Year 2, Week 47, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 47, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Acts 22-23.

Today’s reading continues the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts is a selective history of the early church, which demonstrates how Jesus, by the Spirit, empowers His followers to continue His work. While the Book of Acts traces the early history of the church in general, eventually, the ministry of the Apostle Paul will be the primary focus for much of the remainder of Acts. Today’s reading extends the episode from yesterday’s reading. Paul has arrived in Jerusalem, a riot has ensued in which the mod wanted to kill Paul, and Paul was arrested for his own safety. Acts 22 records Paul’s words to the crowd: “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” (Acts 22:1-2). Paul described his Jewish heritage, his educational training, and his conversion. Paul’s words were met with fierce hostility. Acts 23, which was the next day, records Paul’s address to the Jewish council in which he draws on his association with the Pharisees: “Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial” (Acts 23:6). The results of Paul’s remarks caused a great debate among the council. When a plot was uncovered to kill Paul, the Roman official ordered Paul to be immediately taken to Felix, the regional governor in Caesarea. 

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was Paul’s account of being confronted by Jesus, which led to his conversion: “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?” (Acts 22:6-7). Paul was on his way to Damascus in order to arrest and punish more followers of Jesus: “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” (Acts 22:4-5). And yet, plans would soon be changing for Paul as Jesus powerfully reveals Himself to Paul: “And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 22:8). Jesus’ express confrontation of Paul was due to his persecution of followers of Jesus. Persecuting them meant persecuting Jesus Himself. Paul relates his experience on the road to Damascus as a Divine intervention, for the description of the great light from heaven coupled with a voice reveals the presence of God. Paul, who thought that he was zealously doing God’s work, was promptly stopped by the Lord. Paul saw himself as zealous for God: “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” (Acts 22:3). But Paul’s previous notions of zealousness would come to an end.

Paul immediately acknowledged to whom he was speaking, and the voice of the Lord proceeded to instruct Paul as to what he should do: “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” (Acts 22:10). Blinded by the great light, Paul had to be led by the hand of those who were with him. Once in Damascus, Paul was met by a man named Ananias: “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” (Acts 22:12-13). Ananias proceeded to give direction to Paul: “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” (Acts 22:14-15). Ananias explained to Paul, not only that this Lord had intervened in his life, the this Lord was none other than Israel’s promised Messiah. Ananias also gave direction to Paul concerning what he needed to do: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). Through baptism, Paul would need to make public his faith in Jesus, who’s blood would cleanse him of all his sin.

Paul further explained an encounter with the Lord while at the Temple: “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” (Acts 22:17-20). While Acts 9 is Luke’s account of Paul’s conversion, Paul adds this encounter with the Lord at the Temple that Luke did not include earlier. The very place where the Jews would have understood to be the place that the Lord reveals Himself, was the place where Paul was commissioned to his work: “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles” (Acts 22:21). It was from the Temple itself that the Lord commissioned Paul to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Such information was more than the Jews could take: “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” (Acts 22:22).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe