Acts & The Life of Paul | Lecture 11 : BC302-Acts-20260914

Good morning and welcome to class everyone. >> Hope you had a good uh weekend and worship. That's great. Okay, so let's pray and uh let's commit this time into God's hands. Let's pray. Father Lord, we thank and praise you for this day. We thank you for your presence in our lives. We thank you for your word and the work of the Holy Spirit. Lord, we pray that you will open up our eyes and our hearts, Lord, to the truth of your word. And Father, may our understanding be deepened. May our lives be strengthened more and more in you. Lord, we uh pray especially that as we study the book of Acts, oh God, that we will become people who will carry the fire of uh the spirit and uh people who make an impact wherever you have called us. We thank you once again. We pray, we speak and declare your blessings upon all the students and uh uh their families. We submit this time into your hands in Jesus name we pray. Amen. So let's uh get back to what we were learning. We were in act seven. What can you recall about act seven? Yes. A man uh called Stephen who was martyed. And what are some uh character character descriptions of Stephen that we can see in Acts chapter Full of faith, full of holy spirit. Anything else? >> Yes. Full of the spirit who did mighty signs and wonders. Um so overall we can see that he was truly a disciple. Somebody who uh left behind a great example for all of us. And in Stephen's answer, remember there was a group that came against him. So in his answer to those people what can we understand about him? >> Yes. Very well versed in scripture. Anything else we can see. You could share from your own understanding. No problem. >> Yes. So he quoted from the lives of the patriarchs to say what what was his conclusion. You can scan through the chapter to give your points. >> [snorts] >> How about the online students? Any any idea? What did he talk? What did he defend? He defended Jesus, the the prophet who had been uh spoken of in the Old Testament. True. So he ultimately came to the conclusion that Jesus is the prophet that uh somebody like Moses also prophesied about. Right? So yeah that is true. Any other any other truths that he brought out in his defense? [snorts] Mike I think Mike please because students are not in >> and after mentioning of all the patriarchs Moses uh this uh he also mentioned that you are stiff necked and you resist the holy spirit >> yes so the fact that the people have been so stubborn and it's nothing new they have been like this even from the time of the forefathers. So he points to the heart attitude of the listeners. So that is there. But also we have to see that he's talking about the tabernacle about a place that Solomon built. But the conclusion is that God does not really dwell in these places, right? God is beyond these places and that [snorts] uh he actually made his home in Jesus. So he's kind of coming to that point but even before he can fully explain himself the people get upset with him, they get angry with him and they go ahead and stone him. Right? So that that's what we see happen. So what are some things that we can say about his stoning? >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> We we saw that in the last class. So when he was being stoned, what in all happened? >> Right? He saw heaven open. He saw Jesus standing uh at the right hand of God. [snorts] Uh and uh he said into your hands I commit my spirit and then he also like Jesus said forgive them right because they have no understanding of what they are doing. So [snorts] God gives him an encounter before he faces the hardest I mean we can say that hardest part of his life here on a journey here on earth where God meets with Stephen and uh we don't know how his heart was in those moments for us it's painful because he's dying he's being stoned he's rejected there's nobody there to protect him But God may have given him that courage, the peace that he needs to face even death at that moment. So we don't know but surely God gave him an encounter and uh uh that would have impacted him in a mighty way. So Stephen is a great example. He's mentioned only in two chapters. But if all of us could be like Stephen, the church would be a different place. So what what a great example he left for us. So is it uh necessary that everyone becomes a matter for Christ? It's not. It's not. God doesn't want that we should become a matter. Right. Um so usually people ask the question it isn't it a um sign of great commitment if I can die for the cause of Christ what would be your answer for that martyrdom like remember in Acts 4 the apostles said um We we are very happy to suffer for the name of Jesus. So it was a matter of pride. How about dying for Christ is it's a matter of pride also. But uh should we desire that? Should we say Lord I'm ready to die for you. What would be your opinion on that? Okay, I can see some yes on the chat. No here, but uh no explanation why. Okay, we we don't have to aim at being a martr. We all agree. But why? Why can't we aim? Why can't that be the dream? Okay, I want to die for Christ. Sounds very nice, but why can't we do that? >> Yeah. So, I like the statement pastor usually says we are more useful to God alive than dead. >> [laughter] >> So there is so much to do when we are alive. So God ra would rather have us alive than dead. Then how do you explain martyrdom? Was it God's plan that Stephen should die? >> Yeah. So it was not if whenever people um die before their time, it is never God's plan. And there are many scriptures in the Old Testament that also talk about I will fulfill the number of your days. These are all covenant promises. Healing we know there are so many scriptures because Jesus has bought our healing. So people dying before their time is not God's plan at all. But it happens, right? Like Stephen's case, it happened. Other people's situation, it happens. Why? Why is it happening? It's not God's plan, but it is happening. Why do we what we can say about that? >> Yeah. >> Uncertain. Okay. Uncertain. See, we also know that this world um this world has the interference of Satan. >> So there are many reasons we we really don't understand fully why somebody died before that time. Uh but it's a battle. Now in that battle we don't we don't get everything every reason why only one thing we know it's not God's plan for someone to go with their uh lifetime incomplete but there can be many factors now on this side of our life [snorts] we may not know the reason we can always ask God why did this happen Why? Why? Why? But we may not get to know the answer. Sometimes we can get to know the answer. But sometimes we will not get to know the answer. So then how should our attitude be when we don't know the answer? Even after we we um go to heaven, you know, we say that I will ask God, right? How many of you think like that? When I meet God, I will ask him why this, that, and something else. What if God says, "I don't want to tell you. [laughter] What will we do?" Huh? Request. But see, God is omnisient and very wise. He may feel it's not necessary for you to know. Then what to do? See the answer is simple. We can't have all the answers, right? We should be ready to live life without some answers. It's hard. It's so hard. But is our faith so strong that even when I don't have some answers in my life, I can still trust in God and live for him? That is real faith. So it's hard thing but we need to so we usually refer to Deuteronomy 29:29 you know that uh passage says that the secret things belong to the lord right but then uh there are things that he has revealed to the sons of men. So there are some things in life which fall in that category secret things or things that only God knows why. Even Stephen's case, we can ask Lord why why did he die? Such a good man, we don't know. We won't always have the answers. So sometimes we just have to let it go and trust that God is good and God is wise. So uh he knows best and then we carry on with our journey of faith. So yes, this is about Stephen. Yes, Sonia. Yeah. >> Yeah. [clears throat] So, pastor, if if um uh you know, premature death is not uh God's will and plan, >> Yeah. >> God could have intervened and stopped it. So perhaps we could say it is his sovereign will that um this actually happened. Could it could that be? Um >> huh. So, uh I I see where you're coming from. I understand that logic. Um, but based on scripture, what we can see is that in the Old Testament, there are enough and more scriptures that talk about God wanting to give a full life to people and uh Jesus or the coming Messiah paying for the healing. Healing is for what? So that they can continue to live. So based on this we understand that God is always a healer. He never wants to uh cut short anybody's life. So when we use the word sovereign will it means God wants it to happen. Whereas scriptures tell us that God doesn't want people's lives cut short. So that's where we are coming from uh Sonia. So to say that uh it was God's sovereign will for a person's life to be cut short the way Stephen's is right here may not be concurrent with scripture >> but then God could have intervened right it's like Steven was a righteous man like we say okay if we have opened a door we allow sin and we then tie God's hands but Steven was a righteous man he is you know doing uh God's work uh doing you know what God had planned for him his purpose. So in such a case um you know then you know God can do anything he can't you know he could have intervened and perhaps uh stopped that uh stoning and killing >> but he did not. >> Yes. So uh when we read about uh God creating the earth, we also say that the earth has been given or entrusted to mankind. So Psalm 115 says uh you know the uh earth the heavens belong to the lord but the earth he has given to the sons of men. So that is a picture of complete delegation. Meaning yes God can intervene but there are many things where he will not intervene because it has already been entrusted under the care of man. So here in in the world there are things that are happening