Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

C. The identification of the “the Prophet,” prophesied by Moses (Deu 18:15-18), was divided. Some believed Messiah was the King and the Prophet (Joh 6:14-15) while some saw two separate figures (Joh 1:20-25). However, the apostles clarified that the Messiah was both King and the Prophet (Act 3:18-23 cf. Act 7:37).

D. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits. Therefore, to them, the Messiah would be an earthly Maccabean political and military Messiah.

E. The Pharisees during the NT period believed that Messiah was the Son of God (Mat 26:63), and to some degree, deity (Joh 10:30-33, 36). The NT teaches that Jesus, the Messiah is God the Son (Joh 1:34, 49; 11:27; 20:31; Mat 16:16 cf. Psa 2:7).

II. CASE OF PAUL’S SIXTH DEFENSE (17-19)

A. Necessity of Meeting with Jewish Leaders (17)

1. Paul met with the leading men of the Jews, having only been there three days. For Paul’s sake, we might have thought that he should have waited before entering the lion’s den again.

2. Nevertheless, Paul was an apostle commissioned by Christ to preach the gospel, and his theology and his heart always led him to the Jews first (Rom 1:16; 2:9-10; Act 23:11).

3. Though informal, this meeting could come under the heading of Paul’s Sixth Defense.

1) Paul's first defense before the Jewish mob (Act 21:39-22:22);

2) Paul's second defense before the Sanhedrin (Act 23:1-10);

3) Paul's third defense before Felix the governor (Act 24:10-21);

4) Paul's fourth defense before Festus the governor (Act 25:1-12);

5) Paul's fifth defense before King Agrippa II (Act 25:13-26:32);

6) Paul's sixth defense before Jewish Leaders in Rome (Act 28:17-29).

B. Nothing Against Custom of Jews (17b) – Paul’s defense (and truth) was that he had done nothing in violation against God, the Jews, or the Temple. Yet, as divine circumstances had it, he was delivered a prisoner from the Jews to the Romans (Act 24:25:8 cf. Act 21:10-11).

C. Nothing Worthy of Death (18) – All of the examinations led the Romans to the same conclusion, namely that there were no grounds for putting him to death.

D. No Choice but to Appeal to Caesar (19) – In desperation to keep out of clutches of the Jews, Paul was forced to appeal to Caesar (Act 25:11-12).

III. CHAINED FOR THE HOPE OF ISRAEL (20-23)

A. Jewish Hope (20) – Paul was in chains for the hope of Israel.

1. Paul explained that the “hope of Israel” was the long awaited Messiah, whom the Law and the prophets foretold, Jesus the Nazarene (Act 28:23 cf. Act 2:22).

2. The “hope of Israel” also pertained to the hope of the resurrection based on the death and resurrection of the Messiah (Sanhedrin - Act 23:6; Felix - 24:14-15; Agrippa - 26:6-8).

B. Jews Not Heard about Paul’s Incident (21)

1. The Roman Jews appeared interested in Paul though not aware of his circumstance. There would have been no reason for the Jews in Jerusalem to report anything about Paul while he was in Jerusalem awaiting a decision on his case. In addition, there probably was not enough time for the news of Paul’s trip to Rome after his appeal to Caesar.

2. But surely these Jews had heard of Saul of Tarsus, the former Pharisee and persecutor of the church turned Christian. Surely, his slandered reputation had preceded him.

C. Jews Would Hear Paul Again (22)

1. They were willing to hear from the lips of the infamous Pharisee concerning this sect (hairesis – particular group or party separate from the established party, i.e. Eng. heresy). Christianity was considered a cult and a heresy by many in its beginning.

2. Perhaps they desired to hear the novelty of Paul’s story. Or perhaps they wanted to gather a case against him from his own words.

3. But in either case, they would hear from him again in further detail even though Christianity was being spoken against everywhere.

D. Jews Came to Hear Paul (23)

1. On a set day large numbers of the Jews, more than before, came to Paul’s lodging. There he shared the gospel with them.

a) He “explained” (ektithêmi – to place outside as in expose, explain, or expound) to them in orderly sequence (cf. Act 11:4) and in greater detail (cf. Act 18:26) the truths of Christianity.

b) Paul solemnly testified (diamartuomai – serious declaration or testimony; strong charge or warning, 1Ti 5:21) the Lord’s cause faithfully to the Jews in Rome as he has solemnly testified in Jerusalem (Act 23:11).

c) His testimony was about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God refers to many aspects, but here it refers to preaching the gospel, including the Messiah’s kingship.

d) Specifically, Paul was preaching and trying to persuade them that Jesus was the Messiah.

e) He was explaining from both the Law of Moses and the prophets that Jesus was the Messiah (cf. Luk 24:26-27).

(1) Jesus was both the “Prophet” (Acts 3:20-22; 7:37 cf. Deu 18:15-18) and the “King” (Psa 2:6; 132:11; Jer 23:5; Act 3:15; 17:7).

(2) Jesus was the “Seed” (Act 3:25 cf. Gen 22:18), “Lord” (Act 2:34-35 cf. Psa 110:1), “Cornerstone (Act 4:11 cf. Psa 118:22-23), and “Savior” (Isa 45:21; Act 5:31; 13:23).

(3) Jesus was the Messiah who would was crucified for the sins of the people (Act 3:18; Act 8:32-25 cf. Isa 53:4-7) and was raised from the dead (Act 13:33 cf. Psa 2:7; Act 2:25-32; 13:35 cf. Psa 16:8-11).

2. Paul did this from morning until evening desiring to leave no stone unturned and no question unanswered.

IV. CONSEQUENCE OF PAUL’S GOSPEL PRESENTATION (24-29)

A. Persuaded only Some (24)

1. Paul, through the preaching of the gospel, the Holy Spirit, and the sovereign plan of God, “persuaded” (peithō – convince “by the things spoken”, i.e. through the Scriptures and good reasoning, Act 18:4; 19:8) some of the Jews (cf. Act 13:48).

2. Others (Jews), no doubt the majority, would not believe.

B. Pronouncement of Spiritual Blindness (25-27)

1. When the majority left disputing and in unbelief, Paul pronounced a prophetic diagnosis that Israel was spiritually blind.

2. This is the third time that Isa 6:9-10 is quoted in the NT. Jesus pronounce judgment of spiritual blindness upon Israel with this Scripture (Mat 13:14-15). John quoted this Scripture when Israel would not believe in spite of Jesus’ miracles (Joh 12:35-40). Now Paul gave the same pronouncement after they rejected God’s plan of salvation through the prophesied Messiah, the hope of Israel.

C. Plan of Salvation Was Sent to the Gentiles (28-29)

1. What we very well may have in front of us is the setting aside of Israel by God. Paul had to tell the Jews in Jerusalem. Now he told the Jews in Rome. The Messiah was nationally rejected. In several (A.D. 70), the Romans would destroy the Temple and put an end to Judaism as they knew it. Some have surmised that this was the last time Paul officially went to the Jews with the gospel.

2. Perhaps at that moment, the apostle to the Gentiles would go exclusively to the Gentiles with the salvation of God (Act 9:15; 11:18; 13:46-47; 14:27; 15:14-18; 18:6 cf. Rom 11:13; 1Ti 2:7). Nevertheless, one day God will restore His Israel (Rom 11:11-15, 25-28).

V. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Messiah’s Blessing to the Gentiles

B. Savior’s Blessing to the Gentiles

1. Jesus was the “Seed” that would bless all nations (Act 3:25 cf. Gen 22:18), “Lord” who would sit at the Father’s right hand, there intercede for believers (Gentiles) (Act 2:34-35 cf. Psa 110:1), “Cornerstone” upon which the church is built, among which Gentiles are a part (Act 4:11 cf. Psa 118:22-23), and “Savior” not only of the Jew, but also of the Gentiles (Isa 45:21; Act 5:31; 13:23).

C. Blessing of Messiah’s Message by the Gentiles

1. Rom 11:11 – To Jews

2. To Gentiles –

a) 1Th 1:6-10 –

b) 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

c) 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

d) 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.

e) 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

f) 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

3. Some will be persuaded, some will not. We must expound and explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening if need be.

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