In the Midst of the Storm” Acts 27:1–44 Previous Message Summary: Paul, Still B

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

In the Midst of the Storm” Acts 27:1–44 Previous Message Summary: Paul, Still B b. How many people were aboard the ship and how many made it ashore? See Acts 27:37, 44. Small Group Questions 4. In Acts 27:3, the ship travels up the coast to Sidon “The Church Afire:”In the Midst of the Storm” where Julius frees Paul to go to his friends to provide Acts 27:1–44 for his needs. Previous Message Summary: Paul, still being held a. From verses 1-3 and 43, what do you know about captive by Governor Festus, had the opportunity to speak Julius? before King Agrippa and Bernice. Governor Festus was trying to come up with some reasonable charges against b. Why do you think a Roman soldier responsible for Paul. Paul gave us a great example of the different parts his prisoner’s captivity would let Paul go freely to of a testimony. his friends? We learned that: c. If you were the centurion, would you let your a. God is in the “story changing” business. prisoner have so much freedom? b. We need to carefully think through how to tell our story. c. We need to pray that God uses our story to help spread d. Can you share a time when you trusted someone His story. with a big responsibility? Did it pay off or were you disappointed? As you begin, you may want to read this passage in its entirety. 5. Paul warned the crew that the ship was headed for disaster if the voyage continued. Julius chose to listen Introduction to the ship’s pilot and owner. See Acts 27:9-12. 1. Have you ever been seasick? What happened? How a. If you were the ship’s owner, how would you react did you recover? to Paul’s warning about a 50-mile trip they wanted to make (v. 10)? 2. What would you say is the biggest, most exciting, and eventful journey you have ever taken? b. Does it seem reasonable that they were so intent on continuing the voyage? Discussion Questions c. Would you have reacted any differently? 3. As Paul begins his journey to Rome, who are the two friends traveling with him? See Acts 27:2 d. Have you ever been so intent on reaching a goal that you forgot to pay attention to the details? Can a. Where else in the book of Acts have we heard you give an example? about Aristarchus? See Acts 19:28-31, Acts 20:4. 6. What in verses 13-20 reveals how severe the storm was? Cor. 11:23-28. With this experience Paul was able to 7. Verse 27 indicates this situation lasted two weeks. keep a cool head, even telling the centurion and How would you be feeling by the end of this period? soldiers to keep the crew from escaping because they were needed to beach the ship. See Acts 27:31-32. 8. There is an interesting contrast between Jonah and Paul. Jonah 1:4-5, Acts 27. a. When have you experienced God’s help making it through a difficult trial, later to find yourself being a. Both were on ships, one following God, one used as an encouragement to others? running from God. b. Does Romans 8:28 reinforce this? b. Paul was interacting with the crew, encouraging them to stay together and eat. Jonah was 11. When have you felt caught in a “northeaster,” carried sleeping inside the ship, unaware of the storm. along by the wind? What happened? What did you learn from the situation? c. Paul and the crew jumped overboard, swimming to shore together and using parts of the ship to 12. What is the greatest pressure you are facing right stay afloat. Jonah was thrown overboard by the now? How can Paul’s example help you? crew so they could save themselves. Challenge d. In both stories the storm was an influential part of what happened to both men. 13. In this passage we see Paul taking each challenge of the voyage in stride, receiving encouragement from e. Even though none of us like storms in life, how God along the way, either through God’s spoken can God use them to guide us? word, or opportunities to share the gospel. Do you know that even through our darkest times God is with 9. In Acts 27:19-20, Paul and the crew gave up all hope you? See Hebrews 13:5. of being saved. In Acts 27:23-25, Paul talks about being encouraged because of receiving a visit from an Next Steps: angel of the God he serves. G I will allow my life to be anchored in God’s word (I a. How many times in the book of Acts has Paul have faith that things will happen like God said). received a heavenly visitation? See Acts 9:3-6, Acts 18:9-10, Acts 22:17-18, Acts 23:11. G I will be anchored by God’s ownership (the God whose I am). b. Notice that when Paul is in a difficult situation, God meets Paul’s need. Tell about an experience G I will be anchored in my service to God (the God when God met your need in a difficult situation. whom I serve). 10. In Acts 27:39-44, Paul’s voyage ends in a shipwreck. Paul was shipwrecked three times prior to this. See 2.
