Finally the little group, at Paul’s insistence, arrived in Jerusalem. Then James (the Lord’s half-brother we think, Mark 6:3) “took over.” Here’s Luke again, directly quoting James and his crowd: “Thou seest, brother Paul, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: and they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.”

This is an almost: “I wish you had not come. There’s surely going to be trouble.”

James persuaded Paul to take a (Jewish) vow! To “shave his head,” as well! To “act” in a way that was incompatible to all Paul had preached as the Apostle to the Gentiles! (The very man who write: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the LAW, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21)

Then they (the Jews, with James here being their ring leader) wanted Paul to go into the Temple!

All of which Paul did! (The Apostle of the Gentiles putting himself back under Moses, back under the Old Testament law!) Paul again: “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the LAW, or by the hearing of faith?” Galatians 3:2

Now, here’s Paul in the Jewish Temple (a Temple already condemned by Jesus, and which will be destroyed within 40 years) … “The Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the TEMPLE, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, HELP. This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought GREEKS also into the temple, and hath polluted this HOLY PLACE. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom THEY SUPPOSED that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. AND AS THEY WENT ABOUT TO KILL HIM …” Acts 21:27-31, Paul only being rescued by a band of Roman soldiers!

And, as far as the Book of Acts is concerned, Paul’s ministry of freely traveling and preaching the Word of God, of going from Church to Church (or establishing new Churches) is over!

Acts chapter 28 (read it) ends with Paul still incarcerated in Rome, a prisoner of that heathen Empire …! And this only after many a legal trial and a long, nearly deadly, ship voyage. (Acts chapters 22-28, all the rest of the Book!)

You can decide for yourself … but for my part … I wish the Apostle had heeded those multiple warning the Lord sent him … warnings NOT TO GO to Jerusalem!

Had he done so … had he continued to emphasize his ministry to the gentiles … we might have a full record somewhere of his (anticipated) trip to Spain (Romans 15:24)! Of his longing to preach Christ in the “regions beyond!” (See 2 Corinthians 10:16, Paul’s words.) Of no telling what exploits for Christ!

The “point” today?

Adam ate!

Abraham lied!

David committed adultery!

Peter denied!

And Paul disobeyed!

We’re all human!

I close this morning thanking the Lord for a single verse of Scripture … “If we (Christians) confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I don’t want to be repetitive in these Lessons. But I just “saw” something that impressed me, so much so that my fingers are “itching” to type!

We go briefly back to the beginning of Paul’s second missionary journey. He intended to go east … and the Holy Spirit forbade him!

Acts 16:6 … “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,”

One verse later, Acts 16:7 … “After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”

And Paul obeyed this injunction, this prohibition!

The Holy Spirit, through a vision (Acts 16:9), led Paul and his company to travel west! Toward Macedonia (Philippi and Thessalonica), toward Greece (Athens and Corinth).

What guidance!

And what obedience!

Now … to today’s Text … Acts 21.

Paul and his coworkers are leaving Miletus. Where he preached that classic didactic (teaching) Sermon to the Ephesians Church leaders. (The Source of our past ten Lessons.)

“And they (those Ephesian elders) accompanied him (Paul) unto the ship. And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: and finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days …” Acts 20:38 through Acts 21:4, traveling mostly by ship.

Then Paul intended to go south. (Much as he had intended to go east earlier.) But the Holy Spirit intervened again! (He has a way of doing that!)

Those disciples in Tyre … “And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul THROUGH THE SPIRIT, that he should NOT GO to Jerusalem.” Acts 21:4

That first “NO” came from the Holy Spirit (via a vision) back in Acts 16 and Paul acquiesced, promptly obeyed.

This second “NO” came from the Holy Spirit (via a Brother in Christ, several of them) and Paul paid them absolutely no attention whatsoever!

Paul (I am wondering now if he’s in God’s Will) still heading southward (to Jerusalem, where he will be arrested … “The next day we (Luke among them) that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, THUS SAITH THE HOLY GHOST, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem BIND (imprison) the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both WE, and THEY of that place, besought (urged, begged) him NOT TO GO to Jerusalem.” Acts 21:8-12

Two more Holy Spirit dispatched prohibitions, “NO!”

Yet Paul was determined.

And to Jerusalem he went.

Luke meticulously records: “And when he (Paul) would not be persuaded, we ceased.” Acts 21:14

Second Journey … the NO was obeyed.

End of the Third Journey (because Paul cut it short to make this trip) the triple “NO” was ignored!

Maybe what I am saying … the Holy Spirit deserves to be obeyed “all the time!” Lest we quench Him (1 Thessalonians 5:19), lest we “cool” His warming Presence!

