King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Chapters: ACTS 20-22
Message: Born Free
Did you ever make a decision and as soon as you did you thought to yourself, “Why did I do that?” I know that we have all made decisions before with that question, but some times those wrong decisions turned out to be life changing. While I do not call any decision made regret, there are times I do wish that I should have just made that decision that the Holy Spirit led me to make in the first place. Nevertheless, we cannot do anything about our past, but what we can do is learn from our past as we become more conscious to the Holy Spirit’s direction, [John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.]
The Holy Spirit is our direct connection to God, in fact, He is God, and the only way that we can communicate with Him is by first receiving Christ as our Saviour. Now, once we do that we really are not the same person as He starts giving us a conscience to start doing things that we ought to be doing and remove things that we ought not. And let me tell you, He really does talk to you and shows you things. Just the other day I was looking for some slip grip padding that I just knew I had and could not remember where I put it. No sooner than I stopped looking through every drawer and asked God to show me where it was that was when He led me to where it was. You see, the key to hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying is that we allow Him to be our intercessor. [Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.]
As we return to the reading of Acts, we are first going to read something that we read in Romans yesterday as it ties in with what we are reading today. [Romans 15:22-26 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; 24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.]
Paul had planned to go to Rome, anticipating his trip there as he made his way to Spain, but all of that would change once he got into Jerusalem. Rarely do our plans go as we expect them to go, even my wedding did not go as I planned it to go, and sometimes they do not even become a reality. And believe it or not, when we belong to Christ, it is the Holy Spirit that directs us on our journey, even when we do not realize it. As Paul is headed toward Macedonia he met up with some disciples there and ended up in Athens where he spent three months, then as he was about to head to Syria, he ended up passing through his old stomping grounds before ending up in Troas. It was there that he preached to the people non stop.
[Acts 20:2-3,6-7,9-10 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, 3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.]
[And we sailed away from Philippi…and came unto them to Troas] We being Luke, we may not realize it, but Luke was with Paul since he started his ministry. I know you have been in church before and the sermon got a little long winded or over its normal time and nodded off a time or two. Or perhaps you were exhausted from the day or did not sleep well and attended a service only to start nodding off once they started preaching.
Nevertheless, you would not let anything keep yourself from some good preaching. Well, back then it was custom to receive the Lord’s supper every Lord’s day in remembrance of Christ did to save their souls, followed by a Gospel invitation. It did not matter that Paul had spoken a long time, they wanted to hear him preach and as soon as they realized that the man was okay, he went right back to preaching until dawn
[Acts 20:12-16 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. 13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. 15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.]
[for he hasted, if it were possible for him,] Paul, was on a mission, he was determined to be in Jerusalem for Pentecost, so he heads over and makes a stop in Ephesus because it was on the way. He went there to encourage them to continue preaching the Gospel, and to also let them know that he was headed to Jerusalem. However, they already knew that because the Holy Spirit had been talking to them too.
[Acts 20:18-23 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.]
[I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem,] Paul, was a Jew before he got saved, after serving Christ for some time, he was convinced that he was called to go to Jerusalem to die there, just as Jesus did. Perhaps he felt that this was his consequence for what he had done years ago. Even though he knew he had been forgiven by God of his sins, the bonds and afflictions that the Holy Spirit showed him could have been what would befall him because of his past. Nevertheless, he did did not want leave without them knowing that he was not going down in vain and that they needed to carry on the torch of the Gospel.
[Acts 20:28-32,36-37 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,]
[after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you,] Whenever God gives us more responsibility in carrying the torch of the Gospel we can be sure that the devil is going to send his wolves to try to trip us up. We may not understand where the Holy Spirit is leading us, or even fear where He is leading us, but we must understand that God is with us and will see us through. The afflictions we face on the way are not to punish us, they are to strengthen and encourage us to keep going in His strength. Well, while Paul thought that the Holy Spirit was directing him to go to Jerusalem, his friends were getting another word from the Holy Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. In fact, several people warned him of this.
[Acts 21:1-4,7-8 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.]
[who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go] Okay, so, there are some that believe that these people were trying to stop Paul from the will of God, as when Jesus rebuked Peter. I believe that God did not want him to go back there and tried to get him to see what was going to happen if he did, but since he was determined to go there, God allowed it. You see, God, does not want us to suffer more than we have to, that is why Jesus suffered more than us all. And yes, we do have to endure some pain in this life, but not more than we are able, after that, it is in the Lord’s hands, [1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.]
