From Rainbows to REALITY

When I think of rainbows, they are in the heavens; unreachable and illusive. Yet, here is one within reach and right down to Earth.  And with a bridge over it, to boot.  Somehow this is a more wonderful sight than anything I have seen before as it is REACHABLE.  Not some pie-in-the-sky concept, but attainable.  This almost makes me want to be on that bridge, almost makes me NEED TO BE ON THAT BRIDGE!!!  Why?  Because if I CAN cross over to the end of the rainbow, I WANT TO!!!!  For me, this brings the following Scripture to the forefront of my thinking yet once again....

Ephesians, Chapter 1

 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;  4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; 5 having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,  6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved,  7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,  9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him  10 to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;  11 in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;  12 to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:  13 in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. 

Blessed in heaven and blessed on Earth.  Its not the location, its what has been done for us.  How often are we overwhelmed with the troubles of this life, how many times are we reminded of the evils in this world... almost daily?  Yet, there is something better, something wonderful that awaits us and the thought of it sends my mind to marvel!!!  The picture shows a rainbow and for those of you who have read this blog before, you have seen many of them!!!  But, in my mind this one says it best, as I can imagine Jesus as the bridge between where I am and the end of the rainbow... heaven.  You may think this is just wishful thinking, BUT, Jesus actually lived and died for each of us.  More than that, his resurrection proves his message to be truth and that's better than any pot of Gold at the end of any rainbow!!!!

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Twenty-Two by Mark Copeland

                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                           Chapter Twenty-Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To explore Paul's address to the Jerusalem mob

2) To understand how Paul used his Roman citizenship to avoid scourging

3) To observe Paul taken before the Sanhedrin council

SUMMARY

Paul addressed the crowd as "brethren and fathers" in Hebrew.  The mob
became very quiet when they heard that.  Paul began his defense by
providing his background:  He was a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia; he
was brought up in Jerusalem at the "feet of Gamaliel;" he was taught
"according to the strictness of our father's law;" and he was zealous
toward God, just like them.  Paul added that he had persecuted the Way
to the death.  He bound and delivered men and women to prison.  He acted
under the high priest's and elders' authority.  Paul called upon their
witness for himself.  He had received letters from them to travel to
Damascus to bring those of the Way back to Jerusalem for punishment.
Paul then described the Lord's appearance to him on the road to
Damascus.  At about noon, a bright light shined around Paul.  He fell to
the ground.  The Lord asked him why he was persecuting Him.  The
Lord identified Himself as Jesus of Nazareth.  Paul asked, "What shall I
do, Lord?"  The Lord told him to go into Damascus and he would be told
what to do.  He was led by the hand into Damascus by his
companions, because he could not see.  Paul then described his obedience
to the gospel when taught by Ananias.  Ananias came to Paul.  He
restored his sight.  Ananias told Paul that he had been chosen to
"know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth."
Paul was to be "His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard."
Ananias told Paul what to do to be forgiven of his sins.  He
asked Paul, "Why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away
your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."  Next, Paul described how
the Lord had sent him to the Gentiles.  Paul returned to Jerusalem.  He
was praying in the temple, and was in a trance.  The Lord appeared to
him and told him to quickly depart from Jerusalem for the Jews would
"not receive your testimony concerning Me."  Paul attempted to explain
to the Lord that he could make the Jews understand.  He responded that
the Jews knew of his persecution of those of the Way.  He added that he
had even consented to the death of Stephen, holding the killer's
clothes.  The Lord told Paul of His plans for him.  Paul was to depart.
He was sent far away to the Gentiles.  (1-21)

The Jews listened until the Gentiles were mentioned.  When the Jews
heard that he was sent to the Gentiles, they raised their voices, "...he
is not fit to live!"  They tore their clothes and threw dust in the
air.  At this point, the Romans prepared to examine Paul under
scourging.  The Roman commander ordered that Paul be brought into the
barracks.  The commander wanted to know why they shouted so against
Paul.  He ordered that Paul should be examined under scourging.  The
soldiers bound Paul with thongs.  Paul asked the centurion standing
nearby, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and
uncondemned?"  The centurion told this to the commander.  The commander
asked Paul if he was a Roman citizen, and Paul affirmed that he was.
The commander then indicated that he had purchased his citizenship at a
great price; however, Paul noted that he was a Roman by birth.  The
soldiers were frightened by this.  They were afraid because they had
bound a Roman citizen, and they were about to scourge him.  (22-29)

The commander still wanted to know why he was accused by the Jews.  The
next day, Paul was released from his bonds.  The chief priests and the
council were commanded to appear, and Paul was brought before them.
(30)

OUTLINE

I. PAUL ADDRESSED THE MOB (1-21)

   A. PAUL BEGAN HIS DEFENSE (1-2)
      1. Paul addressed the crowd as "brethren and fathers"
      2. The mob became very quiet when they heard him speak in Hebrew

   B. PAUL DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS SIMILAR TO THEM (3-5)
      1. Paul's description of himself included:
         a. He was a Jew
         b. Born in Tarsus of Cilicia
         c. Brought up in Jerusalem at the "feet of Gamaliel"
         d. Taught in the "strictness of our father's law"
         e. Zealous toward God - like them
      2. Paul persecuted the Way to the death
         a. He bound and delivered men and women to prison
         b. He acted under the high priest's and elders' authority and
            witness
         c. He had received letters to go to Damascus to bring those of
            the Way to Jerusalem for punishment

   C. PAUL DESCRIBED THE LORD'S APPEARANCE ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
      (6-11)
      1. At about noon, on the road to Damascus, a bright light shined
         around Paul
         a. He fell to the ground
         b. He heard Jesus ask him why he was persecuting Him
         c. The Lord identified Himself as Jesus of Nazareth
      2. Paul asked the Lord what he should do
         a. Paul's traveling companions saw the light but did not hear
            the voice (or understand it)
         b. Paul asked, "What shall I do, Lord?"
         c. The Lord told Paul to go into Damascus and he would be told
            what to do
         d. He was led by the hand into Damascus by his companions,
            because he could not see

   D. PAUL DESCRIBED HIS OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL WHEN TAUGHT BY ANANIAS
      (12-16)
      1. Ananias came to Paul
         a. He restored Paul's sight
         b. Ananias told Paul that he had been chosen to "know His will,
            and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth"
         c. Paul was to be "His witness to all men of what you have seen
            and heard"
      2. Ananias told Paul what to do to be forgiven of his sins
         a. He asked Paul, "Why are you waiting?"
         b. "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on
            the name of the Lord"

   E. PAUL DESCRIBED THE LORD SENDING HIM TO THE GENTILES (17-21)
      1. The Lord spoke to Paul
         a. Paul returned to Jerusalem; he was praying in the temple
         b. He was in a trance and the Lord appeared to him
         c. The Lord told him to quickly depart from Jerusalem for the
            Jews would "not receive your testimony concerning Me"
      2. Paul attempted to explain to the Lord that he could make the
         Jews understand
         a. Paul responded that the Jews knew of his persecution of
            those of the Way
         b. He added that he had even consented to the death of Stephen,
            holding the killer's clothes
      3. The Lord told Paul of His plans for him
         a. Paul was to depart
         b. He was sent far away to the Gentiles

II. PAUL CLAIMED HIS ROMAN CITIZENSHIP (22-29)

   A. THE JEWS LISTENED UNTIL THE GENTILES WERE MENTIONED (22-23)
      1. When the Jews heard that he was sent to the Gentiles, they
         raised their voices, "...he is not fit to live!"
      2. They tore their clothes and threw dust in the air

   B. ROMANS PREPARED TO EXAMINE PAUL UNDER SCOURGING (24)
      1. The Roman commander ordered that Paul be brought into the
         barracks
      2. The commander wanted to know why they shouted against Paul
      3. He ordered that Paul should be examined under scourging

   C. PAUL NOTIFIED THE ROMANS OF HIS ROMAN CITIZENSHIP (25-29)
      1. The soldiers bound Paul
      2. Paul asked the centurion, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a
         man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"
      3. The centurion told this to the commander
      4. The commander verified Paul's Roman citizenship
         a. He asked Paul if he was a Roman citizen, and Paul affirmed
         b. The commander indicated that he had purchased his
            citizenship, but Paul noted that he was a Roman by birth
      5. The soldiers were frightened by this - his citizenship
         a. They were afraid because they had bound a Roman citizen
         b. They were afraid because they were about to scourge a Roman
            citizen

III. PAUL TAKEN BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL (30)

   A. THE COMMANDER SOUGHT FOR THE JEW'S ACCUSATION (30)
      1. The commander wanted to know why he was accused by the Jews
      2. Paul was released from his bonds
      3. The chief priests and the council were commanded to appear
      4. The commander brought Paul before them (Sanhedrin)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Paul addressed the Jerusalem mob (1-21)
   - Paul claimed Roman citizenship (22-29)
   - Paul was taken before the Sanhedrin council (30)

2) When Paul addressed the mob, what caused them to become quiet? (1-2)
   - He spoke to them in the Hebrew language (2)

3) List the information that Paul used to describe himself? (3-5)
   - He was a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia (3)
   - Brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel (3)
   - Was taught according to the "strictness of our fathers' law" (3)
   - He was zealous toward God, like them (3)
   - He persecuted the Way to death, binding and delivering men and
     women to prison (4)
   - High priest and elders bear him witness (5)
   - He received letters from them to bring Christians to Jerusalem to
     be punished (5)

4) What was the question that Paul heard on the road to Damascus? (6-7)
   - "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (7)

5) How did the Lord answer Paul's question, "Who are You, Lord?" (8)
   - "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting." (8)

6) When Paul asked, "What shall I do, Lord?" what was the answer? (10)
   - "Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things
     which are appointed for you to do" (10)

7) Why was Paul led by the hand into Damascus? (11)
   - Paul could not see because of the "glory of that light" (11)

8) Why did Paul have the Damascus road encounter? (14-15)
   - That he should know His will, see the Just One, and hear His voice
     (14)
   - He was to be His witness to all men of what he had seen and heard
     (15)

9) At this point, did Paul still have his sins?  What did he need to do
   to have them forgiven ("washed away")? (16)
   - Yes, he still needed to "wash away your sins" (16)
   - He had to be baptized (immersed) to "wash away your sins" (16)

10) While in a trance in the temple, what did the Lord say to him?
    (17-18)
   - "Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not
     receive your testimony concerning Me" (18)

11) At what word did the Jewish mob stop listening to Paul? (21-22)
   - "...I will send you far from here to the Gentiles" (21-22)

12) Why did the commander want to bind and scourge Paul? (24)
   - So that he might know why they shouted so against him (24)

13) What did Paul ask the centurion, as they were binding him? (25)
   - Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and
     uncondemned? (25)

14) What was the reaction to Paul's question? (26-29)
   - The centurion told the commander that Paul was a Roman (26)
   - The commander confirmed that he was a Roman by birth (27-28)
   - The soldiers became afraid - they had bound and were about to
     scourge a Roman citizen (29)

15) Who was Paul set before next and why?  Was he still bound? (30)
   - Chief priests and all their council - Sanhedrin (30)
   - To know for certain why Paul was accused by the Jews (30)
   - Paul's bonds had been released (30)