Ignited: Acts Week 33

Recap: Paul’s trouble at Jerusalem

Paul received at Jerusalem, but with some concerns. Jews had been accusing him of teaching Jewish converts not to participate in Jewish customs. James had proposed that he sponsor and accompany a group of 4 men taking a vow as a show of solidarity with the Jews. Paul agreed.

Large crowds were around. Some had seen Paul with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus. Some had also seen Paul in and out of the temple as part of the preparation for the vow. Some assumed he’d brought a Gentile into the temple and defiled it. (Wrong). This led to a riot.

A Roman leader apprehended Paul to remove him and find out what’s going on, and he was surprised to hear Paul speak in Greek. Paul asked to speak to the crowd, and when he got to the part of the story where Jesus told him he would be a light to the Gentiles (22:21) the riot broke out again.

The leader has Paul apprehended and plans to question him by flogging/scourging. Paul let him know he was a Roman, and this halted those plans.

Paul declares his citizenship

Paul had previously mentioned he was from Tarsus, but never disclosed his Roman citizenship. When facing flogging — which often resulted in death — he brings it up. Roman citizens had a right to hear their charges before being flogged, and he had been convicted of no crimes.

The Roman soldiers back down, and the chief captain asked him to clarify.

V. 28 - the claim that the chief captain “bought” his freedom seems to suggest bribery because citizenship couldn’t be bought. Paul explains he was born Roman (because of his father).

Another angle: Paul before the Sanhedrin

The chief captain thought he’d work another angle to figure out who Paul was and what he’d done: put him before the Sanhedrin and he could just listen in.

He appeals on a personal level at first, referring to them as brethren and stated he served God in good conscience. Ananias the high priest demanded he be struck for this statement.

Paul referred to him as a whitewashed wall, similar to whitewashed tombs = hypocrite. They questioned him on speaking to their leader that way.

Paul was either sarcastic or honest in saying “Oh, he’s the high priest? I didn’t know.” Either way, he respects the office of high priest even if he cannot respect the man.

The then notices Pharisees and Sadducees are both present and works the angle of the issue being an issue over the resurrection. This further divides the crowd, and they prepare to kill him.

Jesus gets the final say:

Outward appearances would suggest that Paul’s time at Jerusalem was a failure. Attempts to win over legalists led to riots. Witness before the Sanhedrin bred confusion and led to more riots. But Jesus commended his faithfulness in his testimony.

Also notable: Jesus commended his testimony even though it wasn’t received. We too may face this. But we will answer at judgment for whether we witnessed, not whether it was received or acted upon.

Wiersbe: It was a message of courage, of commendation, and of confidence. Paul was going to Rome!