An
Introduction to The Acts of the Apostles
(Lesson 7 – November 5, 2024) Chs.: 16-19
Chapter 16
Vv 1-5 (3)
o
Paul circumcised Timothy not because he
needed it for salvation but only “on account of the Jews of that region. He was a son
of a mixed marriage – a Jewish mother + Greek father created a
stumbling block to win Jews.
o
The last mention of the original twelve
apostles in Acts. He begins to show Paul’s missionary activities from now on.
Vv 6-10
o
God’s Spirit uses many means to guide Christians.
o
“We” first person plural and not “he” or
“they” (vv 20: 5-6; 20:13-14) refer not Paul but his companions.
Vv. 11-15:
The First city in Europe that Paul evangelized was Philippi in
Macedonia.
o
Christians did not usually begin from scratch
trying to convert pagans. But in Athens it was Pagans.
o
Lydia in the letter to Philippians, a
wealthy business woman hosted Christians for their worship in her house
(16:40); Cornelius, the Jailer at Philippi (16:33) and Crispus in Corinth
(18:8) – whole household was converted.. including children were Baptized.
o
It is the evidence for the beginning of
infant baptism – as Jews circumcised infants and raised them to be Jews. So the
Christian children to be Christians.
Vv. 16-24 at
the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Luke’s Gospel
o
A demon-filled man named Jesus identified as
Christ and son of God until he silenced them (4:33-35), similarly, the
Philippian girl with the occult spirit identified Paul and the missionaries as
“Servants of the Most High God”.
o
Acts clearly shows that the charge against
Paul and Silas was false. They were not disturbing the peace or Greco-Roman
customs but had angered the owners of some of the slave girls by taking away
their source of income.
o
The magistrate had ordered Paul and Silas
to be stripped and beaten with rods, which Paul suffered three times (1 Cor
11:25) – 1 Thess 2:2 might be referring to this incident as “humiliation we had
at Philippi”.
Chapter 17
Vv 1-9
– Paul is trying that Jesus was the Messiah.
o It
is the work of the Acts and Luke
o But
eventually, Luke’s argument led to Christian apologetics, which is the rational
explanation of Christan faith in the face of opposition. Luke certainly sees no
contradiction between faith and reason. He is not afraid to use reason to
explain and defend his faith.
o Jewish
resentment in the mixed group of faithful in Paul’s mission is seen in the
PRODIGAL SON.
Vv.10-15
Paul in Beroea:
o
about fifty miles southwest of
Thessalonica (in modern Freece) these Jews were more fair-minded than those in
Thessalonica in accepting the Word of God.
o
Letter to the Thessalonians confirms that
the Church there was able to endure without Paul. Another pattern in Acts is
how Jewish hostility was so deep that Jews followed Paul long distances to
cause him trouble in the next city – hostility toward Paul rather than Timothy
and Silas.
Vv.
16-34 Confrontation with Greek Philosophers at Athens with popular philosophers.
o
Luke tends to parallel Epicureans with Sadducees,
and Stoics with Pharisees. Stoics believed in gods and natural law. And Sadducees
like Epicureans ignored gods.
o
In the first century Roman Empire, many
new religions and cults were spreading, especially from the East. Paul might
well seem to be promoting another eastern god like that of Jesus and Anastasis
(GK resurrection sounded like a name of goddess) which was not tasty to Athens.
Chapter 18
Vv. 1-11 Paul found a church
in Corinth.
o
He meets Aquilla and his wife Priscilla in
Corinth (they are co-workers of Paul – Rom 16:3-5; 1 Cor 16:19; and 2 Tim
4:19).
o
They had the business same as Paul i.e.,
tent making.
o
Although Acts mentions only his teaching
on the Sabbath in the synagogue, he was believed to have preached while
tentmaking.
Vv.
18:5
But when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, they changed this style and devoted
themselves totally to preaching.
o
He was supported by churches in Macedonia,
by the money they brought.
Vv.6 “Your blood be on
your heads!” =33:4 is a reference to Jew’s responsibility for their
responsibility for their refusal to believe – deciding to take the Gospel to
the Gentiles.
o
So, moves from the synagogue to the neighboring
house of Titus Justus. Converts Crispus with his whole household (1 Cor 1:14)
Vv.
9-10
Jesus appears to Paul – “I have many people in this city” – refers to Gentiles.
Vv12-17
Gallio refuses to Judge between Paul and the Jews (AD 51-52)
o
The Roman magistrate found nothing in
Christianity to condemn despite the accusation of Jews,
o
The story ends with the humorous story
beating of Sosthenes, implying that the Jews turned on their leader in
frustration.
Vv
18-23 Return to Antioch and begin the third Journey. Paul’s
voyage from Corinth, hundreds of miles back to Antioch in Syria.
§ Acts
maintains to show that Paul remained a practicing Jew.
§ It
mentions shaving his head according to the Nazirite vow (Num 6:1-21).
Unspecified vow. These Nazarite vows have expired (1 Mac 3:49).
§ PAUL’S
journey in Jerusalem: The Third Journey: Acts 18: 24-21:14
Vv
18:24-19-7 Apollos, Priscilla and Aquilla, and Paul at Ephesus
o
Although there are points for questions in
these stories, the main point is that Paul’s followers corrected the teaching
of Apollos.
o
The extraordinary miracles through Paul in
Acts 19:11-12 parallel those of Peter in 5:12-16. People try to them or grab
some article of their clothing, despite all their efforts to get people to
focus on God and not on them.
o
Some exorcists tried to use Jesus’ name
magically but Luke mocks them. And they repented for their magical practices
and burned their magic books - without submitting or surrendering to Jesus.
Vv
19:21-22 Pastoral planning and Teamwork.
o
Paul habitually sent disciples ahead or
had them stay behind to prepare or finish his work. It shows a similarity
between how Jesus and Paul used disciples to help in their mission.
Vv
19:23-40 Riot of the idol makers and silversmiths. The idle
makers’ fear of financial loss caused the riot, just as monetary loss angered
the owners of the slave girl who prophesied in 16:18-21.
o
It happens very well in the world and in
the churches too.
A
Brief Review (Acts 16:19)
1. What
things are said about Timothy? Acts 16:1-2
2. Who
forbade them to preach in Asia and Bithania? 16:6-7
3. Who
would the household include? (16:15)
4. How
did Paul drive out the demon from the slave girl? (16:18)
5. What
did the jailor request from Paul and Silas (16:30)
6. What
was Paul trying to convince in Thessalonica? (17:3)
7. Why
the Jews in Beroea were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica? (17:11b)
8. Read
17: 26-27……………….
9. What
did the Lord say to Paul in a vision? (18:9)
10. Why
Sosthenes was seized and beaten? (18:17)
11. How
did Paul do with the people who were baptized with the Baptism of John?
(19:3-5)
12. Why
was the riot of Silversmith? (19:27)
13. Who
was Apollos? (18:24-25)
14. What
did the town clerk say to the Ephesians? (19:35-36)
15. What
are the missionary journeys of Paul {(Acts 13–14) (Acts 16:23–20:38) (Acts
18:23–20:38)}
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