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Acts 18:1-23 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take out your copy of God's Word and turn to Acts chapter 18.
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! Acts chapter 18.
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Acts chapter 18 in our text for this morning will be verses 1-23.
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! This is Luke's second narrative account of Jesus' life.
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His first is the Gospel according to Luke, which is about Jesus' earthly ministry.
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His second is the book we're studying this morning and have been for quite some time,
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often called the Acts of the Apostles, which I like to call the Acts of the Risen and Ascended Jesus.
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It was written that we might witness the working of Jesus by the agency of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His church.
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In today's text, we will note the conclusion of the Apostle Paul's second missionary journey.
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But first we're going to see his arrival and ministry in the city of Corinth.
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He has traveled now down through Macedonia.
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He's in Europe now.
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From Philippi to Thessalonica and then to Berea.
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He has been beaten and imprisoned.
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He has escaped a mob riot and he has been chased out of the region.
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He has gone further south to Athens where he sees gospel fruit, but it seems not much.
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And in verse 1 of chapter 18, Luke records for us,
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after this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
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Corinth was on the land bridge that connects the Peloponnesian Peninsula with mainland Greece.
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I'd encourage you to look at that.
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You may even have a map in the back of your copy of God's Word that would show you this little island,
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this little bridge, this little land bridge between the two.
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Not an island, a land bridge.
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It was, therefore, in a very strategic location as the city of Corinth had two ports,
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one on the east coast, the other on the west.
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In order to save a 200-mile journey around the peninsula,
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many ships were taken out at one port, and I found this so fascinating as an aside,
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and rolled on logs for four miles through the city to be put in the other port.
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This was easier.
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This was more efficient than sailing all the way around the peninsula.
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Also of interesting note, in AD 67, so beyond the time of our text today,
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Nero began a canal that was not completed until 1893.
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Now if you look at a modern map, you'll see a canal that cuts across that land bridge.
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The town of Corinth was a transient town.
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Lots of sailors, lots of tradesmen,
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very little stability in the town,
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and as such it was full of vice.
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What comes to my mind when I think of Corinth is
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what happens in Corinth stays in Corinth.
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People coming and going all the time and living licentiously as a result.
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1,500 feet above the city of Corinth was the Acropolis,
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where the temple of Aphrodite was.
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Each evening the temple's 1,000 priestesses,
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who were ritual prostitutes,
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would descend the mountain into the city for the quote-unquote worship of Aphrodite.
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Corinth surpassed other Greek cities in wickedness,
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and that's saying a lot.
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It actually became the phrase,
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to Corinthianize,
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was common in this day,
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which meant to practice whoredom,
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to Corinthianize.
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It was a dark and depressing city.
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And we find Paul there discouraged.
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As he reflects upon his time in Corinth,
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when writing to the church there in 1 Corinthians 2.3,
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he says,
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and I was with you in weakness,
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and in fear,
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and much trembling.
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I was not encouraged,
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I was discouraged when I came to you.
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Do you ever feel discouraged in your faith?
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Has your labor in the gospel ever been or felt fruitless?
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I know that our common discouragement shared amongst our church
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comes because we see so many people come,
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but then also so many people go.
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Those of us who stay here can often feel discouraged
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as we send people out.
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But beloved, this should not be so.
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We are positioned in a place,
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in a unique way,
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to minister far and wide the Word of the Lord.
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We have seen this across the past eight years.
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We gather and go each week here in this area.
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And we gather in Dahlonega.
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And we go to the ends of the earth.
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Is that an encouraging reality?
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Or a discouraging one?
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Saying goodbye to people that we love
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will always be bittersweet.
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It should never not be.
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Have some element of bitter to it.
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It's hard to say goodbye
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to people that we know and love
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and share our lives with.
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But I contend with you today
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that it ultimately ought to be sweet.
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It ought to be an encouragement
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to our souls to see people sent forth.
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And this is going to get tested.
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It's been tested in the past.
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We've sent a lot of people out from this place.
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I noted to you last week
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that if you take our start date,
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we just honestly,
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we kind of picked a random date.
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When do we actually exist as we exist?
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We said January 1 of 2009.
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And you come to the present day,
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there are only six people
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who are original members of our church
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that have had an uninterrupted time here.
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Only six.
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Across eight years.
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And that's not been because of turmoil.
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And I know a lot of you are fresh
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and new to the life of our church.
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We've had a very good and growing congregation.
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We haven't had massive upheavals and upsets.
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And all of a sudden,
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we're one number
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and then we're half that number
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because people got upset
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and got in clubs
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and took off.
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We've never had any kind of controversy like that.
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But people have come
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and they have been trained up,
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we hope, by grace.
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And then they've gone.
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Gone off to other places.
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We've seen people go all over the world.
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We've seen people spread across the southeast.
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Last year,
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we had the great blessing
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of starting another church
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in Oakwood, Georgia.
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And I don't know about you guys,
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but when we get together all together
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at things like the picnic yesterday,
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I feel that loss a little more.
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Like I recognize how much I miss
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some of those people
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when I see them again.
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Like, ah,
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it was so good
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when I got to see you every week
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and now it seems to be only
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a couple times a year.
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We recently sent out
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Ash and Janine Harris.
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Ash took a job
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in Boone, North Carolina.
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I mentioned earlier,
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Oziama,
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Obele,
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going to Brazil soon.
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Kirby and Leanna White
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are going to soon be leaving
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in just a couple of weeks,
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going to Washington State
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where Kirby is from.
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Michael and Lauren Shealy
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are moving.
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He's being commissioned
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and stationed.
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They're moving to Columbus, Georgia.
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Daniel and Carly Walker
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are going back to Madison County
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at least for a season.
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We don't know how long
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at this point,
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but they will be gone
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for a bit of time.
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And Phillip and Natalie Akins
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are going to Canton
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for jobs there.
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And I may have missed somebody.
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I really tried not to,
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but I may have missed
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someone who will be leaving us
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probably for good.
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There are countless others.
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College students,
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many of you are going to be gone
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after this Sunday.
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And the summer will be
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a little bit more quiet
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without you here
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and you will be missed.
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I'm becoming further
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and further convinced
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that faithful gospel ministry
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leaves much room
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for discouragement.
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But,
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I want to be encouraged
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in the midst
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of faithful gospel ministry.
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So join me in our text
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for today
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to that end.
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That is where we're aiming
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to be encouraged
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in the midst
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of faithful gospel ministry.
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Beloved,
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this is God's word to us.
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It was written for His glory
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and for our good.
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And we would all do well
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to listen to it
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in order to believe
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its promises
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and obey its commands.
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Begin reading in verse 1.
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After this,
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Paul left Athens
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and went to Corinth.
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And he found a Jew
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named Aquila,
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a native of Pontus,
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recently come from Italy
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with his wife Priscilla
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because Claudius
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had commanded
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all the Jews
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to leave Rome.
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And he went to see them.
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And because he was
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of the same trade,
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he stayed with them
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and worked,
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for they were tent makers
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by trade.
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And he reasoned
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in the synagogue
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every Sabbath
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and tried to persuade
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Jews and Greeks.
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When Silas and Timothy
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arrived from Macedonia,
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Paul was occupied
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with the word,
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testifying to the Jews
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that the Christ
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was Jesus.
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And when they opposed
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and reviled him,
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he shook out his garments
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and said to them,
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your blood be on your own heads.
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I am innocent.
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From now on,
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I will go to the Gentiles.
