Memorize: Effect of Paul’s Testimony
Key Verses: 3, 14, 20, 22, 29
Paul has just been rescued from a mob that wants to tear him limb from limb. Instead of getting out of there with his life intact, Paul has asked to speak to this mob that just tried to kill him. He begins by sharing his credentials. He does this to establish his right to speak on the topic and build a bridge to his audience. His role in persecuting Christians is one that the crowd appreciates. He even admits condoning the murder of Stephen.
One of the important qualifications that Paul cites is that he is an eyewitness to Jesus following the resurrection. This is where the crowd takes a violent turn for the worse. They go into an irrational frenzy. They can’t process the resurrection. That is probably because they have looked for Jesus’ body and have not found it. They have tried every way to discredit the reports, but too many people witnessed Jesus alive and well. Many of their fellow leaders have become believers, leaving their ranks split and fragmented.
He is rescued from the Jewish crowd by the Roman soldiers. The commander of the soldiers can’t seem to get at the truth, so he is going to apply an ancient interrogation technique; he is going to have him flogged. But Paul keeps this commander from getting himself in even more trouble. He informs them of his Roman citizenship, asserting his rights to a fair trial. At that moment, the Romans realize they have made a serious mistake. They have violated their own rules and are themselves in danger of being punished. Fear of reprisal overtakes.
But the Romans still must find out what caused the riot, so they hold Paul until the next day and order the Jewish leaders to appear and resolve the dispute. It seems as though the deck is stacked against Paul. It seems as though Paul is backed into a corner with no way of escape. But the Lord has a plan, and all of this is central to that plan.
REVIEW: HOLY SPIRIT WORKING IN
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