where we say God why are you not you know why are you not coming and rescuing? But then God has delegated. He will not come in like that. Right? So uh so that is one thought. Yeah. You can think about it. I know we are trying to process a lot here. Um secondly, persecution. Jesus said in this world you will have tribulation but take heart. I have overcome the world. We are promised protection from sickness, disease, um you know, death, all of that. But when it comes to persecution, Jesus faced persecution and he said, "If they treated me like this, will they not treat you?" You know, if they treat the teacher like this, will they not treat the uh disciples the same way? So there is no immunity against persecution. So persecution is one area where Jesus has clearly told us we will face it. We are not going to be um immune to it or you know as if it's not going to happen. It will happen to us. He's already told us that. So in the area of trials, tribulations which comes in the category of persecution, believers can expect it because Jesus said it will happen to you. >> Okay. just to ask pastor Nancy to comment about the place of free will that God has given us a free will and he will not control our free will. >> Yes. >> So that he has given us the ability to do what we will. So if it's evil, it leads to evil. Like this man decided to kill >> um Steven. So um God could not I in the sense that it was a free will and God was not going to come in and stop that cuz he has given us that ability >> to choose either to do good or to do evil. >> Yes. So the third aspect as Juliana pointed out is free will and even because of that when people are choosing evil God is not interfering immediately in that situation and there is a timeline to things right it's not like he's not going to judge he will judge but there's a time to it so yeah uh Sonia you can think about it you don't have to tell uh you know us if you agree completely [laughter] >> yeah thank you pastor >> yeah sure thank Thank you. Okay. So that's a little bit about uh martyrdom. So you can think about it and we can always come back for more discussion. Now let's go to chapter 8. Uh we have seen Stephen marted and one more thing that we needs a special mention is that the clothes of Stephen were brought and placed at the feet of Saul. Who is Saul at this point? persecutor. But from which group is he? >> It's there in chapter 7. [snorts] Chapter six. actually >> verse 9. >> Silicia. Correct. So um some from what is called the synagogue of the freed men. It's a synagogue but it has people from different places. Cissia, Sirene, Alexandria and some parts of Asia. We will come to know now that Clesia is a place of Saul. That's where he grew up. That's why he uh was trained under whom? Under >> Gamaliel. Yes. The very wellrespected Pharisee. So please keep this in mind that Saul was very much involved in the persecution at this point. So now let's go ahead. We'll go to chapter 8. [snorts] Okay. So um before we begin I want to show a map. I don't know whether the on campus students have some gadgets. >> It's there. Okay. Fine. >> Yeah. So, it is there in your notes. You can have a look at it. I'll also project right now. Till now where where was all the action contained in the book of acts? Where was everything happening? Jerusalem. >> Right. But from chapter 8, we will look at what we can term as missions uh and also crosscultural missions because we will have one of the people from the church of Jerusalem go to a place called as Samaria. Okay. So that's a new thing because till now everyone is concentrated within Jerusalem and the people within Jerusalem are the ones that are hearing the gospel and they are coming to Christ. But in the book of Acts from Acts chapter 8 the focus is also shifting outside Jerusalem. Now maybe maybe there were other people who had already gone and started sharing outside but uh Luke doesn't talk about it. What we can see written in the Bible uh is obviously from acts chapter 8 where we see one disciple going and ministering outside Jerusalem. So if you carefully look at the map there are some regions that we can uh consider regions means [snorts] here in India we say states districts those kind of terms are used. So here also in um in the map this is the olden older map if you compare today's map with this it may not fit. So in the older map you can see the regions. We have a [snorts] region called as Judea and then in Judea we have our city Jerusalem the famous city where the spirit of God was poured out and uh the day of Pentecost was celebrated. And then when we go up north, we come to the Samaria region. Is Samaria familiar? Yeah. From where? >> Yes, correct. John chapter 4, when Jesus is walking through Samaria and he meets a Samaritan woman and how he uh tells her words of knowledge and she's so touched by it. her whole life is transformed. So this is a Samaran region and in Samaria you could even point to the city or the capital as you can see here Samaria and then there's a dot here. So that's the city itself