Sermon Tone Analysis

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

v.5

Paul was being beaten and attacked, but he responded with truth and respect.

He referred to them as brethren and fathers.

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.

He did make his case, for his case was the case for the gospel.

He did so with respect.

He also used reason.

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

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.

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

Given hope and salvation

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.