Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letter of Apostle Luke – Acts
An Intimate Review
Pt 3
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Apostle Paul Evangelizes in Corinth, Ephesus and Galatia

In [Acts 18] Apostle Luke notes Apostle Paul’s effort to minister Christ to the Hebrews per the ancient scriptures. The opposition of those who rejected Christ motivated him to extend his services to Gentile nations. Apostle Luke notes Yahweh’s vengeance upon the unbelieving Hebrews who plotted insurrection against Paul for proclaiming the Testimony of Christ to them. [Acts 18:9-17] The passage also notes the decree of Roman ruler Claudius to have all Hebrews removed from Rome. [Acts 18:2]

Handling Irresolute Non-believers

In [Acts 19:9] Apostle Luke gives scriptural instruction on how ministers of Christ should respond to certain non-believers. He suggested that it is better to altogether disassociate oneself from some non-believers and let them be. There are non-believers who have willingly subjected themselves to Lucifer and his influence. Such are of the spiritual nature of Cain who know they should do better but refuse to. Therefore, they render themselves to the consequence of eternal banishment from Yahweh’s delightful presence with Lucifer. [Exo 32:30-33; Rev 13:8; 17:8] Jesus Christ said that only those given unction from Yahweh will come to Him for spiritual regeneration and discipleship. [Isa 54:13; Dan 12:10; Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45, 65; 8:38, 41, 44, 47; I Cor 1:18, 23, 24, 30; II Cor 4:3; II Tim 2:24-26]

Misuse of the Name of Jesus Christ

In [Acts 19:13-20] Apostle Luke writes of those who attempted to use Christ’s Name to do divine works. However, he reiterates that certain ones are not entitled to the authority of Christ’s Name, especially against satanic powers. He notes the experience of the seven sons of Sceva, who was a Hebrew High Priest that specialized in demonic exorcism. While Sceva himself may have been a righteous man, his sons were VAGABONDS.
This means they were Hebrews of BASE character like the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abahu. Due to their irreverent character, they were unfit to exercise divine authority. [Num 3:2,3] As displayed in this passage, demons are not subject to the commands of such mortals.

*vagabond Gk #4022 perierchomai (per-ee-er-khom-ahee) it means…

• vagabond as a verb is to come all around, stroll and wander about

• vagabond as a noun is…
o a person, usually without a permanent home, who wanders from place to place
o an idle wanderer without a permanent home or visible means of support
o a carefree, worthless or irresponsible person

The seven sons of Sceva were around the way guys who had no real direction in life or devotion to anyone or anything. They spent their time aimlessly roaming about looking for idle entertainment and decided to try casting out a demon, usurping the Name of Jesus Christ. They soon discovered the using the Lord’s Name in vain was not a thing to do, especially when encountering demons.

Effective Ministry Affects the Gains of Filthy Lucre

In [Acts 19:23-41] Apostle Luke gives another account of how effective ministry can negatively affect the gains of filthy lucre. In this passage, a silver smith by the name of Demetrius led a campaign with other silversmiths against Apostle Paul. They did so because his evangelical missions generated so many Christian converts that their income from selling images of Diana drastically diminished. Ministers of Christ must know that they may encounter resistance from unsaved locals, should their ministries be the cause of them losing earnings from the sale of trinkets of idolatry. Such come in many forms including addictive substances.





Financial Self-sufficiency During Ministry

In [Acts 20:32-35] Apostle Luke notes that Apostle Paul was exemplary of ministers who primarily lived off the earnings they made from secular work. Apostle Paul reminded fellow Christians that he did not seek money or clothing from anyone. In fact, he covered the cost of his own needs and of those who travelled with him with money he earned with his own hands. In his perspective, this practice was in line with Christ’s teaching that it was more blessed to give than to receive. This passage also notes preparation of his mortal death. In [Acts 21] Apostle Luke notes that there were entire families who traveled on evangelical missions with Apostle Paul. [Acts 21:5; 20:25] The prophecy of Prophet Agabus concerning his capture and detainment at Jerusalem is fulfilled. Apostle Paul shared similar features of the Egyptians of his day. So much so that he was believed to be an Egyptian by the chief of captains who permitted him to address a Hebrew audience in Asia. [Acts 21:27, 38] In [Acts 22] Apostle Paul shares his testimony of Christian conversion and call to ministry. He expresses that genuine conversion to and in Christian ministry is per the will of Yahweh and glorifies HIS Son, Jesus Christ. [Acts 22:14; St Jn 1:12, 13; 6:37-40, 44, 45; Rm 8:28-30] It also denotes that even the geographical area of one’s ministry is ordained by THE LORD. [Acts 22:18, 21; 23:11]

