We are not a people of Chance

Acts 22:22-29

How often has a word changed the destiny of a person, history has recorded many examples of how a word or words used in a sentence has reshaped history.  In World War II it was Churchill’s speech to the English people that is credited for giving them hope during the Nazi bomb blitz.  Winston Churchill’s speech ‘we shall fight them on the beaches’ is one of the defining speeches during the Second World War.  We have President George Bush’s statement of no new taxes, that the media and the democrats used to remove him from office, and the examples are many, but none seem to compare with Paul telling what Jesus had said to him in one sentence.  In fact, if he had put Jews in the sentence instead of Gentiles, no one would have had a problem.  This sentence changed Paul’s travel plans; “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”  (Acts 22:21 ESV)

Doctor Luke gives this account of what took place after the word Gentiles was used in the above sentence; “Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. (Acts 22:22-24)  I have often stated, “Religion’s end game is death.”  But Blaise Pascal sums it up the best with this quote: “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.”

If you are blessed as much as we who live in the Untied States, with liberties of personal property, free speech, the right to protect yourself against unjust men both in government and in business, and the right to own and protect your person and property with a fire arm, then you will understand that Paul being a citizen of Rome gave him many rights that the Jews did not enjoy.  One such right was he could not be put in chains or beaten without first having a trial.  So when it looked like the centurion was going to have him flogged, Paul ask this question; “But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25 ESV) Now that brought fear into the men who were about to whip him.  This is what took place; “When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.”  (Acts 22:26-29 ESV)

For us to find application in this Scripture, we must begin with “But God” we are not people of chance, we do not live by luck, we live and move by the will of our loving Father.  You recall Ananias being reluctant to go to Paul, but do you recall these words from Jesus to Ananias about Paul; “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

(Acts 9:15-16 ESV)  These words from Jesus to Ananias was the defining speech of God’s will for the apostle Paul, and it did not promise a life of wealth and being without pain, and yet God gave Paul understanding of the laws that governed men, and the wisdom to use those laws to keep from suffering in this case.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice