What Makes Paul... Paul?!

Introduction

Over the course of the past several chapters of Acts, we have witnessed a strange phenomenon in the ministry of Paul:

He keeps having the screws put to him by the figures of authority around him in the world

He is sometimes treated roughly, as with the mobs at Lystra or by the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem

Sometimes he is afforded some small modicum of comfort, as with his most recent imprisonment in the palace of Herod

But on all of these occasions, Paul seems to maintain an impressive focus on what matters.

When it was asserted that he might be a Hermes at Lystra, Paul tries to refocus the crowd onto the goodness of God. When the Jews there stoned him and dragged him out of the city, he just sort of got up walked back into the city!

Paul, though entirely human, and deeply flawed, has ran an impressive race!

As we enter into the final act of… Acts, I think we should take a moment to appreciate the trajectory of Paul’s life.

As much as we appreciate Paul’s focus on the Gospel, and as much as I respect and wish to emulate his zeal and his dedication to his ministry...

I wonder what it is that so empowers him in these moments fraught with temptation and tension!

I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never been beaten for my dedication to giving the Gospel or accused of being a Greek God..

How does Paul so consistently handle both of these extremes?

Why doesn’t he ask the church in Jerusalem to bail him out when he’s being held by Felix? (Acts 24:26)

Acts 24:25–26 ESV

And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

Why doesn’t he comment on the fact that the Jews are almost always guilty of the crimes they accuse him of? (Acts 24:5-6)

Acts 24:5–6 ESV

For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.

Why isn’t Paul concerned with being put to death?!

We have spent quite some time working through the Acts of the Apostles, and I fear that we might be prone to grow numb to the jolt of the tension and drama that this true story imparts to us across the ages. Most of you have heard me rattle on about just how impressive it is that we are so close to the details of a man’s life almost 2000 years ago, and I’m going to make you tolerate me rattling on a bit more today!

As much as I can’t understand the steely character and resolve of Paul, I can deeply appreciate that God has seen fit to put us in the room with the man!

This short section of scripture concerning the hearing before Agrippa II serves as a nexus point between the history of the Church and the history of perhaps the best organized and best recorded empire from the ancient world, and I don’t believe that to be coincidental!

The redemption story of God, from Genesis 11, involves the dividing of humanity into nations under principalities that God then judges as corrupt ( Deut. 32; Ps. 82)

And we, through the narrative of Acts, are witnessing signs of change in the natural and the supernatural realm!

We will dig a little bit deeper into the story of Agrippa II and Bernice today, discussing the part they will eventually play in events prophesied by Jesus!

We will discuss the defense Paul gives concerning himself to Agrippa II

And we will finally, hopefully, maybe… get at what it is that makes Paul Paul! We will try and glean some method that can inform our walk as God’s ambassador’s today.

Standing Before Herod

Acts 26:1–3 (ESV)

So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

So first and foremost, let’s check out Paulie’s public speaking skills!

He’s in chains

He’s probably taking on the posture of a Greek orator

He (and Luke) only refer to Herod Agrippa II as King Agrippa.

Why is that?!

The line of Herod and the Herodians are something of a political faction existing within Israel, and while they (like the other factions of Jewish people) have vied for more autonomy for the people of Israel, they have done so in a fashion that is unpopular among devout followers (like the Pharisees and this new sect called the people of the Way)

It must also be noted that from their inception, they’ve been installed by and friendly towards the Romans.

We’ve briefly met a few members of this mixed up royal family in our time through Acts, so let’s quickly recap:

We’ve most recently met Herod Agrippa I, the father of Agrippa II, who very shrewdly worked his way into control of Judea and Galilee only to be struck down by pride and by worms in his belly.

Agrippa I receives control of the provinces from his uncle Herod Antipas, who we remember from Scripture as the guy who killed John the Baptist because he was kind of hen-pecked.

Antipas takes partial control after Herod the Great… you know, the guy who tried and failed to get baby Jesus executed in a baby purge (Matt. 2).

Agrippa II is the last of a long line of corrupt rulers who are vying for control and power in the worldliest of ways, and they almost all end up going to their grave in ignominious ways that should make us very hesitant to want to be king of anything.

This passage could indicate that Agrippa II is hoping to create distance between himself and his family name, and Luke and Paul might be showing the man a sort of kindness by not rubbing his face in the sordid nature of his family history.

They also don’t mention the rumors that he has an incestuous relationship with Bernice, which to me seems like a pretty good idea.

As Noble mentioned last week, Agrippa II will eventually go on to assist the Romans when they besiege and sack Jerusalem, destroying the Second Temple (which was built by Herod the Great - Half Idumean/half Nabatean).

Something that Noble didn’t mention, is that Bernice will go on to become the mistress of the Roman General Titus, who leads the attack on Jerusalem, and will one day go on to be Emperor Titus (Coliseum).

I think all of this is worth mention because it creates a more complete picture of the complexity of this story. These guys, the Herods, have been installing High Priests (and routinely executing them if they became inconvenient) all throughout our story.

This complex web of politics even pervades the Temple cult, and it is this corruption that the Pharisees are probably the strongest resistance against!

So the bad guys of our story in the Bible (the Pharisees) are quite possibly the most morally upstanding figures that can be observed in this picture.

It is out of the ranks of the Pharisees that Paul rises to become a champion of the Way, and it against this backdrop of corruption and scandal that Paul says

Philippians 3:4–8 (ESV)

though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Again, I ask, what is it with Paul?!?!

How does he face this situation with such grace and humility?!

Acts 26:2 ESV

“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

How does he maintain a sense of optimism in this environment?!

Or perhaps a better question might be this...