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And he left there
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and went to the house
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of a man named Titius Justice,
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a worshiper of God.
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His house was next door
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to the synagogue.
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Crispus,
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the ruler of the synagogue,
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believed in the Lord
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together with his entire household.
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And many of the Corinthians
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hearing Paul believed
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and were baptized.
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And the Lord said to Paul
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one night in a vision,
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Do not be afraid,
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but go on speaking
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and do not be silent,
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for I am with you
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and no one will attack you
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to harm you,
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for I have many in this city
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who are my people.
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And he stayed a year
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and six months
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teaching the word of God
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among them.
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But when Galio
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was proconsul of Achaia,
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the Jews made a united attack
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on Paul
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and brought him
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before the tribunal,
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saying,
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this man is persuading people
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to worship God
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contrary to the law.
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But when Paul
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was about to open his mouth,
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Galio said to the Jews,
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If it were a matter
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of wrongdoing
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or vicious crime,
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O Jews,
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I would have reason
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to accept your complaint.
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But since it is a matter
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of questions
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about words and names
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and your own law,
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see to it yourselves.
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I refuse to be a judge
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of these things.
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And he drove them
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from the tribunal.
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And they all seized
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Sosthenes,
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the ruler of the synagogue,
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and beat him
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in front of the tribunal.
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But Galio paid no attention
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to any of this.
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After this,
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Paul stayed many days longer
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and then took leave
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of the brothers
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and set sail for Syria
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and with him
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Priscilla and Aquila.
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At Kincray,
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he had cut his hair
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for he was under a vow.
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And they came to Ephesus
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and he left them there,
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but he himself
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went into the synagogue
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and reasoned
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with the Jews.
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When they asked him
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to stay for a longer period,
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he declined.
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But on taking leave of them,
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he said,
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I will return to you
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if God wills.
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And he set sail
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from Ephesus.
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When he had landed
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at Caesarea,
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he went up
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and greeted the church
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and then went down
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to Antioch.
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After spending
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some time there,
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he departed
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and went from one place
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to the next
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through the region
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of Galatia
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and Phrygia,
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strengthening
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all the disciples.
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Now,
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that is a lot of text,
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right?
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And the information
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comes at us
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almost in a rapid-fire sense.
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And so,
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I understand
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if you're already going
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why
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verses 1-23.
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So it's my hope
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to wrap it together
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for you
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thematically
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by helping us
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consider
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five ways
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that God
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encourages
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the souls
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of His discouraged
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servants.
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Five ways
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that God
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encourages
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the souls
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of His
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discouraged
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servants.
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And I'm going
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to give those
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five to you
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and then we'll
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take them
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one at a time.
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So number one,
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God encourages
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the souls
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of His
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discouraged
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servants
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number one
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with new
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partners.
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Number two
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with provision.
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Number three
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with His
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presence.
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Number four
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with protection.
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I guess they all
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start with P's.
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Number five,
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with purpose.
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In so many ways
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I'm not a good
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Baptist,
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but in that way
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I am.
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I like to
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alliterate.
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So firstly,
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God encourages
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the souls
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of His
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discouraged
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servants
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with new
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partners.
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We see Him
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in this new
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city
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by Himself.
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He does not
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have
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Silas and
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Timothy.
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His missionary
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band has been
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split up for
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various
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circumstances.
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And we find
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Him by
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Himself,
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but He
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seeks out,
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it would
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seem,
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He finds
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a Jew
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named
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Aquila,
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a native of
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Pontus,
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and his
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wife
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Priscilla.
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And He
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joins
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Himself
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to them.
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They are
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also
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tent makers
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by trade
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and He
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stays with
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them and
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He works
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with them.
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And the
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Bible does not
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tell us of
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the conversion
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of Aquila
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and Priscilla,
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but they
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were likely
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already
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Christians
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at this
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point,
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having come
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from the
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church that
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already existed
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in Rome.
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We can
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fail as we
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study Acts
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to remember
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that the
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Gospel was
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not just
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going forth
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into the
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world on a
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single front.
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It wasn't
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just Paul
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and his
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missionary
15:26
band that
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was preaching
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the good
15:28
news of
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Jesus Christ.
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But followers
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of Jesus
15:31
Christ were
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doing what
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followers of
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Jesus Christ
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do.
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They were
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taking the
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message of
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God's saving
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work to
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all people.
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Luke's
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narrative is
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primarily about
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the Apostle
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Paul's ministry
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as it should
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be and as it
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serves us
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well, but the
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Gospel is
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going forth.
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And so it's
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likely that this
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couple have
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already become
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part of the
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church in
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Rome before
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ever meeting
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Paul.
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Likely.
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We don't
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know for
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sure, but
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likely.
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And God
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in His
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gracious
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providence
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brings new
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partners in
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the Gospel
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to Corinth
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ahead of
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Paul.
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Catch that.
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Before Paul
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ever gets
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there, Aquila
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and Priscilla
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are there.
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Brought there,
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partners of the
16:19
same trade,
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they give him
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a place to
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stay,
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they give
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him a
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livelihood
16:24
upon his
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arrival.
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And the
16:28
way in which
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they arrive
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there, Luke
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records for
16:32
us because of
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the command
16:34
of Claudius
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that all
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the Jews
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had to leave
16:39
Rome.
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That decree
16:41
is mentioned
16:42
here in this
16:44
text and
16:44
one other
16:45
place in
16:46
all recorded
16:47
history by
16:49
a Roman
16:49
historian named
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Suetonus,
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I think,
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who wrote
16:54
70 years
16:55
after the
16:56
fact the
16:56
following.
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As the
16:58
Jews were
16:59
indulging in
17:00
constant
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riots at
17:02
the instigation
17:03
of
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Crestus,
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Claudius
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banished them
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from Rome.
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It's just one
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sentence,
17:10
this one
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mention of
17:11
this thing
17:12
that happened
17:12
by this
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Roman historian
17:14
Suetonus.
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Now,
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the word
17:18
he uses
17:18
here,
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Crestus,
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a name,
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a formal
17:22
name,
17:22
Crestus,
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is just
17:23
one letter
17:25
variation from
17:26
the Latin
17:27
for Christ
17:28
Christus.
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So many
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presume that
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what was
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happening in
17:34
Rome was
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because of
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the preaching
17:36
of the
17:36
gospel,
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Jews were
17:38
doing what
17:38
so many
17:39
Jews seem
17:39
to do
17:39
in this
17:40
day.
17:40
They were
17:40
getting
17:40
furious
17:41
about the
17:42
preaching
17:43
of the
17:43
good news
17:43
of Jesus
17:44
Christ and
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were rioting
17:46
as a result.
17:46
And what
17:48
Suetonus
17:49
has understood
17:50
some years
17:50
later,
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hearing the
17:52
telling,
17:52
he keeps
17:52
hearing this
17:53
name,
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that there
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was a
17:55
man there
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that was
17:56
causing
17:56
all of
17:57
this.
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Now,
17:57
that is
17:58
still
17:58
possible.
17:59
There was
17:59
actually a
17:59
guy named
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Crestus
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causing the
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Jews to
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riot in
18:04
Rome.
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But I
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think more
18:05
likely,
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he just
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made a
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mistake in
18:08
the hearing
18:08
of the
18:08
word and
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recorded it
18:10
as
18:10
Crestus.
