Tag Archives: Caesarea

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE LAST DOOR OPENS – 20

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The church now had two influential leaders…Peter and Saul who became the illustrious Paul of the New Testament. 

Peter’s role was to lead and teach the Jewish believers. He was centred in Jerusalem and, despite fierce persecution, stayed under the radar until he was finally unable to escape attention. It happened like this. 

Peter was visiting the seaside town of Joppa. In the meanwhile, Jesus was at work in Caesarea, preparing to open the door to the Gentile world with the gospel of grace. He chose a Roman centurion as His port of entry and Peter, the fastidious Jew, to turn the key in the lock. . 

Bringing the two parties together through a series of visions recorded in Acts 10, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a household of brand-new Gentile believers, the Holy Spirit finally convinced Peter that the message of Jesus was for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. 

“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right…All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬-‭35‬, ‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fulfilled! Jesus’ commandment…uttered to bewildered disciples…before Pentecost…now a reality…through the Holy Spirit! 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV

Through the leadership and ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus had fulfilled His own word. The phenomena at the Holy Spirit’s advent at Pentecost had been repeated in Samaria on new Samaritan believers and now, on a Gentile and Roman household. 

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭44‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Every instrument was in place…Peter to the Jewish world…Paul to the Gentiles…and the believers scattered everywhere…and the whole wicked world, under the delusion of Satan and his hordes, ranged against them! The scene was set, the lines drawn, for an epic battle that would continue until the end of time. 

To be continued

THE BOOK OF ACTS – NO WAY, FESTUS!

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NO WAY, FESTUS!

“About eight or ten days later, Festus returned to Caesarea. The next morning he took his place in the courtroom and had Paul brought in. The minute he walked in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem were all over him, hurling the most extreme accusations, none of which they could prove.

“Then Paul took the stand and said simply, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong against the Jewish religion, or the Temple, or Caesar. Period!’

“Festus, though, wanted to get on the good side of the Jews and so said, ‘How would you like to go up to Jerusalem, and let me conduct your trial there?'” Acts 25:6-9 (The Message).

Oh no! Not another crowd-pleaser! Paul might have had high hopes that Festus would give him justice, but he was turning out no better than Felix.

What was it with these Roman governors? Was it their fear of the volatile Jews who could stir up a riot in a flash that kept them from doing the right thing? Was there anything in it for them other than their maintaining their position by keeping the peace in Israel? They all seem to have been tarred with the same brush.

Festus was giving him the option of being tried in Jerusalem instead of in Caesarea when, a few days before he had insisted that Paul remain in Caesarea where he, Festus had jurisdiction over Paul. Jerusalem was the turf of the Jewish hierarchy where they had power and influence. Paul knew that at all costs he must stay away from Jerusalem.

He had been whisked out of Jerusalem in the dead of night because his life was in danger there, and now Festus wanted to send him back into enemy territory? Paul was well aware of Festus’ strategy. Sacrifice Paul for peace so that Festus could look like a good governor in the eyes of Rome. As long as there was no trouble in this little colony, internal issues did not matter, especially petty religious ones!

“Paul answered, ‘I’m standing at this moment before Caesar’s bar of justice, where I have a perfect right to stand. And I’m going to keep standing here. I’ve done nothing wrong to the Jews, and you know it as well as I do. If I’ve committed a crime and deserve death, name the day. I can face it. But if there’s nothing to their accusations — and you know there isn’t — nobody can force me to go along with their nonsense. We’ve fooled around long enough. I appeal to Caesar.’

“Festus huddled with his advisors briefly and then gave his verdict: ‘You’ve appealed to Caesar; you’ll go to Caesar!” Acts 25:10-12 (The Message).

Paul held the trump card. As a Roman citizen he had the right to a fair trial before Caesar. If Festus did not have the guts to do the right thing, he was certainly not going to subject himself to any more abuse from the Jews. It was with an air of contempt that he made his decision. Festus was too lily-livered to stand up to the Jews. He, Paul, was not going to be a pawn to be pushed around on their little chessboard. Caesar was his only option to get out of checkmate.

