The Call to Macedonia

Berean Bible Baptist Church

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The Call to Macedonia

The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth

January 21, 2024 • Roger Skepple • Acts 6:6–13

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The Acts of the Apostles

The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth

Acts 13:1-28:31 (18)

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22) (3)

I. The Prologue (1:1-8)

II. The Founding of the Church in Jerusalem (1:9-8:3)

III. The Growth and Expansion of the Church in Judea and Samaria (8:4-12:25)

IV. The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth (13:1-28:31)

A. Paul’s First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28)

B. The Jerusalem Council: Gentile Salvation (15:1-35)

C. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22)

1. The Separation of Paul and Barnabas (15:36-41)

2. The Formation of Paul’s Missions Team (16:1-4)

Progress Report #5 (16:5)

3. The Call to Macedonia (16:6-10)

a. The Spirit’s Objection: The Closing of a Door (16:6-8)

1) Hindered from Ministering in Asia (16:6)

● forbidden to cause something not to happen

2) Hindered from Ministering Bithynia (16:7)

3) Stuck in Troas (16:8)

● The Guidance of the Holy Spirit (Excursus 1)

○ We should make plans and realize that God’s sovereign will, will take precedence over them.

○ Where the Bible has spoken, we are obligated to follow Holy Scripture not our feelings, experiences, or impressions.

○ Trying to read into or interpret spiritual significance from one’s experiences or circumstances is referred to in the Bible as divination and is akin to witchcraft.

○ The Bible does not identify either “fleeces” or the “peace of God” as a means by which a believer can determine God’s will.

○ Believers are only obligated to obey what the Bible prescribes/commands and to apply its principles to their lives, outside of that, they are free to makes decisions based on their desires.

b. The Spirit’s Guidance: The Opening of a Door (16:9-10)

● The Guidance of the Holy Spirit (Excursus 2)

○ The preventing of the believer’s plans from coming to fruition should not necessarily be understood as every facet of the plan being rejected by God. Rework the plan or come up with a new one and keep moving forward.

○ Getting frustrated with God’s sovereign providence is not only a losing battle, but it incorrectly concludes that one knows the sovereign plan of God, which they do not.

○ When living within the boundaries of Holy Scripture, learn to rest in the sovereign intentions of the Lord.

4. The Outreach in Philippi (16:11-40)

a. The Journey to Philippi (16:11-12)

1) The Journey (16:11)

2) The City (16:12)

Outreach in Ephesus

May 26, 2024 • Roger Skepple • Acts 18:23–28

The Acts of the Apostles The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth Acts 13:1-28:31 (30) Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:16) (1) IV. The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth (13:1-28:31) A. Paul and Barnabas’ First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28) B. The Jerusalem Council: Gentile Salvation (15:1-35) C. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22) D. Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (18:23-21:16) Ephesus capital of Asia Minor both a free city and an assize city rich economic background location of the Pan-Ionian Games the temple of Artemis (one of the seven wonders of the world) 1. The Commencement of the Journey (18:23) a. The Team (18:23a-b2) b. The Route (18:23b3-11) c. The Purpose (18:23c) ! strengthening to make firm 2. Parenthesis: Apollos in Ephesus (18:24-28) a. The Man (18:24) 1) His Identity (18:24a1-10, 14-16) 2) His Giftedness (18:24a11-13,b) ! eloquent skilled in speech or skilled in knowledge (educated) ! mighty powerful or strong b. His Ministry (18:25-26a) 1) Its Foundation (18:25a) ! instructed heard or taught 2) Its Dynamic (18:25b) 3) Its Extent (18:25c) 4) Its Place (18:26a) c. His Limitations (18:26b-c) 1) Exposed (18:26b) 2) Corrected (18:26c) ! more accurately strict conformity to a norm or standard d. His Plans (18:27-28) 1) Identified (18:27a) 2) Supported (18:27b-c) 3) Implemented (18:27d-28) ! powerfully to a great extent ! refuted to thoroughly disarm

