MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/6

 Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                         PART XXI - I

"Having said goodbye to the elders of the church in Ephesus, I, Paul, continued my travels.... My first stop was Tyre... We have been meeting with believers here.... It has been very special to meet them and encourage each other in our faith... They are aware that I am on my way to Jerusalem...And they have spoken of their concerns for my going there...But I would not be persuaded... I have been here now seven days... And I am about to leave.... We had a final prayer at the beach.... It was then time to say goodbye...I have just gone aboard a ship that will take me further on my journey to Jerusalem... We will next have a stopover at Caesarea.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the concern of the believers in Tyre for Paul...

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART XXI - I

Paul was on his way to Jerusalem having said goodbye to the elders of the Ephesian church. He travelled via various places until he got to Tyre where he spent some days. 

The Holy Spirit had shown some of the believers there that Paul would have to face great challenges if he were to go to Jerusalem so they tried to persuade him not to go there as you can read in Acts 21:3-4

After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

But Paul would not be persuaded and so the believers had no choice but to let him go, but not before they had prayed together as you can read in Acts 21:5-6

But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

Paul knew  he had to continue his journey to Jerusalem no matter how other believers felt about it.

Read Part Seven HERE

 

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/5

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                           PART XX - V 

"I, Paul, knew I still had one more issue I needed to talk about with the elders of the church in Ephesus... It was an issue I had been talking about with them throughout my time with them.... It was the issue of false teachers....I began by helping them understand that it was the Holy Spirit who had given them the positon of overseers.... They had not placed themselves in their position as overseers.... No, the Holy Spirit had placed them in that position... This meant that they were responsible to Him for the way they served the church of God... I then spoke with them about their responsibility as shepherds of the flock...For they must be on guard against false teachers who would surely try and invade the church....I finally committed them to the Lord before we said our tearful goodbyes.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's final words to the elders of the church in Ephesus....

                    ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART XX - V

There was only one more thing Paul had to share with the elders of the church in Ephesus: he had to warn them of false teachers who would come in as you can read in Acts 20:28-31

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you night and day with tears."

Paul knew that, even though he could no longer be with these precious believers, the Lord would continue to be with them as you can read in Acts 20:32

"Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

It was, of course, very hard for these believers to let Paul go as you can read in Acts 20:37-38

They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was the statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. 

It was time for these believers to say goodbye to Paul as he was on his way to Jerusalem. 

Read Part Six HERE

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/4

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                  PART XX - IV

"I, Paul, watched the faces of the elders of the church in Ephesus before me... My heart flooded over with love for them... I knew too that they loved me... It was, therefore, very hard for me to tell them that I was going to Jerusalem.... This despite the fact that I would face difficulties.... I knew these men would want to prevent me from going there... They would do so out of love and concern for me...So I had to make sure they understood that I was willing to face these challenges,... The needed to know as well that I would not be seeing them again.... That too would be very difficult for them to accept.... Because of their love for me....But I had to share that truth with them... So that would be prepared to live life without my guidance....Thankfully, the Lord will continue to guide them".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn further details  about the meeting Paul had with the elders of the church in Ephesus....

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                         PART XX - IV

Paul continued sharing with the elders of the church in Ephesus his urge to go to Jerusalem as you can read in Acts 20:22-23

"And now compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me."

Paul made it clear that he was not concerned for his life - all he ws concerned about was finishing the task God had given him as you can read in Acts 20:24

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me -  the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

Paul had to tell them as well that they would not be seeing him again as you can read in Acts 20:25

"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again."

However, Paul's conscience was clear for he had proclaimed the gospel among them, whether or not they had received his message, as you can read in Acts 20:26-27

"Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God."  

Paul knew he had done what he had come to do; he had preached the Gospel in all its fulness to them. 

