The Tactics of the Gospel’s Enemies
Selected Passages from Acts
March 27, 2022

• 2000 years has gone by and people around the world are suffering for the sack of the Gospel.
• In many places like never before.
• Today we are going to be reminded of someone who knew he would suffer, and he faced it with courage.
• God always meets His people at the point of their need. How do people face the fears?
• God is equips them to endure at the time of their need.

Pray

• Paul goes to Jerusalem.
• He is locked up and faces numerous trials and interrogations.
• Looking to wrap up this large section of narrative of the Acts.
• Over four years in prison; over two in Caesarea and two in Rome (cf., Acts 24:27; Acts 28:30).
• God’s plan for Paul reminds me of Joseph’s life somewhat = false imprisonment, trials and the like.
• Paul would be released but from Rome this time, but he would find himself there again later. The next time he would die there.

Acts 21:27-32
27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

• v.28
  • Teaching everyone everywhere.
    • “against the people”
    • “and the Law”
    • “and the Temple”
• their goals:
  • Isolate what they called the Christian enemy
  • Charge your Christian enemy
  • Execute your Christian enemy
• The Jews formed another mob hoping they would do the work that sprung from the evil in their hearts, an execution.
• Paul makes his defense of Christ again; placing himself in danger.
• Arrest - execution ???
• Paul knew Jesus suffered. Could he then take a life of comfort?

ILLUSTRATION

• There are so many heroes of the faith through the centuries…

• During China’s Boxer Rebellion of 1900, insurgents captured a mission station, blocked all the gates but one, and in front of that one gate placed a cross flat on the ground. Then the word was passed to those inside that any who trampled the cross underfoot would be permitted their freedom and life, but that any refusing would be shot. Terribly frightened, the first seven students trampled the cross under their feet and were allowed to go free. But the eighth student, a young girl, refused to commit the sacrilegious act. Kneeling beside the cross in prayer for strength, she arose and moved carefully around the cross, and went out to face the firing squad. Strengthened by her example, every one of the remaining ninety-two students followed her to the firing squad. (China’s Boxer …)

• The religious mobs have always been in opposition to the Gospel.

• And they have violence in their hand in the name of their gods.

• They hold in their hands warrants and execution notices to this day.

• Our family continues is suffering at the hands of religious mobs today.

APPLICATION

• People are still willing to place themselves in harm for the sake of the Gospel message.
• Let us not turn sour in our love because of what we see.
• We must pray for the enemies of the family.
• We may see arrest warrants in our day.
• Let us press on in hope!
• We contain the eternal Gospel in these Jars of Clay!

Acts 22:17-22
17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” ¶ 22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”

• Up to this word = Gentiles!
  • How far they had fallen from the ideal—Kingdom of Priests.
  • They were supposed to be light.
  • Instead there was hatred towards their fellow humans.
  • They were prejudice.

APPLICATION
QUESTIONS

• What is the one descriptive word that might turn our love from a person?
• Are our hearts hardened towards a group of people?
• We cannot allow our love to grow cold towards people.
• We need reminding:
  • Exclusivity opposes the Gospel
  • 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
  • Colossians 3:11, “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”

Acts 24:22-27
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. ¶ 24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

• Felix was a politician through and through.
  • He understood “accurately things about Jesus.” But he was not for Jesus.
  • He instead, looked for favor and approval from the religious leaders who were opposed to Christ.
  • He was willing to leave an innocent man—Paul—in prison to be popular.
• Politicians today lust for approval from their selected masses.
• They allow innocent people to be punished everyday if it fits their desires.

ILLUSTRATION

• Nothing new under the sun.
• [Around the year 300 …] Emperor Valens threatened Eusebuis [you-see-B-us] with confiscation of all his goods, torture, banishment, or even death, the courageous Christian replied, “He needs not fear confiscation, who has nothing to lose; nor banishment, to whom heaven is his country; nor torments, when his body can be destroyed at one blow; nor death, which is the only way to set him at liberty from sin and sorrow.” (Source unknown)

Reminders that help:

• This is not our home.
• We would be right there with the most hideous sins apart from God’s mighty love and hand.
• We see injustice—nobody is getting away with anything.
  • Romans 2:6-8, He [God] will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

APPLICATION

• We are susceptible to the same fleshly desires as Felix.
• We too want to please the masses in our fleshly natures.
• The politicians of today continue to work against the Gospel.
• Political groups continue to work against the Gospel.
• We can slide into the ideological views subtly and find ourselves away from the truth.
• Be a Christian! Our home is not here! It’s no wonder it is a mess.

Monte READ
Acts 26:1-3
1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. [… JUMP TO VERSE 19] 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

• Consistent message.
• The Gospel message of the Book of Acts:
  • 1. Repent = change their minds about God (and His Son)
  • 2. Turn to God (His Son)
  • 3. Perform deeds in keeping with their repentance
• Paul repeated the same, consistent message. Never wavered.
• When Paul was beat, same message.
• When Paul was mistreated, same message.
• Did he dust his feet? Yes. But after they heard the message.

APPLICATION

• We are to be about the message.
• We have received an apostleship (Romans LOOK UP)

Acts 26:24-29
24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

• Felix — the world will call us crazy regarding the Gospel
  • The flesh is embarrassed of the Gospel
• King Agrippa —
  • Often: I’ll think about Jesus later.
  • King Agrippa already knew about the Way—Jesus, but he still wanted time.
  • The world wants more time for the weighty questions.
    • They almost never want to talk about God.
    • The God that is staring them in the face already—day-after-day.

ILLUSTRATION

It is appointed for a man to die and then the judgement!

APPLICATION

• We need to share the Gospel.
• From Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are in the last days.

Acts 28:24-27
24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “‘Go to this people, and say,
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

CONCLUSION

• LOVE VERSE 24
  • Through it all, God is moving on the hearts of people around the world.
• Paul suffered greatly for the Gospel.
  • It would have been easy for Paul to not be harassed by the Jews mobs and Roman politicians: be silent. He refused. We should too.
• There is coming a day—baring revival—where Christians will start to be persecuted here in the same ways they have been for 2000+ years.
  • Suffering is one of the least studied doctrines of the American Church.
  • We avoid suffering at all costs.
  • We must continually be reminded that Christ did not call us to a life of comfort! He has called us to die and follow Him.

Works Cited

“China’s Boxer Rebellion.” Today in the Word, Feb. 89, p. 17, from Bible.org, https://bible.org/illustration/china’s-boxer-rebellion.

Scripture is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.