LIFE AND MINISTRY OF PAUL #1

Lesson 1

THE RELATIONAL APOSTLE-INTRO

Paul wrote 2 Timothy a few weeks or months before his execution.  This is the last book written by Paul. 

2 Timothy 4:3-8 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

THE WRITER

Paulus Corpus - Ten (10) books undisputedly written by Paul.  Romans, Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon and Philippians.

Four others attributed - 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews.

Page #7-8, Goodwin Harmony of Life of Paul is the outline of Paul's life.

HIS EFFECTS

Paul's theology has shaped much of our culture.  The Corpus Paulus contain most, if not all, pertinent theology wrangled over for 2,000 years.

Luther on justification by faith in Romans split the Catholic Church.

Roman Emperor quote - "One day men will call their dogs Nero and their children Paul."

Paul is a world man able to speak through 2,000 years.  Transcultural - def.?

Remarkable characteristics of Paul seen in scriptures:

1) Gregarious, approachable, leader, took charge in every situation (ie. Titanic ex.)

           

2) Small in stature, bald head, not good looking

           

3) Super abundant zeal

           

4) Single minded in fulfilling his mission

5) As John the Baptist knew his calling - "Prepare the way of the Lord", so Paul knew his calling after the Damascus road experience

He spanned the three (3) divergent cultures of his day:

1) Brought up a Hebrew.  Tutored by the finest Jewish teachers

           

2) Citizen of a city whose language was Greek

           

3) Able to move into the Latin culture due to his Roman citizenship

Roman culture - civil law and administration

Greek culture - philosophy, arts and culture

Hebrew culture - morality, a great religion (monotheism)

Paul interacted with all three.  Socrates or Shakespeare cannot say that.  They have not touched the whole world continually for the last 2,000 years.

SUMMARY

In a little more than ten years Paul established the church in four providences of the empire, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, & Asia.  Before 47 AD there were no churches in these providences, in 57 AD Paul could speak as if his work there was done.

BACKGROUND - JEWISH POLITICS & RELIGION

Diaspora of Dispersion - 6th century B.C.  Jews carried away to Babylon.

63 B.C.   Pompey entered the gates of Jerusalem.  Jerusalem became an annexed state of Rome.

Hasmoneans ruled under Rome.

After Herod the Great, Rome instituted the two-tier form of government.

Inept governors generally ruled Palestine.

Two-tier form of government:

            1) Procurator - administers civil government and collects tribute for Rome.

2) Sanhedrin or council of 70.  They gained appointment from Rome through purchasing it.  They regulated and interpreted the law by applying it moral tones.

69 - 70 A.D.  Romans destroy Jerusalem and razed it to the ground.  They built another city on top and dedicated it to Zeus.  Why destroy it?  They were a pain to Rome.

FOUR RELIGIOUS/POLITICAL GROUPS

Zealots - most conservative.  They were ultra conservative fanatics who wanted the land purified by annihilating their enemies.  They were looking for that kind of Messiah.

Essences - separatist that elected to separate themselves from society.

Pharisee - believed that purity and righteous living should change from society within.

Sadducees - they actually ruled Palestine.  They considered themselves to be the true adherents of the faith.  They considered themselves to be orthodox.   They were hated by the people due to their collection of the temple tax and belief in Roman tribute.

Josephus states that only 6,000 Pharisees existed at the destruction of Jerusalem.

Pharisees - Hasidic Jews of today are from the Pharisees. Everything is a ritual.  Common life is considered temple service.  Their like is lived out as an example of the law.  They followed the Rule of Order which evolved into the Pharisaic Oral Law.  They saw their oral law as interpreting the written law (Law of Moses).  The oral law is what Jesus confronted.

From schools for teaching oral law, great teachers like Gameliel evolved.  He stopped the killing of apostles once.

Pharisaic Theology - predestination; believed God controlled all things.  They believed in the resurrection and angels.

Sadducean Theology - free will view influenced by Greek philosophy.  They were anit-spiritist.

Paul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees.  Certain doctrinal truths had a profound effect on his life.  He was trained by Gamaliel in his teenage years.

Kerygma - gospel that Paul  preached.

                1.  Arrival of messianic age has come as foretold by the prophets.

                2.  The inauguration of this age was implemented in the ministry, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

                3.  Jesus was co-equal with God because He was God.

                4.  The presence of the Holy Spirit in the church is a sign of the Messiah's power and glory.

                5.  Return of Jesus will be the consummation of the Messianic age attended by the resurrection of the dead.

                6.  Call of repentance with an offer of forgiveness and ability to live a holy life in Christ.

Early background of Paul

From Tarsus on river Cydnus in province of Cilicia (SEE MAP)

Tarsus is 30 miles south of Cilician Gates.

Cilician Gates is a mountain pass.

Tarsus then was an important commercial town.

Tarsus was exempt from imperial taxes.

Tarsus was a university town.  Stoic university.

Tarsus manufactured a fabric of woven goats hair that repelled water called Cilicium.

Paul was a skenopoios (tent maker) and made tents probably from this Cilicium.  It was a trade secret passed from father to son.

Paul's parents were probably wealthy merchants.  He had personal family kin in Jerusalem because his nephew warned him of plot to kill him by the Jews.

Cilicia was a Greek-speaking province.

Paul was a Hebraic Jew and Roman.

Three divergent cultures in Tarsus.  Greek, Hebrew & Roman

[FYI - Diptych - folded seal that proved Roman citizenship.]

Paul left Tarsus probably in his mid-teens.  He entered a school of Pharisees.  Gamaliel was Paul's teacher from the school of Hillel.  His training influences Paul heavily.

Hillel school of Pharisees - judged a man by the totality of good or bad in his life.  If you made a small mistake in the oral law you were ok if there was enough good in your life to outweigh the bad.

Shammai school of Pharisees - believed that if you broke the law in any fashion you were doomed.

Skenopoios - tent making

Cilicium - Water-repellent material

Parousia - second return or second coming of Christ with power

Kerygma - proclamation or the gospel that they preached

Kyrics - Lord

Maranatha - "our Lord, come" or "Lord come quickly"

Phylai - a guild or labor union made up of individual crafts.  Skenopoios was Paul's family Phylai.

Syncretism - identification of local gods with the gods of Mt. Olympus.  It was how Hellenism took over the Mediterranean world.  (Baal/Zeus) Allowed you to worship your god but associated him to the Greek gods.  It pointed you toward Mt. Olympus in Greece.  It eventually infected your Greek Hellenism.

Life and Ministry of Paul #2

Lesson 2

Tertulian said that the church was birthed from the blood of the martyrs.

"In the Fullness of Time"

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, (NASB)

Five issues that made the world ready for the gospel:

1) Dispersion of Jews Throughout Roman world.  100 million people in Roman empire.  8 - 11 million Jews.  Probably as large as any other ethnic group in the Empire.  Rome was the largest city with 1 million people.  Half were slaves in Rome.  Only 500,000 true Romans in Rome.  Only about 8 - 10 million Roman citizens existed in the Empire.

Synagogues in all the cities, one for Hebrew Jews and one for Hellenistic Jews.

Jews taught two things during the dispersion:

            I) Messiah would come and fulfill OT prophecies

           

II) When he came he would usher in a new age of a new kingdom

2) Common language in the world was Greek (koine).  Septuagint and gospels written in Greek.

3) Roman government ruled entire known civilized world.  Roman law had evolved over 1,000 years.  Equality and fairness was the basis of Roman law, which came from the philosophy of Stoics.  With Roman government you have roads that lasted for centuries.

4) Unity of Roman empire brought about the concept of kingdom.  Relative peace and stability existed.  The emperorship was always in flux but beauracracy and the ideals of the empire were strong.  Universal coinage was issued.

5) World had a common culture.

No mention of Paul in Acts until the death of Stephen.  Day of Pentecost 3,000 saved, then 5,000 saved.  Many of them were Hellenistic of Diaspora Jews.

Diaspora of Dispersion - 6th century B.C.  Jews carried away to Babylon.

Pentecost is a feast of Harvest.  An agricultural holiday made to coincide with the national holiday.  One to two years after Pentecost many Hellenistic Jews stayed.  It divided the church into Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews.

The deacons chosen were all Hellenistic Jews, namely, Stephen, Phillip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas from Antioch.  These are all Greek names.

Stephen Preaches to fellow unsaved Greek Jews in Acts 6:9.  Inciting treason or invoking blasphemy against the temple was a death sentence that Rome allowed the Sanhedrin to judge and carry out.

