Don’t Put Off Your Most Important Decision

Acts 24:24-25 (ESV) – After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

 

Often the biggest decisions come with the biggest prices yet promise the biggest rewards. It can be natural to put those decisions off because we fear losing something in the face of a very hopeful, yet uncertain, outcome. Unfortunately, though, those opportunities usually do not last forever. If we hold off deciding too long, we miss our chance.

 

That was the case for the Roman Procurator of Judaea named Claudius Felix. He had been governing the Province of Judaea for several years but had earned a reputation as a cruel and corrupt leader. The First Century Roman historian Tacitus described him as “indulging in every kind of barbarity and, exercising the power of a king with the spirit of a slave.” (Histories V:9) Felix had good reason to be afraid when he heard Paul talk about the coming judgement and the faith in Christ it takes to be ready for it.

 

Felix knew what was at stake. He knew his life was not characterized by righteousness and self-control. He had hurt many people for his own gain and glory. He also understood from the conversations he had with Paul that coming to Christ would mean repentance, that is turning to God and turning away from evil actions and thoughts. Yet, it would mean eternal life and the peace and purpose life with Christ brings to any of us who believe, even today.

 

Felix had a lot to lose. He was already well paid as a Roman procurator, but he was obviously used to getting a lot more through bribery. Verse 26 tells us Felix hoped even Paul would try to bribe him, but that never happened. After two years of indecision, Felix was shipped back to Rome and replaced with the much wiser and fairer Porcius Festus. We have no historical record that Felix ever did believe in Jesus. Putting off the decision of faith may have temporarily alleviated his fearful alarm, but it did not give him eternal life. Both contemporary historians Josephus (Jewish Antiquities XX:8) and Tacitus (Annals XII:54) tell us his earthly reputation and legacy was also stained by his failure to change his evil behavior.

 

What decisions have you been putting off lately? Is there an action you should take before the opportunity passes?

A Savior is Born unto You

Luke 2:11 (KJV) – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

 

Merry Christmas! As you reflect on the most special holiday of the year, your mind may go to these often-repeated celebrated words the angel shared with the shepherds who were watching their flocks that night on the hills outside of Jerusalem. This incredible story provides a beautiful picture and so much to reflect the significance of Christmas and the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Yet, when we hear something so many times, it is easy to forget how special, significant, and important it is.

 

Look at the second and third words in the historic and traditional King James Version of this verse above: “unto you.” Yes, the Greek humin means what to you or unto you means in English. It can convey both direction and benefit. In a sense, these words can seem ridiculous. If a couple has a baby, it would make sense that baby was born to (or KJV “unto”) them. It is now their child. They will be responsible for caring for that child, for raising that child, and for loving that child. As every parent knows, raising a child is a difficult, expensive, and often frustrating job. Yet, few of us want to give our children away because there is a joy beyond measure that comes with that child. So, you can celebrate you neighbors’ new baby and say to them, “Congratulations on the new baby born to you today!”

 

Yet, look again at the angel’s words. That angel did not speak to the parents of the child. The angel spoke to shepherds who more than likely had never met Mary or Joseph and who would not be helping raise the baby Jesus in any respect. Why did the angel say, “Unto you is born…”?

 

The answer to that question is the reason we celebrate Christmas over 2,000 years after that event. The words just before and just after this short phrase give us that answer. In Verse 10, the angel told the shepherds the good news of great joy was for “all the people.” That good news is still good news for us today. As part of humanity, it applies to you me.

 

What is the good news? Verse 11 tells us: The Savior, who is Christ the Lord, is born.

 

A savior is one who rescues others who are unable to save themselves. A lifeguard’s actions can save a child from drowning in a swimming pool. A skilled surgeon can become a savior from an otherwise life-ending heart attack. Those saved could not save themselves. Jesus came as the Savior of all mankind.

 

Another angel told Mary’s husband Joseph what that meant in an appearance before Jesus was born in Matthew 1:21: “He will save His people from their sins.” (NAS) A sin is any action, thought, or motive other than what God would want us to do. Of course, every one of us has intentionally or unintentionally sinned many times. (Romans 3:23) We may think, “It’s no big deal. Nobody’s perfect.” Although that is true that no one except Jesus is perfect, it is an enormous deal because our sins separate us from God forever. (Isaiah 59:2) There is nothing we can do on our own to overcome those sins, but what we could never do, God did for us by sending Jesus. (Romans 5:8) His death and Resurrection on our behalf covered our sins and restored our relationship with God. Yet, like any gift, we must accept it to receive it. When we believe in Jesus, He saves us. (John 3:16)

 

The best news ever is that this Jesus Christ, the Lord, is born to you. When you receive Him as Savior, you get the best Christmas present ever. Merry Christmas!

 

Necessary

Acts 23:11 (ALT) – On the following night, the Lord stood by [Paul] and said, “Take courage! As you testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary to testify about me in Rome.”  

  

Does God cause everything that happens or do our human decisions and actions determine the future? This is one of the great mysteries of human history for people of faith. Scholars, leaders, and ordinary people have debated this for millennia. If we believe that God is all powerful and guiding the world toward a certain conclusion, it is hard to see how our actions can make a difference. Yet, as we look around us, we see that many things happen because we and others choose to act that seem like they would not happen otherwise.

 

This verse above contains a three letter Greek word that powerfully holds this mystery in place: dei. I translated it as “necessary” here, because the word carries the idea that God has willed something to happen in the future without clearly stating whether it is a human’s responsibility to make it happen. In other words, “Paul, it might happen anyway, or you might be a part of making it happen, but this has to happen: You will testify about me in Rome.”

 

Luke, the writer of Acts, wants his readers to know there is no question that Jesus gave Paul this message. It was necessary for Paul to speak about Him in Rome. Was this a command or a prediction? Dei could convey either. As I read the rest of Acts, though, I believe Paul perceived this as both God’s sovereign will and Paul’s personal responsibility.

 

In Acts 25:11, while on trial before Festus, the Roman Governor of Palestine, Paul seized the opportunity given him as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar. This was his decision and it guaranteed fulfillment of Jesus’ “necessary” future event. We find out in the next chapter, Paul would not have had to go to Rome because of the Roman law (Acts 26:31-32), but his appeal meant he was going anyway. This would seem to indicate Paul’s decision is what got him to Rome.

 

Yet, another visit, this time from an angel, in Acts 27:23-24, shows God intervened to prevent certain shipwrecked destruction of the ship Paul was on. Paul had no choice in this outcome, whether for the storm or the saving. He tried to get the crew to stay for the winter on Crete, but the captain was not willing to listen to a lowly prisoner. A late season storm blew the ship far off course and the experienced sailors expected to sink until the angel’s message brought them comfort and hope, using that same Greek word, dei: “You must stand before Caesar.”

 

Paul and everyone else on the ship survived and arrived on the island of Malta before making the final leg of the journey to Rome and making the “necessary” happen. So, who did it? Was it God? God’s intervention certainly saved them all from sinking at sea, but what about Paul? There is no question his choice to appeal to Caesar at the proper moment was part of what got him to Rome. In a mysterious way we cannot fully understand with our limited human perspective, both divine providence and the action of human will determined a future outcome.

 

We see mysteries like this throughout the Bible, and I believe it is still true today: Is God sovereignly at work? Yes! Do our individual decisions determine much of what happens to us? Indeed! How do these seemingly incompatible realities work together? I do not fully understand all of this in spite of a lifetime serving, loving, and studying God and His word, but I do know God’s ways are far above mine. (Isaiah 55:8-9) I know He is at work in ways I cannot see, but I also know His providence does not replace my responsibility. I will trust God, and I will act when I can, knowing God will ensure the necessary will happen whether through or beyond my action.

Persuasion Principles

 Acts 21:38 (ESV) – Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”

Have you ever had to speak to a tough crowd? Did you try to get someone else to agree with you who started that conversation with a differing opinion? It is almost always difficult to persuade others, but the apostle Paul was a master at it. Most of Acts Chapter 22 helps us see how Paul attempted to win over his toughest crowd ever: devout Jews worshipping in Jerusalem convinced that Paul was defiling the temple. (Acts 21:28) His way of persuasive communication is still recommended today:

         1)   Recognize and Seize Opportunities to Speak

Paul had come to the temple with a few other Jewish Christians who were all fulfilling a vow according to the Jewish Law. Although they had followed the Law, some non-Christian Jews from Ephesus saw them in the temple and assumed they brought their Gentile traveling companions, which would have been against that Law. They started an uprising in response that forced the Roman tribune to take Paul prisoner in an attempt to calm down the riot. (Acts 21:23-36) Most of us would probably have been scared to death at that point, but Paul never forgot his mission. He recognized he had the attention of thousands of devout Jews plus the protection of the Roman army and a great position to speak to them all from steps that oversaw the temple courtyard. (Acts 21:40) Paul could not have planned this nor had he prepared in advance, but he recognized the opportunity and asked the tribune for a chance to speak to the people. You may have no notice for your best changes to share a life changing message. Will you recognize it? Will you be ready?

    2)   Speak the Listeners’ Language

 Being raised in a Jewish home in a Roman city gave Paul two huge benefits for the occasion. The first was that he was bilingual. He won the tribune over immediately and was spared a vicious beating by addressing him in Greek. (Acts 21:37) The tribune was shocked and worked to give Paul what he asked for. Yet, when Paul turned to the people in the court below, he addressed them in the Hebrew Dialect of Aramaic, the language they spoke at home with their families. That caught their attention, too. (Acts 21:40) Be sure you use words and phrases your listeners will likely comprehend. A key aspect of winning them over is showing you understand them and making sure they understand you.

     3)   Show Your Credibility

Once Paul had their attention, he introduced himself by pointing out things likely to build credibility with his listeners. He was “raised in this city” (Jerusalem). He had been personally taught by the most renowned Jewish teacher of their day, Gamaliel. He followed their Law in strict obedience. (Acts 22:3) All of those facts meant he was someone to be taken seriously in their culture. Our world is noisier than ever, and a countless number of voices compete for our attention. Although being arrogant can undermine our authority, we need to boldly, yet humbly, help our listeners understand we have the expertise to say what we have to say.

    4)   Build on Common Beliefs and Values

 Several times in this short message, Paul explained how he had long cherished the same values and held the same beliefs as the people listening to him: “Being zealous for God as you are today, I persecuted this way to death… The high priest and whole council of elders can bear me witness… I was praying in the temple.” (Acts 22: 3-5, 17) People are more likely to accept something of which they currently disagree from you if they come to trust you and know that you share much in common.

    5)   Share a Compelling, Yet Succinct, Story

Although stories can make good entertainment, they can also be powerful ways to help people understand and accept something new. Going too long risks losing your audience, but a well-told story that describes the former state, introduces the key characters and conflict, then builds to an unexpected climactic turnaround can open hearts. Do not use a story to embellish the truth or mislead others, though.

    6)   Lead Them to a Decision

The best salespeople know how to “close the deal.” Once you have identified with your listeners and shared your own journey, it is time for you to invite them to join you. Provide any additional evidence that proves why the way you are proposing is better than the alternative then make the ask. Paul was very effective at giving invitations, as the dozens of churches he started throughout the Roman Empire could testify, but this day was different.

    7)   Remember, You Can’t Win ‘em All

Paul was not able to get to his invitation before he uttered the words that alienated his listeners. No matter how hard he had tried to explain that reaching non-Jewish people (Gentiles) was not his idea, when he came to the part of his story where God commanded him to go, the Jewish listeners started to riot. This world class persuader lost his audience, but this was not a crowd he was going to keep if he said what he had to say. We need to know that there will be times people won’t agree with us if we hold to convictions. Our true value is not measured by how popular we are.

      Although these seven steps did not lead to the happy ending this time, Paul’s way of persuading others usually did work and still works today when we share what really matters with people who are willing to listen and consider.

 

 

Prophecy and God’s Will

 Acts 21:11-12 (ESV) – [Agabus] took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

The Holy Spirit can give a message for one person through another. This is called prophecy. God used prophecy to convey his message to people throughout the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. He still uses it today. Although it can be faked and should always be tested (I Corinthians 14:29 and I Thessalonians 5:21), prophecy can be a way God lets us know what he specifically wants us to do. God used prophecy to direct a few of my own major decisions. Yet, does that mean prophecy is always the main way God tells us what to do?

Acts 21:8-14 has long fascinated me. Paul and his entourage had just made it back to Palestine with their relief offering from the Aegean Region Gentile Christians. They came to the leading (and still spectacular to this day) city of Caesarea and met some Christians we read about earlier in the book of Acts, Philip the Evangelist (Acts 6 & 8) and Agabus (Acts 11:28). The prophet Agabus graphically demonstrated a message from the Holy Spirit: Paul, the owner of the belt Agabus used to tie himself up, would be tied up by the Jews and handed to the Gentiles in Jerusalem. 

This certainly seemed a warning for Paul to not go to Jerusalem. Note that even his close companion and Gospel scribe Luke interpreted it that way, joining in the “we” urging him not to go to Jerusalem. Luke even described the Christians in the city of Tyre they had passed through earlier “telling Paul through the Spirit to not set foot in Jerusalem.” (Acts 20:4, NAS). Yet, Paul refused to change his destination no matter how much the people begged him (Acts 20:13). What was happening? Did Paul disobey God’s prophetic direction? 

Although Paul’s friends thought the prophetic message Agabus gave was directive (given to tell Paul what to do), it must have had a different purpose. Notice their final response in Verse 14: “Let the will of the Lord be done!” In other words, they must have all accepted that God wanted Paul to go to Jerusalem anyway. Earlier on the trip (Acts 20:22), Paul told the Ephesian elders he was “bound by the Spirit” (NAS) to go to Jerusalem. So, if it was God’s plan for Paul to go to Jerusalem all along, why did He send a prophecy that seemed to say the opposite? 

The answer is much the same reason Jesus told His disciples at the Last Supper about the troubles that would come their way. “I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” (John 16:4, ESV) Both Jesus’ words and Agabus’ prophecy were predictive (describing what would happen) rather than directive so that the believers would not be surprised or lose their faith when the difficulty came. 

Imagine what the early Christians would have thought if they believed being a Christian meant God always provided a trouble free life but its leading spokesperson, Paul, was imprisoned and later executed. People’s faith in the Christian message would have been undermined. Yet, now, when the difficulty came, they were not surprised. They remembered God had said Paul would be bound. The prophetic message would have changed what might have robbed their faith into a confirmation of God’s truth and plan. 

Let’s be open to God’s message, first in Scripture, then through the Holy Spirit, and pray for discernment and wisdom to know when it is time to act and when He is preparing us for what lies ahead.

The Core of the Most Important Message Ever

 Acts 20:20-21 (ESV) – I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

  

Some aspects of Christianity can be complicated. You can study for twelve years and get a PhD in Theology and still not fully understand it. Yet, when you boil it down to its basic components, it is not too hard to understand what it means to be a Christian.

The apostle Paul laid out that simple truth in these verses. He was on a quick trip back to what we would call Israel today with a big relief offering for the persecuted, mostly Jewish, Christians there from the newer and predominantly Gentile Christians in what is now Greece and Turkey. He wanted to avoid getting bogged down in the city he served the longest and saw the biggest impact: Ephesus. Yet, he chose to meet with the leaders and give them some important words of instruction and encouragement. He started that talk with a reminder of how he conducted his ministry there, and he summarized what it means to become a Christian with the two key elements of his message: “Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

The first part is definitely not political correct in our world today. Repentance means a total conversion of mind, attitude, and action away from a self-focused and evil past toward God and the life He has laid out for us. It means a hateful avoidance of sin that is transformed into a deep love and delight for God. This is tough in a world that not only tolerates, but often celebrates, things God does not want us to do. This mind and heart change begins our Christian journey. It is not a matter of us doing everything right first then coming to God. Repentance is acknowledging that we have made mistakes and are hopeless without the grace of God. However, although our spiritual journeys begin with regret for our past evil actions and thoughts, it does not bask in the mire of guilt. Freedom and joy come in the second step. 

The second core element of Paul’s teaching is the outcome that brings us into God’s family and gives us eternal life. This is faith, but it is faith in a specific individual: Jesus.  The unique thing about Christianity is that we believe the man Jesus was the Christ (“Messiah” in Hebrew) promised in hundreds of Hebrew Scriptures we now call the Old Testament to come to save and deliver us from our sins. He was also Lord, a word (“Kurios” in Greek) that means master and unquestioned boss but was also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the name of God. When we put our faith in Him, He forgives all of that wrong doing and sin we repented of in the first step and we join a community of believers all over the world in experiencing eternal life as He is now “our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

This same life-changing Good News (“Gospel” in Latin) is available to all of us today, and there is nothing I want more for you than for you to experience it, as well. If you have not done so, I urge you to repent from selfishness, turn to God, and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Deciding with God

 Acts 19:21 (ESV) – Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

  

Long before Zondervan published How to Make Big Decisions Wisely, I started the study of how the Apostle Paul made decisions as recorded in the Bible book called, Acts of the Apostles, or just, Acts, for short. I wanted to discover if all of Paul’s decisions were made in response to supernatural direction. Of course, the writer, Luke, often clearly showed Paul deciding in response to an appearance or vision of Jesus, a dream, or a prophetic word. Yet, I saw that a slight majority of the time Luke used words indicating that Paul decided based on his own reasoning or desires without any obvious divine direction. This discovery freed me from feeling like a second class Christian because, even though I had “heard from God” on several occasions throughout my life, divine direction was not a daily occurrence for me.

 

However, some passages do not clearly show if Paul decided on his own or had been directed by God. Acts 19:21 is one of those. Even Bible translators and commentators disagree on how to interpret this interesting phrase translated, “resolved in the Spirit,” in the English Standard version. The Greek word translated resolved here, etheto, is actually common in the New Testament, occurring over 300 times. It usually means to put, lay, or place something. That meaning developed further in secular Greek even before Jesus’ time to imply establishing or instituting, like our expression, “lay down the law.” Paul is clearly the subject of this verb and his resolution in our verse stresses the magnitude and his ownership of his decision. The second part of this short phrase is less clear. Paul resolved “in the S/spirit.” Most English Bibles capitalize Spirit assuming that the writer Luke was referring to the Holy Spirit. However, the earliest Greek manuscripts used capitals for every letter, so we cannot say for sure Luke meant the Holy Spirit rather than Paul’s internal spirit. The Greek word pneuma often connoted the human soul or life. Luke occasionally used the word this way (see Luke 8:55 & 23:46, and Acts 7:59), but far more often he clearly meant the Holy Spirit.

 

I wrestled with this verse as I tried to decide if it belonged in the human decision column or the divine direction column. The NIV simply translates it. “Paul decided,” but most other translations bring the Holy Spirit into the process. I finally realized that this can be a both/and. Paul is clearly the subject of etheto – the one putting down the decision, but the Holy Spirit was actively at work in the process. We see in Acts 21:13-14 that Paul clearly attributes his return to Jerusalem (first referenced in Acts 19:21) as the will of God.

 

Many of the decisions I have made in my life and ministry have that same sense of both my resolve and the work of the Holy Spirit. Even as I wrote the book, there was a strong sense of Holy Spirit direction to do the writing, but many of the words emerged from study and my own decisions. You may find that to be the case in your own life, as well. I believe God is often at work when we think we are making up our own minds. Whenever possible, let’s do all of our resolving in partnership with the Spirit.

What if Someone Does Not Get it All Right?

Acts 18:24 (ESV) – Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.

Have you ever heard someone you respect publicly say something you knew was not completely true? How did that affect your attitude toward that person? For many, this would be an automatic disqualifier of any authority. They might say, “If people are not completely accurate in everything they say, they cannot be trusted in anything they say.” What should we say about the hundreds of Christian denominations around the world who vary in what they say and believe about different elements of the Christian faith? Are they all heretics if they don’t get everything right?

In the Book of Acts, we meet a man named Apollos who did not get everything right initially. Yet, Luke describes him in very positive words anyway: “He was an eloquent man.” “[He was] mighty in the scriptures.” (NAS) “[He was] fervent in spirit.” He had received some teaching on the Christian faith. He spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus. (Acts 18:24-25) Each of these statements is praiseworthy for any preacher. He was so effective that many of the Corinthian Christians created a fan club, saying, “I am of Apollos,” (rather than Paul). (See I Corinthians 3:4)

Yet, for all the good words Luke used of him in Acts 18:24-25, there were some aspects of Christian doctrine he did not get right. He did not explain water baptism the right way, and he never encouraged the Ephesian Christians to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Was Apollos really a good teacher if he messed up such important concepts?

The words in Acts give some important insight to these questions:

1)    Apollos got the most important things right. There is a Greek word in verse 25, akribos, that means accurately and describes specifically what Apollos said about Jesus. We need to remember that Jesus Christ is the center of the Christian faith. What we believe about him is absolutely essential.

2)   Apollos was willing to grow in understanding. When Paul’s friends Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak, they quickly recognize some things Apollos did not get right and they privately and respectfully pointed those out to him. Luke used the comparative form of that same word, akributeron, to describe how they helped Apollos understand the way of God more accurately. Apollos was willing to listen to them and changed his teaching accordingly.

3)    God can use imperfect preaching. Somehow, Priscilla and Aquila’s correction was also incomplete, as Paul had to clarify how the Holy Spirit works in the life of the believer when he came back to Ephesus some time later. However, Luke still describes those people in Ephesus disciples and Paul recognized them as believers. (Acts 19:1-6) Apollos may not have taught them everything or taught it perfectly, but lives were still changed by the message of Jesus. Yes, the New Testament is clear that doctrine does matter. There is a point at which wrong teaching does great harm. (See Acts 20:30) You do not have to wait to complete a Master of Divinity to start sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

4)  Apollos stayed humble. His huge following in Corinth started to split that young church between those who would follow him and those who would follow Paul. Yet, Apollos did not fuel that fire. He traveled back to Ephesus when Paul was there and got to know him personally. They developed a mutual respect for one another and sought to build unity in Christ rather their individual celebrity status. (I Corinthians 3:5-6 and 16:12 and Titus 3:13)

Doctrine does matter. As a young Christian I carefully studied the scriptures before deciding the movement I believed best taught and lived out the Bible’s teaching. Yet, I know the Kingdom of God is much bigger than the Assemblies of God. I have many brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I disagree on one point or another, but I have seen God change lives through their ministries. One thing, though, matters more than any other: what we teach and speak concerning Jesus. (Acts 18:25) We are all sinners in need of a savior and the incarnate Jesus Christ is God’s provision for forgiveness and eternal life for all who believe in Him. (John 3:16)

 

 

What is Your Reputation Worth?

 Acts 18:8 (ESV) – Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

Most of us care what others think of us. There are some positions in society that are bestowed on those loved and respected by the majority. These always indicate real influence and usually come with power to make decisions on behalf of others. They sometimes come with significant financial remuneration, too. As synagogue leader, Crispus had a position like that. He was seen as the leader by the Jewish people of Corinth. He had probably dreamed of holding that position since he was a boy. He worked hard to show himself a trustworthy, credible leader. That must have been worth a great deal to him.

Then one day he heard something that he wanted even more. When Paul came to his city and told him and the rest of the synagogue about the life changing forgiveness and power and eternal life available through the long promised Messiah Jesus, he believed. Unfortunately, though, most of his Jewish friends did not. It was not that they just did not believe, they fought against Paul and those who chose to believe in Jesus (Acts 18:6, 12-17). Suddenly, Crispus found himself with a choice: Would he renounce the Christian message so he could hold onto his cherished position of influence in the community of his birth or would he give it all up to follow Jesus? He chose the latter.

Paul mentions Crispus’s faith and decision to believe and be baptized in a letter he wrote to his church a few years later (I Corinthians 1:14). He chose eternal life over popularity. It looks like his successor Sosthenes did, too, as he was beaten by his fellow Jews (Acts 18:17) then later traveled with Paul to Ephesus (I Corinthians 1:1) to help share that good news he received that was worth more to him than the accolades of the crowd. Whose approval do you value more?

How to Speak to Those Who Are Different from You

Acts 17:28 (ESV) – ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Not everyone thinks like you do. Many people trust different sources and have a different view of the world. They may or may not accept or even understand what is most important to you, at least initially. They will be more likely to listen to you if you start the conversation with things they care about and believe then take evidence they accept as reliable to support your argument. This pathway will be more likely take them to the place of understanding and, possibly, embracing your perspective.

This is just what the Apostle Paul did with the Athenian philosophers on Mars Hill. Unlike his other messages to primarily Jewish audiences, he did not choose to start with the ancient Hebrew prophecies (in what we now call the Old Testament) that Jesus fulfilled. The Athenians did not know about them, understand them, or accept them. They would not likely have followed Paul’s discussion or responded.

Paul did not accept their view of the world. Luke records Paul was not at all happy seeing all their idols (Acts 17:16), but he found one he could use as at a starting place in his talk that was dedicated to an unknown God. He used that as a connection with the one true God who “made the world and all things in it.” (Acts 17:24) He even cited the Greek poets Epimenides and Aratus who would have been known, understood, and accepted by the Athenians, though not on the same level as the Jews would have accepted their scriptures as God’s authoritative word. (Acts 17:28) Next, he showed the weakness in believing that any human created image could have created the universe. (Acts 17:29) He then culminated his talk with the main point, bringing them to Jesus and his resurrection. (Acts 17:31) Several believed in Jesus that day and even others invited him to discuss this message further again. (Acts 17:32-34)

It is usually best to speak to others in ways they will understand and be likely to accept as much as possible without compromising your message.

Check Before Cancelling

 Acts 17:11 (ESV) – Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

We have seen a new phenomenon explode in 2020. The pandemic-induced isolation has forced people online and brought Twitter, Facebook, and other media into a place of greater influence. Election campaigns are increasing the vilification that is dividing the world and protests at a level unseen for decades. As the emotion increases, dividing lines sharpen, and the question of “in or out?” determines whether you will have the support and respect of those who were once your friends. A new label has emerged for this reality: “Cancel Culture.” It seems there is a new “orthodoxy” for each side of any issue. If you do not embrace every aspect of that orthodoxy, you will be cancelled – excommunicated – by the rest in the group.

The intimidation is strong. The fear of rejection can drive many accept, without question, every tenet of the new orthodoxy of whatever group they consider themselves a part of or aspire to join.

Although Cancel Culture may be a new buzz phrase for 2020, the concept itself is much older. As the biblical book called Acts of the Apostles describes the Apostle Paul’s second journey, he faced opposition from the established Jewish community in city after city until he arrived in Berea (now known as Veria and still a center of regional influence in northern Greece). The writer, Luke, uses an interesting description for those Jews. “They were more noble than those in Thessalonica.” There was something that set them apart from the rest of their generation. They did not embrace the Cancel Culture of their day. They took what they heard and they checked it out against the most authoritative source possible – the Holy Scriptures. They found what Paul said was true, and they received it gladly.

Let’s be more like these Bereans and check things out before accepting or rejecting something for fear of being canceled. When we do, let’s make sure we compare it against something trustworthy. When we can, let’s take it to the most trustworthy source of all: the Bible.

Some

Acts 17:4 (ESV) – And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

I have a weakness. I want everyone to be happy. I am tempted to believe I have not succeeded unless everyone agrees with me, but that is not usually a realistic expectation. Most of the time, some people will not accept what we say. However, if we do our part, some will believe.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy arrived at what is still Greece’s second largest city, Thessalonica, and immediately followed their pattern of going to the Jewish synagogue and showing from the Jewish scriptures (what most Christians now call the Old Testament) that Jesus was the long promised Messiah and he needed to be crucified and rise from the dead (Acts 17:3). There is solid evidence for his claim, but as he reflected on this time in his first letter to those who did believe, Paul said there was more than just his own human words at work in the persuasion process. The Gospel came “not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction.” (I Thessalonians 1:6) Yet, in spite of all Paul’s humanly persuasive power and, more significantly, the Holy Spirit’s full conviction, only some believed. Yet, some did believe.

Although we may want everyone’s approval, we cannot use the rejection by some as a sign of failure or falsehood. It seems Paul and his friends were only able to be in Thessalonica for a few weeks on that first journey before those who rejected their message drove them out of town (Acts 17:5-9), but those who did believe experienced lasting life change and together became a great church. The mission was accomplished.

Not everyone will probably accept you and what you have to say, but some will. Say it.

A Female Leader

Acts 16:13-15 (NAS) – On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

One of the most controversial questions in American Christianity today is the place women should have in leadership. Two passages in Paul’s letters (I Corinthians 14:34-35 and I Timothy 2:11-15) have led many well-meaning Bible believing Christians and some entire denominations to assume Paul wrote these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to restrict all women in all churches in all times and all places from senior leadership in the church. Yet, a review of the entire New Testament’s dealing with the question shows that those two passages are best understood as restricting certain individual women who were divisive, distracting, and undermined the health of the churches in Corinth and Ephesus. Both of those books actually speak of women in public leadership and teaching roles in other passages. (See I Corinthians 11:5 and note than women spoke publicly and I Timothy 3:11 where Paul describes character traits necessary for church leaders and specifies “women” in that list in verse 11. Some translators chose to make this “deacons’ wives” instead. Although gunaikos can mean either woman or wife, there is no compelling reason to go with the latter and there is no “deacons’” in that verse explicitly or implicitly. These women led.)

A strong argument against prohibiting women from leading is the positive example of many female leaders throughout the New Testament. Lydia is one of those. Although we only read about her in three verses, in his insightfully efficient way, Doctor Luke tells us a lot about her in these few words.

1. Lydia’s name was Greek and not Hebrew - It meant “beautiful” or “noble” and traced its roots to the name of the Empire of Lydia that dominated what is now Western Turkey from about 1100 to 543 BC, when it was conquered by the Persian Emperor Cyrus. This was an appropriate name, given the location of her hometown in the land of that former empire.
2. She was away from her homeland – Thyatira was on the far side of the Aegean Sea from Philippi, and Lydia was on a working trip.
3. She was a successful businesswomen – Archeological findings substantiate Thyatira as a leading center of the dye trade in the Roman Empire, and purple was the most expensive and luxurious dye of all. The dye was historically derived from shellfish shells only found near the city of Tyre. It was so expensive that wearing purple cloth became a way to demonstrate wealth and power. To be traveling as a saleswomen of these expensive products and owner of a household indicates she was likely a woman of wealth herself.
4. She sought God – It seems Lydia was a God-fearing Gentile hungry to meet her creator. She had already been coming to the Jewish prayer gatherings by the river outside of Philippi.
5. She was open to learn more – She did not need to become a Jew or a Christian to enhance her business. She came because she sought a greater purpose for her life than any amount of wealth could provide.
6. She responded to the Gospel of Jesus with full commitment – As Paul spoke, “God opened her heart,” and she and her whole household (likely children, servants, and, perhaps, her husband) believed in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 16:14-15).
7. She led – Note that verse 15 stresses her whole household was baptized but verse 13 implies only women heard Paul’s first message. The best explanation is that after Lydia’s conversion, she led those in her influence to hear the Gospel from Paul, as well, and they responded for themselves. Verse 15 goes on to use specific leadership-oriented words to describe how she even led Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke to do something other than what they had planned: She “urged” (parekalesen) and “prevailed upon” (parebiasato) them to stay in her house.
8. She is the first named leader of the church Paul founded he seems to have treasured the most – As you read all the letters Paul wrote to the churches he founded, note their tone and the overall health of the churches, as well as Paul’s relationship with them. None has the depth of tenderness and appreciation as the Letter to the Philippians. Although that church had some struggles (as all still do today), there is a true sense of maturity and commitment to Christ of the first readers. Although she was not mentioned in that letter, Lydia’s leadership was likely part of setting that tone. She may have returned to Thyatira by that point, but her legacy lived on, and the Letter to the Philippians mentions two or three other female leaders by name, as well (Philippians 4:1-2). 

