Standing in the Crowd

Acts 21:37- 22:21

If you were a Jew standing in the crowd listening to Paul’s argument, how open would you be?  I believe it would be similar to a NRA spokesman trying to convert the extreme antigun lobby to changing sides, or a seller of meat products trying to get Peta,  (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to try eating a good corn fed steak at Taste of Texas.  With one exception, it is recorded by doctor Luke that they listened to Paul, and for a good amount of the defense it seemed like he was persuading them, then he mentioned the (G word) and I’m not talking about God and the crowd turn from crowd to mob.

It might be helpful to look at what Paul did right, in case you find yourself in a mob that is trying to kill you and a Roman cohort comes to arrest you, putting you in chains.  Paul waits till he is in the barracks to ask for permission to speak to the tribune.  This is the record of what took place:  As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.  (Acts 21:37-40)  (Acts 22:1-5)

Now the following is Paul’s account of being confronted by Jesus Christ about noon when a great light blinded him and he heard these words: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  And he answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’  “Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.  “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Acts 22:9-16 ESV)

Now the rest of the story; Paul returned to Jerusalem, to the temple and was praying when he fell into a trance and saw Jesus saying to him, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’  Paul makes an argument for staying but Jesus tells him to leave.  Now this is where you and I can find truth that often fly’s in the face of the many name it and claim it preachers of our time.  When Jesus speaks and we obey, often it brings the worse out in religious folks, and that’s what happened to this crowd.  This is what turned the crowd into a mob; “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 22:21 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice