Paul`s Missionary Tactics in Acts Essay

From the beginning Almighty god has been using his saints by the business leader of Holy sum and accomplished several(prenominal) of His purposes. Jesus Christ instructed besides His disciples to turn over by the power of Holy Spirit who is a representative of mighty works of idol. And I will pray the Father, and he sh all told give you another(prenominal) Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever (John 1416) Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwel permith with you, and shall be in you (John 1417)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 manner of walking with God was more than powerful through trials and persecutions giving an experience and presence of Holy spirit in the lives of Gods people. The first Christian sick person Stephens death bro ught a great disturbance in the lives of believers in Jerusalem. Stephens 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. capital of Minnesota) 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. I verily persuasion with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.Which thing I alike did in Jerusalem and many of the saints did I shut up in prison. . . . And I punished them oft in both 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 se en from Sauls own scripts, And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. Acts 269-11. Acts Chapter 9 discusses a great miracle in the metropolis of Damascus which transformed the life of Saul to St. capital of Minnesota.And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes green me? (Acts. 94) And he said, Who art thou, skipper? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 95) 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 96) To another disciple called Ananias, the Lord appeared in a vision and said enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for, behold, he prayeth. (Acts 911)Ananias answered Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem (Acts 913) The Lord said unto him Go thy way for he is a chosen vas for me, to bear my name originally the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 915) . When Ananias, position 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 put to death 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 as well powerfully working for God buy the farm 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. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 1127) Barnabas began to search for Saul who became good friends by the fact of bein g Apostles of God.capital of Minnesota began to perform miracles of lifting the cripple, casting evil pot likker and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ among Jews, Gentiles in Antioch, Iconium, Pisidia and Pamphylia. On several occasions, capital of Minnesota himself being a Roman, was imprisoned and was ill-spoken of by Jews and Greeks. The Lord spoke to capital of Minnesota Be of good cheer, Paul, for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. (Acts 2311). God had diabolical abundantly the works and mission of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch. Methods Pauls missioner voyages 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. Pauls first official missional journey began in 47-49 A. D, at Antioch in Syria which was an important place for early church. . 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 131-3).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 Pauls 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 acrimony 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 innovation 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 earlier by the credi bothrthiness of Paul.There were several opponents in missionary work which Paul approach whereas with the fasting and prayer and by the guidance of Holy Spirit, Paul endured and withstood among all the trials that Gods 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 scorn 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 Cori nth, Thessalonica, Philippians, Ephesians to develop faith among people of such urban areas. These letters depict another kind of sacred missionary work that people received from Paul. Throughout Pauls 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 acts which in later centuries have been taken care of by the believers and following 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 Ch urch 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 shrewd 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. backchat Pauls missionary work was executed completely under the guidance and leadership of Holy Spirit. Saul which it was the name given as Pharisee was reborn into Roman name as Paul and humility and simplicity of a little child were the armor of Paul given by God.Paul had to arc 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 rapturous 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 copulation 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 t he 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 tour 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 237,8). Some of the statements made by Paul have caused a great disturbance among Pharisees and took oath to put to Paul to death. (Acts 2312)God praised the success and achievement at every stage of Pauls 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 (A cts 2311) 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. (Acts2327)When Paul was arrested and was brought before Porcius Festus to question Paul for the allegations made Jews of Jerusalem, Festus said Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there by judged of these things before? (Acts 259). Paul immediately replied I stand at Caesars judgment seat, where I ought to be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. (Acts 2510) 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. (Ac t 2511) Pauls 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 It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is impeach have the accusers face to face and have permission to answer himself concerning the crime laid against him. (Acts 2516)Paul justifies before king Agrippa 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 omen made of God unto our fathers Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hopes sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. (Acts 264-7)Paul was obedient to the heavenl y 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 2623) 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 who, when they examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. ( Acts 2718) Paul was a chosen apostle of God who inspite of severe persecutions, arrests made by Pauls 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 Pauls works and words.