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Acts 21:37-23:35<\/strong><\/span> We get some classic Paul in today\u2019s Acts readings!\u00a0 You\u2019ll recall from yesterday\u2019s readings, the crowd in Jerusalem got riled up against Paul and the crowd was beating on Paul.\u00a0 Then, some Roman soldiers come to try to keep the peace and end up arresting Paul and putting him in chains. But what does Paul do?\u00a0 Go quietly into that good night?\u00a0 No way!\u00a0 He speaks to the Roman commander in Greek \u2013 which surprises the commander.\u00a0 (It is thought that Paul spoke 4 languages \u2013 Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew & Latin)\u00a0 And then he speaks to the crowd in Aramaic.\u00a0 The crowd that was just beating on him!\u00a0 He turns around and speaks with Love and Truth.\u00a0 So amazing\u2026\u00a0 What do you think you or I would do in this type of situation today?\u00a0 Could we continue to speak Love and Truth to people that were just beating on us?\u00a0 I am not so sure that I could\u2026 I pray that I could!\u00a0 I pray that I would\u2026\u00a0 Below is an oil on canvas painting by the Spanish painter El Greco from the year 1614 of \u201cSt. Paul\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s Acts readings titled \u201cPaul\u2019s Defense to the Jews in Jerusalem\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Today at the end of Acts 22 Paul threw out this incendiary statement that shocked the crowd:\u00a0 \u201c\u201dBut the Lord said to me, `Leave Jerusalem, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This reminds me that the Gospel today still shocks people.\u00a0 The Gospel is still moving forward in our world to people that we sometimes may not think \u201cdeserve\u201d it, like this crowd didn\u2019t think the Gentiles deserved relationship with \u201ctheir\u201d God of Israel.\u00a0 God is bigger than we think He is.\u00a0 God is pursuing the whole world.\u00a0 Let us pray he continues to shock crowds like he did in Acts 22\u2026\u00a0 It\u2019s so interesting \u2013 looking at this image below of Paul\u2019s presence and words creating chaos in a crowd and the Roman guards being there in the midst.\u00a0 This is so reminiscent of Jesus\u2019 final day in Jerusalem before he walked up the hill to Golgotha.\u00a0 Think Paul was emulating his Savior?\u00a0 How about you?\u00a0 Are you emulating your Savior?\u00a0 Or are you playing it safe?<\/span><\/p>\n We can see Paul\u2019s wisdom at work in today\u2019s Acts readings!\u00a0 First he shares at the appropriate time that he is a Roman citizen \u2013 by birth \u2013 which means he cannot be punished until proven guilty.<\/span><\/p>\n Then, before the High Council he wisely throws out in Acts 23 verse 6 \u2013 \u201c\u201dBrothers, I am a Pharisee, as were all my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>This instantly divides the Pharisees and Sadducees at the council \u2013 and allows things to get heated enough that the soldiers take Paul out of the council for his safety.\u00a0 Bible.org\u2019s fantastic look at \u201cPaul\u2019s Trial before the Sanhedrin\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Our readings in Acts today open up with a very encouraging word to Paul from Jesus in verse 11 \u2013 \u201cThat night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, \u201cBe encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That is awesome that this occurred in the midst of all of Paul\u2019s trials and imprisonment.\u00a0 Jesus was there with him.\u00a0 How about in our lives today \u2013 think Jesus is always with us?\u00a0 \u00a0Is there any circumstance you can find yourself in that Jesus won\u2019t be there?\u00a0 Is there anywhere on this earth you can go where Jesus won\u2019t be there?<\/span><\/p>\n An interesting note on verses 12 & 13 in today\u2019s readings \u2013 \u201cThe next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath to neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 It is believed by some scholars that these 40 men may have been part of the Zealots \u2013 the group that later led the <\/span>revolt against Rome in A.D. 66-70<\/span>.<\/span> Paul is taken to Governor Felix at the end of today\u2019s readings in Acts.\u00a0 Felix is in the same position that Pontius Pilate was.\u00a0 I find it kind of interesting that both Jesus and Paul were brought before the same-positioned Roman ruler.\u00a0 It reminds me of Jesus\u2019 words in John 15 verse 20 to his disciples \u2013 \u201cRemember the words I spoke to you: \u2018No servant is greater than his master.\u2019 If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.\u201d <\/em>If Jesus was brought before a Roman governor, it\u2019s no surprise that Paul was too.\u00a0 I think you and I should remember Jesus\u2019 words in the Gospel of John as well.\u00a0 I know oftentimes we don\u2019t seem persecuted at all \u2013 maybe most of the time really.\u00a0 But, I think we need to remember, it can happen.\u00a0 If we are truly living our faith and truly following Jesus, persecution will come in some form or another.\u00a0 No servant is greater than his master\u2026 Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? Are you willing to be persecuted for your faith?<\/span> Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Acts reminds me of the Needtobreathe song \u201cWashed by the Water:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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