uh where we will now have this person Philillip go and minister. But as we read Acts chapter 8, you will also hear about some other places Ciseria. So just have a look. It's along the the coast you have right up north there's a place called as Ciseria. And then we would also uh read the name of Gaza. Okay. So it's right here. Now if you want to compare these places exactly as to how they are today it may not it may not gel. So don't try to do that. This is the old 1st century AD map as you can see Israel at the time of Jesus 1st century AD. Now [snorts] what is the specialtity about this place? uh the Samaran region it had Samaritans who are a mixed race. They were people who had intermarried with the Assyrians. Assyrians as considered by Israelites are you know pagans. They are not uh godly people. But way back in history when the Assyrians conquered the southern part like Judah, they forced people to intermar. And so what happened is the descendants became a mixed race. So the Samaritans are not purely Jewish. They are Jew Jew and Assyrian. So when [snorts] the Jews thought about the Samaritans, they didn't respect them. for them it was like oh mixed race you're not pure like us. So there were all these cultural issues between uh Samaria and uh you know people from Judea or the Jews. So this is something for us to keep in mind as we discuss further. Is it clear? Okay fine. Now let's get into our discussion. So, Acts chapter 8 begins with Saul consenting to the death of Stephen, which tells us that [snorts] Saul is a hardcore persecutor. He's very happy to see the death of uh a believer, anyone. If you proclaim you're in Jesus Christ, we'd rather have you dead. So he's he was consenting meaning consent is in agreement to the death of believers. Does he look like a leader of the persecutors? >> Yeah, because they went and laid the clothes of uh Stephen at his feet. So he's like that. He's one of the chief persecutors. And the Bible says verse one of uh chapter 8, a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem. Now when persecution happens [snorts] sometimes people may choose to leave that place because it's very hard to even live there and protect your family, take care of your family. So even at this time in the first century church they decided to move out. So verse one says they scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. So the map is in our minds. Judea is south, Samaria is north. So from the city of Jerusalem, people have gone all over the place. But apostles have to be there. because they cannot leave the the base church. Do you remember when we studied about apostolic ministry, we said that the apostles become the target of persecution and they also have to take more responsibility. They can't just leave and run away, right? People have left, but apostles have to face it no matter what. So they are still in Jerusalem and they're facing the the heat of persecution. So from the words that Luke is writing [snorts] we can understand that the situation is bad. There arose a great persecution and so people have left. Apostles have stayed. [snorts] Verse two, the uh devout men they carried Stephen and they buried him and they made a great lamentation over him. Meaning they were all crying for Stephen. And [snorts] verse three, Saul made havoc of the church entering every house and dragging off men and women committing them to prison. [snorts] So Saul is engaging in active persecution. You know we say active ministry like that you have active persecution by Saul. He is so passionate about the law about the Jewish uh faith that he is not sparing common man. See, it is one thing to go after the apostles, but [snorts] now persecution has become so bad that they're entering houses, house by house. If you're a believer, they come to the house. And even those days, they had some compassion for women. Like they might persecute men, but you know, some a little bit of restraint when you consider women. But in what we are reading it sounds very bad house to house and also dragging both men and women meaning zero compassion. These are terrible times that happened in Judea and uh uh you know the entire region. So keep that in mind. >> [snorts] >> Now what can we what can we understand by the people were scattered? Persecution arose and people were scattered. So what can we expect from it? They were not >> sure [clears throat] >> hide it. Um yeah could be some may hide their faith when they go to a new place. Uh but later we will read when we come to Acts chapter 11 that a group of believers were the ones who established the church of Antioch another new church. So what we what we see is that when believers were scattered, they were actually taking the faith out. It was not limited only to Jerusalem anymore. People were also like it's literally like becoming a missionary. So thank God for that. See persecution [snorts] worked in the advantage of the church where people went but they took the gospel with them and the gospel started spreading across. So persecution can persecution stop