1Five days later Ananias the high priest, together with some of their leaders and a lawyer named Tertullus, went to the governor to present their case against Paul. 2So Paul was called in, and Tertullus stated the case against him: Honorable Felix, you have brought our people a long period of peace, and because of your concern our nation is much better off. 3All of us are always grateful for what you have done. 4I don't want to bother you, but please be patient with us and listen to me for just a few minutes.
5This man has been found to be a real pest and troublemaker for Jews all over the world. He is also a leader of a group called Nazarenes. 6-8When he tried to disgrace the temple, we arrested him. If you question him, you will find out for yourself that our charges are true. 9The Jewish crowd spoke up and agreed with what Tertullus had said.
A "pest and a troublemaker". So now, that's the standard for getting rid of people? By that standard we would all be wandering in the wilderness...or be in jail.
I understand the revolutionary nature of Paul's message. It still doesn't justify the reactionary response from the religious leaders. Actually, I take that back. Paul's message wasn't at all revolutionary. The entire Jewish nation was waiting for Messiah. That wasn't revolutionary. The only dispute concerned the individual that Paul was proclaiming. This could be a major point of contention but...it certainly wasn't a revolutionary claim.
Unless...all these religious leaders didn't really believe a Messiah was coming and only used this hope to maintain political power.
Think about this. The only thing these religious leaders had to lose, if Paul was right, was their power over the people. They were highly motivated to reject anybody's claim. They had much to gain by loudly proclaiming a future Messiah but keeping the message futuristic. This way they could influence the people in a powerful way.
It's been said..."follow the money, follow the power".
When we find ourselves overreacting to things we might want to take a look in the mirror. What vulnerability are we feeling? What are we trying to preserve? The Body of Christ is built on tradition, but it is not stuck in the past.
God is always moving and movement creates change. If I react harshly against change I could very well be reacting against the movement of the Holy Spirit in my midst.
I'm just saying...
Live boldly out there today...
June 17, 2011
Acts 23:23-35, Paul Is Sent to Felix the Governor
23The commander called in two of his officers and told them, "By nine o'clock tonight have two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea. Take along seventy men on horseback and two hundred foot soldiers with spears. 24Get a horse ready for Paul and make sure that he gets safely through to Felix the governor."
25The commander wrote a letter that said:
26Greetings from Claudius Lysias to the Honorable Governor Felix:
27Some Jews grabbed this man and were about to kill him. But when I found out that he was a Roman citizen, I took some soldiers and rescued him.
28I wanted to find out what they had against him. So I brought him before their council 29and learned that the charges concern only their religious laws. This man isn't guilty of anything for which he should die or even be put in jail.
30As soon as I learned that there was a plot against him, I sent him to you and told their leaders to bring charges against him in your court.
31The soldiers obeyed the commander's orders, and that same night they took Paul to the city of Antipatris. 32The next day the foot soldiers returned to the fortress and let the soldiers on horseback take him the rest of the way. 33When they came to Caesarea, they gave the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
34The governor read the letter. Then he asked Paul and found out that he was from Cilicia. 35The governor said, "I will listen to your case as soon as the people come to bring their charges against you." After saying this, he gave orders for Paul to be kept as a prisoner in Herod's palace.
I know a young minister who was fired from is church. He was called in and told to clear out the parsonage immediately. No warning, no grace period and no explanation. Where was the District Superintendant? Where was this pastor's "day in court?" I was stunned...probably not nearly as much as the victim. I complained on his behalf...to deaf ears.
Ironically, a completely secular commercial company offered him a job unrelated to anything the young man had ever done. The reason? the director said "nobody should be treated that way. Somebody had to come to his rescue".
It's a heavy indictment to say the world sometimes has a higher sense of truth and justice than the church does. Yet this is what we have in today's scripture. It was the religious leaders who wanted to kill Paul. It was the civil leaders who said "wait! doesn't he get a trial first?"
The world doesn't often get it right. In fact, our culture has become increasingly hedonistic and hostile to the gospel. It's difficult to live a holy life in this world. So...when the world's standard of conduct (as low as it is) is higher than the church's, we need to do some serious soul searching.
The church has historically been a refuge. Its part of the reason we use the word "sanctuary". When the church becomes a courtroom we know we have lost our way. I know when we exercise grace and mercy some bad people go free. But...we did have a parable about that in Matthew.
