Acts Lesson Twenty-six: Acts 12:20-25 – God’s Wrath and Power
20 He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him. They won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, and through him they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country. 21 So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. 22 The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died. 24 Then God’s message flourished and multiplied. 25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who is called Mark. (HCSB)
The narrative in this lesson can be divided into two parts.
The Power of God’s Wrath – verses 20-23.
The Power of God’s Hand – verse 24-25.
The Power of God’s Wrath
As we take a look at this section of the passage, let’s look at the background of Tyre and Sidon to understand their significance to this passage.
The relationship between Tyre, Sidon, and Israel goes back to the days of King Solomon as found in 1 Kings 5:9ff.
They depended on Israel for food – Ezra 3:7.
Now let’s look at the events in the passage since we understand the background between the parties in question.
In some manner, both Tyre and Sidon had angered King Herod.
They were in danger of losing the support and assistance they had been accustomed to from the Jews.
In typical political maneuvering, they enlisted one of King Herod’s trusted servants, Blastus, to obtain a chance to plead their case before the king.
This meeting would serve a dual purpose.
It would enable the king to display his authority and glory.
It would enable the delegates from Tyre and Sidon to stroke his ego with flattery.
The Jewish historian, Josephus, provides much greater detail about the meeting.
The meeting took place during a festival honoring Claudius Caesar.
Herod wore a magnificent silver robe that glistened in the morning sun in honor of the occasion.
Because of the sun shining off the robe, the people began to shout, “the voice of a god and not of a man.” Josephus also recorded that the people responded that Herod was more than a mortal.
Herod neither affirmed nor denied the accolades from the crowd.
Then, looking up, Herod saw an owl.
Earlier in his life, when imprisoned in Rome, Herod had seen a vision of an owl and was told by a fellow prisoner that it was a sign of good news.
This proved true as he was subsequently released and installed as king in Israel.
However, the prisoner also told him that if he saw a vision of an owl a second time, he would only have five days to live.
Because Herod accepted the accolades and didn’t give God the glory, an angel of the Lord struck him with an affliction.
Herod was then taken to his residence and died five days later.
There is no discrepancy between Luke’s account of being struck at once with an affliction and Herod dying five days later. The angel of the Lord did strike Herod immediately, but the resulting death occurred five days later. One can imagine that Herod suffered for those five days before finally dying.
From this narrative, we can see several points that directly connect to the world we live in today.
The Tyrians and Sidonians were only concerned about obtaining food.
However, in the quest to obtain the food, they were willing to flatter the ego of a megalomaniac.
In this narrative, King Herod is a form of the future “man of sin” who will some day rule the world and persecute God’s people. The antichrist will make himself a god and demand all worship him.
Today’s world lives for praise and pleasure. Today’s world lives for the physical and ignores the spiritual. It lives by force and flattery instead of faith and truth.
The Power of God’s Hand
Although this section is only two verses long, but it presents a simple and strong message.
The spread of the Gospel message flourished and multiplied. In various places, Luke gives progress reports on the advancement of the Gospel and the state of the church.
Acts 6:7
Acts 9:31
Acts 12:24
Acts 16:5
Acts 19:20
Acts 28:31
From its humble beginnings in Jerusalem, the church will spread throughout the known world.
At the beginning of Acts 12, it appeared as if Herod was in control. James was executed, and Peter was in prison awaiting execution. By the end of Acts 12, Herod is dead, and the church is very much alive and growing.
The secret to the early church was prayer.
Acts 12 concludes with the return of Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark. Some things to note about this verse.
It likely occurred a couple of years after the death of Herod.
This would agree with the dating of the famine requiring the relief mission by Barnabas and Paul.
Evangelism to Judea and Samaria was now well established.
The message to the Gentiles had been spearheaded by Philip, Peter, and the church at Antioch.
Now, the focus will shift to Paul as he takes the Gospel to the Gentiles and the “ends of the earth.”
Applications
Do you focus on the temporal or the eternal? In the case of the Tyrians and Sidonians, the focus was on temporal to the point that they elevated a man to the status of an idol in place of God. This was an indication of faith, or lack of, in not trusting their needs would be provided.
Do you elevate a person to an unhealthy status in your mind? We all have our favorite athletes, singers, actors, etc., but when we put them on a pedestal, we display an unhealthy attitude towards them. Our equality with the most famous or powerful person will be proven when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
How do spiritual storms affect you? Regardless of the trials or tribulations that we face, we need to stand firm in the calling God has placed on each of our lives. It isn’t easy, but as a follower of Jesus, that is the path we need to follow.
