Recap

So far in Acts, we've read through the introduction, the disciples' time in Jerusalem, the church spreading into Samaria, the missionary trips to the ends of the earth, and started Paul's journey to Rome. Acts, a sequel to Luke's gospel, explores the early church's birth and growth. Jesus commissioned his disciples to spread the good news from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

After his ascension, the Holy Spirit came as wind and fire, making believers God's new temples. Empowered to speak in different languages, the disciples amazed the crowd, and Peter led over 3,000 to salvation. The church was born, and believers lived in community, sharing all they had.

Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple, explaining that God’s presence now dwelt in his people. This led to conflict with the priests, who warned them to stop preaching. The believers prayed for boldness and shared their possessions. As struggles arose, the Apostles appointed seven men to manage daily tasks, and the church grew.

Stephen, one of the seven, performed miracles but was accused of blasphemy. He highlighted how Israel had rejected God’s chosen, including Jesus. This enraged the crowd who stoned him. His death triggered persecution, forcing Christians to spread the gospel to Judea and Samaria.

Philip helped spread the gospel in Samaria and was led by God to assist an Ethiopian man with scripture. Meanwhile, Saul, on his way to arrest Christians, was blinded by Jesus, healed by Ananias, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He began preaching immediately, despite opposition. The disciples in Jerusalem were initially wary of Saul, but Barnabas vouched for him.

Peter received a vision about not calling what God made clean, unclean. He preached to Gentiles, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. This led to the Gentiles being included with the believers. A multi-ethnic church was established in Antioch, supported by Saul and Barnabas.

Paul and Barnabas began spreading the gospel in Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preached to Jews and Gentiles, facing opposition but establishing churches. Returning to Antioch, they reported their success, and the believers praised God.

A group argued that Gentile converts must be circumcised. At a council in Jerusalem, the apostles decided that the Gentiles had already been filled with the Holy Spirit. They didn’t need to adopt Jewish customs as well, but must reject things offensive to God.

After a disagreement over John Mark, Paul and Barnabas took separate missions. Paul, led by the Holy Spirit to Macedonia, preached to women and a jailer after being arrested.

In Thessalonica, Paul's message was rejected, but in Berea, it was accepted. In Athens, he used local culture to point to Jesus. In Corinth, Paul focused on Gentiles, building the church for eighteen months despite opposition.

Paul returned to Antioch with Priscilla and Aquila, where Apollos, a zealous teacher, was mentored and sent to Corinth. On his third mission, Paul spent two years in Ephesus growing the church, visiting other churches along the way.

Heading back to Jerusalem Paul is warned not to go. Some prophecy that he would be bound and handed to the Gentiles. Paul insisted he was ready to be arrested or even die for Jesus. In Jerusalem, he faced hostility from Jews who believed he was undermining their traditions. To prove his commitment, Paul went to the temple to purify himself, but the crowd still attacked him. Roman soldiers intervened and arrested him. They planned to whip him until Paul revealed his Roman citizenship.

Acts 23-24

The Roman official arranges for Paul to stand before the Jewish council, in the hope of finding out what was going on. Paul begins to state his innocence, and the high priest commands those nearby to strike him.

Paul lashes back calling them “whitewashed walls”, a reference to the false prophets in Ezekiel 13:8-15 who were like crumbling walls painted to look strong. He accuses the high priest of breaking his own law. Leviticus 19:15 calls for just courts. Striking a man without evidence of his guilt is hardly just.

When challenged for insulting the high priest Paul apologised for not realising he was high priest. The irony here is clear. There’s no way Paul would not have known the man was the high priest. Instead, Paul is making the comment that it’s hard to see that this man his the high priest if he acts like he does.

These religious leaders have become unhinged from the very law they claim to be tied to and follow. They hold to it only when it benefits them.

Looking around Paul sees an opportunity to cause division amongst his opponents. The group is made up of Pharisees (who believe in resurrection) and Sadducees (who don’t). He tells the group that the only reason he is being accused is because he preaches the resurrection, and they immediately begin fighting amongst themselves.

As the arguing grows more fierce the Roman official has Paul removed from the room for his own safety. That evening the Lord appears before Paul and encourages him that this is all part of the plan for Paul to share the gospel in Rome.

The next morning some of the Jews gathered together to conspire to kill Paul. They all vowed to not eat until Paul was dead. There were over forty of them in total. Fortunately, Paul’s nephew overhears this and reports it to the tribune, military officer, responsible for Paul.

This tribune immediately arranges for Paul to be sent to Caesarea to the governor Felix to decide what was best. He was transported by over 200 soldiers.

Five days later the high priest came down to Caesarea to make their accusations against Paul to Felix.They accused Paul of being a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews, and profaning the temple.

Paul is then given an opportunity to defend himself. In Paul’s response, we’re reminded again of Jesus’ claim back in Matthew 10:16-20. Jesus had warned his disciples that they would be dragged before governors, but that when they were the Holy Spirit would be the one to give them the words to say.

Paul points out that there was no evidence of him stirring up crowds or causing trouble. In fact, he had come to Jerusalem to worship, bring gifts for the poor, and offer sacrifices (Acts 24:11, 17).

The only thing he is guilty of is following the Way. He then invites the high priest or the original group of Jews to point out what exactly he had done to cause these accusations.

Felix dismisses the hearing, claiming that he needed to hear from the tribune what had happened. He had Paul taken into custody but made sure he was taken care of and was able to accept visitors.

Interested in the Way, Felix and his wife would send for Paul to talk to him about Jesus. Intimidated by Paul’s talk of justice and judgement, Felix would often break off the conversation and send Paul back to custody. He continued to drag out this process in the hope that Paul would pay him money.

This lasted a full two years before Felix is replaced by Festus as governor, and all this time Paul remained in prison.

Psalm 128

This psalm isn’t attributed to anyone in particular and is named as a psalm of ascent. These psalms were sung by worshippers as they ascended to Jerusalem for the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Festival of Weeks, and Festival of Tabernacles) or possibly by the Levites as they ascended the steps of the Temple. Psalm 120-134 are all psalms of ascent.

Psalm 128:1-2 - Blessed are those who fear the Lord

Psalm 128:3-4 - Their families will flourish

Psalm 128:5-6 - May the Lord bless you

In this ascent journey we’ve gone from being far from God's presence (Psalm 120), to seeking God’s presence (Psalm 121), and then to reaching God’s presence (Psalm 122). From there, the psalmist has asked the Lord for help (Psalm 123) and then praised the Lord for his protection (Psalm 124).

From within Jerusalem, they reflected on the nature of righteousness and wickedness (Psalm 125). They thanked God for how he has restored his city, but also ask for more (Psalm 126). This leads the psalmist to reflect on the importance of God being first and foremost in our live (Psalm 127) and fearing God (Psalm 128).

The psalmist opens with a declaration that those who fear the Lord are blessed. They will flourish and life will go well for them. This flourishing will bleed into the family. All members of the family will flourish and support one another. And so the psalmist prays that this flourishing will spread out into the community so that Jerusalem will prosper, and that there will be multiple generations enjoying one another.

Now that the psalmist finds themselves in Jerusalem, they are reflecting on their relationship with God and how a proper relationship with God can lead to flourishing in our live. We know that this idea, taken in the context of all the Bible, does not mean we are guaranteed to have a perfect life where everything goes right. But we do see a strong correlation between those who appropriately fear and follow the Lord and flourishing. We also know that the Lord is with those who suffer and struggle.