Acts 22 - Paul Speaks to the Crowd

by Katrina

LINK: Acts 22

BACKGROUND
The Roman commander gave Paul permission to speak to the crowd, and he turned to them and spoke in their own dialect. Once they heard him speaking, they quieted and listened to him. Paul explained to them his Jewish background and persecution of believers. Then he recounted for them the events of his conversion and how God had sent him to the Gentiles.

The crowd listened attentively until Paul mentioned that God had sent him to the Gentiles. At that point they resumed the uproar and demanded his death.

The Roman commander decided to question Paul by way of scourging. But Paul asserted his Roman citizenship and stopped the soldiers in their tracks. He was not only a Roman citizen, but a citizen by birth. The commanders actions against Paul were illegal.

The commander was determined to get to the bottom of this uprising, so he ordered the Jewish leaders to assemble, and he brought Paul before them.

To be continued . . .

REFLECTION
I can't help but admire Paul's boldness. He was not afraid to lose his life to the Jews. He knew they would take violent action against him if he went to Jerusalem, but he was determined to leave that in God's hands and go anyway. And then when the crowds were against him, he asked to speak to them. He wanted them to understand who Jesus was. He wanted the chance to explain to them how Jesus had changed his life and that it was God's will to change the lives of the Gentiles as well.

APPLICATION
Oh, that I would be more like Paul in boldness and compassion!

PRAYER
Father, thank you for sending Paul with your good news to the Gentiles. May we be bold in our faith in you and have compassion on those who do not know you. Amen.