Not a great welcome home for Paul in Jerusalem.
Paul is seized in the Temple
Acts 21:27-40
His defence before the Jews
Acts 22:1-21
The Jew’s rage
Acts 22:22-25
Paul is released
Acts 22:26-30
Paul speaks before the council
Acts 23:1-5
Dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees
Acts 23:6-10
The Lord’s promise
Acts 23:11
Thew Jews’ plot is discovered
Acts 23:12-22
Paul sent to Caesarea
Acts 23:23-35
Paul discovers that the Jew is Jerusalem are in ferment. No doubt they are greatly alarmed that many of them have turned to this new Way, even some priests, and those that are left are becoming even more vehemently opposed to Christianity.
So they seize their chance to have a go at Paul, and the Romans have to step in to prevent the mob from tearing him apart. Paul, fearless (reckless?) as ever persuades the centurion to let him speak to the people, and he managed to calm them down so they will listen to his testimony. They give him a hearing right up until the point where he tells them that he was sent to the Gentiles, but no more. That word infuriates them and he has to be dragged inside for his own safety. The Roman mechanism of interrogation swings intro action, and some routine cruelty is lined up, until Paul announces that he is a Roman citizen himself. Apparently, being born in Tarsus, he has had this status since birth, whereas many who had risen to positions of influence in the Roman Empire had to buy it for themselves.
So we have the spectacle of the Gentile authorities trying to work out what Paul is all about, while the Jews shout and rage so much that they make no sense. Paul is put before the Sanhedrin, and manages to divide them by introducing the divisive subject of the resurrection.
More shouting.
Eventually the Roman commander sends Paul for trial before the governor in Caesarea, saying that the dispute is “something to do with their law.” Well done to the Romans. They don’t understand what’s going on, but they want to see justice done.
Paul is seized in the Temple
Acts 21:27-40
His defence before the Jews
Acts 22:1-21
The Jew’s rage
Acts 22:22-25
Paul is released
Acts 22:26-30
Paul speaks before the council
Acts 23:1-5
Dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees
Acts 23:6-10
The Lord’s promise
Acts 23:11
Thew Jews’ plot is discovered
Acts 23:12-22
Paul sent to Caesarea
Acts 23:23-35
Paul discovers that the Jew is Jerusalem are in ferment. No doubt they are greatly alarmed that many of them have turned to this new Way, even some priests, and those that are left are becoming even more vehemently opposed to Christianity.
So they seize their chance to have a go at Paul, and the Romans have to step in to prevent the mob from tearing him apart. Paul, fearless (reckless?) as ever persuades the centurion to let him speak to the people, and he managed to calm them down so they will listen to his testimony. They give him a hearing right up until the point where he tells them that he was sent to the Gentiles, but no more. That word infuriates them and he has to be dragged inside for his own safety. The Roman mechanism of interrogation swings intro action, and some routine cruelty is lined up, until Paul announces that he is a Roman citizen himself. Apparently, being born in Tarsus, he has had this status since birth, whereas many who had risen to positions of influence in the Roman Empire had to buy it for themselves.
So we have the spectacle of the Gentile authorities trying to work out what Paul is all about, while the Jews shout and rage so much that they make no sense. Paul is put before the Sanhedrin, and manages to divide them by introducing the divisive subject of the resurrection.
More shouting.
Eventually the Roman commander sends Paul for trial before the governor in Caesarea, saying that the dispute is “something to do with their law.” Well done to the Romans. They don’t understand what’s going on, but they want to see justice done.
No comments:
Post a Comment