Paul and his company are on the second of his several missionary tours, journeys … preaching God’s Word. He had originally intended to revisit the Churches established during his first evangelistic trip, Acts 15:36 … “Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.”

But God miraculously intervened, forbidding them to travel further eastward! Acts 16:6-7 … “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were FORBIDDEN of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit SUFFERED THEM NOT.”

Wow!

(That dramatic and divine “change of direction” Order came in the form of a dream, a vision! Still to this day called the “Macedonian Vision.”)

Concerning which our Text today plays a key role. “And THEY passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Acts 16:8-10

Watch those pronouns, please.

Scripture here changes from the third person (“they”) to the first person (“we”), indicating that LUKE (the author of Acts, under Holy Spirit inspiration) has now joined the team. He is personally accompanying Paul and Silas and Timothy!

Hereafter we have eye-witness testimony!

And Luke apparently stays with Paul for much of his remaining ministry! Both Colossians 4:14 and 2 Timothy 4:11 mention him as being with Paul in the later years of the great Apostle’s life.

Luke builds his Record (the Book of Acts) on meticulous research and many interviews with first hand sources … likely talking with Mary herself as he built his “Virgin Birth” narratives … BUT THEN (IN TODAY’S BIBLE TEXT) HE PERSONALLY JOINS THE PREACHERS, THE CHARACTERS IN HIS HISTORICAL STORY, AND TRAVELS WITH THEM SIDE BY SIDE!

Oh, the importance of the little pronouns in the Bible’s great Narratives!

“THEY” became “WE” … in a short two verse span! Then it’s like we are there too! Via an “I saw it” account!

Acts 16:8-10 … look at it again. “And THEY passing by Mysia came down to Troas.” Then … “Immediately WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

The Bible, what a precise Book!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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On that now famous “First Missionary Journey” Paul had a young man accompany his team … John Mark by name … only to be disappointed when his youthful student “quit” mid trip! (Acts 13:13 … “Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John DEPARTING FROM THEM returned to Jerusalem.”)

Paul never enjoyed people who lacked faithfulness! (Years later John Mark somehow redeemed himself in the eyes of Paul, thankfully.)

In fact, Paul refused to take this unstable young man (John Mark) along as the “Second Missionary Journey” began. (Acts 15:38 … “Paul thought NOT GOOD to take him, with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.”)

Yet, watch this please. It’s important …

But, as God would have it, on that Second Journey Paul meet another young man, an outstanding believer it appears, named Timothy! (Acts 16:1 … “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named TIMOTHEUS, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.”)

And things just “clicked” in Paul’s heart. Comradery at first sight! The Lord gave Paul a traveling companion who would never quit! As Acts 16:3 reports: “Him (Timothy) would Paul have to go forth with him.”

Thus began a relationship (which became almost a partnership) that lasted for the rest of Paul’s life! To the point that the older Preacher often called the younger Preacher “my son.” (2 Timothy 2:1 … “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”)

What’s the point of this, of today’s Lesson?

Personalities!

They seem to matter, even in God’s Work!

Some Christians can work with certain types of brothers or sisters in Christ … much better than they can with other types of saints.

Thus, Peter and John often were paired. (One loud, the other relatively quiet!)

Elijah and Elisha fit that same mold!

Even Jesus usually sent out His men “two by two.”

Paul and John Mark (and apparently Barnabas as well) could have never continued in harmonious service for the Lord. Though all three (separately at times) did great things for Jesus’ Sake!

I am writing today to some Preacher (or other Christian worker) who has recently had to “part ways” with a beloved servant of the Lord … who for some reason has lapsed a bit. (Or maybe has just forsaken you!)

Doctrine may be at the heart of the split, or Church policy … but often personality plays a role, at least that’s my observation.

James and John, “sons of thunder” Jesus called them! That’s strong personality, folks!

If you are “hurt” today over some recent misunderstanding … stay strong, stay faithful!

God just may give you, as He did Paul, a substitute brother in Christ … who will fulfil (and more) whatever lack you are suffering!

John Mark … gone.

Timothy … on the scene!

To God be the Glory!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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About mid-book … in chapter 15 of 28 total chapters … Acts, the New Testament’s little Volume on Church History, records an event that changes the course of the whole Christian Movement.

In its beginning, the Church (using Jesus’ Words, “My Church” as He called it in Matthew 16:18) was composed of mostly Jewish believers. And the Church (now accepting Jesus as the crucified but resurrected Messiah) continued to meet both around the Temple Precincts in Jerusalem and in the Synagogues of other cities in Israel.

But gradually, particularly with the salvation of the Apostle Paul (Romans 11:13), more and more gentiles were being born-again. Non Jews were being saved in droves!

Yet the loyal Jewish Christians (almost without exception prior to Paul) believed that for a vile gentile to get saved, he had to convert to Judaism, to major aspects of it anyway.

That new believer would certainly need to be circumcised, worship on the Sabbath (Saturday), follow the Mosaic dietary laws, meticulously observe Passover and Pentecost, etc.

But the Gospel God gave to Paul proclaimed (in no uncertain terms) that … simple faith in Jesus, faith alone, would save a sinner from hell!

In a few words: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Needless to say, conflict arose.

Some sort of resolution had to be reached. So, after Paul and Barnabas completed that first ultra-successful Missionary Journey (described by Luke in Acts 13 and 14) … things reached a “boiling point.”

A trip to Jerusalem to meet with the Church “Leaders” became a necessity. Acts 15:1-2 … “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”

Will things reach an impasse?

Will the Church “split?”

Will the Cause of Christ suffer?

The Holy Spirit so orchestrated that epochal Meeting that the outcome, briefly stated, was: “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:28-29

“Believe on Jesus,” which would have necessitated abstaining from idols anyway! Of course even the saved Pharisees (and there were a few) believed on Jesus! See Acts 15:5 for a brief description of that group.

“Eat no blood,” a good health measure anyway! (Do not needlessly offend the Jewish brethren.)

“Do not be guilty of fornication,” not because of Law but because of Grace, and the indwelling Power of the HOLY Ghost!

That was all!

Salvation as a Gift of God … apart from Moses!

Paul and Barnabas won the day!

Let me re-word that: The GRACE OF GOD conquered man-made requirements, as the means of salvation!

Paul’s Gospel still stands: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16, preach it Paul!

It was at this watershed moment, at that Acts 15 council, that the Church began to become less and less Jewish and more and more gentile! That Jerusalem looses its grip on Christianity.

Truly John 1:11-12 must be heard now: “He (Jesus) came unto his own (the Jews), and his own received him not. But as many as received him (including gentiles, especially gentiles), to them gave he power to become the SONS OF GOD, even to them that BELIEVE on his name.”

Thus the Gospel is offered to “whosoever will.” Jew, Greek, Roman … anybody anywhere … who trusts Jesus as Saviour, who is washed in the Blood of the Lamb!

(By the way, the Law of Moses was never given to be “obeyed.” It cannot be obeyed by any merely human being, never has been! That Law was given to prove to us we CANNOT obey! And that we stand as sinners before God, disobedient rebellious sinners! And that we need JESUS to forgive our iniquities, through His vicarious Death on the Cross.)

Paul said it well … “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:24-25

Wow!

Man is saved by faith in Jesus … plus nothing and minus nothing! Granted: genuine faith, not some flimsy fake version! But sill, FAITH!

Thank God that was settled long ago!

Still the issue this morning … ARE YOU SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD? Or, are you trusting some other means, are you believing a false gospel?

Be sure.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Longer Lesson today … weighty and critically important Subject!

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Paul and Barnabas, two traveling preachers, have just been expelled from a Gentile city called Antioch. (This is Pisidian Antioch, not the Antioch in Syria, where the Apostles first started this journey.) “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.” Acts 13:50

So these two men of God … “came unto Iconium,” a nearby city, God’s servants being “filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.”

And in Iconium (another primarily Gentile city, but with enough Jews to form a little synagogue, a quorum of ten willing men being needed to do such a thing) Paul was soon preaching the Word, the Gospel!

Acts 14:1, our Bible Text for today, reports:

“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.”

What success!

Not just a multitude, Luke says, but “a great multitude.”

