Daily Thoughts from Acts: In Season and Out (Acts 22:1-30)

“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.  And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’  And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.  (Acts 22:1-30 ESV)

Paul gives his testimony to these Jewish zealots emphasizing his upbringing in Jerusalem as a Pharisee and strict adherence to the law under the tutelage of the famous Gamaliel, whom Luke mentions in chapter 5.  He also emphasizes that at that time he persecuted followers of Jesus, but on one such trip to bring them to justice he was converted by a personal appearance of Jesus and the instruction of a man named Ananias sent by Jesus to instruct him.

Ananias’ charge to Paul to wash away his sins in baptism cannot mean that baptism is what actually cleanses us, for what cleanses is Jesus’ sacrifice received in faith.  But since baptism is the outward symbol of our faith it is as if baptism washes away our sins.  Paul later tells the Corinthians that Christ did not send him to baptize but to preach the gospel, separating these two things very clearly.

When Paul tells the story of how he was at the temple and had a vision that he should leave the threat of violence in Jerusalem, a story we get here for the first time, he mentions that God was sending him to the Gentiles.  This is too much for the crowd and they get riotous again, forcing the tribune to take Paul inside.  But when he begins to prepare Paul for scourging Paul reveals his Roman citizenship and the Tribune decides instead to take him to the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin, to discover the reason for everyone’s excitement.

Paul’s arrest is exactly what the Holy Spirit had told Paul would happen, but the way it is happening is giving Paul an unprecedented opportunity to bear witness to Jesus as Messiah in front of people he would have had little chance to preach to otherwise.  Any situation God puts us in is a potential opportunity to share the gospel.

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV)