In yesterday's study we found Paul seized at the temple and beaten outside its gates by an angry mob. His life was saved only by the arrival of a Roman commander who took him into custody. Today Paul makes his defense to those who are calling for his execution.
"As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, 'May I say something to you?' 'Do you speak Greek?' he replied. 'Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?'" (Acts 21:37-38) The ancient historian Flavius Josephus tells of an "Egyptian false prophet" who gathered an army together and went up on the Mount of Olives, promising to make the walls of Jerusalem fall before their very eyes. They were then to rush into the city and take control of Jerusalem. (Josephus credits the Egyptian with far more followers than the four thousand the Roman commander credits him with, but Josephus is known to exaggerate from time to time.) Governor Felix came against the false prophet and his men with a large group of soldiers on foot and on horseback. Many of the rebels were killed and a large number were captured, but the Egyptian escaped. The Roman commander in our passage today evidently thinks, and hopes, this Egyptian is who he currently has in his custody.
"Paul answered, 'I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.' After receiving the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd." (Acts 21:39-40a) Paul is a Jew but also a Roman citizen. Upon realizing he has a Roman citizen in his custody the commander grants Paul's request.
"When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: 'Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.' When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic they became very quiet. Then Paul said: 'I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today." (Acts 21:40b-Acts 22:1-3) Luke told us yesterday that the crowd was so confused that they were shouting conflicting things. Like the members of the mob at Ephesus, the majority of them don't know who Paul is or what he is accused of. When they hear him speaking in their own tongue they become quiet.
Paul is quick to point out that he is one of their countrymen. He is just as Jewish as any of them. He studied under the highly respected Rabbi Gamaliel. He once was a member of the strict religious sect of the Pharisees. He respects the Lord, the law, the temple, and the holy city of Jerusalem. He has not done any of the things of which he stands accused, such as blaspheming the name of the Lord or speaking against the temple or against the law or against the city. He has not brought Gentiles into the inner court of the temple where they are not allowed, as the men from Asia Minor claim. The only thing he is guilty of, and the thing he is most hated for, is preaching that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah and Son of God, and that Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind, and that He was buried in a tomb, and that He rose from the dead, and that salvation is found only in Him.
Paul goes on, "I persecuted the followers of the Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council themselves can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished." (Acts 22:4-5) Paul is saying to the crowd, "I was once just like you! I thought if I persecuted the Christians I was defending the name of my God. I didn't know that by persecuting Christians I was persecuting God---because Jesus is God."
When we continue our look at Paul's defense tomorrow he will relate the account of his conversion on the Damascus road. As far as we can tell, his testimony doesn't convert anyone in the crowd, but he faithfully gives his testimony anyway. We may or may not ever convert a single soul with our testimony about how we came to Christ, but we are to be obedient to the great commission anyway. Then we can say to the world, like Paul said to the Ephesians, "I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God." (Acts 20:26-27) When we meet our Lord face to face we can know we have fulfilled our duty in sharing the gospel, whether anyone took our words to heart or not. Jesus Himself did not convert everyone who heard Him speak and we shouldn't expect to have more success than He did, so let's not become discouraged. Let's do what He told us to do and then, when we enter His presence, He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23)
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