Good Tuesday May fifth as we come before the written word of our Lord.
Opportunity to teach the Jews-
Paul is now in the protected custody of Rome, and as he is being taken to the fortress of Antonio, the post for the Roman soldiers built above the temple. As the soldiers carry Paul he startles the commander by speaking to him in Greek, what startled him, the commander believed Paul was a notorious Egyptian leader who had come to Jerusalem to cause trouble with the Roman government. Let’s get the picture; Paul is on the shoulders of the soldiers with a mob scene threatening Paul below, when Paul asks permission to speak to this mob. What is Paul doing by asking permission? Romans 13:1-2 “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.” Not only does Paul teach us to obey authorities he demonstrates with his life that we are to be at peace as much as we can. Paul does get permission so let’s read together from Acts 22:1-5 “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.” Paul here begins his defense before the Jewish establishment. The Greek word for defense is the word we use when defending our faith, apologia where we get the English word apologetics. Paul silences the mob speaking Hebrew most likely Aramaic and the crowd now listens intently. Paul first introduces himself calling himself a Jew, Paul says I am from the city of Tarsus which was a city in Cilicia which would be in modern day Turkey. Where Paul was born is relevant, as those who came from Tarsus were Hellenist being both Jew and Greek.
ACTS 6:1 “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.” This was when the seven deacons were chosen to meet the needs of all, and who Saul had killed one of them Stephen. Paul then says he was raised in Jerusalem which would have given great testimony of his Jewish upbringing. Then Paul says his teacher was “Gamaliel taught according to the strictness of our fathers, law”. Paul looks at these men as says, “And was zealous toward God as you all are today.”Paul says, “I persecuted this Way to the death.” Paul has starred his accusers in their eyes and has shared that he was once just as they are today, seething angered religious zealots. Much like us who are former sinners against God, but now our faith in the cross has changed all that. Are you a changed person? Remnant
