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Courage Amidst Adversity: Paul's Unwavering Faith

Explore the inspiring story of Paul's courage and sensitivity in the face of misunderstanding, false accusation, riot, and arrest. Discover key lessons from his example on courage, sensitivity, and unwavering focus on the gospel mission.

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Courage Amidst Adversity: Paul's Unwavering Faith

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  1. CrossWay Story Steve Kang

  2. Paul’s Courageamidst the Hostile Audience Acts: The Unfinished Story of the Church Series [42] Acts 21:37-22:29 February 3, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

  3. RECAP: MISUNDERSTANDING, FALSE ACCUSATION, RIOT BEATING, AND ARREST • Misunderstanding: Paul was misunderstood to be anti-Jew, anti-law, and anti-temple (21:20-26). • False Accusation: The Jews from Asia Minor accused Paul falsely and slandered him (21:27-29). • Riot Beating: The angry mob dragged Paul out of the temple and beat him senselessly (21:30-32). • Arrest: The Roman tribune ordered his soldiers to arrest Paul and they were about to take him to the barracks. (21:33-36).

  4. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 1)   Paul’s COURAGE for the gospel: Paul was courageous in seeking to speak to the hostile crowd about Christ. 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” (21:37-39) • Paul’s arrest by the Roman soldiers saved his life from being beaten to death. But Paul wants to speak to the crowd. Why? • Paul’s primary concern was not to save his life but to advance the gospel. That was the motive for his courage here.

  5. 23 ...the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and  the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,  to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:23-24

  6. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 1)   Paul’s COURAGE for the gospel: Paul was courageous in seeking to speak to the hostile crowd about Christ. 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” (21:37-39) • Paul’s arrest by the Roman soldiers saved his life from being beaten to death. But Paul wants to speak to the crowd. Why? • Paul’s primary concern was not to save his life but to advance the gospel. That was the motive for his courage here. • Following Paul’s example, we are to take courage in speaking up and sharing the gospel even in hostile environment.

  7. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 2)   Paul’s SENSITIVITY for the gospel: Paul was sensitive and respectful to win the audience in his defense. 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: 1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. (21:40-22:3)

  8. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 2)   Paul’s SENSITIVITY for the gospel: Paul was sensitive and respectful to win the audience in his defense. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. (22:4-5)  • Paul’s courage did not lead to a careless rude speech but was balanced with tact, sensitivity to his audience, and respect. • Intentionally speaking in Aramaic, Paul made a common ground, affirming their motive of zeal for God and the Law. • Following Paul’s example, we are to be winsomely sensitive and respectfully tactful in sharing the gospel with others.

  9. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 3)   Paul’s FOCUS for the gospel: Paul’s focus was on what CHRIST has done for his conversion and commission for the Gentiles. 6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand  the voice of the one who was speaking to me.10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. (22:6-11)

  10. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 3)   Paul’s FOCUS for the gospel: Paul’s focus was on what CHRIST has done for his conversion and commission for the Gentiles. 12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins,  calling on his name.’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.’ (22:12-18)

  11. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 3)   Paul’s FOCUS for the gospel: Paul’s focus was on what CHRIST has done for his conversion and commission for the Gentiles. 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.’” (22:19-21) • Paul’s defense is not about what he did but about what Christ has done in his life—for his salvation and mission. • Paul’s testimony is threefold: (1) his misled zeal before Christ (2) his encounter with Christ, (3) his transformation by Christ which also made him an apostle for the Gentiles. • Following Paul’s example, we are to make God’s work and glory as our focus in sharing of faith and the gospel.

  12. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 4)   Paul’s WISDOM for the gospel: Paul’s mode of operation is wisdom for furtherance of the gospel. 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.”23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” (22:22-25)

  13. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 4)   Paul’s WISDOM for the gospel: Paul’s mode of operation is wisdom for furtherance of the gospel. 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. (22:26-29) • Paul didn’t use his Roman citizenship until now for this reason; he uses it now wisely to advance the gospel further. • Paul’s wisdom was of single-mindedness and love for all.

  14. 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel... 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice. Philippians 1:12, 15-18

  15. WHAT KEY LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S EXAMPLE IN THIS STORY? 4)   Paul’s WISDOM for the gospel: Paul’s mode of operation is wisdom for furtherance of the gospel. 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. (22:26-29) • Paul didn’t use his Roman citizenship until now for this reason; he uses it now wisely to advance the gospel further. • Paul’s wisdom was of single-mindedness and love for all. • Following Paul’s example, we are to operate not with mere passion but also with wisdom to advance the gospel for all.

  16. THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE • In what ways can I become more courageous in sharing the gospel of Christ? • How can I follow Paul’s example in being sensitive, winsome, and wise for the gospel? • What would it mean for me to share my testimony and faith with focus on God’s sovereign work and glory?

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