That pulled the rug from under Festus’ feet! He was obligated to grant Paul his request. This was a legally binding appeal and once granted, like the law of the Medes and Persians, it could not be changed. Paul was actively co-operating with God’s plan to move him to Rome. Did the penny drop for him at that moment? Did he have a flash of understanding, remembering the assurance from the Lord Himself that he was on his way to Rome in spite of all the carry-on in Jerusalem?

Slowly but surely God’s plan was coming together. Throughout all the seemingly impossible circumstances, and the long drawn-out process, Paul was exactly where and when God wanted him, putting all the structures in place to plant His son right in the palace of Caesar himself. There’s no getting away from it — God is smart.

THE BOOK OF ACTS – HONED BY SUFFERING

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HONED BY SUFFERING

“From Claudius Lysias to the Most Honourable Governor Felix: Greetings!

“I rescued this man from a Jewish mob. They had seized him and were about to kill him when I learned that he was a Roman citizen. So I sent in my soldiers. Wanting to know what he had done wrong, I had him brought before their council. It turned out to be a squabble turned vicious over some of their religious differences, but nothing remotely criminal.

“The next thing I knew, they had cooked up a plot to murder him. I decided that for his own safety I’d better get him out of here in a hurry. So I’m sending him to you. I’m informing his accusers that he’s now under your jurisdiction.” Acts 23:25-30 (The Message).

In the mercy and plan of God, the plot of the Jews to ambush and kill Paul had moved him a little closer to his final destination, Rome. The Roman captain had acted quickly to get Paul out of Jerusalem and away from the angry mob. He was now handing him over to the man who had the authority to send him to Rome for trial by Caesar himself.

“The soldiers, following orders, took Paul that same night to safety in Antipatris. In the morning, the soldiers returned to their barracks in Jerusalem, sending Paul on to Caesarea under guard of the cavalry. The cavalry entered Caesarea and handed Paul and the letter over to the governor.

“After reading the letter, the governor asked Paul what province he came from and was told ‘Cilicia.’ Then he said, ‘I’ll take up your case when your accusers show up.’ He ordered him locked up for the meantime in Herod’s official quarters.” Acts 23:31-35 (The Message).

Paul must have breathed a sigh of relief to know that he was now in the hands of the governor himself and out of reach of his enemies. The next time he had to face them it would be in a Roman court where the Jews would not be able to lay a finger on him. He would be able to speak for himself without the mob shouting him down. The governor would be a disinterested party who was not personally involved in the religious quarrel that had sparked this mess.

For the moment Paul was imprisoned in the quarters of King Herod himself – a far cry from the deprivation he had suffered over the years of his missionary service. Wow! God knew how to care for His servant in his time of need. After his years of hardship and travel, he had respite and time to recover and prepare himself for the next phase of his journey with the Lord.

How did Paul view what was happening to him right then? He did not say, but in his letter to the Philippian church from his prison in Rome, he characteristically looked on the bright side, recognising his opportunity to be a witness for Jesus right among the royal palace guard where he was being held.

How should we view the adversities that come our way? We have one of two options — blame the devil and see ourselves as helpless victims waiting to be rescued, or embrace the truth that God has promised that He is always with us and He will work everything out for our good and for His glory.

Hardships are the times when we are being honed and polished to be true sons of God. Without the disciplines of life, we would be as flabby and spineless as jellyfish. God is passionate about training us to be sons, serenely confident in our Father’s love and His purpose to put His glory on display through us. The real test comes when we have no crutches to lean on.

THE BOOK OF ACTS – ROUND TWO

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ROUND TWO

“Paul stayed a while in Corinth, but then it was time to take leave of his friends. Saying his goodbyes, he sailed for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before boarding the ship in the harbour town of Cenchrea, he had his head shaved as part of a vow he had taken.

“They landed at Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila got off and stayed. Paul left the ship briefly to go to the meeting place and preach to the Jews. They wanted him to stay longer but he said he couldn’t. But after saying good bye, he promised, ‘I’ll be back, God willing.’

“From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the assembly of Christians there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey.” Acts 18:18-22 (The Message).

Round two completed, and what an eventful journey it had been! As usual, Paul returned to home base at Antioch to report back to his home church the results of his second journey.

During round one he had been dogged by Jewish persecution and round two had been no different. In fact, the opposition had intensified so much that there were times that he had to flee for his life…but he never gave up. He simply went on. He was beaten almost to death by the Gentiles at Lystra on his first journey and miraculously raised up to continue his commission.

The second time around he had pushed on into Europe and encountered bitter opposition at Philippi. This time it was Roman government officials who were influenced by a street gang, roused by angry Jews, who failed to give Paul and Silas a fair hearing, who had them beaten and thrown into jail. Another miracle rescued them and they continued on through Thessalonica, Berea and Athens to Corinth, the most notoriously wicked city in Europe.

It was time to go home, take a break and regain strength to push on again. Paul’s goal was Rome, the heart and pulse of the empire. What a joy it must have been for him, on his return journey to Antioch, to renew ties with groups of believers all along the route he had travelled years before where the gospel had not yet been heard. The whole of Asia Minor and Greece were peppered with churches he had started and left to influence the surrounding areas with the light of God’s kingdom.

It might have been a temptation to Paul to retire in Antioch where he was known and relatively safe, and settle down to a few years of pastoring the home church before he went to be with the Lord. Not Paul! He had been commissioned to go to the nations, and to the nations he would go until his Master instructed him otherwise.

By this time Paul was both seasoned believer and veteran missionary. Retirement was not on his agenda because he was at his most useful and fruitful. There lay ahead for him more suffering, more imprisonment, more experience of God’s love and grace to share with those who were far behind him on their journey. Without those years of experience, we would not have the rich treasures of wisdom he shared through his letters.

In today’s world too many times the elderly are brushed aside and pushed into the backwaters of society because they have outlived their usefulness. With the wealth of life lessons locked up inside them, they are often treated as ignorant and irrelevant. They may not have the technological skills of the younger generation, but many of them have the benefits of a long journey with Jesus.

Fortunately, God has another opinion and agenda for those in the category of “elderly”. Their retirement home is not an earthly one. As long as they have breath, they remain part of the army of souls who live to bear witness to Him.

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

planted in the house of the Lord,

they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still bear fruit in old age,

they will stay fresh and green,

proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright;

He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.'”

Psalm 92:12-15 (NIV)

THE BOOK OF ACTS – ENTER CORNELIUS

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CHAPTER 10

ENTER CORNELIUS                                                                                                       

“There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea — captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next door neighbour, came in and said, ‘Cornelius,'” Acts 10:1-3 (NIV).

What a resume’ of upright living! It is heartening to know that there were people like Cornelius, a Roman soldier, usually hated and feared in Israel for their ruthless cruelty, who was the exception. He was one of those who were called “God-fearers”. He was a Jewish proselyte who had abandoned his idolatrous upbringing and embraced the God of the Jews.

But he was not one in name only. He also lived out in practice the teachings of the God he followed. He carried out the three primary responsibilities of a faithful Jew:

He led his family in godly living:

“These commandments I give you are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV).

He was generous to those in need:

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23:22 (NIV).

He took part in the regular prayer times of the Jewish people.

“One day at about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision…” Acts 10:3 (NIV).

It was at this time of the day that Peter and John went to join the regular daily recitation of prayer in the temple in Jerusalem and encountered the crippled beggar sitting at the Beautiful Gate of the temple (Acts 4).

These activities did not necessarily qualify him for what happened next. They were an indication of his heart’s desire to know God. He worshiped God with a sincere heart in the way he understood best.

Cornelius lived in a way that many believers in Jesus neglect in our modern world. These may have been God’s prescription for a godly life for His ancient people but His standards have not changed.

The fruit of a vital relationship with the Living God is still the same — a home life that honours Him and trains the next generation to do the same; a generous disposition that willing shares the resources God lends to us with those who have less than we have; and a heart that seeks after God and spends time with Him in prayer.

Although Cornelius faithfully did these things, there was still something missing in his life. He had not yet met the living Christ and been given the gift of forgiveness, faith and the assurance of sonship and access to the Father through Jesus.

As we step into Acts 10, we are witnessing God’s behind-the-scenes preparation to manoeuvre one of His sons into position so the He could set up a meeting with Cornelius. Such is the love and mercy of our God that He always hears the bleat of a lost lamb. He heard this man who, in spite of his background and upbringing, was crying out to be rescued.