Paul Prepared to Defend His Ministry in Corinth

May 19, 2024 • Roger Skepple • Acts 18:12–22

The Acts of the Apostles The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth Acts 13:1-28:31 (29) Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22) (14) C. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22) 8. The Outreach in Corinth (18:1-22) a. Paul Introduced the Gospel to Corinth (18:1-4) b. Paul Intensified His Ministry in Corinth (18:5-11) c. Paul Prepared to Defend His Ministry in Corinth (18:12-17) 1) A Formal Charge was Made to the Proconsul (18:12-13) a) The Judge (18:12a) b) The Plaintiff (18:12b) c) The Charge (18:13) ! persuades incite, seduce, induce, solicit 2) The Proconsul Refused to Hear the Case (18:14-16) a) The Reason for the Rejection (18:14) ! put up patient with, endure; accept a complaint b) The Rejection of the Case (18:15-16) ! questions disputes, disagreements ! drove away to move with force 3) The Jews’ Reaction (18:17a-b) 4) The Proconsul’s Reaction (18:17c) d. Paul Concluded His Corinthian Ministry (18:18-22) 1) Wrap Up in Corinth (18:18) a) The Time of His Travel (18:18a-b) b) His Traveling Companions (18:18c) c) His Spiritual Condition (18:18d-e) 2) Layover in Ephesus (18:19-21) a) Their Arrival In Ephesus (18:19a-b) b) Paul’s Brief Ministry in Ephesus (18:19c-21) (1) Its Nature (18:19c-d) (2) Its Impact (18:20-21) 3) Arrival in Antioch (18:22) Gallio Junius Gallio 5 BC to AD 65 Proconsul of Achaea in AD 51

Outreach in Corinth

May 5, 2024 • Roger Skepple • Acts 18:1–17

The Acts of the Apostles The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth Acts 13:1-28:31 (28) Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22) (13) IV. The Growth and Expansion of the Church to the Ends of the Earth (13:1-28:31) A. Paul and Barnabas’ First Missionary Journey (13:1-14:28) B. The Jerusalem Council: Gentile Salvation (15:1-35) C. Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (15:36-18:22) 8. The Outreach in Corinth (18:1-22) The Importance of the Books of Corinthians ● 1.8% of the Entire Bible ● 8% of the New Testament ● 34 % of Paul’s Writings Extensive Discussions ● Church Discipline (5) ● The Gospel (15) ● Christian Marriage (7) ● Christian Liberty (8-10) ● Spiritual Gifts and Tongues (12-14) ● Christian Love (13) ● Christian Ministry (2 Cor.) ● The Resurrection (15) ● Grace giving (2 Cor. 8-9) a. Paul Introduced the Gospel to Corinth (18:1-4) 1) Paul Journeyed to Corinth (18:1) 2) Paul Settled in Corinth (18:2-3) a) He Meets Aquila and Priscilla (18:2) b) He Connects with Aquila and Priscilla (18:3) 3) Paul’s Initial Ministry in Corinth (18:4) ● reasoning disputing, discussing, demonstrating, persuading b. Paul Intensified His Ministry in Corinth (18:5-11) 1) An Intensification (18:5) a) Its Enablement (18:5a) b) Its Nature (18:5b) ● devoting hold together, enclose, oppress, absorbed in 2) An Immediate Result (18:6) 3) A Separation and Accommodation (18:7) 4) A Significant Conversion (18:8) a) The Salvation of Crispus (18:8a) b) The Result of Crispus’ Conversion (18:8b) 5) A Reassurance from Christ (18:9-10) a) Paul’s Disposition (18:9b) b) Paul’s Responsibility (18:9c) c) Paul’s Assurance (18:10) (1) Of Physical Protection (18:10a-c) (2) Of Ministerial Success/Consequence (18:10d) 6) An Extended Stay (18:11) The Roman historian, Dio: “As for the Jews, who had again increased so greatly that by reason of their multitude it would have been hard without raising a tumult to bar them from the city, he did not drive them out, but ordered them, while continuing their traditional mode of life, not to hold meetings.” Brill: “Suetonius reports that Claudius expelled Jews from Rome because of regular disturbances instigated by one ‘Chrestus’ (Suet. Claud. 25.4). “The sheer volume of business and trade handled at Corinth becomes less surprising when we recall that a merchant would require goods and services not only for himself but often for those who had served as crew for his ship and other attendants. Rooms would be rented, taverns frequented, and the services of shops, entertainers, lawyers, laborers, dockers, warehousemen, leather workers, tentmakers, wagon repairers, pottery manufactures, banders, and presumably prostitutes would be in high demand.”