Lest we grieve Him (Ephsians 4:30), literally hurt His Feelings, or cause Him pain!

Wow!

I think even Paul may not have been perfect!

I know I’m not.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“TRUST” and “OBEY” … the two key words of the Christian life!

Are you an obedient Christian?

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The Twelve Disciples all met Jesus during His days on earth, prior to the Cross of Calvary. But with Paul it was different!

Paul met Jesus after Calvary! After Jesus was raised form the dead! After He ascended back to Heaven! He first “saw” our Lord in His ineffable, Glorified Body!

That surely makes a difference. I mean in one’s view of the Son of God. Don’t misunderstand me now. Both the Twelve Disciples and the Apostle Paul come to the same conclusions about our Lord! That He is perfect God and perfect man, both “God the Son” and the “Last Adam” simultaneously!

But still, Paul had to learn Jesus backwards from Glory to human (albeit sinless) flesh. The Disciples learned Him forward … from Jesus’ manhood to His post-resurrection Glory!

This fact helps to answer a major question for me. While Matthew and John (both original Disciples) and even Luke and Mark (who gleaned much Material from the Disciples) give us “eye-witness” testimony concerning the earthly Jesus … Paul instead (concerning Jesus’ three plus years on earth) relies on what he’s been told by the Apostles/Disciples and what Information the Holy Spirit gives him by direct Revelation/Inspiration.

I am leading up to today’s verse, today’s Lesson, really! A “Truth” that is along the same line we’ve just been discussing.

In Acts 20:35 we read a verse of Paul’s of final Sermon to his beloved Ephesians: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

“So laboring” (from “kopto” … “hard labor”) references the fact that Paul “worked a job” while he was in Ephesus. Physical endeavor as a “tentmaker,” presumably. To be of help to the “weak,” the sickly, the needy. Financially lifting a load off the Church, taking no salary (so the Church could be more benevolent) and also personally giving to the needs of the poor believers, many of whom were slaves and many others under persecution of various kinds. (That verb “have showed” actually means “demonstrated,” having placed something “under the eyes” of another, of the learner!)

Wow!

Then Paul taught the Ephesians to remember “the words of Jesus!” (Words he never heard Jesus speak literally. Paul was not even saved then! But words of Jesus nonetheless!) The Apostle elsewhere enjoins familiarity with the Words of Jesus. In 1 Timothy 6:3 Paul said that a good teacher would major on “wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ” which lead to “the doctrine which is according to godliness.” This is amazing, from a man who met Jesus when the Latter was already in Glory! Who never personally heard a single one of Jesus’ majestic Sermons!

But back to our text, Acts 20:35. Paul wants the Ephesians to remember “the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Now he gets specific! (Give to the poor, the weak. Once big reason being something Jesus said … “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”) But get this fact: These words of Jesus are not recorded anywhere by Matthew! Or Mark! Or Luke! Or John! WHERE did Paul learn these “Words of Jesus?”

There’s no record that Jesus spoke them to newly saved Paul … either on the road to Damascus, or during his stay at Damascus, or any other time in his early Christian life.

Maybe Peter told Paul of these words during that fortnight the two spend together. Galatians 1:18 … “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.” Then again, maybe not!

This thought/option gets my vote, I think. The Holy Spirit Himself gave Paul these words of Jesus as the Apostle stood and preached that memorable day long ago. (Jesus in John 15:26 … “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, HE SHALL TESTIFY OF ME.”)

“Direct Revelation,” Paul being miraculously given those “Words of Jesus” that perfectly fit the “point” he was preaching that very second! (The Holy Spirit often brings to my mind “truths/verses/thoughts” while I am preaching. Surely that’s the case with all God-called men.)

And those specific words were powerful, life changing … “It is more blessed to give than to receive” … and true! And they have been proved over and over again, millions of times through the years … by generous Believers!

Paul and Christ Jesus … what an interesting Line of study. He certainly presents Jesus to us in a deeper way, more thrilling way, than any of his predecessors! Maybe because He first met Him .. already seated at the father’s Right Hand!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I probably can’t let every morning Lesson get this long. Someone give me some “input” or “advice” today. Did you have time to read this all? Or will you have to split it into parts?

Maybe just one more Article on Paul’s Speech/Sermon there at Miletus. What preaching he did there that (sad) day!

Come study with us again tomorrow morning.

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Paul is on a trip to Jerusalem. And yet he feels impressed to see his beloved Ephesian Christians one more time. (He knew they would never see him again! Acts 20:38)

During his final sermon (in person) to the Church leaders (who, because Paul was in such a hurry, had traveled 49 miles from south to Miletus), Paul simply mentioned in passing: “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.” Acts 20:33, today’s Text, our verse to consider this morning.

