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In Acts 22:1-22 Luke records Paul’s defense in the Temple after his arrest. Remember that Acts 21 concludes with Paul being rescued by the Tribune and a band of centurions. He had been falsely accusedby “the Jews from Asia (Acts 21:27)” of taking Trophimus the Ephesian into the Temple. Asia in the First Century refers to Asia Minor, modern Southwest Turkey. Paul spent 3 years in Ephesus on the Third Missionary Journey. He just arrived from Asia via Macedonia. The Jews from Asia, likely from Ephesus, had assumed he had taken Trophimus into the Temple. Luke says that “they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the Temple. (Acts 21:29)” He hadn’t. That did not matter to the Asian Jews however, their goal was Paul’s stoning. They assumed what they wanted to assume so they could do what they wanted. Murder Paul.

Why Did the Jews Want to Kill Paul?

Why do they want to murder Paul? The answer is that he is the loudest and most skilled proponent of Christianity’s doctrine of Gentile Inclusion. God no longer confines His people to one nation. Now God saves all who worship Him, whether Jew or Gentile. In the New Covenant He makes no distinction (Romans 3:21-22). To Quote James the Lord’s Brother in Acts 15:15-16, who is quoting the prophet Amos 9:11-12 at the Council of Jerusalem: “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’”

The Fall of the House of David and the Restoration Through Christ

The Lord Jesus rebuilt the House of David because He is the Son of David. David’s House was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 AD. He rebuilt it so that a remnant of mankind may seek the Lord. Who is the remnant of mankind? They are “all the Gentiles called by my name says the Lord.” The Jews hate the idea of circumcision, the sacrifices, and festivals no longer being necessary. What we hear as liberty they heard as the end of Judaism and Israel. They killed Jesus and all the Apostles because that is what they heard, the end of Israel.

The Fear of the Jewish Leaders

For Caiphas the High Priest, Jesus endangered Judea. He feared the Romans coming to destroy them for saying that Jesus was the Son of David:

“So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish (John 11:47-50).”

Stephen, Paul, and the Charge of Changing Moses’ Customs

For the Jews, they heard Stephen, and then Paul teach that: “Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us (Acts 6:14).” Paul has gone so far as to start completely Gentile Synagogues that meet on the First Day of the week instead of the Last. We call them churches. They must stop him at all costs because his success universalizes Judaism in Christianity—and since they reject Jesus as Messiah, they hate the Way.

Paul’s Opportunity to Testify

In Acts 22:1-22 Paul gets his one opportunity to tell his side of the tale. He wants them all to know how and why he changed from Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Jesus, to the Apostle Paul, the messenger of Jesus. 

“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. (Acts 22:1-3)”

Paul’s Credentials and Zeal for God

Paul provides his bona fides here. Bona Fide means “in good faith.” He speaks in Hebrew to let them know he is one. Remember that when questioned by the Tribune (a Roman elected official charged with securing common citizens’ rights) the people in the Temple aren’t sure why they are beating Paul. Speaking in Hebrew gets their attention. His parents sent this foreign-born Hebrew to Jerusalem to study under a celebrated Hebrew rabbi, signaling something like, “I went to Harvard Law at fourteen.” It would elevate him to rabbi status. For a moment, the crowd views him as a knowledgeable Hebrew they can trust on the subject he addresses. Zealous for God, just like them. Also, just like them, at first, he hated the Way.

Paul’s Former Zeal Against the Way

“I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them, I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished (Acts 22:4-5).”

A Hebrew, educated at the Harvard of the Hebrews, under a celebrated teacher, and an officer of the Sanhedrin– theological enforcer. Paul was the kind of guy that ran the Spanish Inquisition. Zealous for God but not in a good way. He persecuted the church so heavily in Judea that when he ran out of local Christians he went looking for Hebrews living internationally to arrest. He meant to start with the Hebrew Christians living in Damascus. However, God had other plans.

The Damascus Road Encounter

“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do (Acts 22:6-10).’”

Paul was persecuting Jesus. The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him and unites them with Christ Jesus—really and actually. When others harm Christians, they harm Christ Himself. Paul’s actions were not against mere man, but against the Incarnate, Glorified, and Ascended Christ. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He saw Christ in glory, and the sight blinded him.He saw and heard Jesus after the resurrection. This experience marks Paul as one of only fourteen people personally chosen to be Apostles. The Twelve, James the Lord’s Brother, and Paul (1 Corinthians 15:3-10). 

Paul’s Blindness and Restoration by Ananias

And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. 12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name (Acts 22:11-16).’”

