Stand Firm, I Am With You
[ READ ] Acts 22:22-23:11
Paul and the Roman Tribune
22 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.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 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. 25 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?” 26 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.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 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.
Paul Before the Council
30 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.
23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6 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.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
22 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.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 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. 25 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?” 26 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.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 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.
Paul Before the Council
30 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.
23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6 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.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Paul was blameless in his speech before the Jerusalem masses. He was respectful, and spoke with a tenderness towards his people. And yet, as soon as he proclaimed that the Lord wanted to extend a hand of communion to the Gentile nations, he was judged guilty; “away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” A demand for his death!
The tribune (approximate modern equivalent of a lieutenant colonel), perhaps thinking the crowd to be rational in their revolt, resolves to torture the truth out of Paul. Paul’s response is simple yet brilliant – he asks, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
Paul does not capitulate in the face of injustice – he appeals to order. He appeals to the same standard that he asks Christians to respect and obey in Romans 13 – the governing authorities and their laws. (For the history nerds: Paul is invoking Roman citizen protections historically associated with the Valerian, Porcian, and Sempronian laws).
In this way, Paul is able to escape unnecessary hardship – he is unbound, and though he is still a prisoner, it seems that he is treated with a markedly increased legal caution.
How does this fit into our theology of suffering? Should one simply accept all suffering without protest, or should we resist unjust punishment where possible?
We are not called to masochistically endure unnecessary pain for pain’s sake. Where possible, it is lawful and even providential that we employ the tools that the Lord has placed at our disposal (including lawful protections administered through authorities whom God has providentially ordained, as per Romans 13) to overcome the world’s injustices.
At the same time, we must make peace with the fact that some – and perhaps much – suffering is unavoidable. Think of the apostles who, in Acts 5, endured a public beating then joyfully continued to preach the gospel – the very activity for which they had been beaten in the first place. Think of 1 Peter 4:19: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
From the above examples, we glean this lesson: avoid suffering for suffering’s sake. Look to Paul’s resolve in Acts 22. But, if it is God’s will, then suffer resolutely.
Later that night, Jesus appears to Paul, telling him to “take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” We may not be Paul, but we each have our Jerusalems and Romes. Take courage.
- Kidus Kebede
The tribune (approximate modern equivalent of a lieutenant colonel), perhaps thinking the crowd to be rational in their revolt, resolves to torture the truth out of Paul. Paul’s response is simple yet brilliant – he asks, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
Paul does not capitulate in the face of injustice – he appeals to order. He appeals to the same standard that he asks Christians to respect and obey in Romans 13 – the governing authorities and their laws. (For the history nerds: Paul is invoking Roman citizen protections historically associated with the Valerian, Porcian, and Sempronian laws).
In this way, Paul is able to escape unnecessary hardship – he is unbound, and though he is still a prisoner, it seems that he is treated with a markedly increased legal caution.
How does this fit into our theology of suffering? Should one simply accept all suffering without protest, or should we resist unjust punishment where possible?
We are not called to masochistically endure unnecessary pain for pain’s sake. Where possible, it is lawful and even providential that we employ the tools that the Lord has placed at our disposal (including lawful protections administered through authorities whom God has providentially ordained, as per Romans 13) to overcome the world’s injustices.
At the same time, we must make peace with the fact that some – and perhaps much – suffering is unavoidable. Think of the apostles who, in Acts 5, endured a public beating then joyfully continued to preach the gospel – the very activity for which they had been beaten in the first place. Think of 1 Peter 4:19: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
From the above examples, we glean this lesson: avoid suffering for suffering’s sake. Look to Paul’s resolve in Acts 22. But, if it is God’s will, then suffer resolutely.
Later that night, Jesus appears to Paul, telling him to “take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” We may not be Paul, but we each have our Jerusalems and Romes. Take courage.
- Kidus Kebede
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What should a Christian’s stance be regarding the law and its application? Think about the above exposition – Paul never wavers in the assertion of his rights, but also never steps outside of the limits of the law. He is blameless in the eyes of the law. On the other hand, consider the wise men disobeying Herod – a governing authority – in order to protect Jesus, as well as Rahab’s civil disobedience in Joshua 2. How do we balance these perspectives, and what do we take away from them? (hint: Acts 5:29)
+ Paul interacts with the law again in Acts 23:3-5. What can we take away from this interaction?
+ What should a Christian’s stance be regarding the law and its application? Think about the above exposition – Paul never wavers in the assertion of his rights, but also never steps outside of the limits of the law. He is blameless in the eyes of the law. On the other hand, consider the wise men disobeying Herod – a governing authority – in order to protect Jesus, as well as Rahab’s civil disobedience in Joshua 2. How do we balance these perspectives, and what do we take away from them? (hint: Acts 5:29)
+ Paul interacts with the law again in Acts 23:3-5. What can we take away from this interaction?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What do you think about the role of suffering in your life as a Christian?
+ Take a second to think about Christians around the world that are standing firm in their faith despite undergoing persecution. How can we stand in solidarity with them? How can we help?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What do you think about the role of suffering in your life as a Christian?
+ Take a second to think about Christians around the world that are standing firm in their faith despite undergoing persecution. How can we stand in solidarity with them? How can we help?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, we thank you for including us as agents in your work. We pray that you give us courage and wisdom, boldness and discernment as we work by your power to advance your Kingdom and glorify your name. In Jesus’s almighty and holy name – Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, we thank you for including us as agents in your work. We pray that you give us courage and wisdom, boldness and discernment as we work by your power to advance your Kingdom and glorify your name. In Jesus’s almighty and holy name – Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ How can you actively support someone that is suffering today?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ How can you actively support someone that is suffering today?
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