Acts 7:58 they stoned Stephen laying their clothes at Saul's feet.  Saul was a young doctrinal student between 24 - 28 years old.

A great persecution scattered the Hellenistic Jewish Christians from Jerusalem this was the first Christian Diaspora?

Paul talks of his hand in the persecution.   The following verses are all about Paul persecuting the church.

Acts 8:3 - But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

22:4, 5"And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.

19-20 "And I said, 'Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in Thee. 20 'And when the blood of Thy witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the cloaks of those who were slaying him.'

26:9 - 11."So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 "And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

Gal 1:13,13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it;

22 - 24 - 22 And I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.

Saul is a young man, full of zeal.  He received authority from the chief priest to go to Damascus to persecute the church and bring them bound to Jerusalem.

The high priest had this power in Damascus due to a ruling by Julius Caesar in 44 BC, which said they could extradite and bring from foreign countries those, they found to be in sedition and treason against the Jewish faith and temple.

It was hard to make a case on the faith issue but easy on the temple issue.

This power was given only against those Jews who were from Judea.  Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews could be extradited.

Paul had papers to go after the Jewish Christians of the Jerusalem church who had fled to Damascus at the persecution after Stephen's death.  For Paul to have a pre-assigned profile on paper meant they had the names of those who fled.

Ananias was a non-Judean Jew.

Paul's goal was to get them to recant their faith.  Those killed probably refused to recant their faith.  The persecution after Stephen's death was just about eight month's long.

He had to use judgment.  He could only get those Jews who committed the crimes in Judea and then fled.

Phillip probably fled from Jerusalem at this time to Samaria.  Phillip established the church in Caesarea.  Caesarea was the provincial capital of the area.  Pilate ruled from there.

The second persecution of the Jerusalem church occurred about 44 AD after Herod Agrippa I killed James and threw Peter and John into prison.

Paul was probably used by older members of the Sanhedrin.  They used him for their own end.  They used his zeal.  Paul was also trying to make a name for himself.

Paul was a marked man among the Jerusalem church.

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Day of Pentecost occurs fifty days after the Passover and ten days after Jesus ascension into heaven - between 29 and 33 AD.

35 AD Stephen dies and persecution starts.  Stephen was the first martyr of the church.  Paul was one of the leading men who persecuted.

Paul was converted at 36 AD at 24 - 28 years of age.

Acts 9:1 - 9 Paul is confronted by Jesus on his way to Damascus.  It is mid-day; the sun is full, when a bright light shines, blinding him.   The temple guards heard the voice but did not see a man.

"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me.  It is hard for you to kick against the pricks."  The pricks, or goads, are a tool used on a team of oxen yoked together.  They rebel against the wagon and will not participate willingly.  Jesus was saying, I have been leading you a particular direction and you are kicking.  Paul must have had pains in his conscience while he was persecuting.

There is a difference in the account of the soldiers’ sight and hearing.  Not all heard and saw the same thing.  Divergent opinion among the soldiers to avoid the conspiracy charge against them.  Scripture gives different details. 

Acts 9:7  7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

Acts 22:9 "And those who were with me beheld the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

Acts 26:12 - 20  The Damascus account is remembered later by Paul as he discoursed to King  Agrippa.  It is Paul's actual account.  It contains the same information as in Acts 9 but expanded to include the prophetic call at the same time.  Paul got saved and received his calling at the same instant.

"While thus engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 "And I said, 'who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 'But arise, and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to

the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' 19 "Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

This is how the Acts 9 account of him being blind and fasting for three days makes sense.  He had a lot to think and sort out.  Blindness was to help him think carefully for three days.  It was also a sign as genuine experience.  Paul was a doctor of the law and knew the stories of theophanies occurring.

Acts 9 - 10 Ananias was a certain disciple of Damascus (not from Jerusalem residing at Damascus), Ananias mis-stated saying that Paul had authority to bind all that called on God's name.  This statement is over-stated.

Ananias laid hands on Paul saying, Brother Saul etc.  Paul, while blind and praying, saw in a vision a man named Ananias coming.  A vision is not something you see with your natural eyes.

Paul sees Jesus, then a vision specifically telling him about Ananias.  Ananias hears about Paul specifically in a vision also.  This greatly helped Paul's faith.

