Part of our series on the Book of Acts. More information and a recording of the sermon can be found on our blog - www.thoughtsfromeb.wordpress.com

1. Acts 23:12-35
In Danger from my own
Countrymen

2. Passions (Zeal without knowledge)
• These men are determined
• They are encouraged by the highest authorities
in Judaism
• They are prepared to lie (Acts 23:15)
• They are prepared to kill (Acts 23:14)
• We have witnessed atrocities carried out in the
name of God
• Some atrocities at the hands of ‘Christians’

3. Passions (Zeal without knowledge)
• Its not enough to be passionate
• “For I can testify about them that they are
zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on
knowledge” (Romans 10:2)
• We need to constantly recalibrate our actions
against the Word of God

4. Promises (The Lord had spoken)
• There had been warnings of suffering for Paul
• “Take courage! As you have testified about me
in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
• How did he feel when after the promise his life
was still under threat and he remained in
prison?
• “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

5. Promises (The Lord had spoken)
• God’s promises are not ‘Get out of Jail free
cards’
• The Jews would not have welcomed Jeremiah’s
words (Jeremiah 29)
• “Who would have thought God’s saving power
would look like this?” (Isaiah 53:1 – The
Message)
• Svea Flood
• Last Wednesday
• God’s promises are sure

6. Positions (Taking a stand)
• We know very little of Paul’s family
• This incident turns on the actions of one
unnamed young man
• He was obviously connected with the men
involved in the plot
• He went first to Paul and then to the Roman
authorities
• If these men were prepared to kill Paul whilst
in Roman custody surely he placed his own life
in danger?

7. Positions (Taking a stand)
• He took a stand – what about us?
• To take a stand with the poor
• To take a stand with suffering Christians
• To take a stand with the crucified Christ
• “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate
to make the people holy through his own blood.
Let us, then, go to him outside the
camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.”
(Hebrews 13:12-13)