The Sadducees and Pharisees

In [Acts 23] Apostle Luke clarifies that the primary difference in doctrinal beliefs of the Pharisees and Sadducees, was that the Pharisees believed in the resurrection while the Sadducees did not. [Acts 23:6-8] Just as Christ said for any Christian believer, some of Apostle Paul’s worst enemies were of his own nationality. [Acts 23:12-35] Apostle Luke noted Roman rulers that can be researched in history. Leaders like Herod Agrippa, Claudius Lysias and Felix the Governor of Cilicia where Apostle Paul was a native and Roman Citizen. [Rm 23:26; 22:3] In [Acts 24-26] Apostle Paul was brought before a Roman Judge by the name of Felix, as he was falsely accused of crimes for which there was no proof. His accusers staged his address before Roman magistrate Festus in Caesarea. Although he no longer was a practitioner of Judaism, Apostle Paul reiterated that he upheld the Mosaic Law and the Prophets. [Acts 24:14]

However, the underlying reason for Hebrew opposition against him was due to the indifference of belief between the Pharisees and Sadducees concerning the resurrection. When he stood before Felix, Apostle Paul set the record straight as to why he was really being accused. Apostle Luke notes that Felix was well aware of the plot to kill Paul because he was made privy to it by Claudius Lysias. Therefore, Felix provisioned Apostle Paul with security while in custody. Apostle Luke also notes that Felix was married to a Hebrew woman by the name of Drusilla and received education from Paul concerning faith in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, in order to please the Hebrew sect, Felix bound and imprisoned Paul for two years. [Acts 24:10-27] Another Roman ruler noted in this passage is Porcius Festus. [Acts 24:27; 25:1, 29] Apostle Paul sought appeal before Caesar who granted it because he was a Roman citizen and because there was no proof that he had wronged the Jewry. [Acts 25:8-12] Prior to being heard of Caesar, Apostle Paul was granted a hearing before King Herod Agrippa, at which time he rehearses his personal conversion and calling at Damascus. [Acts 25:13-27] In this account Paul makes it clear that personal faith in Christ is the only Way of eternal salvation. [Jn 8:12, 24; 14:6; Rm 3:23-26; Heb 7:25] He emphasizes that Christ and His purpose was fulfilled according to the ancient Hebrew Prophets. He reiterated the reason of his accusation was due to his efforts to help people recognize the fulfillment of these prophecies. He decreed that per ancient prophecy, he and all prophets who suffer persecution due so because they declare the Word of Truth as did prophets of the past, Christ being the Chief of all. He emphasized that his Hebrew accusers held these same prophecies in their possession yet refused to believe the evidence thereof. They truly had eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear. [Acts 26:14-22; 28:23-27; Lk 24:44] Apostle Peter attested to this truth in that he noted in his letter that the ancient scriptures had no private interpretation, meaning Yahweh’s message regarding Christ as the Way of salvation was plain, simple and available for all souls to embrace. [II Pet 1:20] Nonetheless, upon Apostle Paul’s declaration of simple, clear and verifiable information, King Herod Agrippa deemed him mad from his much learning. [I Cor 1:18; 4:3; 10:4, 5] However, Apostle Paul boldly corrected him, reminding King Agrippa that he himself realized the truth about what Christ endured, as these things were not done in a corner. So persuasive was Apostle Paul’s rebuttal that King Herod Agrippa then confessed his consideration of becoming a Christian himself. In fact, he decreed that had it not been for Paul’s appeal to Caesar that he would have been freed from his bonds that very day. [Acts 26:24-32]
It was for Apostle Paul just as Christ foretold that in like situations, the Holy Ghost would word the mouths of His witnesses before kings. No matter who they are made to stand before in trials, the Holy Ghost would empower them to boldly speak what Yahweh wants them say. It was divine destiny for Apostle Paul to speak unto these Romans ruler as he did prior to his death. This gives credence to the idea that servants of THE LORD will not transition to immortality until their work on earth is finished. [Acts 26:14-18]

The Providence of Ministering Angels and Divine Protection

In [Acts 27; 28] Apostle Luke writes about the angelic being who were assigned to administer console to Apostle Paul. Indeed, this providence is given to all heirs of salvation. [Heb 1:14] The passage notes Paul surviving the bite of a poisonous viper after escaping his famous shipwreck, which is also exemplary of divine protection and providence. [Acts 1-6; St Mk 16:18; 10:19] After all this Apostle Paul was free to minister without resistance until his transition to immortality.

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