The Often Missed Message of Acts - Day 4

This is our 4th day looking at Acts. We're seeking the often missed message. It is the message of the urgency of preaching the gospel, no matter the cost. It comes with the promise of persecution. Many other messages can be preached with abandon and without danger. If you're preaching anything other than the gospel, you're not preaching the message of the Bible.

Chapter 19 finds Paul in Ephesus. He set some people straight about the simplicity of the gospel message and then began preaching the gospel in the Synagogue.

In Ephesus, the preaching of the gospel resulted in a riot, led by a businessman who made idols for sale. He attacked some believers, but really wanted Paul. The city clerk calmed things down by reminding the Ephesians that their rioting could get them in trouble.

We read in chapter 20 that Paul set out for Macedonia, where he preached the gospel. Because of his message, the Jews plotted against him, as usual. So he went to Troas.

In Troas Paul was preaching the gospel in an upper room when Eutychus fell from his perch on the window sill. Paul “threw himself on him” and Eutychus was alive again.

Paul wanted to go to Jerusalem, regardless of the possible consequences. He bade farewell to his friends, reminding them of the gospel message and the benevolence by which it was evidenced.

According to chapter 21, Paul arrived in Jerusalem to find that his message that Christ has fulfilled the Law of Moses and that there is eternal life in Christ alone had not been warmly received by a group we now call Judaizers. They “believed,” but were zealous for the law, too.

As Paul prepared to set the Judaizers straight, some Jewish leaders (surprised?) started stirring up the people and plotting to kill him. He was arrested. He asked the commander of the arresting troop if he could speak. The commander acquiesced, and Paul gave his personal testimony and preached the gospel.

For this the crowd demanded that he be flogged. But Paul informed them that he was a Roman citizen and was released. But he was released to the Sanhedrin, a hostile group, for trial before them.

Now we’re in chapter 23. Paul did what he always did. He preached the gospel to them. He reminded them that he was a Pharisee who had become a believer in Christ, specifically in His resurrection. 

They placed him in the barracks, where he heard a message from Jesus to testify in Rome.

The Jews conspired to kill Paul for his unwillingness to give up preaching the gospel. The barracks commander, having been told about the plot against Paul, a Roman citizen, had him transferred to Caesarea with a letter of introduction.

The high priest, Ananias, went to Caesarea, according to chapter 24, to try Paul for disturbing the peace by preaching the gospel. Of course, Paul, after a bit of testimony, preached the gospel to Ananias and Felix, the judge. Felix left Paul in prison.