GOSPEL MEDITATION # 62
Paul Speaks to the People
Acts 21:37-22:21
- Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
- Paul shows poise and courage as he asks permission from the tribune to speak to the rioters as he is being carried by the soldiers into the Fortress of Antonio.
- Standing now, Paul addresses the people in their native language, Aramaic, which immediately quiets them.
- Affectionately he addresses them as “brothers and fathers.” He is going to make an “apologia.”
- Paul is a Jewish man and even educated as a rabbi under the famous Gamaliel and thus is a dedicated religious Jew.
- He confesses he persecuted those of the “Way to the death.” And this he did under the authority of the Council.
- He then goes on to tell of the event that happened on the road to Damascus as he intended in that city to expand his attacks against those who believed Jesus to be the Messiah.
- Then suddenly he was stunned by a “great light” and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He found this voice belonged to Jesus.
- Paul (Saul) asked for direction and Jesus tells him to go into Damascus where he will be told what to do.
- Ananias, a Jewish believer, comes to Paul and begins to explain to him the meaning of the event. He tells Paul that he will be a witness for Jesus. Paul is then to arise and be baptized.
- Paul ends his defense to those opposing him, by saying that Jesus is sending him away to the Gentiles.