The temptation spoken about here is not in regards to being tempted to sin rather divers temptation, or those bonds and afflictions that we face just for being a Christian. It may not seem fair that our faith in Christ does send some affliction just for knowing Him as our Saviour, but we were warned by Jesus that if they persecuted Him they will persecute us also. This all has to do with the fact that we belong to Christ and since they cannot go after Him anymore they go after us. And just like in all the other cities that Paul visited he was warned not to go to Jerusalem, the people in Caesarea even went as far as binding his hands and feet to show them what was going to happen to him. Well, Paul, was actually quite sad that they were trying to keep him from leaving.
[Acts 21:11-15 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. 15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.]
[but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.] Even good intentions can lead to consequences if we make those choices out of God’s will. Paul, was willing to give his life for Jesus just as He gave his. You see, we may not always make the right choices, in fact, we make quite a few wrong choices. Making the wrong choices does not count against us, that is unless we believed in Christ in vain, and if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us after we make them then He will use them for good. We know that cannot avoid death, unless Jesus returns soon, but what we can do is finish our course with joy knowing that even when we make wrong choices, Jesus, is with us, [1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]
Paul, finally arrives in Jerusalem as he had hoped to do, James, met up with him and at first, he was welcomed, but something happened, that turned everything upside down. The saved Jews of Jerusalem were mixing the Law of Moses with grace, when they found out that Paul was in town they were not happy. They insisted that Paul had been going against the Law by one; preaching to the Gentiles and two; not fulfilling the Law.
[Acts 21:17-21 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.]
[that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,] These people had things all mixed up and even if it were true out of all the commands that they could have rebuked him for they chose circumcision. Now, while Paul could have kept the peace and did what they wanted him to do in regards to the ceremonial law, he knew in his heart that it was wrong. It may have been fine that Paul shaved and took a bath, but to offer up sacrifices to God at this point would be sin as Jesus put an end to that. Watch how God stops this from happening.
[Acts 21:27-31 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. 31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.]
[and drew him out of the temple: ] Just before they were to offer the sacrifice, they took Paul and threw him out of the temple. Do you understand what this means? All the ceremonial laws concerning redemption, atonement, and sanctification were done away with when Christ gave His life on the cross, [Hebrews 10:4-5,10 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.]
Okay, God, may let us get out of His will sometimes, but He will intervene when we are about to make a huge mistake. That does not mean that He will not use our mistake to our advantage, and get us back in His will. Now, that Paul is captured, God, would use this to His advantage, it would be a perfect time to preach the Gospel, which Paul did by giving his own testimony.
[Acts 21:35-39 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. 36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. 37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? 38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? 39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.]
[Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar,] This is exactly how false doctrine comes into the Church and becomes their law, and not God’s. Of course, the Law of grace teaches us that we are not bound to ceremonial works of the Law, but it also teaches us that Christ did what the Law of Moses could never do, and that was bring permanent redemption to all who receive Him under no works whatsoever, [Hebrews 10:1-2,10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.]
God, will send us where we will be of best use for Him, even if that means we leave home and travel into far lands. Knowing we are following the will of God can be a bit tricky sometimes because we are relying on His Word as well as the Holy Spirit to guide us. This time as Paul gives his testimony it did not go in his favor.
[Acts 22:1-4,20,22 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. 2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) 3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.]
[for it is not fit that he should live.] Exactly what was their charge on him that he should not live? According to the Law of Moses, anyone who attempted to seduce the people to any strange worship was to be killed, [Deuteronomy 13:12-13,15 If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, 13 Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; 15 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.]
Well, that charge really did not stick because he never tried to persuade them to follow another god. The most amazing thing about God is that even when we get out of His will His grace is enough to get us back in it. And He only allows us to go so far before He nudges back in the right direction. Paul, may have thought that he was going to die in Jerusalem, but God already knew that he was not, in fact, he was going to Rome, only not the way he had planned. When the were about to punish him they were stopped when they found out that he was also a Roman.
[Acts 22:25-29 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. 27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. 28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. 29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.]
[With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.] While that Roman confessed that he paid a great ransom to obtain his freedom, Paul, simply states that he was born free. That is exactly what every person who receives Christ as their Saviour becomes, born free, [John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.] Amen!
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You chose me, I did not choose You, but You chose me, all because I knew where my fate would be had I not received You as my Saviour. Although I try to make the right choices, and even remember times where You have warned me not to do something, I still made them. You did not push me to the side, You used those choices to help me get back in Your will. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me to listen to Your Spirit in me at all times, and to understand when You are simply trying to tell me that I need to stop what I am persistent in my own will to do because it will hurt me. I know I can do and endure all things through You as I prepare, and finish my course with joy. I love You Lord and pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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