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So,
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probably,
18:13
the Jews
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are in an
18:13
uproar all
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the time
18:14
because of
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the preaching
18:15
of the
18:15
good news
18:16
of Jesus
18:17
Christ.
18:18
And Claudius
18:19
sends them
18:19
away from
18:21
Rome.
18:22
And that's
18:22
how
18:23
Aquila and
18:24
Priscilla find
18:25
themselves in
18:26
Corinth to
18:27
become new
18:28
partners in
18:29
gospel ministry
18:30
with Paul.
18:32
And they also
18:32
become partners
18:33
with them in
18:34
their living
18:35
situation and
18:36
in their
18:36
livelihood.
18:37
The text
18:38
says that they
18:38
are tent
18:39
makers.
18:40
If you're
18:40
familiar with
18:41
the life of
18:41
Paul,
18:42
you've probably
18:42
heard him
18:43
spoken of as
18:44
a tent
18:44
maker,
18:45
we can
18:45
tend to
18:45
use that
18:46
term of
18:47
bivocational
18:48
ministers,
18:49
that they're
18:49
tent makers,
18:50
they do some
18:50
other work to
18:51
earn their
18:51
livelihood than
18:53
just preaching
18:53
the gospel.
18:55
But interestingly,
18:56
the Greek word
18:57
used for
18:57
tent makers
18:57
could also
18:58
refer to
18:59
leather
19:00
workers.
19:01
It could
19:02
also be
19:02
leather
19:03
workers.
19:03
And I
19:04
always had
19:04
this picture
19:04
in my
19:04
mind of
19:05
Paul with
19:06
canvas,
19:06
sewing canvas
19:08
tents,
19:08
but tents in
19:09
this day were
19:10
made from
19:11
animal skin.
19:12
They were
19:12
made from
19:13
leather.
19:14
So likely
19:15
they made
19:16
tents,
19:16
but they
19:17
also may
19:17
have made
19:18
many other
19:19
things.
19:19
Maybe in
19:19
Corinth all
19:20
the rage
19:20
was to
19:20
have an
19:21
original
19:21
Priscilla
19:22
purse.
19:25
A Paul
19:26
belt,
19:27
something like
19:27
that.
19:27
But this is
19:29
the work
19:29
that they're
19:29
doing when
19:31
they're
19:32
there.
19:34
You'll also
19:35
note that
19:36
Priscilla and
19:36
Aquila go
19:37
with him.
19:38
So verse
19:39
18,
19:41
after a year
19:41
and a half
19:42
and in
19:42
this trial,
19:43
Paul stays
19:44
many days
19:44
longer.
19:45
Luke records,
19:46
we don't know
19:46
exactly how
19:47
long,
19:47
but many
19:48
days longer
19:49
than he
19:49
takes leave
19:50
of the
19:51
brothers and
19:52
sets sails
19:52
for Syria
19:53
and with
19:53
him go
19:54
Priscilla
19:55
and Aquila.
19:59
And then in
19:59
verse 19,
20:00
when they
20:01
come to
20:01
Ephesus,
20:02
he leaves
20:03
them there
20:04
and along
20:04
with Apollos,
20:05
they become
20:06
the beginning
20:07
of the church
20:08
there at
20:09
Ephesus.
20:10
So they
20:10
become partners
20:11
with him,
20:12
new partners
20:13
with him
20:13
in gospel
20:14
ministry.
20:17
Beloved,
20:17
this is
20:18
God's
20:19
church.
20:20
It belongs
20:21
to him.
20:21
Christ's
20:22
family church
20:22
at Dahlonega
20:23
is his.
20:24
And if you
20:25
are a follower
20:26
of Jesus Christ,
20:27
you are
20:28
God's
20:28
children.
20:30
And he
20:31
will not
20:32
leave us
20:33
alone.
20:35
Partners in
20:36
ministry
20:36
will go.
20:38
They will.
20:39
I think
20:40
if we're
20:40
doing
20:40
faithful
20:41
ministry,
20:41
if we're
20:42
looking out
20:43
to the
20:44
world,
20:44
partners in
20:44
ministry
20:45
will go.
20:46
But they
20:47
will also
20:48
come.
20:49
They will
20:49
also come.
20:50
We have
20:51
new opportunity
20:51
for new
20:52
relationship
20:53
and new
20:54
investment.
20:56
And those
20:56
who come
20:57
are of great
20:58
benefit to
20:59
us in
21:00
that way.
21:02
Paul writes
21:03
to the
21:03
Philippian
21:03
church in
21:04
chapter 1
21:04
verses 3
21:05
through 5
21:06
of Philippians.
21:07
I thank
21:08
my God
21:08
in all
21:09
my remembrance
21:10
of you.
21:12
Always in
21:12
every prayer
21:13
of mine
21:14
for you
21:14
all making
21:15
my prayer
21:16
with joy.
21:17
Why?
21:18
Because of
21:19
your partnership
21:20
in the
21:20
gospel.
21:21
From the
21:22
first day
21:22
when he
21:24
came to
21:24
them,
21:25
when they
21:25
became
21:25
believers,
21:27
until
21:28
now.
21:30
And so
21:30
here's Paul
21:30
from a
21:31
distance
21:32
writing a
21:32
letter to
21:33
the
21:33
Philippian
21:33
church,
21:34
thanking
21:34
God,
21:35
praising
21:36
him for
21:37
the
21:37
partnership
21:38
they
21:38
still
21:39
had.
21:42
So God
21:42
encourages
21:43
the souls
21:44
of his
21:45
discouraged
21:46
servants
21:46
with new
21:48
partners.
21:50
Secondly,
21:51
he does
21:52
so with
21:53
provision,
21:54
and just
21:55
as a
21:55
side
21:57
alliterated
21:57
point,
21:58
with provision
21:59
from old
22:00
partners.
22:01
believers.
22:02
We see
22:03
in the
22:03
first part
22:03
of verse
22:04
5 that
22:05
Silas and
22:06
Timothy
22:06
arrive from
22:08
Macedonia.
22:10
You may
22:10
recall that
22:11
when Paul
22:12
was in
22:12
Athens,
22:13
he was
22:13
waiting for
22:14
Silas and
22:14
Timothy to
22:15
rejoin him
22:16
as he had
22:17
left them in
22:17
Berea with
22:18
orders to
22:18
come to
22:18
him as
22:19
soon as
22:20
possible.
22:20
That's
22:20
what he
22:21
was there
22:21
doing,
22:22
and then
22:22
as Paul
22:22
does,
22:22
as he's
22:23
waiting,
22:23
he went
22:24
about
22:24
preaching
22:24
the good
22:25
news of
22:26
Christ.
22:26
You can
22:26
see Acts
22:27
17,
22:28
15,
22:28
and 16
22:30
about that.
22:31
Now Luke
22:32
does not
22:32
record for
22:33
us that
22:33
Silas and
22:34
Timothy ever
22:35
found Paul
22:35
in Athens,
22:36
but many
22:37
have suggested
22:38
that they
22:38
did and
22:40
were sent
22:40
back into
22:41
Macedonia so
22:42
they would
22:42
have gone
22:42
north once
22:43
again to
22:44
Paul before
22:45
they joined
22:45
him in
22:46
Corinth.
22:46
So he
22:47
meets up
22:47
with them
22:47
in Athens,
22:48
he sends
22:48
them back
22:48
out,
22:49
he goes
22:50
on to
22:51
Corinth,
22:51
and then
22:51
they later
22:52
rejoin him.
22:55
I tend
22:55
to agree,
22:56
and here's
22:57
why.
22:57
In 1 Thessalonians
22:59
3,
23:00
verses 1 and
23:00
2,
23:01
Paul writes,
23:02
Therefore,
23:03
when we
23:03
could bear
23:03
it no
23:04
longer,
23:05
we were
23:06
willing to
23:07
be left
23:07
behind at
23:08
Athens
23:09
alone,
23:10
and we
23:11
sent
23:12
Timothy,
23:13
our brother
23:14
and God's
23:15
co-worker in
23:15
the gospel of
23:16
Christ,
23:17
to establish
23:18
and exhort
23:19
you in
23:20
your faith.
23:21
So I
23:22
think,
23:23
therefore,
23:23
when we
23:24
could bear
23:24
it no
23:24
longer,
23:25
as Paul
23:25
and Silas
23:26
and Timothy,
23:28
and then
23:28
we were
23:29
willing to
23:30
be left
23:30
behind at
23:30
Athens
23:31
alone,
23:31
as Paul
23:32
and Silas,
23:34
because they
23:34
sent Timothy
23:36
to the
23:37
Thessalonians.
23:38
Are you
23:38
catching that?
23:39
So at
23:40
very least
23:40
we can
23:40
see that
23:41
it's
23:42
probable,
23:43
it's very
23:43
likely,
23:44
that Timothy
23:44
left them
23:45
in Athens,
23:46
and then Silas
23:47
may have
23:48
also been
23:48
sent
23:49
somewhere.
23:51
But either
23:51
way,
23:51
they come
23:52
and they
23:52
find him.
23:52
They find
23:53
him coming
23:54
from Macedonia,
23:55
they find
23:56
him.
23:57
And when
23:57
they find
23:58
him,
23:58
midway
23:59
through
23:59
verse 5,
24:00
Luke
24:00
records,
24:01
in the
24:02
ESV,
24:03
Paul was
24:04
occupied
24:05
with the
24:07
Word,
24:08
testifying to
24:09
the Jews
24:09
that the
24:10
Christ
24:11
was
24:11
Jesus.
24:13
So we've
24:13
seen him
24:14
earlier in
24:14
the text,
24:15
right?
24:15
He seems
24:16
to be
24:16
working
24:16
during the
24:17
week and
24:17
attending
24:18
the synagogue
24:19
on the
24:19
weekends,
24:20
on the
24:21
Sabbath,
24:21
our
24:22
Saturday.
24:22
But here,
24:24
Paul's
24:25
occupied with
24:26
the Word.
24:29
Acts 18.5
24:30
in the
24:31
NASB
24:32
translation
24:32
says this,
24:33
but when
24:33
Silas and
24:33
Timothy came
24:34
down from
24:34
Macedonia,
24:36
Paul began
24:37
devoting
24:38
himself
24:38
completely
24:39
to the
24:41
Word.
24:41
And I
24:41
think that's
24:42
a better
24:42
rendering of
24:43
the middle
24:43
part of
24:44
verse 5.
24:45
That is to
24:45
say,
24:46
when Silas
24:47
and Timothy
24:48
came and
24:48
joined Paul,
24:49
he began
24:50
to be
24:51
occupied,
24:52
meaning,
24:52
he spent
24:53
all week
24:54
long.
24:54
He was
24:54
able to
24:55
set aside
24:56
tent making
24:57
for the
24:57
sake of
24:58
spending
24:58
more time
24:59
in gospel
25:01
proclamation.
25:03
A bit
25:04
of a
25:04
proof to
25:05
this,
25:05
2 Corinthians
25:06
11.9
25:07
And when
25:08
I was
25:08
with you,
25:09
this is
25:09
Paul,
25:09
when I
25:09
was with
25:10
you and
25:11
was in
25:11
need,
25:12
I did
25:12
not burden
25:12
anyone,
25:13
for the
25:14
brothers who
25:15
came from
25:15
Macedonia
25:16
supplied my
25:17
need.
25:17
I think
25:18
he's
25:18
referring to
25:19
Silas and
25:19
Timothy when
25:20
they come
25:20
from
25:20
Macedonia,
25:21
so I
25:22
refrained
25:22
and will
25:23
refrain from
25:24
burdening you
25:25
in any way.
25:26
So they
25:26
bring this
25:27
provision to
25:28
him which
25:29
enables him
25:30
to no longer
25:31
be a tent
25:32
maker but
25:32
to devote
25:33
himself fully
25:34
to gospel
25:35
proclamation,
25:36
at least for
25:36
this frame
25:37
of his
25:39
ministry.
25:40
God
25:40
provides
25:41
for his
25:43
own.
25:44
God cares
25:44
for his
25:45
people and
25:46
this should
25:46
greatly
25:47
encourage our
25:48
souls.
25:49
God
25:49
cares,
26:01
beloved,
26:01
about every
26:02
tiny little
26:04
detail of
26:05
your little
26:06
life.
26:09
In
26:09
Matthew
26:10
chapter 10
26:10
verse 29,
26:12
Jesus says,
26:13
as recorded
26:13
by Matthew,
26:14
are not
26:15
two sparrows
26:16
sold for a
26:16
penny,
26:17
and not
26:18
one of
26:18
them will
26:19
fall to
26:19
the ground
26:20
apart from
26:21
your father.
26:22
So even
26:22
this very
26:23
cheap bird,
26:24
which would
26:24
have been
26:24
the poor
26:25
person's
26:26
sacrifice at
26:26
the temple,
26:27
two sparrows
26:29
sold for a
26:30
penny are
26:31
precious in
26:31
God's sight,
26:33
and yet we're
26:34
more precious
26:35
than those
26:37
two sparrows.
26:39
Luke,
26:40
however,
26:40
records the
26:41
same speaking
26:42
by Jesus.
26:44
in this
26:44
way,
26:44
Luke
26:45
chapter 12
26:45
verse 6,
26:47
are not
26:47
five sparrows
26:49
sold for
26:49
two pennies,
26:51
and not
26:51
one of
26:51
them is
26:52
forgotten
26:52
before God.
26:54
So in
26:54
one text we
26:55
see that
26:55
two sparrows
26:56
are sold
26:56
for a
26:57
penny,
26:57
and in
26:57
another text
26:58
we've got
26:58
five for
26:58
two pennies,
26:59
which seems
27:00
to confuse
27:00
the price
27:01
of sparrows.
27:04
I suggest
27:05
to you
27:05
that if you
27:07
were a poor
27:07
person and
27:08
you went to
27:08
the temple
27:08
and you
27:10
bought four
27:12
for two
27:13
pennies,
27:13
they threw
27:14
in an odd
27:15
sparrow.
27:17
And beloved,
27:18
you and I
27:18
are the odd
27:20
sparrow.
27:21
God cares
27:23
for us.
27:25
So God
27:26
encourages the
27:27
souls of His
27:27
discouraged
27:28
servants with
27:29
new partners
27:30
and with
27:32
provision
27:33
coming by
27:33
the hand of
27:34
old partners.
27:36
And He also,
27:38
and most
27:38
importantly,
27:39
encourages the
27:39
souls of His
27:40
discouraged
27:41
servants with
27:42
His presence.
27:44
With His
27:45
presence.
27:48
Paul seems
27:49
to be so
27:50
discouraged at
27:51
this point that
27:52
God visits
27:54
him in a
27:54
vision.
