God’s Holy War in the Acts of the Apostles
by Eric Alan Greene
The Rebuilding & Empowering of God’s Army
a Resurrected Jesus: 40 days with Apostles Physical Presence of Christ1:1-3
b Jesus speaks: promising the Holy Spirit’s power1:4-8
c Son of God ascends up to heaven1:9-11
d Apostles “ascend” to upper room1:12-14
e Peter speaks: Judas is replaced1:15-26
d’ Holy Spirit “descends” upon Apostles2:1-4
c’ Spirit of God mocked by Jews2:5-13
b’ Peter’s speaks: explaining the Holy Spirit’s work2:14 – 40
a’ Church grows.(3,000 believe) Church unites: Doctrinal & Sacramental Presence of Christ2:41-47
God’s Army: The Apostles now have the keys to the kingdom: Word, Sacraments, Prayer, & Holy Spirit
The Arise & Hardening of God’s Enemy
1. TempleRulersThreaten Apostles
a Apostles heal man at “Beautiful Gate” of temple 3:1-10
bApostlessermon in “Solomon’s Porch” of temple 3:11-26
c Temple leaders arrest Peter & John (5,000 believe) 4:1-4
b’Templeleaders interrogate the power of Peter & John [wicked Annas] 4:5-12
a’Temple council threaten Peter & John about preaching Jesus 4:13-22
2. TempleRulersBeat Apostles
a Apostles pray for strength to preachheal 4:23-31
bApostles’“feet” is where church is united & purged [wicked Ananias & Sapphira]4:32 – 5:11
c Apostles preach & heal in “Solomon’s Porch” of temple 5:12-16
d Temple leaders arrest Apostles / Angel frees Apostles (1st prison rescue) 5:17-21
c’ Temple leaders capture & interrogate Apostles aboutpreaching 5:22-32
b’TempleRuler, Gamaliel, ironically warns about opposing Apostles/God 5:33-42
a’ Temple council beats & forbids Apostles to preach 5:40-42
3. TempleRulersMurder Stephen
a Apostles pray over 7 deacons 6:1-7
b Stephen accused before the “Freedmen” Council 6:8-15
c Stephen’s sermon on “TempleApostasy” before the High Priest 7:2 – 53
b’ Stephen murdered by temple leaders & united at persecutor’s “feet” (v.58) 7:54 - 60
a’ Church spreads to Samaria, persecution scatters the preached word. see 11:19 8:1-2
God’s Enemy: Temple in Jerusalem is now officially a “Synagogue of Satan” (Rev.2:9)
Christ Convertsa Big Demon from Satan’s Temple
a Saul persecutes Jerusalem church 8:3
b i Philip preaches Christ 8:4 – 13
ii Simon escapes death 8:14-25
c Ethiopian is baptized 8:26 – 40
d Saul is converted 9:1-9
c’ Saul is baptized 9:10-19
b’i Saul preaches Christ 9:20 – 22
ii Saul escapes death 9:23 – 25
a’ Saul joins Jerusalem church 9:26 – 30
Christ Cleanses a Big Gentile from the Empire
a Holy Spirit “comforts” and “multiplies” 9:31
b Peter tells Aeneas that Jesus heals 9:32 – 35
c Peter tells Tabitha to “arise”: she is alive [Peter enters Joppa] 9:36 – 43
d Cornelius sends 3 men to Peter 10:1-8
e Peter’s 3-fold vision: Christ speaks [3 works in vision, v.16] 10:9 – 16
d’ Peter summoned by the 3 men [Peter leaves Joppa; opposite of Jonah’s ship] 10:17 - 23
c’ Peter tells Cornelius “arise”: he is clean [Peter in Caesarea] 10: 24 – 33
b’ Peter tells Cornelius that Jesus saves 10: 34 – 43
a’Holy Spirit is “poured out” and baptizes 10:44 – 48
“Christian”: The Name forSufferers & Encouragers
a Peter reports to Jerusalem church 11:1-18
b Church persecution:
i Initiated by Stephen’s death 11:19
ii “Hand of the Lord”moves, strengthens, and adds to the church “turned to the Lord”11:20-21
c Barnabas encourageschurch in Antioch “added to the Lord”11:22-24
d Saul & Barnabas come to Antioch: The name “Christian” is used the 1st time11:25-26
c’ Barnabas & Saul relieve church in Jerusalem 11:27-30
b’Church persecution:
i Initiated by James’ death (2nd Prison Rescue)12:1-4
ii “Angel of the Lord” frees Peter and kills Herod [Peter in Judea] “word of God multiplied”12:5 – 24
a’ Saul, Barnabas, & Mark report to Antiochchurch 12:25 – 13:1
Paul’s 1st journey: Jewish Persecution in Galatian Territory
a Saul & Barnabas sent out from Antioch13:2-3
b Traveled to Seleucia, Cyprus, & Salamis–“preached the word of God”; John helps13:4-5
c Jewish false prophet blinded [in Paphos]13:4-12 Saul is called Paul
d John the discipledeparts for Jerusalem [in Perga]13:13
e Paul preaches in synagogue to Jews [in Antioch Pisidia]13:13-44
f Jewish persecution 13:45-52
e’ Paul preaches in synagogue to Jews [in Iconium]14:1
f’ Jewish persecution14:2-7
e” Paul heals a man, Zeus’ priestworship Paul [in Lystra; see Lysais below] 14:8-18 Paganpriest“worships”
f”Jewish persecution “stoned Paul” [came from Antioch& Iconium]14:19-20Paul “dies” & “rises”
d’ Paul “made many disciples” [in Derbe]14:20-21
c’ Paul’s preaches on endurance / appoints elders [in Lystra, Iconium, Antioch Pis.]14:21-23
b’ Traveled to Pamphylia, Perga, & Attalia - “preached the word”14:24-25
a’ Paul and his men return to Antioch14:26-28
Satan’s Subtlety: 1. Since persecution does not stop Paul who also “dies” and “rises”, Satan starts
to useheresy anddivisionamong God’s people
Jerusalem Council: Enemies Within & Epistle Weapons
a Paul and Barnabas argue against heresy of Little Serpent Pharisees [in Jerusalem]15:1-5
b Peter and James speak the Gospel 15:6-21
c Jerusalem Council tramples heresy of Little Serpents with an epistle15:22-29
b’ Paul and Barnabas read the epistle & preach the Gospel [in Antioch]15:30-35
a’ Paul & Barnabas divide over Mark, a Little Apostle 15:36-41
God’s Counterattack: 1. Paul will start using Epistle Weapons during his 2nd journey.
