Acts #19: The disciple is not greater than the master (Acts 15-16)
sermon Acts 16 : Patrice Berger, 2022_11_22, AB Lausanne church
title : Acts #19: The disciple is not greater than the master (Acts 15-16)
Key verses
Acts 16 verse 14
One of them was called Lydia. She was a merchant of purple goods from the city of Thyatira, who feared God. She listened to Paul and the Lord opened her heart so that she would be attentive to what Paul was saying.
Acts 16 verses 30-31
“Lords, what must I do to be saved?”
Paul and Silas replied:
“Believe in the Lord Jesus [Christ] and you will be saved, you and your household.”
John 13 verse 16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord, nor the apostle greater than he who sent him.
John 15 verse 20
Remember the word I spoke to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will also keep yours.
‘Cause, we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the princes of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Luke 12:12
Fear not, little flock, for your Father has seen it fit to give you the kingdom.
1 You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful people who are able to teach it also to others. 3 Suffer [with me] as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No soldier in service bothers with the affairs of everyday life if he wants to please the one who recruited him.
5 The athlete is not crowned if he has not wrestled respecting the rules.
6 The hardworking cultivator must be the first to reap the rewards.
7 Understand what I say, and may the Lord indeed give you understanding in all things.
24 Don’t you know that the competitors in the stadium are all running, but only one wins the prize?
Run to win it.
25 All athletes impose all kinds of deprivations on themselves, and they do it to obtain a crown which will destroy itself, but we are for an indestructible crown.
26 I therefore run, but not as if at random; I box, but not to beat the air.
27 On the contrary, I treat my body harshly and discipline it, lest I myself be disqualified after preaching to others.
Chapter 15
36 A few days later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return to visit our brothers and sisters in all the cities where we have spoken the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas also wanted to take John, surnamed Mark,
38 but Paul considered that he should not be taken with them who had left them from Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in their task.
39 This disagreement was strong enough for them to separate from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed for the island of Cyprus.
40 Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 He passed through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches.
The difference between Paul and Barnabas.
The person Barnabas wants to encourage is Mark.
Barnabas’s way of encouraging is not to say:
“Go ahead, I pray for you”.
Rather
“Come with us and you will see, little by little, you will gain confidence”.
And sometimes with this method, it happens that the one we are dealing with disappoints.
Is splitting a definite failure? No, not for Barnabas!
When a child learns to walk, he has taken a few steps, we say to ourselves: “It’s good, he’s walking!”. And then, again, for one or two days, he gets back on all fours. At some point, it was finally well assimilated and integrated and it started to work!
Encouragement follows the same process. Initially, Mark wasn’t fully prepared for ministry.
Arrest of Jesus
It seems that he too fled at the time of Jesus’ arrest (like many others for that matter).
Mark 14:51-52
A young man was following him, dressed in a simple sheet. They caught him, but he let go of the sheet and ran away naked.
With the team of Paul, Barnabas, and Mark (also called John in the Acts) leaves them.
13 Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos on their way to Perge in Pamphylia, but John parted from them and returned to Jerusalem.
Continue with Mark
Barnabas saw that the work that had been started with Mark should not be stopped.
This divergent position with Paul leads many (even in evangelical circles) to believe that Barnabas was mistaken.
The reason given is that he is no longer mentioned in the book of Acts.
This is what it sometimes costs to concretely encourage a brother or a sister, to be accused wrongly.
Bad decision by Barnabas?
Had Barnabas really been wrong to encourage someone like Mark too much?
No: the biographical intention of Acts
No, if the book of Acts no longer speaks of Barnabas, it is quite simply that Luke’s intention, at the biographical level, was to develop the life of the two great human leaders of the beginning of the Church, namely, Peter in first, then Paul in their mission as apostles.
This does not prevent Luke from putting the focus on certain other characters like Steven, Philip, Barnabas and others still to make us grasp the reality of the church of the moment.
No proof in the Bible
And Barnabas was not mistaken because Paul writes about fifteen years later, in 2 Timothy 4: 11:
Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for the ministry.
And Peter writes of Mark like he is his son 1Peter 5:13.