And what a nugget of wisdom that is! Not only for Church leaders (including Preachers) … but for every Christian!

“I have coveted no man’s possessions!” In fact the Apostle Paul during his ministry often worked a “job” (as a tentmaker) in order to avoid any appearance of “money-grabbing!”

This verb “covet” is interesting. In fact, it’s not Paul’s normal word for “coveting” in the New Testament! “Epithumeo” is a compound verb meaning “to intensely pant with passion!” Boiling up and inflaming a person with a strong desire for something! (It was also the word for “hot anger” in ancient Greece.) Inordinate cravings!

Yes, Paul had learned to be satisfied! (“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11)

He advised Preachers also … “Having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:8, a Pastoral Epistle!

Our little Hero could live with “plenty,” or with nearly “nothing!” (Philippians 4:12, in his fullest and most famous “Thank You” Letter … “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”)

What a testimony!

I once heard a wise, elderly man of God (who had lived faithfully for Jesus many years, decades) say: “Young Preachers, there are three dangers to avoid, to deny access to your life and ministry.” Then he elaborated: (1) sexual perversion of any kind, (3) thinking too much of oneself (pride), and thirdly (3), greed or covetousness, crass materialism!

Again, words of wisdom.

“Silver or gold,”that’s money today.

“Apparel,” too great an emphasis on clothes or appearance, to the detriment of the things of God.

And today’s verse was not even the main point in Paul’s farewell Sermon that day. Just an added incidental, almost trivial to what he was really saying! But I am so glad he included that sentiment, that fact!

I often find that a sometimes slight remark I make during a sermon (sometimes I can barely recall saying it, in fact) can make the greatest impact on a listener!

God’s Word, a total of 31,102 verses … none of which are optional, all being critically important!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Today’s Lessons could be subtitled …”From my heart!”

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We’ve invested several lessons in Acts chapter 20, the fullest view of Paul’s Pastoral Theology that we possess. In other words, “how” Paul approached his ministry, practically speaking.

And we still may have one more day (lesson) taken from this marvelous Text. But this morning … “And now, brethren, I (Paul) commend you to God, and to the Word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20:32

Wow!

That verb translated “to build you up” is lovely! (Yes, a Bible verb can be that, “exquisite.” Latin meaning “sought out!”) In Greek it is spelled “epoikodomeo.”

Let me show you the different “parts” of this word: “Demo” means “to build,” particularly a dwelling, but specifically that “finishing touch” the carpenter applies to it … literally the very “dome” or “roof!”

Then “oikos” means “house,” the structure where you live. Comparing our spiritual growth to the various stages of development in a building! We are, after all, the “temples” of the Holy Spirit, according to 1 Corinthians 6:19.

Then the prefix, “epi,” (a preposition) simply means “upon.” Something (or Someone) Who is working “on” us … shaping us into this (spiritual) house that will bring glory to the Lord Who saved us! Also … “epi” at the front of a verb can intensify its action, its thrust, its power! REALLY build you up!

What an action word, what effectiveness!

Yet there’s remains a question …

What can do such? Exactly what “is able” to so build us up, to so mature us as Christians? Now we’re looking at the verb “dunamai,” one derivative of which is our English noun “dynamite!” What “power” that is!

Spiritual dynamite!

A spiritual work (construction) crew!

Again I ask … what is being described?

Whatever it is, Paul is commending (“placing” literally, but our verb “recommending” in essence) the Ephesians into its hands!

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Our Lesson Text once again, Acts 20:32, King James Version.

The answer … “The Word of His (God’s) Grace!”

That’s the BIBLE, dear friends. The Word (“logos”) of God … period! But here specifically called “the Word of His Grace,” so lovely! (I wanted to say “exquisite” again.)

Note as well that Holy Scripture can “save” us … James 1:21 references such: “The engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Amen! I use this terminology regarding Acts 20:32 because we are specifically told God’s Word can give us an “inheritance” among the “sanctified!” Neither of which can be realized apart from “salvation!”

Wow!

Paul is leaving his beloved Christian friends in Ephesus directly “in the hands” of the upbuilding “Word of God!”

The Grace-emphasizing “Word of God!”

Yes, Paul is leaving them.

But the Word of God will never leave them!

Paul has helped them … to a point.

The Word of God will finish the job!

Let’s stop writing/reading the Lesson today … and spend some time in the Word itself! My “project” this Saturday is investing some time in Mark chapter 12 … what’s yours?

The all sufficient Word of God!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, that’s the Spirit-inspired Word of God! The Holy Ghost and Scripture … always found Hand-in-Hand!

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