Acts 25-28

The plot to have Paul killed in Jerusalem is a persistent one. Paul finally pulls out his "trump card" and appeals to Caesar, his right as a Roman citizen. The appeal sticks for Festus because the charges were rightly seen as religious ones, not civil, and not worthy of the complaints.

Paul's speech and the reaction of King Herod Agrippa is a classic. He recalls his early history as a zealous religious leader much like those who want to kill him. He did the same kinds of strategies: entrapment, forced blasphemies, etc. Then we read the third telling of Paul's Damascus road experience. The telling of what Jesus says is expanded yet again.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet...I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

Then Paul says words that make me think anew about my own call from God,

"So then King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven."

I haven't been blinded by a light, heard an audible voice of Jesus or been knocked from my horse, but I do have a founding vision and call to ministry to which God holds me accountable. It is for the renewal of the mainline church. When I first received that call from God, I thought that the renewal would have already happened in 25 years. Instead, I have found that much of the mainline Church would rather choose its comfort over doing what is necessary to reach a new generation for Christ. At St. Luke's we are going against that kind of current, but it is not quick nor easy. During days of misunderstanding and resistance I have to be reminded of God's call and determine again to "be obedient to the heavenly vision." The same is true for you. God has a purpose and call on your life. Finding out what that is often takes time and some trial and error. But once you find your purpose in Christ, you then will have to take up your cross daily and tenaciously do what obedience calls for. Festus calls Paul a nut. Paul, in his writings, calls himself a "fool for Christ." But Agrippa is a Jew, at least in part, and will not be persuaded. Agrippa finds no fault in Paul, but Paul's appeal is what keeps him from being released.

In chapter 27, Paul sets sail as a prisoner to Rome. He finally is going there. It was not the way he planned, but he will have an audience with the top leadership of the empire. He stops at many places he planted churches on the way. A hurricane-force storm develops and eventually there is a shipwreck near the island of Malta. A centurion (centurions are almost always regarded positively in the New Testament) spares Paul from the plan of the soldiers to kill all the prisoners. An escaped prisoner could result in the loss of position if not the life of those who stand guard.

While on Malta (a picture of his catacombs above), a poisonous viper comes out of the fire and bites Paul on the hand. But Paul shakes it off as if nothing happened and the people think he is a god (sounds like the tag ending to Mark's gospel or some West Virginia worship services!). Upon arrival Paul is put under house arrest for two years. Most scholars believe that the letters to Timothy and Titus were written from the Roman prison. Philippians was also written from prison when he was in Ephesus. Isn't it amazing how God uses our lowest times for his greatest glory?! According to tradition, Paul eventually was beheaded killed for his allegiance to Christ by the Roman empire. But the written ending of Acts is actually quite open-ended. It seems to leave open that there will be other Acts of the Holy Spirit done through the people who name Jesus Christ as Lord. It assumes there will be an Acts 29, the one you and I write.