Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Read – Acts 22:17-29 Luke provides corroborating evidence indirectly from two sources. The Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem know full well that Paul had once been a persecutor of Christians in many of the synagogues in Jerusalem and elsewhere. They only need to look to their own experience about that. And they also know full well that Paul had approved of the death of Stephen. Luke skillfully places this corroborating evidence inside another appeal to his own experience. Luke provides his readers with information that he has not mentioned before – information that stands somewhat in opposition to what Luke has earlier reported. Luke reports that when Paul had returned to Jerusalem he was in the Temple praying – something a faithful Jew would be doing. In the midst of this time of prayer, Paul falls into a trance through which he receives a warning directly from Jesus to flee from Jerusalem because he will not be accepted there. Paul thinks that they will surely believe him because he had been such a persecutor. Jesus is not convinced and tells Paul that he is being sent away not just to rescue him from danger, but because Jesus has a greater purpose for Paul – to send him to the Gentiles. Luke’s way of providing corroborating evidence indirectly is cleverly done! If we remember what Luke has told us earlier we ought to be at least a little puzzled. Following the telling of the Damascus Road encounter in chapter 9, Luke tells us that Paul returned to Jerusalem and attempted to join the Apostles, but was prevented from doing so because they did not trust him. Eventually Barnabas brings Paul to the Apostles and he is welcomed and “went in an out among them in Jerusalem” (Acts 9:28). Eventually they recognize that Paul is in danger and send him off to Tarsus. There is no mention in the first story about a trance, or that it is Jesus who warns Paul of the danger, or that Jesus commissions Paul to go to the Gentiles. What is going on? Of course the two versions are not completely incompatible with one another, but it becomes difficult to meld them together. Even if they each contain parts of the truth, why does Luke tell the story as he does? One possible explanation is that Luke has at his disposal two versions of what happened. He uses the first version in the first story because it matches his intentions better – Paul is authenticated by the Jerusalem authorities. He uses the second version – a version that matches much closer with Paul’s own telling of this story in Galatians (Galatians 1:18-24) – because the need to emphasize the Apostles’ role is no longer necessary and getting to Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles is. Luke is not troubled by the discrepancy in his story – mostly because he was not concerned about providing historical accuracy knowing full well that historical accuracy is not the guarantee of truth. At this point Paul’s speech is cut short – it will be picked up again later. When Paul says that Jesus has sent him to the Gentiles, the crowd erupts once again, and the tribune must rescue Paul a second time. The tribune is intent on getting to the bottom of all this commotion and uses the tried and true Roman method of torture. A good flogging will get the truth out of Paul. Again, Luke provides us with a bit more information about Paul that saves the day – and saves Paul from a flogging. Paul tells the centurion in charge of flogging him that he is a Roman citizen and reminds him that it is not legal to flog a Roman citizen who is not condemned. Luke knows Roman law well. The tribune would be in great trouble if he were to carry through with the flogging – in fact he is already in very serious trouble because he had bound Paul in chains, since it was against Roman law to place chains on a Roman citizen who is not condemned. Luke likely could have provided all this information about Paul at one time. He has skillfully added suspense and interest to the story by providing the information little by little and over the course of events. What will now happen to the tribune? And what will happen to Paul? Luke uses the opportunity to demonstrate the graciousness of Paul. He will not bring trouble on the tribune – though Luke does emphasize that the whole experience has made the tribune afraid. The exchange between these two Roman citizens, one who had purchased his citizenship at a high price and the other who was born a citizen, is also a delightful touch that Luke adds to the story. One can only imagine what it must have been like to be the tribune in this story. He likely went home with a mind full of wonder – and likely did not sleep all night. As we will soon hear he makes up his mind in the morning to get to the bottom of this strange encounter.