32-33. “Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.”
If the Jews had believed Paul’s message, rather than beating the messenger, they would have received God’s grace, forgiveness and deliverance. As it was, the centurion had to deliver Paul from their murderous intent, using “two chains.” The world’s promises of protection always result in restricting and hindering the Christian. Only faith in the Lord Jesus can bring the joy of true freedom.
Paul’s two chains are the same that morally bind every faithful believer in some measure who he was and what he had done. Paul, the “chief of sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)), was a “called apostle” (Rom. 1:11Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1) JND). He who had persecuted the Christ (Acts 9:55And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:5)) now preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)).
The Apostle’s disregard of the Spirit’s warnings (bringing the restricting chains and loss of liberty) was due to his deep love for the nation of Israel.
Let us walk in the fear of God, being mindful of who we are (sons of God) and what we ought to do in our lives (obey God). In one sense, faithfulness to Christ will bring chains of persecution. Yet they can never restrict the liberty and joy of the Lord. “The truth shall make you free” (John 8:3232And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)). “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)).
34-35. “And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.”
Now, totally blinded to the love and goodness of God (John 1:55And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)), the Jews’ angry unbelief caused a great tumult. But God uses the wrath of man to protect Paul. The Jews violence brought him the soldiers’ protection, who carried him to safety.
36. “For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.”
What chilling proof that the heart of unregenerate man is unchanging in its hatred of God! Having refused the truth, the Jews cry after the servant as they had after his Lord (John 19:1515But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. (John 19:15); Matt. 10:2525It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matthew 10:25)). In our Western lands, rejection of truth may not be so outwardly violent, but it is just as unrelenting.
37. “And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?”
It is good for Christians to be able to speak in a language the world can understand—not crude or immoral—so as to get its attention for Christ.
38. “Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?”
Don’t be surprised at misunderstandings in the path of faith, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Seven times in the addresses to the seven churches in Revelation 23, the blessed Lord said, “I know thy works.” He knows our motives, desires and works. That is enough for faith.
39. “But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.”
To gain the Roman centurion’s ear and permission, Paul presented truthful facts the soldier could understand. By doing the same, we may be able to gain the attention of souls we seek to win for Christ.
40. “And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying.”
Since truthful facts had already been rejected by the Jews (crucifixion of their Messiah), Paul gains their attention using grace (“beckoned with the hand”) and love (“spake... in the Hebrew tongue”).
Chapter 22
12. “Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense which I make now unto you. (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith.)”
Paul’s attitude and words, in the face of violent persecution, brought a great silence and attention from his persecutors. What attitude do we the sons of God display in the face of misunderstanding, persecution and even hatred (Rom. 8:1414For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14))?
3. “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.”
The Apostle does not begin by protesting his innocence or condemning the Jews’ treatment of him. He had given up great natural advantage by leaving Tarsus to study the “law of the fathers” at the feet of Gamaliel, doing so in zeal for God a misplaced zeal like their own. Do we, remembering the pit from whence we have been digged, display a similar humble spirit towards those who oppose us?
4. “And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.”
These words ought to have touched the Jews’ conscience. Paul’s Jewish zeal (greater even than theirs) brought sorrow and death. Now his love and zeal for Christ brought joy and life. It’s not wrong to humbly tell others the wonderful difference Christ has made in our lives. But if He isn’t the personal Object of our delight, we will have difficulty effectively sharing His glorious gospel with others.
5. “As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.”
None could claim more ardent, willing service to the Jewish leaders. Saul’s life is an example of the Lord’s words, “No man can serve two masters.” A new Master was about to lay claim to him and his life, changing it forever. How much change from the ways of the world is evident in each of our lives?
6. “And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.”
Paul now begins to show “forth the praises” of the One who called him “out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Oh! that we might walk by faith in the daily consciousness of the Lord of glory’s infinite, loving interest in each step of our life.
Ed.