Paul's Defense to the Jews
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· 16 viewsDon't assume too much about others. The Jews assumed Paul was a blasphemer and profaner of the temple. He was neither. The Romans assumed he was either a revolutionary come back, or an uneducated Jew stirring up trouble. He was neither. Everyone there seemed to assume that what he said wasn't true. They were wrong, to the detriment to their eternal souls. What about you?
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Introduction:
Years ago there was a woman who decided it was finally time to sell her place. She invited an auctioneer to come and look over her things for an appraisal. While looking through her estate, he noticed a painting she’d had hanging over the hot plate in her kitchen for years. Little did she know, that what she casually looked past every day was the long lost work of Florentine artist Cimabue (cheemuhbooay) entitled “Christ Mocked.” It was part of a series depicting Jesus’ crucifixion and sold at auction for $26.8 million.
(Source: https://www.insider.com/what-is-my-stuff-worth-2018-3#a-woman-learned-that-a-painting-she-had-hanging-in-her-kitchen-for-years-was-worth-268-million-2)
We don’t always see what is right before our eyes. What if this lady simply wanted to downsize before she moved and threw it away, or donated to a thrift store.
Our assumptions can be costly. So it was with the people in our text.
Read Acts 21:37-22:30
The Jews saw Paul as a blasphemer and defiler of the temple. They were wrong. The Romans saw him as either a revolutionary come back, or an uneducated Jew stirring up trouble. They were wrong as well. Everyone there seemed to assume that what he said wasn't true. They were completely wrong, to the detriment to their eternal souls.
Pray
As we learn Paul’s defense, we see his approach, how it was received and finally his appeal as a Roman citizen.
Paul’s defense
Respectful
Respectful
v.5
Paul was being beaten and attacked, but he responded with truth and respect. He referred to them as brethren and fathers.
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
How often do we have truth on our side yet we lose our audience because we meet attack with counter-attack. We see engagements with others as battles to be won, instead of seeing it for what it is, in hearts and minds to be persuaded. You can win the argument (in your eyes) and lose the person/people. Paul wanted to win people.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
He did make his case, for his case was the case for the gospel. He did so with respect. He also used reason.
Reasoned
Reasoned
v.2-21
He gave reasoned evidence that he was a Jew, just like them - v.1-5 (credibility)
speaks the language (many of the dispersia did not)
Born in Tarsus but brought up in Jerusalem (As good Jewish parents they were often in the Holy city for worship and feast days. They trained their son in the ways of God.)
Strictly educated by Gamaliel practiced according to the order of the Pharisees
Exceeding their zealousness, through his own persecution of the Way - this could be corroborated by the Jewish authorities. This persecution included imprisonment and execution of Christians. (v.5)
We must think about our response to others.
When your goal is to be heard and understood, you may alter your approach. Never the truth, but the approach.
Ex. Hammer is good for a nail, but isn’t the best tool for everything.
Jesus was both meek and bold. Lamb, and Lion. We need to practice discernment in our communication.
Think before speaking. Speak when needed. Act appropriately.
He demonstrated the miraculously divine occurrences that led to his change of mind and purpose
Rooted in God
Rooted in God
v.6-21
From the beginning, his goal was to honor God. As God divinely revealed the Lord Jesus Christ to him, what else could he do?
(Note: two questions Paul asks of Jesus > Who are you, Lord? What shall I do?)
He was carrying out his duty against this Way, out of zeal for the law and the temple
He was blinded by a light brighter than the noon day sun, fell down and heard the voice of Jesus
Having been miraculously stopped in his tracks Paul was then given instructions on what to do next (We must often be forced to dependence, before we will listen).
Paul tells of Ananias who was "devout according to the Law", how he restored his sight and prophesied about him.
Paul is baptized in Jesus's Name, indicating his faith and repentance.
Going to Jerusalem he went to the temple to pray" he sees a vision of Jesus
Even what is happening now was foretold by Jesus (Jews will not listen, and that Paul is to go to the Gentiles)
When it comes to people’s deep beliefs and opinions, demonstrable truth and reason do not always matter.
Men's eyes are darkened, and unless the light of God shine in them, awakens them, and softens the hardened soil of their hearts, they will not hear.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
Addressed his Rights
Addressed his Rights
v.22-30
Situation:
Before even getting to the current accusations, Paul is stopped short by the ire of the crowd. (v.22)
How would the Romans get to the bottom of this? (Kids fighting, how to get to the bottom of it? Spank them til they tell the truth!)
Scourging. Torturous whipping by the leather thongs embedded with bits of bone and metal.
Paul pulls his trump card (v.25)
Paul’s status as a Roman citizenship came with certain rights
"The Lex Valeria and the Lex Porcia were ancient laws that prohibited the beating, and even the fettering, of Roman citizens, and this right was confirmed by the Lex Julia which gave citizens in the provinces the right of appeal to Rome." -Marshall, I. H. (1980). Acts: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 5, p. 378). InterVarsity Press.
Hearing this, the centurion halts the commander who addresses Paul, asking if he is indeed a citizen. Having purchased his own, he scoffs at the meaningfulness of it (i.e. "anyone could be a citizen these days") but is corrected when Paul informs him that he was born a citizen.
"As a person who was a Roman citizen by birth, Paul outranked the commander", Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 609). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Saved by citizenship
Given a people, brought into God’s care and family
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
Given hope and salvation
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
As Christians, we too have rights as citizens of the kingdom of God. While we may suffer in this world at the hands of men, we have an appeal to the King of Kings Righteous Judge. Not only does He hear, but He cares. He’s a King come near. He’s a King that gives and sacrifices for His people. He’s a King that is more mighty than any other and whose Kingdom and will cannot and will not be thwarted. In Him we are victorious. In Him we are secure. In Christ, we have all that God has promised.
Conclusion:
We don’t always see what is right before our eyes. Just as the woman looked at her painting, not realizing it’s value and rarity, the Jews and Romans didn’t see Paul as anything more than a nuisance. How often do we treat others as less than they are? How often to do we assume God is not at work? Are you undervaluing someone today? Are you undervaluing yourself, and what God is doing through you? Are you here this morning undervaluing Christ Himself?