NBBC SS - Acts 22

Introduction: How do you handle stressful situations? Maintaining the interests of the University while seeking to understand that student’s concerns, I was focused on deescalating the students that I encountered. I tried to avoid doing or saying anything that would further escalate them. I faced a hostile audience and maybe you have also. Today, Paul is going to face a hostile audience. And the way that he responds is going to amaze us. Particularly, the way that the Spirit works through Paul to produce this response will amaze us.

Transition: First, let’s consider some salient points from Acts 21 that will provide important background to the passage before us.

Background: It’s important to recall that the scene before us began in Acts 21. Within that context, Paul had returned to Jerusalem under the specter of the Jewish religious authorities spreading rumors that Paul was teaching others to throw off the Law of Moses. However, under the authority of the Jerusalem Church, Paul was encouraged to go to the Temple and follow the steps towards ritual purification. While this may raise more questions than what could be answered now, it’s important to remember that Paul did not do these things in order to maintain his salvation nor did he believe that anything of the kind could be done.

However, when Paul gets to the Temple, an uproar occurs and Paul is nearly killed before a Roman guard arrives to take him into custody, for his own protection. What’s fascinating is that the violence of the Jews precipitates the fulfillment of the prophecy Agabus made that Paul would be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles, the Roman authorities.

When Acts 21 closes, Paul has requested to speak to the crowd that has gathered for his undoing.

Transition: With these limited observations in mind, let’s look to the passage under consideration this morning.

Acts 22:1 “1 “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.””

Given what Paul has been through it’s difficult to imagine that he would have the ability to speak anything meaningful or clear to the people.

The man just went face-to-face with a crowd intent on killing him (Acts 21:31).

The Roman guard rescued Paul from their hands while they were in the process of actively beating him (Acts 21:32).

Interestingly, the NASB translates Paul’s address to the people by leaving out the reference to “men.”

In other words, the literal rendering of this address would be “Men, Brethren, and fathers.”

The latter two forms of address identify Paul with his people and are a sign of respect.

The first form of address acknowledges the presence of a diverse crowd.

This crowd includes the Roman guard also.

Hence, Paul’s defense that he’s going to give is not just for his countrymen but also for all who have gathered, to include the Gentile Roman guard.

I also find interesting the reference to defence that Paul makes here.

The term translated defence is the word from which we derive our term apologetics.

What’s interesting is how it’s used across Acts.

In Acts 25:16, it’s used by a Roman official in commenting on Paul’s case that Roman custom, or legal proceedings, do not incarcerate Roman citizens without allowing them to make a defence for themselves.

In other words, Paul is using this term in a legal sense.

Hopefully we’re all thinking, “Why is it important to set Paul’s use of the word defense within a legal context?”

However, we’re going to need to wait to answer that question until after we have considered the rest of the passage.

Therefore, please keep this question in mind as we continue on.

Acts 22:2 “2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,”

What is it that quiets the crowd down?

When they hear Paul addressing them in their own tongue!

It’s important to remember that this is the same crowd that moments earlier was beating Paul, intent on killing him!

What I further find fascinating is the use of the term translated here as “quiet”.

It’s used only 3 times in the book of Acts.

It’s used to describe the crowd’s response to hearing of Cornelius’ conversion so that they came to the conclusion that the Lord is saving Gentiles also (cf. Ac 11:18).

It’s used in Acts 21:14 to describe the people’s response of silence in that they stopped their attempts to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem as Paul insisted that he must leave for Jerusalem under the Spirit’s direction.

What do both of these episodes have in common?

The clear evidence of the Spirit working that silenced these groups.

Brothers and sisters, the only authority that can bring a violent mob to silence is that of the Lord’s as brought to bear through His Spirit.

No matter the size of the group, the Lord is still in charge!

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we can bear witness to God’s Word even in the face of a hostile crowd.

Notice how it is that Paul continues his defence before this group.

Acts 22:3 “3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.” Acts 22:4 “4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,” Acts 22:5 “5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.”

It’s fascinating that Paul goes into his background

Notice, particularly his tutelage under Gamaliel.

He’s an individual of renown that was looked to as a leader among the Jews (cf. Ac 5:34).

Gamaliel gave him a “careful”/“thorough” tutelage, as the crowd could have testified to.

Hence, Paul could be trusted to answer correctly concerning the understanding of the Law

And, Paul could be trusted by his leadership with a task, persecuting others.

The evidence of which is the fact that the high priest and council of elders would be able to give evidence to the people.

