ACTS 23
Read Acts 22:30-23:35
Paul’s time in Jerusalem was marked by confusion and confrontation, which is something that proclaiming the gospel sometimes brings. Paul had been rescued from the mob which had been incited to riot by those who wanted Paul dead. His explanation had, at least temporarily, quietened the crowd, but they turned against him when they heard that he wanted to take the good news to the Gentiles. He was rescued initially by the Romans, who thought he was someone else. He was now rescued again by the Romans and by this time the Roman commander was getting fed up and wanted to know what was going on here. The tried and trusted method of getting information, torture, was out of bounds once the commander discovered that Paul was a Roman citizen. So he allowed Paul to be tried by the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish authority. More confrontation: the high priest slapped Paul, Paul insulted the high priest. Paul let it be known that he was a Pharisee and that set the Sanhedrin into uproar because some were Sadducees and some were Pharisees (and Paul’s testimony reignited the old debate about whether or not there could be resurrection; the Pharisees said yes, the Sadducees said no). So some supported Paul; some opposed him. Mayhem all round! Ultimately, the Romans took charge again and arranged for Paul to be sent to Rome for trial, as was his right as a Roman citizen; he wasn’t going to get a fair trial in Jerusalem.
Paul was encouraged by a word from the Lord, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’ (v11). This is a crucial stage in the spread of the gospel. Not for the first time we see that those who claimed to be God’s people were all for preventing the spread of the gospel. The Jewish authorities were prejudiced and violent; the secular authorities were open minded and keen to maintain the accepted standards of law and order. The gospel was divisive then and it is now. Paul showed extreme courage speaking firstly to a murderous mob and then to the religious authorities. He may have been outnumbered and outranked but he did have the word and Spirit of God with him. He also had the promise of Jesus that Paul would witness to the Lord in Rome.
For many people the truth is difficult to accept. Many prefer the sinful life to the righteous life. We may find sometimes ourselves in difficult situations when discussing matters with opponents of the gospel, but we have the same weapons, the word and Spirit of God And we, too, know that Jesus will be with us and that the Holy Spirit will give us the right words to say; “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:12).