they will not see each other again, but he is confident in what he has taught them and the legacy he’s left there. Could you say the same about your life? If you had to say goodbye to those who God has entrusted to you, would you, like Paul, be able to say, “So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another.”
The second challenge I want to leave you with is from a very practical and realistic perspective. Paul says, about his journey ahead to Jerusalem…
“And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, 23 except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. 24 But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Acts 20:22-24 HCSB
Man, I love these words!
Paul knows he needs to continue to move forward. He knows there will be suffering. And finally, he knows he is to do the will of the Father above all else. That sounds a lot like daily life doesn’t it? We desire to move forward in life, but we know that suffering and hardship will come at some point. That’s a guarantee. Paul’s advice to us: “That matters little.” What really matters is completing the race and finishing the journey. What really matters is pouring himself out for the sake of the Gospel. And with tears in their eyes, the men in Ephesus join Paul as he kneels and utters one final prayer.
Bottom line: Paul knew how to finish the race. It wasn’t by his own merits. It was by doing what God told him, no matter what the circumstances or consequences. Do you know how to finish the race?
[bible passage="Acts 21" version="ESV"]
Acts 21 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
This was a tough chapter for me. We read that the voice of the Holy Spirit is speaking through these believers and giving warnings to Paul of what he will face in Jerusalem. Yet, he continues forward to where he feels he’s being called despite these objections. What is going on? Was the Spirit really speaking through these believers? Did they not hear clearly? It’s difficult to reconcile because on the surface it seems like a contradiction.
Paul’s fellow believers give him warnings in two different places over this chapter.
After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.
Acts 21:4 NASB
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:10-12 NASB
Paul’s response to these warnings is, “I’m going anyway.” And that’s exactly what he does. Despite all the warnings and objections, he walks right into Jerusalem. Just like the Spirit had warned, he is beaten, arrested, and hauled away like a prisoner. So we ask ourselves, was Paul wrong? Was he too prideful in going, or was he supposed to be a fearless example to his fellow believers?
If we read the text closely, we can observe that the Holy Spirit does not specifically prohibit Paul from going to Jerusalem. He only warns him of what will happen if he does. This is a stark contrast to several chapters prior (Acts 16) where the Holy Spirit blocks Paul from traveling to Asia. So, this brings us to an even more difficult question. Are we brave enough to follow through with what God has called of us even after we know the consequences?
Sometimes God answers dangerous prayers in unexpected ways. We pray for peace and He places us in a storm. We pray for patience and He allows our last nerve to be tested. We pray for growth and into the fire we go! But when we have the peace of God, all those warnings don’t matter.
Paul was setting a standard for those who were following Christ. He was preparing them, much like Jesus prepared the disciples, to face the fear of persecution and suffering for the Lord’s name. Paul is a living example of faith in action. His life testifies to the fact that even though God has told him what is coming, he will still go. It’s the exact same response we see from Jesus when he is led to the cross. In Matthew 16, Peter was disgusted when Jesus foretold of his death and suffering. Jesus responded by equating Peter’s response to the mindset of Satan who is opposed to the will of God. Jesus had peace. Peter didn’t.
It’s really a mind-blowing thought. Do we really see the will of God? Or an even bolder question is, do we really want to follow through with it? Paul did. He left a legacy of following. He poured himself out to the Lord. He used every ounce of his being to bring glory to the name of Christ. When the path marked by God is a path marked with suffering, will you relentlessly follow?
Acts 22 – Paul never wastes an opportunity to talk about the Gospel. Whether he’s imprisoned, being beaten, being interrogated, or just passing through a town; he was diligent to look for these opportunities. What helped him …
Acts 23 – “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 “But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the …
Acts 24 – Paul now finds himself in limbo and at the mercy of the political system. He continues to plead his case, as well as preach the Word in all situations. The sad part of this …
Acts 25 – The reason Paul was able to appeal to Caesar and the higher court was because he was rightfully a Roman citizen. The tricky part, as I understand it, was that the Jews wanted to …
[bible passage="Acts 26" version="ESV"]
Acts 26 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
In this chapter, Paul gives his most exhaustive and evangelistic appeal to Agrippa II. If you remember, he has appealed to Caesar. But in the meantime, Agrippa II is passing through visiting Festus along with his sister Bernice. Festus asks Agrippa what he should write on the charge sheet before sending Paul over for his appeal, but Agrippa would like to speak with Paul first. Much like his great-grandfather Herod the Great, he liked to be entertained by Jewish religious matters.
