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RUSSELL SANDERS
8-14-2021
THE APOSTLE PAUL – LESSON 44
LAST TRIP TO JERUSALEM – PART 2
PAUL’S TESTIMONY TO THE JEWS
Paul addressed the riotous mob that had been incited by Asian Jews. As he spoke to them in Hebrew (instead of Aramaic or Greek) they were made fully aware that although from Asia Minor (Tarsus of Cilicia) he was fully Jewish and grew up there in Jerusalem at the feet of the renowned Jewish teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:1-).
He told them that he had been just as zealous for the Jewish law and customs as they were even to the point of persecuting the Followers of the Way (Christians).
He told of his Damascus Road experience that changed his life. He told of his trip (after three years) to Jerusalem. He was praying in the temple when he fell into a trance and Jesus spoke to him (Acts 22:18) saying, “Make haste, and get quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.” The Jerusalem disciples distrusted him and would not believe his testimony (Acts 9:26) due to his reputation for persecuting them (around 33-35 A.D.).
That warning from the trance proved true because as Paul, with Barnabas helping him, went in and out the city preaching Jesus, they laid a plot to kill him (Acts 9:29).
There were a few, thanks to Barnabas, who did believe him and sent him home to Tarsus. Now, many years later (about 60 A.D.) he was back in Jerusalem and making his defense to the mob. They broke their silence (acts 22:22) and cried out against him. They caused such a huge ruckus that the chief captain of the Romans took him into the castle for questioning under the scourging of a whip.
Tomorrow we shall see how that turned out.
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