Alpine Chapel Online Bible Study

Acts 20:13-16

2010-03-10T12:30:00Z

"We went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself. When he met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. We sailed from there, and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost."

It is important to recognize tunnel vision when we see it.

Often, we think of 'being led by the Spirit' as a sort of wandering about. No clear direction, we just wait until God tells us to go somewhere and then we go there.

This is not what we see with Paul.

Paul has a plan. He will be picked up, after traveling by land, to Assos. Then they will travel by ship past Asia. Asia is too tempting. Paul would want to stay with believers too long, and he could not offord that if he was going to make it to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost.

When we make plans, we are not abandoning God's spirit, we are giving the Spirit room to work. We are providing a structure for what God wants to do.

The only danger in making plans is when we decide that our plans are ultimate.

Give your life structure, but let God move whenever He wants to.

Acts 20:7-12

2010-03-09T12:46:00Z

"On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Pal began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. There were many lamps n the upper room where we were gathered together. And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, 'Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.' When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted."

This is not necessarily a ringing endorsement for Paul's preaching. While he speaks, this boy, Eutychus, falls asleep. Then the boy falls out of a window and dies.

But here is what you can say about Paul: He seems to have faith in ways that we cannot see.

So Paul focuses on faith, and allows his faith to speak for itself.

Paul's faith leads him. It leads him to fall on this boy and proclaim him to live. It leads him to make statements that seem far-fetched to us. It leads him to live his life in a way that is transformed.

Des your faith transform your life?

Acts 20:1-6

2010-03-08T13:18:00Z

"After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundud from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas, but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days."

There is a specific reason these names are all included in Luke's account. It is not just a list.

Luke is trying to help us understand what cooperation looks like.

Paul has collected people of similar gifts. These are all church-planting missionaries. Most likely, all similar to Paul in one way or another. But the glorious thing about these people is that they are all from different walks of life. This is a team, assembled by God, ready for many obstacles. If they meat a woman who is from Asia, they have a couple of Asian language speakers. A man from Thessalonica? Secundud is from Thessalonica - he knows what ou experienced growing up.

This is what a team looks like. Often, in churches today, we are less concerned with teams and more concerned with individual preachers.

Here we get a glimpse into what effective team building looks like.

So, what do you do to build a team around you?

Acts 19:35-41

2010-03-05T12:37:00Z

"After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, 'Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemus and of the image which fell down from heaven? So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another, but if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.' After saying this he dismissed the assembly."

This town clerk is doing a great job of keeping the law in place at Ephesus. He knows how to do his job. He is also removing the possibility of charges against his city being filed from the Roman government. Ephesus had religious freedom because they were peaceful about it.

Here is the irony of the Christian faith. It is normally anything but peaceful. Faith in God causes riots in our souls. Faith in God is more a sword than a plowshare. Faith in God moves us to passion, not contentment.

Paul is found in the middle of this quandary, as we often are. Do I resist the passion of Christ in order to keep everyone content?

In the next verses, we will find out what Paul does. But what about you? Is a peaceful lifestyle your idol?

There is nothing wrong with peace, but peace does have a price.

Acts 19:28-34

2010-03-04T12:30:00Z

"When they heard this they were enraged and shouted, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' The city was filled with the confusion; and people rushed together to the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's travel companions. Paul wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let them; even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater. Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people. But when they had recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'

It is true that we, as humans, often forget how to live. It is more true of the mob.

Here we see what happens when an entire city is swayed by the words of a man who wants to make a profit, no matter what. Artemis told the leaders of the city that Paul was trying to make them fail. Now Paul's companions and friends are all about to die by the hands of a mob that refuses to look at both sides.

Herein lies our task as Christians: To listen to both sides. Not to be swayed by the mob. To search for truth.

It is so easy to be caught up in hate. So easy to give in to popular opinion.

We must work for the Truth!

Acts 19:23-27

2010-03-03T12:33:00Z

"About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, 'Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."

Here is the problem with Christianity: It will not leave us alone.

God seems to be determined to give us better lives, even when we refuse them.

These business men, led by Demetrius, are in the same boat that we often find ourselves in.

They are choosing what is really good for themselves: Money, power, prosperity...

Instead of choosing what is the best: Jesus.

Please do not be confused. God is better for our souls than all else. Look to Him today.

Acts 19:18-22

2010-03-02T12:24:00Z

"Many also of those who believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and they began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome.' And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while."

Who is the winner here? God.

And there is an interesting phenomenon that occurs whenever God is the winner. His people turn out to be winners as well. It almost seems like Paul can do nothing wrong here, but the truth is: The word of the Lord was growing.