the gospel? >> No. >> No. Remember Gamaliel said if it is a work of God nobody can stop it. And we know now 2,000 years even now the gospel is being proclaimed. So it's a work of God. Nobody can stop it. Persecution only made it worse right in the sense that the gospel went outside Jerusalem. Now they're not able to control. So if you remember when [snorts] we started the book of acts maybe I mentioned forest fire. So the book of acts is like that. You start a fire in one corner, you can't control it now. It's out of control. Everywhere the fire is spreading. So even if people are pouring water in one direction, it's spreading in another direction. You can't contain it. So from Acts 8, it's spreading all across the region. As Jesus said in Acts chapter 1:8, you shall be my witnesses Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. So already now uh the gospel will start spreading to the next part Samaria. So based on this, how can we uh how can we take care of our churches today? How can we prepare our churches today? >> [clears throat] >> When [snorts] persecution comes, people will go to different places. But in today's world, not just because of persecution, but even jobs. Don't you think people are traveling so much they'll go settle in another state, another country? So how should a pastor prepare their people? >> Exactly. So we are always a missionary. That mindset of missions should be there in a believer. [snorts] As pastors, if we only teach them, you will be blessed, you will be blessed, you know, your life will be blessed. If it's always about me, me, my family, my family, people get that mindset. They're only thinking about how to make their life better. But while enjoying all the blessings, we need a missionary mindset. Meaning, I need to share the gospel. Whom can I reach out? Apostolic. Remember, every believer can be apostolic. So, thank God the church of Jerusalem had apostolic believers. Even if they went somewhere else, they were planting churches. They were sharing the gospel. So, the church of Jerusalem equipped them to be missionaries. So, even today's church, we need to equip our believers to be missionaries. So even like our youth group like if I recall today [snorts] so many people went all over India to so many different countries today when we call them we get in touch with them what are you doing they're part of a church and in that church people are coming from different nations and our people are sharing they are preaching they're leading worship they're making an impact it's such a blessing And in today's setting, sometimes people only stay in one city for two years, not even sometimes just one year. So there's a young person if you get an engineering job in a company in Bangalore, one year you're here, next year you're in Switzerland, right? You're in America, you're all over the place. No problem. The church should equip the believers in such a way. you are a missionary in your workplace or in the city where God is going to take you proclaim the gospel, preach the word. So the church of Jerusalem did that. Today's churches also have to do that. That's when we are going to impact the world. Otherwise, you're only depending on the pastor to go here, go there. That is that is a job half done. Right? So the missionary mindset is something we learn from the book of acts. People were prepared and people were going all over impacting the regions. So now we come to what exactly is going on [snorts] from verse 4. So verse four says those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Wow. It's an advantage for the church now. Persecution also is not able to stop them. Then now verse five introduces to us Phillip. Who is Phillip? [snorts] >> Yes. He is one of the seven volunteers who was chosen in uh act six to serve food. Right. Uh Steven was one. Philip is also another one. Is this Philillip the disciple of Jesus? No. So don't confuse that's different. Disciple apostles that's different. This Philillip is a volunteer in church. So verse five says Philillip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. So we know we have seen the map where he has gone. [snorts] And thank God. Verse six says, "Multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philillip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did." Sounds like Stephen only, isn't it? Mighty man filled with the Holy Spirit, doing miracles, preaching the gospel. And uh even for a volunteer, it says multitudes are coming. They are listening. So uh people from the church of Jerusalem are very dynamic right. It would be lovely to just go back and see how they did this. So now many people are coming [snorts] and uh verse 7 also says unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many who have possessed and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. So what can we uh say here? Deliverance is happening, healing is also happening. So preaching of the gospel, we have miracles, deliverance, healing. Even a volunteer in the church of Jerusalem is holding a crusade. See how it is