Paul had scales fall from his eyes and was baptized in water and spirit.  Acts 9:17

Acts 9:19 - 22 Paul preached in Damascus synagogues proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Gal 1:15 - 18 But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

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Acts 9:23 - 26

            23 And when many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

            26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

Paul was with the disciples in Damascus for a month after his conversion preaching in the synagogues.  Probably not the Hebrew synagogue because he would have been killed.  Hellenized Jewish Christians in the Hellenized synagogues were probably shouting "amen" in the company of unsaved Hellenized Jews.

When he was at Damascus he had to escape the city.  King Arêtes, king of the Nabaeteans, whose capitol was Petra, was after him.

Paul then goes to Arabia for three years for some unknown reason.  He then goes back to Damascus and preaches escaping only by being let down in a basket over the wall.  King Arêtes tried to kill him for the trouble he caused, possibly even in Arabia during his three year stay.

Paul visited Arabia for three years because everything he had learned and lived by for his life has been stripped away.  He is naked.  The call to the Gentiles needed much thought.

Jesus, after encounter with God, goes to the wilderness for forty days.

Moses spends forty years in the wilderness.

Elijah goes to the wilderness after encounter with prophets of Baal.

Why did he go back to Damascus after Arabia?  Maybe Damascus was the only place where he had Christian friends.  It was the place where he became a Christian.

Paul then goes to Jerusalem and looks up Peter.  He is with Peter for fifteen days getting more information on Christ's days on the earth here.  Peter filled in the gaps and they had long theological discourses.  This period was probably the second most important time in Paul's life.

A lot of men died for Paul's salvation.  Apostle of grace- elaborate!

While with Peter in Jerusalem things got hot.  Paul’s enemies knew he was there.  It is possible that Paul tried to convert some of his old co-horts.  The apostles are warned concerning threats against Paul.

They decide to send him somewhere safe where he had connections to sort out the rest of his life.  He goes to Caesarea, particularly if Phillip was there, then boarded a ship to Tarsus.

The pillars of the church saw and confirmed the prophetic word he received from Jesus.  Paul then went home into the Greek world, a foreign world, away from temple life and Jewish culture.

Life and Ministry of Paul #3

Lesson 3

Seven reasons why Christians are indebted to Judaism:

    1.  Religious communities were already in towns. 

a.       In Rome there were seven synagogues.

b.      Several Proselytes in the early part of 1^st Century.

Acts 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

Acts 8:27-39 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." 30So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

"He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;

And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

33In His humiliation His justice was taken away,

And who will declare His generation?

For His life is taken from the earth."

34So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

c.       During Claudius' reign, he expelled Jews from Rome due to controversy in Rome over the gospel preached by Christians.  He allowed them to come back for his financial interest. 

d.      The Jewish faith, monotheism, was affecting the people.  They were leaving the Greek/Roman pantheon

e.       Proselytism was frowned on towards the Jews since Julius Caesar.  Yet many would convert except for circumcision.  They lived by the law though.  The Jews called the "God Fearers".  The temple that Herod the Great built had three courts:

                        a) Court of the Gentiles or "God Fearers"

                        b) Court of the women

                        c) Court of the Jews (including Proselytes)

The accusation against Paul was that he had brought gentiles out of the court of the gentiles into the court of the Jews.

2. Holy Scriptures and liturgy:  Other sacred writings in the Greek world were considered "scripture” Compared with the Old Testament they all fell terribly short.  The synagogue liturgy, or the way the service was conducted, favored much participation by the people.  Anyone could give an exhortation sing a psalm, etc.  Generally there were three elders in every synagogue and the services were conducted basically the same throughout the world.

3. Habit of regular worship:  They met on the Sabbath routinely.  This made it easy for families to catch up on gossip, etc.

4. Control of private lives:  Morality based religion versus the Greek philosophic morality societies.

5. Pharisaic apologetics:  They refuted the Greek philosophic schools with a defense based on monotheism.

6. Historical theology:  The Jews had a solid theology that taught about God and His affairs.  The Greeks could not anticipate their gods.  The Christians could say that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament and it meant something.

7. Evangelism as a duty:  The methods that the Jews used for evangelism were the same as the Christians.  Arguments, fellowship, living of common life.  It is why Claudius expelled them.  They were doing such a good job converting people to "God Fearers" that the Greek/Roman pantheon priests were complaining about the temples being deserted.