27:55
In a very
27:55
special way,
27:57
he comes
27:58
alongside
27:59
Paul in a
28:01
vision in
28:02
verse 9.
28:03
And he says,
28:04
do not be
28:05
afraid, but
28:05
go on speaking
28:06
and do not
28:07
be silent,
28:08
why?
28:09
For I
28:10
am with
28:11
you.
28:13
For I am
28:13
with you.
28:15
Jesus made
28:16
this very
28:17
promise to
28:18
the apostles
28:18
in Matthew
28:19
chapter 28,
28:20
verses 18
28:21
through 20.
28:23
And Jesus
28:23
came and
28:24
said to
28:24
them,
28:25
all authority
28:27
in heaven and
28:27
on earth has
28:27
been given
28:28
to me.
28:29
Go therefore
28:30
and make
28:30
disciples of
28:31
all nations,
28:31
baptizing them
28:32
in the name
28:32
of the Father
28:33
and of the
28:34
Son and of the
28:34
Holy Spirit,
28:35
teaching them
28:35
to observe
28:36
all that I
28:37
have commanded
28:38
you.
28:39
There's the
28:39
great commission,
28:40
the command
28:41
given to all
28:42
followers of
28:43
Jesus Christ,
28:43
and he ends
28:44
it this way,
28:45
and behold,
28:46
I am with
28:47
you always
28:48
to the end
28:50
of the age.
28:51
And we do
28:52
not want to
28:52
forget that
28:53
that wonderful
28:53
promise at the
28:54
end of verse
28:54
20 is coupled
28:55
with Jesus'
28:57
proclamation at
28:58
the beginning of
28:59
verse 18.
29:00
all authority
29:01
in heaven and
29:02
on earth has
29:03
been given
29:04
to me.
29:05
So we have
29:05
the all-powerful
29:07
ascended Jesus
29:08
Christ with
29:10
us always.
29:13
How is it that
29:14
God's presence
29:14
is with us?
29:16
Jesus, who is
29:18
God, says to
29:19
the apostles,
29:20
I am with you
29:21
always.
29:22
And to Paul,
29:23
for I am
29:25
with you.
29:25
And he says
29:26
the same to
29:27
all his people.
29:29
But how?
29:29
How?
29:30
How is this
29:30
accomplished?
29:31
Right?
29:32
How is the
29:32
presence of
29:34
Christ experienced
29:36
by his people?
29:39
In 2 Corinthians
29:39
13-14, Paul
29:41
writes this to
29:42
the Corinthian
29:43
believers,
29:44
the grace of
29:44
the Lord Jesus
29:45
Christ and the
29:46
love of God
29:47
and the
29:48
fellowship of
29:49
the Holy Spirit
29:50
be with you
29:52
all.
29:54
This is a
29:54
classic
29:55
Trinitarian
29:56
text where we
29:57
see all of
29:58
the persons of
29:59
the Godhead
29:59
in a single
30:00
verse.
30:01
But today,
30:02
note the
30:02
phrase,
30:03
be with you.
30:06
How is it?
30:07
How is it
30:08
that all of
30:09
these aspects
30:10
of who God
30:11
is,
30:11
is with us?
30:14
It's by the
30:15
fellowship of
30:16
the Holy Spirit.
30:17
If you are a
30:18
follower of Jesus
30:19
Christ,
30:19
if you are
30:20
regenerate,
30:21
you are such
30:22
because the
30:23
very Spirit of
30:24
God dwells
30:25
within you.
30:25
and He uses
30:26
a tool to
30:28
accomplish His
30:29
purposes in
30:30
our life.
30:31
It's His
30:32
Word.
30:34
I cannot say
30:34
it to you
30:35
enough.
30:36
I will not
30:36
grow tired of
30:37
saying,
30:38
God's Word
30:40
is authoritative.
30:42
It's powerful.
30:44
It's inerrant.
30:45
It is sufficient
30:46
for our living.
30:48
We live in an
30:49
age where the
30:49
Word of God is
30:50
being altogether
30:51
thrown out.
30:52
I have met
30:54
across the past
30:55
couple of weeks
30:55
people who
30:56
profess to
30:57
follow Jesus
30:57
Christ who
30:58
have no
30:59
familiarity with
31:00
the Bible
31:00
whatsoever.
31:02
Just in
31:02
talking with
31:03
them about
31:03
what the
31:03
Gospel even
31:04
is.
31:06
Regular
31:06
attenders of
31:08
churches in
31:08
our area that
31:09
have no
31:10
idea.
31:13
I attended
31:13
a meeting of
31:14
our association
31:15
of churches
31:16
this past
31:17
week that
31:18
lasted three
31:18
and a half
31:19
hours and the
31:20
Bible was not
31:20
referenced once.
31:22
a group of
31:25
pastors,
31:26
me and the
31:26
Association of
31:27
Missionaries,
31:27
the only ones
31:28
with Bibles on
31:29
our table ready
31:31
to use them.
31:33
And as a note,
31:34
I didn't get a
31:34
chance.
31:35
I was asked to
31:36
pray so I packed
31:37
a lot of
31:37
scripture into my
31:38
prayer at the
31:40
end.
31:44
Altogether in
31:45
some cases,
31:45
just entirely
31:46
dismissed it.
31:47
But beloved,
31:47
if we want to
31:48
experience the
31:48
presence of God,
31:49
the Spirit of
31:50
God is with us
31:51
and He's going
31:51
to use the
31:52
Word to help
31:53
us to do
31:55
so.
31:55
And I hope
31:56
as a Christian
31:56
you have spent
31:57
time in God's
31:59
Word, that you
31:59
have been changed
32:00
by it and that
32:01
you have felt
32:01
that presence
32:02
in it.
32:04
God speaks to
32:05
me through
32:06
His Word.
32:07
As I take it
32:08
up and as I
32:09
read it, I see
32:10
and savor His
32:11
goodness.
32:13
He speaks
32:13
into me.
32:14
The Bible
32:14
reads me,
32:16
exposes my
32:17
sinfulness,
32:18
leads me in
32:19
obedience.
32:19
obedience.
32:20
I can be
32:21
close to
32:22
God because
32:22
I have
32:23
His Word.
32:27
Martin Lloyd
32:27
Jones said
32:28
this, and I
32:28
just wanted to
32:29
include, I
32:29
put this on
32:30
your bulletin,
32:31
Andy, thank
32:32
you for making
32:32
it fit, because
32:35
this is often
32:35
the way I feel
32:37
as I meet
32:37
with God in
32:38
His Word.
32:41
Analogy by
32:42
the great
32:43
Dr. Lloyd
32:44
Jones, a man
32:45
and his little
32:45
child are walking
32:46
down the road and
32:47
they are walking
32:48
hand in hand.
32:49
And the child
32:50
knows that he
32:50
is the child of
32:51
his father and
32:53
he knows that his
32:53
father loves him
32:54
and he rejoices in
32:55
that and he is
32:56
happy in it.
32:58
There is no
32:58
uncertainty about
32:59
it all, but
33:00
suddenly the
33:01
father, moved
33:02
by some impulse,
33:04
takes hold of
33:04
the child and
33:05
picks him up,
33:07
carries him in
33:07
his arm,
33:09
kisses him,
33:10
embraces him,
33:11
showers his love
33:12
upon him, and
33:13
then he puts
33:14
him down again
33:14
and they go on
33:15
walking together.
33:18
We need that
33:19
experience and
33:20
it is waiting for
33:22
us by the power
33:23
of the Spirit
33:23
in His Word.
