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Acts CH 20 Paul’s Farewell Address. John Oakes, PhD San Diego September, 2015. The Agora in Athens. Themes in Acts. 1. The work of the Holy Spirit in establishing the Church. Acts 1:2, 1:4-5, 1:7, 1:16 2. The Kingdom of God. Acts 1:3, 1:6
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Acts CH 20Paul’s Farewell Address John Oakes, PhD San Diego September, 2015 The Agora in Athens
Themes in Acts 1. The work of the Holy Spirit in establishing the Church. Acts 1:2, 1:4-5, 1:7, 1:16 2. The Kingdom of God. Acts 1:3, 1:6 3. Growth and development of the Church. 1:8 4. Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy 1:20
I. The Holy Spirit in Acts Acts 1:2 Instructions through the Holy Spirit. 1:4-5 Wait for the Holy Spirit. 1:7 Power from the Holy Spirit. 1:16 The Holy Spirit spoke the prophecies 2:1-4 The Holy Spirit falls on the apostles. 2:17-18 Pouring of the Holy Spirit prophesied in Joel. 4:8 Peter spoke, as he was filled by the Holy Spirit. 4:25 He spoke through David. 4:31 Filled with the Holy Spirit, the house was shaken. 5:32 The Holy Spirit witnesses to the resurrection. 6:3-6 Those known to be full of the Holy Spirit chosen to lead.
The Holy Spirit in Acts 7:55 Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. 8:29 The Holy Spirit tells Philip to share with the Ethiopian Eunuch. 9:31 The Church strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. 10:19 The Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with the three Gentile visitors. 10:44-47 The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his house. 11:28 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus about a famine. 13:2-4 The Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work, and sends them off. 13:52 The disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit In Acts 15:28 The Holy Spirit influenced the decision of the Jerusalem Council. 16:7 The Spirit of Jesus prevents going to Bithyia. 20:22 Paul compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. 20:23 The Holy Spirit warns Paul of danger. 20:28 The Holy Spirit makes and chooses elders. 21:11 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus how Paul will die. Q: What does all this tell you?
III. Growth and Development of the Church Acts 1:8 “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” How did they do it? How can we do it? The Marketplace in Corinth
Growth of the Church Acts 2:41 Three thousand added that day. Acts 4:4 The disciples grew to five thousand. Acts 5:14 More and more men and women. Acts 5:28 You have filled Jerusalem…. Acts 6:7 The number of disciples increased rapidly and a large number of priests were obedient. Acts 8:4 Those scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Church Growth is “Normal” Acts 9:31 Grew throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria Acts 11:24 A great number… Acts 16:5 Grew daily in numbers… Acts 17:6 Caused trouble all over the world.
Ephesus: Paul’s Favorite Church Acts 19:8-10 Paul starts a campus ministry that affects all of Asia. The Lecture Hall of Tyrannus
Acts 19 Paul in Ephesus The theater in Ephesus where a little riot happened The Church will have an impact!
Acts 20 Paul Addresses the Ephesian Elders This is Paul’s farewell address v. 18 You know how I lived… Q: How did Paul live? v. 19 Served with great humility v. 19 … and with tears 1 Thess 2:1-12 v. 20-21 Q: What did Paul preach? v. 22-24 I consider my life worth nothing Q: What was Paul holding onto? Q: How did that make him feel? Q: How can you be more like Paul in this?
Address to the Ephesian Elders Acts 20:25-27 How could Paul be “innocent of all men’s blood? Q: Can you say this? 20:28-35 Advice to shepherds. v. 28-31 Protect against false teaching v. 33-35 Help the needy and the lowly, not your own financial or other good. v. 36-38 A final farewell.
Acts 23 God Intervenes and Saves Paul 23:11 God tells Paul “Take courage…. You must testify about me in Rome.” 23:12-15 A plot to kill Paul by the non-Christian Jews. 23:16-22 God intervenes and saves Paul. 23:23-35 God provides 470 soldiers to protect Paul!
Acts 24 Paul Before Felix Matthew 10:17-20 “they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Felix Procurator of Judea AD 52-59 Infamous for violence, sexual promiscuity and violence.
Paul Preaches the Gospel to a Pagan Ruler Acts 24:1-9 Tertullus presents the Jew’s case. What a suck-up sycophantic hypocrite!!! a. lies tried to desecrate the temple b. half-truths stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world and c. truths made to look worse than they really were. The “ringleader of this sect”
Acts 24:10-21 Paul’s defense Q: What would you say? a. His is respectful and thankful. No insincere praise. b. Refutes the false charges using facts. He lets the truth speak for itself. He avoids inflammatory rhetoric. c. Where the charges are half-truths, he gives a more accurate description. (v. 14 I follow a way, not a sect, for example) d. Where the charges are in part true, he comes fully clean. e. Show his ministry is fully in line with the O T The charge of heresy is totally false (v. 14-15, Daniel 12:2-3) f. Most importantly, he shares the gospel with Felix!
Acts 24:24-27 Paul shares the gospel Felix is afraid. He is convinced Paul is legitimate. But…. He decided to repent when it is convenient. Q: Is it ever convenient to repent and put our faith in God? 2 Cor 6:2 Indecision is a decision.
Acts 25-26 Paul Speaks Before a King Acts 25:11-12 A fateful moment. Paul is going to Jerusalem (in chains). Herod Agrippa: Great grandson of Herod “the Great” He is in an incestuous relationship with is full sister Bernice. Yet, he has the nerve to sit in judgment of Paul, perhaps the greatest living man. Acts 26 A masterful defense of the gospel.
Paul’s Defense v. 5-6 I am on trial because I love God. v. 6,8 I am on trial because I believe in the resurrection. v. 7, 22-23 I am on trial for observing faithfully the OT. v. 9-18 I was not predisposed to believe in Jesus. v. 20 The real reason I am on trial is because I preach repentance. “That is why the Jews seized me.” v. 24 Festus: You are crazy!!!! When people have no logical response they turn to insults. v. 25-27 Paul: What I am saying is true, and it is reasonable. If you do not believe me, just ask Agrippa. He will tell you. v. 29 A beautiful appeal. Paul is going to Rome.