 Available in paperback, PDF, and Kindle formats. |
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
JesusWalk Bible Study Series
11 lessons, 2019
| Preface | ||
| Theological and Practical Themes | ||
| 1. Saul of Tarsus Meets Jesus (Acts 8:1-9:18, 33 AD) | ||
| 1.1. Background | ||
| The Jewish Diaspora | ||
| Tarsus, Paul's Birthplace | ||
| Roman Citizen | ||
| Jew | ||
| Pharisee and Son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6) | ||
| Hellenists vs. Hellenizers | ||
| Hellenists in the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9) | ||
| Brought Up in Jerusalem, Studied under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) | ||
| 1.2. Conversion of Saul | ||
| The Stoning of Stephen (Acts 6:8-8:1) | ||
| Sparking Intense Persecution of the Church (8:1, 3) | ||
| The Road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-8) | ||
| Full-Stop (Acts 9:9) | ||
| Ananias, the Obedient Servant (Acts 9:10-18) | ||
| Ananias Ministers to Saul (Acts 9:17-18) | ||
| 1.3. Righteousness by Faith (Philippians 3:3-11) | ||
| Legalism and Boasting (Philippians 3:5-7) | ||
| Righteousness through Faith (Philippians 3:9) | ||
| Righteousness Received by Faith | ||
| Your Faith in Jesus | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 2. Paul in Arabia, Tarsus, and Antioch (Acts 9:19; 11:19-30; 11:35-13:3, 33-46 AD) | ||
| 2.1. Paul in Damascus and Arabia (Acts 9:19b-25, 33-35 AD) | ||
| Preaching in the Synagogues (Acts 9:20-22) | ||
| Escape from Damascus (Acts 9:23-25) | ||
| Saul's Sojourn in Arabia (Galatians 1:15-17, 33-35 AD) | ||
| Paul's Visit to Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18-24; Acts 9:26-30, 35 AD) | ||
| 2.2. Paul's Sojourn in Tarsus (Acts 9:30; Galatians 1:21, 35-45 AD) | ||
| Revelations in Cilicia | ||
| 2.3. Paul Ministers in Antioch (Acts 12:19-30, 45-48 AD) | ||
| The Gospel Reaches the Gentiles in Antioch (Acts 11:19-21) | ||
| Missiological Principles | ||
| The Gospel Explodes among the Gentiles in Antioch (Acts 11:19-21) | ||
| Barnabas Is Sent to the Gentile Believers in Antioch (Acts 11:22-24) | ||
| Barnabas Seeks Out Saul in Tarsus (Acts 11:25-26) | ||
| Prophecy of Widespread Famine (Acts 11:27-28) | ||
| 2.4. Paul and Barnabas Carry a Gift to Jerusalem (Acts 11:29-30, 46 AD) | ||
| Meeting with Leaders of the Jerusalem Church (Galatians 2:1-5) | ||
| Paul's Conflict with Peter at Antioch (Galatians 2:11-16) | ||
| Sent out from Antioch (Acts 13:1-3) | ||
| 2.5. Gifts and Calling | ||
| Paul Is an Apostle | ||
| Paul's Ministry as a Sacred Trust | ||
| Spiritual Gifts Are Given to All Believers | ||
| Our Spiritual Gifts Are Given to Us in Trust | ||
| Completing the Task (Acts 20:24) | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 3. Paul in Cyprus, Antioch of Pisidia, and Galatia (Acts 13-14, 47-49 AD) | ||
| 3.1. The Apostolic Team (Acts 13:4-12) | ||
| John Mark | ||
| 3.2. Cyprus | ||
| To the Jew First, and Also to the Greek (Romans 1:16) | ||
| The Proconsul and the Jewish Sorcerer (Acts 13:6-12) | ||
| Power Encounters | ||
| 3.3. Ministry in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 14:14a, 47 AD) | ||
| Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13; 14:25) | ||
| Antioch of Pisidia | ||
| Sharing the Gospel in the Synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14-41) | ||
