The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

43-Delayed Deliverance (Acts 24:1-27)

           Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem as a riot was about to break out in the temple courts. He had made two unsuccessful attempts to placate the Jews and to testify to them of Jesus Christ. They refused to listen; and now, after a plot against his life, he has been brought down to the province capital, Caesarea, where his case will be formally heard by the Roman procurator, Governor Felix.

42-Deliverance: One Battle at a Time (Acts 22:30-23:35)

Paul had arrived in Jerusalem with the intent to preach the gospel to the Jews. Before he had the chance, the Asian Jews from Ephesus incited a riot against him. Paul was rescued by a Roman Commander named Claudius Lysius and his forces. Paul requested to speak to the violent crowd and proceeded to share his testimony. Once more, the crowd erupted into a violent riot and attempted to take Paul’s life. Once again Paul was rescued by the Roman Commander who was still mystified as to why the Jews wanted to kill Paul -- a Roman citizen.

41-Paul's Defense (Acts 22:1-29)

Introduction
In our study last week we left Paul as he was being brutally beaten by a mob in Jerusalem who had been falsely informed by the Hellenistic Jews from Ephesus that Paul had rejected the Mosaic Law and had defiled the Temple by bringing in Gentile visitors.
The OT law and the Temple were symbols, a foreshadowing of God’s ultimate work through Christ.  They were “signposts” designed to guide God’s people to the promised Messiah and Savior of the world:
The Law: To serve as a tutor to lead us to Christ - Gal 3:24
The Temple: To serve as a foreshadowing of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
But based of these two unsubstantiated charges, Paul had been brutally attacked and beaten and was delivered from death only by the intervention of a Roman detachment quartered within Antonia’s Fortress adjacent to the Temple Mount.

40-Falsely Accused (Acts 21:27-40)

 
 
Given 1/13/2008

39-Paul: A Man on a Mission (Acts 21:1-26)

 
 
Given 10/28/2007

38-Last Will & Testament (Acts 20:13-38)

 
 
 
Given 10/21/2007

37-Humpty Dumpty Ministry (Acts 20:1-12)

 
 
 
Given 9/23/2007

35-Extraordinary Christianity (Acts 19:1-20)

Paul was a man of his word!  In Acts 18:21 he promised the Ephesians that he would return after visiting the churches of Galatia and Phrygia, and in Acts 19 we find Paul fulfilling his promise.
Fast facts about Ephesus:
It was once one of the jewels of the Roman Empire
It was the most important city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) in Paul’s day
It was one of the foremost urban centers in the empire with the largest population
It had numerous impressive civic monuments
It was the home of the temple of Artemis (Diana) - One of the 7 wonders of the world
The spiritual significance of Ephesus:
It was the launching place for the evangelization of Asia (Acts 18:18-19).
It was the place where Paul fought the “wild beasts” (1 Cor 15:32).
I was the location where Paul wrote 1 Corinthians (1Cor 16:8) and Ephesians (Eph 1:1)
It was one of the “seven churches of Asia” mentioned in Revelation 1:4.
It was first pastorate of Paul’s disciple, Timothy (1 Tim 1:3).
 
 
9/2/2007

34-A Passion for the Lost (Acts 18:18-28)

Acts 18:18-28 marks the final leg of Paul’s second missionary journey and covers over 1,500 miles and four major city centers.   
 
 
 
8/12/2007

33-Overcoming in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17)

As we continue our study in the book of Acts, we find Paul leaving Athens, the intellectual capital of the Roman world, and heading into Corinth, the Greco-Roman capital of sexual immorality. These two cities are symbols of the twin evils, which, in every day and every generation, trap and enslave the hearts of people: intellectual pride and sensual lust.
More than any other chapter in the book of Acts, chapter 18 gives us an insider’s view of some of the emotional and spiritual challenges that Paul had to overcome in ministry.
What specifically did Paul have to overcome?
Uncertainty (ministry plan for Corinth)
Loneliness (God provided partners and friends)
Financial stress (tent-making)
Fear
Opposition
False accusation
Legal action
8/5/2007