Recommended publications
  • 1 2 2/3/08 Acts 27 Paul the Apostle Had Appealed to Caesar, After Two
    1 2 2/3/08 the record we have, they are J. Smith, The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul and Sir William Acts 27 Ramsey, St. Paul, The Traveler and Roman citizen. Paul the apostle had appealed to Caesar, after two 27:1-8 The departure of Paul to Rome. years of being a political ploy of Felix and Festus, so Paul was going to be sent to Rome to stand 27:1 The boarding of the ship to Rome. before Caesar Nero. 1) The plural "we" last appeared six chapters before. vs. 1a God had told Paul that he was going to go to Rome * Acts 21:18 and bear witness of Him but the timing and the 2) Their port of arrival was to be Italy and way he was going to get there, was without doubt the word sail “apopleo” is a nautical not the way he had though it would take place. term, which appears six times in the remainder of the Acts. vs. 1a If we are committed to study the works of God, * Acts 27:4, 12, 21; 28:10-11 then the ways of God will never offend us, because 2) The apostle Paul was entrusted to a we know that He is just and righteous, therefore I centurion name Julius, along with other can not judge the ways of God by my prisoner. vs. 1b circumstances or emotions, only by His word! a) The Centurion Julius was in charge of 100 men Chapter 27-28:16 records for us the voyage to b) Those prisoners could of been for the Rome and the various details and could be gladiator shows or other cases to be compared to God’s promises to us, of one day presented before Caesar.
    [Show full text]
  • Acts 18:1-12
    P. O. Box 326 Four Georgetown Road Boxford, Massachusetts 01921 978-887-5841 firstchurchboxford.org Acts 18:1-12 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
    [Show full text]
  • Acts 20 Paul Travels Through Macedonia and Greece on the Way Back to Jerusalem
    Acts of the Apostles 19:21–22 and Acts 20 Paul travels through Macedonia and Greece on the way back to Jerusalem The one where Eutychus falls out of a window and Paul says goodbye to the Ephesians. Last week u In Ephesus, twelve men who had only known the Baptism of John were baptized and when Paul laid hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit. u Paul preached in the synagogue for 3 months then left to preach daily in the hall of Tyrannus. u Paul remained in Ephesus for 3 years. All of Asia heard the WORD! u Paul performed miracles in Ephesus. Even his washcloths or aprons would heal people if these items of Paul touched their skin. u 7 sons of the High Priest try to exorcize a demon by using the name of Jesus. They are beat up and driven out of the house naked by the demon! Last week u Seeing this, many who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in sight of all who were there. u Paul wrote the First Letter to the Corinthians at this time. u Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia and then sends Titus to Corinth. u Silversmiths who made idols of Artemis begin a riot in Ephesus. They fear Paul’s teaching will hurt their livelihood and keep tourists away from the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus. u A town clerk was the voice of reason who calmed the crowd. Acts 19:21-22 u 21 When this was concluded, Paul made up his mind to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must visit Rome also.” 22 Then he sent to Macedonia two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, while he himself stayed for a while in the province of Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • The Compulsion of the Spirit in the Farewell Speech of Paul in Acts 20
    The Compulsion of the Spirit in the Farewell Speech of Paul in Acts 20:17-38 to the Ephesian Leaders An Exegetical Study Grounded in the Apostle’s Pneumatology and Christology by Cletus Hull 1 This analysis of Acts 20:17-38 considered the historical, theological, and exegetical issues of Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian leaders. As his discourse became one of the most important in Acts, the conclusion of the paper discussed the practical ramifications for ministry. Subsequently, a major imperative of this study unveiled that the presence of the Holy Spirit remains crucial for effective pastoral ministry. Introduction Luke recorded three typical Pauline speeches in Acts: the synagogue sermon in Pisidian Antioch (13:16-41), the Areopagus speech in Athens (17:22-31), and his farewell address to the Ephesian elders (20:18-35). He received information for the first two discourses from Paul, his travel companion, but of these three, Luke personally heard the third (Acts 21:1). In Acts 20, Luke recorded a homily delivered by the apostle to believers and the only account of a public occasion embedded in a “we-passage” of Acts. There remain similarities between the Acts 20 speech and Paul’s letters as he addressed a Christian audience that typified the advice he shared in his epistles. Moreover, it offered the best prospect of direct comparison between the Paul of Acts and the Paul of the epistles. The structure of the speech conveyed motifs revealing Paul's theology. His farewell address to the elders on Miletus beach exposed a number of phrases presented in his correspondences.