2. Paul will cause division in Satan’s little synagogues, within Greek territory.
Paul’s 2nd journey: Helping Greek Territory
A Timothy helps Paul; is circumcised because “his father was Greek”. Churches strengthened 16:1-5
B Paul goes through Phrygia & Galatia, has a vision, entersMacedonia to “help” (in Troas) 16:6-10
C Helping Philippi:
a Lydia (a prominent woman) believes / stay with Lydia (in Philippi) 16:11-15
b Roman citizens accuse Paul: beatened & imprisoned 16:16-24
c Paul & Silas freed; Jailor & house believe (3rd prison rescue) 16:25-34
b’ Roman rulers ashamed for beating & imprisoning Paul 16:35-39
a’ They entered the house of Lydia 16:40
C’ Helping Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, & Ephesus: [synagogues first]
a Paul preaches in synagogue 3x’s; Greeks, “leading” women believe (in Thessalonica) 17:1-4
b Jews accuse Jason of treason. Accusation: “acting contrary to the decrees of Ceasar” 17:5-9
c Paul preaches in synagogue: many believe (in Berea) 17:10-12
d Jewish persecution; Paul goes “to the sea”, to Athens 17:13-15
e Paul preaches in synagogue; awaiting Timothy & Silas (in Athens) 17:16-17
d Paul preaches to pagan philosophers 17:18-34Paganprophets “listen”
e’ Paul preaches in synagogue; arrival of Timothy & Silas (in Corinth) 18:1-5
d’ Jewish opposition; Paul goes “to Gentiles” 18:6
c’ Paul stays near a synagogue: ruler of synagogue believes 18:7-11
b’ Jews accuse Paul of heresy. Accusation: “worship God contrary to the law” 18:12-17
a’ Paul preaches in synagogue, Paul did not stay when asked (in Ephesus) 18:18-21
B’ Paul goes to Antioch, then strengthens churches in Phrygia & Galatia 18:22-23
A’ Apollos helps churches in Achaia, he was “born at Alexandria”. Churches strengthened 18:24-28
* From here on, any imprisonment is a rescue.
Paul’s 3rd journey: RomeHelping God’s Messenger
a Holy Spirit baptizes 12 men (a type of new Israel)19:1-10
b Demon beats up 7 Jews; value of 50,000 magic books burned19:11-20
c City Clerk of Ephesus protects Paul from riot 19:21-41
d Young boy raised to life by Paul 20:1-12
e Ephesians are warned of wolves devouring God’s flock 20:13-38
f Paul warned of being “bound” 21:1-14
g Paul identified with Jews 21:15-26
h Romans rescue Paul from Jews & “bound” him 21:27-36 Gentile empire/king “protect”
g’ Paul spoke Hebrew to Jews 21:37- 22:21
f’ Paul saved by being “bound”, but not beaten 22:22-30
e’ Paul devours the Sanhedrin flock / Romans rescue him 22:30 – 23:10
d’ Young boy saves Paul / yet Jews are “bound” in wicked oath 23:11-22
c’ Roman commander (Lysais) protects Paul from mob 23:23-35
b’ Jews (i.e. demons) falsely accuse Paul 24:1-9
a’ Felix left Paul “bound” (A protection from men of old Israel) 24:10-27
Paul’s 4th journey: RomanTerritory BeingDiscipled
a Jews try to stop Paul before Fetus, Paulappeals to Caesar 25:1-12
b Paul’s witness to Agrippa, bound for Caesar 25:13 –26:32
c Ship wreck on Malta (27)Centurion saves Paul escapes “Sea”/Gentile world
b’ Paul’s witness and miracles to Gentile sailors & islanders. 28:1-10
a’ Paul in Rome, waits for Caesar, preaching with “no one forbidding him” 28:17-31
Observations: 1. The Jewish Temple & Synagogues are the source of evil throughout Acts.
2. After three prison breakouts, Roman imprisonment become a protective force for Paul.
3. Satan tools of persecution and heresy do not stop the conquest of God’s kingdom.