Going Against the Crowd

Acts 21:27-22:22

Setting the context from where we left off last week in our Series of the book of Act, Paul said:

When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God.(Note they praised God not Paul) Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.  (Note these are Jews in and around Jerusalem this presumably included the three thousand that were saved on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2) They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do?  They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. – Acts 21:20-23a

This question (What shall we do?) of course is a rhetorical question.  They seem to already have in mind what they want Paul to do.  Actions speak louder than words and in this case they want Paul to demonstrate by his actions that he still lives according to the laws and customs of Moses.  So they explain their plan to Paul in the next few verses.

There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.” The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them. – Acts 21:23b-26

So that brings us to today’s Message: Going against the Crowd. 

When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.” (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) – Acts 21:27-29

Now picture Paul and these other four men all looking like skin heads in the first week of boot camp. It may be hard to distinguish the original four from each other with their head shaved.  Paul however could very easily be spotted in a crowd of shaved heads.  Why?  Because he would still have all the scars from being beaten and stoned visible on his shaved head.  His hair probably covered most of them so that they would not be as noticeable but with his head shaved every scar would have been exposed.  In any case Paul was recognized by these Jews from Asia.  One or more of them may have even been from Antioch and Iconium and may possibly have been involved in stoning Paul outside the city of Lystra leaving him for dead. Note: Lystra is in the Province of Asia as is Antioch and Iconium. We also read about Jews from these cities in the province of Asia in Acts 14 when Paul was in Lystra.  It says there:

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. – Acts 14:19  

Note that they didn’t even consider him worthy enough to bury his body. They just left him for the buzzards to eat. Like I said these may be the same Jews that stirred up the crowd in the temple here in Jerusalem in today’s passage of Acts 21:27-28.   Let’s continue in today’s passage:

The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. – Acts 21:30-32

If you were a Police detective, you would say that these Jews had the same Method of Operations (MO) as the those that stirred up the crowd in Lystra.  Well what was their MO?  First stir up the crowd. Second drag Paul out. Third beat or stone him to death and leave him for the buzzards.  Fortunately, the Roman commander intervened before they were able to complete the third part.

The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!” – Acts 21:33-36

It is interesting here that the commander was seeking the truth.  However, just like the Police in riots that happen in our current times it is hard to get the truth from rioters.

As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?” Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.” – Acts 21:37-39

The fact that the Roman commander thought that Paul was the Egyptian who started a revolt and the leader of four thousand terrorist may explain why He bound Paul with two chains versus one chain.  Paul identifies himself as being a citizen of Tarsus.  

Note also the two chains may have been the fulfillment of the prophesy by prophet named Agabus recorded in Act 21:10-11 that we heard last week where the Holy Spirit said that Paul would be bound hand and feet in Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles.  One chain for his hands and one for his feet.

Having received the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. – Acts:21:40-2:2

Note how Paul respectfully and reverently addresses the younger men as brothers and the older men as fathers.  This opening address was in their native tongue.  Paul’s respect and reverence for the hostile crowd had a way of defusing their anger (at least temporarily).  We may want to remember this when we have to address a hostile crowd either in public or in a closed door meeting.

Then Paul said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. – Acts 22:3-5

Here again Paul appeals to them to verify his previous action by asking the High Priest and all of the Council.   Surely some or all of them may have been present.  Also note how he said that he had persecuted to the death the Followers of the Way.  That is what they called Christians back then.

“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. – Acts 22:6-8a

Note Paul does not pretend to know who it is that is accusing him of persecution.  He probably thought I have never persecuted anyone that looked like this.  

“‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’  – Acts 22:8b-10

Remember Brian shared last week about Paul’s (What shall I do Lord?) question referenced here in Acts 22.

 

My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.  “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him. – Acts 22:11-13

Note that Ananias already addresses Paul as a brother here.  This has to be as a brother in Christ because when He first talked to the Lord about Paul in Acts chapter 9 where Ananias was speaking to the Lord about Paul.  It was not as a brother but as an enemy of the saints in Jerusalem and an enemy of all who call on the name of Jesus.  It would be good to look back on that passage now in Acts chapter 9:

 

The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My Name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized… - Acts 9:11-18

So it appears that Paul was already saved before Ananias addressed him as Brother Saul (otherwise why else would he address him as brother) but he had not regained his sight nor had he been filled with the Holy Spirit yet. So then we come to our next passage for today in Acts 22:14 to see what Ananias said after Paul received back his sight.

“Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from His mouth. You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His Name.’ – Acts 22:14-16

So if Paul was already saved why does Ananias tell him to get up and be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name in this verse?

As with any single verse or passage we discern what it means by first filtering it through what we know that the Bible teaches on the subject at hand.  In the case of baptism and salvation, the Bible is clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism.  

  

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. – Eph. 2:8-9

 

So any interpretation which comes to the conclusion that baptism, or any other act, is necessary for salvation is a faulty interpretation.

So in order to discern what this verse means we must answer the question of when was Paul saved based on what we read here and elsewhere in the Bible.

First, Paul tells us in Galatians 1:11-12 that he did not receive or hear the Gospel from Ananias, but rather he heard it directly from Christ.  

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. – Gal. 1:11-12

So Paul heard and believed in Christ on the road to Damascus.  Remember last week Brian taught on this What should I do Lord?  That Phrase is recorded here in Acts 22 with details of Paul’s conversion.  Also in Acts 26 Paul repeats some of these details of that event recorded here and in Acts 9. 

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of Him who was speaking to me. “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ – Acts 22:8-10

Second, it should also be noted that at the time when Ananias prayed for Paul to receive his sight, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit.   Note that this was before Paul was baptized.

Third, the Greek aorist participle, epikalesameno, translated here “calling on His name” refers either to action that is simultaneous with or before that of the main verb.  In this case the main verb is “be baptized”.  

Here Paul’s calling on Christ’s name for salvation preceded Paul’s water baptism.  The participle may be translated “having called on His name” be baptized which makes more sense, as it would clearly indicate the order of events.

When we Baptize someone, we first have them give a brief testimony about how they came to know the Lord.  Then we normally state their name and say because of your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus as your Lord and savior I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and then we submerge them into water and bring them back up out of the water to symbolically represent that their sins were washed away when they believed and that they were been born again spiritually.

Fourth, concerning the words, “be baptized , and wash away your sins,” these words must refer to the symbolism of baptism because Paul was already cleansed spiritually at the time Christ appeared to him and appointed him.

Fifth, it is also interesting that when Paul recounted this event again later in Acts 26:12-18, Paul does not mention Ananias or what Ananias said to him at all.  Not that Ananias didn’t actually say this but it appears that it was just not that important.  Perhaps, Ananias may have stated it that way to Paul to relate to the thousands of Jewish believers who believed Peter’s message and repented and were baptized on the day of Pentecost in a similar fashion when Peter made a similar statement. 

“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ – Acts 26:12-18

Acts 26:18 would again confirm the idea that Paul received Christ as Savior on the road to Damascus since Christ is telling Paul he will be a servant and witness for Him concerning forgiveness of sins for Gentiles and Jews as they put their faith in Him.  It would also seem unlikely that Christ would appoint Paul for this task if Paul had not yet repented and believed.

Sixth and finally, Jesus was symbolically Baptized by John the Baptist. to fulfill all righteousness.  I say Symbolically because Jesus was already righteous.  But no real leader will command someone to do something that he hasn’t already done or would not be willing to do himself.

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. – Matt. 3:13-15

Now back to today’s passage in Acts 22 picking up at verse 17 we read:

“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ He said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ – Acts 22:17-20

Note in verses 17 through 20 Paul is recounting what happened to him the first time he returned to Jerusalem before he was sent to the Gentiles.  It just so happens that the same thing is happening again on his final return to Jerusalem after the completion of his third missionary journey.  The only difference is that the Lord is not telling him to flee immediately this time like he did the first time. Don’t be surprised when you are recounting your testimony about Jesus and your conversion to unbelievers if they don’t accept it.  Remember they didn’t accept Jesus’ testimony nor did they accept the Apostle Paul’s testimony.

So Paul continues his discourse here in today’s passage recounting this event of the past.

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” – Acts 22:21-22

Now these are not the many thousands of Jews that came to Christ mentioned in Acts 21:20.  Remember those Jews were just concerned that Paul was preaching that Jews should abandon the law of Moses and not circumcise their male children and not live according to the Jewish customs. .  No these Jews in Acts Chapter 22 that were spewing hatred and death to Paul were hardcore radical Jews that hated all Gentiles.  When they heard this last statement they could take no more.  They wanted Paul’s death and they wanted it immediately.

It is not by accident that the account of Paul’s conversion is recorded in so many places.  It is by the Holy Spirit of God’s design.  God has taken a murderer of His people and used him as an example of His Grace and Mercy.  He has taken a Pharisee to communicate to all of the Jews including the Pharisees and the Scribes that even though they were responsible for delivering Jesus up to the Romans to be crucified could still repent and be saved by Jesus’s death on the cross if they would just repent.  We as Gentiles should be eternally grateful to Him because He has expanded His promised Salvation and forgiveness for sins to us also.  Like Paul we should pray for the Jews and Jerusalem to turn back to God before it is too late.

Applications:

1. Be guided by the Holy Spirit not by fear when sharing your testimony about Jesus.
   
   
2. Let the Lord use your past failures and or your scars to accomplish His purpose for you.
   
   
3. Address those hostile toward you with respect and gentleness this can defuse their anger.