Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

2. Paul from beginning to end preached that the Messiah King had come, had atoned for sin, rose again, showed Himself to His apostles, ascended to heaven, and will return to receive His people into His kingdom.

3. Furthermore, Paul identified that the Messiah King was Jesus the Nazarene (Act 2:22; Act 22:8) and taught concerning Him.

4. He did this with all openness meaning that Paul was not fearful but preached with all boldness and confidence (parrêsia – internal freedom to be outspoken, bold, Act 2:29; 4:13, 29, 31).

5. Paul was also unhindered externally (akōlutōs – a = not, kōluō = hindered, cf. Act 27:43 “kept them”). Though Paul himself was in bonds, the Word of God was not bound (cf. 2Ti 2:9).

C. Wrote Four Prison Epistles

1. While Paul was under house arrest he managed to pen four epistles to churches and an individual.

2. They are called, for obvious reasons, the Prison Epistles. They are:

a) Ephesians A.D. 60 (cf. Act 20:25, Paul did not think that he would see them again)

b) Philippians A.D. 60-61

c) Colossians A.D. 61

d) Philemon A.D. 61-62

II. LAST ACTS OF PAUL

A. Paul was acquitted from his first Roman imprisonment in A.D. 62, which he seemed to suspect (Php 1:25; Phm 22 cf. Col 4:7-9).

B. It is quite possible that Paul made a trip to Spain (“farthest limits of the West” 1 Clement) immediately following his release.

C. Paul returned to visit various regions and churches. Though we do not know the exact routes, Paul’s final three epistles (1Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy) reveal some of the places visited.

D. He visited the island of Crete and leaves Titus there (Tit 1:5).

E. At some point, Paul may have visited Colossae according to prior plans (Phm 22; Col 4:7-9).

F. Paul visited Miletus where Trophimus took ill was left behind to get better (2Ti 4:20b).

G. Paul left Timothy behind in Ephesus in order to be the pastor of the church (1Ti 1:3).

H. We know he went to Troas, because both his cloak and the scrolls were left behind (2Ti 4:13).

I. At some point, Paul may have visited Philippi as per information in his epistle (Php 1:25).

J. While in Macedonia, Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy).

K. Paul was in Nicopolis and wanted Titus to meet him there (Tit 3:12).

L. It was apparent that Paul was also in Corinth, where Erastus remained (2Ti 4:20). In addition, it was either in Nicopolis or in Corinth when Paul wrote to Titus (Titus).

M. Philip Schaff believed, “It was in Nicopolis, the city of that name in Epirus, that the apostle was again arrested.”

N. He was a state prisoner; most likely he was kept at the Mamertine prison in Rome.

O. While there Scripture depicted certain events:

1. Many in Asia turned away from Paul because of cowardice (2Ti 1:15).

2. Paul was visited by Onesiphorus (2Ti 1:16-17).

3. Paul was deserted by Demas who loved this present world (2Ti 4:10).

4. Paul was aided by the physician Luke, who sought to attend to his needs (2Ti 4:11).

5. Paul was abandoned by many Christians as he faced trial (2Ti 4:16),

6. Paul still found a way to write his second and final letter to Timothy (2 Timothy).

P. According to Tertullian, by order of Nero, Paul was beheaded in A.D, 67-68.

Q. Massive and severe Christian persecution continued by Nero until his death in A.D. 68.

III. LESSONS FROM ACTS

A. Great Contribution of the Book of Acts

1. The ministry of the Holy Spirit (“Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles”).

2. The kerygma, which was the chief message and doctrines established through the preaching of the apostles.

3. The sermons of the apostles, which were saturated in Scripture, apologetic in nature, and empowered by the Holy Spirit through the Word.

4. The signs and wonders that were for that particular apostolic time. They were utilized under the direction of the Holy Spirit on specific occasions to specific groups, neither of which does the present occasion and groups meet the criteria.

5. The church’s model in Acts. Though some events and activities were specific to the early church, Acts reveals to believers what the normal pattern for the Church today should be: bold global evangelism, edifying the Church through strong biblical teaching, personal and public holiness, as well as perseverance through sufferings (Ac 2:42-47).

B. Paul’s Life was Poured out Like a Drink Offering (2Ti 4:6-8).

1. It was poured out completely and faithfully to the end. Hear Paul’s own testimony of his faithfulness as well as the promise to all who also are faithful.

2. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing (2Ti 4:6-8).

C. Paul’s Life Taken by Sword

1. His life was taken from him by a sword. And yet he had already penned that nothing could separate him from the love of Christ…not a sword (Rom 8:35). As swords go, Paul masterfully wielded his own sword, that is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Eph 6:17). For that sword was a holy sword and with it Paul had pierced the thoughts and hearts of many (Heb 4:12).

D. History Changed at the Conversion of Paul

1. It was fitting that his conversion be very unique, because he's such a unique person. By birth, he was a Jew; by citizenship, a Roman; by education, a Greek; by conversion and grace, a Christian. And he became the best of all those things in combination. He was missionary, theologian, evangelist, pastor, organizer, leader, thinker, statesman, fighter for truth and, at the same time, lover of souls. He was everything that a Christian could and should be, short of being what Jesus Christ is.

2. Now, the conversion of this particular man became the pivot not only on which his life turned, but on which the history of the church turned [and the history of the world]. And you and I, in tremendous measure, are indebted to this man for whatever we may know about God and about salvation, because he wrote those books which detail for us this great [salvation]. (John MacArthur’s sermon, “Transformed Life” in Acts 9:1-9)

E. The Church’s Completion of the Book of Acts

1. Though Luke was alive to record more incidents for the Church, he concluded his book without an ending. This is the Holy Spirit’s challenge to the present day Church to continue with the apostle’s example, kerygma, and mission. In a real sense, the Church will conclude the book of Acts when Christ comes back for His Church.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516