Month: October 2016

Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
John 8:59

In studying the book of Acts, we have seen numerous plots to kill the Apostle Paul because of hatred for the gospel he preached. In Act 23:12-13, over forty men had determined that they would not eat or drink until they had assassinated Paul. Their plot was formed in secret, but the all-seeing God exposed their plan to the apostle’s nephew who in turn told the Roman guarding Paul. The result was a spoiling of their plan and the deliverance of Paul. Another time the Jews wanted the apostle brought back to Jerusalem for trial because they were going to ambush him as he traveled and kill him along the way, but the ruling Roman official Festus wouldn’t agree to their request, determining that he would hear the case in Caesarea. (Act 24:2-4) Again, the evil scheme of Paul’s enemies was foiled, and his life was spared.

We have a similar situation presented to us in our text today. Jesus was in the very midst of the crowd that wanted to stone Him, and yet He escaped without a scratch. Just a couple of chapters later we read, “they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.” (Joh 10:39) To understand why Jesus was such a good escape artist in these chapters, we have to go to Joh 7:30 where there was another attempt on His life: “Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.” The reason they couldn’t take Him then but would be able to crucify Him later was because He had an appointed time to die. Act 2:23 teaches us that though they took Him “by lawless hands”, He was in fact “delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God”.

Paul and Christ are clear examples of what’s true for us all. As Ecc 3:2 says, there is “a time to be born, and a time to die”. Concerning mankind, God “has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings”. (Act 17:26) If we don’t realize our God is that much in control, then we’re missing out on a blessing! This truth frees the believer from doubt and worry. Do the wicked plot against the righteous? Yep, but our God is bigger! In a day of backroom deals and secret alliances in an attempt to bring sinful plots to fruition, it’s a strong temptation to be fearful. But remember, God’s plan is the only one that will without fail come to pass. So, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass…For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” (Psa 37:7-9)

Jamie

And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent.
Mat 26:62-63

For several months now, we have considered the Apostle Paul as he has been on trial. His situation is very similar to that of the Lord Jesus in our text today. Both were falsely accused by the Jewish leaders, both were viewed by their own countrymen to be guilty of crimes deserving of death, and both were brought for examination before Gentile authorities. However, our text highlights one big difference. Though Christ spoke very little and often “kept silent” as in our text, Paul had much to say.

So, why was Paul’s response so different from the Lord’s? Since he didn’t follow Christ’s example, was he wrong in defending himself? Absolutely not! To understand why, we must understand the purpose of both situations. Jesus had come to lay down His life, and that time had come. It wasn’t an hour to give His defense. In fact, just a few verses before our text, Christ made an important statement about these events: “But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” (Mat 26:56) And what had the prophets said about this moment? In Isa 53:7 we read, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” Thus, when questioned, Jesus kept silent. That behavior was the requirement for his experience.

Paul on the other hand couldn’t seem to be quiet! Beginning in Act 22, chapter after chapter the apostle gives his defense. But the purpose of Paul being on trial was completely different from Christ. While Jesus’ trial was about Him being condemned to die, Paul’s multiple trials were about him having an opportunity to preach the gospel while he got an all expenses paid trip to Rome! (God promised that was his destination in Act 23:11) And so, though Paul’s behavior was not at all like Christ’s, he did exactly what was appropriate for his situation.

Here’s the point. We need to understand the unique will of God in each circumstance. There is no cookie-cutter way to follow the Lord. Ecc 3:7-8 highlights this fact stating there is, “A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.” Faith requires us to stay on our knees before God to discern the way the Wind of the Spirit is blowing in any given situation. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2Co 5:7) You and I may be in the exact same circumstances similar to the way Paul and Jesus were but be required to behave completely differently from each other. It’s not easy to walk by faith. We like things to be cut and dried, but God likes us to approach Him as a little child, crying out, “Abba, Father,” confessing our inability while acknowledging that He is able. (Rom 8:15) As the old hymn rightly says, “I need Thee every hour…”

Jamie

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Acts 26:32

This verse above might make one think that Paul had just wasted his breath. That seems to have been Agrippa’s view. The apostle had labored for 28 verses to give his defense concerning the accusations made by the Jews while also sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. What Agrippa failed to realize was that Paul’s dialog wasn’t for Paul’s benefit at all. It was for Agrippa! It wasn’t an appeal for the apostle’s freedom. Paul saw it as an opportunity to preach the word of God to him that he and those with him might be saved.

How often are we guilty of the same as Agrippa when we hear the word of God? We think of who else would have profited from the word, and we wish they could have heard it. We don’t see the word as being for us, but better suited for another. “If only so-and-so had been here…” Well, he wasn’t! What we fail to recognize in those moments is that a sovereign God has determined that WE would be the ones who did hear it. If God sent it to us, then we need to examine our own hearts against what we’ve heard and not other men’s hearts. There’s, of course, nothing wrong with sharing a message with someone who missed it because we think it would be a blessing to them, but we must first measure ourselves against the word we have heard.

Paul’s preaching that day was not in vain. (1Co 15:58) It wasn’t wasted effort. God in His great mercy had sent a man to declare Jesus Christ to Agrippa and those with him. Rom 10:14-15 asks a series of questions: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” Saving belief starts with God sending someone to share the good news, and that’s exactly what He had done through the Apostle Paul. God had sent a man to Agrippa that he might hear and thus believe and call on the Lord!

As much as that fact exalts God’s grace and mercy, it also comes with a frightening reality. If God has sent someone to give us His word, we are then accountable for it! The Lord speaks of those in Rom 1:18 who have known the truth but refused to believe it. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” The sad ending to Paul’s declaration of such glorious truths before Agrippa was that he responded to the apostle, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” May we believe and obey the gospel every time we’re privileged to hear it, recognizing that the next time we hear God speak to us may be in eternity…

Jamie