Monday: Read Acts 19
Paul’s 3rd missionary journey (53-57) takes him to Ephesus which was a leading city in the Roman world. At the time, it was a port city on the West coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Paul had set his sights on Ephesus from the beginning of his ministry. Paul, in fact, remained in Ephesus longer than he did in any other city (2+ years).
While in Ephesus, significant problems arose in the church in Corinth that garnered much of Paul’s attention. He writes several letters to the church in Corinth, including what would be our 1st Corinthians.
Acts 19 again narrates a conflict that arises from the acceptance of the Christian message amidst the pagan culture. This has been a regular theme for Paul. He and Barnabas experienced troubles in Lystra where they were worshiped as gods (Acts 14). Paul and Silas experienced imprisonment and danger in Philippi after casting out a spirit from a girl which provided a profit for her owners (Acts 16). In Thessalonica, an uproar was created by those from the synagogue who accused them of upsetting the whole world (17:6). Later in Acts 17, Paul was dragged before the authorities in Athens who accused him of advancing other gods (Jesus and the resurrection—which were considered to be different gods).
Now, in Acts 19, the acceptance of the Christian message was threatening the livelihood of the local silversmiths and was seen as a threat to the worship of Artemis. The temple of Artemis in Ephesus was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. It was 4x larger than the Parthenon in Greece. These were serious charges.
Questions to ponder/discuss:
- Why do you suspect that the Christian gospel in the Western world does not present the same sort of conflicts with culture as Paul experienced as he traveled the Roman world?
Tuesday: Read Acts 20
Acts 20 narrates Paul’s travels through the Aegean sea area—note the details, which was the result of Luke’s presence with Paul (5). He leaves Ephesus and travels to Macedonia (Philippi and Thessalonica). At this point, he writes 2nd Corinthians. Paul visits Corinth and spends 3 months there. From Corinth, Paul writes Romans.
One of his goals on this journey, in addition to revisiting the churches that he had planted, was to take an offering for the poor at the church in Jerusalem (see 1 Cor 16:1-4). Paul’s intentions were to visit Jerusalem and then venture west to Rome and Spain.
Instead of traveling to Syria (Antioch) and then to Jerusalem, a plot against Paul forced him to travel again to Macedonia (3). Luke lists a number of individuals who accompany Paul (4): some of whom will become important as the story moves forward.
Paul’s visit to the Ephesian elders (17-35) was emotional. Paul had spent more time in Ephesus than any other city and had likely grown quite close with many. Paul actually landed in Miletus and called the elders of Ephesus to meet him there. Paul’s speech to the leaders of Ephesus should be read in light of the fact that Paul is not sure he will ever see them again (36-38). His plan was to venture on to the West—whether or not he would return was not certain.
Questions to ponder/discuss:
- Carefully read Paul’s speech to the leaders of Ephesus (18-35). Knowing that Paul is speaking to the leaders of the community, what stands out to you?
Wednesday: Read Acts 21:1-36 (Num 6:1-21)
Paul continues his journey to Jerusalem. He must have considered it his responsibility to see that the offering for the church in Jerusalem reached its destination. Paul, also, may have wanted to show the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem that he was not a threat. Nonetheless, many warned him not to go (12): including the prophet Agabus (10-11). Paul reminds them that he is ready to die in Jerusalem if necessary.
Paul arrives in Jerusalem and is greeted by the Church: including James (18: the brother of Jesus). Paul related to them all that the Lord had done (19). His presence in Jerusalem, however, was a problem. There were many who were zealous for the Law “and they have been told about you” (21). Paul had been traveling the Roman world and bringing Gentiles into the faith and was not requiring them to be circumcised and to “follow the Jewish customs” (21).
The decision was made that Paul would assist 4 men in completing their purifications in order to fulfill a Nazarite vow (23, 24). The idea was that by doing so, Paul would show everyone that he affirmed the ancestral customs.
This would require Paul to pay the necessary expenses for their sacrifices (over a 7-day period), and then to notify the priests when their days of purification ended.
While visiting the temple, a mob attacks Paul accusing him of bringing a gentile into the temple: Luke notes, “For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple” (29). This was no simple accusation. It was a charge that could result in his death.
Fortunately, for Paul’s sake, the Romans were able to intervene and take him into custody, sparing his life.
For the rest of the story of Acts, Paul will remain in custody.
Questions to ponder/discuss:
- The account with Agabus shows us that just because one knows that calamity will come it doesn’t mean that it is not God’s will. We think too often that God only wills good for us. Paul has known since his transformation that he will suffer much: “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake” (9:16). At the same time, we must be careful to listen to the voice of others.
