Then He said to me, 'Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'" Sermons (1) the sphere to which St. Paul was sent; (2) the fitness of St. Paul for work in this particular sphere; and (3) the influence which work in this sphere had upon St. Paul's own apprehensions of the truth. Noticing first what a strain upon his own Jewish feelings it must have involved for him to undertake this work, and how his doing so proves the sincerity and completeness of his conversion. I. THE SPHERE TO WHICH THE APOSTLE WAS SENT. "The Gentiles." Jews divided the whole world into Jews and Gentiles; so St. Paul's mission was to all outside the Jewish nation. Illustrate how the prevalence of the Greek tongue, and the wide supremacy of the Roman rule, at this time opened the whole world to the gospel. Illustrate what variety of classes and of people the apostle met with in traveling, as he did, from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum. Recall the circumstances under which the apostle came to leave the synagogues and devote himself exclusively to the Gentile populations. And show what preparation there was for the gospel in Gentile spheres, (1) in the common religious wants of men; and (2) in the sense of dissatisfaction with idolatry which then so widely prevailed. As representative of the various Gentile spheres, give some account of Lystra, Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome. II. THE FITNESS OF THE APOSTLE FOR WORK IN THIS PARTICULAR SPHERE. Find the fitnesses in: 1. His birth as a Grecian Jew. 2. His knowledge of the Greek language, and partial Greek education. All the other apostles were Aramaic Jews. St. Paul's early associations prepared him to take larger and more comprehensive views of Christian truth, when once his strong Jewish prejudices were overcome. 3. His unquestioning sense of a Divine call. 4. The permanent influence exerted on him by Stephen's death, and probably by Stephen's teachings. 5. The clear apprehension he had of Christian truth, in its distinction from, but full harmony with, the principles of Judaism. 6. Further fitness may be found on a careful estimate of St. Paul's peculiarities of mind, disposition, and character. III. THE INFLUENCE WHICH WORK IN HIS SPHERE HAD UPON THE APOSTLE'S OWN APPREHENSIONS OF THE TRUTH. This is a difficult subject to treat, and involves a very close study of St. Paul's doctrinal position at different points of his ministry. To open it out wisely, the Epistles must be chronologically arranged and fitted into the record in the Acts, and compared with the apostle's speeches. An illustration may be taken from the Epistle to the Ephesians, which clearly shows that the mystical and superstitious people of Ephesus exercised such an influence on St. Paul as led him to consider some great speculative questions, and, we may say, tended to exercise and develop his mystical faculty. The influence of work among the Gentiles may be illustrated in relation: 1. To doctrine. It led to the first attempts at a philosophy of the Christian religion. 2. To practical Christian life. St. Paul had to find out how to adjust Christian principles to Gentile life and manners, and so he was led to develop a system of Christian ethics. Impress that the work to which God calls us will also be (1) our service to others; and (2) our own personal culture. - R.T.
And when they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue. The Hebrew language was their dearest language. It touched them at the point of sympathy. Paul had a new hold on them when he spoke in that language. He knew that, and therefore he chose that language in speaking to them. Paul showed his wisdom and showed a kindly, loving spirit in the very words of his choice at this time. It is always better to choose points of agreement, rather than of difference, in any attempt to reach others for their good, or for the cause of truth. Yet there are those who will choose the points of difference as a starting point in such an effort, and then will count themselves "martyrs" when they experience the results of a conflict which they have needlessly brought about.(H. C. Trumbull, D. D.) Apostolic Pastor. When the people heard Paul speak in an intelligible language, they became quiet and attentive. Many preachers are to blame for the inattention of their audiences. They speak affectedly, or above the comprehension of the people. A preacher whose object is to edify, should apply himself to present the truth in the simplest and most comprehensible manner, and to address himself to the heart. The teaching of Jesus is the most complete and blessed example.(Apostolic Pastor.) I am verily a man which am a Jew. A man's experience is an element of power in his teaching and he has a right to make use of it for good. Whether he thinks the same now as formerly, or has changed his opinions, he speaks with added force to his hearers, when he shows them that he knows all about their way of looking at things, from having been in their place himself. "What do you know about it?" is a very common way of sneering at a wiseman's wise counsel against conduct wholly at variance with his present course of living. "I've been through it all myself," is a fair answer to that sneer. Paul understood the value of this sort of response; and it is well for us all to have it in mind also.(H. C. Trumbull, D. D.) Brought up...at the feet of Gamaliel The course of instruction which a rabbi had to undergo was lengthened and peculiar. It consisted entirely of the study of the Scriptures and the comments of the sages and masters upon them. The words of Scripture and the sayings of the wise were committed to memory; discussions were carried on about disputed points; and by a rapid fire of questions, which the scholars were allowed to put as well as the masters, the wits of the students were sharpened and their views enlarged. The outstanding qualities of Paul's intellect, which were conspicuous in his subsequent life — his marvellous memory, the keenness of his logic, the superabundance of his ideas, and his original way of taking up every subject — first displayed themselves in this school, and excited, we may well believe, the warm interest of his teacher. He himself learned much here which was of great moment in his subsequent career. Although he was to be specially the missionary of the Gentiles, he was also a great missionary to his own people. In every city he visited where there were Jews he made his first public appearance in the