To Mark, we also owe the Gospel of Mark which he certainly wrote under the dictation of Peter.
Mark’s gospel was the basis of all the other gospels.
Barnabas was not mistaken, even if he is wrongly denigrated.
So it was Paul who was wrong?
To close the file of the text we have just read, was it Paul who was wrong? No more!
Two servants, two different ways of doing things
In fact, we have here the example of two brothers who were doing the same work but from different angles, with different gifts, and different personalities!
Both were teachers and church-founding evangelists.
- But Paul was more of a doctor of the law and a project-oriented person while Barnabas was more of a people-oriented person.
Although the discussion is “spicy” this passage is encouraging because it shows that the way of witnessing the Gospel is not formatted in one single way. It is God who gives the gifts and the personalities 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
And that these differences on the way do not necessarily support falling out definitively with our brothers or sisters in the faith.
Paul, as we have seen, recognized Barnabas’s work and usefulness with Mark.
Very useful work by Barnabas
For Mark
Indeed, without Barnabas and his encouragement, comfort, consolation and solicitation, Mark would not have had the place he had in the beginnings of the Church.
- Without Mark, no Gospel of Mark.
- Without the Gospel of Mark, no Gospel of Matthew (90% of Mark is in the Gospel of Matthew).
- Without the Gospel of Mark, no Gospel of Luke (where we find 50% of the Gospel of Mark).
For Paul
Without Barnabas, his encouragements, comforts, consolations and solicitations, Paul would never have been accepted among the believers of the time. Remember he was the former fundamentalist who persecuted Christians.
Chapter 16
1 He then went to Derbe and Lystra. There was a disciple there called Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
2 The brethren of Lystra and Iconium bore good testimony of him.
3 Paul wanted to take him with him; he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those regions because everyone knew that his father was Greek.
4 In the cities where they passed, they transmitted to the brothers the decisions taken by the apostles and the elders of Jerusalem, recommending them to be respected.
5 The churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number daily.
Circumcision of Timothy!
The whole of chapter 15 is devoted to the Council of Jerusalem where the question of imposing circumcision on Christian non-Jews is at the centre with the conclusion that the circumcision rule is not bounding the Gentiles.
(See sermon: Religious gestures do not refine my salvation. Passage: Acts chapter 15, Evangelical Church of Biblical Action of Renens, September 26, 2021, Preacher: Patrice Berger)
Paul and Barnabas are on the front line of demanding that circumcision should not be imposed.
Paul insists in his letters
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is everything.”
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value, but faith which works through charity.”
“For me, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? The scandal of the cross has thus disappeared!”
The gesture brings nothing to the level of my reconciliation with God.
Only the work of Christ is perfect and sufficient. “It is finished,” said Christ.
To add something would mean that the fulfilment was not total.
This is why the apostle says no to circumcision as playing a role in reconciliation or any kind of favour with God.
On the other hand, if he asks Timothy to be circumcised, it is for a reason, cultural and missionary.
Chapter 16, verse 3
“he circumcised him, because of the Jews that were in those places because they all knew that his father was Greek.”
So that binational Timothy, Greek by his father and Jewish by his mother, is not driven back, by the Jewish people, from the synagogues (due to his origin), the place of predilection to testify to the fulfilment by Christ.
6 Prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia, they passed through Phrygia and Galatia.
7 When they arrived near Mysia, they were preparing to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit [of Jesus] would not permit them.
8 They then passed through Mysia and went down to Troas.
9 During the night Paul saw a vision; a Macedonian appeared to him and begged him: “Go to Macedonia, help us!”
10 Following this vision of Paul, we immediately sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord was calling us to declare the good news there.
11 After embarking at Troas, we sailed directly to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis.
12 From there we went to Philippi, which is the first city of the district of Macedonia and a colony. We spent a few days in the city itself. 13 On the Sabbath day, we went outside the city, to the edge of a river where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and talked to the women who were gathered.
14 One of them was called Lydia. She was a merchant of purple from the city of Thyatira, who feared God. She was listening to us and the Lord opened her heart so that she would be attentive to what Paul was saying.