Acts Lesson Twenty-four: Acts 11:19-30 – The Church in Antioch
19 Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius. 29 So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. 30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul. (HCSB)
I’ll split this lesson into two parts.
The church at Antioch – verses 19-26.
The Gentiles provide aid to the church at Jerusalem – verses 27-30.
The Church at Antioch
Before we dig into this passage, let’s take a look at the city of Antioch, the focus of the first part of the passage. Here are some facts, historical and cultural, that are pertinent to the understanding of the passage.
Founded in 300 b.c. by the first Seleucid ruler, Seleucus Nicator.
The population was approximately 500,000 people.
There was a sizable Jewish population, estimated between 25,000 and 50,000 people.
It was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire, behind Rome and Alexandria.
It was known as “Antioch the Golden, Queen of the East.”
It was a planned city, laid out in a grid pattern.
Its main street was over four miles long.
Paved with marble.
Lined on both sides by marble colonnades.
It was the only city in the ancient world at the time that had its streets lighted at night.
It had a busy port.
It was a center for luxury and culture.
It attracted a multitude of different people, including wealthy retired Roman officials.
It was a wicked city.
Possibly only Corinth was worse.
Greek, Roman, and Syrian deities were honored.
The local shrine was dedicated to Daphne, whose worship included immoral practices.
Despite all the challenges, it presented an exciting opportunity for evangelism.
The persecution that the early church faced, in this passage linked to Stephen, we see that instead of suppressing the advance of the Gospel, it actually enhanced its spread. The believers who were spread across the region weren’t shy or restrained in speaking about Jesus. This opportunity for evangelism led to “a large number who believed turned to the Lord.”
The news of the large numbers of converts made its way back to the main church in Jerusalem and its leaders. They understood and accepted their responsibility to lead and shepherd the flock, wherever they might be scattered. In this case, it was the church at Antioch. The Jerusalem church commissioned Barnabas to go to Antioch and oversee the believers living there. If we remember back to the lesson that covered Acts 4:36, we’ll recall that Barnabas was nicknamed “son of encouragement,” the perfect choice to encourage and shepherd this new congregation.
How did Barnabas encourage this new church?
He was glad about what he saw. Whether or not they worshipped in the same way as the church in Jerusalem isn’t known, nor is it relevant. What Barnabas did see was a group of believers who were genuine in their love and worship of God.
He emphasized their “heart condition” as he taught them. To remain “true to the Lord” includes the following:
Loving God.
Walking as He walks.
Obeying what is contained in His Word.
Selflessly serving Him.
What were the results of Barnabas’ shepherding efforts?
The evangelism and witness of the believers made a significant impact in the city of Antioch.
Large numbers of people were added to the Lord.
When believers are firmly rooted in the Word, their witness will have an impact. Each church needs to have balance.
Between edification and evangelism.
Between worship and witness.
Between teaching and testifying.
The growth of the church meant that Barnabas needed help in shepherding the flock.
However, he needed someone to help with a Gentile congregation.
Barnabas immediately thought of Paul.
We recall that Barnabas had befriended Paul in Acts 9.
Barnabas knew about Paul’s commission to the Gentiles, Acts 9:15.
We can safely conclude that the two discussed Paul’s calling to the Gentiles on numerous occasions during their time together.
About ten years had passed from the point Paul had been converted to the time Barnabas brought him back to Antioch. Scripture doesn’t tell us precisely what he was doing, but we can infer some events.
He was likely evangelizing both Jews and Gentiles.
He may have founded the churches in Cilicia during this time; Acts 15:23, 41 and Galatians 1:21.
He may have experienced some of the sufferings listed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.
What we see Barnabas do is something all churches should do. Leaders and mature believers placing newer/less mature believers in positions of serving. This enables them to grow in their maturity and take on more significant roles in the future. Instead of the pastor/elder or deacons doing the work in the church, it is the responsibility of each member to contribute to their local congregation.
The first section of this week’s passage includes the term “Christian.” This term is found in only three places in the New Testament.
Here in Acts 11:26.
Acts 26:28.
1 Peter 4:16.
Some things to note about the term “Christian.”
