After Felix dies, Porcius Festus takes over. He tries to keep Paul in prison like Felix had, but Paul appeals to Caesar. Now Festus has no choice but to send him to caesar.

Then Agrippa and Bernice get involved, but will make little change for Paul or for Festus. This Agrippa is king (Herod’s family) and surely has knowledge of all that has happened since Jesus died and rose from the grave (which has now been over 25 years time).

This new route is to try to convince the governor that Paul will cause him too much trouble by holding him. To this, Paul has an answer:

He was not stirring up trouble in Jerusalem, but worshipping. For days this was fine, until a group showed up to cause trouble. He appeals to being a follower of Jesus, something Felix understands. Yet Felix tries to freeze out Paul and get Paul to give him money – so for two years he keeps him in prison! Imagine being Paul – Jesus said He would send him to Rome. This is a roundabout way for sure! Would you lose faith?

As he speaks to the council, he tries to show that he should be considered righteous in their eyes. The high priest disagrees and wants Paul to be struck in the mouth for saying “lies.” Paul responds harshly and then repents in their midst once he realizes it is the high priest. He then uses the disagreement between the Pharisees and Sadducees against them (concerning the resurrection from the dead). As the argument arose, the tribune again saves Paul. That night, the Lord confirms that Paul will be okay and will testify in Rome. He uses Paul’s sister’s son to save Paul’s life (again) and the tribune calls two centurions to deliver Paul to Felix the governor (not Pontius Pilate anymore). The governor protects him and the Jews begin to plot a new route.

Paul starts his speech in Hebrew and shares how God brought him to Jesus and why he now follows the Lord. Notice none can argue with his testimony! They don’t like him, though, and want him killed. He tries to show them that God wanted the Gentiles to hear about Christ, and this is where they start to fight back all the more.

The tribune orders Paul away to the barracks and be flogged there. However, Paul appeals to his Roman citizenship. The tribune came to investigate further, and Paul shows that he is a Roman citizen by birth. This changes things for Paul and sets him on a course for Rome. So, he is brought before the chief priests and the council of religious leaders.

Paul knew he was supposed to go to Jerusalem. It was not going to be safe, in fact, there was a prophet who said that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem. Yet Paul listened to the Lord and followed His way – no matter the cost! This is not necessarily the faith we have today in America. Many of us have faith because we think it will make us healthy, wealthy and wise. What if danger should befall us due to our faith? Would it stand? Consider this and surrender to His way today!

Paul visits James, brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem church, and the elders. They ask Paul to help some Jews meet the purification ritual after a vow (perhaps Nazarite again?) and Paul does so, as well as finishing another vow himself.

However, the word gets out that Paul is there and trouble finds him again. They rush him and begin to beat him, but the tribune of the cohort hears of it and rushes in to stop it. Paul starts to tell his story and this carries into the following chapters. It needs to be said, however, that Paul wanted to go to Rome. He will do so, but not by way of a normal journey. Let the journey begin!

Paul, after this uproar, heads through Macedonia and Greece, likely following the path Timothy and Erastus took. He teaches late into the night one night (and you thought my sermons were long!) and a young man falls out of the window and dies from the fall. Paul holds him and the life returns to him. Then they eat together and Paul heads back to Ephesus.

Here there is a tearful goodbye. You could imagine that after years of ministry, this was a hard goodbye! He reminds them of the purity of the ministry he did while there and for them not to doubt what has been taught. You can see why the letter to the Ephesian church is such a masterpiece later! There is a depth of discipleship here that he can draw from in the letter he later writes! He knew he would not return through Ephesus again, and they prayed together and cried together and he headed to Jerusalem.

We know little of the beginning of Paul’s third except that he passed through Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23). Chapter 19 starts with his return to Ephesus and an odd encounter with some who had been baptized by John but had not received Christ. Paul stays in Ephesus for two years and builds the church faithfully. His ministry is incredible here. The church grows and learns. Magicians gather and burn their magic books in the name of Jesus. He sends Timothy and Erastus to go into Macedonia and he stays in Ephesus for a while. A massive riot breaks out in the name of Artemis (Diana), who’s temple was in Ephesus. This riot is quieted by a city official, but the name of Jesus and the ministry of those that follow Him can create quite a stir.

He is Lord and just that fact demands life-long allegiance to Him. As people begin to believe that and follow that fact, the world pushes back in a big way. Be ready!

Paul then heads to Corinth (for a map, read back a bit). Here trouble arises again, but God encourages him to not stop. He sees two new converts that are a part of the story from here on out (Aquila and Priscilla). After Corinth, Paul and Silas start to head back to Antioch, but first he cuts his hair for a vow. This was likely a vow like a Nazarite vow, where one does not cut their hair to commit themselves to service of the Lord. Samson was the most famous Nazarite, even if he was terrible at the vow. He goes into Ephesus to sail out from there and plants a church. They ask him to stay, but he declines and promises to return if he may. A character named Apollos teaches there and begins to build the church after learning from Priscilla and Aquila the ways of God. God’s church is being built!

In the meantime, Paul heads back to Antioch and works there for a while.

For three Sabbaths in the synagogue Paul shares about Jesus and reasons with them about Christ. This incites a riot and forces those following Jesus to help Paul and Silas to escape under the cover of night. They head to Berea next and the trouble follows them there. After this they head to Athens, the great city of Athens.

This was a city of progress, of philosophy and ideas. Paul settled right in and began to push back on the ideals of the day. They fancied themselves a religious society, so much so that they had a tribute to an unknown god. Paul decides to use that and shares the good news of Jesus in a remarkable way in the Areopagus. He appeals to their ignorance or potential ignorance and shows them the God they are missing – the one true God. Many chose to follow Jesus after this!

Paul and Silas take the land route this time. They go up through Cilicia and likely go through the city of Tarsus. This is where Saul grew up, so who knows what he does there, but one can imagine that it is some family matters and impacting a synagogue that knew him well. Then the group goes through Galatia again and intends to serve more of Asia Minor. However, they are prevented by the Holy Spirit to do so. A young man from Lystra that was already a solid believer decides to go with Paul for this journey. Paul circumcises him to avoid any issues with Jews (note that this was not necessary due to Acts 15 but Paul wanted to be able to reach more people!). Then they are off and have a dream from God to head into Macedonia and start churches in the land of the Greeks. So they set off to do that!

A wealthy woman in Philippi named Lydia converts but Paul deals with some trouble in Philippi nonetheless. Yet when he is in jail, they convert the jailer. He is always about Jesus all the time! When the jail cells are opened and Paul and Silas are allowed to leave, the jailer seeks to commit suicide because he slacked in his duties. Paul says “Do not harm yourself, we are all here.” WHO DOES THIS? So the man listens to the truth of Jesus, surrenders his life to Him and then his household follows suit! Paul uses his Roman citizenship the next day to get a full release. Then they are off for some of the more famous Greek cities.