Arguing with Dad
Acts 22:1-23
Listening, and hearing the Truth
In our last post, we shared some historical context around Paul’s conversation with the tribune. Our post before last, from the book of Acts, is more relevant to today’s post, so if you’re interested you can read more here: “Doing Everything Right, But Suffering Anyway–Acts 21:27-36”.
In today’s post, we’ll see how a group of people reject God’s Truth because of an oppositional attitude toward the bearer of God’s message.
Acts 22:1-23
“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.”
“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.”
“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well-spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
“Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,”
Arguing With Dad
My poor dad. I’m embarrassed to admit, well into my adulthood, there were too many times when if he opened his mouth and said something, it could be almost anything, I would take an opposite position. Once when we were traveling together, I argued with him about how the cruise control worked in the car, and it was his car! Later I bought the same brand and discovered he was right. Another time I argued with him about moving, and then, while I was helping him move, I argued with him about how he should move.
When I was in this oppositional mode, if dad said up, I said down. If dad said hot, I said cold.
But in spite of all that obnoxious behavior: my dad loved me. It was genuine and obvious. Obvious to me and obvious to anyone who knew us.
Paul’s Oppositional Audience
In today’s text Paul’s permitted to speak to the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem, and he’s extraordinarily sensitive to his audience. He shares about how although he was born in a different country, he grew up in Jerusalem studying under a famous Rabbi named Gamaliel. (And Gamaliel was a student of another famous Rabbi named Hillel.) The way Paul describes himself as “educated at the feet of Gamaliel” indicates that Paul was his disciple.
Paul shares about how zealous he was as a Jewish Pharisee, how he passionately pursued followers of Jesus so he could ensure they were punished. Paul shared the specific example of how he participated in and approved of the stoning of Stephen.
Then he shared about his miraculous encounter with Jesus.
After that encounter he was blind, and Paul shared how the man who healed him from his blindness, Ananias, was a pious Jew.
And Paul shared about how he fell into a trance while praying in the temple. His Jewish audience would have approved of such a setting for receiving a communication from God. That’s where Samuel heard from God in 1 Samuel chapter 3.
But here’s where an oppositional attitude comes into play. Paul mentions that the Lord directed him to go to the Gentiles. And as I mentioned in a recent post, Jewish nationalism was on the rise at this time in history. So, a ministry to the Gentiles was a ministry to the wrong group of people, people on the outside. Paul was always sensitive to his audience, but also unwilling to compromise the Gospel. The inclusive multiethnic nature of the Gospel was an essential part of Paul’s message and Paul remained true to Jesus by sharing about his call to the Gentiles. (Keener)
And they reacted. “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live,” they said. And they threw off their cloaks. And they flung dust into the air.
Paul’s politics were wrong, so they refused to hear the truth.
Truth and an Oppositional Attitude
Lord help you and Lord help me to listen to His truth, even when it comes from someone outside our group or involves people outside our group. Even if it comes from someone from a different denomination. Even if it comes from someone with a different worldview. Even if it comes from someone with a different political perspective.
“Father, please have mercy on us, and help us to listen to Your truth, whatever vessel You may choose to use to send it. Help us to be open to Your Gospel and to receiving what You have to say to us: always. Help us not to react the way the crowd reacted to Paul. Let there not even be a hint of an oppositional attitude in us. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help us respond the way You want us to.”
“Fill us with the love of Jesus, Father.”
“In Jesus’ name,”
“Amen.”
Notes:
Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, IVP Academic; 2nd edition, January 3, 2014, pp. 389-390
Kurt Cameron Bennett best known for his book Love Like Jesus. After attending church and studying the Bible for most of his adult life, he was challenged by a pastor to study Jesus. That led to an obsessive seven-year deep dive. After pouring over Jesus’ every interaction with another human being, he realized he was doing a much better job of studying Jesus’ words than he was following Jesus’ words and example. The honest and fearless revelations of Bennett’s own moral failures affirm he wrote Love Like Jesus for himself as much as for others. He currently lives in Hillsboro, Oregon, just a few miles from his son Gabe, daughter (-in-law) Charise, and grandson Andrew. He has another son Nate and daughter (-in-law) Anastasia who live in Sammamish, Washington. His blog, God Running is a place for anyone who wants to (or even anyone who wants to want to) love Jesus more deeply, follow Jesus more closely, and love people the way Jesus wants us to.
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