They would be able to reflect that they assigned Paul a task that he initially undertook zealously.

Why would Paul go to these lengths?

He’s demonstrating that he was one of them and knows where they’re coming from in their behavior towards Paul.

It’s also going to provide the context for the change that is brought about next in Paul’s life.

What is it that we learn from Paul’s example?

Our background before Christ need not be a hindrance to show the change that Christ has wrought in us.

Often times, we call this a testimony.

Notice how Paul’s testimony takes a turn in the next several verses.

Acts 22:6–11 “6 “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ 11 “But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.”

What’s fascinating is how Paul summarizes his background in just a few words to then takes an extended discourse to reflect on how the Lord met him and changed him.

Paul was undertaking Temple administration business

The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul in a radiant beam of light that knocked him to the ground and temporarily blinded him

The Lord spoke to Paul identifying Jesus’ solidarity with His Church

“You are persecuting Me”

Paul has just identified through this reflection that his initial task was wrong

When Jesus addresses Paul, “Me” (Jesus) is in the emphatic position in relation to “persecuting”.

Jesus is identifying His closeness relation to His people.

Brothers and sisters, there is nothing that we do not face without the Lord’s presence in our life through His Spirit.

He is always with us.

You are never alone.

It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t tell Paul to stop persecuting

Instead, Jesus redirected Paul to another individual.

Why would Jesus do this?

This is about discipleship

The Lord has given to His people to disciple new converts and so we see this playing out through Ananias

Brothers and sisters, we can’t underestimate the importance of discipleship.

Notice how we Paul summarizes this discipleship relationship in the next section.

Acts 22:12–16 “12 “A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him. 14 “And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. 15 ‘For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’”

What’s interesting is that the account makes it seem like Ananias just got there, explained everything to Paul and then chided him for hanging around.

How do we account for this?

Acts 9:19 identifies that Paul was in Damascus for several days

Paul is condensing his interaction with Ananias to succinctly close off that encounter.

However, it won’t be long that Paul will have to get out of Damascus because he’s essentially driven out! (cf. Ac 9:23)

It should not surprise us that Ananias directs Paul to be baptized as that’s exactly what Peter directed the crowd on the day of Pentecost to do (cf. Ac 2:38).

Believers are baptized because of the work that the Lord has done in their heart.

What does shock us is “wash away your sins”

At least, it has shocked me.

But I don’t believe that it should.

Instead, I believe that Ananias is using this statement as his own shorthand for what Peter maintained at Pentecost and the other disciples have maintained ever since.

Significantly, this verse is translated in such a way that it suggests that Paul can wash his sins away.

But, neither Paul nor any of us can do anything to wash our sins away.

Unless, we seek the Lord to wash our sins away.

1 Corinthians 6:11, Paul uses the term “wash” apoluo to refer to the transformation that the Lord brought about in the Corinthians.

Hence, they were washed of their sins in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His Spirit.

If we’re going to be cleansed of our sins through the working of the Holy Spirit to apply the work of Christ to our lives then we are going to repent.

This is just like what Peter told the crowd at Pentecost.

This was Jesus’ message that He preached when He was on earth.

Notice that there’s also another parallel between Peter’s message at Pentecost and Ananias’ instruction to Paul.

Calling on the name of the Lord.

While calling on His Name comes last, it no less receives emphasis giving the impression that this is what Paul is doing/has done.

This is used as shorthand to refer to all who have believed on Jesus and are following Him (cf. Ac 9:14, 21; Rm 10:12; 1 Cor 1:2; 2 Ti 2:22).

It’s an appropriate phrase because we call out to the Lord in total reliance on Him to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

You see, brothers and sisters, what Ananias is doing here in speaking to Paul in this way is encouraging Paul in exactly the same way that Peter spoke to the group at Pentecost.

The difference being that Ananias is more focused on the result of what the Lord is doing in Paul.

Brothers and sisters, the way that the Lord saved Paul is the same way the He has saved anyone in the Church.

We must repent of our sins.

As the outgrowth of the new life the God’s Spirit has given to us in testimony to the forgiveness of sins that we have received, we are baptized.

We have called on the Name of the Lord as our only Savior from our sins.

This is what makes the most important difference in Paul’s legal defence.

Notice how Paul moves from sharing his conversion to proclaiming the evidences of that conversion.

Acts 22:17–21 “17 “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19 “And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20 ‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’ 21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ””

When comparing this passage with Acts 9, it’s interesting that Paul does not reflect on how he confounded the Jews in the synagogues.

