Monday
Read: Acts 22
th century BC. Paul did this to get their attention and to show his connection with them as Jews. Maybe you noticed that he told the guard, I am a Jew. I think Paul still identifies himself with his heritage.
Paul gives his testimony before the crowd, but they are not willing to listen to what he has to say. Instead he is placed under arrest and is charged with being flogged, until he happens to mention to the guard that he is a Roman citizen.
Well, this puts him into a panic, it is a crime to torture a Roman citizen without a trial. The guards and the commanders would be guilty of this offense and subject to being punished.
Isn’t it interesting that Paul never addresses the charges that were brought against him, the fact that he brought a Greek into the temple? So what is the purpose of his speech?
Paul recounts his past and how zealous he was for hunting down those first Christians, until he was met by Jesus on the road to Damascus. His passion then turned to serving Christ and promoting the message of the cross.
As you know, there is a great tension between Christianity and Judaism, which Luke’s reader are well aware of. Paul ends his speech telling them that Jesus sent him to preach to the Gentiles. The message Luke’s readers would have heard was the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Christ’s sacrifice was not just for the Jews, but for all people. Salvation is available for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.
Of course they don’t really want to hear what Paul has to say, they’ve made up their minds and even though they listened, now they are ready to see Paul executed.
We are often faced with stubborn friends and family who don’t want to hear what we have to say, even though we know what Jesus in their lives can give them. So what can we do? Share when you are given the opportunity and pray, pray, pray!
So I wonder what happens to Paul tomorrow? Will it go well for him before the Sanhedrin? Hmmm – I wonder?
Peace and Joy
Pastor Kathy