The term was not originally used by Christians to describe themselves. They preferred other names.
Believer.
Disciple.
Brother/sister.
The first extensive use of the term by a Christian writer was by Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, around the beginning of the second century.
It was actually made as a derisive label, combining two words.
The Latin suffix “ian” means “belonging to the party of.”
Some of the pagan citizens of Antioch joined this with the Hebrew name “Christ” and came up with Christian.
The use of the new label would indicate a third group apart from Jews and Gentiles.
This indicates that Christians were no longer viewed as a segment of Judaism. Instead, they had now become a distinct and separate group in the region.
This presented two problems.
Christians would lose the protection Rome gave to a religio licita or a legitimate and legally recognized religion. While under the umbrella of Judaism, they enjoyed this protection. Now, it had been removed.
How should Christians view the hope of Israel and the promises of Jewish Scripture?
These two problems would loom over them as the Christian mission moved increasingly onto Gentile soil.
The term itself has lost most of its meaning to those who allegedly are followers of Jesus.
It no longer means that a person has turned from sin and trusted in Jesus.
It no longer means that they’ve received salvation by grace.
Many call themselves Christians:
Even though they’ve never been born again.
Because they don’t view themselves as pagans.
Because they were born into a Christian family.
Because they attend church.
Because they volunteer at church.
Because they give to the church.
The only authentic way to become a Christian is to repent from sin and place your faith in Jesus.
Gentiles Provide Aid to the Church in Jerusalem
Let’s look at some things we can discern from this small section.
The prophets mentioned in verse 27 were Christians ministering to the local assemblies, teaching and revealing the Word of God.
Because they made the trip from Jerusalem to Antioch, not a short journey at that time, we can infer that there was some type of close relationship between the two churches.
We are introduced to Agabus.
He had the gift of foretelling, predicting the famine in this narrative.
He also manifested this gift again in Acts 21:10-11 when he prophesied that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem.
There was a widespread famine.
This occurred during the time of Claudius, who was the emperor from A.D. 41-54.
The Jewish historian Josephus recorded that many died because of a lack of food.
The impact of the famine on the church underscores a shift that has occurred in the Jerusalem church.
In Acts 2-7, the church at Jerusalem didn’t have any needs; they were blessed.
Now the Jerusalem church needed outside assistance.
When we look back at the pattern for giving in Acts 2:44-45 and 4:31-35, we see a spirit of giving that was descriptive for that time. In verse 29, we now see a pattern of giving that I believe is prescriptive for the New Testament church.
The believers didn’t have “all things in common.”
Each gave according to their ability.
In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul says that if anyone doesn’t provide support for their own, they are worse than a pagan.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul says that we should give as our heart leads us, not out of compulsion.
Everyone contributed.
We also see a transition in leadership structure in verse 30. In previous sections of Acts, the gifts were laid at the feet of the Apostles. Now, we see the relief aid being given by Barnabas and Paul to the elders of the Jerusalem church. Let’s have a quick look at the term “elder.”
The Greek term is presbyteros.
It is a person of responsibility and authority in socio-religious matters.
This is the first time the term is used in Acts.
They were mature believers who had spiritual oversight of the ministry.
1 Peter 5:1.
2 John 1.
Comparing Acts 20:17, 28 to Titus 1:5, 7, we see that an elder and bishop are equivalent.
They were the pastors of the flocks.
They were assisted by deacons.
The qualifications for both are found in 1 Timothy 3.
Applications
Although we may come from different denominational backgrounds and may worship differently or have different doctrinal beliefs, we should have grace and acceptance on the “minors” of the faith (method baptism for believers, style of worship, song choices, etc.) while having unwavering unity on the “majors” (salvation by faith, Jesus as the Son of God, lived a sinless life, born of a virgin, raised on the third day, etc.).
Don’t try to do it all yourself; enlist the aid of qualified helpers. We see that in Barnabas’ actions. If he was selfish, he could’ve tried to oversee the church at Antioch himself. Instead, sensing a great work of God, he went to get Paul to help him. Whatever ministry we are involved in, we need to remember it’s not ours, it is God’s ministry.
We should be generous according to our ability to help our brothers and sisters in their time of need. This is an obligation clearly laid out in Scripture. We need to examine our heart and make sure we are giving freely and cheerfully, not out of some motivation of selfishness or attempt to gain attention by the size of our gift.