synagogue. There his training as a rabbi secured him an opportunity of speaking, and his familiarity with Jewish modes of thought and reasoning enabled him to address his audiences in the way best fitted to secure their attention. His knowledge of the Scriptures enabled him to adduce proofs from an authority which his hearers acknowledged to be supreme. Besides, he was destined to be the great theologian of Christianity, and the principal writer of the New Testament. Now the New grew out of the Old; the one is in all its parts the prophecy and the other the fulfilment. But it required a mind saturated not only with Christianity, but with the Old Testament, to bring this out; and, at the age when the memory is most retentive, Paul acquired such a knowledge of the Old Testament that everything it contains was at his command: its phraseology became the language of his thinking; he literally writes in quotations, and he quotes from all parts with equal facility — from the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Thus was the warrior equipped with the armour and the weapons of the Spirit before he knew in what cause he was to use them.(J. Stalker, D. D.) Zealous toward God. I. ITS NATURE — fervour — from a verb signifying "to boil." It stands opposed to indifference or lukewarmness. Its object may be good or bad, a person or thing, truth or error. The Jews and Saul were zealous for the law and the tradition of their fathers; and through zeal persecuted the Church.II. ITS CRITERIA. 1. Not.(1) The object. There can indeed be no holy zeal for sin or error; but there may be an unholy zeal for God and truth, as was the case with Saul.(2) The energy, or the self-denial and exertions to which it leads: Many unholy men are exceedingly fervid and self-sacrificing. 2. But —(1) The source.(a) The source of false zeal is either some selfish interest, as in the ease of the Jews, the Romanists, etc.; or party spirit, national feeling, esprit de corps; or false doctrine, hatred of the truth.(b) The source of true zeal — i.e., as a Christian grace — is the Holy Spirit, as the Author of all good, together with spiritual apprehension of the excellence of its object, whether God, truth, or the Church.(2) The concomitants and effects.(a) False zeal is malignant; true is benevolent. The one is the fervour of the unrenewed; the other of the renewed mind — as illustrated by Jesus and the Jews.(b) False zeal is proud; true is humble. The one arises from a sense of superiority which it seeks to assert and vindicate; the other from such views of God and things Divine as tend to produce humility.(c) False zeal is irreverent; true is reverent.(d) True zeal is connected with a holy life. III. ITS OBLIGATION. It is demanded by — 1. The infinite importance of the interests at stake — the glory of God, the progress of truth, the salvation of men. To be unconcerned about these is the greatest sin and peril. God therefore declares His special abhorrence of the cold and lukewarm. 2. Our relations to God and Christ. A child is zealous for its father, a subject for his sovereign, a soldier for his commander, a captive for his redeemer. 3. The fact that zeal is a chief source of spiritual power. This qualification in the absence of others can accomplish wonders. IV. THE MEANS OF ITS CULTIVATION. 1. Avoid all pretence and affectation; all expression of more interest than you feel. 2. Gather warmth by continual intercourse with God, and cherish the influence of His Spirit. 3. Keep your minds filled with the subjects about which you should be zealous, and your attention devoted to them. 4. Remember that zeal being a gift of the Spirit, whatever grieves Him quenches our zeal. (C. Hodge, D. D.) Dr. Bonar tells of a dream he once had. In his dream the angels weighed his zeal, and he was delighted with the result. It reached the maximum, and turned the scale at a hundred. Then they analysed it, and his delight vanished. For (out of the hundred) fourteen parts were pure selfishness, fifteen parts sectarianism, twenty-two parts ambition, twenty-three parts love for man, and twenty-six parts love to God. He awoke from his dream sobered and saddened, but resolved on a new consecration. How much religious zeal (if analysed) would prove even more corrupt! True zeal is consistent: it burns with a steady flame. It is humble: not puffed up nor vaunting itself. It is pure: shunning all evil methods. It is learnt from Christ, who was full of zeal, because He was love itself. Its secret is the love which Christ's love kindles in human hearts. Let us seek, then, a zeal which is pure and undefiled, which will endure the searching test of God.(G. H. James.) People Ananias, Gamaliel, Paul, Saul, StephenPlaces Cilicia, Damascus, Jerusalem, Nazareth, TarsusTopics Afar, Apostle, Depart, Forth, Gentiles, Hence, Nations, RepliedOutline 1. Paul declares how he was converted to the faith,17. and called to his apostleship. 22. At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people exclaim on him. 24. He would have been scourged; 25. but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapes. Dictionary of Bible Themes Acts 22:21 5109 Paul, apostle 5944 self-defence Library Rome Protects Paul'And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the Temple, I was in a trance; 18. And saw Him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me. 19. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee: 20. And when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts Paul on his Own Conversion Being Easily Entreated Some Scriptures for Daily Practise. What is God's Will? Beyond the Brightness of the Sun Early Life the Place of Paul +The Man Jerusalem to Rome Jesus the Guest of Martha and Mary. From Antioch to the Destruction of Jerusalem. Divine Calls. Baptism, a Divinely Appointed Means of Grace. Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him to Crucifixion. The Prodigal Son. Of the Prerogatives which the Elect Shall Enjoy in Heaven. How to Make Use of Christ for Cleansing of us from Our Daily Spots. The Nature of Justification The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds. The Lord of Glory. Of Baptism. The Jews Make all Ready for the War; and Simon, the Son of Gioras, Falls to Plundering. Links Acts 22:21 NIVActs 22:21 NLT Acts 22:21 ESV Acts 22:21 NASB Acts 22:21 KJV Acts 22:21 Bible Apps Acts 22:21 Parallel Acts 22:21 Biblia Paralela Acts 22:21 Chinese Bible Acts 22:21 French Bible Acts 22:21 German Bible Acts 22:21 Commentaries Bible Hub |