Acts CH 20Acts CH 20Paul’s Farewell AddressPaul’s Farewell Address

John Oakes, PhDJohn Oakes, PhD

San DiegoSan Diego

September, 2015September, 2015

The Agora in Athens

Themes in ActsThemes in Acts

1. The work of the Holy Spirit in establishing 1. The work of the Holy Spirit in establishing the Church. Acts 1:2, 1:4-5, 1:7, 1:16the Church. Acts 1:2, 1:4-5, 1:7, 1:16

2. The Kingdom of God. Acts 1:3, 1:62. The Kingdom of God. Acts 1:3, 1:6

3. Growth and development of the Church. 1:83. Growth and development of the Church. 1:8

4. Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy 1:204. Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy 1:20

I. The Holy Spirit in ActsI. The Holy Spirit in Acts

Acts 1:2 Instructions through the Holy Spirit.Acts 1:2 Instructions through the Holy Spirit.

1:4-5 Wait for the Holy Spirit.1:4-5 Wait for the Holy Spirit.

1:7 Power from the Holy Spirit.1:7 Power from the Holy Spirit.

1:16 The Holy Spirit spoke the prophecies1:16 The Holy Spirit spoke the prophecies

2:1-4 The Holy Spirit falls on the apostles.2:1-4 The Holy Spirit falls on the apostles.

2:17-18 Pouring of the Holy Spirit prophesied in Joel.2:17-18 Pouring of the Holy Spirit prophesied in Joel.

4:8 Peter spoke, as he was filled by the Holy Spirit.4:8 Peter spoke, as he was filled by the Holy Spirit.

4:25 He spoke through David.4:25 He spoke through David.

4:31 Filled with the Holy Spirit, the house was shaken.4:31 Filled with the Holy Spirit, the house was shaken.

5:32 The Holy Spirit witnesses to the resurrection.5:32 The Holy Spirit witnesses to the resurrection.

6:3-6 Those known to be full of the Holy Spirit chosen 6:3-6 Those known to be full of the Holy Spirit chosen

to lead.to lead.

The Holy Spirit in ActsThe Holy Spirit in Acts

7:55 Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit.7:55 Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit.

8:29 The Holy Spirit tells Philip to share with the 8:29 The Holy Spirit tells Philip to share with the Ethiopian Eunuch.Ethiopian Eunuch.

9:31 The Church strengthened and encouraged by the 9:31 The Church strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit.

10:19 The Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with the three 10:19 The Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with the three Gentile visitors.Gentile visitors.

10:44-47 The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his house.10:44-47 The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his house.

11:28 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus about a famine.11:28 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus about a famine.

13:2-4 The Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for 13:2-4 The Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work, and sends them off.missionary work, and sends them off.

13:52 The disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.13:52 The disciples filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit In ActsThe Holy Spirit In Acts

15:28 The Holy Spirit influenced the decision of the 15:28 The Holy Spirit influenced the decision of the Jerusalem Council.Jerusalem Council.

16:7 The Spirit of Jesus prevents going to Bithyia.16:7 The Spirit of Jesus prevents going to Bithyia.

20:22 Paul compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to 20:22 Paul compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

20:23 The Holy Spirit warns Paul of danger.20:23 The Holy Spirit warns Paul of danger.

20:28 The Holy Spirit makes and chooses elders.20:28 The Holy Spirit makes and chooses elders.

21:11 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus how Paul will die.21:11 The Holy Spirit tells Agabus how Paul will die.

Q: What does all this tell you?Q: What does all this tell you?

III. Growth and Development of the ChurchIII. Growth and Development of the Church

Acts 1:8Acts 1:8

““You will be my You will be my witnesses… to witnesses… to the ends of the the ends of the

earth”earth”

How did they do it? How did they do it?

How can we do it?How can we do it?

The Marketplace in Corinth

Growth of the ChurchGrowth of the Church

Acts 2:41 Three thousand added that day.Acts 2:41 Three thousand added that day.

Acts 4:4 The disciples grew to five thousand.Acts 4:4 The disciples grew to five thousand.

