Paul’s Commission

 

We are going through the Book of Acts at church and have just recently finished chapters 23-26. Paul is on trial before Jewish and Roman authorities. Yesterday, I pointed out the theme that runs through his defense like a mighty river. I thought that was exciting and insightful! Today, we find Paul before King Agrippa, giving his testimony. And in his testimony he shares his commission. Wow!!

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Paul’s ministry is described in v 18 in 5 statements. Interesting that 5 is the number of grace.¹ Each one of them is mentioned and elaborated upon in his epistles.

to open their eyes

Isaiah 52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

 

and turn darkness to light

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

 

and power of Satan unto God

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

 

that they may receive forgiveness of sins

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 

and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me

Colossians 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

This is what God will do for all who will believe in Jesus Christ.

 

“Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”²

 

 

¹ Number in Scrpture, E.W. Bullinger

“We have had hitherto the three persons of the Godhead, and their manifestation in creation. Now we have a further revelation of a People called out from mankind, redeemed and saved, to walk with God from earth to heaven. Hence, Redemption follows creation. Inasmuch as in consequence of the fall of man creation came under the curse and was "made subject to vanity," therefore man and creation must be redeemed. Thus we have:

1. Father

2. Son

3. Spirit

4. Creation

5. Redemption

These are the five great mysteries, and five is therefore the number of GRACE.”

² Ephesians 5:14

The Hope of the Resurrection

 

We are going through the Book of Acts at church and have just recently finished chapters 23-26. Paul is on trial before Jewish and Roman authorities and there is a theme that runs through his defense like a mighty river. I think it is exciting and insightful, for here we see Paul’s heart. I just want to simply quote him, with very little added commentary.

Paul before the chief priests and all their council

23:6  …Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

“This was Paul's cardinal doctrine as a Christian minister. It was this fact that convinced him that Jesus was the Messiah and was the very centre of his faith  and of his preaching.” †

“St. Paul had preached the resurrection of the dead, on the foundation and evidence of the resurrection of Christ. For this, he and the apostles were, some time before, imprisoned by the high priest and elders, because they preached, through Jesus, the resurrection of the dead.” ‡

Paul before Felix

24:14  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

the way – this seems to have been an early description of the faith

24:21  Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

24:22  And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way…

Agrippa agrees to hear Paul’s case

25:19  But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

“And of one Jesus. This is the climax of supercilious scorn toward both Paul and 'one Jesus.' Who was dead…Whom Paul affirmed to be alive. With all his toploftical airs Festus has here correctly stated the central point of Paul's preaching about Jesus as no longer dead, but living.” †

Toploftical – (I love this, but had to look it up!) a rare, informal, and often humorous adjective from the 19th century describing someone as haughty, arrogant, or disdainfully superior.

Paul before Agrippa

26:6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

26:7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?Once again, it seems clear that the hope Paul is speaking of is the resurrection of the dead. 

“hope to come (26:7) is the very same word which Paul, in Phi 3:11, uses to express the same thing: If by any means, I might attain to, the resurrection of the dead.” ‡

What is this mighty river that runs through Paul’s defense? It is the resurrection of the dead. And he makes it very clear that this was not some new doctrine he had introduced, it was the hope of the Jews, which was based on the law and the prophets. This hope was tied to their hope of the coming Messiah. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead confirmed two powerful truths: (1) Jesus was declared Son of God with power (Rom 1:4) and (2) there will be a resurrection of the dead. This is what Paul believed; this is what Paul preached; this is where he took his stand – There will be a resurrection of the dead. This is really cool!

Philippians 3:8-11 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

† Word Pictures in the New Testament, Archibald Thomas (A.T.) Robertson (1863 – 1934).

‡ Commentary on the Bible, Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832), Irish writer, biblical scholar, Methodist theologian.

Anna

 

Anna provides the final Portrait of Faith. We read about her in Luke 2:36-38. Three verses. Two sentences. That’s it. But I think we will see she was an amazing woman.

36  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

there was one Anna - She was named after Hannah (1 Samuel 1-2). Anna is the Greek version of Hannah. Why the 'H' in Hannah but not in Anna? They are pronounced almost the same, but there is a slight guttural sound in the Hebrew, represented by the 'H', which is not pronounced in Greek or English. Hannah was the wife of Elkanah and mother of Samuel. She has a great testimony herself. 

a prophetess – this one word tells us a lot about Anna; being a prophetess meant that, like Simenon, she also had the Holy Spirit resting upon her. This means she walked in the Spirit, was led by the Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit revealed things to her. She had faith to be filled with the Spirit, receive revelation from the Lord, and speak the words of the Lord.

daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher – “Though her family might have been a distinguished one in Jerusalem, yet we find that it was her very exemplary piety that entitled her to be thus honourably mentioned in the sacred history.” (Adam Clarke)

she was of a great age – we'll see how old she was in v 37

and had lived with an husband seven years – she was married for seven years; nothing is said about children.

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

a widow of about fourscore and four years – I understand this to be her total age, 84 years old; she had not only grown old, but had faithfully walked with the Lord all those years – that is persevering faith. It is one thing to start the Christian life with a bang, it is another thing entirely to be faithful your whole life, and a long life at that!

departed not from the temple – This most likely means she attended constantly at the hours of prayer. The Gospels and Acts refer to praying at the third, sixth, and ninth hours — or 9 am, noon, and 3 pm.

served God with fastings and prayers night and day – she lived a very disciplined and spiritual life. She had faith to be holy, godly, disciplined, and full of prayer.