Acts Lesson Nineteen: 9:1-31 – The Commissioning of Saul (Paul)
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 “Who are You, Lord?” he said.
“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Here I am, Lord!” he said.
11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”
17 So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”
21 But all who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.
23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers. (HCSB)
Acts Lesson Nineteen: 9:1-25 – The Commissioning of Saul (Paul)
The narrative now switches from the mission work among the Samaritans and Gentiles by Philip to Saul, who I will call Paul from this point forward. Paul was a witness to the execution of Stephen and was likely aware of the evangelism efforts of the early church. Paul was so incensed by what he perceived as the blasphemous conduct of the Christian church that he became a one-man wrecking crew, trying to destroy the church by rounding up every believer he could find. However, on his way to Damascus to arrest any Christian he might find there, Paul had a one-on-one encounter with Jesus. I’ll break this lesson into three parts.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus, verses 1-9.
Paul’s encounter with Ananias, verses 10-19.
Paul’s in Damascus, verses 20-25.
Paul in Jerusalem, verses 26-31.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus – verses 1-9.
Before we dig into this passage, it can be neatly summarized in three points.
Paul saw a light.
Paul heard a voice.
Paul obeyed a call.
Every sinner lives in a world of darkness until the light of Jesus illuminates them to the truth of who Jesus is and how Jesus can take away their sins and restore their fellowship with God.
There is another interesting point regarding Paul and what would eventually be his calling to bring the Gospel to the lost. The church of Jesus is one united body made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul was both Jewish and Gentile. He was a Jew by birth but a Gentile by citizenship. Paul was trained in Old Testament scripture, well versed in Greek philosophy, and knowledgeable in Roman law. Paul was the ideal choice to bring the Gospel message as his life was an example of both Jew and Gentile being equal in Christ.
Now let’s return to the passage. There is some debate about whether or not the Sanhedrin would have jurisdiction in this case, which involved individuals living outside of the Jewish nation. Historical records do indicate that the high priest had been given rights of extradition in earlier times. Therefore, it is possible that the Roman government still granted the high priest this same right. Paul also speaks, in 2 Corinthians 11:24, of receiving scourgings from synagogues. Regardless, Paul left Jerusalem with authorization letters from the Sanhedrin to arrest any believers he may find. The very idea that Paul would make that journey illustrates the level of zeal he possessed in rooting out the members of the young church. The distance between the two cities is approximately 150 miles, requiring a journey of around 10-14 days to complete.
Historical records indicate that, at the time, Damascus had a sizeable Jewish population, with as many as 30-40 synagogues in the city. Since there were already believers there, it is apparent that the church was being effective in its evangelism efforts. It is also likely that some of the believers fled the persecution that was occurring in Jerusalem, which may have also factored into Paul’s desire to go to Damascus and bring the believers back.
From the point that Paul experienced the blinding light, he is a broken man. Here is why he was broken.
Paul had relentlessly persecuted the followers of Christ.
Paul now has a one-on-one encounter with Christ, confirming His resurrection.
In persecuting the followers of Jesus, Paul now understands that he was persecuting the risen Lord.
Persecution against any believer is persecution against the church of Jesus.
In persecuting the risen Lord, Paul was an enemy of God.
The realization that he was an enemy of God completely flips his world. What he thought he was doing for God, he now realizes he was doing against God.
Jesus then instructs Paul to go into the city and wait for further instructions. Without even questioning what was asked of him, he obeys the command.
Paul’s companion travelers were a witness to what occurred even though they didn’t receive the same revelation.
They could verify that a heavenly manifestation occurred.
However, they were not the recipients of it, but they could attest to the change that happened to Paul after the event.
There could be several reasons for Paul not eating or drinking for three days.
It could be an expression of repentance.
It could be because of shock and confusion.
It could be because of his broken spirit upon realizing what he had done against God.
It could be a combination of all of the above.
Paul’s encounter with Ananias – verses 10-19a.
The narrative now switches to a disciple named Ananias. Not only does Jesus appear to Ananias in a vision, but He also appears in a vision to Paul that Ananias would come to him, lay hands on him, and that he would regain his sight.
One has to wonder what went through Ananias’ mind as he was told to seek out the, at that time, biggest threat to the church, Paul. I believe it also gives a glimpse to Ananias’ standing within the Christian community in Damascus. Although it is possible that any believer could have been called to perform this task, it would make Paul’s acceptance into the Damascus Christian church easier if Paul’s advocate was a well-respected member, or possibly even someone in a leadership position.