| Teaching Those Who Respond (Acts 13:42-43) | ||
| Salvation by Grace (Acts 13:43) | ||
| Continuing or Abiding in the Grace of God (Acts 13:43) | ||
| Huge Response Prompts Rejection by the Jews of Antioch (Acts 13:44-52) | ||
| Persecution from the Jews in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 14:50-52) | ||
| 3.4. Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 14:1-21, 48 AD) | ||
| Iconium (Acts 14:1-6) | ||
| Signs and Wonders in Iconium (Acts 14:3) | ||
| Lystra (Acts 14:6-20a) | ||
| Gospel Presentations to Gentiles (Acts 14:15-17; 17:16-34) | ||
| Contextualizing the Gospel | ||
| Paul Is Stoned (Acts 14:19-20) | ||
| Derbe (Acts 14:20b-21a) | ||
| 3.5. Discipling and Establishing Leadership (Acts 14:21b-23) | ||
| Strengthening the Galatian Churches (Acts 14:21-22) | ||
| Discipling Rank Pagans in a Christian Lifestyle | ||
| Appointing Leaders in the Galatian Churches (Acts 14:23) | ||
| Return to Antioch (Acts 14:24-28) | ||
| A Door of Faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:28) | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 4. Law, Grace, and the New Israel (Acts 15:1-35, 49 AD) | ||
| 4.1. Judaizers in Antioch and Galatia | ||
| Teaching Circumcision in Antioch (Acts 15:1, 5) | ||
| Judaizers in the Galatian Churches | ||
| A Different "Gospel" | ||
| 4.2. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35, 49 AD) | ||
| Peter's Testimony of the Holy Spirit at Caesarea (Acts 15:7-11) | ||
| Barnabas, Paul, and James (Acts 15:12-18) | ||
| Rules for Gentiles (Acts 15:20-21, 28-29) | ||
| 'Clean' Food and Circumcision Are Not Required | ||
| Official Condemnation of Judaizers (Acts 15:24) | ||
| 4.3. Salvation by Grace | ||
| Grace in Acts | ||
| Grace, charis | ||
| Salvation by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) | ||
| Working Our Way into God's Good Graces (Ephesians 2:9) | ||
| This Not from Yourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9) | ||
| Other Pauline Passages on Grace | ||
| 4.4. Predestination (Acts 13:48b) | ||
| Predestination and Evangelism | ||
| 4.5. The New Israel of God | ||
| The Promise of the Gentile Salvation | ||
| The Mystery of Gentile Salvation | ||
| Christ Breaks Down the Division between Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-22) | ||
| All Israel Will Be Saved (Romans 11:26) | ||
| The New Israel | ||
| Unity in Christ, Not in Practices or in Emphasis | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 5. Paul in Macedonia (Acts 15:36-18:22, 49-50 AD) | ||
| 5.1. Re-forming the Apostolic Team | ||
| Controversy with Barnabas over Mark (Acts 15:37-39) | ||
| Silas (Silvanus), Missionary Partner | ||
| Strengthening the Syria, Cilicia, and Galatian Churches (49-50 AD) | ||
| Lystra, Derbe, and Iconium (Acts 16:1-5) | ||
| Young Timothy Joins the Apostolic Team (Acts 16:1-3) | ||
| Timothy | ||
| Finding God's Will (Acts 16:6-10) | ||
| Luke the Beloved Physician (Acts 16:10) | ||
| 5.2. Philippi (Acts 16:12-40, 49 AD) | ||
| Lydia (Acts 16:14-15) | ||
| Establishing the Philippian Church | ||
| Financial Partnership with the Philippian Church | ||
| Exorcism of a Slave Girl (Acts 16:16-19) | ||
| Thrown into Jail (Acts 16:19-40) | ||
| The Power of Praise (Acts 16:25; Philippians 4:4-9) | ||
| 5.3. Ministry in Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:1-15, 49-50 AD) | ||
| Synagogue in Thessalonica | ||
| Success and Persecution (Acts 17:4-9) | ||
| Affection for the Thessalonian Believers | ||
| Berea (Acts 17:10-15, 50 AD) | ||
| 5.4. The Message of the Cross | ||
| Preaching the Cross in the Synagogue at Thessalonica (Acts 17:2-3) | ||
| Christ, and Him Crucified (1 Corinthians 1:21; 2:2) | ||
| The Message of the Cross | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 6. Paul in Greece (Acts 17:16-18:22, 50-52 AD) | ||
| 6.1. Paul in Athens (Acts 17:16-34) | ||
| Dialoging in the Marketplace, the Agora (Acts 17:17-18) | ||
| Paul at the Areopagus (Acts 17:19-21) | ||
| 6.2 How God Judges Those Who Have Never Heard | ||
| God Is Close to All (Acts 17:27-28) | ||
| Overlooking Past Ignorance (Acts 17:30) | ||
| Preaching the Resurrection (Acts 17:31-34) | ||
| 6.3. Ministry at Corinth (50-52 AD; Acts 18:1-22) | ||
| The Tentmaking Trade | ||
| Paul's Work Ethic | ||
| Paul's Example of Hard Work (Acts 20:34-35) | ||
| Bi-Vocational Ministry | ||
| Aquila and Priscilla | ||
| Every Sabbath in the Synagogue (Acts 18:4) | ||
| A House Church Next Door to the Synagogue (Acts 18:7-8) | ||
| House Churches | ||
| Encouragement in a Time of Fear (Acts 18:8b-11) | ||
| Jewish Attack before the Proconsul (Acts 18:12-18) | ||
| "I have many people in this city" (Acts 18:10b) | ||
| Paul's Jewish Vow (Acts 18:18b) | ||
| Strengthening the Church at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:2-4) | ||
| 6.4. Resurrection | ||
| Resurrection in Early Preaching | ||
| Resurrection and the Greeks | ||
| Paul's Teaching on Resurrection in Corinth (1 Corinthians 15) | ||
| Resurrection at Christ's Coming (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) | ||
| Be Steadfast, Immovable, Always Abounding (1 Corinthians 15:58) | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 7. Paul in Ephesus (Acts 18:23-19:41, 52-55 AD) | ||
| Strengthening All the Disciples (Acts 18:23) | ||
| Ephesus (52-55 AD) | ||
| 7.1. The Ministry of Apollos (Acts 18:24-19:1-7) | ||
| Apollos, a Native of Alexandria (Acts 18:24-28) | ||
| Divisions in the Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 1:11-12; 3:3-6) | ||
| Formal Greek Rhetoric vs. Rabbinical Disputation | ||
| 7.2 Paul's Ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19) | ||
| John the Baptist Followers in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7) | ||
| Regeneration by the Holy Spirit | ||
| Indwelling of the Holy Spirit | ||
| Ministry in the Synagogue at Ephesus (Acts 19:8-9) | ||
| Rejection in the Synagogue (Acts 19:8a) | ||
| School of Missions at the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9b-10) | ||
| 7.3. Power Evangelism in Ephesus | ||
| Extraordinary Miracles (Acts 19:11-12) | ||
| Exorcism by the Seven Sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-17) | ||
| Burning Occult Books (Acts 19:18-19) | ||
| The Ongoing Power of God in Ephesus (Acts 19:20) | ||
| Resolving in the Spirit (Acts 19:21-22) | ||
| Timothy and Erastus Sent to Macedonia (Acts 19:22) | ||
| 7.4. Handling Persecution and Pressures | ||
| The Silversmith Riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) | ||
| A Quick Trip to Corinth and Possible Imprisonment | ||
| Victory and Opposition (1 Corinthians 16:9) | ||
