Prisoner in the Castle

1916

LESSON TEXT — Acts 22.

GOLDEN TEXT — He is my refuge and my fortress. — Ps. 91:2.

Paul was rescued from the mob by the prompt action of Lysias, and was saved from scourging by revealing his Roman citizenship (21:27-22:29). Every true life, real social service, patriotism and national righteousness rest upon the value of conversion to Christ. The fundamental message of the Christian church must always be regeneration. With this message Billy Sunday is gripping the large cities, and Dr. John R. Mott is reaching the student life of the world.

I. Paul's Account of His Early Life (v. 1-5).

By his use of the Greek tongue he obtained permission to deliver this address, and by his wise use of the Jewish language he gained the attention of the excited crowd. Paul asserted his Jewish origin (Acts 21:39). Tarsus, where he was born, had a university which rivaled those of Athens and Alexandria, and Paul had probably heard its great philosophers. Paul was an educated man; he was brought up in Jerusalem from his early boyhood at the feet of Gamaliel its greatest teacher. Thus his religious training was according to the law of the fathers, and as "touching the righteousness which is of the law," he was blameless (Phil. 3:6). He was zealous for God, doing what he thought he would have him do even, when "persecuted this way," the way of forgiveness, salvation and righteousness. Jesus said, "I am the way." Paul was at this time an instrument in the hands of the rulers, carrying out their plans, but he exceeded them in his zeal for "the traditions of our fathers (Gal. 1:14). He was not at all like these Pharisees whom Christ condemned as "white sepulchers." He was not what we would term today, "a bad man."

II. Paul's Turning Point (vv. 6-21).

Paul seems to pick out three different crises in this rehearsal. (1) His interview with Christ, when he saw Jesus as he really was in his glory, a living risen Savior (1 Cor. 9:1; 15.8). He had positive proof of the resurrection from the dead. This proof convicted him of sin. He had heard Jesus call. He had asked Jesus what he would have him to do. He was ready to obey, and something was given him to do. The light which he met on that journey arrested him in his mad course. The voice gave him his directions. In obedience to the command, "Arise and go," he gained knowledge and skill. (2) He lights upon his interview with Ananias (v. 14) where he received personal help from an experienced Christian. In the darkness and conflict of those three days of loneliness the questions must have been: Could he leave rank, honor, friends? Could he enter the service of the despised one and suffer reproach, danger and death? During this conflict he must have had before him the vision of what God would have him do, and the work for which he chose him (vv. 16-18). His vision and commission constituted a strong motive for right decision. During the vision he came into the light, and confessed his faith by his baptism. As a result of those three days and his interview with Ananias he came to know God's will more fully. The next step was of course (3) his public avowal (See Acts 2:38; Heb. 10:22; Rom. 10:13; 1 Cor. 6:11). The purpose of Paul's whole life and mission was changed.

III. Paul's Dangerous Position (vv. 20-30).

The mob gave him audience until his words about the Gentiles. His declaration that God had commanded him to go upon a mission to the Gentiles was an offense to the Jews, and his words fell like a "spark upon an inflammable mass of fanaticism." They broke out into a frenzy of excitement, and made preparations to stone him. An Oriental mob is hideous beyond degree, howling, yelling, cursing, gnashing their teeth, flinging their arms, casting off their garments (v. 23), throwing dust into the air to relieve their excitement and to express their execration. It was a manifestation of their uncontrollable rage. The opposition of a mob is no proof that the person it curses is wrong.

Immediately preparations stopped. The commander was called, and, learning that Paul was a free-born Roman citizen, he had cause to be afraid that he had gone too far.

To assert Roman citizenship falsely was punishable with death.

The chief captain told Paul that with a great sum he had obtained his Roman citizenship, but Paul's reply was, "But I am Roman born."

Paul was well cared for after this, and, in order to find out why the Jews were so opposed to him, the captain summoned the Sanhedrin to meet the following day, thus unconsciously giving Paul another opportunity to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul indeed was ready to be bound, and also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

He knew how his Lord had been bound (John 18:12), and he rejoiced in the fellowship of his sufferings (Phil. 3:10) yet he claims his right as a citizen for there is no need of morbidly seeking unnecessary disgrace or pain.