Bible Matters 406: Paul the Roman

God knows the future.  The question is, do you want to be part of it?  Jeremiah buried the Ark of the Covenant, which 600 years later was used for the blood sacrifice of Christ the Savior. No longer serving God or accepting his power, the Ark was hidden during the time of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 3:16 – And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord : neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it ; neither shall that be done any more.

The death and shed blood of Jesus Christ was orchestrated by God, so that the shed blood of Jesus would be a sin offering.  The rock was split at the base of the cross to above the mercy seat. Jesus’s blood fell through that crack and onto the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant.  There it was an offering as a sacrifice for your sins.

Matthew 27:50-51 – Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.

In several dreams, Joseph was told to relocate to save Mary and the newborn child.

Matthew 2:12-14, 19-20 – And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,  Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

Jesus picked the twelve apostles. With the exception of Judas, they persisted unto his resurrection, after which they received the gift of speaking in tongues.

Acts 2:1-11 – And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

The Apostles were Jews and well equipped to teach the word of God in all foreign lands, including Rome. God knew that these twelve Apostles were not enough.  One man, Saul, persecuted Christians, including the stoning of Stephen.

Acts 8:1-4 – And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 

This non-Christian man was picked by God to spread his word.  On the way to persecute more Christians in Damascus, God stopped him in his tracks. 

Acts 9:3-5 – And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Paul decided to be part of God’s kingdom here on earth.  He was already a Pharisee.  God needed him to spread the gospel of love that Jesus taught to the Apostles.  But why Paul?  There were a couple of reasons. 

1)       At that time, the Jews were being kicked out of Rome.  To reach Europe, God knew it was critical to preach his word, starting in Rome.  The original twelve apostles would not be not capable of teaching in Rome. 

Acts 18:1-2 – After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; [2] And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

2)      God told Paul that he must go to Rome.

Acts 19:20-21 – So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.  After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

3)      Paul was also Roman!

Acts 22:25-27 -And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

4)      Not only did Paul make it to Rome, he dwelt two years in his own hired house and was able to freely preach the kingdom of God. 

Acts 28:16-18,28-31 – And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.  And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he 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.  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.  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and 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, no man forbidding him.

God had twelve Apostles to spread his word, but he could not use them in Rome.  He needed Paul.  700 years later, God needed someone to spread his gospel to the Middle East.   It wasn’t happening nor effective by the Apostles.  So, ask yourself, “Did God choose Muhammad? “  God knows who he needs, to spread his gospel of love.  When God calls on you, will you do as he directs or will you deny him before men?

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.