We often wonder why there is no power in our preaching. Why our lives seem devoid of strength.

Paul has it figured out here. Give to God all the glory. Do what you can, not so you will be glorified, but so the word of God will increase.

When we place God at the center of our will - we will begin to see God's will.

Acts 19:11-17

2010-03-02T12:02:00Z

"God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, 'I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.' Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, 'I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?' And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon all of them and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified."

God never leaves us alone, but He does often choose one or two of us to really show power through.

God is using Paul to work far beyond what Paul would have been able to do by himself. In fact, it almost seems as though Paul is merely a host to the power of God, more than he is an active participant. Everyone around wants to get in on the power of God, and so Paul has a great opportunity here. Paul has the option of pointing to Christ, instead of pointing to himself.

We get the feeling that Paul must have done something incredible to be used by God like this. The only incredible thing he did, however, was to recognize true power when he saw it.

Where is your focus today? Are you looking to where God is or to where you are?

Turn your eyes on the One who loves.

Acts 19:8-10

2010-02-16T11:43:00Z

"And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."

Paul moves from place to place speaking about Jesus. This is the way he operates. This is the way he feels called.

But do not think of him as a temporary visitor, Paul also understands how important investment is.

When the people begin complaining about the Way, that is the family of believers in the Way, Paul finds a different venue. He was preaching in the synagogue, now he looks for a school.

Paul refuses to give up on this city, though they fight against his words. And for two years, Paul works toward the harvest.

How would you handle this disappointment? Would you adjust your style so that people would still hear about Jesus? Would you run to another place?

Investment is the only way to see changes made in people... to bring them Life.

Acts 19:1-7

2010-02-12T13:23:00Z

"And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples, and he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said to him, 'No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said,'Into what then were you baptized?' And they said, 'Into John's baptism.' And Paul said, 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. And there were in all about twelve men."

There is a reason why doctrine is important in the church. Good, solid doctrine leads to a better knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Paul comes upon some disciples in Ephesus. He asks them a couple of questions because he wants to know exactly where they are in their faith. When they tell him that they have been baptized, but in John's baptism, he must pause.

John was a great man - but he is dead. Jesus is the center of our faith. Jesus is the center of our baptism.

Apollos did not know that when he baptized these men. But now, there was some correction to be done.

All of us need correction at times as well. Praise God for these disciples who accepted it readily.

Today, maybe you would find a way to have your doctrine strengthened. Go to church. Talk to a minister. Speak with a counselor. Pray that God speaks to you. Read a tough section of the Bible...

Acts 18:24-28

2010-02-09T13:12:00Z

"Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he helped greatly those who had believed through grace; for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ."

Here we meet the man Apollos.

Apollos is proof that God still works in the lives of men and women in nontraditional ways. Thanks to Priscilla and Aquilla for recognizing God's work when it wasn't they way they were used to seeing Him.

So they speak to Apollos and fill in the blanks. They stand in the gap. They love him into knowledge.

Are you willing to look at God's work in people and accept the fact that He is working? Are you willing to stand in the gap and let people know what God is doing?

Will you be the one to show who God really is?

Acts 18:18-23

2010-02-09T11:36:00Z

"And Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquilla. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. And when they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, but taking leave of them and saying, 'I will return to you again if God wills,' he set sail from Ephesus. And when he had landed and Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch. And having spent some time there, he departed and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples."

I love the faith that Paul exhibits here. Faith in God, yes, but also faith in man.

He continues to go to the Jews, he continues to love and have hope for a people that seemingly have lost hope in Jesus.

The Jews are like the Gentiles, they both have great opportunity to see God. But because the Jewish people were so close to the plan, many people lost faith in their ability to see. Not Paul.

Paul realizes that just because someone does not see the plan of God right away, that does not mean that they will never see the plan of God. So Paul continues to go to the Jewish people, at God's prompting. He continues to show them love and acceptance.

If we had faith in God, we would learn to have faith in His transformational power. That leads to faith in humans.

We live in a fallen world, we need a little more faith in humans.

Acts 18:12-17

2010-02-09T00:18:00Z

"But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, saying, 'This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.' But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, 'If it were a matter of wrong of a vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; but if there are questions about words or names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.' And he drove them away from the judgment seat. And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. And Gallio was not concerned about any of those things."

First of all, these accusers are correct. Paul was speaking contrary to the law. He was speaking about the grace of life... the way Jesus touches us with love and not legalism. Many people miss the true implications of serving God over serving law.

But look at Gallio's reaction to the people. It is one of complete negligence. He is washing his hands of their decision as well as their ideas.