15 After being baptized with her family, she invited us saying, “If you judge me faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay there,” and she strongly insisted that we accept.
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, a young slave girl who had a spirit of divination came to meet us. By her predictions, she brought great profit to her masters. 17 She began to follow us, Paul and us, shouting:
“These men are the servants of the highest God and they announce to us the way of salvation.”
18 She did this for several days. Paul, annoyed, turned around and said to the spirit:
“I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her.”
He came out at the same time.
19 When the servant’s masters saw the hope of their gain vanish, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the public square before the magistrates. 20 They presented them to the judges, saying:
“These men are causing trouble in our town. They are Jews 21 and they announce customs that we who are Romans are not permitted to accept or follow.”
22 The crowd also rose up against them, and the judges stripped them of their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with whips.
23 They beat them up and threw them in jail, telling the jailer to watch them closely.
24 In the face of such an order, the guard threw them into the inner prison and imprisoned their feet in shackles.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the prisoners were listening.
26 Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the doors were immediately opened and the bonds of all the prisoners were undone.
27 When the prison guard awoke and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword, ready to kill himself as he believed the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice,
“Don’t hurt yourself, because we’re all here.”
29 Then the watchman asked for a light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. 30 He took them out and said:
“Lords, what must I do to be saved?”
31 Paul and Silas answered:
“Believe in the Lord Jesus [Christ] and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all that were in his house.
33 At that hour of the night the watchman took them away to wash their wounds. He was baptized immediately and all his family.
34 After leading them home, he served them food. He rejoiced with all his family for having believed in God.
35 When it was daylight, the judges sent their officers to tell the prison guard, “Release these men.”
36 The watchman reported these words to Paul:
“The judges have been told to release you. So get out now and go in peace!”
37 But Paul said to the agents:
“After having us beaten in public and without trial despite being Romans, they threw us in prison, and now they would take us out in secret? There is no question. Let them come themselves to set us free!”
38 The officers reported these words to the judges, who were terrified when they heard that Paul and Silas were Romans. 39 They came to apologize to them and released them, asking them to leave the city.
40 Once out of the prison, they entered Lydie’s house and, after having seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters, they left.
Difficulties that could arise from reading this text
Two questions
- Does the salvation of the head of the family imply that the whole family is saved?
- The Lord opens Lydia’s heart, what does that mean?
Opening of Lydia’s heart
For the second question, Régis Berdoulat has already addressed this subject during his sermon on September 19: you will find it on the site of the assembly (Sola Gracia)
There is always an act of God to enlighten and make us understand the message of salvation. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. The fallen man is not capable, on his own, alone, of doing this interior work.
Could salvation be attributable to the jailer’s whole family?
This question is important because many faithful believers complain:
My children are not following Christ!
- Do not be confused that their children are not following Christ when the jailer’s verse seems to show that his faith would encompass the whole family.
And it is legitimate to be concerned about the salvation of our children!
Some believers also say:
My children will follow Christ
- Either they are convinced that their faith will necessarily impact their children even if it is against their children’s will.
Methodology
When this type of question arises in a biblical text, it is always good to really look at the text that the Bible presents to us.
Family but home
Already in the original text, strictly speaking, the term that was translated as “family” in the Segond versions, the original Greek word means “house”.
The household of the time could be constituted
- of kinship
- and/or servant-slaves.
Is it a question here of kinship as we understand it now (would it still be necessary to define it, whether they are grandparents, small children, young teenagers or slave servants)?
The Bible tells us nothing!
Urgent not to do theology with this verse
Faced with the vagueness of who is already concerned, it is urgent not to make any projection concerning the children, our children…
Salvation is for everyone
The idea of this passage that we have just read is that the invitation to salvation is given to everyone and not only to the jailer, whether they are relatives (old or young) and/or servant slaves.
Methodical plan
We never do normative teaching from a narrative text, i.e one that tells a story or circumstantial facts.
Example:
When someone insults the Eternal One and the Hebrew people, we don’t necessarily stick a stone between his eyes because David did it with Goliath! 1 Samuel 17
This type of text (which tells a story) must always be applied to us with regard to the epistles or the words of Jesus.
For the matter that concerns us,
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus,
and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved”.
The response to salvation is always personal.
Preaching
Second tour for Paul and his team
We are here in preparation for the second tour of the Apostle Paul and his team in the Mediterranean basin to anchor the new assemblies and witness the work of Christ, where it is not yet done.
We encounter the same context that Jesus encountered
The life and the situations with which the apostle and the disciples are confronted are not really a surprise.
And there is a strong connection between what Jesus experienced during His ministry and the situations the disciples and apostles faced.
ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES
Jesus himself had warned them.
John 13 verse 16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord, nor the apostle greater than he who sent him.
John 15 verse 20
Remember the word I spoke to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will also keep yours.
For Jesus
The ministry of Jesus was in connection with the Father and the Spirit, lived with a team of disciples, He encountered hostility and injustice (the persecution of which Jesus spoke); the result was the most beautiful victory that there has been on earth and which has an eternal echo in the life of all who believe (people who have kept the Word as Jesus said)
For the apostles
By following the steps of the worldwide advancement of the Gospel, during the preparation of the second missionary journey of Paul, we can see that this mission is under the control of God, by His Spirit. Paul and Barnabas do not work not solo, they always surround themselves with a team. They encounter injustice, hostility, and persecution (persecution that Jesus was talking about).
Beautiful victories with regard to eternity are the fruits of this mission (people who have kept the Word as Jesus said).
We find many aspects that Jesus experienced and in the experience of the disciples and the apostles: the disciples are the believers.
Big interest for us
That’s why it’s interesting to take a good look at how things went for Paul and his team.
The mission is under the control of God through His Spirit
The Whole of God at Work in Acts
A look at the entire book of Acts shows that the whole person of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is involved in spreading the gospel.
All of God at work for Jesus
Just as the whole person of God was involved in the ministry of Jesus: the most informative passage concerning this being at his baptism.
Mark 1:9 Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As he was coming up out of the water he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. 11 And from heaven came a voice: “You are my beloved Son, it has pleased me to choose you. »
Matthew 3, 13 Then appears Jesus, come from Galilee to the Jordan near John to be baptized by him. 14 John wanted to oppose it: “It is I, he said, who need to be baptized by you, and it is you who come to me! 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be now; that is how it behoves us to fulfil all righteousness. So he lets him. 16 As soon as he was baptized, Jesus came out of the water. Behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and come upon him. 17 And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, whom it has pleased me to choose. »
Luke 3:21 Now as all the people were baptized, Jesus, also baptized, prayed; then the sky opened; 22 The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in a body form, like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are my son, today I have begotten you. »
The Spirit guides Paul and his team
Here the text particularly emphasizes the action of the Spirit.
As a guide, Jesus speaking of the future – sending of the Holy Spirit in John 16, presents one of His works: that of guidance.
John 16. 13
He will lead you into all truth
Here we see clearly that the Holy Spirit helps to discern, to refine the projects of Paul’s team.
Negative response
6 Being prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia, they passed through Phrygia and the land of Galatia.
7 When they arrived near Mysia, they were preparing to enter Bithynia; but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
8 Then they crossed Mysia and went down to Troas.
Then God specifies through a vision that the team must move towards Macedonia.
Positive response
9 During the night, Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared to him, and prayed to him: Go to Macedonia, help us!
These passages are very interesting because they show us that those who wait on God are guided in their undertakings:
- on the one hand, the disciple is on the initiative, proactive,
- of the other God guides (either negatively: “don’t go”, or positively: “go”).
Renowned missionaries
Livingstone tried to go to China, but God sent him to Africa.
Before him, Carrey had made plans for Polynesia but God directed him to India.
Nearby missionaries
My parents had to leave for Africa and were, meanwhile, in Bordeaux, finally, they did all their ministry in Bordeaux.
We as a family
If we are here, as a family, in the region of Lausanne, it is also because the Spirit worked on our thoughts and showed us things that were dying out and clear “incredible” events, in which were so many clear signals to stay here.