In fact, he was considered a well-known authority on Jewish scriptures as well as their affairs. Although he didn’t quite live up to the Herod dynasty of murder and tyranny, he still arrogantly considered himself intellectually and socially superior to someone like Paul. The truth was, at this time, Agrippa was living in an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice. In the end, as we will read, he didn’t really care that much about the Jews or the Christians, as he was truly a politician at heart.
So Agrippa speaks with Paul, and we read that Paul gives a full testimony of his personal experience with Jesus. Paul knows that Agrippa is well-schooled in the Scriptures, and would, at the very least, listen and be entertained by his words. At the most, Paul was hoping for a conversion! He gives an evangelistic message, and Agrippa responds by saying, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’
Paul didn’t waver. He boldly responded by saying, “Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Again, the amazing faith of Paul on display.
And with that, Agrippa had heard enough. He was entertained. He had shown up and felt important for his contribution. But he would not sit and listen any longer because he had been forced into a corner. If he had said to those who were gathered that he did not believe in the prophets of old, he would have enraged the Jews. However, if he admitted that he did believe in the prophets, then he would have been forced to deal with Paul’s words.
Though knowing a lot about the Scriptures, hearing of how his great-grandfather tried to kill a baby Jesus, watching as his father, Agrippa I, beheaded James and arrested Peter, and finally hearing the firsthand testimony of Paul; his heart was still hardened. The sad part is, he was a decently fair man. As he walked out, he admitted privately to Festus that Paul was innocent of all charges!
The hard lesson for Agrippa that applies so much today is that we can have a lot of Bible knowledge, hear a personal testimony, and even be a pretty good person. Those things won’t provide us justification before a Holy God.
[bible passage="Acts 27" version="ESV"]
Acts 27 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
It’s interesting to me that Paul could have fallen by the wayside so many times in his life. Luke gives us an amazing description of how and why Paul ended up in Rome. When everyone thought he would die in Jerusalem, Paul continued to run the race, pleading for people to know Christ, and using his opportunities to the fullest. Now, as they face the food shortage, the storm, and the wreck aboard the ship, Paul continues down this faithful path. He breaks bread among them thanking God for his provision. He predicts all will make it to land safely, and they do.
The point is, Paul was different, and he was continuously showing it to others. Even in the simple tasks, he was showing Christ at all times. He was leading by example and putting others first. He was giving warnings while also handing out encouragement. We should not overlook the life Paul lived outside of his preaching and teaching. In everything he did, he truly was filled with Christ.
“During these two years in Rome, Paul wrote Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. He expected to be released and most students agree that he was. During this time, he had Timothy with him, as well as John Mark, Luke, Aristarchus, Epaphras, Justus, and Demas. He also met Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus and led him to faith in Christ.”
Warren Wiersbe
Paul was an absolute workhorse!
[bible passage="Acts 28" version="ESV"]
Acts 28 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
I love the image of Paul here at the end of Acts. He is a man who, under normal circumstances, would have no joy. He’s been falsely accused, spent a considerable amount of time locked up, and now has to deal with even more Jewish people who refuse to believe the Gospel. It would have been difficult for anyone to remain positive and stay the course. But he does.
The chapter ends with these simple, but profound words: He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open. Luke does not reveal here in Acts what happened with Paul’s case. It is likely that he was released given that he had been innocent of all charges up to this point.
Romans 15 tells us that Paul was in Spain at some point. Also, Titus 1 informs us that he ministered on the island of Crete, an account that does not fit with the book of Acts. It is probable that Paul was ultimately released and resumed his missionary travels for several more years before being convicted, tried, sentenced and killed for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Paul dedicated his life to Jesus. There’s no doubt about it. Would others say the same for you? Could it be said that you urgently present all matters of the kingdom of God? Paul’s letter to Timothy is a reminder of just how committed he was to the Gospel.
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NASB