Who Would Have Thought?

Earlier this year we went on a trip to Phoenix, and took an excursion to Page to see Antelope Canyon. Page is in northern Arizona, and passable roads to Page are infrequent. As luck would have it, the road we needed to take was not open, so we took a detour. This added an hour and a half to our journey.

Antelope Canyon, Page AZ

 

Impatient by nature, we were not very happy. After all, we had a schedule to keep!

 

Today’s lesson is Acts 24:10-21.

 

Paul had collected money from the Corinthians to give to the impoverished Jews in Jerusalem. He had delivered the gift in Jerusalem, and was arrested on trumped up charges. The true reason for his arrest was because he was a follower of “The Way”. That is, he was arrested for being a Christian.

 

Paul was sent from Jerusalem to Caesarea to face the authorities. That was the first detour Paul had to make. Standing trial, Paul used his citizenship privileges and appealed to Rome. To Rome he was sent, his second detour.

 

Our detour, annoying at the time, turned out to be very beneficial. We ended up at the canyon later in the day, when the sun was higher in the sky, providing some very dramatic scenes. We would have missed these if we were “on time.” Who would have thought?

 

Paul’s detours were likewise beneficial. In Caesarea, he provided a witness of Jesus to Felix, Festus and Agrippa, governors and king of the region. In Rome, he also provided a witness to many members of the Roman power structure, probably including the Emperor and perhaps some Senators.

 

Imagine for a second that you were in Corinth and gave money to Paul for the impoverished Jews. Your gift helped the poor, which is great. But, perhaps, more importantly, the gift eventually led to Paul being sent to Rome where he gave testimony, fulfilling prophecy.

 

Small gifts can accomplish great things.

 

Who would have thought?

True Power

“The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.”  Acts 25:23

Things aren’t always as they seem, are they?  Take power, for instance …

Who can forget the image of a solitary protester in Tiananmen Square, whose mere presence and conviction brought a roaring army tank to a complete standstill? Fortified both in strength of steel and the authority of the Chinese government, this massive, advancing behemoth lost its battle – failed its mission – against one man literally standing for freedom and armed only in courage.  The whole world was watching, but appearances deceived; power wasn’t as it seemed.

In today’s text, there convened in Caesarea the “machinery” of Judea – King Herod Agrippa, his sister Bernice, Governor Festus, and a room full of military officers and local leaders. And at the command of Agrippa, Paul was brought into the auditorium.  Bound with chains, he stood alone before them.

They had not assembled against Paul, but simply to hear the defense of him who had appealed his case to Caesar. Still, it was a display of authority that would intimidate just about anyone.

Paul, however, saw it for what it was, an opportunity ... not only for his defense, but also to witness to God's faithfulness to his promises. And like the lone figure in Tiananmen Square, Paul needed no weapons, for he was already armed with all the power he needed: Truth, freely spoken.

After greeting the King with respect, Paul spoke clearly and concisely about his hope in the long-promised Messiah ... and his faith in Jesus, who fulfilled all the Messianic predictions of Moses and the prophets.  And at that point, it became clear where the real power lay ...

For it was Festus, the governor, who first lost composure, shouting “You are out of your mind, Paul!”  (“I am not insane, most excellent Festus. What I am saying is true and reasonable.”)

And when Paul asked Agrippa, a Jew by birth, if he believed in the prophets, the king completely avoided the question, exposing his own inner weakness: “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”  (“Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”)

Outgunned, the king stood and left the room in full retreat, dignitaries in tow. Only when out of earshot did Agrippa privately confess, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

Appearances had deceived; power wasn’t as it seemed. Those who entered the room ”with great pomp” left it ... pomp-less!  The real power in the room that day was truth simply spoken in faith by one physically bound by man, but spiritually free in Christ.

Whether we testify before small or great, Jesus tells us, “... do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:9, 11)”

So speak truth freely!  And as you look upon things as they appear, confidently and joyfully remember this: he who holds all power lives within us.

[Read the entire story of Paul before King Agrippa in Acts 25:23 - 26:32. For the NIV, click here.  For The Message, click here.]

God's Promise Prevails - Acts 26:2-32

There have been times when trying to comfort someone who is in the midst of a difficult season I try to explain how God sees the big picture; that He knows what is going to happen next.  In fact I have had to draw upon that very idea when trying to deal with grief.  I have tried to explain away why something so hurtful had to take place, before the good could be recognized.

One of the reasons I write in a journal everyday is so I can look back a month, year or even more and identify where and when God was moving in my life.  I find such comfort in watching God's hand orchestrate my story.  Of course, this means I have to give up control, but it is worth it.


"The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.  After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (Acts 26:30-32)


It is fun to read the goings on in Acts right now.  Paul is still telling anyone who will listen that he is innocent of the charges the Jewish leaders have brought against him.  And, every time he does this he has the opportunity to tell the story, the Good News.  The big picture is God's story and Paul knows this is true.  He has given up control and is letting God guide his steps.  What faith that requires!  God has promised Paul will go to Rome and he is on his way.  I wonder what God has planned for Paul in Rome.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story...

Read the Acts 26:2-32 text here.