Instead, he jumps to his travel to Jerusalem and the Lord’s appearance to him directing him away from Jerusalem to share the Gospel with the Gentiles.

What does this suggest about the Lord’s working in Paul as he shares his testimony with this group?

Humility.

Where there’s humility, the Lord is at work.

What is v. 18?

A warning.

Paul must leave because his testimony will be rejected

If you have to leave because you’re going to be rejected, what does that suggest?

A threat to your wellbeing

It demonstrates that there’s a heart issue going on that they would reject the evidence of Paul’s changed life that clearly points to the work of the Lord that He wants to do in all of His people.

What is the relationship between Jesus’ statement to Paul and Paul’s response to the Lord?

Paul reflects on the awareness that others have of Paul’s prior life

Paul reflects on his consenting behavior during Stephen’s stoning

Jesus’ appearance to Paul though a warning concerns Paul’s testimony for the Lord

Hence, Jesus’ sending Paul away will no less include the same.

That is, Paul will continue to testify about Jesus but to the Gentiles.

Also, Jesus isn’t saying that Paul’s testimony is the hindrance

Instead, it’s the people’s refusal to accept it.

Hence, it’s their own heart problem!

In reflection on this section, it’s important to recognize that people are going to respond to the convicting power of God’s Word in various ways.

Humility, like Paul as we see from his transformation.

Or in rejection, as we’re going to see momentarily from the people.

While the momentary Gospel proclamation interaction may not pan out as we would have hoped, it does not mean that there’s not further opportunity ahead, as Jesus suggests in His 2nd appearance to Paul.

In the next section we see two responses to two different things related to Paul.

Acts 22:22–30 “22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!” 23 And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. 25 But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27 The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” 29 Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains. 30 But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.”

What is it that sets off the Jewish crowd here?

Paul’s reference to the Gentiles (NAC).

That’s what set them off against him before (Ac 21:28).

Notice that the violence that they intend to commit is manifested in their exaggerated behavior!

Particularly, the reference to their cloaks may indicate that they are preparing to stone Paul.

It may be that Paul’s reference to his consent to Stephen’s stoning planted the idea in their head (cf. Ac 7:58).

Additionally, the reference to casting dust up in the air is uncertain but it may be that there was such a commotion from the movement of the people that this was the natural result.

In other words, not only was this a large crowd but an active one ready to use their energies to destroy Paul’s life.

This was a serious threat, that the Roman guard took seriously as we shall see next.

Further, since the Roman guard was unable to get anywhere substantive through Paul’s defense, he resorts to getting the truth out of Paul through a common practice, beating the back raw through a pointy tipped scourge (NAC).

This is masterful narrative retelling by the Spirit.

In our mind’s eye we can see Paul being stretched out.

We almost hold our breath because we know what’s coming.

We’re just waiting for the initial whack of the scourge.

What’s fascinating is that with a statement, the whole scene changes to reflecting on Paul’s citizenship.

What does this whole scene of the interaction between the Roman guard and Paul suggest for us about Roman citizenship?

Being a Roman citizen is precious.

It has value.

The value for Paul is that it afforded him different treatment that would not only spare him from a beating this time but also allow him to further proclaim the Gospel.

Essentially, Paul is wisely using every advantage to share with others about what Jesus has done for him.

This really is striking when you think about it because Paul has risked his life to proclaim the Gospel.

Yet, when he’s about to be scourged, even with the possibility of death (NAC), his whole circumstance changes by relating that he’s a Roman citizen.

Even the reference that he was born a citizen points to something even greater at work.

The Lord’s fingerprints have been all over this passage and why would we not expect the same in this interaction where Paul is spared?

Not only is Paul spared but look at the next response from this unit.

The commander and his unit become afraid because of how they violated Paul’s rights as a Roman citizen.

Conclusion: In what we’ve considered from this passage today, there are two things that I want to highlight for us by way of application in conclusion. First, we have the capacity for the same heart issues that presented themselves in the group that rejected Paul. When the work of the Lord is rejected it’s not on account of lack of clear evidence what the Lord is doing. Instead, that rejection comes because of the hardness of one’s own heart.

Additionally, following the Lord will create further opportunities to testify about Him, even in ways that may be different from what we expected. Paul came to Jerusalem to share with his people what the Lord had done in his life. He was able to proclaim these things through the opportunities that the Lord had given him, even through a defensive platform. May we rely on the Lord for the same readiness and discernment to proclaim God’s Word as we have the opportunity.