In this world, we often find people in the same boat. Unconcerned with our lifestyle. They wash their hands of us and the God we worship.

Our hope is to help people notice God.

Acts 18:8-11

2010-02-05T21:17:00Z

"Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, 'Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.' And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them."

What would it take for you to learn boldness?

Paul was challenged directly by God. God spoke in a vision and told Paul not to be afraid. Why not be afraid?

Because God has more people in the city than you know about.

In other words: Don't be lonely. You have friends - you may not know who they are right now. That is fine. God has hidden people there.

My favorite verse is 2 Kings 6:16: Do not fear, for those that are with us are greater than those who are with them.

Church - do not be timid. Those that are on our side, though we may not see them now, are greater than those that are against.

Be bold!

Acts 18:1-7

2010-02-03T21:27:00Z

"After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth, and he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent makers. And he was reasoning in the Synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the Word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own hands! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.' Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue."

Here we see the concept of best practice. Paul says that he becomes a slave to the slaves... That is what he is doing here. He is giving up his rights in order to reach people for Christ.

He tries to reach the tent makers by having a trade.

He tries to reach the Jews by devoting himself to the Word.

He tries to reach the Gentiles by living next door to the synagogue.

This is sacrifice, and it is effective. It works.

What will you do to see Christ be realized in your area? What is sacrifice to you?

Acts 17:29-34

2010-02-03T16:12:00Z

"Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art or though of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has a fixed day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, 'We shall hear you again concerning this.' So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius and others with them."

Paul is trying to convince the Athenians of their possible relationship with God. He tells them here, they are all equal in getting to know God. An artist does not have a better view of God. A sinner does not have a worse view of God. And intelligence is not the ultimate way to find Him.

Paul does say that God has a command for all men: repent.

God is now declaring that all men everywhere repent.

God has chosen us. All of us.

What has God chosen us for? Repentance... All of us.

He will judge THE WORLD, not merely a section of it.

How will you deal with your equality?

Acts 17:21-28

2010-02-02T11:52:00Z

"(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.) And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagas and said, 'Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He hiself gives to all life and breath and all things; and he made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.'"

The Athenians had a custom of following whatever was new. They loved the fresh, the exciting life of discovery.

But there is a problem with only loving what is new, and that is the temporary nature of newness.

So Paul flips their belief structure on its head.

Paul tells them about the living God. Living, as in 'has always been, but is still new every day.'

Paul says, this is the God that you have missed almost completely.

Are we missing the living God? Who was and is and is to come.

Acts 17:16-20

2010-02-01T13:14:00Z

"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present, and also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, 'What would this idle babbler wish to say?' Others, 'He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,' because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, 'May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; we want to know therefore what these things mean.'"

Paul finds himself in the midst of the knowledge capitol of the world, and all because he listened to the provocation of his spirit.

Often we are provoked as well. It can be difficult to listen to what we don't understand completely. But we hear, non-the-less. What will we do with that provoking?

Paul heard the Spirit say to his spirit, 'Go!'.

So he went to the synagogue, and the market place, and the philosopher's center. Anywhere he could because that was what obedience meant to him.

How will you deal with the provocation of your spirit? Today?

Acts 17:10-15

2010-01-26T21:42:00Z

"The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. But when the Jews of Thessolonica found out the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come as soon as possible, they left."

There are a couple of important things we see in this verse:

One is the 'when it rains, it pours,' concept. Once opposition hit the gospel message, it kept coming. Amazing what people will do to keep the power they think they have. These opposers would not let go - just like Paul when he was known as Saul.

The second point to notice here is the fact that, no matter how much opposition was present, the word of the Lord still saved people's lives. Paul and Silas were still effective. This is not because of man, it is because of God.

In fact, you will notice that the only thing Paul and Silas continually did was show up and talk about God.

Maybe that is our call today: Show up and talk about God.

Acts 17:1-9

2010-01-26T19:38:00Z

"Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.' And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. But the Jews becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, 'These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.' They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them."

Paul and Silas have a plan of action. They go to cities and begin talking at the synagogues. There is a specific reason for this. Paul is comfortable speaking to intellectuals. He IS an intellectual.

So the two go first to the synagogue. They speak to people who have a faith that they understand well.

That is why the people of Thessalonica believed. They spoke the same language of intellect. The Bible says that Paul reasoned with them. They understood this as well. Paul and Silas learned how to listen and teach.

What about you? Have you learned how to tell people about Jesus? Have you learned how to reach people that are like you?

If we are going to see people's lives changed, we must teach them about the way.