·         Praying in the temple, Paul fell into a trance.  This occurred during Paul's visit with Peter for fifteen days after the time in Arabia and Damascus.

Acts 22:12-21 Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' 17Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.' 19So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' 21Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' "

·         This temple vision was the second vision of Christ that Paul has.  Jesus tells him to flee and tells where to go.  It was a confirmation of Jesus' word to him on the Damascus road.  Brethren of the Jerusalem church take him to Caesarea and put him on a boat to Tarsus.

Birth of Paul was AD 4 - 8.  Christ was four to eight years older than Paul.  In AD 39, three years after his conversion, Paul goes to Tarsus Paul was brought to Jerusalem to shield him from Hellenistic influence – His knowledge of Greek culture came by living in Tarsus. Probably Hit and Miss.  .

AD 39 - 45 Paul is in Tarsus but not inactive.  Many of Paul's beatings, shipwrecks, etc. mentioned in his suffering list must have happened during 39 - 44.  By 44 Barnabas, from Jerusalem, comes and takes him to Antioch.

Goodwin, p. 28 Acts 9:29, 30; Galatians 1:21-24 Paul saying that he left Caesarea for Tarsus.  He was working from 39 - 44 in Damascus and Antioch (Syria) and Tarsus (Cilicia).

Acts 9:29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.

Acts 9:30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

Galatians 1:21-24 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24And they glorified God in me.

                                                                                                                 

Paul talks of the stonings, shipwrecks, and beatings with rods, whippings, dangers and imprisonment.  It is believed these things happened during this four year period while working in Syria and Cilicia.

2 Cor. 11:22-27 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--

These persecutions mentioned occurred because Paul was preaching the gospel forcefully wherever he went during this time period.  It is not historically documented in the bible.  It appears that the beatings were at the hands of the Jews and not the Gentiles.

So while people in Jerusalem were rejoicing that he was not persecuting them -- Paul was preaching in Cilicia and Syria to the Diaspora and getting beaten, etc.

Something else happened to Paul while he was in Tarsus that he does not know how to describe. (2 Cor 12:2-10) This was AD 39 - 44.

2 Cor. 12:2-10 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- 4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

He was in Macedonia in 57 AD and wrote 2 Corinthians concerning this happening.  He says that fourteen years previous (43 AD) at an age of 34 - 39 years, whether in the body or not, etc.  It was a vision where he was caught up into heaven.  He is the only one who talks of a third heaven.  Nowhere else is it mentioned in scripture.

The things he saw and heard were inexpressible.  It does not say that God told him not to say anything, but that he could not.  God gave him a thorn in the flesh to keep him from exalting himself.  Jesus said, "My grace is sufficient for you".  This is the third vision that Paul has.

44 AD News comes to Jerusalem that there is a move of God (explosion) in Antioch.  The Jerusalem church determined that for the sake of the work of God they would send Barnabas (son of consolation or son of encouragement).

Barnabas takes an evaluation in Antioch and decides that they need help now.  He can't wait till help arrives from Jerusalem.  The church needs foundation and things sorted out.  He goes to Tarsus and gets Paul.

Remember, Paul has not been inactive.  He might have created the problem in Antioch.  Barnabas might have said, you created this problem, come sort it out.

Cornelius, the centurion, was saved while Paul was in Arabia.  Peter was doing some traveling then.  From the day of Pentecost the church in Jerusalem was being added to daily.  Jerusalem was a town of 60,000.  The church probably had 10,000 members, 120 people saw Jesus ascend.  If half of them were men, then 60 men were taking care of 10,000 people.  It took several years to settle the church.  This was the reason why it is several years before you see a Gentile, Cornelius, being saved.

When Stephen was martyred there was no indication that the church had started to obey Jesus' evangelism order.  This changed when the persecution started after Stephen's death.

Antioch was the Roman capital of its eastern empire.  It was the third largest city in the Roman world.  Rome had 1 million, Alexandria had 3/4 million and Antioch had 1/2 million.  The Roman counsel was in Antioch.  He was the third man in the empire and trusted by the emperor.

Antioch was really an administrative center.  The Roman armies were in Damascus.

The trademark of the Antioch church was that the Gentile Christian population was twice as large as the Jewish Christians.  Because of this, Antioch was the first place where the followers of Christ were called Christians.  The Gentile Christians coined the term.