Read Part Five HERE

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/3

   

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART XX - III

"I, Paul, have been sensing for some time that I should go to Jersualem.... I know at the same time that difficulties will be waiting for me once I arrive there.... However, I trust that the Lord will watch over me even in the midst of these difficulties.... Whatever these difficulties may be.... I decided to sail past Ephesus in order to save time.... But I wanted to see the elders of the church in Ephesus one more time.... So I arranged a meeting with them in Miletus.... As I requested, they came to see me....I then shared with them from my heart..... I told them that they knew how I had lived before them.... That I had served the Lord with great humility... That I had taught them everything that would help build their faith in the Lord Jesus.... The reason I shared these things with them is because I want them to live in the same way... Whether or not I am with them.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's meeting with the elders of the church in Epesus.....

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                         PART XX - III 

Afterwards Paul left for Jerusalem because he sensed the Holy Spirit was leading him to go there as you can read in Acts 20:16

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurrt to reach Jerusalem, if possible by the day of Pentecost.

On the way there, he arranged for a meeting with the elders from the church in Ephesus as you can read in Acts 20:17

From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

As soon as they arrived, he began to share things with them that were on his heart as you can read in Acts 20:18-20

When they arrived, he said to them, "You know how I  lived, the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

Paul wanted to remind these elders how he had ministered among them. This was, no doubt, because he wanted them to minister in the same way, even when he was not with them. 

Read Part Four HERE

                                                    

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                                                                                     ReadPart One HERE

 A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                       PART XX- II

"I, Paul, as well as other believers at the meeting in Troas, got up the moment we heard a loud crash... We looked at each other... We then looked at the empty window seat where a moment ago young Eutychus had sat....He was no longer sitting there.... That could only mean one thing!!... He had fallen out of the window!!.... All the believers rushed downstairs.... I, Paul, followed them... They gathered around Eutychus' body... It was clear he was dead.... Led by the Holy Spirit I placed myself on top of his dead body... I put my arms around him.... I then noticed life coming back into him.... God be praised!!... We then all went back upstairs where we continued our meeting... For I had so much to say before leaving."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's prayers for Eutychus....

                        ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                PART XX - II

The Apostle Paul, who had been speaking at the meeting in Troas when Eutychus had falled out of the window, followed the believers downstairs as you can read in Acts 20:10-11

Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said, "He's alive!"" Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul stayed very calm in the midst of this commotion and, no doubt, led by the Holy Spirit laid on the young man's body in a way that resembles the story of the prophet Elisha when he laid on the body of of the Shunnamite woman, which you can read about in 2 Kings 4:8-37.                                                Just as the boy in the story of the Shunnamite woman came to back to life, so this young man who was prayed over by Paul, came back to life. The believers were overjoyed that Eutychus had been returned to them alive and well. They they all went back upstairs again where Paul continued his teaching until the early morning.          

Read Part Three HERE                                                

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/13

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                   PART XIX - IX                                                                                                                        

"I, Demetrius, am quite upset... I thought that we, the silversmiths in Ephesus, were making progress.... For we managed to get the crowd on our side.... We knew that when they began to shout that Artemis is great... And they kept that up for two hours.... We were convinced that this man Paul would be picked up and thrown into prison... But, unfortunately, that did not happen.... Quite the opposite happened... The city clerk suddenly appeared... The other silversmiths and I looked at each other... We realised that our moment of triumph had passed... For he would make sure that things would settle down... That is indeed what happened... He managed to calm the crowd down.... Everyone left quietly soon thereafter... I and my fellow silversmiths had no choice but to go home as well.... We have been told that if we wanted to make a case against this man Paul we would have to follow legal procedures... That may cost us only more money.... I can now only hope that this man Paul will leave town... I have heard he has plans to go to Macedonia.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how the city clerk managed to bring calm to the city of Ephesus...

 

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART XIX - IX

It was only when the city clerk spoke up that the situation became calm as you can know from Acts 19:35-36

The city cleark quieted the crowd and said, "Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image which fell from heaven? Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and do not do anything rash."

And the city clerk helped as well the people to see that there was no case against this man Paul even though Demetrius had wanted to stir things up against him as you can know from Acts 19:37

"You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess."    

He then made it clear how Demetrius should proceed against Paul if he still wished to do so as you can know from Acts 19:38-39

"If then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly."

The city clerk wanted peace and rioting would only cause serious problems in the city. So it must not be allowed under any circumstance as you can know from Acts 19:40

"As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." 

Demetrius may have thought there was a good reason to riot but the city clerk did not agree and put a stop to it. He then dismissed the assembly as you can know from Acts 19:41

After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

The crowd then quietly dispersed... The excitement was over and calm had once again set in... Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths and other workers dispersed as wel. They knew there is nothing they could do about the situation with Paul. It seemed like a lost cause.

As for the believers In Ephesus, no doubt, they were very relieved that things have settled down so they could continue their ministry in Ephesus sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ among the Gentiles as well as Jews, eventhough they had now become aware of their enemies such as Demetrius. However, they will have remembered as well that Jesus taught His followers to pray for their enemies and that is what they will have done... They will have begun to pray for Demetrius and others like him... Who knows one day some of them may even have become believers for nothing is impossible with God as you can know from Matthew 19:26b

.... But with God all things are possible.

And Paul had not been put in prison despite what had happened, at least not this time.... He was, in fact, about to leave for Macedonia.....                                                                                                                                             

                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/1

 

                                     

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                       PART XX - I

"It was time for me, Paul, to move on from Ephesus....  So I travelled through Macedonia to Greece... I stayed there for three months... At the end of that period I decided to go to Syria.... But because of a plot against me I changed my plans.... And I travelled back through Macedonia.... I then ended up spending a few days with believers in Troas....Our last meeting was quite long since I wanted to share much with these believers.... One of the believers there was a young man named Eutychus... I could see that he was trying to grasp everything that I was teaching them... I noticed too that he was getting tired.... After all, it must have been a very long day for him... But I knew I had much more to say to them still... So I did not stop talking... Unfortunately, Eutychus did not sit in a very good seat... Especially because he was getting drowsy... Before we knew what had happened.... He was no longer in his seat in the window!"....Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the fall of a young believer named Eutychus....

                      ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART XX - I

It was time for Paul to move on once again and so he set off for Macedonia. After having travelled through that area, he ended up in Greece where he spent three months as you can read in Acts 20:1-3

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

Paul then decided to travel back through Macedonia and eventually ended up in Troas as you can know from Acts 20:6

But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

While there, he met with believers in a home. Paul had much to say to these believers as you can read in Acts 20:7-9

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, he kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.

Paul had much to share with these believers because he was about to leave them and he wanted to make sure they fully understood the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ so that they in turn would be able to share it with those the Lord would put in their paths. So he kept on talking and talking because he was concerned that they would be prepared for whatever challenges might come their way. However, it was getting later and later... One of the believers, a young man named Eutychus, was seated in one of the window seats. He was eager to learn all that Paul was to teach them. But he was getting a little tired. After all, it was getting late... And he had been up since dawn. Perhaps he could just close his eyes for a moment. He would still be able to listen... And so Eutychus drifted off into a slumber which then turned into a deep sleep,... The next moment a loud crash could be heard... The believers realised that Eutychus had fallen out of the window onto the pavement below. They rushed downstairs fearing the worst. And their worst fears were confirmed when they saw his lifeless body lying on the ground.... He was dead...

Read Part Two HERE

                                                    

 

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/12

Read Part One HERE 

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                   PART XIX - VIII

 "I, Demetrius looked around the room where all the silversmiths and others workers had gathered.... I could see that they had become very angry... That did not surprise me too much... It simply meant that my words to them about this man Paul had the desired effect... After all, it was because of him that our businesses were suffering loss... It is hard to imagine that one man could do so much damage to our city.... And that only by preaching a message about a Man named Jesus... He supposedly had died on a Cross for everyone in the world... Including us, citizens of Ephesus..... How could anyone want to follow that Man rather than our goddess Artemis?.... None of it made sense to me... It was time to put a stop to the message of this man Paul... And have people go back to worshipping our goddess Artemis.... And we must act now.... Otherwise our prosperous lifestyle will very rapidly come to an end..... That must never happen.... My fellow silversmiths and other workers completely agreed with me...They realised it was time for action... So they left the meeting and went among the crowd.... However, some of my fellow silversmiths came back to me some time later.... They told me that some of this man Paul's companions have been seized... But Paul could not be apprehended.... Because he did not appear..... What a pity!!...They told me as well that another Jew, named Alexander, tried to calm things down....However, that did not happen... I decided to join the other silversmiths... We could hear the crowd shouting "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians."... That was music to my ears....And it should be enough to send this man Paul out of town.... For surely he must realise that we in Ephesus are not interested in what he has to say... Let him take his message somewhere else.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about the uproar in Ephesus...

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                            PART XIX - VIII

Demetrius knowing what his fellow silversmiths and other workers are like, will not at all have been surprised by their sudden outburst of anger, nor will he have been surprised by what happens next as you can read in Acts 19:29

Soon the whole city was in uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul' travelling companions into Macedonia and all of them rushed into the theatre together.

No doubt, he will have been waiting for the main culprit, the man Paul, to appear in the theatre as well. But that did not happen as you can read in Acts 19:30-31

Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theatre.

However, there was great confusion for there were those among the crowd who had no idea what was going on as you can read in Acts 9:32

The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing; some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.

One of the Jews, a man named Alexander, was selected to try and bring peace. But, instead, there was more chaos as you can read in Acts 19:33-34

The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. But when they realised he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians."

Obviously, someone else was needed to bring calmness to the situation.

Read Part Thirteen HERE

 

ON TO OTHER PLACES: CORINTH AND EPHESUS P/11

 

                                                                                   Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                     PART XIX - VII 

"As I, silversmith Demetrius, began to share with other workers my concerns about Paul.... I could see that they began to understand why I was so upset about this man being in our city Ephesus... My main concern was, of course, the fact that I had been losing much of my business these last few months... Because many people were no longer worshipping our goddess Artemis... They had begun to worship this Man Jesus about whom Paul was preaching... No doubt, the other silversmiths have lost much of their business as well for the same reason..... I am a very practical person.... So I am not too interested in spiritual matters.... As far as I am concerned, people can worship whichever god they prefer.... However, since the worship of the goddess Artemis is very profitable to me and all the other silversmiths I want people to continue worshipping her... I cannot allow her to be discredited... Not that I am too interested in the spiritual well being of people... I am simply interested in mainting my comfortable living standard... So I knew that I should stir up my colleagues to action... And I am pleased to say that I was quite successful."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will leearn how the other silversmiths reacted to Demetrius' speech.....

                       ATTACHMENT TO A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          PART XIX - VII

The silversmith Demetrius had been sharing with his colleagues that Paul had led many people astray in Ephesus. Why had he said that? Because Paul had been teaching the people that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. The questions is, why was Demetrius so upset about Paul's teachings? Was he upset because he is concerned for the souls of the people in Ephesus and beyond? No, not exactly... He was upset because what Paul has said, had begun to greatly affect his business, since he and the other silversmiths are the ones who are producing these very gods Paul has said are no gods at all. Therefore, according to Paul, these statues should no longer be bought by people to be worshipped at their homes. He knew too that for the sake of the business it was absolutely necessary that the worship of Artemis continued so he must speak up for her as you can read in Acts 19:27

"There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."

We will never know how much Demetrius meant these last words, but one thing is for sure: they did have a great effect on the rest of the silversmiths who are listening to him as you can read in Acts 19:28

When they heard this, they werte furious and began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians."

The words of Demetrius caused all the other silversmiths to become very angry and they made their anger known.

Read Part Twelve HERE