Living Hope Family Church Marana Sermons

Still in "protective custody," Paul has appealed to Ceasar's judgment seat, probably remembering the assassination plot from a couple of years ago. He's done nothing worthy of the death penalty. But God's plan is for him to go to Rome, and this appeal appears to that end. Governor Festus needs some help understanding the charges against Paul. King Agrippa ll arrives to pay his respects to Festus'...

Not too long ago, we found ourselves with Paul in “protective custody.” While there, some Jews had taken a foolish vow to not eat or drink until he was killed. However, Paul’s nephew warned Paul of this plan. After informing the tribune, he sends Paul to the governor Felix in Caesarea soon as he arrived, Governor Felix agrees to hear Paul’s case as soon as his accusers arrive. It is not long befor...

Last week, Paul arrived in Caesarea and Felix read the letter from Claudius Lysias. Afterwards, Felix agrees to hear Paul’s case as soon as his accusers arrive. Today, we will see Ananias the high priest arrives with some elders and a spokesman, Tertullus. He delivers his case to Felix against Paul, falsely accusing him of being a plague, stirring up riots, and profaning the temple. Paul then begi...

Paul's Roman citizenship affords him further protection. A plot to deceive the tribune and murder Paul is uncovered, so the tribune sends Paul by night to Governor Felix under heavily armed guard. Accompanied by a letter from the tribune, Paul arrives in Caesarea and is placed in protective custody until his accusers can come and present their case.

In our last message in the Book of Acts, Paul began his defense to the Jewish mob that had gathered in the temple courts and had followed him after he was arrested and taken to the Roman garrison. As he makes his defense, his last statement to them was to repeat what that the Lord had said to him. “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles." Today we start moments after that statement. Unfo...

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Having been rescued from the murderous mob by the Roman soldiers, Paul has begged the tribune to permit him to speak to the people. With permission, standing on the steps, he motions with his hand and a great silence falls on the crowd. When he addresses them in their language, they pay all the more attention. He explains how he is a devout Jew, a Pharisee, educated in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, et...

Last week, Paul had finally made it to Jerusalem. He took the advice of the elders and participated in a purification ritual so as not to offend the local Jews. However, his attempt to appease them was to no avail. Instead, he is sighted. Jews from Asia started telling lies about him and stirs up a crowd. If the Roman authorities hadn't showed up, Paul would likely have been beaten or stoned to de...

After leaving the elders in Ephesus, Paul makes his way towards Jerusalem. Along the way, he stops in Tyre and Caesarea where the brothers, after being told what would happen to Paul by the Holy Spirit, beg him not to go. However, it is God's purpose and will for Paul to go. Then, once he arrives, he shares his success with the local church leadership in Jerusalem.

Today, we find Paul making the decision to leave Ephesus as he has had great success here. Everyone in the area had heard the message. He decides to move through Macedonia and Achaia, preaching along the way, on his way back to Jerusalem. However, before he goes, the Way causes a riot in the streets.

Chapter 20 of the book of Acts records the conclusion of Paul’s 3rd missionary journey. As we mentioned last week, Paul is making his way back to Jerusalem, hoping to arrive before Pentecost. On his way, he stops in Macedonia and Greece to encourage the brethren there.

Today, we find Paul making the decision to leave Ephesus as he has had great success here. Everyone in the area had heard the message. He decides to move through Macedonia and Achaia, preaching along the way, on his way back to Jerusalem. However, before he goes, the Way causes a riot in the streets.

When Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, he promised to "return. . . if God wills." After he had gone up to Jerusalem, he spent some time in Antioch before embarking on his third missionary journey. He revisits the churches in Asia Minor (modern-day central Turkey), strengthening the believers. We now find him back in Ephesus, where he meets some disciples who knew only John's baptism. Paul...

Paul leaves Corinth to head back to Syria so he can report to the church in Jerusalem and head back to his home base at the church in Antioch. Along the way, he temporarily stops in Ephesus, leaving it in good hands with Priscilla and Aquila.

After having limited success in Athens, Paul makes his way to Corinth. Where Athens was a center of culture and learning, Corinth was a city of commerce and debauchery. However, Paul has great success and finds himself nurturing the young church there for a year and a half.

After Paul's enemies follow his team to Berea, he escapes to Athens and waits for Silas and Timothy to come. While there, "his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols." As usual, he reasons with his fellow Jews and devout persons in the synagogue, but he also ventures out into the marketplace every day and speaks to people there. He encounters the philosophers, and...

Paul and Silas make their way into Thessalonica and then Berea having some success but also stirring up trouble. They are known as those who are turning the world upside down!

Paul and Silas had just been thrown in prison, but they react much different than you might expect. Instead of complaining, they pray and sing. And once again, God shows up in a big way.

Paul and Silas embark on the second missionary journey, bringing the letter from Jerusalem to the churches at Lystra, Derbe, and Iconium, among others. When they attempt to evangelize Asia, the Holy Spirit prevents their plans. Instead, Paul receives a vision of a Macedonian man requesting help. So the Lord opens the way into the Roman empire in the city of Philippi, where the first convert mentio...

After a decision was made at the counsel in Jerusalem regarding the requirement of Gentiles becoming Jews before being saved, the apostles and elders send Judas and Silas, alongside Paul and Barnabas, to the gentiles to give them the good news. Then, Paul and Barnabas embark on their second missionary journeys.

While Paul and Barnabas are spending time in Antioch, a group of men come from Judea and begin telling the gentiles they must be circumcised in order to be saved. This causes a large debate, and the Antioch Church sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to consult the Apostles and the Elders there.

Having been chased out of Antioch and Iconium, Paul and Barnabas were found by their enemies in Lystra, where a notable miracle had taken place. Now public opinion changed and Paul was stoned. However, God had other plans, so Paul survived the attack, and the next day they went to Derbe. After they made many disciples there, they retraced their steps, encouraging the believers and appointing elder...

Paul and Barnabas find themselves in Iconium where they preach with boldness in spite of opposition. Many Jews and Greeks are saved, but Paul and Barnabas are forced to flee to Lystra due to an attempt to stone them. While in Lystra, we see a man who was crippled from birth get healed and the miracle was so great that they people think Paul and Barnabas are gods. But fortunately, they are able to...

After Paul preaches the gospel message, they want him to come back on the next Sabbath. However, the Jews are jealous that Paul and Barnabas draw such a large crowd. So, they decide from now on to take their message to the gentiles and the gentiles rejoice at this news.

After evangelizing Cyprus, Paul and his team sail to Perga on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey. There, John Mark leaves them and goes back to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas make their way to the other Antioch in Pisidia in central Turkey. While visiting the synagogue, they're invited to speak "words of exhortation to the people." So, Paul explains the Scriptures concerning Jesus and ends with...