- Why do you think Paul didn’t listen to the voice of others, including the prophet Agabus, and continued on to Jerusalem?
Thursday: Read Acts 21:37-22:30
Paul requests the Roman official, who was surprised to learn that Paul spoke Greek, for permission to speak to the people. Paul’s speech is very autobiographical. I am like you—a Jew. I too opposed the Jesus movement. I even persecuted them to death (Stephen: 8:1). I put others in prison.
Paul then relays what happened while en route to Damascus (9:1-19). He notes that Jesus appeared to him and then Ananias came and restored his sight. He later returned to Jerusalem.
Those who were listening may well have been tracking with Paul. Well, at least until Paul explained that God again appeared to him and warned him to flee Jerusalem because “they will not accept your testimony about me” (18). Even here, Paul seemed to have reasoned that they will surely understand!
Those listening to Paul were finally aroused to an uproar when Paul stated that the Lord responded to him, “Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles” (21).
The Romans then brought Paul into the Antonia Fortress for scourging. Paul, in contrast to his and Silas’ silence in Philipp, calls attention to the fact that he is a Roman citizen (27). Thus, he escapes the whipping.
Questions to ponder/discuss:
- It is hard to psychoanalyze a person from ancient history. One wonders, however, if Paul was so convinced that his fellow Jews would believe if they truly understood what he was saying. Paul had a similar idea in Ephesus. He wanted to enter the theater and speak to the Ephesians: but “the disciples would not let him” (19:30). We know, from hindsight, that such people were not likely to be convinced.
- Was Paul blinded by his own convictions? Was he overly optimistic about others? It is impossible to know. Sometimes we cannot see the reality of the situation because of our own convictions. In such instances, it is important to listen to others and discern what is wisest.
Friday: Read Acts 23
Paul is brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin (their supreme court). His speech before the Sanhedrin was quite strategic. Discerning that the Sadducees among them were not about to listen, Paul appeals to the like-minded Pharisees and their shared belief in the resurrection (8).
Luke notes that the Lord again appeared to Paul and assured him that he will bear witness in Rome. (Of course, it doesn’t say if he will do so as a free person or a prisoner!)
Paul’s nephew then learned of a conspiracy to take his life. He is removed to Caesarea (the Roman capital for the area). The Roman official Claudius Lysias writes a letter to the Roman Governor Felix (same title as Pilate had) explaining why Paul was being sent to Caesarea. Note that the letter says that Paul is not worthy of death or imprisonment (29).
Paul remains in prison in Caesarea for 2 years. We might ask, why? After all, if the commander’s letter expresses his conviction that Paul was innocent, then why was he detained? There may be several reasons here:
First, it confirms the complexities of the Roman occupation of the land and the difficulty they had in keeping peace with those in Jerusalem. The conflict was intensifying and the eventual war between Rome and Jerusalem (AD 66-70) was only a few years away. Paul may have been a bargaining chip. The authorities in Jerusalem wanted him to stand trial in Jerusalem. Rome had the obligation to protect a Roman citizen.
Another reason for Paul’s detainment in Caesarea was likely the corruption of the Roman judicial system. Rome rarely detained prisoners for such a length of time. Word, however, had surely reached the governor’s ears that Paul had arrived in Jerusalem not too much earlier with a large sum of money (recall the collection for the poor in Jerusalem). Surely, they assumed he had access to money and a bribe would ensure his release.
Questions to ponder/discuss:
- One cannot overstate the hardships that Paul faced. We cannot imagine his grief that his own people rejected him. Then we must add the troubles that he was experiencing from the believers in Corinth. Then we add the constant dangers that he faced from the Gentiles throughout the Roman world. How was Paul able to endure? I suspect that he had learned to rely utterly and completely on the Holy Spirit. In addition, we know of several instances in which Paul had visions from the Lord. In one such instance, he relays that he was taken into the 3rd heaven/Paradise (2 Cor 12:2, 4) and heard “inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (2 Cor 12:4).
- We might ask why don’t we have such experiences? Well, I suppose we might say Paul was unique and his calling was unique. But, perhaps, we might also say that if we are willing to truly take up our crosses, deny ourselves, and follow Him, maybe He will grant us such grace too. Of course, I am not sure we are ready for such a call. After all, with more grace comes more suffering!
[1] This guide is meant to be done either as a group study over the course of 2 or 4 meetings (Day 1-5; 6-10; 11-15; 16-20), or as a private devotion over the course of 4 weeks (or a calendar month—5 lessons per week).
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