Today’s passage is another example of people and systems attempting to stop the outflowing of the Holy Spirit into the world. Paul has been arrested (again), this time in Jerusalem and by the Romans. He is brought before the Jewish Council (sound familiar?) to find out why they are trying to condemn him. Ultimately it results in fighting between the various factions and Paul is whisked away by the Romans for safety. Which brings to the biggest mission the Lord Jesus has given Paul yet; to go into the very heart of the Roman Empire, the center of the corruption and oppression, and pour out the Holy Spirit through the speaking of the Word to Caesar himself. The “king of the world and son of god” (for that is what Caesar believed himself to be), would be confronted with the Good News; the true King and son of God had come and was building His kingdom on earth as in heaven. It was the intent of the ruling powers in Jerusalem to stop the outpouring of the Spirit, but what they ultimately did was turn it into a flood

[Acts 23.20-23.11]

22.30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

23.1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What did Paul bring up that caused the fighting between the two factions?

+ Why were the Romans protecting Paul?

+ How is Paul’s journey and persecution similar to Jesus’s?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ What is my Rome? Where is God calling me to?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who needs me to bring the Word to them?