Exposition of Acts: Following the Law
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. JUDGED BY ROME
A. DANGER WITH THE MOB
>>1. RIOTED
Acts 22:22 Up to this word [Gentiles] they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! He should not be allowed to live.”
>>2. RESCUED
Acts 22:23-24 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and
flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him taken to the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. (also II Cor 11:24-25)
B. DANGER WITH THE SOLDIERS
>>1. REALIZED
Acts 22:25-26 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” (also Acts 21:33)
>>2. RELEASED
Acts 22:27-29 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”
The tribune answered, “I bought my citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”
So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
II. JUDGED BY JEWS
A. DANGER WITH THE GOVERNMENT
>>1. REASONED
Acts 22:30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and ordered the chief priests and all the council to meet, then he brought Paul down and set him before them. (also Acts 26:10; 9:15-16)
>>2. REHEARSED
Acts 23:1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” (also I Cor 4:4)
B. DANGER WITH THE HIGH PRIEST
>>1. REACTED
Acts 23:2-3 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to Torah, and then contrary to Torah you order me to be struck?” (also Deut 25:1-2)
>>2. REVILED
Acts 23:4-5 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?”
And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'” (also Ex 22:28 Gal 4:14-15; 6:11)
III. JUDGED BY GOD
A. DANGER WITH THE SANHEDRIN
>>1. RESUMED
Acts 23:6-7 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was torn apart.
>>2. RESPONDED
Acts 23:8-9 (For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, angels, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) Then a great outcry arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” (also Acts 5:38-9)
B. DANGER WITH THE FUTURE
>>1. RESCUED (AGAIN)
Acts 23:10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be ripped to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. (also Acts 24:20-21)
>>2. REASSURED
Acts 23:11a The following night the Lord stood by him
>>3. RECOMMISSIONED
Acts 23:11b and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (also Mt 9:2, 22; 14:27; Jn 16:33; Acts 19:21; Rom 1:10)