When Zeal is Activated
Dusty Jones
May 30, 2021
Acts 23 - 24
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck? Those who stood by said, Would you revile God’s high priest? And Paul said, I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people. —Acts 23:1-5
What is my response to my authorities?
Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” —Acts 23:6-9
God works through our past to bring about his purposes.
“When the argument became so great the commanding officer feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, he ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.” —Acts 23:10
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” —Acts 23:11
The power that delivers us from hardship and persecution is also the power that enables us to endure hardship and persecution.
Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Make ready 200 soldiers to go to Caesarea along with 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen by nine o’clock tonight, and provide mounts for Paul to ride so that he may be brought safely to Felix the governor.” —Acts 23:23
“He wrote a letter that went like this: Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen. Since I wanted to know what charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down to their council. I found he was accused with reference to controversial questions about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you. —Acts 23:25-30
But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!” But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” —Acts 9:13-16
“So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks. When the horsemen came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive too.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.” —Acts 23:31-35
“After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight. Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude. But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true.” —Acts 24:1-9
Personal charge
Political charge
Doctrinal charge
“When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city, nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing. But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets. I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people. After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings, which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council, other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’” —Acts 24:10-21
“Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him. After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” —Acts 24:24-27
Righteousness: Yesterday’s sins
Self-Control: Today’s temptations
Coming Judgment: Tomorrow’s Judgment
Don’t wait to put your trust in Jesus
BIG IDEA
Paul’s courage, boldness, and zeal should encourage, bolden, and bring about zeal for the proclaiming of the Gospel in our own networks and neighborhoods no matter the cost.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE
When The Hard Hand Is Dealt
Acts 22:22 - 24:27
Imaginative Prayer 4
This spiritual practice was created by St. Ignatius in the 1500s. His desire was to find a way to experience the presence of God and did so by entering the biblical narrative with his imagination. Imaginative prayer brings the Bible narrative to life in our mind and offers an opportunity to engage in a new experience with the Word. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as active and alive. There are occasions when coming to Scripture in a new way reveals something vibrant that we may have missed through our normative practices. Below you will find the steps to lead your group through this experience.
Step One
Select one person to read Acts 24:1-27 or play an audio version from someone’s phone. During this reading find a comfortable position to sit and close your eyes. The process for listening will be given next. If you are reading the passage, do so slowly and carefully.
Step Two
As you listen to the Scripture, keep the following in mind:
Feel free to have a way to make notes - some people find it helpful to jot things down as they go.
Imagine yourself entering into biblical times. You may become a person or animal in the story or an object along the way.
Use all five of your senses to engage fully with what it would be like to be there. Notice what you see, smell, hear, touch and taste as you’re in the story. Notice sounds other
than voices. What do you hear in the distance? Is there something you can taste, touch or smell? As the story is read, become a part of it as best you can.
Notice the facial expressions of people in the story. Notice who you are near and who
is far away from you in the story. Notice who you are drawn to and who repels you. Notice tones of voices as you hear the voice, not of the person reading, but of the actual people in history.
Step Three
The reader should instruct everyone to open their eyes at the end of the story and note some things that affected them. Then processes these questions together:
Is there anything anyone would like to share with the group that happened as you became a part of the biblical story?
Who were you in story?
What did you see?
What did you touch?
Where did you find yourself in the story?
Who was close to you and who was far away?
Whose facial expressions did you see?
**If you did not get anything out of this practice or found it really challenging, that is ok. Some practices work better than others for different people.
Next
Process this experience as a group. Are there ways God is trying to activate you or your group? The “Activated” Group Process questions on page 6 may be a helpful guide as your group engages with this material and with God
ACTIVATED: GROUP PROGRESS
How is God activating your group this week?
Share how you are sensing God’s call on your 2 life this week. Listen as others share with you.
Lean into the Holy Spirit and spur Leading By Example
one another on. This may include encouragement or asking questions.
Pray over these specific activations in the lives of one another.
What did you enjoy about this group experience?
What was uncomfortable?
How do you think a regular practice of this could
benefit our group?
SELF-REFLECTION
How did God get your attention during your personal rhythms with Him this week?
What is one thing God brought to your attention while listening to the sermon this week?
How do you think a regular practice of this could benefit our group?