Acts 22:1-3 - “Brothers and fathers, listen
to me as I offer my defense.” (When
they heard him speaking in Hebrew, the silence was even greater.) “I am a Jew,” he said, “born in Tarsus, a city in
Cilicia, but educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, at whose feet I learned
to follow our Jewish laws and customs very carefully. I became very anxious to
honor God in everything I did, just as you have tried to do today.
Paul had been arrested ….his preaching had
caused a great stir with the Jews once again…and the scene that resulted caused
even the Roman soldiers to be concerned. He pleaded with the soldiers in Greek
for one more chance to give a defense…then spoke to the Jews who had mobbed him
in Hebrew. He summarized his education….spoke
of his own sins from the past…gave a statement of loyalty to God… then detailed
his conversion experience in Damascus. He made sure to emphasize just how much
God had changed his life.
Paul tried to find the only common ground
he knew they shared in order for his words to be more effective. He gave
credibility to his reason for speaking…in hopes that mere respect would open
their hearts a bit wider to hear the truth of God. He used the fact that they shared the
misunderstanding of the faith of a new
believer…and tried to persecute and even kill Christians.
Paul’s speech was not received well...but
that does not mean that God did not use it to glorify himself and witness to
all that heard it. Paul planted seeds that day in three groups of people
because of what happened. The angry mob
heard the truth…whether they believed it or not… the soldiers stopped to listen
because he spoke in Greek…and the leaders and Chief Priest heard one more time
that the Messiah had indeed come…and had died for all people…not just the Jews.
What a great reminder that God uses us even
when we feel we are not. What we think of as a mistake…is really God welding
his plan to be something greater than we could ever imagine. It’s my baby boys birthday today. He still teases me that I called his appearance
23 years ago an accident. But as I have
grown older…and seen the blessing he has been to my life…I sure don’t see him
as an accident anymore. God knew that I needed one more child…headstrong but
loving…bold and not afraid to take risks. He has become a blessing…not an accident
for sure.
Father...thank you for the reminder that
you do not make accidents….and even when we make bad choices you can use them
for good. Forgive me for the times that
I have seen the glass half empty instead of the glass half full. Plant in my heart a passion to be positive in
all my thinking…and see and embrace the possibilities instead of stir up fear
from the negatives involved. Amen.
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