Bible 365 - Nov 21st

Acts 22-23
(Jurisdictional Conflict)
November 21st

Produced by The Listening for God Ministry
Copyright 2016
Click here for a print- friendly version

Please refer to one or more Bible versions of your choice to read this section. We recommend that you read at least two versions for added understanding. For your convenience, we have provided six links below, each of which takes you directly to today's chapters in a specific version:

Bible Gateway
Acts 22-23 (King James Version - KJV)
Acts 22-23 (New Revised Standard Version - NRSV)
Acts 22-23 (New International Version - NIV)
Acts 22-23 (The Message - MSG)

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Acts 22 (New American Bible - NAB) (click the "next chapter" link on the site for chapter 23)

British Bible Society
Acts 22 (Good News Bible - GNB) (click "Next" for chapter 23)

Key Verse

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

- Acts 23:11 (NIV)

Summary of Chapters

These two chapters and the subsequent ones record Paul’s odyssey that followed his arrest in Jerusalem. In chapter 22, he addressed the angry crowd of Jews. He tells them about his religious background, his own persecution of Christians, and his conversion and subsequent ministry.

The crowd appeared not to listen but called for his life, so the soldiers took Paul away to be flogged. Just before they began the punishment Paul notified them of his Roman citizenship, so they stopped for fear of their own punishment and called for the Sanhedrin to explain the charges.

In chapter 23, Paul faces the Chief Priest of the Sanhedrin, who had him slapped for his insolence. He then decided to stir up a debate between the Sadducees and the Pharisees over the concept of resurrection. This took the attention off Paul, but created such an uproar that the soldiers had him carried away again.

The next night the Lord told Paul where he is headed next:

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

- Acts 23:11 (NIV)

Word spread about a plot to kill Paul so the Roman commander had Paul brought to Caesarea where he waited to be heard by the governor.

Reflection and Application

Paul was never afraid of telling the story of the strange truth of his life journey: He was tutored in religious studies, and then became a persecutor of the church. However, after a personal encounter with God he became an advocate for the church. Maybe this is the point at which the crowd stopped listening. Perhaps because they had never had an experience of hearing directly from God and had not heard of anyone credible who had one. Maybe they had a small nudge of belief that was trying to work its way to the surface of their conscience but then they may have got caught up in the excitement of the crowd and joined in the mocking chorus against Paul.

How often has this happened to us? We get caught up in the crowd, pulling us in a direction that we don’t want to go – like a rip tide in the ocean pulling us out to sea. The more we fight against it the further it pulls us out. The Divine one who created the water and walked on water could pluck us out of that tide if he wanted to (otherwise we should know to swim diagonally to the shore). In the same way, God can pluck us out of the wrong crowd and put us back in the right one, but he may chose to let us slowly work our way back to shore. In either case, if we just hold on we can win over the evil tide.

Please take another look at the following passage from the middle of Paul's speech in today's reading:

Then he (Paul) said: "The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth."

- Acts 22:14 (NIV)

William Barclay wrote that this verse sums up the life of Paul and could also sum up the Christian Life with three essential characteristics (1):

1. To know and obey the will of God
2. To see the Just one (and walk in his presence)
3. To hear God's voice

Barclay adds that "Christians are always listening for the voice of God above the noise of the many voices of the world to tell them where to go and what to do (2)."

Paul heard from the Lord on many occasions and as far as we know he never argued with him. He was prepared to die in Jerusalem, but now was asked to make a long journey to Rome, a mission that was likely to result in more pain and suffering. Paul never wavered. When God asks us to do something we might want to pray for the same level of obedience and focus.

Our choice of which voice to follow and the joy of choosing the right one is artfully depicted in a song composed by the country music duo known as the Louvin Brothers (Ira Lonnie Loudermilk (1924–1965) and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk (1927–2011)). This song was also recorded and performed by the 1960s rock group known as the Byrds:

"I Like the Christian Life"

My buddies tell me that I should've waited
They say I'm missing a whole world of fun
But I still love them and I sing with pride
I like the Christian life

I won't lose a friend by heeding God's call
For what is a friend who'd want you to fall
Others find pleasure in things I despise
I like the Christian life

My buddies shun me since I turned to Jesus
They say I'm missing a whole world of fun
I live without them and walk in the light
I like the Christian life

I won't lose a friend by heeding God's call
For what is a friend who'd want you to fall
Others find pleasure in things I despise

I like the Christian life
I like the Christian life

- Ira and Charlie Louvin

May we make the right choice with confidence and continue to love those who have not yet joined us. Let us sing with pride that we like the Christian life.

"I Like the Christian Life," performed by The Byrds

Questions and Prayers for Further Reflection

Listening For God

A Ministry for Encouraging People to Listen for God in their Daily Lives