| Overwhelming Pressure in Ephesus (2 Corinthians 1:8-10) | ||
| Relying on God's Deliverance (2 Corinthians 1:9-10) | ||
| Hard Pressed, but Not Crushed (2 Corinthians 4:8-12) | ||
| Death in Us, Life in You (2 Corinthians 4:10-12) | ||
| Intercessory Prayer (2 Corinthians 1:10b-11) | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 8. Paul Fights the Good Fight of Faith -- Spiritual Warfare | ||
| 8.1. Understanding the Dominion of Darkness | ||
| Satan's Dominion on Earth | ||
| Usurped Authority | ||
| Satan Is Still Dangerous | ||
| The "God of this Age" (2 Corinthians 4:4) | ||
| The Prince of the Dominion of the "Air" (Ephesians 2:2) | ||
| Principalities and Powers (Ephesians 6:12) | ||
| Satan's Limitations | ||
| Understanding Opposition to the Gospel | ||
| The Weapons of our Warfare | ||
| 8.2. The Gospel as a Spiritual Weapon | ||
| Repentance as Spiritual Defense from Demonization (2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Timothy 2:25) | ||
| Forgiveness as a Spiritual Weapon (2 Corinthians 2:10-11) | ||
| 8.3. Praise and Prayer As Spiritual Weapons (Philippians 4:4-9) | ||
| Rejoice in the Lord Always (Philippians 4:4-5) | ||
| Cure for Anxiety (Philippians 4:6) | ||
| God's Peace Will Guard Your Mind (Philippians 4:7) | ||
| Think About These Things (Philippians 4:8) | ||
| Put into Practice These Lessons (Philippians 4:9) | ||
| Intercessory Prayer as a Spiritual Weapon | ||
| 8.4. Signs and Wonders and Exorcisms as Spiritual Weapons | ||
| 8.5. The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) | ||
| Relying on God's Strength (Ephesians 6:10-13) | ||
| The Nature of the Armament (Ephesians 6:14-17) | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 9. Paul Presses on to Jerusalem (Acts 20:1-23:35, 56-57 AD) | ||
| 9.1. Heading Home to Jerusalem (Acts 20:1-21:14) | ||
| Paul Travels to Macedonia and Greece (Acts 20:1-4) | ||
| Eutychus Raised from the Dead in Troas (Acts 20:6-12, 57 AD) | ||
| Worship on the First Day of the Week (Acts 20:7a) | ||
| Meeting the Ephesian Elders on the Beach at Miletus (Acts 20:13-17) | ||
| Disciples in Tyre, Ptolemais, and Caesarea (Acts 21:3-6) | ||
| Female Prophets (Acts 21:8-9) | ||
| The Prophecy of Agabus (Acts 21:10-14) | ||
| 9.2. In Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-23:11) | ||
| Paul Meets with James and the Elders of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 21:15-26) | ||
| A Riot in the Temple (Acts 21:27-36) | ||
| Paul Testifies in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-22) | ||
| Paul Appears before the Sanhedrin and Chief Priests (Acts 22:30-23:11) | ||
| The Power of a Christian Witness (Acts 23:11) | ||
| Plot Against Paul's Life (Acts 23:12-35) | ||
| 9.3. Crucified with Christ -- Address to the Ephesian Elders (Acts 20:17-38) | ||
| Bound in the Spirit (Acts 20:22-23) | ||
| Finish the Race, Complete the Task (Acts 20:24) | ||
| How Precious Is Your Life to You? (Acts 20:24a) | ||
| Christ's Calling for You (Acts 20:24b) | ||
| Declaring the Whole Gospel (Acts 20:25-27) | ||
| A Charge for the Shepherds of God's Flock (Acts 20:28-31) | ||
| Watch Out for Savage Wolves Who Steal Sheep (Acts 20:29-31) | ||
| I Commit You to God and the Word of His Grace (Acts 20:32) | ||