Evidence of Ananias’ doubt and concern is evidenced by his statement that he’s heard how much damage Paul has inflicted on the church and that the purpose of Paul’s visit is known within the Christian community.
There is a linkage between verses 15 and 16. Paul, once the persecutor, was now to become the persecuted as he shared the Gospel.
From Ananias’ greeting to Paul, “brother,” it is clear that Paul was now part of the body of Christ. His spiritual conversion had occurred somewhere between the initial meeting with Jesus and his period of reflection while he waited for Ananias to lay hands on him. Ananias informs Paul that Jesus sent him, verifying the vision that Paul received, and Paul regained his sight. Ananias then baptized Paul and Paul began to eat and regain his strength.
Paul in Damascus – verses 19b-25.
If there were any doubts about the validity of Paul’s conversion, his actions in proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogues would have dispelled those doubts. Still, his astounding conversion amazed the believers in Damascus. It would appear that his zeal in evangelism far surpassed his previous zeal in trying to arrest and kill Christians.
In verse 24, the Greek word that was translated into “proving” means to join or put together. From the context of the passage, it appears that what Paul was joining was Old Testament passages that pointed to Jesus and then explained how Jesus fulfilled them. Paul’s previous schooling under Gamaliel now bears fruit as Paul is able to articulate how Jesus is the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies and skillfully deflect any attempts by the Jews to prove otherwise.
Eventually, this led to the Jews in Damascus hatching a plot to kill Paul. The phrase “after many days” is somewhat misleading, as Luke underplays the amount of time. We know from Galatians 1:17-18 that the time Paul spent in Damascus was three years. Once the plan to kill Paul was known, his disciples came up with a plan to ensure his escape.
Since the Jews were watching the gates, they had to come up with a plan that would avoid the use of the gates. Paul also mentions this event in 2 Corinthians 11:32-33. There he says that the governor under King Aretas, a Nabatean king, was guarding the city. Why would an Arabian king be looking for Paul? It is quite possible that during his time in Damascus, he also embarked on a mission trip to the surrounding Arab areas. The Jews likely joined forces with the Nabateans to capture Paul, with the Jews watching the gates and the Nabatean forces watching the surrounding areas. Regardless of the forces arrayed against Paul, he was able to make good his escape from Damascus and made his way to Jerusalem.
Paul in Jerusalem, verses 26-31.
Although Paul had been evangelizing in Damascus for approximately three years, he still wasn’t trusted or accepted in Jerusalem. The memory of what he had done to the believers previously in Jerusalem was still fresh in their minds. Undoubtedly, they believed that his “conversion” was a ploy to infiltrate and then crush the Jerusalem church. A few points about their rejection of Paul.
It would be reasonable to believe that the church in Damascus would have relayed the news about Paul’s work there. Therefore, their rejection is somewhat strange.
Possibly Paul’s disappearance for almost three years lent a feeling of suspicion to the validity of his conversion.
Where did he go?
What did he do?
Why did he wait so long to contact the elders in Jerusalem?
What right did he have to call himself an apostle?
It was the efforts of Barnabas that led to a breakthrough in the Jerusalem’s church acceptance of Paul. This is the same Barnabas from Acts 4:36-37, known as the “son of encouragement” to those around him. Because of Barnabas’ reputation, there is no reason to find a hidden meaning behind his support of Paul. It was through the effort of Barnabas that Paul was accepted into the Jerusalem Christian community.
Paul now begins his preaching of the Gospel in Jerusalem. We don’t know how long it took, but eventually, the Hellenistic Jews plotted to kill Paul. Let’s look at this topic in more detail.
The Hellenistic Jews were the same ones plotted against Stephen, leading to his martyrdom.
Paul was a Hellenistic Jew and likely felt an obligation or responsibility to take up the mantle left by Stephen. Paul makes a reference to this in Acts 22:20.
The Hellenists were not going to let Paul become the new Stephen.
To understand more fully what transpired, read Acts 22:17-21, where Paul gives a more detailed account of this event.
Jesus appears to Paul in a vision and tells him to leave.
The church leaders help Paul to leave Jerusalem and go to Tarsus.
The fact that they believed Paul’s vision demonstrates proof that the Jerusalem church had fully accepted and trusted Paul by this point.