Acts 5:14 More and more men and women.Acts 5:14 More and more men and women.

Acts 5:28 You have filled Jerusalem….Acts 5:28 You have filled Jerusalem….

Acts 6:7 The number of disciples increased rapidly Acts 6:7 The number of disciples increased rapidly and a large number of priests were obedient.and a large number of priests were obedient.

Acts 8:4 Those scattered preached the word wherever Acts 8:4 Those scattered preached the word wherever they went.they went.

Church Growth is “Normal”Church Growth is “Normal”

Acts 9:31 Grew throughout Judea, Galilee and SamariaActs 9:31 Grew throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria

Acts 11:24 A great number…Acts 11:24 A great number…

Acts 16:5 Grew daily in numbers…Acts 16:5 Grew daily in numbers…

Acts 17:6 Caused trouble all over the world.Acts 17:6 Caused trouble all over the world.

Acts 19&20: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey: AD53-58

Ephesus: Paul’s Favorite ChurchEphesus: Paul’s Favorite Church

Acts 19:8-10 Paul starts a campus ministry Acts 19:8-10 Paul starts a campus ministry that affects all of Asia.that affects all of Asia.

The Lecture Hall of Tyrannus

Acts 19 Paul in EphesusActs 19 Paul in Ephesus

The theater in Ephesus where a little riot happened

The Church will have an impact!

Acts 20 Acts 20 Paul Addresses the Ephesian EldersPaul Addresses the Ephesian Elders

This is Paul’s farewell addressThis is Paul’s farewell address

v. 18 You know how I lived… Q: How did Paul live?v. 18 You know how I lived… Q: How did Paul live?

v. 19 Served with great humilityv. 19 Served with great humility

v. 19 … and with tears 1 Thess 2:1-12v. 19 … and with tears 1 Thess 2:1-12

v. 20-21 Q: What did Paul preach?v. 20-21 Q: What did Paul preach?

v. 22-24 I consider my life worth nothingv. 22-24 I consider my life worth nothing

Q: What was Paul holding onto?Q: What was Paul holding onto?

Q: How did that make him feel?Q: How did that make him feel?

Q: How can you be more like Paul in this?Q: How can you be more like Paul in this?

Address to the Ephesian EldersAddress to the Ephesian Elders

Acts 20:25-27 How could Paul be “innocent of all Acts 20:25-27 How could Paul be “innocent of all men’s blood?men’s blood?

Q: Can you say this?Q: Can you say this?

20:28-35 Advice to shepherds.20:28-35 Advice to shepherds.

v. 28-31 Protect against false teachingv. 28-31 Protect against false teaching

v. 33-35 Help the needy and the lowly, not your own v. 33-35 Help the needy and the lowly, not your own financial or other good.financial or other good.

v. 36-38 A final farewell.v. 36-38 A final farewell.

Acts 23 God Intervenes and Saves PaulActs 23 God Intervenes and Saves Paul

23:11 God tells Paul “Take courage…. You must 23:11 God tells Paul “Take courage…. You must testify about me in Rome.”testify about me in Rome.”

23:12-15 A plot to kill Paul by the non-Christian Jews.23:12-15 A plot to kill Paul by the non-Christian Jews.

23:16-22 God intervenes and saves Paul.23:16-22 God intervenes and saves Paul.

23:23-35 God provides 470 soldiers to protect Paul!23:23-35 God provides 470 soldiers to protect Paul!

Acts 24 Paul Before FelixActs 24 Paul Before Felix

Matthew 10:17-20 “they will hand you over to the local Matthew 10:17-20 “they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it, for it will not be you speaking, but the or how to say it, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Felix Procurator of Judea AD 52-59 Infamous for Felix Procurator of Judea AD 52-59 Infamous for violence, sexual promiscuity and violence.violence, sexual promiscuity and violence.

Paul Preaches the Gospel to a Pagan Paul Preaches the Gospel to a Pagan RulerRuler

Acts 24:1-9 Tertullus presents the Jew’s case.Acts 24:1-9 Tertullus presents the Jew’s case.