| Paul's Example of Integrity, Hard Work, and Giving Freely to Others (Acts 20:33-35) | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 10. Paul's Imprisonment, Release, and Death (Acts 24-28, 57-65 AD) | ||
| 10.1. Imprisonment in Caesarea (57-59 AD) | ||
| Trial before Governor Felix (Acts 24) | ||
| Charges against Paul | ||
| Paul's Hearing before Governor Porcius Festus (Acts 25:1-12) | ||
| Paul's Hearing before King Agrippa and Bernice (Acts 25:13-26:32) | ||
| Should Paul Have Appealed to Caesar? | ||
| 10.2. Voyage to Rome (59-60 AD) | ||
| Shelter at the Island of Crete (Acts 27:7-15). | ||
| The Storm and Shipwreck (Acts 27:13-44) | ||
| Healing Ministry in Malta (Acts 28:1-10) | ||
| On to Rome (Acts 28:11-16) | ||
| Paul Preaches to the Jews in Rome (Acts 28:17-29) | ||
| Jewish Unbelief (Acts 28:25-28) | ||
| Structure of the Book of Acts | ||
| All Israel Will Be Saved (Romans 11:25-32) | ||
| Paul's First Imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:30-31, 60-62 AD) | ||
| 10.3. Paul's Release in 62 AD | ||
| Paul's Ministry from 62 to 64 AD | ||
| 10.4. Paul's Final Days and a Christian View of Death | ||
| Rome Burns, Christians Are Blamed | ||
| Enduring Hardship (2 Timothy) | ||
| Paul's Loneliness at the End (2 Timothy 4:9-11, 16-18) | ||
| The Time for My Departure Has Come (2 Timothy 4:6) | ||
| Finishing the Race Well (2 Timothy 4:7) | ||
| The Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) | ||
| Paul Dies, 64-65 AD | ||
| 10.5. At Home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-10) | ||
| Longing for Home (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) | ||
| The Problem with the Doctrine of 'Soul Sleep' | ||
| Walk by Faith, Not by Sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) | ||
| The Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-10) | ||
| 10.6. To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain (Philippians 1:19-25) | ||
| Rejoicing that Christ Will Be Exalted (Philippians 1:18b-19) | ||
| To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain (Philippians 1:20-21) | ||
| To Be with Christ Is Far Better (Philippians 1:22-26) | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| 11. Paul's Passion: Knowing the Exalted Christ | ||
| 11.1. Christ Appears to Paul | ||
| Paul's Revelations | ||
| 11.2. The Exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11) | ||
| In Very Nature God (Philippians 2:6a) | ||
| Not Clinging to Equality with God (Philippians 2:6b) | ||
| Emptied Himself (Philippians 2:7-8a) | ||
| Obedient to Death on a Cross (Philippians 2:8b) | ||
| Exalted to the Highest Place (Philippians 2:9-11) | ||
| 11.3. The Supremacy of Christ (Colossians 1:15-20) | ||
| Christ is Supreme (Colossians 1:18d) | ||
| The Fullness of God Dwells in Him (Colossians 1:19) | ||
| 11.4. "In Christ" -- Union with Christ | ||
| 11.5. A Passion to Know Christ (Philippians 3:7-14) | ||
| Knowing Christ Jesus My Lord (Philippians 3:8b) | ||
| Knowing Christ Intimately (Philippians 3:10-11) | ||
| Running Flat Out in the Race (Philippians 3:12-14) | ||
| Straining Towards the Finish Line (Philippians 3:13d) | ||
| Your Passion and Mine | ||
| Ranger Walks | ||
| Lessons for Disciples | ||
| Appendix 1. Participant Handouts | ||
| Appendix 2. Chronology of Paul's Life | ||
| Appendix 3. Were the Prison Epistles Written from Ephesus? | ||
| Appendix 4. Metaphors of Salvation | ||