Acts 23 - You Never Stand Alone!
6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) 9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
Though the Pharisees and Sadduccees were both Jewish, they had different theologies about the resurrection of the dead. It's hard to believe that had such a different view on such an important topic, the resurrection fo the dead. Similarly, there are some Christians who don't have the same belief regarding the resurrection of Jesus, even though it is the centerpiece of the Christian faith.
Simply put, the Sadduccees did not believe in the supernatural. It's pretty hard to believe those who would presume to speak for God, did not believe God could do anything he wanted. In this case it was having angels speak to human beings. During the 20th century there were theologians and Christian leaders, who were so influenced by the enlightenment movement that they denied the literal and physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. They believed if you couldn't explain it, how could it be true?
Paul used this theological difference briliantly to buy more time for himself. A little later, God would use Paul's nephew to discover a plot to kill him. After the nephew informed the commander Paul was given an escort to Caesarea, Apparently was a highly sought after and wanted man, as he was given this security detail,
'Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[b] to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
We see all the human interventions to keep Paul safe, but God sent Paul another messenger to confirm His ultimate plan, it Jesus himself. Jesus appeared to him to assure him that he was being sent to Rome to testify about him. At the center of this testimony was that Jesus rose from the dead. This is what proved Jesus was and is the Son of God. The Messiah!
This is the second time that Jesus appeared to Paul supernaturally. The first time he was on his way to Damascus to persecute and round up Christians, when Jesus appeared to him. Jesus explained to him that it was he, Jesus, who Paul was persecuting. The text says Jesus, "Stood near him".
Jesus reminded Paul of the penultimate purpose which he had given him which was to testify about him before the Gentiles. Ultimately this meant going to Rome, which was the most strategic place in the known world at that time. Then, finally he would go to Spain.
"Paul's ultimate purpose for going to Rome was to use the imperial capital as a strategic base to preach the gospel in Spain, which he considered the "ends of the earth". Additionally, he wanted to strengthen and encourage the existing Roman church and seek their financial and spiritual support for his western mission." - andrewforrest.org
While Paul's story is epic, our mission is the same as his. We are called to testify in the places the Lord has called us to. We are called to be courageous, as we bring the gospel to all we meet starting where we live.
I remember, after I recommitted my life to Christ in 1987, Jesus called me to share him with those I worked with in the life insurance business. In fact, it was one of my colleagues who led me back to Christ. Together, we shared Jesus with our fellow Northwestern Mutual agents and General Agent himself. Then, I found myself in downtown Chicago, working on Michigan Avenue, as a finanical analyst, in a large commercial real estate company. Not too long after that God called me to go to seminary in southern California in 1994, and then a Lutheran pastor two years later. As I reflect on 30 years of pastoral ministry, I realize that God has been with me every step of the way.
As you continue your journey as a Christ follower remember, like Paul, God has called you to be a witness for him wherever you go. As Jesus gets ready to ascend back to the Father 40 days after his resurrection, he says to his disciples in Acts 1:8-9,
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
While we are not the apostle Paul, we are called to be his witnesses wherever he leads us! Most importantly he will stand near us just as he was the great apostle, Paul.
Jesus, you have called us and set us apart to be Your witnesses. You open doors and give us opportunities to testify that you are the way, the truth, and the life and that you died and really did rise from the dead! You will return to judge the living and the dead, and Your kingdom will have no end! Amen.
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