Study 29 Presentation

The Story also talks about five movements that take part in God’s Story: Movement 1: The Story of the Garden (Genesis 1-11) Movement 2: The Story of Israel (Genesis 12 – Malachi) Movement 3: The Story of Jesus (Matthew – John) Movement 4: The Story of the Church (Acts – Jude) Movement 5: The Story of a New Garden (Revelation)

Paul’s Final Days

Paul wrote most of the books of the New Testament.

Reason for writing – Important to remember that he wrote books to reinforce what he had taught in those places and often to address specific questions that had been raised by the people – sometimes have to work backward to determine the reason for Paul’s responses

Word of God – At the same time we recognize that the Bible is the inspired word of God so it speaks to us with timeless truths as well.

Three years at Ephesus – Paul stayed there longer than any other place on his journeys; Paul met with the Ephesian elders on his way to Jerusalem at the end of the third missionary journey and wrote to Ephesus during his first imprisonment

Ephesus Large and important city – on the coast of Asia Minor 300,000 residents – larger than the capitol, Pergamum Architecture – Community baths, gymnasiums, and impressive buildings, including a huge library Wealthy homes – with frescoed walls Temple of Artemis or Diana – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world Goddess of the hunt, moon, and fertility – temple prostitution and magic Silversmiths – sold images of Diana; big source of revenue

Timeless Truth: Suffering and Perseverance are Part of the Christian Life

Jerusalem Purification – four men, possibly a Nazarite vow, Paul also purifies himself, 7 days Jews from Asia – stir up the crowd, accuse Paul of bringing a Greek Gentile into the temple, drag Paul outside and beat him Roman soldiers – break up the riot and arrest Paul Paul speaks – to the mob, tells of his conversion, mob reacts negatively, Romans take him away and get ready to whip Paul, Paul points out that he is a Roman citizen Sanhedrin – Paul begins to speak and is ordered to be hit to keep him quiet, pits Pharisees against the Sadducees, Romans lead Paul away Vision – Jesus visits Paul, tells him he will witness his faith in Rome Plot to kill Paul Taken to Caesarea – two years, two governors, Paul defends himself twice to accusations by the Jewish religious leaders, appeals to Caesar

Journey to Rome Late in the season – to travel by sea, companions travel with him Storm Shipwrecked Malta – bitten by a viper, impress the people, healings, given all that they need for the rest of the journey Two years – house arrest, met with local Jewish leaders, letters to churches, visits Released – 60-62 AD

Martyrdom Nero Imprisonment – harsher than the first, wrote 2 Timothy, Beheaded – 67-68 AD

Other Apostles James – 44-45 AD; brother of John, killed by Herod Agrippa with a sword, Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius report the executioner became convinced of Jesus’ resurrection and was executed with James Philip – 54 AD; tortured and crucified in Phrygia or Egypt or Carthage Matthew – 60-70 AD; beheaded in Ethiopia James – 63 AD; son of Alphaeus, “the Lesser”, taken to the pinnacle of the Temple and thrown down then beaten to death with a club Peter – 64-66 AD; Rome; crucified upside down by Nero Andrew – 70 AD; preached among the Sythians and the Thracians; whipped then crucified on an olive tree in Greece, bound with ropes rather than nailed so the death would take longer, X shaped cross Thomas – 70 AD; went to India; tortured with spears, red-hot plates, and burned Nathanael (Bartholomew) – 70 AD; widespread missionary journeys; may have gone to India with Thomas, Asia Minor, Egypt, Armenia, flayed and crucified Matthias – 70 AD; Ethopia, stoned while hanging on a cross or Syria, death by burning Judas (Thadddeus) – 72 AD; Mesopotamia; beaten to death with clubs or killed with arrows Simon – 74 AD; “the Zealot”; Egypt, Africa, Mauritania, Britain, Persia, Syria; John – 95-100 AD; natural death; may have survived a poisoning attempt and boiling oil that may have scarred him for life

Applications The Apostles were convinced Jesus was God – willing to change their lives and go to tell everyone they could that Jesus was the Messiah, even willing to die horribly for that belief The Apostles were concerned for the welfare of the churches – visiting, writing, encouraging, and training leaders The Bible has been carefully preserved so that we too can believe in Jesus – early church took great care to choose the books and preserve them for us The Bible tells us what we need to do to live as God’s people – individually we have what we need to follow God’s will The Bible tells us what we need to do to live as a faith community – the people of God have been gathered together to follow God’s will The Bible tells us that the mission of the Apostles has been passed on to us – we are the means that God uses to share His message to the world The Bible tells us that our Lower Story is part of God’s Upper Story – God wants each of us to believe in Him, to love Him, and to follow Him in all things