Acts 22:17-30 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Acts 22:17-30. Let’s go!
Acts 22:17-21 (NIV)
17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
18 and saw the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ he said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.
20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'”
On verses 17-21: In Paul’s mind, it seemed to make so much sense for him, when he first became a Christian, to stay in Jerusalem, since he was well known in Jerusalem as the most zealous persecutor of Christians and now had become a Christian himself. But God had different plans for Paul. God knew that people were bent on killing Paul in Jerusalem, so God sends Paul far away to the Gentiles. It turns out that there was wisdom in God’s plan after all.
What makes so much sense to us is not always the best plan. God’s ways are higher than our ways and sometimes God will direct us in ways that do not make sense to us, and our job is simply to trust and obey.
Acts 22:22 (NIV)
22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
On verse 22: What was so offensive about Paul’s testimony to the Jewish audience listening to him? According to the New American Commentary, Paul’s mission to reach the Gentiles is what got Paul in trouble with his audience, which consisted of many pro-Israel nationalists who considered Paul to be turning his back on his Jewish heritage. (Polhill, John B. New American Commentary – Volume 26: Acts. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.)
Acts 22:23-30 (NIV)
23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
24 the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”
26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered.
28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
30 The next day, since the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
On verses 23-30: The commander intends to flog Paul, until Paul reveals that he is a Roman citizen. Since it was illegal to flog a Roman citizen who has not yet been tried in court, the commander backs down from the flogging and instead orders the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, to assemble so that Paul could stand trial before them first.
What can we learn from this? Here again we see that Paul’s background and citizenship play a role in saving Paul from great trouble and even death. Because Paul was a Roman citizen, the Roman commander could not do as he wished with Paul.
Likewise, because by faith in Jesus Christ you are born a citizen of heaven, no longer does the enemy have authority to beat you down. In times when you believe you are being oppressed or attacked by the enemy, remind Satan that through Jesus Christ you are born again a child of the Most High God and a citizen of heaven and that you belong to Jesus. Knowing who you are and declaring it to the one who wants to destroy you are key to escaping unnecessary attack and trouble.
Lord Jesus, thank You that because of You I am a citizen of heaven and that the enemy has no legal authority to harm or attack me. Thank You that though sometimes You may lead in ways that don’t make sense to me, Your ways are always higher than my ways and Your plans are always better than my plans. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