Come to think of it...it is grace and mercy that let me go free. It afforded me an opportunity to become something new.
Live boldly out there today...
25The commander wrote a letter that said:
26Greetings from Claudius Lysias to the Honorable Governor Felix:
27Some Jews grabbed this man and were about to kill him. But when I found out that he was a Roman citizen, I took some soldiers and rescued him.
28I wanted to find out what they had against him. So I brought him before their council 29and learned that the charges concern only their religious laws. This man isn't guilty of anything for which he should die or even be put in jail.
30As soon as I learned that there was a plot against him, I sent him to you and told their leaders to bring charges against him in your court.
31The soldiers obeyed the commander's orders, and that same night they took Paul to the city of Antipatris. 32The next day the foot soldiers returned to the fortress and let the soldiers on horseback take him the rest of the way. 33When they came to Caesarea, they gave the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
34The governor read the letter. Then he asked Paul and found out that he was from Cilicia. 35The governor said, "I will listen to your case as soon as the people come to bring their charges against you." After saying this, he gave orders for Paul to be kept as a prisoner in Herod's palace.
I know a young minister who was fired from is church. He was called in and told to clear out the parsonage immediately. No warning, no grace period and no explanation. Where was the District Superintendant? Where was this pastor's "day in court?" I was stunned...probably not nearly as much as the victim. I complained on his behalf...to deaf ears.
Ironically, a completely secular commercial company offered him a job unrelated to anything the young man had ever done. The reason? the director said "nobody should be treated that way. Somebody had to come to his rescue".
It's a heavy indictment to say the world sometimes has a higher sense of truth and justice than the church does. Yet this is what we have in today's scripture. It was the religious leaders who wanted to kill Paul. It was the civil leaders who said "wait! doesn't he get a trial first?"
The world doesn't often get it right. In fact, our culture has become increasingly hedonistic and hostile to the gospel. It's difficult to live a holy life in this world. So...when the world's standard of conduct (as low as it is) is higher than the church's, we need to do some serious soul searching.
The church has historically been a refuge. Its part of the reason we use the word "sanctuary". When the church becomes a courtroom we know we have lost our way. I know when we exercise grace and mercy some bad people go free. But...we did have a parable about that in Matthew.
Come to think of it...it is grace and mercy that let me go free. It afforded me an opportunity to become something new.
Live boldly out there today...
June 16, 2011
Acts 23:12-22, A Plot To Kill Paul
12-13The next morning more than forty Jewish men got together and vowed that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. 14Then some of them went to the chief priests and the nation's leaders and said, "We have promised God that we would not eat a thing until we have killed Paul. 15You and everyone in the council must go to the commander and pretend that you want to find out more about the charges against Paul. Ask for him to be brought before your court. Meanwhile, we will be waiting to kill him before he gets there."
16When Paul's nephew heard about the plot, he went to the fortress and told Paul about it. 17So Paul said to one of the army officers, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him."
18The officer took him to the commander and said, "The prisoner named Paul asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.
19The commander took the young man aside and asked him in private, "What do you want to tell me?"
20He answered, "Some men are planning to ask you to bring Paul down to the Jewish council tomorrow. They will claim that they want to find out more about him. 21But please don't do what they say. More than forty men are going to attack Paul. They have made a vow not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. Even now they are waiting to hear what you decide."
22The commander sent the young man away after saying to him, "Don't let anyone know that you told me this."
I work with a young person who unintentionally mishandled thousands of dollars of government funds. this person will be disciplined. I recall telling somebody "I'm glad it was a large amount because it forces us to do something about it. If it were a couple of hundred we probably would have let it slide...and learned nothing in the process".
Did you read that statement in today's scripture? "We have promised God that we would not eat a thing until we have killed Paul". Now that's no small indiscretion. That will get your attention. How on earth can can anybody muster that kind of hatred in service and obeisance to God? I know...we see it regularly in our Global War on Terrorism. I see it. I believe it...I just can't comprehend it.
"God told me to do it..." Unbelievable!
So now...since we should all be on the same page here...let's talk about degrees.
How about lying? In the name of God, might we lie? Well, of course not. One of the Ten Commandments specifically prohibits it. Although, it's done. I'm currently aware of a Christian somebody who seems to lie with impunity and cover it with devotion and piety...as long as it serves his view of God's will.