Paul spends a year in Antioch and the church explodes.  Interesting things happen.  Acts 11 Agabus, a prophet, says that a famine is going to hit the world.  The disciples give an offering to Jerusalem by the hand of Barnabus and Paul.

Famine hit Judea hard in 44 - 45 AD.   The Diaspora Christians are out of Jerusalem by this time.  Only Jewish Christians remain.

Many messianic pretenders are proclaiming themselves in Judea.  Rome is getting more involved due to the revolts it causes.  A Jewish sect is assassinating prominent Jews who do not see their point of view.  They were assassins from the Zealot party called the Sicarii.  They hid daggers under their clothes.

During this period James, the brother of John, is killed by Agrippa to throw fear into the church.  Peter is escorted out of prison by an angel.  He goes to Mary's house where they thought he was Peter's angel.  Galatians says that Barnabas was the uncle of John Mark.  Mary, the mother of Mark, was Barnabas' sister.

A. Collection was taken in Antioch to send to Jerusalem to buy food.  Josephus says that the famine was worse in Judea.  He said that Rome bought food for the people.  It evidently wasn't enough because the Antioch church gave a large sum of money to the elders of the Jerusalem church.

The Antioch church was a profound church.  It sent missionary teams to convert Jews and Gentiles.  In the future Luke originates out of Antioch.  Jerusalem worked at converting Hebraic Jews in synagogues.  James was written in the time of the famine (44 AD) and was sent to the twelve tribes, only to Jews who were converted Christians, not to Gentile Christians.

Paul's sphere of apostolic work was in Antioch.

1. There were more missionaries in Syria than Paul.  Many of the Hellenistic Jews had shaken the dust from their feet in Jerusalem after the persecution and death of Stephen.

Antioch – founded 300 b.c. by Seleucus Nicator the 1st ruler of the Seleucid dynasty and named after his father Antiochus. 

The third largest of city in Roman world it was planned on a grid system; Rome (One million) Alexandria (3/4 Million) Antioch (1/2 Million).

The city was a center of commerce and the political capital of Syria.

2. To the city came a number of Hellenistic refugees from the Jerusalem persecution.

3. First called Christian at Antioch:  Acts 11:26

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

4. The Jerusalem seems to be the overseer as other churches began to emerge.  Phillip in Samaria and now he sent a delegation to check on the church in Antioch.

5. Barnabas, when he saw the grace of God said he was glad. Acts 11:23

Acts 11:23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

6. The new church would soon be more Greek than Jewish and Barnabas needed a colleague to share responsibility ---Paul

Chapter 14

7. Between his return to Tarsus and his call to Antioch (14 years a.d. 42 – 56) Paul was busy.

2 Cor. 12:2-10 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- 4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

8. His encounter didn’t leave him unscathed. (See vs. 7-10)

9. Paul Speaks of Mysteries:  “Being in Christ.”

Romans 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

11. Paul Speaks of death, baptism & resurrection:

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

12. Paul like Christ counts his suffering for the sake of the people

Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

Philip. 3:11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Col. 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

2 Cor. 1:6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

13. Life in the Spirit

2 Cor. 3:17,18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

14. Paul insists on a common life in the Body – interrelated & interdependent.  Each making a contribution for the good of other and of the whole

15. Yet when needed He can maintain his existence apart from external aid.

Philip. 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Philip. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Thes. 3:8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

2 Cor. 7:3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.

1 Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

16.  Paul’s Visions:

Acts 22:17 Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

Acts 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,

Life and Ministry of Paul #4

Lesson  4

Day of Pentecost - 3,000 saved (Acts 2:41).  5,000 men saved in Acts 4:4.  Would this mean that the Jerusalem church had a population of 10,000 men, women and children.  The population of Jerusalem was about 60,000 so 1/6 of the populations were Christians.

33 - 35 AD Acts 2 - 7 is taking place.  This is the time between Pentecost and Stephen's death.

44 AD  The Antioch church decided to take a collection for Jerusalem.  Agabus had prophesied concerning the coming world famine.  Probably close contact had been maintained with Jerusalem.  Zealot knifings and messianic claims were causing Rome to crack down on the area.

The first act of Antioch is to give alms to the poor, not evangelism or self-centered interests.  They saw beyond themselves.

Antioch could have been a little insecure about the gospel they lived and preached.  Barnabas was the only one sent by the Jerusalem church.  He had taken the liberty to get Paul.