I am wondering today about the kind of preaching Paul did there in Iconium. Obviously it was divinely blessed with success.

But we are given one little adverb that further modifies that preaching. Let me capitalize and underline that little descriptor.

“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and SO spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.”

In Greek this is spelled “houto,” meaning “on this wise.” Or 3 times in the King James Bible “after this manner.”

Whatever this implies, I long to be able to preach like that too!

Perhaps the context will give us some hints.

As these men arrived in Iconium, already victims of persecution in Antioch, they were of this temperament: “filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” (These being the last few words of Acts chapter 13, verse 52.)

Paul’s effective preaching in Iconium then was “joyful, victorious, expectant” preaching!

Secondly, it was associated with the “Holy Ghost!” Empowered by the Spirit of God! (Remember the key verse in Acts: “But ye shall receive POWER, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”)

Then there’s another bit of enlightenment in the immediately following context, Acts 14:2. “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.” It was the kind of preaching that stirred up opposition!

Too much preaching today is bland, plain as vanilla, saying nothing. Never opposing sin or exposing iniquity at all. (I wonder if the devil could attend some Churches anymore, sit on the front pew, and say “Amen” to the proceedings!)

Well, not when real preaching is in the pulpit!

One great Revivalist of the past often said: “If there is enough FIRE in the pulpit, there will not be much ICE in the pew!””

Amen!

Paul SO preached in Iconium that God honored His precious Word, “confirmed His Word,” using the language of Mark 16:20.

But it was joyful preaching!

And Holy Spirit filled preaching!

And fierce preaching, condemning sin and pointing lost men and women to the Saviour!

God, give us more preaching like that!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The Apostle Paul was preaching on the Island of Cyprus, and in his Sermon he revealed a fact that is told nowhere else in the Bible. (Best I can find, anyway.) As he reviews a bit of Jewish history (perhaps patterning his Message after the powerful one Stephen delivered just prior to being stoned to death) this singular bit of information surfaces.

Here are Paul’s pertinent words, mid-speech: “And afterward they (Israel) desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis (Kish), a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.” Acts 13:21

Saul reigned for “forty years!”

Interestingly, King David also was on the throne a total of forty years! (As King of Judah first then all Israel.) My proof Text: “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” 2 Samuel 5:4

And Solomon also reigned that exact amount of time, forty years! “And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.” 1 Kings 11:42

But we would have never known of this matched “trio” of dates (years on the throne) of Israel’s first three Kings … apart from Paul’s powerful Cyprian Sermon!

So Preacher Bagwell, what’s the point?

A Slice of Bible Typology, I think.

“Forty” seems to be the number in Scripture that speaks of “testing.”

Forty days and forty nights of deluge, massive rain during the Flood!

Forty years in the wilderness for hardhearted Israel!

Jesus’ Temptation of forty days!

Dozens of other examples exist!

Trial and testing!

Now, back to Saul. Here is man being “tested” under the Law. And man fails, miserably! Disobedience, rebellion, really “the works of the flesh!” What a sad ending, King Saul’s life.

Then we segue to David, a man being transformed into a person who has “a heart for God!” A lover of the Lord, a worshipper indeed! David tested in light, not of Law, but of the Grace of God! (Much as we today live in the Dispensation of God’s Amazing Grace!)

Then Solomon, a man of peace. (The Lord speaking to David, prior to Solomon’s birth: “Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give PEACE and QUIETNESS unto Israel in his days.” 1 Chronicles 22:9) Man tested in view of the future Millennium! Days when the “Prince of Peace” will victoriously reign here on this earth!

See this …

Saul, the Law!

David, God’s Grace!

Solomon, the coming Millennium!

In each epoch … the “testing” is real.

Obey the Law!

Yield to Grace!

Enjoy the Millennium!

Just an unusual set of thoughts (in my mind anyway) about the heretofore unknown fact that each of those ancient Monarchs reigned 40 years!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I think we may never know (until Heaven) the IMPACT the life of Stephen had on Paul! Remember, Paul was an eyewitness to the stoning of that godly man. Acts 7:58 … “And they (the unbelieving Jews) cast him (Stephen) out of the city, and stoned him (to death): and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”

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