Paul's Defense
Acts 22:1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
Paul had been accused, judged and was being executed when the Roman guard arrived. The guard could not understand what the crowd was saying, because there were many conflicting voices. The captain was gracious to allow Paul to speak his defense. We should never accept the opinion of a confused crowd, let all things be done in order.
Acts 22:2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
He was a Jew a citizen of Jerusalem, taught by the most respected teacher of the law, Gamaliel; he knew the law and customs of the Jews, but he did not have God's Spirit to know the truth with discernment at that time. Knowledge without the spirit is as the letter of the law, it kills. The spirit gives life and truth, compassion and God's love. Compassion without truth is false compassion and sentimentality. Love without truth is misplaced or wishful lust.
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Acts 22:5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
Letters unto the brethren, He speaks of the brethren, which in this context are fellow Jews.
He, long ago, with the permission of the high priests, persecuted the people of the way. (Jesus is the way) He was once zealous to destroy those of the way.
Paul was seeking to relate to them, understanding their viewpoint. He had been serving Christ for 20 years, yet he had not forgotten the former life. God had removed all sins, yet the mermories linger to be used of satan against us. Our memories keep us humble and should be used for the understanding and encouragment of others. Who more would understand the Jew's viewpoint then Saul, who was the persecuter of the church, but was now the apostle Paul? But sometimes our love and compassion are not received.
Acts 22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
Acts 22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
God is light, he sometimes is made known to us in a light, as with moses in the burning bush. I have heard of God's light coming in times of great need to chase evil away. (the darkness) Saul was blinded in the physical as he had been in his spirit. Now he would give his attention to the one of the light.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Saul would receive and be guided by the light of truth. Saul? Why are you persecuting me? The people of the way were not alone in their weakness, they have a big brother who watches out for them, Jesus.
Acts 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
Acts 22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
The voice of Jesus was for Paul. Unless he speaks to us individually we do not receive his calling.
Acts 22:10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
Paul was given a direct order, if he were to have refused perhaps he would have gone through life blind and confused. When Jesus calls you or speaks to you in some way, we must respond in obedience. He is Lord and judge of all people.
Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts 22:11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
Acts 22:12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
A devout Christian that was respected by the Jews. The apostle John was such a man, having friends amoung the Jewish leaders and yet he was called the disciple who Jesus loved and would accompany Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
Acts 22:13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
Acts 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
Acts 22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Ananias spoke to Saul after hearing from God. Paul was to witness unto all men (with sufferings). Saul obeyed immediately being baptized in water and Jesus washing away his sins. aul was miraculously chosen in a dramatic way by our Lord. Others may not have had such a memorable calling, but all who are called remember the events surrounding their conversion from death unto life.
Acts 22:17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
Acts 22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
Acts 22:19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
Acts 22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
Acts 22:21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
This is the first mention of Pauls vision from the Lord when visiting the temple. We must hear the Lord through his spirit and obey. Sometimes he uses angels as when Joseph was told to flee to Egypt with baby Jesus. God will not send a message to destroy us or to go against his written word. Beware of angel messengers, if they speak against the things of God or his church or bring another gospel. Paul knew the voice of the Lord, so should we.
God gave Paul the ministry of witnessing to the Gentiles (non-Jews), God had truly done a work on proud Saul, to change him to Paul who would bring the Gentiles into the New Covenant. This is the age of the Gentiles, the church age. Paul comments on this:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Acts 22:22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
Acts 22:23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
The Jews were envious and angry, that the Gentiles would be chosen of God as well as the Jews. Jesus was killed because of envy, satan uses these negative emotions for his darkness.
Salvation came to all by faith in Jesus, it is grace and not works. The Jews wanted the Gentiles to first follow the Jewish customs, but all would come to Jesus the same way. By believing that his blood was shed for their sins. We are become blood related Children of God, adopted through God's spirit into a new creation of Spirit filled people.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Acts 22:24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
The captain did not understand the Hebrew language that Paul spoke to the Jews. He did see their reaction to his defense. Supposing him to be a criminal, he was to be scourged, beaten with whips until he confessed of his crime.
Acts 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned
Paul was bound with straps to a post, with his back bare, when he spoke to the centurian a simple question. Is it lawful to scourge a Roman citizen without a trial? No, it was unlawful to even bind a Roman citizen without a trial. They were under full protection of the Roman law.
Acts 22:26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
That would spare Paul until he was given a lawful trial. Roman citizenship was the highest honour in a world dominated by Roman might and law. They dare not offend a Roman.
We are citizens of God's Kingdom, we have the highest honor and citizenship in all of creation. Our rights are found in God's word. Our enforcer is our Father God and his angels. The world controlled by satan opposes us, but at the mention of Jesus, all take notice.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Acts 22:27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
Acts 22:28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
Roman citizenship could not be bought for a fee, only for a bribe. Normally, only right or reward only granted it. Perhaps he had fought bravely for Rome and found a way to purchase his citizenship. It is possible to purchase false documents, even in our country.
True citizenship in the kingdom of God, cannot be purchased, earned or bought with an illegal forgery. It is given by God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus has bought our citizenship by the shedding of his blood and the resurrection from the grave. It is given to us by the grace of God, we do not earn it, we were sinners, but through faith in Jesus we are become children of God, citizens of God's Kingdom.
Paul stated that he was born a Roman citizen, it was his birthright. It was unusual for a Jew who had been a Pharisee, to also be a citizen of Rome. God uses our differences to use us where these things will be an advantage. Our birthright is that we are born-again in the spirit of God, it is our new birthright as citizens of heaven, much better then earthly connections. We are connected to the eternal living vine, which is Jesus. (John 15:5)
Acts 22:29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
Before, this half beaten little man was an easy target to be scourged, but if a Roman citizen, that is serious. The soldiers dared not harm a Roman without a fair trial.
Acts 22:30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
The Captain was still curious as to what wrong had been done by Paul to the Jews. Rome had authority over the government of the Jews. The high priests and the Sanhedrin, the council, those who were judges of the law were called to examine Paul and to determine his guilt. Paul himself had been a member of the Sanhedrin and put his approval on the stoning of righteous Stephen.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death...
Gary
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