Acts 20:13-17 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
 
PAUL’S life and ministry is about to change. After a few days of ministering in some towns close to each other, Paul arranged to meet with the elders from Ephesus at Miletus, a port city connected to Ephesus.
   Paul is saying goodbye to these men he had discipled. He surely had developed strong personal relationships with them. Paul’s departing words is in three parts: his past three years’ ministry in Ephesus, the current circumstances and the Ephesian elders’ future responsibilities. He speaks first of his past:
 
Acts 20:18-21 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”
 
Is Paul’s goodbye pridefully about himself? Seven times Paul said, “I”.
   We can answer that by turning to Paul’s teaching about pride in Galatians 6:4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else. The Greek meaning of pride in this context is exultation, joy.
   Paul did not speak, “I” to exalt himself, but he taught and reminded his Ehesian friends of his own response to the Lord’s service. He was joyful, thankful he had been faithful in God’s work.
   Everything about his ministry was focused on exalting Jesus, not himself. The key to exalting Jesus is great humility with tears. Be grateful, faithful and humble to serve with compassion as Jesus has served us. Paul has withstood very severe testing. He has still been firm to preach anything that would be helpful to you, both Jews and Greeks the way of salvation. Paul had no pride in himself as a man, only an exultation of his faithfulness to serve Jesus and to his church. The Lord wants to know the joy of faithful service to him and to his church.  

Acts 20:7-12 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don't be alarmed,” he said. “He's alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
 
 IT was Sunday, the first day of the week. Paul, his traveling companions and others in Troas met to break bread – celebrate the Lord’s Supper – to pray and to listen to gospel preaching. This is Sunday worship.
   The Lord’s Supper is a necessary mark of the church. It remembers the way the Lord Jesus began the New Testament of grace: Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”  Meeting on the first day of the week remembers the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Their meeting followed the pattern of the first church in Jerusalem: Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  The church’s worship was beautifully simple. The focus was Jesus’ commands, Jesus’ covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice, Jesus’ death and Jesus’ resurrection. Worship had moved from the Old Covenant’s 7th day of the week to the New Covenant’s first day of the week. This is The Lord’s Day. (Revelation 1:10)
   With many lamps burning and consuming oxygen, perhaps Eutychus wasn’t the only one who fell asleep as Paul talked on and on. Luke was a physician and a first-hand witness to this event, so we can trust his diagnosis Eutychus was dead. Paul’s prayer and actions for his life is similar to Elijah and Elisha. Both stretched their bodies over young men who had died as written in 1 Kings 17:21 and 2 Kings 4:34-35. Eutychus’ quick return to life may cause us to have little regard for the Lord’s resurrection power. But surely this is as great a miracle as Peter’s command, “Tabitha get up!” (Acts 9:40d). And it is as powerful as Jesus’ call, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43b)
   Paul seemed to take it in stride. This was God at work! He had full faith that the Lord would respond. Then they ate, and Paul continued preaching until daylight!
   We know, though, that when one prays the Lord responds in his will. Still there is an expectation the Lord will do what is right and good. We must humbly submit to God’s purpose. Each time we witness his power, we can be confident he is with us for our good and his glory. 

Acts 20:2-3 Paul traveled through Macedonia, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months.
 
PAUL has been in Ephesus nearly three years. Riots and accusations force him to restart his itinerant ministry to several places in Asia Minor, Macedonia and Greece. Philippi was in Macedonia, so we can assume he spent some time in the church that was so helpful to support his ministry. He traveled further north into Illyricum, home to modern-day Yugoslavia. Paul wrote of this in Romans 15:19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Paul met Titus in Macedonia, and he wrote 2 Corinthians there. His three months in Greece was more specifically a return to Corinth. This is where and when he wrote his epistle to the Romans.
   It is difficult to grasp the spiritual, physical and emotional demands on Paul’s mind, soul and body as he traveled and ministered under primitive conditions. It would also have been a very great strain to continually confront threats against his life.
 
Acts 20:3b Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
 
Thankfully Paul became aware of a plot to kill him while at sea and dispose his body.
 
Acts 20:4-6 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
 
The seven men Luke names here, including Timothy, who has been Paul’s faithful partner, represent seven churches that have collected an offering for Jerusalem’s impoverished Gentile church members. Paul and Barnabas had earlier delivered an offering to Jerusalem. But the need continued. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-21 Paul praised the church for past offerings and encouraged them to continue. Paul then traveled with the seven (plus Luke has rejoined Paul), to meet them in Troas. The offering with seven different men helped protect it from robbers. And it served as accountability for these funds to be properly used. Paul’s opponents created many lies against him. He wanted to remain above reproach regarding all matters. This is a good lesson for all of us entrusted with others’ money for God’s use.
   Life’s pressures come from many directions. Paul learned he could remain faithful and hopeful in all matters: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. (2 Corinthians 4:8)

Acts 20:32-34 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
 
EPHESIAN craftsmen caused an uproar because the Ephesian church was growing. More Christians reduced the number of people who worshiped the goddess Artemis. Fewer people purchased Artemus images. A crowd gathered in response to the loud objections. But many did not know why they were there. Riots don’t need a reason. Galatians 5:15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. The battle raging within pours out to needlessly harm others, even if that is not our desire.
   This life-destroying infection contrasts sharply to God’s life-giving power: Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law…22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 
   But then peace prevailed.
 
Acts 19:35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
 
Paul would have thanked God there was a city clerk who exhibited patience, goodness and self-control. The Spirit’s influence can and does cause non-believers to exhibit the Spirit’s fruit. This happened in many circumstances throughout the Bible. The church, too, has experienced peace when the Spirit has inclined governments to allow the gospel to be taught in their countries.  
   Paul then left Ephesus in peace: Acts 20:1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia.  

Acts 19:21-22 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
 
THESE verses mark a change in Acts that points Paul to Rome. But first Paul hears the Spirit’s call to Jerusalem: Acts 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” He will first visit Macedonia to meet with the Philippi church. He sent Timohty and Erastus to prepare for his arrival. Perhaps he should have gone with them. The peace in Ephesus suddenly ended.
 
Acts 19:23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” 28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
 
Threats to money and power motivate us more than any other influence. Recently in our U.S. election, the economy was the number one concern. There was little or no talk about the millions of unborn babies killed each year. That may tell us more about the state of Christianity in America than any other measure.
   The craftsmen wanted their business back. They claimed to protect the worship of Artemis. They really wanted people to buy Artemis art work and idols. Instead of submitting to the Lord Jesus and opening their minds to use their gifts for him, they formed a loud, aggressive and dangerous assembly to denounce Jesus’ influence in Ephesus.
   The opposition gets very loud when the truth threatens. We must be loud, too, to stand firm, to denounce evil and to pray that people will know the truth. After all, it is only the truth that will set them free. (from John 8:32) 

Acts 19:13-20 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.  20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
 
IT was not uncommon for Jewish priests to pray to free people from demon possession. But they committed two deadly sins: First, they had not confessed and believed Jesus is the risen Christ. And second, they commanded the demons in the name of Jesus and of Paul. Without faith in God, there is no power from God. There is no power in a mere man to do God’s work.
   Jesus warned the Jews about such false teachings: Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Speaking in Jesus’ name without faith and conviction in our risen Lord condemns one to hell.
   The Spirit wanted to teach the Ephesians Jesus’ warning: Luke 12:4-5 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Many suddenly understood they needed a true faith in Jesus. Simply saying his name pointed to destruction.
   Believers, who had confessed Jesus, repented. They admitted they had not fully released idol worship and desires that limited a more complete relationship with Jesus. This was a sanctifying process for the believers. We all must cast aside the old to more completely grasp Jesus’ grace. People who practiced sorcery confessed Jesus. They burned documents equivalent to 150 men’s wages for one year.
            We must understand this battle is all around us. Jesus taught us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13 NIV) because the devil continually attacks. As a believer, Satan and his demons cannot reside in you. But they can influence you away from Jesus. Be alert. Know the Spirit is your power to defeat and dismiss any evil from your life. 

Grace Abounds
 
Acts 19:9-10 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 
 
GOD graciously gave Paul three months to teach the gospel in the Ephesus synagogue. This was much more time and opportunity than Paul had experienced in other synagogues.
   When the Lord allowed the opposition to resist Paul, he then granted the apostle two years to teach in the lecture hall of Tyrannus! The Spirit’s favor gave the Christians a wonderful, sustained opportunity to watch the church grow. The Spirit sent many to hear the truth. All the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.  
   Asia was a province in Rome on the west coast of modern day Turkey; it was not then the name of a continent as it is now. And “all” refers to a significant number of people from Ephesus and surrounding communities.
   We can assume Paul was not the only evangelist. Priscilla and Aquila would likely have been among his disciples. We learn also Timothy was there. The Spirit would have gifted other new Christians to eagerly expand the gospel in Asia in the same life-changing ways he had done in Jerusalem:
 
Acts 19:11-12 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
 
God rewarded Paul’s faithful service and favored Ephesus with a remarkable expression of his grace. Through extraordinary miracles people experienced God’s very personal, restoring touch. Perhaps this is one reason all in Asia came. Luke had reported God’s power demonstration eight other times: under the apostles’ (two times), Peter’s (three times), Paul and Barnabas’, Stephen’s and Philip’s ministries. Now Paul once again knew the joy of watching resurrect dead souls. Demonic possession is both spiritual and physical affliction. God’s grace saved his creation from Satan’s power.
   But there is one person here God did not heal. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take a (thorn in my flesh) away from me. Was God’s grace with Paul? The apostle said it was. He continued: 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  
   Paul could have been jealous of the healed and angry at God. But he knew Jesus had changed him from death to life. He loved his Savior. Thus, his weakness was a different form of God’s grace to help him trust God’s eternal love for him. God’s grace is, indeed, sufficient to take us into heaven forever.

Acts 19:8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
 
FOR three months in a synagogue Paul argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. We would say that he spoke with great conviction about the truth that Jesus is the Christ. Let’s consider briefly what Paul would have said as he told the Jews about the kingdom of God.
   Paul would have declared the kingdom of God is God’s purpose for the world. The LORD first spoke this purpose to Satan in Genesis 3:15 And there will be war between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed: by him will your head be crushed and by you his foot will be wounded. (Basic Bible English)
   This is the promise of Satan’s total defeat and the Savior’s complete victory. From that day, God has been moving events to establish a new Paradise for redeemed mankind.
   Paul would have taught that God then chose Abraham as the seed of an earthly nation that would illustrate Paradise. He would have explained that the Exodus account confirms the evidence of God’s mighty power. Even as the Jews often rejected God’s commands, our Lord faithfully took them to his planned Promised Land. But even then, the Jews disobeyed and did not fully receive God’s promises to possess the earthly kingdom.
   Still Paul would have pointed out that God’s prophets promised the eternal kingdom and its ruler. Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
   As Paul continued his persuasion, he would have given evidence of Isaiah’s prophecy come true. One day in the Jordan River the Spirit used the prophet John to anoint Jesus of Nazareth. Soon thereafter the King announced his kingdom on earth. Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. This is the good news of righteousness, peace, and joy revealed from heaven into the world.
   The most difficult point in the argument would be to convince the Jews that the King was crucified. He was dead and buried. He rose again. Paul would have persuaded the Jews with the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection with the apostles’ testimony and his own encounter with Jesus! He knew Jesus is alive because Jesus changed his life. And with that testimony, Paul could quickly reason that Jesus is enthroned in heaven as ruler over all things: Luke 24:51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. From his throne he is coming again. Luke 21:27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  
   God planned his kingdom to come, his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. The kingdom has come and is here. The kingdom is also future when God’s promises are completely fulfilled.  Revelation 11:15b “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” 