Why is it that we think we ought to grab our torches and pitchforks every time we are faced with the personal failure and corruption of the world around us?

Why is it that we are surprised in any way by the sordid nature of politics?!

Why is it that we observe the behavior of Paul, and walk out of here and think it’s our job as Christians to punch tyranny and corruption in the nose?

Let’s read on:

Acts 26:4–8 (ESV)

“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

Notice that Paul again begins his defense by referring to his background and upbringing as a Pharisee. He makes it clear that his deep devotion to the God of Israel is the exact purpose for his adherence to the Way!

The resurrection of Christ is the fulfillment to the long-held hope of the Jewish people.

It is precisely because of his faith that he is led to preach the Gospel, it is precisely because he is a devoted Pharisee and Jew.

It would also be understood here that he’d come to this new calling with no small amount of reluctance!

In this opening argument, Paul has addressed the root of the only charge left standing against him.

The charges of Tertullus have long been dismissed:

Acts 24:5–7 (ESV)

For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.

Festus found Paul innocent of sedition and political agitation:

Acts 25:18–19 (ESV)

When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

And now Paul’s case has come down primarily to the charge that he is teaching against Jewish Law:

Acts 21:27–28 (ESV)

When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

We’ve seen the legal case against Paul slowly dissolve as the hearings have proceeded, and now that Festus has placed Paul before Agrippa, someone with some expertise on the teachings of the Jewish people.

Noble, I think correctly, laid out some of the political expedience and personal convenience that might have motivated Festus to kick the can on down to Agrippa

But it is also quite possible that Festus doesn’t have the religious acumen to decide whether Paul is blaspheming.

And Paul is very succinctly destroying the final argument laid against him by his accusers by addressing the root of his belief in the Gospel:

The hope of the most devout Jewish believers rests in the truth of the promise of resurrection

And Paul believes that Jesus was the first fruits of that promise coming to fruition

1 Corinthians 15:23–24 (ESV)

But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.

Again, I find it so… amusing(?) that essentially every charge laid against Paul is more appropriately laid at the feet of his accusers.

This is a repeated image of the same thing we see in Jesus’ ministry, and I don’t think that Luke was in any way ignorant of the parallels.

We are meant to see this pattern, we are also meant to realize that the forces working against Paul and the Gospel are upside down and backwards.

I’ve heard the term upside down kingdom used to refer to Christ’s coming kingdom, but I tend to think that assertion is itself upside down! The world has been upside down and backwards since the Fall, and it is Jesus who is making things right again!

Even the Pharisees, the most moral figures in view in Roman Palestine, are completely upside when compared to the righteousness of God, and we are just as inept today!

We can’t overthrow the principalities and powers!

Paul then moves away from his theological discourse on the resurrection to return his personal testimony:

Acts 26:9–11 (ESV)

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul correctly and plainly describes his own ineptitude at bringing about the kingdom here

He did dead wrong when he did what he thought was right!

He imprisoned innocent people

He held the coats when they stoned Stephen

He persecuted Christians and tried to make them blaspheme!

Paul in that statement provides perhaps the most counterintuitive defense for himself that one could possibly attempt!

He is currently innocent of blasphemy and blameless, but when he lived as a Pharisee he tried to coerce blasphemy from innocent people so that he might prosecute them!

Paul is giving the “inside man” defense!

This tension between our desires to do right and our capacity to do right is very apparently viewed by Paul as only partially addressed by conversion to Christianity:

Romans 7:15 (ESV)

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Paul has seen from ample experience that he is utterly incapable of bringing about the will of the Lord

He needs supernatural help!

We need supernatural help!

I think that we put ourselves in the best position to receive this help, when we truly put ourselves to the Lord’s work!

How do we do that? If we are so utterly incapable of doing right, how are we supposed to work out what the Lord’s work even is?!

This moves us to our final point for today, this brings us to what makes Paul Paul!

Conclusion

We’ve seen Paul in this position before

We’ve seen him in chains, we’ve seen him before powerful people, we’ve seen him under pressure

And we’ve seen him continually put in a position where he could make a defense (apologeomai) of the Gospel and announce the coming rule of the one True King.

Funnily enough, it was that King that said this about Paul:

Acts 9:15 (ESV)

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Jesus foretold this role that his apostles would play from the time of his earthly ministry:

Luke 21:12–15 (ESV)

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

We’ve seen a complete transformation in Paul’s character, one that he will outline more completely in his next portion of his defense.

And we can safely conclude from everything that we’ve seen of Paul, the thing that makes Paul Paul.... is Jesus!

That answer might seem reductive and even a bit dense, but just how simple is it in reality?

When I deal with the brokenness and corruption of this world, do I view that as an opportunity to shine the light of the Gospel into darkness?

When I see injustice and atrocity, do I understand that I’m just as guilty as the offenders I see in the world?

When I face apparent hypocrisy, do I realize that I’m also a hypocrite?

We might read the narrative of Paul and see the political and religious figures in view in this story and think “wow, I hope that I can be like Paul!”

But the thing that distinguishes Paul here is that he knows he’s the exact same as the corrupt rulers who stand in judgment over him, he’s the exact same as the hypocritical religious leaders who are trying to kill him

he’s entirely incapable of saving himself and anyone else!

Paul knows that the only thing he has going for him is Jesus, and that all he can do to create positive change in the world around him is point people to Christ.

He doesn’t moralize

He doesn’t try to take the reigns

He just acknowledges that this new Paul, the one whose character has been preserved across millennia in a way that is more familiar than the kings of his day, is a product of the work of Christ.

We will see Paul prove that next week, as we finish his defense.