Lesson 396

(Lesson 396)(09-14-12) Acts 19:8-12, "And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."

This lesson again reminds us of the struggles that were prevalent in the spreading of the early Church. Note that Paul had preached to the same group for three months then because of Jewish dissenters in the group, left them.

The text says, "But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus."

Paul "separated the disciples" and gathered together those from among them who believed. Even then, there were those who obviously and for whatever reason, caused trouble among them. The text says Paul and the group were, "disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus."

We should all remember that those who made up the early Church did not have all of God's word, the bible, neatly written with it's intent neatly ordered so as to make it easily understandable such as we do today. They had only those divinely inspired teachers, Paul and the others, who like them were human and fallible, just like you and I.

The gospel of Jesus Christ was dependent upon the memories and Christian intent of those who heard it then passed it on. As is recorded, there were some who took the gospel message and properly applied it vastly spreading the knowledge of God's saving grace. Then, on the other hand, there were those who took the gospel message and distorted it using it for their own personal gain, or agenda.

Understanding the struggles of the early Church helps us better understand the challenges we face, today, as we attempt to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

This lesson also tells of the many miracles performed through Paul as he preached God's word.~

Lesson 395

(Lesson 395)(09-13-12) Acts 19:1-7, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve."

This lesson further demonstrates, along with yesterday's, how the intent of "John's baptism" had been misinterpreted by some of the earliest disciples.That misinterpretation still exists among some religious beliefs today. There are those who strongly, but wrongly, still believe water baptism is required to achieve eternal salvation.

This lesson should provide clarification as to how that erroneous interpretation of the gospel might have come into being and why many, without having made a thorough study, could so readily accept it.

Those disciples, mentioned herein, were asked if they had yet received the Holy Ghost. It is vividly clear that they could not have yet been correctly taught God's plan for eternal salvation, through a resurrected and glorified Jesus, because God's true plan for salvation could not have been taught without explaining the coming of the Holy Ghost to those who believed. They had only been taught what John was pre-ordained to preach, that message being,"prepare the way" for the coming of the Messiah, and in so doing, there was a requirement, under the law, that part of that preparation was to be immersed in water (Cleansed of and repenting the old in preparation for the new).

After realizing their error, Paul pulled them aside and, just as Aquila and Priscilla had done with Apollos, he taught them the correct gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and how through Him, (His name) they would be worthy of receiving the Holy Ghost, "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

Note what happened to those disciples AFTER Paul had correctly explained the true gospel and identified that Jesus was the Messiah referenced by John and that he had already come, " they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on CHRIST JESUS."

The text says, "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." After they had correctly been taught that Jesus had made a one-time-fits-all sacrifice for thier sins, those disciples were "baptized" in the name of the Lord Jesus (enveloped within the name of the Lord Jesus.)
The term "baptized" as it is applied in the latter portion of this text clearly indicates an immersion into the name (complete identity and testament) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It should be noted also that instead of the Holy Ghost just simply coming down on these believers, Paul presented the Holy Ghost by laying his hands on them. Maybe, at some point, we will learn why Paul did that.~

Lesson 394

(Lesson 394)(09-12-12) Acts 18:19-28, "And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

In this lesson, Paul said goodbye to Priscilla and Aquila saying, "I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem:" Remember, Paul was a Jew, and God had commanded the Jews, while they were still in Egyptian captivity, to honor the Passover celebration forever. One cannot, however, be sure this is a reference to that feast.
Paul then left for Caesarea, Antioch, Galatia and Phrygia. This text says he encouraged the disciples in all those locations.

This lesson also tells us of a man named Apollos, "an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John."

Let's examine what is meant by, "knowing only the baptism of John" as it is applied in this text. I believe the story of Appolos represents a clear example of how the error in teaching that water baptism is essential to eternal salvation came into practice.

That is what it appears that Apollos was doing, "he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." We know that John the baptist taught and administered water baptism. It is also very clear that some biblical applications of the phrase, "John's baptism" reference the message that John taught.

What was John's message? Mark 1:3, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Water "baptism" was essential, by law, to the Jewish people in preparation for any religious event. Therefore, Apollos was preaching water baptism as prerequisite to the coming of Christ after Jesus had already appeared and fulfilled His divine destiny.
Apollos had obvioulsy been formally schooled on the Old Testament, and had heard the message of John the Baptist. Apollos had obviously not yet learned how Jesus had already died, was buried and raised again, leaving the sins of those who would believe in the grave.

Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and correctly taught him the glorious plan of eternal salvation through faith in the testament of Jesus Christ. Apollos went on to become a powerful voice for Christianity among the Jews.~

Lesson 393

(Lesson 393)(09-11-12) Acts 18:9-18, "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow."

We learn, in this lesson, that Paul, after God assured his safety and told him in a dream to keep preaching there, remained in Corinth for a year and a half He preached only to the Gentiles and those among the Jews that would follow him. The Jewish leadership, again rose up because many of their people had converted to Christianity, and took Paul before the deputy, Gallio. When Gallio learned that the matter concerned a dispute among the Jews, he dismissed them and refused to make a judgment against Paul assuring his safety, just as God had promised. The Greeks then took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the Jews who had falsely accused Paul, and beat him in the presence of Gallio.~

Lesson 392

(Lesson 392)(09-10-12) Acts 18:1-8, "After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were *baptized."

In this lesson, we see that Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he met Aquila and Priscilla who had been ordered out of Rome by Claudius. This is the first mention of the Romans having totally ejected the Hebrew people.
We learn herein that Paul preached in the synagogue every sabbath **(once weekly). This is the first biblical mention of a weekly meeting of the Church. The reason for his weekly sermons at the synagogue was that it just happened to be when the Jews gathered to read the Torah and offer their sacrifices. We should pay close attention to the fact that after Paul had significantly built up the numbers in the Church in Corinth, and the Jews, again, rebelled against him, Paul gave up on the Jews who gathered there and no longer preached weekly in their synagogues, vowing to preach only to the Gentiles. Because of their rejection of His grace, Paul left them to face the wrath of God.

* I believe the term "baptized" as it is applied in this passage refers to an over-washing of those who were saved, by the Holy Ghost, seeing that there is no mention of water within this text, and knowing, that indeed, past reference has been made to granting of the Holy Ghost as a "baptism".

** Today's practice of assembling for "Church" on a weekly basis probably originated with the ritual sabattical gathering of the Jews. No other mention of a weekly assembly is mentioned in the New Testament text. ~

Lesson 391

(Lesson 391)(09-09-12) Acts 17:19-34, "And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them."

This lesson tells us how Paul, after leaving Berea, went into Athens and found things to be very similar, in some ways, to our religious society today. There were those who professed faith in all manner of superstitions and idols.
Paul preached a very special sermon, to which many today should pay close attention. He told them how God was the creator of all mankind and how there were none greater, or lesser, than others. He told them that there had been a time when God had "winked" at their idolatry and the sins of mankind, but now He demands that His children, both Jews and Gentiles, worship no other but Him. They must repent and accept His supreme sacrifice, Jesus, His only begotten,whom He had buried with the sins of the world then raised from the dead, therein fulfilling "the operation of God" Col. 2:12, "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.".

Paul, for the first time, also mentions the "Godhead" (The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.)

The following quote should be paid special attention to,"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"

We see that God does not dwell in a building, as some today would have us believe, "seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;".
God needs nothing from us, in other words, there is no such thing as "God's helpers" as some today label themselves, "Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"".

We see also, that mankind cannot worship with his/her hands, meaning the physical things (works) we do avails nothing to God's ultimate plan, God, "Neither is worshipped with men's hands".

We should all learn from this lesson that we do not impress God with our petty day to day physical actions outside the teaching of His holy word, which is our Christian duty, unless those actions are hurtful to others. In which case we, as Christian people, will suffer God's wrath. ~

Lesson 390

(Lesson 390)(09-08-12) Acts 17:11-18, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection."

In this lesson we find, that even though the Bereans were far more approachable for Paul and his gospel message, the Thessalonian Jews followed them to Berea and continued to persecute Paul and Silas for preaching Christ. Even though they met persecution on almost every turn, Paul, Silas and the other devoted disciples continued to strengthen and expand the Church.
I wonder how many of today's evangelists would stand up to that degree of adversity? Especially those who's message seems to be far more pointed toward filling their own bank accounts than leading the lost to the wonderful salvation offered in the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified.
I even wonder how I would react if I were beaten and imprisoned on a regular basis. I pray that I could withstand it like Paul, Silas and the others.~