Saul of Tarsus sat in the darkness for three days, fasting and praying. He had a miraculous vision, followed by three days of blindness. God restores Paul’s sight through Ananias, who gives Paul his mission. “The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.” 

Luke records God telling Ananias specifically that Paul “is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). Interestingly, Paul holds back a little here. He doesn’t say “to the Gentiles” here in the Temple as it was to Ananias, but instead the more vague “to everyone of what you have seen and heard.” He is not hiding it, instead, he is leading them to the doctrine of “Gentile Inclusion.” It is just not the right time in the speech. 

Spoiler Alert: There won’t be a good time.

Paul’s Vision in the Temple

“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly because they will not accept your testimony about me (Acts 22:17-18).’”

Quick Note* For time Paul skips three years ahead. He left Damascus and went to Arabia–the land South of Israel. In Galatians 1:18-19 Paul tells us he went to Jerusalem and met with Peter and James the Lord’s Brother. It is most likely that while there, visiting the Temple he receives this vision. And like Moses when he received his call, Paul doesn’t want to go. He feels utterly disqualified for the mission. 

Paul Extends The Mission of the Church

“And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him (Acts 22:19-20).’” 

I’ve stated from the beginning of the series, or at least since Stephen’s martyrdom that Paul was Stephen 2.0. Stephen had taken the Gospel to the Hellenist Hebrews. Those Hebrews who spoke Greek as a first language and whose history had been in captivity or a colony. They were Hebrew by lineage but not in culture and language. The synagogues in Jerusalem that charged Stephen with heresy and stoned him are all Hellenistic. No less than five synagogues with five different Hebrew populations bring charges against Stephen. “The Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen (Acts 6:9).” 

Where Stephen was sent to minister among the Helenist Hebrews, Paul is sent to minister among the Helenists–the Greeks–which is nothing but a synonym for Gentiles. He is the natural extension of Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem (The Twelve) and in all Judea (The Twelve/Stephen) and Samaria (Phillip-Deacon), and to the end of the earth (Paul).”

The Crowd’s Violent Response to Paul’s Mission to the Gentiles 

What does Paul say that God told him in the Temple after bringing his sins against the Hebrew Christians before Him? Let’s answer the question now, “Who is the “everyone” of Acts 22:15? Now in verse 21, he says plainly: “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21).’” Why do they want to murder Paul? Why is Christianity largely rejected and despised among the Hebrews by 58 AD–the present year in the Acts timeline? Later this same year he wrote a letter to the Romans where in chapter 11 he explained why they had largely, as a people group, rejected the Gospel by this point. How do they respond to God sending Paul “far away to the Gentiles?” Luke tells us, “Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 

Application

Why was the Gospel largely rejected by the Jews? Gentile inclusion had several aspects that were hard for them to swallow.

The Challenge of Loving Our Enemies

First, they are looking for a Messiah to deliver them from the Gentiles not to include them in the blessings of Abraham. They viewed the Romans as invaders. They hate them with bitter hatred. The Hebrews were blinded by their malice toward their enemies. 

Who are your enemies? How are we to treat our enemies? Jesus teaches us: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:43-45).” 

Paul, explaining more fully Jesus teachings says: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves but leave it[i] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:14-21).”  

Misplaced Trust in Cultural Badges

Second, they loved the traditions and aspects of their culture and misunderstood them as badges of approval. The presence of the Temple, sacrifices, patriarchs, prophets, and Israel were tantamount to God setting His seal of approval on them. Instead of revelation about the Messiah, they took all the ceremonies as tokens of approbation. This particular bias is so pernicious that when God sends them prophets that foretell His disapproval they kill them. Twice God sent prophets to warn them that God was sending a nation to destroy them: Babylon (586 BC) & Rome (70 AD). Both times they refuse to hear Him. They could not– no they would not believe–God would destroy His House. 

Warning for Us Today

Like them, we are prone to dismiss warnings from God too, even more so in the New Testament era. In another place, Paul tells us that our “conscience also bears witness,” and that our “conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse (Romans 2:15)” our sin. We tend to point at others and dismiss warnings to us. “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner (1 Peter 4:17-18)?” We have strong biases of our own that keep us from seeing our sin. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

What kind of things can Americans mistake for being badges of approval? Wealth? Power? Might? Ease? Bounty of resources? Liberty? Empire status? Superpower? What can pride and a false trust in princes and chariots bring? We have to take the Lincoln Logs out of our eyes so we can see to extract other people’s splinters. 

Who are our enemies? Do we love them? What are our cultural badges of approval? How are we trusting in them? Who are we NOT excited to preach the Gospel to? How can we conform to the Truth today? 

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