How about gossiping? In the name of God might we gossip? Well, we cover it with "need to know" and claim the Body of Christ needs to be aware of what's going on. It happens all the time. But, we probably have to concede it's not such a good thing.
How about drinking to serve Jesus?
How about speeding?
How about...?
You get my point...How low do we have to go on the scale before we get comfortable with questionable behavior?
It's easy to justify bad behavior by saying we're doing it for God. Let me suggest if this is the best rationale we can come up with for behavior we would otherwise not condone...God is not going to accept our offering. We should always examine our motives for everything we do. A good rule of thumb is this: God is holy. God does not sanction bad behavior to meet his ends...mostly because he's holy, but also because he doesn't need to. He doesn't deal in degrees of sin. Either we're "all in" or we are "all out".
So the real question is not "would this rationale fly?" The real question is "What is God's standard of holiness in this situation?"
Live boldly out there today...
16When Paul's nephew heard about the plot, he went to the fortress and told Paul about it. 17So Paul said to one of the army officers, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him."
18The officer took him to the commander and said, "The prisoner named Paul asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.
19The commander took the young man aside and asked him in private, "What do you want to tell me?"
20He answered, "Some men are planning to ask you to bring Paul down to the Jewish council tomorrow. They will claim that they want to find out more about him. 21But please don't do what they say. More than forty men are going to attack Paul. They have made a vow not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. Even now they are waiting to hear what you decide."
22The commander sent the young man away after saying to him, "Don't let anyone know that you told me this."
I work with a young person who unintentionally mishandled thousands of dollars of government funds. this person will be disciplined. I recall telling somebody "I'm glad it was a large amount because it forces us to do something about it. If it were a couple of hundred we probably would have let it slide...and learned nothing in the process".
Did you read that statement in today's scripture? "We have promised God that we would not eat a thing until we have killed Paul". Now that's no small indiscretion. That will get your attention. How on earth can can anybody muster that kind of hatred in service and obeisance to God? I know...we see it regularly in our Global War on Terrorism. I see it. I believe it...I just can't comprehend it.
"God told me to do it..." Unbelievable!
So now...since we should all be on the same page here...let's talk about degrees.
How about lying? In the name of God, might we lie? Well, of course not. One of the Ten Commandments specifically prohibits it. Although, it's done. I'm currently aware of a Christian somebody who seems to lie with impunity and cover it with devotion and piety...as long as it serves his view of God's will.
How about gossiping? In the name of God might we gossip? Well, we cover it with "need to know" and claim the Body of Christ needs to be aware of what's going on. It happens all the time. But, we probably have to concede it's not such a good thing.
How about drinking to serve Jesus?
How about speeding?
How about...?
You get my point...How low do we have to go on the scale before we get comfortable with questionable behavior?
It's easy to justify bad behavior by saying we're doing it for God. Let me suggest if this is the best rationale we can come up with for behavior we would otherwise not condone...God is not going to accept our offering. We should always examine our motives for everything we do. A good rule of thumb is this: God is holy. God does not sanction bad behavior to meet his ends...mostly because he's holy, but also because he doesn't need to. He doesn't deal in degrees of sin. Either we're "all in" or we are "all out".
So the real question is not "would this rationale fly?" The real question is "What is God's standard of holiness in this situation?"
Live boldly out there today...
June 15, 2011
Acts 22:30-23:11, Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 The next day, since the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." 2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!" 4 Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?" 5 Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.' " 6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Or, maybe not...most of the time when a country forges alliances with somebody on that basis...things go terribly wrong.
Think Taliban. They used to be our friends...when they were fighting the Russians.
Think Iran-Contra. We opposed the Sandinistas and so did the Contras. So we supported their armed resistance even though they were terrorists and murderers. We even conspired with Iran to supply the weapons. We can see how well all that worked out.
It's also called "sleeping with the enemy" or "making a deal with the devil".
Yet, it remains the preferred strategy of idealogues. Its why most evangelicals are republicans...because they dislike the democrats too.
Which brings me to Paul and the Sanhedren.
Archenemies...the Pharisees and the Sadducees...found themselves on the same side against Paul. It was such an obvious departure from the norm that Paul couldn't help but notice...and use it to his advantage. "Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
And just like that...the Pharisees were on Paul's side!
You see, "the enemy (Paul) of my enemy (Sadduccees) is my friend. But, the sudden romance didn't really amount to much in the end.
I wonder if the Evangelical love affair with one political party isn't similar. You'd thing all republicans were "born again" to hear some evangelicals talk. Or, more precisely, the two terms are synonomous. The truth is, we disagree on more issues than we agree on. I'm not suggesting a divorce. I'm only suggesting that when we make an alliance based on a common enemy we will often be disappointed. In the blink of an eye our ally may become our foe.
It's important to be politically active. It is our responsibility as citizens. However, we need to ally ourselves with only one leader and that is Christ. When we take a position on any social or political issue let's make certain the position we take is ratified by the only ally we can trust eternally.
Live boldly out there today...
1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." 2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!" 4 Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?" 5 Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.' " 6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Or, maybe not...most of the time when a country forges alliances with somebody on that basis...things go terribly wrong.
Think Taliban. They used to be our friends...when they were fighting the Russians.
Think Iran-Contra. We opposed the Sandinistas and so did the Contras. So we supported their armed resistance even though they were terrorists and murderers. We even conspired with Iran to supply the weapons. We can see how well all that worked out.
It's also called "sleeping with the enemy" or "making a deal with the devil".
Yet, it remains the preferred strategy of idealogues. Its why most evangelicals are republicans...because they dislike the democrats too.
Which brings me to Paul and the Sanhedren.
Archenemies...the Pharisees and the Sadducees...found themselves on the same side against Paul. It was such an obvious departure from the norm that Paul couldn't help but notice...and use it to his advantage. "Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
And just like that...the Pharisees were on Paul's side!
You see, "the enemy (Paul) of my enemy (Sadduccees) is my friend. But, the sudden romance didn't really amount to much in the end.
I wonder if the Evangelical love affair with one political party isn't similar. You'd thing all republicans were "born again" to hear some evangelicals talk. Or, more precisely, the two terms are synonomous. The truth is, we disagree on more issues than we agree on. I'm not suggesting a divorce. I'm only suggesting that when we make an alliance based on a common enemy we will often be disappointed. In the blink of an eye our ally may become our foe.
It's important to be politically active. It is our responsibility as citizens. However, we need to ally ourselves with only one leader and that is Christ. When we take a position on any social or political issue let's make certain the position we take is ratified by the only ally we can trust eternally.
Live boldly out there today...
June 14, 2011
Acts 22:24-29, Paul the Roman Citizen
24 The commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?" 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "This man is a Roman citizen." 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered. 28 Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
I'm sure I'm way off point, but this commander is worthless...
Tell me...how does it work that he flogs the victim in order to find out why he's a victim? It makes no sense. A victim generally gives up that information freely. So...I can't think of a better way to alienate somebody...which this commander surely did. I'm not surprised that he was less than "A team" material, however, since he actually had to buy his way into the Roman system. He didn't have the cultural roots, the value system or the familiarity that comes with longevity. We don't make these people commanders.
This is a "Johnny come lately"...and dangerous to good order and discipline.
It happens in the church, by the way. We are desperate for a Sunday School Superintendent so we grab the new guy and ask him if he's interested. No "due diligence" because we're desperate. Why should we be surprised when the Sunday School program falls apart? Or, We grab a pastoral candidate from another denomination and wonder why he doesn't have the same commitment to missions that we have.
This is not difficult my friends. Leadership in the Body of Christ is meant for elders...folks who have been walking with Christ for a long time and can demonstrate spiritual authority. Which, brings to mind...how is your church doing?
Live boldly out there today...
I'm sure I'm way off point, but this commander is worthless...
Tell me...how does it work that he flogs the victim in order to find out why he's a victim? It makes no sense. A victim generally gives up that information freely. So...I can't think of a better way to alienate somebody...which this commander surely did. I'm not surprised that he was less than "A team" material, however, since he actually had to buy his way into the Roman system. He didn't have the cultural roots, the value system or the familiarity that comes with longevity. We don't make these people commanders.
This is a "Johnny come lately"...and dangerous to good order and discipline.
It happens in the church, by the way. We are desperate for a Sunday School Superintendent so we grab the new guy and ask him if he's interested. No "due diligence" because we're desperate. Why should we be surprised when the Sunday School program falls apart? Or, We grab a pastoral candidate from another denomination and wonder why he doesn't have the same commitment to missions that we have.
This is not difficult my friends. Leadership in the Body of Christ is meant for elders...folks who have been walking with Christ for a long time and can demonstrate spiritual authority. Which, brings to mind...how is your church doing?
Live boldly out there today...
June 13, 2011
Acts 21:37-22:23, Paul Speaks to the Crowd
37When Paul was about to be taken into the fortress, he asked the commander, "Can I say something to you?"
"How do you know Greek?" the commander asked. 38"Aren't you that Egyptian who started a riot not long ago and led four thousand terrorists into the desert?"
39"No!" Paul replied. "I am a Jew from Tarsus, an important city in Cilicia. Please let me speak to the crowd."
40The commander told him he could speak, so Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people. When they were quiet, he spoke to them in Aramaic:
Acts 22:1"My friends and leaders of our nation, listen as I explain what happened!" 2When the crowd heard Paul speak to them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. Then Paul said:
3I am a Jew, born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I was a student of Gamaliel and was taught to follow every single law of our ancestors. In fact, I was just as eager to obey God as any of you are today.
4I made trouble for everyone who followed the Lord's Way, [a] and I even had some of them killed. I had others arrested and put in jail. I didn't care if they were men or women. 5The high priest and all the council members can tell you that this is true. They even gave me letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, so that I could arrest people there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. 6One day about noon I was getting close to Damascus, when a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you so cruel to me?"
8"Who are you?" I answered. The Lord replied, "I am Jesus from Nazareth! I am the one you are so cruel to." 9The men who were traveling with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice.
10I asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"Then he told me, "Get up and go to Damascus. When you get there, you will be told what to do." 11The light had been so bright that I couldn't see. And the other men had to lead me by the hand to Damascus.
12In that city there was a man named Ananias, who faithfully obeyed the Law of Moses and was well liked by all the Jewish people living there. 13He came to me and said, "Saul, my friend, you can now see again!"
At once I could see. 14Then Ananias told me, "The God that our ancestors worshiped has chosen you to know what he wants done. He has chosen you to see the One Who Obeys God [b] and to hear his voice. 15You must tell everyone what you have seen and heard. 16What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord." 17After this I returned to Jerusalem and went to the temple to pray. There I had a vision 18of the Lord who said to me, "Hurry and leave Jerusalem! The people won't listen to what you say about me."
19I replied, "Lord, they know that in many of our meeting places I arrested and beat people who had faith in you. 20Stephen was killed because he spoke for you, and I stood there and cheered them on. I even guarded the clothes of the men who murdered him."
21But the Lord told me to go, and he promised to send me far away to the Gentiles.
22The crowd listened until Paul said this. Then they started shouting, "Get rid of this man! He doesn't deserve to live." 23They kept shouting. They waved their clothes around and threw dust into the air.
I can't help but wonder why Paul bothers. It's not as though he doesn't know what to expect from the crowd. They have been faithfully consistent in their rejection of Paul's message from the beginning.
But then...Paul is not responsible for the results,he's only responsible for the delivery.
It's not uncommon for us to evaluate probable outcomes before we invest our time and energy in anything...particularly if the investment costs are high...as they always seemed to be for Paul.
Fine, if we're writing a blog or reading a book. Not so much, if our task involves leading people to Christ. Part of the reason we've become a stagnant church is we can no longer tell the difference.
Would any of us have wanted the Holy Spirit to quit in us?
Live boldly out there today...
"How do you know Greek?" the commander asked. 38"Aren't you that Egyptian who started a riot not long ago and led four thousand terrorists into the desert?"
39"No!" Paul replied. "I am a Jew from Tarsus, an important city in Cilicia. Please let me speak to the crowd."
40The commander told him he could speak, so Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people. When they were quiet, he spoke to them in Aramaic:
Acts 22:1"My friends and leaders of our nation, listen as I explain what happened!" 2When the crowd heard Paul speak to them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. Then Paul said:
3I am a Jew, born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I was a student of Gamaliel and was taught to follow every single law of our ancestors. In fact, I was just as eager to obey God as any of you are today.
4I made trouble for everyone who followed the Lord's Way, [a] and I even had some of them killed. I had others arrested and put in jail. I didn't care if they were men or women. 5The high priest and all the council members can tell you that this is true. They even gave me letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, so that I could arrest people there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. 6One day about noon I was getting close to Damascus, when a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you so cruel to me?"
8"Who are you?" I answered. The Lord replied, "I am Jesus from Nazareth! I am the one you are so cruel to." 9The men who were traveling with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice.
10I asked, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"Then he told me, "Get up and go to Damascus. When you get there, you will be told what to do." 11The light had been so bright that I couldn't see. And the other men had to lead me by the hand to Damascus.
12In that city there was a man named Ananias, who faithfully obeyed the Law of Moses and was well liked by all the Jewish people living there. 13He came to me and said, "Saul, my friend, you can now see again!"
At once I could see. 14Then Ananias told me, "The God that our ancestors worshiped has chosen you to know what he wants done. He has chosen you to see the One Who Obeys God [b] and to hear his voice. 15You must tell everyone what you have seen and heard. 16What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins by praying to the Lord." 17After this I returned to Jerusalem and went to the temple to pray. There I had a vision 18of the Lord who said to me, "Hurry and leave Jerusalem! The people won't listen to what you say about me."
19I replied, "Lord, they know that in many of our meeting places I arrested and beat people who had faith in you. 20Stephen was killed because he spoke for you, and I stood there and cheered them on. I even guarded the clothes of the men who murdered him."
21But the Lord told me to go, and he promised to send me far away to the Gentiles.
22The crowd listened until Paul said this. Then they started shouting, "Get rid of this man! He doesn't deserve to live." 23They kept shouting. They waved their clothes around and threw dust into the air.
I can't help but wonder why Paul bothers. It's not as though he doesn't know what to expect from the crowd. They have been faithfully consistent in their rejection of Paul's message from the beginning.
But then...Paul is not responsible for the results,he's only responsible for the delivery.
It's not uncommon for us to evaluate probable outcomes before we invest our time and energy in anything...particularly if the investment costs are high...as they always seemed to be for Paul.
Fine, if we're writing a blog or reading a book. Not so much, if our task involves leading people to Christ. Part of the reason we've become a stagnant church is we can no longer tell the difference.
Would any of us have wanted the Holy Spirit to quit in us?
Live boldly out there today...
June 12, 2011
Acts 21:27-36, Paul Arrested
27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place." 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, "Away with him!"
Mob mentality...
You don't have to think...you don't have to tell the truth...you don't have to be right. All you have to do is get enough people to join you while you threaten and intimidate others. It's a proven strategy if your primary objective is to get your way. then again, if your goal is to follow Christ's way, this is gonna be a problem.
I've known churches do this in order to get rid of their pastors. Since rational and objective evidence is not available the mob resorts to lies, innuendos and gossip to do it's achieve it's evil ends. Many good people get hurt in the process. The mob may be thrilled by the immediate results but I'll bet God gets their attention some where down the line.
So, let's ask this question: Whose side do you think Jesus was on in today's text...Paul's or the mob of zealots?
Exactly...
Might does not make right. Ends do not justify means. Ugliness is not godliness. Next time we are tempted to fiddle with truth and grace...just to make our point, let's remember...God has already chosen sides. Paul ended up in chains but God was in chains with him. I can't think of a better place to be.
Live boldly out there today...
Mob mentality...
You don't have to think...you don't have to tell the truth...you don't have to be right. All you have to do is get enough people to join you while you threaten and intimidate others. It's a proven strategy if your primary objective is to get your way. then again, if your goal is to follow Christ's way, this is gonna be a problem.
I've known churches do this in order to get rid of their pastors. Since rational and objective evidence is not available the mob resorts to lies, innuendos and gossip to do it's achieve it's evil ends. Many good people get hurt in the process. The mob may be thrilled by the immediate results but I'll bet God gets their attention some where down the line.
So, let's ask this question: Whose side do you think Jesus was on in today's text...Paul's or the mob of zealots?
Exactly...
Might does not make right. Ends do not justify means. Ugliness is not godliness. Next time we are tempted to fiddle with truth and grace...just to make our point, let's remember...God has already chosen sides. Paul ended up in chains but God was in chains with him. I can't think of a better place to be.
Live boldly out there today...
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