Acts 21 (résumé): Paul goes to Jerusalem

Paul, on his way to Jerusalem landed at Tyre where his ship unloaded its cargo, and finding believers there he ended up staying for a week. The disciples urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but they left anyway and upon reaching Caesarea they stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist who had been one of the deacons chosen in Acts 6. He had 4 unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. They stayed there a number of days and then the prophet Agabus said to Paul that the Jews would bind him and hand him to the Gentiles. However Paul was resolute saying he was ready to be bound and also to die in Jerusalem, and upon arriving there Paul and the party were received warmly, and Paul shared news of his travels and ministry which greatly encouraged James and all the elders. Then Paul was told about the slanderous stories going round Jerusalem about him, so they suggested Paul go through a 7-day purification ritual which he did to combat the negative rumours, but it was no use and once the 7 days were over the Jews were asking for his head and aggressively criticizing him. "Seizing Paul they dragged him from the temple" the Roman commander heard about the uproar and intervened stopping him being beaten. However Paul was arrested and bound with chains. Nevertheless Paul spoke to the commander who was shocked that he spoke to him in Greek, and then Paul was permitted to address the crowd which he proceeded to do in Aramaic!"

Acts 20 (résumé): Through Macedonia & Greece

Paul now went to Macedonia and spoke many words of encouragement to the people, before finally arriving in Greece where he stayed for 3 months. Then Paul sailed from Philippi and joined the others at Troas. On the Sunday they broke bread and because Paul was leaving the next day he kept preaching till midnight, and sat in a third-floor upstairs window was a young man called Eutychus who fell asleep during the sermon and fell to the ground where he "was picked up dead"! However Paul threw his arms around him and declared him alive, so they took him home "greatly comforted". Paul was "in a hurry to reach Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost, and from Miletus he sent for the elders of the Ephesus church to whom he spoke: "He referred to his service in Asia with humility and tears... I have preached to both Jews and Greeks... and now I am going to Jerusalem... the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships await me... I have not hesitated to preach to you the whole will of God... be shepherds of the church of God... for savage wolves will come... be on your guard!... now I commit you to the grace of God... I never coveted silver or gold... I worked to supply my own needs... for it is more blessed to give than to receive... then they accompanied him to the ship never to see him again".

Acts 19 (résumé): Paul in Ephesus

Now Paul went to Ephesus where he met 12 disciples who had only received John's baptism, so he shared with them the full Gospel, baptized them in the name of Jesus and laid hands on them imparting to them the Holy Spirit followed by speaking in tongues and prophecy. Then for 3 months Paul shared the Gospel in the synagogue but owing to resistance Paul left changing his forum to the lecture hall of Tyrannus where he continued for 2 years, and God did miracles through Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons he had touched became channels of healing. Then 7 sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, tried to practice exorcism in the name of Jesus, but they ended up being beaten up by the evil spirit so they ran away naked and bleeding. This happening brought the fear of the Lord upon Ephesus, there was confession of sin and abandonment of sorcery. Then Paul decided to go to Jerusalem via Macedonia and Achaia, planning eventually to visit Rome. Then there occurred a riot in Ephesus brought about by the makers of silver shrines of the goddess Artemis because Paul was rightly teaching that "man made gods are not gods at all!" The angry crowd chanted: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians"! However the city clerk quietened the crowd showing them that things must be settled in a legal assembly or else they will be charged with rioting, and so he dismissed the assembly.

Acts 18 (résumé): In Corinth

 Now Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he met a man called Aquila and his wife Priscilla and they did tent making together, and every Saturday Paul preached in the synagogue. However when they resisted the Gospel Paul focused on the Gentiles. However Crispus the synagogue ruler was converted together with his entire household, many Corinthians also believed, and all of them were baptized. Paul "stayed there in Corinth a year and a half teaching them the word of God". The Jews made a united effort to combat Paul but Gallio the proconsul would not get involved with their petty religious complaints saying: "I will not be a judge of such things". Eventually Paul left Corinth and went with Aquila and Priscilla to Syria, having his hair cut prior to sailing as the result of a vow. He ministered at Ephesus but declined to stay long, then went to Caesarea before going back to Antioch. Meanwhile a Jew at Ephesus called Apollos was a great blessing in ministry, and he was encouraged and supported by Priscilla and Aquila. 

Acts 17 (résumé): In Thessalonica, Berea and Athens

 Continuing the 2nd missionary journey Paul, Silas and Timothy next went to Thessalonica where Paul ministered on 3 sabbaths at the Jewish synagogue proving to them Biblically that Jesus in the Christ. Though some Jews, Greeks and some prominent women were converted other Jews caused trouble and sought out Paul and Silas, but they couldn't find them. So Paul and team left at night for Berea where the Gospel was received "with great eagerness... and they examined the Scriptures every day" and many Jews and Greeks were converted. When the Thessalonians heard what was happening in Berea they stirred up trouble again, so Paul left for Athens. There Paul was "greatly distressed that the city was full of idols". Paul spoke at a meeting of the Areopagus commenting on their religiosity and that he had seen an altar there to an unknown God. Paul presented to them the true and living God that is the creator of all things. "For in him we live and move and have our being". So he presented the Gospel of the risen and living Christ and a few believed including Dionysius and Damaris. 

Sunday Communion Service

I led the monthly Sunday Communion Service last night in Patos and it was a lovely service. I also dedicated 4-month-old baby Priscilla who is the daughter of Caetano and Rebeca and sister of Moisés. I also received into fellowship a family from the neighbouring town of Santa Teresinha called Edilson and Rozangela with their teenage son Augusto and their young daughter Livia. We will be holding a weekly service at their house every Thursday. Pastor Rafael preached the Gospel from Matthew 12. The communion service was excellent with a full church. 

Today is a public holiday in Brazil in commemoration of 204 years of independence from Portugal. There will be marches and parades in the high street later on today.

Acts 16 (résumé): Timothy joins Paul and Silas

Paul's second missionary journey started in Acts 15:36 and went till 18:22 and even took the Gospel to the European countries of Greece and Macedonia. When Paul and Silas got to Lystra Timothy joined their team. He was of Jewish mother and a Greek father so Paul circumcised him "because of the Jews". As they travelled round the churches "the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers". Then Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man "begging him: Come over to Macedonia and help us", so they got ready straight away to go there and preach the Gospel. They travelled to Philippi which was the leading city of Macedonia where they stayed for several days, and whilst there a woman dealer in purple cloth was converted and she and members of her household were baptized. Next a slave girl with a fortune-telling spirit, which made a lot of money for her owners, kept following Paul and the team shouting that "these men are servants of the Most High God". Paul exorcised her so the girl's owners dragged Paul and Silas before the authorities because they had lost their source of income, and they were "stripped, beaten and thrown into jail". Paul and Silas however responded in jail with prayer and praise! Then came an earthquake which opened all the doors and the jailor was about to commit suicide when he was stopped by Paul shouting, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer then asked: "what must I do to be saved?" He and all his household were converted and baptized. The following day Paul and Silas were officially released from jail by the magistrates, and they went to Lydia's house and encouraged the church.