In my role as dean and professor at Southeastern University, I have seen hundreds of women God has gifted and called to lead step out and fulfill their callings in life changing ways. God’s mission is far too large to be limited to half of his team. 

When God Says, “No”

Acts 16:6-7 (ESV) – And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

Have you ever received a “No” from God without any idea what his “Yes” is? Perhaps you were doing what you thought he wanted you to but something was preventing you from moving forward. Maybe your leaders have told you they will not allow you to implement your new ideas. You may have run into a financial or relational barrier. There are also times we have a transcendent lack of peace that seems like it could be God’s way of saying, “No.”

If you have experienced any of those, you are in good company. After the apostle Paul, along with his new protégés Silas and Timothy, visited the churches of Lycaonia he and Barnabas planted on their first journey, it made sense they would keep going down the road to the largest city in the region – one of the largest in whole Roman Empire: Ephesus. It would make sense they would start a church in such an influential location. That could maximize efficient and effective growth of the Christian church. Yet, God said, “No.” We do not know if the “No” was a prophetic word, an internal sense of God’s direction, or something physically preventing the team from going to Ephesus, but they interpreted it as the Holy Spirit forbidding them to speak in the province of Asia, of which Ephesus was the capital. They had a similar experience as they tried to go north. This time, Luke wrote, “The Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.” They got two “Nos” from God without a “Yes.” That had to be frustrating. I don’t know about you, but I always want a “Yes” from God, but it doesn’t always come as I would prefer.

1.  Sometimes God’s “Yes” is clear and immediate – As we see throughout Acts and Paul’s letters, God often did give clear direction, sometimes through a vision, a dream, a prophetic message, or even an appearance of Jesus. In my book, I tell the story of how God clearly and unmistakably called us to leave the Pacific Northwest and move across the country to Southeastern University. God may speak clearly to you, as well. Be sure to do what he says.
2. Sometimes God will allow us to do what we want – We saw earlier that Paul took Timothy with him as a protégé because he “wanted” to (Acts 16:3). God confirmed that decision with a spiritual gift and fruitful ministry, but Paul’s personal desire seems to be the reason God said, “Yes.” I never received a prophetic message or divine visitation before proposing marriage to Keira, but I am sure glad I did. For over thirty years we have experienced God’s blessing on choosing what I wanted within the boundaries of clear biblical instruction.
3. Sometimes it takes a journey to get to “Yes” – Paul and crew kept walking even when they got the “No.” Note that this “No” was a “Not Here,” not a “Stop Your Mission.” Paul received a life mission on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9) many years before that included a call to share the message of Jesus. He kept doing what he knew he was called to do but did not do it where God said, “No.” Eventually, they came to Troas, and there, after a 400 mile journey on foot, God finally spoke to Paul through a night vision (Acts 16:9).
4.  Sometimes we need help from others to understand the “Yes” – Acts 16:10 is significant because, for the first time, Luke wrote himself into the story, as we see a pronoun shift from “they” to “we.” Notice what Luke, Timothy, and Silas did. They helped Paul interpret the vision he received of a man calling from Macedonia, across the Aegean Sea. There have been many times in my life someone I trusted helped me discern more clearly what God was calling me to do. Be open to the input of others.
5.  Sometimes today’s “No” can be a “Yes” on another day – Paul did get to stop at Ephesus at the end of this second journey, about two years later (Acts 18:11 & 19). He ended up spending over two years there on his third journey (Acts 19:10) and that church became one of the strongest and most influential churches in Christianity for the next couple of centuries. Why didn’t Jesus allow them to go sooner? We do not get to know. All we know is that the “Yes” did come in an incredible way later than Paul may have initially thought best.

Be open to any “Yes” God sends your way, but realize whatever kind of “No” God gives you means a much better future is in store if you will stay on the journey with Jesus.

Selecting a Protégé

Acts 16:2-3 (NIV) – The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.  Paul wanted to take him along on the journey.

Mentoring makes a difference. I can think of several people at different times of my life who invested in me, took me with them, or, through a single conversation, helped me understand things in a new way. These relationships have formed and shaped who I am and how I do things. We often call this kind of senior-to-junior, relationship-based, experiential training mentoring after Mentor, the older man Odysseus had supervise his son Telemachus while he was away from home fighting and returning from the Trojan War in Homer’s Odyssey.

In its classic form, mentoring takes time and focus. Most educational methods enable one instructor to teach several individuals. Mentoring provides situational and personal interaction that cannot happen in a larger group. As a result, most mentoring is one-on-one at least part of the time. Some mentoring can happen by chance and be of a short duration, but we see the apostle Paul demonstrate the classic pattern of mentoring by taking Timothy with him on his second missionary journey. This mentoring relationship continued until Paul’s death. The last letter we have from him was written to his protégé and contains words of parental intimacy that convey appreciation for the years of ministry together and a desire to be together as Paul’s execution drew near. (“Make every effort to come before winter.” II Timothy 4:21).

Although we can tell Paul mentored several other individuals throughout his ministry at a variety of levels, we see Timothy mentioned more through his letters than any other – thirteen times in his letters to churches. Paul even goes so far as telling the Philippians, “I have no one else like him.” (Philippians 2:20) Although we cannot know what words they shared on the road as they traveled in those early journeys, we do read the words Paul wrote to Timothy in two letters near the end of his life and some words Paul used to commend Timothy to the churches to which he sent him as a messenger and, sometimes, as a bishop. We also have Luke’s account in the Book of Acts, which gives us some insight into Paul’s selection of this closest protégé.

As Acts Chapter 16 begins, Paul sets off without his own mentor, Barnabas, after the split recounted in Acts 15. However, we know that relationship did not stay severed. (See I Corinthians 9:16) The split did motivate Paul to take Silas with him. They returned to check on some of the Lycaonian churches they founded on the first journey. They met Timothy in Lystra. Paul likely met him on the first journey as a boy, but this second journey started this special relationship. Why did Paul pick Timothy?

1)    Paul’s preference – There was something about Timothy that made Paul “want” to take him on the journey. Luke’s wording is specific. Taking Timothy was Paul’s decision and Paul’s desire. Paul had experienced the loneliness and challenges of First Century travel. Having two travel companions would increase safety and ability. Yet, it sounds like Paul also enjoyed being with Timothy. There was an intuitive connection; however, Luke is also clear there was sound reasoning for this decision.

2)    Timothy’s reputation - The Christians in the region – not just his own town of Lystra but also the city of Iconium twenty miles away – had good things to say about him. Even though he was of mixed race, perhaps Paul thought that might be more of a bridge than a barrier as he ministered to both Jews and Greeks. Paul must have taken Timothy’s reputation along with his own observations into account as he made the decision to take him on the journey.

3)    God’s confirmation – In both of his personal letters to Timothy, Paul refers to a special work of the Holy Spirit, likely at the time he left home in Acts 16, that confirmed God’s calling and gifting of Timothy for ministry. “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” (I Timothy 4:16) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (II Timothy 1:6) Paul and the elders of the church at Lystra laid their hands on Timothy to commission him for God’s work and they saw God give him a spiritual gift in that moment he would be able to use for the rest of his life in ministry.

Paul’s significant decision of who to take as a protégé involved three ways we can decide today. Paul’s wanting to take him seems to be intuitive but leaning on his reputation with those who knew best seems intentional and rational. Certainly, God’s confirmation was supernatural (what I call Catching God’s Story in How to Make Big Decisions Wisely). Yet, notice how the supernatural followed the more seemingly natural processes. Ideally, we do get all three in a big decision, and I always seek them, but this pattern of triple confirmation is not always the way God works. Let’s be open to all, though, and seek opportunities to help others fulfill their God-given potential.

When Friends Disagree

Acts 15:39 (NAS) – There arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another.

The first part of Acts 15 tells the story of a great reconciliation that threatened to divide the young Christian church. However, we cannot even finish reading that chapter before we come across the next disagreement, this time between two longtime colleagues and friends who had worked hard together on the same side to resolve the earlier dispute. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their next missionary journey, but Paul did not want to take him because he bailed early on the first trip. If God always revealed his specific will clearly to his faithful followers on every occasion, why did these two – who both took the title of Apostle (see Acts 14:14) – disagree so vehemently? Luke did not tell us which of them heard from God on the issue. Certainly, Paul had grounds to question the wisdom of taking John Mark on the trip again based on Mark’s earlier track record. However, Barnabas was one to invest in those others rejected.

So, who did hear from God? If we had been there at that moment, it sounds like either Paul or Barnabas would have been convinced the other missed God’s will and plan. That split had to hurt. I can imagine Barnabas thinking to himself, “After all I did for you, this is the way you will treat me? At first, I was the only one in Jerusalem willing to give you a chance. I walked all the way from Antioch to Tarsus to give you your start in ministry. I poured out my time and wisdom to help you started the right way. We have walked thousands of miles together, and you don’t trust my wisdom and ability to mentor John Mark, who is older and wiser now, knows what is involved in missionary work, and wants the second chance Jesus has given us? This hurts!”

Meanwhile, Paul might have thought, “I love you, Barnabas, but sometimes you are just too idealistic. So much is at risk when we take the Gospel to a new city. Remember Lystra? We almost died. Mark said some stupid things on that trip. If he says the wrong words, it could undermine the Gospel’s impact in that region. His griping was intolerable. I know you want to help your nephew, but this is not smart. It’s him or me!”

Luke never tells us which person was correct. However, painful it was in that moment, though, we do get to see three good outcomes:

1)    They covered twice as much ground – As two missions teams, they were able to visit two completely different areas. Paul and Silas eventually made it all the way to Europe while Barnabas and Mark worked throughout Cyprus.

2)    Barnabas’ mentoring of Mark made a difference – I would love to know what Barnabas did, but his mentoring of John Mark enabled him to become a faithful leader of the early church. He wrote the Gospel that bears his second name, likely the first Gospel written. Even Paul noted the change and took him on later journeys (Colossians 4:10). At the end of Paul’s life Mark was the one person besides Timothy Paul wanted with him. (II Timothy 4:11)

3)    Paul and Barnabas reconciled – We do not know exactly how or where the reconciliation happened, but Paul’s words about Barnabas in later letters show mutual respect and gratitude. (I Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:1, 9, and 13; Colossians 4:10)

I’d love to be able to tell you the right answer to every question will always be obvious to everyone involved, but that is not the case. Yet, the good news is that God can work anyway, sometimes with both sides of a rifted relationship. Just don’t let the bitterness remain. (Ephesians 4:32) Restore the relationship and agree to disagree.

Shouldn’t It Be Like This?

Acts 13:1 - Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

The church at Antioch provides an excellent model of what a church should be and do. That church was the foundation for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the Roman Empire. Its people fasted and prayed. (Acts 13:2) They were led by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:2) They gave generously to others in need. (Acts 11:29) They were committed to reaching others in their community with the Good News of Jesus, even when those others were of a different culture. (Acts 11:20) They were the sending church for all of Paul and Barnabas’s missions efforts. (Acts 13:3, 15:39-40, and 18:23) Everything the Antioch church did remains key to a healthy Gospel-focused church today. It is not surprising so much of the growth of the early church can be traced back to Antioch.

In his classic, deliberate precision, Doctor Luke gives as a brief picture of another unique aspect of the Antiochean Church, and that is its leadership. Five individuals are specifically named as prophets and teachers. We cannot tell for sure if Luke meant that all five people had both roles or if these five were just a few of many prophets and teachers at Antioch, but we can see an important diversity among these leaders.

We know the last person best. He was still called Saul at that point, but his common name switched to Paul later in that chapter. He was raised as Jewish as possible, yet not in Israel but in the city of Tarsus in what is today Turkey, even further from Jerusalem than Antioch. He went on to plant dozens of churches and write nearly half of the books in the New Testament.