33:25
Take it up and
33:26
read.
33:28
Whoever comes
33:29
and whoever
33:30
goes,
33:32
Jesus is with
33:33
us and Jesus
33:35
is enough.
33:38
God encourages
33:39
the souls of
33:40
His discouraged
33:41
servants with
33:42
new partners,
33:43
with provision,
33:44
with His
33:45
presence,
33:47
and with
33:48
protection.
33:50
In the same
33:51
vision,
33:53
middle part of
33:54
verse 10,
33:56
Jesus says
33:57
to Paul,
33:58
and no one
33:59
will attack you
34:00
to harm you.
34:03
Luke tells us
34:04
that Paul is
34:05
able to
34:05
minister for a
34:06
year and a
34:07
half without
34:08
harm, which is a
34:09
pretty astounding
34:10
thing in the
34:10
ministry of Paul.
34:12
That does not
34:13
mean that Paul
34:14
didn't experience
34:15
conflict.
34:16
He has set up
34:17
camp, and I love
34:18
that he did,
34:19
right next door to
34:20
the synagogue.
34:21
The Jews didn't
34:21
want to hear him
34:22
anymore.
34:22
He said,
34:22
I'm going to go
34:23
to the Gentiles,
34:23
and he went
34:24
right next door to
34:26
the synagogue
34:27
itself.
34:29
I am confident
34:30
that across this
34:30
year and a half,
34:31
people just didn't
34:32
go, yeah,
34:33
yeah, Paul,
34:33
let's ignore him
34:34
for a while.
34:35
They are still
34:36
upset at him,
34:38
but he does not
34:39
receive harm.
34:42
And Luke records
34:43
a specific conflict
34:44
for our benefit.
34:45
This story about
34:47
Galio and the
34:48
Jews bringing Paul
34:49
before Galio is
34:50
to make that
34:51
point.
34:52
Like, Jesus made
34:53
a promise to him
34:54
that he wouldn't
34:54
be harmed and
34:55
kept that promise,
34:57
and here's an
34:57
occasion that that
34:59
happened.
35:00
So, Galio was
35:01
the proconsul of
35:02
Achaia, young in
35:04
that position,
35:05
some have
35:06
supposed the
35:07
Jews made a
35:08
united attack on
35:09
Paul because
35:10
Galio was young.
35:12
They knew they
35:12
didn't have a
35:13
legitimate claim
35:14
against Paul,
35:15
and so they
35:15
thought that they
35:15
could wrap him
35:16
up in a power
35:18
trip and get him
35:18
to deliver some
35:20
kind of judgment
35:20
against Paul.
35:22
And the charge
35:22
they brought,
35:23
verse 13,
35:23
is this man is
35:24
persuading people
35:25
to worship God
35:26
contrary to the
35:28
law.
35:30
And other
35:30
times,
35:32
the trial
35:33
and execution
35:35
of our Lord
35:36
and Savior,
35:37
Rome got
35:37
involved in a
35:38
way Rome
35:38
should not
35:39
have gotten
35:40
involved.
35:41
But by God's
35:42
providence,
35:42
they did,
35:43
and in this
35:43
case,
35:43
by God's
35:44
providence,
35:45
they didn't.
35:47
Galio stayed
35:48
out of it.
35:49
If we're a
35:49
matter of
35:50
wrongdoing or
35:50
vicious crime,
35:52
oh Jews,
35:53
I would have
35:54
reason to
35:54
accept your
35:56
complaint.
35:58
But he
35:58
dismisses it
35:58
rather.
35:59
By God's
36:00
grace,
36:01
Galio issues
36:02
a summary
36:03
judgment and
36:04
just throws
36:05
the case
36:05
out.
36:06
From his
36:06
perspective,
36:07
the issue
36:07
was merely
36:08
an issue
36:08
of semantics.
36:10
Clearly
36:11
not.
36:12
Paul is
36:12
saying the
36:13
one way
36:15
to worship
36:15
the true
36:16
and living
36:16
God is
36:17
through the
36:17
personal work
36:18
of Jesus
36:19
Christ.
36:20
It wasn't
36:20
just a matter
36:20
of semantics,
36:21
but from
36:22
Galio's
36:22
perspective,
36:23
it was.
36:24
Eh,
36:24
the God
36:25
of the Jews.
36:25
Worship
36:25
him however
36:26
you want
36:27
to.
36:28
He viewed
36:29
their charge
36:30
as a
36:30
theological
36:31
debate and
36:32
not as a
36:33
matter of
36:34
judicial
36:34
concern.
36:36
I love
36:36
that Luke
36:36
records for
36:37
us as
36:38
Paul stands
36:39
trial so
36:40
many times.
36:40
We're going
36:40
to see a
36:40
lot of
36:41
Paul standing
36:41
trial in
36:42
the coming
36:43
chapters of
36:44
Acts.
36:44
But in
36:44
verse 14,
36:45
he says,
36:46
but when
36:46
Paul was
36:47
about to
36:47
open his
36:48
mouth,
36:49
he got
36:49
interrupted.
36:50
He didn't
36:50
have to
36:50
say anything
36:51
and the
36:52
charges were
36:54
dismissed.
36:56
Now,
36:58
does
36:58
following
36:59
Jesus Christ
37:00
mean that
37:00
we'll never
37:00
come to
37:01
any harm?
37:01
Absolutely
37:02
not.
37:03
Those who
37:03
desire to
37:04
live godly
37:04
in Christ
37:04
Jesus will
37:05
be persecuted
37:07
in some
37:08
measure.
37:08
People are
37:09
going to
37:09
dislike the
37:11
message of
37:12
Jesus Christ.
37:13
So,
37:14
Paul certainly
37:15
didn't avoid
37:16
harm in
37:17
other cases.
37:18
He had been
37:18
harmed up to
37:18
this point.
37:19
He will be
37:20
harmed beyond
37:21
this point.
37:23
But at
37:23
this time,
37:24
a way that
37:25
God encourages
37:26
him as he
37:27
protects him.
37:28
And we
37:30
can see
37:30
that as
37:31
the Jews
37:32
are very
37:32
unhappy
37:32
with this
37:33
dismissal
37:34
of the
37:35
charges that
37:35
they brought,
37:36
they turn,
37:37
and I think
37:38
it's right to
37:38
understand this,
37:40
we see they
37:40
all seized.
37:43
Driven from
37:43
the tribunal,
37:44
verse 17,
37:45
and they all
37:46
seized
37:46
Sosthenes.
37:48
They all
37:49
being those
37:49
Jews who
37:50
had brought
37:50
this united
37:51
charge against
37:52
Paul.
37:54
Sosthenes,
37:56
we find out
37:57
in 1 Corinthians
37:58
chapter 1,
37:59
verses 1 and
37:59
2,
38:00
is a follower
38:01
of Jesus
38:01
Christ.
38:02
When Paul
38:02
wrote that
38:03
letter,
38:03
he says,
38:04
Paul,
38:05
called by the
38:05
will of God
38:06
to be an
38:06
apostle of
38:06
Christ Jesus
38:07
and our
38:08
brother
38:09
Sosthenes
38:10
to the
38:11
church of
38:11
God that
38:12
is in
38:13
Corinth.
38:15
So,
38:15
either
38:16
A,
38:17
Sosthenes
38:17
was already
38:18
a Christian,
38:19
right?
38:19
Much like
38:20
Crispus,
38:21
who was the
38:21
prior leader
38:22
of the synagogue,
38:23
had become a
38:23
believer with
38:24
all of his
38:24
family.
38:26
Sosthenes
38:26
could have
38:27
also been a
38:27
follower of
38:28
Christ and
38:28
still there
38:29
in charge.
38:31
He's already
38:31
a Christian
38:31
and he's
38:32
persecuted,
38:33
physically harmed
38:34
for his
38:34
faith.
38:36
Or,
38:37
I prefer the
38:37
first one,
38:38
so you know,
38:39
but,
38:39
or,
38:41
he made the
38:42
case against
38:42
Paul poorly.
38:43
He was the
38:44
representative.
38:45
He was the
38:45
DA in this
38:47
case.
38:48
And he made
38:48
the case against
38:49
Paul poorly.
38:50
And it was later
38:51
that he became a
38:52
Christian and they
38:52
were furious with
38:53
him because he
38:53
didn't make the
38:53
case well and
38:55
therefore they
38:56
beat him.
38:58
Point being,
38:59
whether or not
39:00
we escape
39:01
harm,
39:02
the promise
39:03
that God is
39:04
always in
39:05
loving control
39:06
remains true.
39:09
He is with
39:09
us.
39:10
He is in
39:10
control.
39:12
Romans 8,
39:12
31,
39:13
what then shall
39:13
we say to
39:14
these things?
39:14
If God is
39:15
for us,
39:15
who can be
39:17
against us?
39:19
So,
39:22
we see this
39:23
protection.
39:24
We pick up a
39:24
little bit more
39:25
about that
39:26
protection and
39:26
what it meant
39:27
to Paul,
39:28
I believe,
39:29
by looking at
39:30
verse 18.
39:35
After this,
39:36
Paul stayed,
39:36
it's after this
39:37
trial,
39:37
Paul stayed
39:38
many days
39:38
longer and
39:40
then took
39:40
leave of the
39:41
brothers that
39:41
sailed for
39:41
Syria and
39:42
with him
39:42
Priscilla and
39:43
Aquila.
39:43
At
39:43
King
39:44
Cray,
39:44
not very far
39:45
away,
39:45
they landed.
39:46
He had cut
39:47
his hair
39:48
for he was
39:49
under a vow.
39:49
He shaved
39:50
his head
39:51
for he was
39:52
under a vow.
39:53
And this vow
39:54
would have
39:55
been a
39:56
Nazarite vow.
39:57
You can read
39:57
about this if
39:58
you're interested
39:58
in it from
39:59
Numbers 6.
40:02
And this
40:03
term Nazarite
40:04
comes from the
40:04
Hebrew word for
40:05
consecrated
40:06
or separated.
40:09
And Jews
40:10
made vows
40:10
to God
40:11
to thank
40:12
him for
40:13
past blessing
40:14
or to
40:15
petition him
40:16
for future
40:18
blessing.
40:19
I think in
40:20
this case
40:20
to thank
40:21
him.
40:21
He's now,
40:22
he's past
40:23
this year and
40:23
a half time,
40:24
he's past
40:25
this trial,
40:26
and he has
40:27
made a vow
40:28
in order to
40:28
thank God
40:29
for his
40:30
good pleasure
40:31
in staying
40:33
harm from
40:34
him.
40:35
The criteria
40:36
for a
40:37
Nazarite vow
40:37
were as
40:38
follows.
40:40
The person
40:40
who made a
40:40
vow had
40:41
to abstain
40:41
from alcohol,
40:43
vinegar,
40:44
or any food
40:45
with grapes
40:45
in it.
40:47
They had
40:47
to allow
40:47
their hair
40:48
to grow
40:48
until the
40:49
period of
40:49
time set
40:50
forth in
40:50
the vow
40:51
was complete,
40:51
so it
40:52
might be
40:52
30 days,
40:52
it might
40:53
be 60
40:53
days,
40:54
but they
40:54
couldn't
40:54
cut their
40:55
hair during
40:56
that time.
40:56
Some of
40:57
you may be
40:57
familiar with
40:58
Samson.
40:59
Samson had
41:00
made a
41:00
lifelong vow,
41:02
and he
41:02
didn't do
41:02
any of these
41:02
things for
41:03
his lifespan.
41:06
Third,
41:06
they couldn't
41:07
be made
41:07
unclean by
41:08
exposure to
41:08
a dead
41:09
body.
41:09
Not really
41:09
important at
41:10
the time.
41:10
They had
41:11
to avoid
41:11
dead people
41:12
as well.
41:14
At the
41:16
completion of
41:16
the vow,
41:18
the head
41:18
was to be
41:19
shaved,
41:19
and a series
41:20
of offerings
41:21
were to be
41:21
made.
41:22
There were
41:22
three offerings
41:22
that were to
41:23
be made,
41:24
and one of
41:24
those offerings,
41:25
the peace
41:25
offering,
41:26
the hair was
41:26
to be placed
41:27
on the same
41:27
offering fire
41:28
and burnt.
41:29
This is the
41:29
prescription found
41:30
in Numbers
41:32
chapter 6.
41:33
Now, the
41:34
exact nature
41:34
of Paul's
41:35
vow is
41:36
obscure,
41:37
but as I
41:37
said before,
41:38
I think it
41:38
was likely
41:38
made for
41:39
that past
41:39
protection.
41:40
It was a
41:40
way that
41:41
he was
41:41
being thankful
41:42
for what
41:43
God had
41:43
done for
41:44
him.
41:45
And Paul
41:45
did not
41:46
see his
41:46
adherence
41:47
to Jewish
41:48
tradition
41:48
in contradiction
41:50
with his
41:51
faith in
41:52
Jesus Christ,
41:53
but in
41:53
this case,
41:54
practiced
41:54
the spirit
41:55
of this
41:57
tradition
41:58
as a matter
41:59
of thanking
42:00
God for
42:00
what he
42:01
had done.
42:03
Now,
42:03
of interesting
42:03
note,
42:04
and to
42:05
that point,
42:07
a Nazarite
42:08
was meant
42:08
to break
42:09
the vow,
42:10
end the
42:10
vow,
42:11
by shaving
42:12
their head
42:12
at the
42:13
temple.
42:14
Paul's not
42:14
at the
42:15
temple in
42:15
Jerusalem,
42:15
is he?
42:16
He's a
42:17
long way
42:17
from the
42:17
temple in
42:19
Jerusalem.
42:20
Paul seems
42:21
to be more
42:21
concerned with
42:22
the timing
42:22
of his
42:23
completion of
42:24
the vow
42:24
than the
42:24
location of
42:26
the completion
42:26
of his
42:27
bow.
42:28
So he
42:28
shaves
42:28
his head
42:29
before going
42:31
to Jerusalem.
42:32
Now,
42:32
how do I
42:32
know that
42:32
he went
42:33
to Jerusalem?
42:34
Well,
42:34
I don't.
42:35
I think I
42:35
know he
42:35
went to
42:36
Jerusalem.
42:37
Verse 22,
42:38
Luke records
42:38
this,
42:39
when he
42:39
had landed
42:40
at Caesarea,
42:41
which is
42:42
north of
42:43
Jerusalem,
42:44
he went
42:45
up and
42:46
greeted the
42:47
church,
42:47
and then
42:48
went down
42:49
to Antioch.
42:50
And always
42:50
in this day,
42:51
Jerusalem was
42:52
always up,
42:52
and everything
42:53
else was
42:53
always down.
42:55
So he
42:56
went south
42:57
to Jerusalem,
42:58
and then
42:59
he went
42:59
north to
43:00
Antioch,
43:01
but Luke
43:01
would have
43:01
recorded it,
43:02
he went
43:02
up to
43:03
Jerusalem,
43:04
and he
43:04
went down
43:05
to Antioch.
43:05
So he
43:05
likely took
43:06
his hair
43:06
with him,
43:08
and went
43:10
through some
43:10
practice there
43:11
in Jerusalem.
43:14
So,
43:15
God
43:16
encouraged the
43:16
souls of
43:17
his discouraged
43:18
servants
43:18
with protection.
43:21
And I
43:22
just wonder
43:22
how often
43:23
we lose
43:24
sight of
43:25
God's good
43:25
favor upon
43:26
us,
43:27
and the
43:27
ways in
43:28
which he
43:28
keeps us
43:29
safe and
43:30
prevents harm
43:31
for us.
43:34
And finally,
43:34
God encourages
43:34
the souls of
43:35
his discouraged
43:36
servants with
43:37
purpose.
43:39
With purpose.
43:42
In verse
43:42
six,
43:43
you see a
43:44
very,
43:45
seemingly
43:46
very fruitless
43:47
ministry at
43:48
the synagogue.
43:49
They opposed
43:50
and they
43:51
reviled him.
43:52
And when
43:53
that happened,
43:54
he did
43:55
something that
43:55
he doesn't
43:56
do in most
43:56
of the
43:56
synagogues
43:57
he goes
43:57
to.
43:57
He shakes
43:58
out his
43:58
garments,
43:59
which was
43:59
a sign
44:00
of judgment.
44:01
It was a
44:02
way of
44:02
saying,
44:03
I don't
44:03
even want
44:04
the dirt
44:04
I picked
44:05
up in
44:05
your presence
44:06
to go
44:06
with me.
44:07
You have
44:08
heard the
44:08
gospel message
44:09
and you
44:10
have not
44:10
responded
44:10
in faith.
44:11
It was a
44:11
sign of
44:12
judgment.
44:12
And the
44:13
language he
44:13
uses is
44:13
very strong
44:14
to that end.
44:15
Your blood
44:15
be on your
44:15
own heads.
44:17
I am
44:17
innocent.
44:18
From now
44:19
on,
44:19
I will go
44:20
to the
44:20
Gentiles.
44:21
And he
44:21
doesn't
44:22
mean that
44:22
in an
44:22
absolute
44:23
sense.
44:23
We know
44:23
that Paul
44:24
is the
44:24
apostle to
44:25
the
44:25
Gentiles.
44:25
He still
44:26
will make
44:26
a habit
44:26
of going
44:27
into the
44:27
synagogue
44:28
and preaching
44:28
the gospel
44:29
to the
44:29
Jews.
44:30
But he
44:30
means there
44:31
in that
44:32
city and
44:33
we see
44:33
him go
44:33
next door
44:35
to the
44:35
house of
44:36
Titius
44:36
Justice.
44:38
So even
44:38
after declaring
44:39
judgment
44:40
against the
44:40
Jews,
44:40
Jews were
44:42
converted.
44:43
God still
44:43
had a
44:44
purpose.
44:46
We see
44:46
in verse
44:47
8,
44:48
Crispus the
44:49
ruler of
44:49
the synagogue,
44:50
which must
44:50
have just
44:50
enraged
44:51
the Jews,
44:52
believed in
44:53
the Lord
44:53
together with
44:54
his entire
44:55
household.
44:56
And they've
44:56
been adding
44:57
more to
44:58
the number.
44:58
And many
44:59
of the
44:59
Corinthians
44:59
hearing Paul
45:00
believed and
45:03
they were
45:03
baptized.
45:05
The very
45:05
last part of
45:07
the vision
45:07
that Paul
45:08
sees,
45:08
Jesus says
45:09
to him,
45:10
I have
45:10
many in
45:11
this city
45:12
who are
45:13
my people.
45:15
So the
45:15
encouragement
45:16
that he
45:16
brings to
45:17
Paul is
45:18
this renewed
45:21
vigor for
45:22
his purpose.
45:24
God has
45:24
good purpose
45:26
to save
45:26
people.
45:27
And he
45:28
reminds Paul
45:28
of this by
45:29
saying,
45:29
keep going,
45:30
don't be
45:30
afraid,
45:31
preach the
45:32
good news
45:32
of Jesus
45:32
Christ because
45:33
I have
45:34
many in
45:35
the city
45:36
who are
45:37
my people.
45:39
People will
45:40
respond by
45:41
my intervention
45:42
to the good
45:43
news of
45:44
the gospel.
45:46
So Paul is
45:47
able to
45:47
say this.
45:47
He writes
45:48
to the
45:49
Corinthian
45:49
believers in
45:50
1 Corinthians
45:51
chapter 2
45:52
verses 1
45:53
through 5
45:53
which I
45:54
read to
45:54
you
45:54
verse 3
45:54
previously.
45:55
He says,
45:55
And when I
45:56
came to
45:56
you,
45:56
brothers,
45:58
did not
45:58
come
45:58
proclaiming
45:59
to you
45:59
the testimony
46:00
of God
46:00
with lofty
46:02
speech or
46:03
wisdom which
46:04
they loved.
46:05
For I
46:06
decided to
46:06
do nothing
46:07
among you
46:08
except Jesus
46:09
Christ and
46:10
him crucified.
46:12
And I
46:12
was with
46:12
you in
46:13
weakness
46:13
and in
46:13
fear and
46:15
much trembling.
46:15
And my
46:17
speech and
46:17
my message
46:18
were not
46:19
implausible
46:19
words of
46:21
wisdom but
46:22
in demonstration
46:23
of the spirit
46:24
and of power
46:25
so that your
46:26
faith may not
46:27
rest in the
46:27
wisdom of
46:28
men but in
46:30
the power
46:30
of God.
46:32
And that
46:33
purpose that
46:34
God has given
46:35
to each and
46:36
every one of
46:36
us ought to
46:37
encourage us
46:38
when we are
46:40
discouraged.
46:42
The point of
46:42
our lives and
46:43
certainly the
46:44
point of the
46:44
life of this
46:45
church is not
46:46
that we get
46:46
together and
46:47
huddle together.
46:48
Not that we
46:49
create a safe
46:50
environment for
46:51
all of us to
46:51
feel like we're
46:52
not quite so
46:52
weird in.
46:54
But that we
46:55
might gather
46:56
together to be
46:57
fueled and
46:58
equipped in
46:59
order that we
47:00
would go.
47:02
That's why we
47:03
come together.
47:04
And some of
47:05
us are going to
47:05
go back to
47:07
campus or to
47:07
a job or to
47:09
our neighbor.
47:10
Some of us are
47:10
going to go much
47:11
much further.
47:13
We should
47:14
praise God for
47:16
every mile that
47:17
he covers with
47:18
the good news of
47:19
Jesus Christ using
47:21
us.
47:23
Beloved, our
47:24
time is brief.
47:27
And Jesus
47:27
Christ is coming
47:28
back.
47:30
Let us not be
47:31
discouraged in our
47:32
labor, but rather
47:32
be encouraged with
47:34
new partners, with
47:36
provision, with
47:37
his presence, with
47:39
protection, and with
47:40
purpose.
47:42
Let's pray
47:42
together.