Sermon Tone Analysis
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Intro:
AG:
TS: When we last studied acts, Paul had just been taken into custody by the Roman’s
Claudius Lysias was the tribune in command (23:26) of the Roman cohort in Jersualem.
He had 1000 men at his command and was the highest ranking Romana official in Jerusalem.
Their post, fort Antonia, was located on a precipice overlooking the Temple complex, so the soldiers spotted the riot and were able to quickly intervene.
In v. 33 we find that the centurions had put Paul in chains and were protecting him from the mob as they arrested him for inciting the riot.
As they led him away, the crowd cried out for his blood.
“Away with him” probably meant take him away to death.
Paul motioned to speak and was allowed to address the crowd.
Today, we examine his public defense before the crowd.
RS:
Acts 21:37-22:
Mistaken Identity
Assumed he was an Egyptian Rebel
Lysias began with a question which revealed his faulty assumptions: “Aren’ t you the Egyptian troublemaker?”
He had been a false prophet who had promised to drive out the Romans.
Acts 21:27
His forces had been attacked and routed by Governor Felix before he got anywhere.
The Assassins
sicarii, a terrorist group whose Jewish nationalism had led them to murder Romans and Jews they deemed to be sympathetic to Rome.
They had often used a crowd to cover their actions and Lysias probably assumed this was the plan.
Truth of the Matter
Jew
Paul’s Jewish lineage
From Tarsus
key city in Province of Cilicia
It was both an educational and commercial center.
Paul’s Jewish connections
Pharisee
Studied with Gamaliel
Remember that Gamaliel was a prominent Rabbi, the most influential of his time.
Leader of the Pharisees.
Paul had been a protegee of the leading Pharisees.
He knew the Law and Prophets
These were impressive credential!
From Tarsus in Cilicia
A citizen- not easy to come by
Had privileges
Setting the Record Straight
---
Acts 21:39
Paul defends himself:
a.
His past
lineage (already covered)
Actions- zealous persecutor of the church
In Jersualem
In Jersualem
Had agreed with Stephen's stoning
Was on the way to Damascus
He had been intrusted with warrants.
b.
The Change
encountered Jesus
Light
acts 22:
The light of the world, Jesus, shown brighter than the sun at noon!
Voice
Heard Jesus speak
Witness from Ananias
Vision
Jesus called Paul and Ananias reissued the call to witness about Jesus.
Acts 22:
Vision
After a brief ministry in Damascus and 3 years in Arabia, Paul had returned to Jerusalem.
God warned he would be rejected
God sent him to the gentiles.
The crowd had gone with him until Gentiles were mentioned.
That was the straw which broke the camel’s back.
The Reaction
Acts 22:22-
Of the Mob
Threw a hissy fit!
Shouting
calling for his death
threw their cloaks
Most likely getting ready to stone Paul
Throwing dirt
Indication of the intense hate and anger
Of the Romans
Centurion & Tribune
Romans brought him in meaning to “question him:
Beat him
exam by scourging was brutal
prisoners frequently died from such floggings.
Before they could begin the scourging, Paul exerted himself as a citizen.
Nobody questioned his claimed because it was certain death to lie about citizenship.
After hearing Paul was a Roman citizen, he was afraid.
he had bound a citizen without a trial and nearly beat him
This violated the law
Had Paul been beaten, it could have cost tribune Lysias his career and even his life.
Lysias had not been born free, but had paid a large sum
Though not officially for sale, bribes could get citizenship from corrupt officials.
Paul was born a citizen
He was the genuine deal
Lessons for Today
Speak the language of the people.
Paul was communicating in Greek and Hebrew
he spoke what the people around him spoke
Communication was his aim.
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