44 AD  Paul and Barnabas deliver alms to Jerusalem.  They return with John Mark with them to Antioch.

Acts 13  Holy Spirit sets apart Barnabas and Paul for the work he has for them.  It is interesting that this occurs immediately after the trip to Jerusalem with alms.

Maybe in 44 AD, when the alms were delivered, was when Paul's gospel or missionary plan was presented.  Not wanting to work in vain, Paul and the other apostles split up the world.

Acts 13:4  They sailed to Cyprus with John Mark as a helper.  We don't know how they made the decision to go to Cyprus except that Barnabas was from there.

They landed at Salamis.  The Bible, by not telling what happened there, is saying that nothing happened.

Acts 13:6  They traveled across the island to Paphos and talked to the proconsul Sergius Paulus.  Bar Jesus, a Jewish false prophet, one the Jews called Elymas the magician, opposed them seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Acts 13:6 -12  The magician was blinded and the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened.

This is the first record of Paul doing a miraculous act.  They win the proconsul - an important convert.  You would think that with his support they would stay and make a church, but they leave for Asia Minor.

Acts 13 - 14  Prophetic word sent Paul and Barnabas out.  They go to Cyprus, finding no opening in Salamis.  They went to Paphos converting the proconsul Sergius Paulus and blinding a magician, Bar Jesus (Acts 13:11).

They made a decision to leave Cyprus for Asia Minor.  The Antioch presbytery was 45 AD and the first missionary journey it two years, from 45 - 47 AD.

They take a northward turn and go into the heart of Asia Minor (Goodwin, pg. 32).  They minister first in Perga of Pamphylia.  It is believed that they disembarked at Attalia.

Acts 13:13  Sailed to Perga, where John Mark “home boy” left them and returned to Jerusalem. 

Paul might have gotten malaria at Perga.  {Perga is a swampy, lowland area.  Bruce just says that for some reason nothing happened at Perga.  The sickness obtained at Perga theory is based on a statement in Galatians 4:13 -15, "but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time..."

This could have been why Paul was so long in Iconium on the first trip - the church there might have tended to his physical needs.

Perga had a coastal road from Ephesus to Tarsus.  There was no record of fruit there.  Either John Mark's desertion troubled them or Paul was sick.  Mark might have left when Paul got sick.

 

They leave Perga and go to Pisidian Antioch in the province of Galatia, 100 miles north of Perga.  Pisidian Antioch was a Roman military center for the surrounding territory.  Vast grants of land were given to retired military officers.  It was a Roman colony with special privileges (Acts 13:14) .

Acts 13:14  On the Sabbath they go to the synagogue.  The elders there ask, "Brethren, do you have a word of exhortation?"  Paul's response is the most detailed message we have of him.  Look at his following kerygma:

Acts 13:16 through 13:41  READ

Acts 13:42 - 43  And as Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath.  Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabus, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 13:44  And the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of God.  V 45  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.

Acts 13:46  Paul and Barnabas said that the Jews were unworthy of eternal life, "Behold, we are turning to the Gentiles." 

Paul and Barnabas started a work separate from the synagogue.  They split the church.  They were there for a few weeks before they were forced to leave.

This church in Pisidian Antioch is the first church mentioned in scripture that Paul establishes.  It is the first church established in the province of Galatia.  When the work was at its peak they left (persecuted).

This church was established by splitting the synagogue and adding Gentiles from the surrounding area.  The majority of the population of the church were Gentiles.

Acts 14:1  They went to Iconium.  Iconium is 90 miles east-southeast of Pisidian Antioch.  They were going to metropolitan centers, places that had good roads.

In Iconium a great multitude believed, both Jews and Greeks.  V 3  They spent a long time there, signs and wonders were done by their hands.  V 4  The multitude of the city were divided, some with the Jews, and some with the apostles.  V 5  When an attempt to mistreat and stone was made aware, they fled to the cities of the province of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe.  Lystra is 18 miles southwest of Iconium.

So on the first journey more time was spent in Iconium then other cities.  In Iconium and Paphos on Cyprus the word was confirmed with signs and wonders.

Acts 14:8  In Lystra, Paul healed a man lame in his feet.  The people said, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us."  V 12  They called Barnabus, Zeus and Paul, Hermes.  V 13  They wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

Paul probably couldn't understand the Lycaonian language, so "when they heard of it" they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowds.