We have discussed the first person on the list, Barnabas, in several other PowerWords. He was a Jew of the priestly tribe of Levi but raised on the island of Cyprus. (Acts 4:36) He was in Jerusalem as the fledgling Christian church began. He became one of its first and most generous donors (Acts 4:37) before taking on the mission of investigating the Antioch church as it started (Acts 11:22) then mentoring Paul (Acts 11:25) and later John Mark, author of the Gospel of Mark (Acts 15:37).

We do not read about Simeon called Niger anywhere else in the Bible or in any trustworthy First Century source, but Luke tells us enough about him for us to reasonably guess he was a black African. Niger, in Latin, means black and was used to describe those who were raised in Africa and had the dark skin that term conveyed.

Lucius was also from Africa. Today Cyrene is part of the country of Libya. Some speculate that Lucius may be the author Luke himself, since there is a record of the Luke (Loukas in Greek) being a nickname for some people in the Roman Empire with the given name of Lucius (Loukios in Greek). His name is not Jewish and the order Paul listed him in Colossians 4:11 and 14, as well as his writing style, make it seem he was likely a Gentile.

We know the remaining person on the list, Manaen, was raised with a ruler from the most powerful family in the region. The word often translated “raised with” (suntrophos) literally means “nursed together.” It could be he was a foster son in the Herodian family or a lifelong friend of Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee along with other regions, beheaded John the Baptist, and saw Jesus the day he was crucified. One thing was for sure, Manaen had influential friends, so he was likely influential himself.  

Notice how this impactful church had such a diverse leadership team. God used each of them to help form and shape the church and its mission. Each had a unique place of origin and background. Each contributed from their unique perspective. The church grew and its mission changed the world.

How to Stop a Fight

Acts 15:2 (ESV)  - And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnaba and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 

Have you been in a disagreement lately? Arguments can lead to real pain and anger and sometimes violence. Once deep, loving relationships might be permanently severed. Families, friendships, companies, churches, and even nations are split and may never recover unless those who have been hurt decide to get it worked out.

When we are convinced our position is correct and others disagree with us, it is natural for us to dig in with a firm resolution. We know we are right. Those on the other side are either stupid or they have bad motives and want to hurt us. In either case, the last thing in the world we want to do is to be in the same room with them, let alone talk through the painful issue.

Acts 15 tells about a time the young Christian church faced such a schism but chose to handle it the right way. It is easy for look back nearly 2,000 years and see Paul and Barnabas as the good guys and those who opposed them as the bad guys. Those in the other group were Christians (Acts 15:5), but they believed non-Jewish people had to become Jewish in every respect before they could become Christians. Yet, that group had history on its side. The Hebrew Bible had specific instructions for Gentiles who wanted to convert to Judaism. Why would those principles not apply in the Christian era, as well? They had good reason to think they were correct. Paul and Barnabas did, too.

This divide almost split the young church, but God had intervened in both a vision and the visible miracle of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to show Peter (respected by both sides of the debate) that Gentiles can come to Jesus without accepting all of the Jewish traditions. (Acts 15:7-11) The miracles and changed lives Paul and Barnabas had seen on their first mission gave even more evidence of this. (Acts 15:12) When both sides chose to sit down at the table together with other wise leaders, they listened to each other’s backstories to fully understand why the other side believed what they did. They then turned to the pages of the Bible to see what God had to say about the question. (Acts 15:16-18) Finally, the senior leader of the group – respected by both sides – spoke up to describe what they had all experienced to tell the new story that has been the church’s story ever since: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us to lay on you no greater burden.” (Acts 15:28) Since that day, we Gentiles who come to Jesus don’t need to first adopt all Jewish tradition. The church was reconciled and strengthened. Those who were almost enemies became friends again. This probably would never have happened had they not gotten together to work it out.

I know it is hard to sit down and work things out with someone who has hurt you or made you angry, but reconciliation is essential if you are going to see the best future possible.

Hand It Over

Acts 13:9 “But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked at him and said…”

This little verse in Acts 13 is loaded with significance for several reasons:

1)     This is the first time we see Paul’s name changed noted. Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, called him Saul in every occasion before this verse and never again calls him Saul after this. The most influential apostle and writer in the New Testament gets a new identity.

2)   Paul became the leader. Barnabas appears to be the team leader in all of their join activities before this. Barnabas took initiative to explain Paul’s conversion to the Jerusalem church (Acts 9:27). Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Paul to bring him to Antioch to help that growing church (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas led the team to Jerusalem with a relief offering (Acts 11:30). The Holy Spirit even called Barnabas’ name first at their commissioning during the Antioch Church’s prayer meeting (Acts 13:2). Yet, leadership swaps here, again by the work of the Holy Spirit, who fills Paul with the word and anointing for the miracle needed at the moment. Luke subtly shows this leadership transition a few verses later with the team now noted as “Paul and his companions” (Acts 13:13). As far as we can tell, Barnabas never voiced objection or resentment. He was happy to see his protégé go to a greater level of influence than he ever would.

3)   One previously filled with the Holy Spirit was filled again for a specific situation. Luke’s wording here expressly refutes a doctrine that would claim a Christian will receive all of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation that person will ever receive. Paul received the Holy Spirit shortly after first meeting Jesus on the Road to Damascus when Ananias laid his hands on him (Acts 9:17). Yet, Luke expressly adds the words “filled with the Spirit” here to indicate a fresh work of the Holy Spirit that enabled Paul to understand what Elymas was up to and how to respond to it. Paul’s bold initiative led to a miracle clearly visible to all.

4)   The region’s most influential leader became a Christian. As proconsul, Sergius Paulus was the highest ranking Roman ruler on the island of Cyprus, the third largest in the Mediterranean Sea. He would have been, by far, the most influential Christian anywhere to that point. Paul’s decisive, Spirit-led action help launch a strong Cyprian church still in existence today and took his own career to a new level that eventually led to Paul’s preeminence in early Christianity.

As a professor at two different universities, I have had the privilege of teaching hundreds of people called into God’s ministry. Many of them have gone on to far greater positions of influence than I will ever know. Can I be like Barnabas and willingly hand over that leadership and recognition? The Kingdom of God is best served when we each fulfill our part in that process and remember we are all working together for Jesus’ glory, not our own.