Scripture
By Elder Janice Hall
Lesson Text: Acts 22:17-29
Related Scriptures: Acts 8:1-3; 9: 1-30; Matthew 10: 14-20; Ephesians 3:7-19
In our lesson text, we see Jesus gave Paul a warning explaining the people of Jerusalem would be unreceptive to his testimony. After listening intently, the crowd erupted in rage when one word was spoken “ Gentiles”. Because of Paul’s citizenship he was spared suffering.
We see in Acts 8: 1-3, how the message of salvation through Jesus spread from Jerusalem to the rest of the world. Stephen, a powerful preacher, has been martyred, the first Jesus follower to have been killed for his faith. Acts 9: 1-30 brings us to the infamous chapter of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Jesus met Saul outside of Jerusalem as he approached Damascus. God disrupted Saul’s journey with a vision by a blinding light from heaven, and sends him to Damascus where he sees again to further his call of evangelism.
Matthew 10: 14-20 reminds us that our decisions about Jesus and the lifestyle he calls us to embrace have eternal consequences. Jesus came to save us from judgment, but if we reject Him we have given up the basis of our hope. When Jesus’ disciples are brought before rulers, God defends and speaks for them. Ephesians 3: 7-19 speaks of the mystery of God’s grace. The Gentiles are full partakers of His promise, through the gospel, because of the gift of grace given by the working of God’s power.
Synopsis
By Sister Tarae King
Today’s Synopsis takes place in Acts 22:17-29. (17) Paul, now as a Christian, returns to Jerusalem to pray at the temple, and he falls into a trance. (18) He sees a vision of Jesus telling him to leave Jerusalem right away because the people there are not going to accept him. (19) Paul reminds Jesus that the people of Jerusalem know of his reputation and wants to imprison and beat believers of Jesus. (20) He was in agreement with the men who killed Stephen, a witness for Jesus.
(21) The Lord then says to depart and that he would send Paul far away to minister to the Gentiles. (22) The crowd was listening to Paul until he mentioned the Gentiles, they began to shout “away with such a fellow from the earth. For it is not fit that he should live.” They cried out and ripped off their outer cloaks and tossed dirt into the air. (24) The commander had Paul brought inside and ordered him lashed with whips to get him to confess his crime. (25) While he was being tied down in preparation for the whipping, Paul asked the officer a question, “Was it lawful for them to whip a Roman citizen without being tried and found guilty?”
(26) The officer told his commander that Paul was a Roman citizen and to think about what he was doing. (27) The commander went to Paul and asked if he was really a Roman citizen and Paul confirmed that he was. (28) The commander told Paul that he was also a Roman citizen but it had cost him a lot of money, but Paul replied that he was born a citizen. (29) The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly backed away when they heard that he was a Roman citizen. The commander was scared because he had ordered a Roman citizen bound and whipped.
Practical Application
By Sister Raufu Spagnoletta
As I reflect on Paul’s suffering in today’s lesson, I am reminded of the Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matthew 5:10-12).” According to Jesus there is a blessed level of satisfaction, and rejoicing, when we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake!
When Paul was converted from Judaism to Christianity on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19), Jesus said of Paul, “for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how much things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Paul gives his resume of suffering in, 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, and why he takes pleasure in persecutions in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Through Paul’s suffering we learn of the sufficient grace of Christ and see God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 3:17-18, “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” Be encouraged, my beloved, “Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all (2 Timothy 2:12; Psalm 34:19).”
