Jesus Never Fails
Acts 23:23-35
Purpose: to show that what Jesus wills is guaranteed.
- A Failed Plot (Acts 23:23-24)
- A Flawed Pawn (Acts 23:25-30)
- A Faithful Provision (Acts 23:31-35)
Jesus is accomplishing His plans in your life for His glory.
The Unrestrainable Gospel!
Acts 22:30-23:22
Purpose: to see Christ’s providential plan for Paul to be a witness of the gospel
- Paul Passed to the Chief Priests: Trial #2 (Acts 22:30)
- Paul Persecuted by His Own People (Acts 23:1-5)
- Paul Proclaims the Resurrection! (Acts 23:6-10)
Fulfillment of Acts 1:8 generally
Fulfillment of Acts 9:15-16 specifically!
- Jesus’ Plan to Protect Paul (Acts 23:11)
This promise of Jesus carries Paul to the end of the book of Acts, and his life!
- The Persecutors Plot, While Jesus Protects! (Acts 23:12-22)
Jesus has preserved the witness of His resurrection to the ends of the earth and to the end of time!
Stay Calm And Speak Christ
Acts 22:1-29
Purpose: Because Jesus is sovereign, we have nothing to fear.
- Jesus prepared Paul, and Jesus has prepared you. (Acts 22:1-3)
- Jesus Changed Paul, and Jesus has changed You. (Acts 22:4-16)
- Jesus sent Paul, and Jesus is sending you. (Acts 22:17-22)
- Jesus emboldened Paul, Jesus will embolden you. (Acts 22:23-29)
The Supreme Gospel!
Acts 21:15-40
Purpose: the Supremacy of the Gospel exalted by its vindication on trial!
- Reunion in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-18)
- Report From the Harvest (Acts 21:19-20)
The Gospel is for Jews AND Gentiles!
- An Old Refrain Recurs (Acts 21:20-26)
See Acts 15:23-29
A Remedy Requested
- Paul Arrested! (Acts 21:27-29)
Remedy Rebuffed
Paul Remanded and Restrained
- Riotous Raucous Unrest! (Acts 21:30-36)
- Paul’s Response! (Acts 21:37-40)
Stage is set for Paul’s first of his five defenses of the Gospel!
Paul in Jerusalem (21:15-40)
The “Fuse Lit” when Paul Falsely Accused & Seized in the Temple (21:27-29)
TRIAL #1: Paul’s Public Trial on the Steps (22:1-21)
TRIAL #2: Paul Before the Council/Sanhedrin (23:1-29)
TRIAL 3#: Paul Before Felix (24:1-27)
TRIAL #4: Paul Before Festus (25:1-19)
TRIAL #5: Paul Before Agrippa (25:23-26:31)
Paul Sent to Rome (26:32, fulfills Jesus’ prophetic statement to Paul in 23:11!)
The Gospel may be on trial, but God and His Supreme Gospel are vindicated at every step!
Pressing On
Acts 21:1-14
Purpose: A true servant presses on regardless of the cost and danger.
- A Spirit-Revealed Warning (Acts 21:1-6)
- A Spirit-Revealed Prophecy (Acts 21:7-11)
- A Spirit-Led Resolve (Acts 21:12-13)
- A Spirit-Led Release (Acts 21:14)
True servants of Jesus Christ resolve to go in obedience despite the cost and danger. Those who love them pray for them and release them to God.
A True Servant of Jesus Christ
Acts 20:17-38
Purpose: to see that a true servant of Christ …
- Perseveres! (Acts 20:17-21)
He does not shrink back from gospel ministry though facing adversity
- Sacrifices! (Acts 20:22-24)
He considers his own life less important than the ministry
- Guards the Sheep! (Acts 20:25-31)
He protects the flock by declaring the whole purpose of God
Pictures of the Problem:
1 Timothy 1:19–20; 4:1–5
2 Timothy 1:15; 2:17–18; 3:1–9
Revelation 2:1-7
2 Peter 2:1-3
- Commends! (Acts 20:32-38)
He commends his hearers to God!
A true servant is faithfully Christ-centered for himself, and for the church!
A Farewell Tour
Acts 20:1-16
Purpose: God works all things together for the purpose of His glory.
- Gospel Purpose (Acts 20:1-6)
- Gospel Power (Acts 20:7-12)
- Gospel Progress (Acts 20:13-16)
Jesus Christ is building His Church and all the powers of Hell itself will not stop it.
Gospel Triumph!
Acts 19:21-41
Purpose: The Gospel always prevails no matter the trial!
- Rome-ward Bound! (Acts 19:21-22)
- Pagan Opposition Rises (Acts 19:23-29)
- Providential Protection for Paul (Acts 19:30-31)
- A Climate of Confusion (Acts 19:32-34)
- Calm Prevails (Acts 19:35-41)
The Word of God is alive and active! He watches over His Word to perform it! (Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 1:12)
The Power Of Christ Displayed
Acts 19:11-20
Purpose: To show that Christ reigns, redeems, restores and reforms completely.
- Amazing Restoration (Acts 19:11-12)
- Audacious Rebuke (Acts 19:13-17)
- Authentic Repentance (Acts 18-20)
The power of Christ is absolute. Therefore, we hope in Him.
Be Disciples of Jesus Christ!
Acts 18:23-19:10 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
Purpose: to explain the way of God more accurately, that you would be disciples of Jesus Christ!
There were people who identified with the gospel in various ways at Ephesus before Paul arrived. Priscilla and Aquila understood clearly. Apollos had a growing but not accurate understanding. Twelve disciples of John the Baptist whose faith was incorrect and incomplete.
- Apollos, a Strong Disciple in Need of Growth (Acts 18:23-28)
- Believe in the One John Proclaimed! (Acts 19:1-7)
- The Harvest is Plentiful! (Acts 19:8-10)
The Importance of Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ:
- The importance of the “Home Church” Antioch for Paul’s Missionary journeys
Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; 18:22
- The importance of a full understanding of Jesus Christ
A person must believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Acts 18:26
- The importance (and limitation) of John’s Baptism
Preparatory for something greater! Acts 19:4
- The importance of differentiating between servants and the Master
(see 1 Cor 1:10-13)
John the Baptist, Paul, Pricilla, Aquila, and Apollos are all only servants
- The importance of the gospel to those who hear (Acts 19:10)
Mission in the harvest (Matt 9:37; Luke 10:2; John 4:35)
Mission to the unreached (Matt 28:18-20; Rom 15:20; Rev 5:9; 7:9)
Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ holds Jesus above all others and unifies believers!