Acts 14:15 - 17   Paul scales down his Kerygma to simple terms for the crowd under the circumstances yet has difficulty restraining the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

Acts 14:19  Jews from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium won over the multitudes.  The Jews stoned Paul, dragging him out of the city leaving him for dead.  V 20  But while the disciples stood around him, he arose and entered the city.   And the next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

Timothy was from Lystra.  His grandmother and mother were probably in the Lystra crowds.  His father was Greek and his mother was Hebrew.

Acts 14:20 - 21  They go to Derbe and preached the gospel and made many disciples.

Derbe is 60 miles southeast of Lystra and is a commercial center.  The only place in Asia Minor where a church did not start was in Perga.

The book of Galatians was written to all of these churches in this area.

Acts 14:21  Paul an Barnabas returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Pisidian Antioch appointing elders.  The churches were six months to a year old at this time.

Acts 14:25  They spoke in Perga again but there was no mention of any fruit.

Acts 14:26 - 28  They sailed from Attalia to Antioch Syria and reported all the things that God had done with them.  They spent a long time with the disciples in Antioch Syria.

Four churches were built on this first missionary journey.  Afterwards, for two years, 48 - 49 AD, Paul and Barnabas stayed with the disciples in Antioch Syria.  Between Acts 14:28 and 15:1 is a two year period.  Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, & Derbe.

They probably resumed functioning as local elders.  Lucius of Cyrene or Simeon called Niger were probably the pastor of the Antioch Syria church.  Paul and Barnabus probably cared for people during this time.

Acts 15:1  A serious issue came up that could destroy the new churches.  Men from Judea were teaching, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

The elders of the Antioch Syria church don't send Lucius and Simeon, but rather Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem on the issue because the four new churches in Galatia need protected.

Galatians 2:11 - Peter came to Antioch and Paul opposed him to his face.  Peter was afraid of the circumcision group.

On this Galatian 2 controversy, Goodwin says that Peter came to Antioch after the Jerusalem council.  Bruce says that Peter was in Antioch before the council and word got back to Jerusalem that Peter was behaving like the Gentiles.

The book of Galatians could have been written to churches concerning what had been dealt with in Jerusalem.  This would be a writing time of 50-51 AD.

Did events in Galatians 2:1 - 5 occur in 45 AD or 50?

Bruce places the verses in 45 AD, while Goodwin places them in 50 AD.  Goodwin (page 52) says that Paul's visit to Jerusalem in Acts 15:2 is identical to the Galatians 2 account.

Bruce says the Galatians was written in 51 AD, while Goodwin says 57 AD.

Dow Robinson uses Goodwin's chronological chart saying the Galatians was written on Paul's third missionary journey.

Galatians is about circumcision.

Acts 15:3-35  They passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles.  When they arrived in Jerusalem certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees said, "It is necessary to circumcise them".

Acts 15:13-21  Peter speaks, then Paul and Barnabas speak and then James speaks.

Acts 15:22  Jerusalem sends a letter and men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Syria.  Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas.

Acts 15:33  The Jerusalem envoy left Antioch to return to Jerusalem, except for Silas.  Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch teaching and preaching the word of God.

James sent messengers to get him out of the trouble it was causing in Jerusalem.  The messengers went beyond their mandate when they preached circumcision in Antioch.  The Gentiles in Antioch were hurt badly.  It is important that visiting ministry does not go beyond their mandate even if they are theologically correct.

Bruce believes that after Paul's rebuke of Peter, Peter advised the Jerusalem group to sort this out because it had been a festering problem in Jerusalem for a time.

This council was in 50-51 AD.  In 44 AD Herod Agrippa I has killed James the brother of John (Acts 12).  This is probably during Paul's alms trip.

From 44-51 AD Rome had been cracking down hard on religious problems in Judea.  James was probably trying to save the church from any turmoil and possible persecution when he sent word to Peter through has messengers.

An argument for the 57 AD Galatians date would be if Paul's statement in Galatians, "You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you..." was in response to them already knowing the Jerusalem edict.

We are at the completion of the first phase of the ministry and life of Paul.  A major shift is going to happen to Paul's ministry.

Acts 15:36  -"Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."

They disagree over the taking of John Mark, so Barnabas takes Mark and Paul takes Silas.