Sermon Central
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The Heart Of A Witness Series
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 5, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: Paul could have gotten off immediately but he stayed. He could have defended himself but he defended the Gospel. He sought to bridge the gap with his people. He was prepared to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel.
LET US PRAY:
Thank you for your written Word. May the truth of your Word inspires us again, to know you and trust you, to give us hope and strength, and make us faithful followers of Christ.
May the life and ministry of Paul be an encouragement for all of us who are serving you today. Bless us with your Word. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
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Last week we saw how Paul was beaten by an angry mob. If not for the intervention of the commander of the Roman garrison in the nick of time, he might be killed.
• Unable to ascertain what’s the cause of it, the commander decided to take Paul captive and bring him back to the barracks.
• Which is the Antonia Fortress situated NW of the Temple Mount, garrisoned with 600 Roman soldiers, tasked to watch over the Temple courts in order to preserve order.
• When they reached the steps, Paul had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob (21:35).
Let’s read what happens next - Acts 21:37-40.
37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?"
"Do you speak Greek?" he replied. 38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?"
39 Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people."
40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:
PAUL COULD HAVE GOTTEN OFF IMMEDIATELY
Imagine this situation, you are being beaten by an angry mob, almost to death, and now being taken away by the soldiers.
• I would be very happy to be ‘carried away’ to safety, away from this crazy mob.
• Paul could have gotten off quickly but he made an odd request to stay and talk to the people.
The commander was surprised he spoke Greek. He had mistaken him for someone else.
• 21:38 "Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?"
• Some years ago there was this Egyptian terrorist who led thousands to the Mount of Olives wanting to take over the Temple Mount.
• The Roman soldiers scattered them but the leader got away. The commander thought he was this man and had him bound in chains.
Paul spoke to the crowd in Aramaic, the Hebrew language of native Jews.
1 "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense."
2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
Then Paul said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, `Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?'
8 "`Who are you, Lord?' I asked.
"`I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10 "`What shall I do, Lord?' I asked.
"`Get up,' the Lord said, `and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, `Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14 "Then he said: `The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
