Lesson 32: “Live in the Spirit”

Acts 18-20
Galatians

Purpose: to encourage class members to seek promptings from the Holy Ghost and to avoid attitudes and actions that will keep them from receiving these promptings.

Lesson Development

1. Paul teaches baptizes, and confers the Holy Ghost on believers in Ephesus.
2. Paul gives a farewell address to Church leaders from Ephesus.
3. Paul chastises and counsels the Galatian Saints.

Let’s start today with a little ancient history – partly because I like history, and partly because it can be useful to see how events in world history and events in church history affect each other. This will be too brief for you to get bored, I promise.

There was a Roman historian named Suetonius who lived a generation after the apostle Paul. He wrote about Rome and Julius Ceasar, and the 11 Ceasars who followed Julius, so he was the historian of Rome for the period that covered the early Christian church. Suetonius wrote about some disturbances among the Jews in Rome, saying that the Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome because there were constant disturbances by the Jews in Rome caused by someone named Chrestus or Christos. The expulsion happened in the year 49 A.D.

Some scholars think this person was a Roman slave named Chrestus – that was a common slave name – and that the disturbances were ordinary political arguments. Most scholars, though, believe that Suetonius, unfamiliar with the Greek name for the Hebrew Messiah – Christos – misunderstood the name, and that the disturbances among the Jews were religious ones, over the Messiah. If they are right, that this is an early Roman reference to Jesus Christ, what does this mean for us? Are the Jews having simple debates in their synagogues over the Messiah – or what? Is it just a few Jews involved – or what?

At the time this is going on in Rome, Paul has been preaching in Athens, teaching the people that the “unknown God” they have long worshiped is really the God that Paul knew from Judaism and Christianity. They listened well enough to that sermon … until Paul reached the part about the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. What was their reaction then?

Acts 17:32-34

32 ¶And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Paul is a pretty tough man, isn’t he? How bad must the mockery have been for him to have ceased his preaching and left Athens?

What does that say about the strength of the man Dionysius, and the woman Damaris, and the others who followed Paul despite the mockery?

Can you think of men and women from the 19th century who “clave unto” Joseph Smith – to use the term in Acts – and believed his testimony despite mockery and violence?

Why do you think these people, and not the others, were able to recognize the truth when they heard it? Why were these converts able to hang on, despite the response of the people around them?

Is there anyone in our day that you want to recognize as having endured more than ordinary trials, who has kept the faith?

So, having borne his testimony and won a few converts, but expecting to be able to little more good in Athens, Paul leaves there and goes to the Greek city of Corinth. And what does he find there?

Acts 18:1-3

1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

Aquila and Priscilla were among that Jewish-Christian community in Rome who had been ordered to leave Rome because of all the turmoil that was going on in their community. Here we see one of those rare intersections between world history and sacred history, which lets us date these events to about year 50 A.D.

Did you realize that Paul was a tentmaker? There are several references in the New Testament to Paul as a tentmaker – it is actually an important detail for what the scripture-writers are trying to tell us about Paul.

Tent-making was often centered in port cities, because tentmakers who in that era worked with woven goats’ hair or leather rather than today’s canvas, and made more than the shelters we think of tents as being. They also made sails for ships, a skilled occupation. So it’s not too surprising that Aquila and Priscilla, who are also tentmakers, set up shop in a port city when they are driven away from Rome and its nearby ports. Paul finds them there, Jewish-Christians who share his occupation, and he lives with them.

But why does he live with them? Is it just because they have nothing better to do than talk shop in the evenings, after Paul’s missionary work? No, it’s more clear in other passages than this, but what we are being told is that Paul works for his living. There are numerous clues in the New Testament that Paul comes from a wealthy background, and whether or not he actually had to work for his daily bread or not we do not know – but we also learn that while he accepts the hospitality of believers, he also is not being supported by collections from the people, but by his own labor.

And Paul doesn’t find it easy to preach the gospel of Christ to the Jews and Jewish Christians he finds in Corinth.

Acts 17:4-6

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Paul has two messages, or maybe two methods of presenting his message. One is for Jews, and the other is for Gentiles. What message about Christ does he teach to the Jews, and the Jewish Christians, when “he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath”?

Paul receives some help from Silas and Timothy, who have returned from a missionary journey to northern Greece, and they, too, bear testimony that Jesus was the Christ. What is Paul’s response when their testimony is rejected by those with Jewish background?

Does there ever come a point in the modern day when a person or a nation has had its chance, and the witness of Christ, in the form of missionaries, should be withdrawn? Who makes that decision? [Allow a short discussion, if one arises, about “shaking the dust from one’s feet” – but do not let it become sensational; and emphasize that until we have the authority of one like Paul, and are willing to bear the responsibility of mistake, this kind of cursing is not to be done lightly or by the rank and file.]

So Paul moves on from teaching the Jewish Christians in the synagogue, to working with the Gentile converts, those “that worshipped God.”

Acts 18:7-11

7 ¶And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

What is there about that account that suggests Paul’s work has more effect among the Gentiles than among the Jews of Corinth?

Even though Paul is working with the Gentile converts, the Jews, or the Jewish Christians, are not content to allow Paul to teach and minister to those Gentiles in peace. They make an accusation against Paul for his teachings, and they take it to the Roman magistrate in Corinth, a man named Gallio. Gallio was the older brother of the noted Roman philosopher Seneca – and Gallio was evidently just as brilliant as his little brother. He realized that the Jews did not have any legitimate dispute with Paul, and that their complaints were purely an internal matter – a dispute about religion and the interpretation of religion, not a violation of the law. Let’s read how Gallio handled that dispute among brethren.

Acts 18:12-16

12 ¶And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,

13 Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

14 And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:

15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

16 And he drave them from the judgment seat.

The Greek or Gentile part of the dispute, though, was not content to let it to, and be happy that they were not prosecuted for their part in any sectarian disturbances in Corinth. Realizing that Gallio is not sympathetic to the Jews, they go one step too far.

Acts 18:17

17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

They beat the Jewish leader, right there in front of the court, and the magistrate didn’t stop them or punish them.

One of the reasons we always give each other for the necessity of frequent study of the scriptures is to learn how to behave. Are we supposed to emulate all of the behavior of the Christians or Israelites we read about in the scriptures?

Can you think of other behaviors of the so-called chosen people that we probably shouldn’t copy?

It may seem obvious to you, but if you had to explain when to follow the behavior of scriptural characters, and when to do exactly the opposite, how would you teach the difference?

Paul remains in Corinth for a while, but then heads back toward the Holy Land, “to keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem.” He does return to Jerusalem, then visits a number of other places, returning eventually to the land that we now know as Turkey. Finally he comes to the city of Ephesus, where there are “certain disciples,” who have learned something about John the Baptist had been baptized.

Acts 19:1-7

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

Have you ever thought of what a difficult job Paul and the other early apostles and missionaries had in building the Church of Jesus Christ? I mean, apart from the physical hardships of travel, and the opposition of some of the Jews, and the legal challenges caused by the Roman government. Sometimes we shake our heads almost in disgust at how quickly the early Church seems to have gone astray – but let’s look honestly at the challenges they had.

In today’s discussion we have mentioned several different cultural groups – all professing to have at least some understanding of the gospel – but who have very different backgrounds. What are those groups? [Jewish Christians, Gentile Christians, disciples of John who had heard the preparatory message but not the mission of Jesus Christ, Greek and Roman elements]

How does having so many different cultures and starting points for faith make it difficult to come to unity, or remain in unity, in the faith? What similar problems do we have today, and how do we work for that church-wide unity?

What are the benefits of being successful in that endeavor, and what are the risks of failure?

Paul continues his labors in and around the cities in Asia Minor, then determines that he must carry the message of Christ to Rome, after first traveling back to Jerusalem. He gave an eloquent farewell speech to those he had worked among. We will close our lesson today with reading that speech. Among other things, note that Paul confirms that he did not seek wealth from the ministry but had worked with his own hands to support himself. Note his caution about the Church becoming fragmented by the Saints following after strange teachers. He asks that the Church leaders, in unison with all Church members, be united both spiritually and temporally.

Acts 20:25-38

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28 ¶Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

36 ¶And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.