For This Cause Was The Gospel Preached to the Gentiles - Part 1538

And it came to pass, that after three days apostle Paul called the chief of the Jews together, When they were come together, Paul said unto them, "Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

Apostle Paul said, "For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you; because that for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain."

And they said unto him, "We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou think, for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against." (Acts 28:17-22)

As background, do you remember the chief captain that had let the young man depart and charged him to tell no man what he had seen. And then he charges two centurions to make ready hundreds of soldiers, horsemen and spear men, and set Paul on and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. In his letter of greeting, Claudius Lysias wrote:

"This man was taken of the Jews and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council, whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him." (Acts 23:22-35)

Moreover, we see Paul defending himself to the Jews in Acts 24:10-13, when he states that when he went up into Jerusalem for to worship, they neither found him in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city, neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse him. But Paul does confess that after the Way which they called heresy, "so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets, 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."

And similarly when the Jews came down from Jerusalem and while standing round about "laid many and grievous complaints against Paul which they could not prove." (Acts 25:7-8)

Now here they were, having appointed Paul a day. Many came to Paul's lodging; to whom he expounded and testified of the kingdom of God; persuading them concerning Jesus -- both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed.

What did Paul say? After that, Paul had spoken one word.

"Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet unto the fathers, saying, "Go unto this people and say, "Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their eyes are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted and I should heal them." (Acts 28:25-27; Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:14-15; Luke 8:10; Romans 11:8)

Continuing then, "be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had great reasoning among themselves.

In Ephesians, Paul offers the same message -- "For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward; how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." (Ephesians 3:1-6)

This is why as a prisoner of the Lord, Paul would beseech you and I that we walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called -- with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace -- knowing that there is One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)

And that even when the fiery trial comes to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you; on their part He is evil spoken of but on your part He is glorified. (I Peter 4: 12-14)

This was Paul's message to us. And, as we know for two whole years after (in his own hired house), Paul received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence and no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:30-31)

Stand in the offering plate.