What was she so constantly praying about? Obviously, first of all, her own spiritual life and relationship with the Lord. I believe the context strongly suggests her prayers were for the coming of the Lord’s Christ. The Jewish people knew of the prophesy of Daniel - that there would be 70 weeks, 490 years, from the command to rebuild Jerusalem to the Messiah, and they could count. She may even have known Simeon who was told he would not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. There was great excitement, anticipation, and expectation in those days!

Jesus taught us to pray, Thy kingdom come; she was no doubt praying this very prayer. The coming of the kingdom requires preparation, as both John and Jesus preached, Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. I’m just as certain she would have been occupied in praying for the people to be ready for the King. This is great faith - she is laboring with the Lord to birth the kingdom. This is a behind the scenes faith – people knew she was at the temple all the time, but she doesn’t appear to be important, even though she is doing the most important work. The most important work in the kingdom is done by behind the scenes people. Oh to have faith like Anna!!

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

coming in that instant – Simeon came to the temple because the Spirit told him to; did Anna just happen to come in at that time? This would be according to the Scriptures, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD – not happenstance. She may not have known what or who she was going to see, but the Lord directed her steps. She walked in faith, and was therefore at the right place at the right time!

gave thanks likewise unto the Lord – she saw and heard Simeon and joined him in thanking the Lord. I love this! She was walking in faith and so full of the Spirit that she instantly recognized this baby as the Christ; no thinking about it or praying over it - the Spirit bore witness with her spirit, This is the Christ, the answer to your prayers, and she immediately responded with thanksgiving. She had faith to hear and receive the witness of the Spirit. And think about it, she is thanking God for His redemption before it has come to pass, I mean Jesus is just a 40 day old baby. This is faith.

and spoke of him – by faith she testified of Christ.

to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem – I am afraid that we have been given the impression that no one in Israel was looking for or ready for Christ, but that can’t be true. The Jewish people were very interested in and excited about the appearing of Christ: there were those waiting for the consolation of Israel, and those looking for redemption in Jerusalem. John the Baptizer baptized thousands of interested Jews; 3,000 people were baptized in the name of Jesus in Acts 2, and by Acts 4 there were 5,000 men who believed. Yes, as a nation they refused and rejected Christ, but God has always had a remnant. (That’s an interesting study in itself.)

looked for redemption - Another descriptive name of the Christ. Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, or the Comforter; Anna was looking for redemption, or the Redeemer. And to all them that looked indicates there were a lot of people eagerly waiting for the Lord's Christ.

I tell you, I want to be like Anna and have a persevering faith. I was young and now I am old, but I still want to walk in faith and in the Spirit. I want at the very least to have a behind the scenes faith, doing the most important work - prayer; praying for the coming again of Christ Jesus, and for a people prepared for him. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,

that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel (Eph 6:18-19)

  

Finis

Simeon prophesies over the holy family

In my last post I looked at the faith of Simeon. As I summed up his faith, I said by faith he prophesied over the holy family. I try to make sure my posts aren’t too long, so I saved this prophecy for a separate post. That’s this one! So let’s look at it.

Luke 2:33-35

33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Joseph and his mother marveled at the things Simeon said about their baby boy – they were probably still processing the things the angel had told them both, their son is the Messiah. And now this! Sometimes, when we read the gospels, we forget they didn’t know as much as we do. What we know, they were living through and trying to grasp and fathom. Mary just had a baby, he’s 40 days old, and they’re being told he will be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel? This is a lot to take in.

And Simeon blessed them – Luke says blessed, I said prophesied; whichever word you choose, he spoke a word from the Lord to them. And it’s a hard word.

Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against – Adam Clarke, in his commentary, said of this:

“This child is set for the fall - This seems an allusion to Isaiah 8:14-15 : Jehovah, God of hosts, shall be – for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

As Christ did not come as a temporal deliverer, in which character alone the Jews expected him, the consequence should be, they would reject him, and so fall by the Romans. But in the fullness of time there shall be a rising again of many in Israel. Romans 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

And for a sign - A mark to shoot at - a metaphor taken from archers. Or perhaps Simeon refers to Isa 11:10-12. There shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an Ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: - intimating that the Jews would reject it, while the Gentiles should flock to it as their ensign of honor, under which they were to enjoy a glorious rest.”

a sword shall pierce through thine own soul. Why would this be? Simeon saw the pain and sorrow Jesus would endure and that this would break her heart. “This is a metaphor used by the most respectable Greek writers to express the most pungent sorrow, it may here refer to the anguish Mary must have felt when standing beside the cross of her tortured son.” (Adam Clarke)

As Isaiah had prophesied:

He was despised, shunned by men, A man of suffering, familiar with disease. As one who hid his face from us, He was despised, we held him of no account. Yet it was our sickness that he was bearing, Our suffering that he endured. We accounted him plagued, Smitten and afflicted by God; But he was wounded because of our sins, Crushed because of our iniquities. He bore the chastisement that made us whole, And by his bruises we were healed. (Isaiah 53:3-5, Tanakh)

Our salvation is not cheap. The Faith declares:

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried (Nicene Creed)

No wonder the Apostle Peter tells us, we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19).

O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

How pale art thou with anguish

With sore abuse and scorn

How dost thy face now languish

Which once was bright as morn

Thy grief and bitter passion

Were all for sinners’ gain

Mine, mine was the transgression

But thine the deadly pain

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Paul Gerhardt (1656; German); Translator: James W. Alexander (1829)

NEXT: Anna