Paul doesn’t appear in Acts again until Acts 11:25 when Barnabas brings Paul to the church at Antioch.
That places Acts 11:25 about seven to ten years after Paul left Jerusalem and ten to thirteen years after his conversion.
It is safe to believe that Paul used Tarsus as a base for reaching the Gentiles with the Gospel.
It is possible that some of the trials listed in 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 occurred during the seven years in question.
Only one Roman beating is recorded in Acts (16:22), with two others unaccounted for.
The five Jewish beatings are not recorded anywhere.
Only one shipwreck is recorded in Acts 27. leaving two unaccounted for.
Although Paul doesn’t appear for about seven years, it seems he was far from idle during that time.
Luke now inserts a summary verse.
The Gospel was being spread just as Jesus commanded.
The center would shift from Jerusalem to Antioch.
The key leader would shift from Peter to Paul.
The Gospel would be taken to the ends of the earth.
Although it was a time of peace for the church, it wasn’t a time of complacency.
They grew spiritually.
They grew in numbers.
Applications
If you have a clear word or instruction from God, are you obedient even when it may not make sense? Both Paul and Ananias were obedient even though Paul had to do a 180, and Ananias was called to go visit the very person he should’ve been avoiding.
Do you make an active effort to share the Gospel? Regardless of our spiritual gifting, Jesus commands all of us to bring the Gospel to the lost.
When you come in contact with others who are either sharing a false message, either purposely or because of lack of understanding, do you attempt to correct them? We should never condone false teaching in the church, even if our actions could harm us.
Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine understanding with a reminder, 2 so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. 3 First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires, 4 saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” 5 They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God. 6 Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. 7 But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. 13 But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
14 Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. 15 Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. 16 He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
As Peter closes his letter focuses on the return of Christ and encourages the readers not to wait for it passively but to live in a manner that shines the light of Jesus as we await His return. As we go through the first ten verses, keep this idea in mind; in the midst of uncertainty and struggle, believers in Jesus must never lose sight of the certainty and hope of the future that brings meaning to the present.
Verse 1
Peter encourages the readers to “develop a genuine understanding” in contrast to the heresy of the false teachers. Believers must never let false teachers distort the truth of Scripture or allow them to cloud our thoughts.
Verse 2
There are two potential areas where our thinking can become clouded by false teachers.
Words previously spoken by the holy prophets. This refers to Old Testament prophets who spoke about the second coming of the Messiah. Challenging these prophecies was a prime tactic of false teachers. If there is no second coming, there is no need to live holy lives. Peter encourages the readers to cling to the truth of the prophecies on the Messiah.
The command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. The command refers to the moral demands of the Christian life, specifically to love others.
John 13:34 – I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.
John 15:12 – This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.
Romans 12:10a – Show family affection to one another with brotherly love.
Romans 13:8 – Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Hebrews 10:24 – And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works.
James 2:8 – Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.
We are to love one another as we await Jesus’ return.
Verses 3-4
First, the phrase “last days” means the time period between Jesus’ life and His second coming. The New Testament church age is the last days. Just as there were false teachers in Peter’s day who didn’t believe in Jesus’ return, there are many today who don’t believe in His return. Today’s false teachers can also add that it’s been two thousand years since the time of Jesus; why should we believe He will ever return? However, there is an underlying reason for their disbelief. It allows them to pursue their “own desires” without having to worry about the consequences. If there is no second coming or judgment, then there is no reason to pursue sinful desires. This highlights two characteristics of these people.
They are cynical about life and people in general.
They are preoccupied with themselves and their own needs.
What believers must never forget is that these are the exact people who Jesus came to save and the ones we are to show love, in the hope that some will be won to Christ before His second coming.
Verses 5-7
Although the false teachers knew the Old Testament Scriptures, they chose to ignore them, denying God’s creation and intervention in the history of mankind.
They denied His creation.
They denied that He brought the flood.
In the same vein, they deny that there will be a final judgment. However, the Old Testament consistently teaches us that the universe is a moral place created by God and that God will not let sin go unpunished forever. Not only is God the creator of the universe, but He is also the judge. The same power that brought the universe into existence has the power to destroy the present heaven and earth and replace them with a new heaven and a new earth.
Isaiah 65:17 – For I will create a new heaven and new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.
Isaiah 66:22 – For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me – this is the LORD’s declaration – so your offspring and your name will endure.
