Trials 6/6/2010

Sermon Series: Acts – Faith Explosion
Title: Trials (6/6/10)
Text: Acts 21:27-22:21 (Excerpts)
“Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,” (Acts 21:26-27, ESV)
“And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.” (Acts 21:31-33, ESV)
“As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”” (Acts 21:37-22:1, ESV)

Theme: This message will deal with the idea of standing up under the trials that happen because we stand up for Christ. We are taught here to act rightly, wear our chains with honor and to let our testimony speak for us.
Introduction: Sometimes we get into trouble because we make a bad choice or do something that is simply stupid. Other times we suffer because we wear the name of Christ and refuse to act like the dark world that surrounds us.
Transition: Give a synopsis of the passage to this point.
I. Act Honorably
a. One of the things that we need to understand as we come to this passage is that Paul has done everything in his power to act honorably among his Jewish brethren without compromising his faith.
b. Back in Ch. 21:17 ff. when Paul meets with the elders in Jerusalem. It would have been fantastic to be an eye witness to this meeting. Think about it for a minute, James was an elder and recognized leader of the Jerusalem church. Paul on the other hand has been primarily responsible for the births of Churches all over the world. The leaders of the two major sections of this early Christian church, representing gentile Christianity and Jewish Christianity. This could have been an explosive confrontation but it seems to have been anything but that. Instead we see that Paul delivers the offering that he is bringing from the other churches to the Jerusalem church (although this is not recorded till 24:7). He then relates the incredible growth of the Church in the rest of the world. James and the other elders respond by glorifying God along with Paul at what God was doing. They then warn Paul of the danger present among the Jews in Jerusalem at Paul and suggest he make a public offering.
c. Paul’s place in Jerusalem
i. The Benedict Arnold of Judaism – A continental army General who, after taking charge of Fort WestPoint, tried to surrender it to the British. After his plot was found out he switched armies and became a brigadier general in the British army and led a couple of attacks against his army.
ii. Paul was a leader on the movement to wipeout the early Christian movement until God met him on the road to Damascus.

II. Wear our chains proudly
a. 21:33 – Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains.
b. Let’s look at a few verses that demonstrates Paul’s attitude toward the chains that he wore almost constantly from here till the end of his life in Rome.
i. “For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”” (Acts 28:20, ESV)
ii. “for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:20, ESV)
iii. “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains,” (2 Timothy 1:16, ESV)
c. Sometimes we act as if we need to be apologetic for the Christianity which dominates the center of our lives don’t we?
III. Testify clearly
a. 22:1 – Brothers and fathers hear the defense I now make before you.
b. Paul’s entire defense before this crowd is his testimony – the story of how God came into his life and remade him.
c. Paul winds up on trial before 5 different people or authorities before the book of acts closes.
i. The crowd in the temple
ii. The Jewish council (23:1ff)
iii. In Caesarea before Felix (24:1ff)
iv. In Caesarea before Festus (25:1ff)
v. “” Before Herod Agrippa (26:1ff)