Day 37: Acts 21:36 - 25:22: Paul Before Caesar
To be honest with you, I would have liked it much better if Paul had given his powerful testimony of conversion on the road to Damascus, and the result was that everybody (or most everybody) (or a large group of people, anyway) was convinced and convicted by his story, and changed their hearts. Or, at least, decided not to to kill him.
But that's not what happened. The plot thickens. Paul tells everyone about what a good Jew he was, and is, and how he was on the way to persecute Christians, and the blinding light, and the voice, and how the Jewish believer Ananais came to him and restored his sight.
It's such a powerful testimony that the voices rise up, "He deserves to die!" Which is what they already thought.
I always think that our stories are so powerful, more powerful than statistics. Statistics don't convince people, but stories do. And that is true -- sometimes. Other times, we have our minds so made up already that the most moving story will not move us.
So....there are people who hate Paul so much that they will not eat or drink until they kill him. They are going to ambush those who are holding him and kill him.
Paul has a couple of aces up his sleeve, however. One is his Roman citizenship. He has certain rights, and he is going to use them.
He also cleverly refers to his belief in the resurrection of the daed to stir up controversy between the Saducees and the Pharisees. Two groups who were formerly united against him are now (at least temporarily) divided and arguing with each other. There's a pragmatic streak to Paul.
We are almost to the end of Acts. It is all Paul's story now, and who know how it will end? He has come to Jerusalem to give offering for the poor (against the advice of friends, remember), and he has been set up, accused and arrested. Now, several different rulers have heard his story, and are decided what is next for him.
Paul portrays himself in front of Felix as an observant Jew whose only offense is believing in what he calls "The Way." Felix leaves Paul in prison until a new governor, Festus, is appointed, and then Paul presents his case to Festus. Upon not receiving a sympathetic hearing, he appeals to Caesar.
Festus agrees.
King Agrippa and his wife Bernice arrive with much fanfare. There is some interesting conversation between Agrippa and Festus. They agree that they don't really know what is going on. When Paul's accusers stand before them, they don't present the expect. Instead, they are arguing about a man named "Jesus." What is going on? They are puzzled.
King Agrippa wants to hear Paul for himself. Festus promises that he will, tomorrow.
What will happen next? How will the story end?
But that's not what happened. The plot thickens. Paul tells everyone about what a good Jew he was, and is, and how he was on the way to persecute Christians, and the blinding light, and the voice, and how the Jewish believer Ananais came to him and restored his sight.
It's such a powerful testimony that the voices rise up, "He deserves to die!" Which is what they already thought.
I always think that our stories are so powerful, more powerful than statistics. Statistics don't convince people, but stories do. And that is true -- sometimes. Other times, we have our minds so made up already that the most moving story will not move us.
So....there are people who hate Paul so much that they will not eat or drink until they kill him. They are going to ambush those who are holding him and kill him.
Paul has a couple of aces up his sleeve, however. One is his Roman citizenship. He has certain rights, and he is going to use them.
He also cleverly refers to his belief in the resurrection of the daed to stir up controversy between the Saducees and the Pharisees. Two groups who were formerly united against him are now (at least temporarily) divided and arguing with each other. There's a pragmatic streak to Paul.
We are almost to the end of Acts. It is all Paul's story now, and who know how it will end? He has come to Jerusalem to give offering for the poor (against the advice of friends, remember), and he has been set up, accused and arrested. Now, several different rulers have heard his story, and are decided what is next for him.
Paul portrays himself in front of Felix as an observant Jew whose only offense is believing in what he calls "The Way." Felix leaves Paul in prison until a new governor, Festus, is appointed, and then Paul presents his case to Festus. Upon not receiving a sympathetic hearing, he appeals to Caesar.
Festus agrees.
King Agrippa and his wife Bernice arrive with much fanfare. There is some interesting conversation between Agrippa and Festus. They agree that they don't really know what is going on. When Paul's accusers stand before them, they don't present the expect. Instead, they are arguing about a man named "Jesus." What is going on? They are puzzled.
King Agrippa wants to hear Paul for himself. Festus promises that he will, tomorrow.
What will happen next? How will the story end?
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