Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church Lesson 11: Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17 – 28:31)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews had a difficult time giving up the traditions of Judaism The believing Jews of Jerusalem (21:17-27) So “zealous for the law” (20) they listened to hear say and convinced themselves that Paul was a threat to their traditional ways and that he believed & taught things he did not (20-21) While not compromising truth, Paul had not opposed certain elements of the law (i.e., 16:3)—provided the intent was not to seek justification on that basis. Their traditions caused them to hear and believe things that were not accurate.

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews had a difficult time giving up the traditions of Judaism The militant Jews of Asia (21:27-23:30) Convinced Paul spoke “against the people, the law, and [the temple]” and had “defiled” the temple, these Jews “stirred up the whole crowd” and caused an “uproar” (21:27-31) Their traditions caused them to: Jump to conclusion and mistakenly assume Paul had defiled the temple (21:27-29) Create suspicion even causing the Romans to think Paul was a terrorist (21:37-38)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews had a difficult time giving up the traditions of Judaism The militant Jews of Asia (21:27-23:30) Paul established his innocence by speaking of his education, his zeal for the law, his life as a persecutor, his conversion, his God-given commission to go to the Gentiles (22:1-17) Their traditions caused them to: Close their minds to the truth (22:21-22) React violently and act like wild animals when they heard the word “Gentiles” & thought their traditions were threatened (21:22-24; 23:6-10) Become spiritual vigilantes, conspiring to assassinate him (23:12-22)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews had a difficult time giving up the traditions of Judaism The Jewish leaders before Felix (23:31-24:26) Played dirty politics to preserve traditions, “gave evidence…against Paul” (24:1) “This man is a plague” (24:5) “a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world” “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” “He even tried to profane the temple” He violated their traditions and should be judged “according to [their] law” (24:6)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews had a difficult time giving up the traditions of Judaism The Jewish leaders before Felix (23:31-24:26) “Evidence…against Paul” (24:1) “Paul…answered” (24:10) Only in town 12 days—no time for a dissension (24:10-13) The sect (i.e., “the Way) was based on the teaching of the Jew’s O.T. (24:14-15) He actually had purified himself in the temple (24:15-18) His accusers were not even there to accuse him, violating their own law (24:13, 19-21)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews had a difficult time giving up the traditions of Judaism The plotting Jews before Festus (24:27-25:12) The Jews wanted Festus to send Paul back to Jerusalem, so they could ambush & kill him (25:3). Festus said: “It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face” (25:16). Before Festus, the Jews “laid many serious complaints…which they could not prove” (25:7)—that he was an insurrectionist against the law (their traditions), the temple & Caesar (25:8). Paul answered each of their un-provable charges.

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews were not the only ones who had a difficult time giving up their traditions Spineless Festus with Agrippa (25:13-26:32) Agrippa was an “expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews” (26:3) Festus “laid Paul’s case before the king”— “When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive” (25:18-19; cf. 25:25-27)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews were not the only ones who had a difficult time giving up their traditions Spineless Festus with Agrippa (25:13-26:32) Paul denied each of the Jews’ charges (26:1-3): He grew up a strict Jew – Pharisee (26:4-6) The bottom line—accused by Jews because he taught about resurrection (26:7-8) He had persecuted the church (26:9-11) He was converted and preached to the Gentiles (26:12-21) God helped Him as he taught His will (26:22-23)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) The Jews were not the only ones who had a difficult time giving up their traditions Spineless Festus with Agrippa (25:13-26:32) Paul denied each of the Jews’ charges Festus: “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” (26:24) Agrippa: “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” (26:28)

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) Tradition leads to disagreements The Jewish leaders of Rome (27:1-28:31) They knew nothing of Paul’s conflicts (28:21). They wanted to know about the accusations levied against the church—“this sect…spoken against everywhere” (28:22; cf. 24:5, 14) To defend the church, Paul identified it as “the kingdom of God” (Mt. 16:18-19); he connected it with Jesus (Ac. 20:28); and he used O.T. Scripture to prove it to be a part of God’s plan (28:28; Isa. 2:1-4; Dan. 2:44). “Some were persuaded…and some disbelieved… they did not agree” (28:24-25).

Tradition Challenges His Glorious Church (Acts 21:17-28:31) When it comes to traditions: We need to be respectful. We must not use them as our authority. We must keep focused on God’s Word. We need to make sure our convictions are Bible-based and not tradition-driven (cf. 2 Th. 2:15) Paul said, “I…speak the words of truth and reason” (26:25). Our convictions must rest on the firm foundation of TRUTH, God’s Word (Jn. 17:17). Our convictions must rest on the support of REASON and sound thought (2 Tim. 2:15).