Revelation 21:1 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth has passed away, and the sea no longer existed.
Verses 8-9
Even though judgment is coming, Peter’s point here is Jesus’ command to love one another. This includes those who oppose the truth of the Gospel message. As we show them love, we may be the very instrument that God uses to bring them to Jesus. Also, God’s view on time is not the same as ours. Although it’s been two thousand years since Jesus was born, lived, and died, that doesn’t alter the promise that He will return. It also doesn’t change the fact that we won’t know the hour or the day; even Jesus didn’t know. However, there are several aspects we need to focus on as believers.
God desires all to come to saving faith in Jesus.
God is long-suffering and patient beyond our understanding.
At some point, Jesus will return, and all will be judged.
As believers, we need to spread the Gospel and teach the truth to both disciples and the lost.
Verse 10
The “Day of the Lord” is another way to express Jesus’ second coming and judgment. The Old Testament views the universal timeline in two phases; the present age and the age to come. The transition between the two will be by the hand of God, and it will result in the current heaven and earth passing away. We shouldn’t be caught up in discussions of how this happens (burning, earthquakes, etc.). Instead, what is important is that it will happen.
Verses 11-18 make up the final section of the letter. As we read this section, let’s focus on the following idea; the final destiny of the universe should motivate believers to live lives that honor and reflect the person of Jesus to a lost world around us.
Verses 11-13
As we wait patiently for Jesus’ return, we are called to live lives that display holiness and godliness. We are not to be concerned with the present earth or whatever possessions we have (or don’t have). Instead, we are to focus on what will come later. There are some theologians who believe that how we live as Christians impacts the timing of the return of Jesus. Peter’s wording seems to support this idea, “the heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it,” with the “it” being our holiness and godliness. This lends further weight to Peter’s instructions not to live passively but to be active Christians. Peter then gives us a reminder that the new heaven and earth will be a place where righteousness reigns and sin, sickness, and death are gone.
Verse 14
Once again, Peter calls on believers to live out their faith in an active manner. We are to “make every effort,” which implies effort and activity on the part of the believer. Living the Christian life as it was intended is not a passive endeavor; we need to be active in our “faith training” just as an athlete is active in their “sport training.” When Peter states, “without spot of blemish,” he is not suggesting that we will live perfect lives. What Peter does mean is that our behavior and the choices we make should resemble Jesus.
Verses 15-16
Peter reminds the reader that it is not just his position to live godly lives; the Apostle Paul wrote of the same requirements for Christians. However, the false teachers have twisted Scripture for their own benefit. These teachers don’t measure their lifestyle against the truth in Scripture. Instead, they twist Scripture to support their sinful lifestyle.
Verse 17
This verse gives another reason we need to be immersed in Scripture. If we know that Scripture warns us against false teachers, we will be better prepared and aware of the “wolves among the sheep.” As attractive or persuasive as the false can be, we must always be on our guard to protect ourselves and those around us. We shouldn’t misunderstand the phrase, “fall from you own stability.” This is not referring to salvation. It does refer to our previous stable grounding on the truth of Scripture, and that is where we need to remain.
Verse 18
Peter concludes this letter in the same manner as he began it by encouraging us to keep on growing. The Christian life is one that is intended to be dynamic, growing, and active. It is not intended to be passive or stagnant. As we continue to grow, we develop an increased awareness and understanding of the person and character of Jesus.
As we reflect back on this letter, let’s focus on its one overarching idea; false teachers will always be a danger to the church and Christians, but the promised return of Jesus is the light that we should be focused on and is bigger than any false human teaching. It is to Jesus which we should continually look to and live for Him.
Applications.
Always check what your church leaders/teachers are telling you against what is in Scripture. If it appears not to agree, challenge them. If there is false teaching occurring and they don’t correct it, you should leave that church and tell others of the false teaching.
Study all of Scripture. Don’t focus exclusively on the New Testament as some do. All of Scripture is profitable for teaching, and by knowing what is contained in the Old Testament, we can be aware of false teaching/teachers.
Be prepared to be ridiculed for believing in Jesus’ return. The world we live in is very skeptical, and the idea that our Savior will return (or even existed in the first place) is often met with opposition.
Because we live in the “last days” and God has extended His grace for more to come to the knowledge of Jesus, we must always look for opportunities to share the Gospel.
Diggin' in the Word 