Paul the disciple

by Joyce Voysey

Chapter 21: Paul didn’t heed the first warning not to proceed to Jerusalem, nor the warning from Agabus, a prophet.  No doubt he was aware that it would not be easy for him in Jerusalem, but he had to go there.  (Ed. Verse 13 is powerfully poignant: “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?  For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus”)

He was accused of disobeying the Law and the outcome was that he was imprisoned in chains, the “multitude” crying “away with him” (verse 36).  How in touch with the Christ was Paul that he was able to ask a Roman if he could speak to the people?  It seems that this Roman chief captain rescued Paul from the Jews.

Chapter 22 (Ed. Here we have Luke’s rendering of Paul’s “defence” to the people) reads like a testimony at a Wednesday Evening Meeting: the wonderful enlightening conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus; his direct communication with Jesus Christ; his being rendered blind; Ananias healing that blindness; and the direction that he leave Jerusalem and go “far hence” to teach the Gentiles.

The people were not convinced by any means, and the chief captain had to rescue Paul again.  Paul declares that he is a free-born citizen of Rome (Acts 22: 28), so the chief captain sets him before all the chief priests and their council (Acts 23).  Here the Pharisees and the Sadducees get into the act, creating much dissension about resurrection, angels and spirit.  Paul was a Pharisee, and it seems the Pharisees stood by him.  The Lord told him that he must bear witness to God at Rome, as he had at Jerusalem Acts 23: 11).

Again there is violent opposition from a group of  Jews.” (Dummelow’s One Volume Bible Commentary suggests these were probably Sicarii or Assassins employed by the high priest Ananias.) 

 

The next hearing is before Felix the governor, a Roman procurator of Judea appointed by the emperor Claudius.

My goodness, the lessons Paul was learning, and which later appeared in his writing and teaching!  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  II Cor. 10:4,5. 

To a degree, we also learn lessons from our battles with the many avenues in which error seems to confront us.  We too have the opportunity to record these experiences, by writing for the Christian Science periodicals.

Paul’s life seems to have been one continuous adventure.  One is reminded of Mrs. Eddy’s use of the word “adventure”: We live in an age of Love’s divine adventure to be All-in-all. The First Church of Christ Scientist and Miscellany 158:9-10.

The idea came to me to list qualities associated with Paul. 

Zeal comes to mind, with its definition in Science & Health           p. 599: ZEAL. The reflected animation of Life, Truth, and Love.  Blind enthusiasm; mortal will.  What a prime example Saul/Paul’s life gives of human zeal with his lashing out at Christians right and left with blind enthusiasm and mortal will before his conversion, and his extraordinary post-conversion life reflecting the animation of Life, Truth, and Love!  Surely the perfect example of zeal used wrongly and rightly.

Then there is pride being replaced by humility, and hate by love.  His wonderful chapter on love in I Corinthians 13 is in sharp contrast to his “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9: 1).  Wikipedia captures qualities of agape (translated charity in KJV Bible; love in most other translations) which Paul brings out in his message to the Corinthians.  So, according to Paul, agape:

• (verse 4)
• is long suffering (i.e. tolerant, patient)
• is kind
• is free of jealousy, envy and pride
• (verse 5)
• does not display unseemly behavior
• is unselfish
• is not touchy, fretful or resentful
• takes no account of the evil done to it [outwardly ignores a suffered wrong]
• (verse 6)
• hates evil
• is associated with honesty
• (verse 7)
• protects
• trusts [implying faith in God and trusting in righteousness]
• hopes
• perseveres
• (verse 8)
• triumphs
• (verse 13)
• is greater than either faith or hope

I reckon that we could say that this is evidence that Paul overcame many human failings in his demonstration and living of Christianity.  Perhaps he had a story or testimony to relate about each one of those qualities.