Unhindered
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We are ending the book of Acts today, we are nearing the end of Paul’s ministry and he is headed to Jerusalem knowing that he will die very similar to the way that Jesus had determined to head to Jerusalem knowing that He would die. After he had traveled through several towns we pick up in Caesarea Ac 21:10:
10 After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
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Paul had an attitude of total commitment to Jesus Christ and to the Kingdom of God. He was willing not only to suffer for Christ, but also to die for Him.
But we will see that even though he is completely committed he still experiences fear and needs encouraging.
After he arrived in Jerusalem he took four Jewish men with him to the temple and paid for them to have their heads shaved to complete a vow they had made to God, hoping to show the Jews in Jerusalem that he was not trying to abolish God’s law and hopefully ease some of the tensions that had been growing. But instead a riot formed and they nearly killed him so the Roman army had to come in and take him into custody so that he wouldn’t be killed. So we pick up with the Roman commander.
30 The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. He brought Paul down and placed him before them. 1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day.” 2 The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?” 4 Those standing nearby said, “Do you dare revile God’s high priest?” 5 “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,” replied Paul. “For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.” 6 When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all. 9 The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party got up and argued vehemently: “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”
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Did you notice how Paul was very careful to change how he talked to and about the High Priest after he found out who he was, even though he completely disagreed with him, was angry with him, and was being abused by him? The scripture tells us that no matter how we feel about our leaders, we must not speak evil of them. We can disagree with them, we can explain why we believe they are wrong, but we are not given permission to dishonor them, we are not given permission to insult them, we are not given permission to call them names are say that we wish something evil would happen to them. Why? Because they are made in the image of God just like we are. They have inherent dignity and value and worth just like we do. And this is something that this country has no concept of, or just completely refuses to adhere to because they are so full of hate. What causes a person to talk ugly about another person? Hate. You don’t verbally abuse someone because you love them. You do it because you have hatred for them.
Just a few years ago when during President Obama’s term, a man in Roberta who was completely against the president’s policies, was having a conversation with some other folks and one of them said something bad about the president and he rebuked him and said, “He was the president that I wanted, but he’s my president! So you better watch what you say about him.” That’s a world’s difference than the way many who won’t even call our current president, “Mr. President.” But instead just refer to him as the occupant of the White House. And I don’t expect things to get any better if the next election goes the other way. All I see online is hate and ugliness.
Now Paul knew that he was wrong in the way that he talked to the High Priest and he apologized. But if we’re honest, he shouldn’t have said it to begin with and he wouldn’t have had to apologize. Many of us have said a lot of things about leaders we should never have said and so I believe we have a lot of apologizing to do. And we must be careful how we speak of our leaders going forward.
But even though Paul was committed to not only suffering for Christ but also dying for Christ, we see that he was still afraid and needed encouragement, and how much more encouragement could a person get than what we see in verse 11. Jesus came and appeared with him and stood beside him and told him to have courage, and then he told him why, because he would need him to go to Rome to speak about Christ.
More than 40 men decided to kill Paul so the commander had to sneak him out of the city by night and sent him from Jerusalem to Caesarea to the governor Felix to be tried.
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people. 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ” 22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs. 24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him. 27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.
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Felix wanted Paul to bribe him with money to release him, but Paul did not take the easy and wrong way out.
We must not take the easy road if it is the wrong road. We must be willing to suffer for our Lord. We need God to give us the strength to do what’s right no matter how difficult our circumstances or the consequences.
Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. That one day God is going to judge both the living and the dead, the righteous and the unrighteous. And we must get ourselves ready for that day. We must repent of sin and place all of our faith in Jesus alone to save us.
Felix left Paul in prison for the next guy, Festus, to take care of. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem asked Festus to do them a favor and summon Paul to Jerusalem so that they could ambush him and kill him on the way, but Festus told them no, they would have to come to Caesarea and present their case against him there. So about a week later they did. After they presented their case against him Paul got to speak.
1 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate, that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors, 7 the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope. 8 Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. 12 “I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “And the Lord replied: ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and were trying to kill me. 22 To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place—23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.” 25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment. 26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?” 29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.” 30 The king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, 31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is not doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
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In verse 3 Paul begged King Agrippa to listen to his defense patiently.
3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
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This, of course, implies that Paul was very diligent in explaining and teaching the Way to those who have not accepted it with patience himself. Timothy was a pastor that Paul wrote letters to and gave him instructions and advice on how to lead the church he was pastoring and this is one of the things Paul said to Timothy.
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.
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Paul understood that we as Christians, and especially in the context of pastors, must not be quarrelsome with those who disagree with us. We must be gentle to everyone, and we must be able to teach, not just able to argue, but able to explain. And through that whole process, we must be patient, instructing those who oppose us with gentleness. Now I don’t know how many conversations you’ve had with people who completely disagree with you, or even slightly disagree with you, but how well were you able to teach and explain your position with gentleness and patience? Typically it’s one or the other, either I’m explaining my position very well but not gently or patiently, or I’m being very gentle and patient, but I’m not explaining my side very well at all. It’s hard to do both, because the more you know the more you become impatient. Trust me. I’ve gotten into some heated conversations with some Jehovah’s Witnesses, on more than one occasion, and every time, I, like Paul, knew I was wrong, and had wished I could have went back and had a do-over. That maybe why Paul gave Timothy that advice. Through the years I’m sure Paul had some very heated debates not giving much patience and not being very gentle. But if we actually want to reach the lost for Christ, then we must do it the way He has commanded us to. To explain and teach why it is true, and to do it gently and patiently.
We must not argue and get upset, but instead we must be gentle and patient and clear with our message.
Since Paul had appealed to Rome, they couldn’t release him so they put him on a ship and headed that way, but they got shipwrecked on the island of Malta and had to stay there for the winter before heading on. When they finally arrived in Rome Paul was treated well and placed under house arrest instead of being thrown into a prison. And even though he was not allowed to go out and evangelize like he always had, he still did not stop ministering.
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
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Did you hear that. He can’t leave his house and do the one thing we have always read that he did. He would go into the synagogues, into the town halls, and from house to house and preach to everyone about Christ and the kingdom of God. He finally made it to Rome, where he had been wanting to go for a long time and he’s not allowed to do that, but the book ends by saying that Paul proclaimed those things to anyone who visited him with all boldness and without hindrance. Without hinderance. You see no matter what situation you find yourself in life, you can still minister and make a difference for the kingdom while you are here. And it has become easier than ever with the internet now. Maybe you will find yourself one day not able to get out of the house anymore. You won’t be able to go to the world, but the world can come to you, just like people came to Paul, through the internet. Social media, as many problems as it presents, it has provided a platform for you to reach far more people and far quicker than ever in history.
We must be like Paul, completely committed all the way to our death, who does not speak evil of others, who does what’s right even when it’s the difficult path, and rejects what’s wrong no matter how easy it would be and no matter how rewarding we think it would be, who teaches and explains the Way patiently, gently, and clearly to those who oppose us, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, knowing that God will not allow anything to hinder His ministry through us.
What do you need to work on to be more like Paul who told us to imitate him as he imitates Christ.
1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.
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