    [Show full text]
  • Dorcas/Tabitha
    / Dorcas Tabitha Dorcas (Tabitha) is the only woman in the bible referred to as a disciple. The way the first verse is written implies there may have been other female disciples in Joppa too, who are not mentioned by name. Her name Tabitha means Gazelle – indicating perhaps that she is a woman of grace, energy, beauty, and quick movements. Like Paul, she has both Greek & Jewish names – Greek = Dorcas, Jewish = Tabitha. The name Tabitha was also popular among slaves – like Lydia there is the possibility that she was a freewoman. She is raised from the dead after Peter prays for her. There are some similarities with other stories where people are risen from the dead: • Elijah raising Zarephath’s son’s widow (1 Kings 17:17-24) • Elisha’s raising of Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:18-37) • Jesus raising Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-17) • Jairus’s daughter Talitha (Luke 8:41-42 & 49-56, Mark 5:35-43) – similar name! Coincidence? • Lazarus (John 11:1-44, Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12). Tabitha is much loved and respected. Uses her sewing skills and financial resources for good. She is clearly generous and kind, has made clothes for widows and they all mourn her when she dies. Her story converts many people into believing. Care of widows was a long- held way of demonstrating God’s righteousness and justice. Tabitha’s status may imply she was leading the church in Joppa. The widows in the story are not passive but engaged. They are neither silent nor insignificant, but rather of key importance.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bible in the Church, Part 1 the Book of Acts, Part 48 | Acts 20:1 – 24 | David Platt, MBC Interim Teaching Pastor & President of the IMB
    The Bible in the Church, part 1 The Book of Acts, part 48 | Acts 20:1 – 24 | David Platt, MBC Interim Teaching Pastor & President of the IMB Acts 2:41 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 4:4 “But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” Acts 4:29 “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness . .” Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 6:2 – 4 “And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’” Acts 6:7 “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 8:4 “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” Acts 8:14 “Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John .
    [Show full text]
  • Women's Ministries Devotionals
    WOMEN’S MINISTRIES DEVOTIONALS A Follower of Jesus Vonda Rodeheaver Scripture: Acts 9: 1-2, 36 Tabitha was from Joppa, a Jewish Mediterranean coastal town with Greek cultural influence. Her Hebrew name was Tabitha, but she was known by her Greek-speaking friends as Dorcas. (Often Jews living in areas of strong Greek cultural influence spoke not only Aramaic but also Greek.) Tabitha was a devout Hebrew believer living in a Hellenized town. She was zealous for God. She was well known and was referred to as a “disciple” of Jesus. She would have been considered as a member of “the Way”, people who believed that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead and that therefore Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Tabitha, or Dorcas as her friends called her, always went about doing good and helping the poor. Saul, another devout Hebrew, was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, a town under the influence of Roman rule and culture. Young Saul was brought to Jerusalem where he was trained to follow the Old Testament Law and the religious customs of his ancestors. He excelled under the teaching of a leading rabbi named Gamaliel and he was quite zealous for God. At one level Tabitha and Saul hold much in common. They both had been raised to be devout Jews even though born into contexts of strong gentile influence. Yet there is a key difference between Saul and Tabitha at this point in the story. Saul was zealous to keep the Jewish laws but refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God.
    [Show full text]
  • International Bible Lessons Commentary Acts 18:1-11, 18-21 King James Version
    International Bible Lessons Commentary Acts 18:1-11, 18-21 King James Version International Bible Lessons Sunday, November 29, 2015 L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. The International Bible Lesson (Uniform Sunday School Lessons Series) for Sunday, November 29, 2015, is from Acts 18:1-11, 18-21. Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further follow the verse-by-verse International Bible Lesson Commentary. Study Hints for Discussion and Thinking Further discusses Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further to help with class preparation and in conducting class discussion: these hints are available on the International Bible Lessons Commentary website along with the International Bible Lesson that you may want to read to your class as part of your Bible study. If you are a Bible student or teacher, you can discuss each week’s commentary and lesson at the International Bible Lesson Forum. International Bible Lesson Commentary Acts 18:1-11, 18-21 (Acts 18:1) After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; After Paul spoke in the Areopagus in Athens, some believed. Then Paul went to the port city of Corinth, the chief city in Achaia (in Greece), about 50 miles west of Athens. From Corinth, Paul wrote two letters to Thessalonica (that we have in the Bible). A few years later, he wrote his letter to Rome from Corinth. As we learn from history and First and Second Corinthians, Corinth was an immoral city and that immorality sometimes spread into the church and required church discipline and advice from Paul. (Acts 18:2) And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
    [Show full text]
  • Even Apostles Get Discouraged
    Even Apostles Get Discouraged Acts 18:1-22 Arrival in Corinth “After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.” (Acts 18:1, ESV) A Strategic Location “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” Temple of Apollo & Acrocorinth “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” 1 Corinthians 2:3 “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling.” (ESV) “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” Reason to Be Afraid •Persecution has taken its toll. “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” Reason to Be Afraid •Persecution has taken its toll. •Corinth is known as a wicked city. “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” Reason to Be Afraid •Persecution has taken its toll. •Corinth is known as a wicked city. •Paul is all alone. “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” Encouragement in Corinth Acts 18:2-11 Acts 18:2-4 “And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to …” “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” Acts 18:4-7 “persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’ And he left there …” “Even Apostles Get Discouraged” Acts 18:7-9 “and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.
    [Show full text]
  • Lesson Booklet
    WITNESSES TO CHRIST Studies in the Acts of the Apostles But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 Trinity Bible Church Sunday School Spring, 2004 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................3 Schedule ..................................................................4 Scripture Memorization: Verses from the Acts of the Apostles . 5 Hymn Memorization: “The Head that Once was Crowned with Thorns” . 7 Lesson 1: You Shall be Witnesses ............................................8 Acts 1 2: The Day of Pentecost .............................................9 Acts 2 3: The Blessing of Jesus ............................................10 Acts 3:1-4:4 4: Great Power, Great Grace, Great Fear . 11 Acts 4:5-5:11 5: A Work of God .................................................12 Acts 5:12-6:15 6: Resisting the Holy Spirit...........................................13 Acts 7 7: Preaching Christ Everywhere .......................................14 Acts 8 8: Christ's Chosen Vessel............................................15 Acts 9 9: God Shows No Partiality ..........................................16 Acts 10 10: Who Can Withstand God? .........................................17 Acts 11:1-12:25 11: The Appointment of God..........................................18 Acts 13 12: The Opened Door of Faith ........................................19
    [Show full text]
  • The Conversion of Paul Acts 8:26-40
    Acts 2:1-15 - The coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 3:1-10 - Peter heals a crippled beggar Acts 4:1-21 - The apostles are imprisoned Acts was written by a chap called Luke, yes the same guy who wrote Luke’s Gospel. In fact, Acts is kind of like a part 2, picking up the story where the Gospel ends. Acts 8:26-40 - Philip preaches to the Ethiopian We think Luke was a doctor – Paul calls him doctor in his letter to the Colossians and the way Luke describes some of the healings and other Acts 9:1-19 - The conversion of Paul events makes us think he was an educated man and most likely a doctor. Acts 9:19-25 - Paul in Damascus Our best guess is that it was written between AD63 and AD70 – that’s Acts 9:32-43 - Aeneas healed & Dorcas brought back to life more than 1,948 years ago. It was written not long after the events described in the book and about 30 years after Jesus died and was raised Acts 10:19-48 - Peter and Cornelius to life again. Acts 12:4-11 - Peter arrested and freed by an angel Luke himself tells us at the beginning of his Gospel that he wanted to write about everything that had happened – he was actually with Paul Acts 13:1-3 - Paul and Barnabas sent off on a few of his journeys. He says that the book is for Theophilus (easy for you to say!), we think he was a wealthy man, possibly a Roman Acts 14:8-18 - Paul heals the crippled man in Lystra official.
    [Show full text]
  • A Biographical Study of Luke
    Liberty University Scholars Crossing New Testament Biographies A Biographical Study of Individuals of the Bible 10-2018 A Biographical Study of Luke Harold Willmington Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/nt_biographies Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Willmington, Harold, "A Biographical Study of Luke" (2018). New Testament Biographies. 24. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/nt_biographies/24 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the A Biographical Study of Individuals of the Bible at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in New Testament Biographies by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Luke CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY I. The ministry of Luke A. He was a co-worker with the Apostle Paul. 1. Traveling with Paul during the second missionary journey a. Luke joined Paul, Silas, and Timothy at the city of Troas (Acts 16:8, 10). b. He ministered to Lydia and a demoniac girl at Philippi (Acts 16:14-18). c. For some reason, neither he nor Timothy were beaten and thrown into prison as were Paul and Silas (Acts 16:19-34). 2. Traveling with Paul during the third missionary journey a. Luke again joined Paul at Troas, as he had during the previous trip (Acts 20:6). b. He participated in a prayer meeting on the seashore at Tyre (Acts 21:4-6). c. He visited with Philip the evangelist and his four daughters at Caesarea (Acts 21:8-9).
    [Show full text]