Be joyful, be consistent, and be in the right timing for the invitation of the Holy Spirit.
God, through the Holy Spirit, can redirect our life paths and we should rejoice in where He places us. Also, we should always be in God’s timing!
On the move with Christ
I remember that it is necessary to be at His service (not necessarily full-time for the mission in the tropics or abroad: the mission begins at a 1 cm distance from my hand!) in the action of the Lord and to be listening and rejoicing whether He opens or closes doors…
In Acts 16
The repositioning of God for the apostle’s team was truly beneficial for Lydia and it is with her that the Gospel made its entry into Europe.
For us Europeans, this chapter of Acts is historic.
Paul and Barnabas don’t work alone, they always surround themselves with a team
Sunday, September 26, 2021, Julian Alaphilippe was, for the second consecutive year, world champion in road cycling (online event): there were however other riders who were, it seems, more favourites on this type of plot. By listening more closely to the specialists, the difference was made with all the work of the national team and their sports director Thomas Voeckler. The cohesion, the work of one or the other, and the tactics of Thomas Voeckler allowed the talent of Julian Alaphilippe to express itself and win!
Teamwork for Paul
This illustration allows me to rebound on the reality of what Paul undertook for the diffusion of the gospel in the Mediterranean basin.
First missionary journey
- His first mission was carried out by a team which initially included Paul, Barnabas and Mark.
- As they think about leaving again, they immediately think in terms of a team.
Here for the second
Who are ultimately Paul’s teammates, according to the text we read?
- Paul;
- Silas (Silvanus), who is a Roman, one of the leaders of the Jerusalem church, prophet, preacher;
- Timothy – has a Greek father and a Jewish mother. He is young.
- Luke, the “we” of chapter 16:10.
Homogeneous missionary team even with young people
Homogeneous team.
Obviously too early for Mark to leave.
Timothy, even if he is young is taken, he is a young disciple in his twenties, he is not handicapped, nor has an excuse to defer going on the journey.
Transmission / continuing education
Concept of the discipleship training is not to entertain young Christians. The idea is to value what God has given to each of the young people and the experience is also rewarding for the young person himself.
Same as Jesus did
Jesus was in a team with His disciples and they were in continuous formation with Him.
What about us?
Where am I?
Who am I discipling?
- A child, youth, adult?
- On a personal level, who am I impacting right now?
He encounters injustice, hostility, and persecution.
Hostility against Jesus
It is nothing to say that Jesus encountered hostility during His ministry.
The defining moment for humanity
All the more so since His ministry is at a crossroads in the history of humanity: if Jesus succeeds in the work that the Father has entrusted to him, humanity has a solution of salvation; if Jesus fails, humanity is lost forever.
The concentration of occult offensives
Needless to say, we understand the resurgence of occult opposition: Satan, confrontation with demons…
Same for His disciples
Even though his disciples, the apostles do not have the same ministry, He indicated to His disciples that it would be the same.
Jesus
Opposition and suffering did not spare the Son of God
His disciples
Opposition and suffering will not be spared for us either.
John 15 verse 20
Remember the word I spoke to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
But who is the enemy?
Let’s not get the wrong target, it’s not the Macedonians, the problem, nor the authorities of the city of Philippi.
‘Cause, we don’t wrestle with flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the princes of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits in the heavenly places.
The opposition declines
Objections:
- occult opposition,
- more active and focused
- about Jesus
- and the establishment of the Church;
- always active (but demons and satan are not omnipresent. They are not everywhere).
- more active and focused
- Direct,
- people harm believers,
- under the influence of the spirit of this world.
- Indirect, the work of sin in the context of humanity,
- the hardship of life,
- sickness,
- degraded land, disasters,
- limited and perfectible man.
The injustice of sin
The work of sin is always unjust.
Example :
- Paul does good by casting out the devil and ends up being chastened,
- moreover, being a Roman, he should have been judged before receiving any punishment.
How to react?
Paul and Silas answer it
- by refuge and joy in Christ (they pray and sing in prison)
- and perseverance (on leaving, they are not disgusted with life but continue witnessing and building up).
Beware of Spiritualism
Beware of triumphalist spiritualism bordering on fanaticism!
We are limited, our forces are limited and the opposition can reach us deeply (the prophet Elijah could not stand it any longer, he too found his feet in God, 1 Kings chapter 19, the Lord finds him a replacement Elisha ).
Joint opposition
- Jesus knew opposition;
- the apostles experienced opposition;
- believers have known opposition.
Ethical opposition
And we can say that we also know the opposition!
The ethical choices of society are less and less inspired by biblical thought.
Better before?
We could say that it was better before, there were at least religious values in society…
The same spirit
Again, let’s not mistake the enemy. This is not the same time, but the one that rots lives in the society before was just as inspired by the spirit of this world as it is now:
- the opposition still caused two world wars;
- and the educational values from the Bible are so satisfying that they make self-righteous people who do not need Christ.
Who knows if the disruption of the current values of our society leaves an even more gaping void of the need for Christ?
Compliance with Laws
Note, in this context of opposition,
Not a one-way street
the laws are not one-sided against believers and Paul asserted them; here, it was forbidden to chastise a Roman citizen, before he had had a judgment.
Even in this context, the application of the laws remains normal. Respect for authority – legal and fiscal – is emphasized in Romans chapter 13.
Finality, the context was not easy, but what joy: the Gospel arrives in Europe and the whole circle that gravitates around the jailer is touched by salvation!
Luke 12:32
And you, do not look for what you will eat or what you will drink and do not be worried. 30In fact, all this is the members of the other peoples of the world who seek it. Your Father knows you need it. 31Seek instead the kingdom of God, and [all] it will be added to you.
32 Fear not, little flock, for your Father has seen fit to give you the kingdom.
1 You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful people who are able to teach it also to others. 3 Suffer [with me] as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No soldier in service bothers with the affairs of everyday life if he wants to please the one who recruited him.
5 The athlete is not crowned if he has not wrestled respecting the rules.
6 The hardworking cultivator must be the first to reap the rewards.
7 Understand what I say, and may the Lord indeed give you understanding in all things.
24 Don’t you know that the competitors in the stadium are all running, but only one wins the prize?
Run to win it.
25 All athletes impose all kinds of deprivations on themselves, and they do it to obtain a crown which will destroy itself, but we are for an indestructible crown.
26 I therefore run, but not as if at random; I box, but not to beat the air.
27 On the contrary, I treat my body harshly and discipline it, lest I myself be disqualified after preaching to others.
Bible Passages
Acts 15 / ASV Bible
1. And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2. And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3. They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.
5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
6. And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.
7. And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8. And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;
9. and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10. Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11. But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.
12. And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:
14. Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16. After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:
17. That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
18. Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.
19. Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;
20. but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
21. For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
22. Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23. and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
24. Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
25. it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26. men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29. that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.
30. So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
31. And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32. And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33. And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.
34. [But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.]
35. But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36. And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare.
37. And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.
38. But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39. And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;
40. but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Acts 16 / ASV Bible
1. And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.
2. The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4. And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.
5. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6. And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
7. and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;
8. and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10. And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11. Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;
12. and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a [Roman] colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.
13. And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.
14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.
16. And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
17. The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.
18. And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.
19. But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,
20. and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21. and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.
22. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24. who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
26. and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27. And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29. And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,
30. and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.
32. And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house.
33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.
34. And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.
35. But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.
36. And the jailor reported the words to Paul, [saying], The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.
37. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? Nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.
38. And the sergeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;
39. and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.
40. And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house] of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Related Links / Notes
Study Notes are translated from the original French version prepared by the pastor Patrice Berger. The orginal French notes are in “note” form, and are not a direct transcription of the video, however they are quite close the original text preached at the church. The notes provided here follow that form, and are detailed enough to help provide a deep understanding of the texts in the book of Acts of the Apostles.
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Bible verses in the study link to the ASV bible. In addition to the ASV Bible , other versions of the Bible are also available on our website (KJV, Basic English and Darby as well as the Webster version and Young’s Bible on the Action Biblique Suisse website.
The King James Version is available as an audio bible Podcast which can be accessed below.
