TEXT: Acts 21:27-23:32

SUBJECT: Acts 27

Today, with the Lord's blessing, we'll continue our study of Acts, looking for what Jesus Christ is up to in the world.

THE TEMPLE

The story takes place in Jerusalem. Paul has been there a few days, during which time he has kept out of the public eye. He met privately with the elders of the church and gave them a report on what Christ has done in the Gentile world.

Then, on their advice, he joined four brothers in a Nazarite vow, paid their expenses, offered sacrifices, and presented himself to the Lord in the Temple.

THE RIOT

All was going very well, very quietly--until some Jews from Asia Minor spotted him. With loud voices they denounced him as a heretic, an apostate and a profaner of God's House,

These words turned the worshiping multitude into a raging mob. They grabbed the man, hauled him out of the Temple, and began to beat him to death.

THE ROMANS

But before they did, the Romans marched in and broke up the riot. Paul was put in chains and the commander asked the people what he had done. The mob was so angry, though, that he couldn't get a straight answer--one said this, another said that, and so on. Finally, seeing the people were in no mood to reason with him, the officer commanded his men to carry Paul back to the barracks where would be interrogated.

On the way there, the people followed screaming for his blood,

When he got to the barracks, the commander--I suppose--sent for a translator. For he assumed Paul was an Egyptian terrorist. But, of course he wasn't, and spoke to the officer in Greek. Paul wanted one thing from him, an opportunity to address the people. Which was granted.

THE DEFENSE

The words were spoken in Hebrew, the language of the Bible; the language all Jews would listen to with respect.

He began by sketching his early life. He understood them perfectly, because he too was a devout Jew and had once felt the same way about Christ as they do.

But then something happened. On the Road to Damascus, he was struck down by a blinding Light. And from the Light came a Voice--

He didn't know how to answer that one--

The answer shocked him,

He could only say,

He told him. First, go to Damascus, where his blind eyes were opened, where he was baptized, and where he learned part of his calling--to preach Christ.

From there he went to Jerusalem. Praying in the Temple one day, he fell into a trance and received the rest of his calling,

When the Jews heard this, they became hysterical--

The commander is dumbfounded! How can they be so mad about this? He takes him back to the barracks to beat a confession out of him.

But Paul demands his constitutional rights. Roman citizens were presumed innocent until proven guilty. They could not be jailed or whipped without due process of law. Paul is unchained, but kept in protective custody.

THE SANHEDRIN

The next day--still trying to get a fix on what Paul has done wrong--the commander orders the local authorities to present their case.

Which they do. Sort of.

But Paul outfoxes them. He sees that the Council is made up of Sadducees and Pharisees. They both hate Christians--but they also hate each other.

The Sadducees deny the resurrection, angels, and spirits, while the Pharisees affirm them all. And so, Paul frames his argument this way.

What's the trial about? It was about profaning the temple and misleading Israel. But now, it's about the resurrection! Which the Pharisees have to support.

And so, the men who were gnashing their teeth five minutes before, are now saying,

This throws the meeting into even more confusion. The army is called in once more and Paul is taken away for safe keeping.

THE PROMISE

That night, the Lord comes to Paul with words of comfort,

This means that Paul is going to escape from the Jews.

THE PLOT

But it won't be easy. For the very next day, more than forty fanatics take an oath to not eat or drink until Paul is dead.

Conspiracies are hard to keep secret. A young man overheard their evil plans--and he happened to be Paul's nephew. He brought the news to Paul who sent him to the commander.

When he heard the news, he put five hundred men on alert, and got Paul out of town in the middle of the night.

To Caesarea he would go, with a letter remanding him to the care of Felix, the Roman Governor.

That's the story.

THE MESSAGE

Here's what we can learn from it: Jesus Christ uses persecution to promote Gospel witness.

We know this because the Bible says so. Referring to his time in jail, Paul says,

You see, Jesus Christ wanted to save some of Caesar's prison guards. But to do that, He had to get someone into the prison. And that someone was Paul. Men are in heaven today because he was sent to jail.

One of the most famous quotes in Church History makes the same point. Tertullian, back in the Second Century, said,

And, of course, he was right. There were no mass meetings in those days; almost all witnessing was on a small-scale. Until the Romans started throwing Christians to the lions. Then, thousands gathered for the spectacles, only to hear the Gospel and see men and women die with joy!

Our story shows Christ doing the very same thing.

Paul did not go to Jerusalem to preach the Gospel. He went to give a love offering to the poor saints in Judea and to privately meet with he church.

When he got there, he didn't even try to preach. His ministry was to the Gentiles, mostly, and his desire was to "preach Christ where he had not been named. And not build on another man's foundation".

In fact, he kept a very low profile and did everything he could to blend in with the Jews.

Until they rioted against him in the Temple. This gave him the chance to speak up for Christ to thousands--including the Ruling Council.

This was not an accident. Jesus Christ was behind it.

You need to remember that when you are mistreated for Christ's sake.

God promises to turn it to your good. But not only yours. Mistreatment has a way of opening doors for witness. If someone sneers at Christ, you can explain why you believe in Him. If he laughs at you, you can respond with humility and love. If he curses you, you can bless him; if he hates you, you can do him good; if he persecutes and spitefully uses you, you can pray for him.

Speaking up for Christ in a friendly atmosphere impresses no one. But speaking up for Christ when it costs you something packs a punch to those who hear it.

We should not court persecution. But neither should we fear it. For, God will use it to further the Gospel and bring His Elect to faith in Christ.

God bless you. Every one. For Christ's sake. Amen.