Paul`s Missionary Tactics in Acts Essay

From the beginning Almighty God has been using his saints by the power of Holy Spirit and accomplished several of His purposes. Jesus Christ instructed all His disciples to work by the power of Holy Spirit who is a representative of mighty works of God. â€Å"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; â€Å" (John 14:16) â€Å"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you† (John 14:17) Introduction Over the centuries men and women who have accepted Christ as personal savior, the Holy Spirit came as a counselor, comforter, sanctifier, guide and witness. Believers walk with God was more powerful through trials and persecutions giving an experience and presence of Holy spirit in the lives of God’s people. The first Christian martyr Stephen’s death brought a great disturbance in the lives of believers in Jerusalem. Stephen’s was a Jew with Greek language had great piety and faith. The persecution of church began in Jerusalem with the passing away of Stephen of which Saul (later called as St. Paul) stood as a witness. After the death of Stephen, Roman authorities elected Saul as a member of Sanhedrin Council and Saul was mightily working for Satan to perform rebellious actions against God. Saul began to enter synagogues and churches in the regions of Judea and Samaria putting men and women into prison. â€Å"I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison. . . . And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. † That Stephen was not the only one who suffered death may be seen from Saul’s own words, â€Å"And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. † Acts 26:9-11. Acts Chapter 9 discusses a great miracle in the city of Damascus which transformed the life of Saul to St. Paul. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? † (Acts. 9:4) â€Å"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. † (Acts 9:5) â€Å" Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. †(Acts 9:6) To another disciple called Ananias, the Lord appeared in a vision and said â€Å"enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth. (Acts 9:11) Ananias answered â€Å"’Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: â€Å"(Acts 9:13) The Lord said unto him â€Å" Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel for me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:† (Acts 9:15) . When Ananias, laid his hands on Saul and prayed, Saul received his lost eye sight and was filled with Holy Ghost. Saul returned to Jerusalem and began to preach in synanogues with more strength that Christ is the Son of God. Many Jews were surprised by the very fact that Saul began to preach the word of God and laid several plots to kill him. In the areas of Judea, Galilea and Samaria, the power and comfort of Holy Ghost was present in the churches with the prevailing fear of God. In these times, Peter, Cornelius, Barnabas, Nicodemus were also powerfully working for God lead by Holy Ghost. There was an increasing work of Holy Ghost which was pouring spirit on chosen people to preach the word of God in Jerusalem. â€Å"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch† (Acts 11:27) Barnabas began to search for Saul who became good friends by the fact of being Apostles of God. Paul began to perform miracles of lifting the cripple, casting evil spirits and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ among Jews, Gentiles in Antioch, Iconium, Pisidia and Pamphylia. On several occasions, Paul himself being a Roman, was imprisoned and was ill-spoken of by Jews and Greeks. The Lord spoke to Paul â€Å"Be of good cheer, Paul,: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. (Acts 23:11). God had blessed abundantly the works and mission of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch. Methods Paul’s missionary journeys are classified into three parts discussed in Acts. The first journey between 47-49 A. D was in Iconium discussed in Act 13 and 14 chapters, the second journey was between 50-53 A. D in Thessalonica discussed in Acts 15 and the third journey was between 53-57 A. D in Mitylene discussed in Act chap 18. Paul’s first official missionary journey began in 47-49 A. D, at Antioch in Syria which was an important place for early church. . â€Å"While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off† (Acts 13:1-3). Paul endeavored and persuaded to preach the word of God to both high and low societies of Syria. It was the work of Holy Spirit which lead Paul and Barnabas to take the journey where Jesus never preached. The second journey of Paul was in churches of Galatia (Acts 16-18) In every city Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and was imprisoned for Paul’s unenduring efforts of taking the word of God to the unreached places. God directed Paul also to visit new territory of Macedonia along with friends. The third journey of Paul ended in Jerusalem (Acts 19-21) Paul was never allowed into the temples to worship in spite of several appeals to Caesar. The third journey of Paul was in Asia Minor and in Europe which Paul covered extensively with the power of Holy Spirit. The success of Paul as a missionary was a very hard effort in bringing up the church as a human institution on one side. On the other side, the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a Savior and redeemer of the world, was spread in Asia and Europe primarily by the creditworthiness of Paul. There were several opponents in missionary work which Paul faced whereas with the fasting and prayer and by the guidance of Holy Spirit, Paul endured and withstood among all the trials that God’s people come across. Results The book of Acts completely describes about the missionary work of Paul and the friendship with Barnabas and Apostles. Many sorcerers, magicians and several others were frightened with the power of Paul and some refuse to accept the message of Jesus Christ and the concept of Christian faith. Apart from missionary journeys which were described in Acts, Paul has also put effort in writing letters to Corinth, Thessalonica, Philippians, Ephesians to develop faith among people of such urban areas. These letters depict another kind of inspirational missionary work that people received from Paul. Throughout Paul’s missionary work, there were political threats, societal problems, emotional disturbances and differences between Paul and Barnabas. Paul continued the faith work by prayer and fasting and also under the guidance of Holy Spirit. The power of Pentecost, descending of gifts of the spirit, spreading of gospel in Samaria, exaltation of cross, proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Son of God were some of the greatest achievements which in later centuries have been taken care of by the believers and followers of Jesus Christ, which lead to the development of Christianity around the world irrespective of geographical region, language or any other barrier. Paul was certainly lead by the power of Holy Spirit and clearly there were no tactics that Paul as a missionary performed to the development of early Church in Jerusalem. The entire book of Acts clearly gives an evidence in each chapter, how Paul suffered in imprison, traveling from place to place and how he faced people who were scheming to put Paul to death. The book of Acts also reveal that the Lord lead Paul out of every trouble and rescued to continue the missionary work. Discussion Paul’s missionary work was executed completely under the guidance and leadership of Holy Spirit. Saul which it was the name given as Pharisee was converted into Roman name as Paul and humility and simplicity of a little child were the armor of Paul given by God. Paul had to bow before God disclosing demerits and unworthiness of personal traits. For many it was difficult to believe that Paul who was destroying churches could become a sincere follower of Jesus. It was all to the credit of Barnabas who brought Paul to the Apostles in Damascus and how God lead Saul being called as Paul to proclaim the name of Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord was very pleased with the labor of Paul and gave a commission to enter broad missionary field of Gentile world. The missionary journeys Paul were extensive walking through every corner meeting Jews and Gentiles. There were different kind of experiences for Paul such as acceptance and rejection of the word of God. Paul maintained a good relation with friends and Apostles who were with Paul in missionary journeys. Barnabas, aquilla, Priscilla and even with government officials of Rome Paul maintained a lawful order and discipline in spread the word of God. Paul had to face some of the cruelties of king Herod who sentenced James to death, imprisonment of Peter and the grief and pain of believers who spent most of time in fasting and praying. The missionary work of Paul has enabled Christian church to enter an important era. The strength and power of Holy Spirit has enabled Paul first to know the will of God and consider the power of God in carrying missionary work. Paul believed and relied solely on the grace of God with pure thoughts and carrying noble deeds. Paul stated in speeches that Jesus is the source of power and by following the words of Jesus, people experience a touch of His living power. Paul prepared believers and preachers in missionary work and also practiced several proper strategies in performing missionary work and there are evidences of Paul considering own decisions in visiting places or in preaching the word of God. Paul came across Sadducees and Pharisees where the former believed that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit whereas the latter believed in both (Acts 23:7,8). Some of the statements made by Paul have caused a great disturbance among Pharisees and took oath to put to Paul to death. (Acts 23:12) God praised the success and achievement at every stage of Paul’s missionary work. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou has testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou hear witness also at Rome† (Acts 23:11) Paul as a chosen vessel of God, performed all the activities of missionary work under the true guidance of Holy Spirit which Paul received and in fact the power of Holy Spirit has enabled excessive strength and courage to Paul to stand before Roman Governors and even the authorities were surprised by the accusations made against Paul and on several occasions rescued Paul from death. (Acts23:27) When Paul was arrested and was brought before Porcius Festus to question Paul for the allegations made Jews of Jerusalem, Festus said â€Å" Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there by judged of these things before? † (Acts 25:9). Paul immediately replied â€Å" I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest†. (Acts 25:10) â€Å"For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar†. (Act 25:11) Paul’s missionary work rendered a great warmth and satisfaction personally to Paul whereas Paul invited negative remarks of Jews which brought Paul to the altar of judgment before King Agrippa. Festus informs King Agrippa â€Å" It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face and have licence to answer himself concerning the crime laid against him†. (Acts 25:16) Paul justifies before king Agrippa â€Å"My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee†. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. (Acts 26:4-7) Paul was obedient to the heavenly visions and testifies to king Agrippa that with the help of God, have been witnessing both to small and great that Christ Jesus suffered, died and rose from dead in order to show light and redeem people from sin. (Act 26:23) Conclusion In the final chapter of Acts, Paul is freed from Romans and enters into a hired house where Paul lived for two years and continued to preach about the kingdom of God and no man has ever forbidden Paul to do so. Paul says â€Å" who, when they examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me†. ( Acts 27:18) Paul was a chosen apostle of God who inspite of severe persecutions, arrests made by Paul’s own people, worked stringently and untiringly in carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ in a professional manner which is clearly explained in the book of Acts. Paul faced allegations from several segments of society and from the Government of Rome who indirectly supported Paul for the sincerity that is evident in Paul’s works and words.