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Good Monday morning my friends,
As we begin a new week together, we are with the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem, in 57 ad. He is under Roman arrest, for his own protection, for the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem are as determined to silence Paul and his speaking of Jesus, as they were in their determination to silence Jesus and later His disciples. Look around the world today, 2000 years later. Do you see places where this is happening? Places like North Korea, India, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq and many other Communist or Muslim nations? At this very moment, there are thousands of Christians being held and tortured, just like Paul was. Today, and every day, some die horrific deaths, with their only crime being their refusal to stop speaking of Jesus, their Savior. How does that affect us my friends?
Let’s begin our reading today in Acts 22:30. The “Sanhedrin”, as you may recall, was a group of 72 of the most educated, respected Jewish leaders in the world. They had final authority in dealing with any Jew caught up in any dispute related to Jewish law. Roman courts dealt with the laws of the Empire, the Sanhedrin dealt with Jewish law. Many of these same Sanhedrin leaders would have been the ones who interrogated Jesus and condemned Him to death (Matt. 26:57-27:2). This Sanhedrin was also the group who interrogated the Disciples/Apostles (Acts 5:26-42) and had them flogged, commanding them not to speak of Jesus.
In his younger years, Paul had been a member of this Sanhedrin, so as he stands before them, we assume he knows many of them. And, of course, they remember Paul as the young, zealous, fanatical Pharisee named Saul, who watched over the execution of Stephen (Acts 7:58-60) and was sent, by this very same Sanhedrin to Damascus, with papers of authority that he could arrest any Jewish person living there, who claimed to be a follower of Jesus. Of course it was on that journey, that Saul encountered Jesus, (Acts 9) and his life was changed.
Paul, of course knew that the issue of ‘resurrection’ was the major point of disagreement between the two factions which made up the Sanhedrin, as you see in vs. 8, and he cleverly drew them into a debate with each other by his statement “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” (23:6) Of course Paul was about to speak of one particular resurrection. . . that of Jesus Christ, but before he could, the debate in the Sanhedrin broke out. As you see in vs. 10, it became so violent, Roman soldiers were sent in to bring him out, into protective custody, for he was a Roman citizen.
Do you see what happened next my friends? Look at vs. 11 “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.” What do you understand happened here? Was this a dream or vision or what? Of course the words “the Lord” refer to the resurrected Jesus, who had ascended to heaven almost 30 years before, from the hillside about 500 yards from where this meeting was taking place in Jerusalem!
The words “stood near Paul” seem clear don’t they? It is not a dream. It is an actual visitation of Jesus to Paul. Momentary, but long enough to assure Paul that his life mission was not yet compete. God would make a way for Paul to get to Rome and there, God would provide the opportunity for Paul to proclaim Jesus, in the capital of the entire Roman Empire!
My friends, have you ever wondered what God might be thinking and perhaps even planning for the remaining years of your life? And what if Jesus came and spent 10 minutes with you to give you explanation of what He wanted you to accomplish before the end of your earthly journey? How would you respond? Do you think it’s possible God has yet some exciting things, maybe significant things, He would like to accomplish with you? Are you available to Him?
The remainder of Acts 23 is the stuff of Indiana Jones Hollywood movies. A plot among 40 men to kill Paul and their covenant to not eat or drink until he was dead! A young boy (Paul’s nephew) who overhears the plot and is brought to the Roman Commander to inform him. A small army assembled to escort Paul safely out of Jerusalem and all the way to Caesarea, the regional Roman military post. Wow, can you picture it in your minds eye?
Do you remember what the angel Gabriel said to Mary? “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)! So I have to ask you my friends… no matter what the issues are you are facing… does God understand and is there any limit to what God could do in your situation for His glory?
As Paul was walking out of Jerusalem, along the road to Caesarea, surrounded by 200 armed, Roman soldiers, 70 mounted horsemen, and 200 soldiers with spears. . . I wonder if the great Old Testament story of God protecting the prophet Elisha with the horses and chariots of fire, came to his mind? Oh my that’s a great story, found in 2 Kings 6, and of course Paul would have known it by heart.
Can you see the smile on Paul’s face as he walked in this parade? Can you see the angry faces of those religious leaders who had plotted his death? And can you see the smile on God’s face, as Jesus is once again victorious against the schemes of Satan trying to defeat God’s people and God’s purposes?
I’d like to ask all of us reading this “Walking with Jesus” to spend some time talking with Jesus about what it really means to walk with Him. We have a wonderful picture of it here in Acts 23. Sometimes it’s frightening, sometimes it’s mysterious, sometimes it’s the feeling of total security and the Sovereignty of God. But ALWAYS it’s safe… because “the Lord is near”!
I wonder if Paul was remembering this event, when he wrote to the Philippians “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice!… the Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:4-7)
Oh Lord Jesus. . .
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Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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