What a suck-up sycophantic hypocrite!!!What a suck-up sycophantic hypocrite!!!

a. lies tried to desecrate the templea. lies tried to desecrate the temple

b. half-truths stirring up riots among the Jews all b. half-truths stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world andover the world and

c. truths made to look worse than they really were. c. truths made to look worse than they really were. The “ringleader of this sect”The “ringleader of this sect”

Acts 24:10-21 Paul’s defense Acts 24:10-21 Paul’s defense

Q: What would you say?Q: What would you say?

a. His is respectful and thankful. No insincere praise.a. His is respectful and thankful. No insincere praise.

b. Refutes the false charges using facts. He lets the truth speak b. Refutes the false charges using facts. He lets the truth speak for itself. He avoids inflammatory rhetoric.for itself. He avoids inflammatory rhetoric.

c. Where the charges are half-truths, he gives a more accurate c. Where the charges are half-truths, he gives a more accurate description. (v. 14 I follow a way, not a sect, for example)description. (v. 14 I follow a way, not a sect, for example)

d. Where the charges are in part true, he comes fully clean. d. Where the charges are in part true, he comes fully clean.

e. Show his ministry is fully in line with the O T The charge of e. Show his ministry is fully in line with the O T The charge of heresy is totally false (v. 14-15, Daniel 12:2-3)heresy is totally false (v. 14-15, Daniel 12:2-3)

f. Most importantly, he shares the gospel with Felix!f. Most importantly, he shares the gospel with Felix!

Acts 24:24-27 Paul shares the gospelActs 24:24-27 Paul shares the gospel

Felix is afraid. He is convinced Paul is legitimate.Felix is afraid. He is convinced Paul is legitimate.

But…. He decided to repent when it is convenient.But…. He decided to repent when it is convenient.

Q: Is it ever convenient to repent and put our faith in Q: Is it ever convenient to repent and put our faith in God? 2 Cor 6:2God? 2 Cor 6:2

Indecision is a decision.Indecision is a decision.

Acts 25-26 Paul Speaks Before a KingActs 25-26 Paul Speaks Before a King

Acts 25:11-12 A fateful moment. Paul is going to Acts 25:11-12 A fateful moment. Paul is going to Jerusalem (in chains).Jerusalem (in chains).

Herod Agrippa: Great grandson of Herod “the Great” Herod Agrippa: Great grandson of Herod “the Great” He is in an incestuous relationship with is full sister He is in an incestuous relationship with is full sister Bernice. Yet, he has the nerve to sit in judgment of Bernice. Yet, he has the nerve to sit in judgment of Paul, perhaps the greatest living man.Paul, perhaps the greatest living man.

Acts 26 A masterful defense of the gospel.Acts 26 A masterful defense of the gospel.

Paul’s DefensePaul’s Defensev. 5-6 I am on trial because I love God. v. 5-6 I am on trial because I love God.

v. 6,8 I am on trial because I believe in the resurrection.v. 6,8 I am on trial because I believe in the resurrection.

v. 7, 22-23 I am on trial for observing faithfully the OT.v. 7, 22-23 I am on trial for observing faithfully the OT.

v. 9-18 I was not predisposed to believe in Jesus.v. 9-18 I was not predisposed to believe in Jesus.

v. 20 The real reason I am on trial is because I preach v. 20 The real reason I am on trial is because I preach repentance. “That is why the Jews seized me.”repentance. “That is why the Jews seized me.”

v. 24 Festus: You are crazy!!!! When people have no v. 24 Festus: You are crazy!!!! When people have no logical response they turn to insults.logical response they turn to insults.

v. 25-27 Paul: What I am saying is true, and it is v. 25-27 Paul: What I am saying is true, and it is reasonable. If you do not believe me, just ask Agrippa. reasonable. If you do not believe me, just ask Agrippa. He will tell you.He will tell you.

v. 29 A beautiful appeal. v. 29 A beautiful appeal. Paul is going to Rome.Paul is going to Rome.