Boldness at the Barracks

A famous Methodist evangelist named Peter Cartwright was known for his uncompromising preaching. However, one day ... More

Boldness

It was the time of Pentecost, and Jews were present in Jerusalem from all over the world. Some Asian Jews saw Paul and his companions in the Temple area. In their mind Paul was a strong opponent of Judaism, the temple, the priesthood, and the law. They had heard him preach against legalism (vv. 27-29). Seeing an opportunity, they accused him of destroying the law, insulting the chosen people, and defiling the temple. They also accused him of bringing Gentiles into the restricted area of the Temple. Paul had done no such thing. His Gentile traveling companions had come with him to Jerusalem, but they had not entered the temple. The crowd seized Paul intending to kill him. They dragged him out, beating him in the process (vv. 30-31). The people would have accomplished their goal if it had not been for the quick action of the commander of the Roman troops who was stationed in Jerusalem and saw a riot developing (32-36). To keep order, Paul was taken and bound, but this action saved his life. Surprisingly, we don’t hear anything about James and the other church leaders after this point. 

As Paul was being taken into the barracks, he asked the tribune, in Greek, if he could first say something to him (v. 37). The tribune had mistaken Paul for a notorious Egyptian revolutionary (v. 38). Paul corrected his assumption. He was a Jew, a Roman citizen from Tarsus, an important city within the Roman Empire (v. 39). Paul asked if he might be allowed to speak to the gathered crowd, and the tribune agreed to it (v. 40). Gesturing with his hands to the people, Paul spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect of Aramaic. The familiar language got everyone’s attention. 

Application

 I want to have the boldness to say what the Lord wants me to say when He wants me to say it.

Acts 21:27-40 (English Standard Version)


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