An Introduction to
The Acts of the Apostles
(Lesson 8 – November 19, 2024) Chs.: 20 - 22
CHAPTER 20
V. 2: He provided many words of encouragement.
V. 10: As Jesus so - the
action of Paul in throwing himself upon the dead boy recalls that of Elijah in
1 kgs 17:21 where the son of the widow of Zarephath is revived and that of
Elisha in 2 Kgs 4:34 where the Shunamite woman’s son is restored to life.
Vv. 17-38: Farewell address to the Ephesian elders. Luke
gives us two farewell speeches – Jesus’ at the Last Supper in Luke 22:15-38 “Do it in
remembrance of me - Paul’s in Acts 20:17-38 how a Bishop or presbyter should be.
This might be his time of gathering information.
Elements in Paul’s
farewell speech in Acts 20:
1.
He summons the elders.
2.
Points to his mission and example.
3.
Testifies he did not fail in his duty.
4.
4. It alludes to his imminent death.
5.
Exhorts them regarding future problems.
6.
6
prophesy and false teachers after his death.
7.
Bless his followers.
8.
8. Prays with them, and
9.
9. Exchanges
farewell gestures.
Vv. 25-34: The predictions of Paul: you “will never see
my face again…keep watch over yourself and the whole flock…. I know that after
my departure savage wolves will come among you…..from your group, men will come
forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be
vigilant……
V. 35: Keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself
said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
V. 36: He knelt and prayed.
Vv. 4-5: Further voyages to
Caesarea in Palestine. The Christians in Tyre gave him prophetic warnings
against going to Jerusalem.
CHAPTER 21
Vv. 8-10: Philip was one of the Seven scattered by Paul
and other persecutors when Stephen died. Acts 21 calls him “the evangelist.”
Philip had four virgin daughters who were prophets. Luke probably mentions them
to illustrate the fulfillment of the Joel 3 prophecy quoted in Acts 2, that “your
sons and daughters” shall prophesy.
Vv. 10ff: Agabus, the Jewish Christian Prophet from
Judea (Acts 11:28 predicted famine in the time of Claudius was emperor),
performed a prophetic sign of binding Paul’s feet and hands, as Jeremiah had
worn a wooden yoke to illustrate the slavery he was prophesying (Jer 27:1-15;
Is 20:2; Ez 4:1; Jer 13:1). Agabus’ binding of Paul illustrates his prophecy of
Paul’s arrest.
Vv. 17-26: The leaders of the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem inform Paul that the
Jews there believe he has encouraged the Jews of the diaspora to abandon the
Mosaic Law. According to Acts, Paul had no objection to the retention of the
law by the Jewish Christians of Jerusalem and left the Jews of the diaspora who
accepted Christianity frees to follow the same practice.
Vv. 23-26: The community suggested to Paul that on behalf of four members of the Jerusalem
community, make the customary payment for the sacrifices offered at the
termination of the Nazirite vow (Num 6:1-24) to impress favorably the Jewish
Christians in Jerusalem with his high regard for the Mosaic law. Since Paul
himself had once made this vow (Acts 18:18) his respect for the law would be on
public record. The fulfillment of Nazirite vow – Num 6: 14-15.
V. 25: Paul is informed about the apostolic decree,
seemingly for the first time (15:13-35) – Decree was suggested by James.
According to this decree, nothing is imposed upon Gentile Christians in respect
to Mosaic law. Whereas the decree instructs Gentile Christians of mixed
communities to abstain from meats sacrificed to idols and from blood-meats and
to avoid marriage within forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity (Lev
18) all of which practices were especially abhorrent to Jews. Luke seems to
have telescoped. Luke shows that Paul did not turn Christian Jews away from what
they had taken on as Jews.
Did Paul tell non-Jews
that they did not have to follow Jewish laws???
James distinguished between the obligations of Jewish and non-Jewish Christians, the four
stipulations from Acts 15:20 and 15:29 recall the obligations of Gentile
Christians who share community and meals with Jewish Christians. For the ritual itself, compare 18:18 and the
remarks there – At Cwncheae he had a haircut.
V. 33: The cohort
commander = literally, “the leader of a thousand in a cohort – usually led six
hundred soldiers but the number varies.
Vv. 27:40: Jewish rioting against Paul in the Temple – Paul’s arrest.
Jews and Christians had
surprising mobility in the first century. Roman peace (Law and order) made that
possible. The charge of profaning the temple stirred up a riot among the
Jerusalem Jews. Luke shows that the Jewish mob would have killed Paul if the
Roman army had not intervened.
The mob’s cry, “away with
him” (or kill him), is the same as the cry against Jesus when Pilate held him
(Lk 23:18).
CHAPTER 21
Acts 21:37 and
21:40-22:2: show that Paul was fluent both in Greek, the
international language, and in Hebrew, the related Aramaic then spoken in
Palestine. Luke may be combining several uprisings in this account, but his
main is clear: Roman officials recognized that Paul and the Christians did not
rebel against Rome.
A BRIEF REVIEW (Chs. 20 –
22)
1. What is the difference between the terms “breaking of Bread” in 20:7 and
20:11(see Acts 2:42-46)
One is the Lord’s Supper in worship (20:7;
2:42) second is a common meal (20:11; 2:46)
2.
What is the name of the young man that Paul
raised him from death? (20:9)
3.
How did the Holy Spirit tell Paul he would be
bound at Jerusalem (21:10-11)
4.
What was the problem that James was concerned about
Paul? (21:20-25)
5.
Thousands of Jews believed that he taught
anti-Moses, not to be circumcised, nor to keep customs??
6.
What did Paul do to convince Jews? (21:26)
7.
Who rescued Paul from being beaten? (21:3 1-40)
8.
How did Paul use his Roman Citizenship?
(22:25-29)
9.
Who was the teacher of Paul? (22:3)
10. Where Paul's nephew, his sister's son, is mentioned in Acts? (23:16)
11. Did Paul preach anti-Mosaic Law, and why did he do it? (21:17-26)
12. What do we learn from 23:21B???
No comments:
Post a Comment