so amazing. It is wonderful. So this ministry [snorts] is like the ministry of Jesus. preaching, teaching, healing. So the supernatural is being demonstrated uh mightily. And look at verse eight. Following the ministry of Philip, it says there was great joy in that city. So today when you and I go for mission trip, we preach, miracles should happen, healing should happen. Then what do we what do we take to that place? Joy. So when God's power is demonstrated, people rejoice, right? So we leave behind joy in that city. So when Philip went for missions, there was joy in that city. So keep that in mind. When we do missions, when we go, let there be joy in that city. Let there be the power of Holy Spirit demonstrated in that city. Okay? So he's doing a great work basically. Now we will read about a person by the name of Simon. So as we continue in the uh scriptures below, would [snorts] anyone like to read it from verse 9 to verse 13? >> Uh now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He uh boosted that he was someone great and all the people both high and low gave him their attention and exclaimed uh this man is a divine power known as the great power till >> till 13. >> Okay. They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the uh name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized and he followed Philip everywhere astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. Amen. >> Wow. Praise God. Thank you uh brother Shiraj. So we can uh notice that even a person like Simon, Simon is introduced as a sorcerer [snorts] meaning he was involved in um black magic and spirituality. Um and what was excuse me what was he called by the people? a great power of God. Right? So he was called as a great power of God [snorts] and that shows us that whatever he did was supernatural. Otherwise why will people call somebody great power of God? But even for Simon the supernatural demonstrated by Philillip was astonishing. Isn't Isn't that brilliant [snorts] that uh even a mighty person in the kingdom of darkness has not even seen anything of the kingdom of God that a volunteer when a volunteer is uh ministering healing and miracles [snorts] this sorcerer is astonished he says wow how are you doing all these things it's so incredible So there were [snorts] people who believed and there were also and also Simon himself believed. So can we say that Simon became a believer? Yes or no? Clearly the Bible says he became a >> believer. He was even waterbaptized along with other men and women. [snorts] And uh he continued with Philillip meaning we can we can assume that he was following the teachings of Philillip at this point. So he's a believer going to church fellowship and growing in the lord. [snorts] Okay. So we have seen till here. Now let us continue. We we see that Simon the sorcerer desires something. Okay. So in the next section which is from verse 14 to verse 25 Peter and John come to Jerusalem. Would anyone like to read it? We have only 3 minutes. Maybe we can read and then we'll pick it up. >> No. When the apostle who were at Jerusalem heard that sim Samaria had received the word of God, then uh they sent Peter and John to them uh who when they heard uh come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet he had uh fallen uh upon none of them, they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Uh and when Simon saw that through the lay laying of the apostle hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God uh could be purchased with money. You have uh neither part nor portion of this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore uh of this your wickedness and pray God if perhaps that the thought thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you were you are poisoned by bitterness and born by iniquity. Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken may come may come upon me." So when they have testified and preached the word of lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. >> Yes. Thank you. So at this point we can only uh touch on one insight and [snorts] that is the apostles Peter and John come to Samaria when they hear that the people of Samaria have received the word of the Lord. So this is also apostolic ministry. You remember we said that you have a base church and then the apostles from there they will go to the sister churches or the daughter churches to strengthen. So that is what is going on. They don't leave the church of Jerusalem but the apostles heard that Philip is doing good work in Samaria. So they're going to support him now. And how are they supporting? they are ministering the baptism in the Holy Spirit. So we need to remember that in the early church baptism of the Holy Spirit was very common. First they'll go preach when people accept Christ. Second they will pray for them to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit by uh with the manifestation of tongues. So it was very common practice. Okay. All right. Let's take a break. We'll come back and discuss more. Thank you. >> [clears throat]