The Beginning of Paul's Journey To Rome

INTRO

The book of Acts is foundational to who we are as Christians. Today, I want us to look at Paul’s life to discover several practical things from it. Paul was a man who truly finished well. I’ve been studying and praying through Hebrews 11 this week and looking at all the people God used in ways they didn’t expect.

TEACHING

Acts 22:30: As we saw yesterday, Paul understood his call and his purpose, and he allowed nothing to dissuade him from that path. He willingly went to Jerusalem, knowing he would face persecution, bondage, and pain. He was fully surrendered to the will of the Holy Spirit. After the Jewish crowd turned on Paul, when he shared his testimony with them, Paul was taken back into custody overnight by the Roman commander and then taken back before the Sanhedrin the next morning. The commander wanted to figure out what was going on between the Jews and Paul.

Acts 23:1–5: Paul came before the Sanhedrin and explained that he had lived his life before God (v. 1). But the high priest Ananias ordered someone to strike Paul in the mouth (v. 2). Paul told Ananias that God would strike him for judging him according to the law and then being in violation of the law (v. 3). Those near Paul questioned how he could speak that way of the high priest (vv. 4–5).

Acts 23:6–10: Paul reminded them that he was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee but was being judged on whether the hope of the Resurrection was dead (v. 6). His words caused a violent argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees about Paul (vv. 7–8). The Roman commander removed Paul to the barracks to keep him from being torn apart (vv. 9–10).

Acts 23:11–21: Paul had met Jesus on the road to Damascus when Jesus called Paul to be one of His apostles. In verse 11, Jesus came to Paul again and told him his next assignment would be to testify about Him in Rome. Jesus basically told Paul how he would finish up his ministry.

I want to pull four principles for us from Acts 20:22–24 and Acts 23 that we can live by:

PRINCIPLE #1
We must be fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 19:21; 20:22–24; 21:10–14; 22:30—23:1)

Paul’s story didn’t start in Jerusalem. In Acts 20:22–24, Paul said to the leaders of the church in Ephesus: “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Paul was fully surrendered to God’s plan. He knew what awaited him in Jerusalem because the Holy Spirit testified that he would encounter “chains and afflictions. But Paul was unmoved because he was walking out his obedience to God, trusting in His provision (Acts 20:23-24). The only way to be fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit is to get out of the way. Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

PRINCIPLE #2
Once we’ve fully surrendered, we must learn how to handle friendly fire. (Acts 23:2–5; John 15:26—16:4)

Paul showed how not to stumble before distrust or dissent. Paul responded to Ananias’s attack on him with logic and information because he didn’t realize Ananias was the high priest. When he did, Paul responded humbly, acknowledging his response was not in accordance with God’s Law. When friendly fire comes, the tendency is to cut and run, not stand and fight. The only way to be in tune with the Holy Spirit is to be able to handle friendly fire. Jesus did it on the Cross.

PRINCIPLE #3
You must know your divine purpose amongst great opposition. (Acts 23:6–10; John 18:37)

Paul knew why he had been sent. He kept that perspective no matter what situation he found himself in. God has a divine purpose for us, no matter where we are or what we are doing. Our divine purpose is to give witness to the truth of who Jesus is. We are to testify and be ready to speak.

PRINCIPLE #4

We must fully trust in God’s promise and provision. (Acts 23:16, 23; Joshua 21:45; 1 Samuel 3:19)

When we step out in faith, we must be fully convinced that God will get us there, and it may not look like what we think it will. God is faithful to His promise, and we can trust in that faithfulness (Joshua 21:45). In Acts 23:12–15, more than 40 Jews banded together vowing that they would not eat or drink until they killed Paul. Paul’s nephew heard about the plot and told Paul, and Paul sent his nephew to the commander with the news (vv. 16–22). The commander sent Paul under guard to Caesarea, and Paul made the next leg of his journey to Rome (vv. 23–35). Paul must have wondered how he would get to Rome, but probably never thought he might have a military escort on the way.

CLOSING

If Paul had not been obedient, how would the gospel have reached Rome? If we are not obedient, how will God be able to use us to spread His message?