Acts 19:1-7 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? “They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
 
ONCE again Luke was very brief with Paul’s travels. When Luke writes Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus, we can learn from other sources, including Colossians 4:13, that Paul ministered in Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolis. We mention this because the church in Colosse later received Paul’s letter to the Colossians. And Laodicea is one of the seven churches to whom Jesus wrote (Revelation 3:14-19) In Colosee and Laodicea Paul planted churches that would help us learn of Jesus’ love, grace and truth.
   Another church we learn from is Ephesus. Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos have been to Ephesus. And now Paul will work from here for about three years. Paul’s letters, Ephesians and 1 and 2 Timothy, tell us Ephesus was a diverse church having strong periods of ministry and also many challenges to Christian unity as churches often do.
   Paul met disciples who had not heard of the Holy Spirit. These were men who, like Apollos, had received John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance. But they had not been taught of the Holy Spirit’s baptism to faith in Jesus. They were in the same step of their journey as the apostles had been before the Spirit anointed them at Pentecost.
   In response Paul taught them the full gospel. The Spirit then gifted these men to speak in tongues. This means they spoke in a foreign tongue they could not normally speak.
   Because of this and the apostles speaking in tongues at Pentecost, some teach that one is not a true Christian until he speaks in tongues. This is a severely limited view of salvation by grace through faith. The purpose of tongues – as well as the gifts of healing, preaching, teaching, etc. – was to overcome unbelief. Acts teaches us the Spirit does not follow any set pattern. He came into believers before baptism, at the time of or after baptism and by the laying on of apostolic hands.
   Yes, the Holy Spirit does indwell true believers. Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But we must remember the Spirit’s gifts are many. He anoints people to particular gifts and ministries for God’s purposes. Our purpose, in turn, is to faithfully respond to the LORD God’s gift to eternal life.  

Acts 18:27-28 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
 
YEARS after this when Paul was near the end of his life, he wrote these powerful words to Timothy, who then was a pastor at Ephesus: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Scripture knowledge is your Spirit-powered equipment to do God’s work.
   Apollos was equipped. His academic work in Alexandria, Egypt, and his gospel lessons under Priscilla and Aquila were bearing fruit. Apollos vigorously used what he had learned to be a great help to confirm and strengthen the new believers in Corinth. With a strong faith, true knowledge and determined purpose, Apollos debated the Jews to prove from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
   Consider how Apollos was similar to Paul. Both men were well-educated Jews. In each man the Spirit added to their knowledge of the Old Testament to know those Scriptures pointed to Jesus. Both men defended Jesus against the Jews’ persistent, forceful attempts to silence the gospel.
    Do you see what has happened in the early church? Jesus first appointed Paul to  his ministry and taught Paul to know Jesus is the Christ. Paul then taught Priscilla and Aquilla. This couple next taught Apollos. Paul taught as Jesus did, vigorously defending the kingdom of God against all persecution. Priscilla and Aquila preached as Paul. Apollos continued through Aquila’s and Priscilla’s mentoring. Vigorous mentors make vigorous preachers and teachers. Moving the gospel forward requires definite, forceful action. Complacency is not in a true Christian’s character.
   Your faith in Jesus requires a vigorous response, doesn’t it? The Bible tells us that In the moments, the days and the weeks after you confess, “Jesus is my Lord. He is my Savior.” evil begins his passionate assault against your faith. The Bible illustrates Satan’s methods as he quickly assaults Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). Adam and Eve weakly submitted to Satan’s promised pleasure above God’s life-giving commands. For thousands of years the devil then systematically attacked God’s people, flawed with pride, doubt and needless fears.
   Then Satan confronted Jesus immediately after the Spirit anoints Jesus to his ministry (Matthew 3, Luke 3). The Son of God strongly completed his ministry in the Spirit’s power, vigorously defending and fulfilling the Scriptures.  
   From Jesus, to the apostles, to anointed teachers, the gospel has come to you. It is your turn to be vigorous for the Good News.