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Acts 22:24-29 NKJV– Ministry Opportunities Open up for Paul While in Custody in Jerusalem

A heart of willingness is afforded a front row seat to the activity of God.

Willingness is one of the most admirable and appreciated qualities one can ever have in a friend or loved one. While there are many wonderful qualities a person can possess, willingness to help, support, comfort, or serve another is one of the qualities that brings the most joy, peace, and comfort to the recipient. And this quality is often expressed by others when the person they care deeply about has a great need. People offer their willingness to help move people into their new homes. Many offer their willingness to support their church should the need ever arise. And many willingly devote valuable time to help rebuild their home when it has been devastated. Others offer both their condolences and unconditional willingness to support a grieving family upon the loss of a loved one. When a heart is willing to help, support, comfort, and serve, it demonstrates a quality that pleases the Lord and gives glory to God.

God is pleased with believers who respond willingly to obey Him and fulfill His will on the earth. And just like Isaiah who expressed his willingness to offer himself to the Lord when the Lord called for anyone to proclaim His truths to the world, “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8 NKJV), Paul responded with a willing heart even if he knew the task would be challenging.

Paul knew coming to Jerusalem would be difficult (Acts 21:4-14). But he also believed it was God’s will (Acts 20:22-24). Paul demonstrated an inspiring level of willingness to God’s mission for him (Acts 21:13). And while others thought their strong feelings against Paul going to Jerusalem were a prohibition to him going (Acts 21:4-14), Paul accepted God’s mission with a clear head about the future. His willingness to serve God, even in challenging times, afforded Paul unparalleled opportunities to share the Gospel and unforgettable examples of God’s supernatural provision and protection. God blessed his willing obedience in ways that he had not yet encountered in all his journeys.

After sharing his testimony with the chaotic mob (Acts 22:21), they desired to kill him all the more (Acts 22:22-23). Immediately, the Roman Commander took him inside the barracks and prepared to whip Paul. The reason being, the Roman Commander did not have time to learn the cause of the riot or what Paul’s offense was when they plucked him out of the chaotic mob (Acts 21:37-39). So, he provided an opportunity for Paul to speak to the people (Acts 21:40). He probably hoped to hear Paul share some details about what happened so he could know how to proceed. But when Paul began speaking in the Hebrew language to the people (Acts 22:22), the Roman Commander did not understand what he was saying. And after some time of silence, the crowd erupted in vitriol. The Roman Commander had to assume that something was majorly wrong with Paul that warranted punishment. Desiring an answer from Paul, he prepared Paul to be whipped (Acts 22:24). But they learned that Paul was a Roman citizen and knew they would be breaking Roman law to beat a Roman citizen (Acts 22:24-29). This detail stopped the whipping, and the Commander never got what he wanted. So, he made a third attempt to understand the cause of the mob riot. He decided to send Paul to the Jewish Sanhedrin (i.e., the Jewish Supreme Court) to provide a judgement on Paul’s actions (Acts 22:40). Thus, God in His providence orchestrated the circumstances for Paul to receive the blessing to preach to a huge gathering of Jewish people in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1- 21, engage a Roman Commander, a centurion, and hundreds of Roman soldiers (Acts 22:22-29), and eventually stand before the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30- 23:10), Roman Governors (Acts 23:26-25:12), and Rulers (Acts 25:13-27).

Paul willingly obeyed God. As a result, God not only gave him exponential witnessing opportunities beyond what he had ever had prior to this point, but He also provided divine protection from the most unlikely source to make sure Paul was safely and securely delivered to these opportunities. God protected Paul from the mob of approximately 200 Roman soldiers (Acts 21:37-39) and was granted permission by the leaders of this protective force to address the people in order to share his testimony (Acts 21:40)! God provided Paul the necessary protection needed to avoid a brutal whipping by the Roman soldiers before he was even born, over 50 years before, when God allowed Paul to be born into a family whose father was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28b).

After sharing his testimony with the chaotic mob (Acts 22:21), they desired to kill him all the more (Acts 22:22-23). Immediately, the Roman Commander took him inside the barracks and prepared to whip Paul. The reason being, the Roman Commander did not have time to learn the cause of the riot or what Paul’s offense was when they plucked him out of the chaotic mob (Acts 21:37-39). So, he provided an opportunity for Paul to speak to the people (Acts 21:40). He probably hoped to hear Paul share some details about what happened so he could know how to proceed. But when Paul began speaking in the Hebrew language to the people (Acts 22:22), the Roman Commander did not understand what he was saying. And after some time of silence, the crowd erupted in vitriol. The Roman Commander had to assume that something was majorly wrong with Paul that warranted punishment. Desiring an answer from Paul, he prepared Paul to be whipped (Acts 22:24). But they learned that Paul was a Roman citizen and knew they would be breaking Roman law to beat a Roman citizen (Acts 22:24-29). This detail stopped the whipping, and the Commander never got what he wanted. So, he made a third attempt to understand the cause of the mob riot. He decided to send Paul to the Jewish Sanhedrin (i.e., the Jewish Supreme Court) to provide a judgement on Paul’s actions (Acts 22:40). Thus, God in His providence orchestrated the circumstances for Paul to receive the blessing to preach to a huge gathering of Jewish people in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1- 21, engage a Roman Commander, a centurion, and hundreds of Roman soldiers (Acts 22:22-29), and eventually stand before the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30- 23:10), Roman Governors (Acts 23:26-25:12), and Rulers (Acts 25:13-27).s house or with their tribe (town) of people. Some people made it a practice to carry a “diptych” (English: DIP-tūk, Greek: DIP-too-kay; Latin: DIP-too-koss) as they traveled. Within the first 30 days of birth, Roman families were given a wooden diptych (two 7x6 inch thin boards connected with a hinge of some sort) which contained a layer of wax on the inside with an official inscription of one’s date of birth and names of at least seven witnesses. So, what persuaded the Roman Commander to believe Paul? Paul was in Jerusalem and probably had a lot of witnesses to concur that he was a Roman citizen, or he presented a DIP-too-koss to the Roman Commander, or he simply looked the part since he had a Roman name, Paulus, spoke Latin, and confidently claimed his birthright. Paul was probably believed because the penalty for falsely claiming Roman citizenship in an official manner carried the death penalty, often done by decapitation with an ax. And Paul was in the company of the very soldiers who carried out that type of action, so they probably believed Paul when he told them the truth.

After this, Paul was going to soon experience the protection of 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen (i.e., javelin throwers) to transfer him to speak in front of governors and kings (Acts 23:23-24). And while the common cliché is true, “Where God guides, He provides” it can also be expanded upon to say that the believers who have willing hearts to follow the instructions of God will experience spiritual miracles of provision and protection that many will never see! God provides to those who willingly allow Him to guide them in their lives and ministry to get a front row seat to the activity of God. And their only frustration is attempting to find the right words to describe the unforgettable experience to those who were not there to see it because of their lack of willingness to follow the Lord at all times!

Ponder & Pray Today…

Reflect on the inspiring testimony of Paul’s willing spirit. What if Paul was unwilling to obey God to go to Jerusalem because he knew it would be difficult? Sure, the will of God would have been accomplished regardless, but Paul would have missed out on unforgettable encounters that very few, if any, in his day had ever seen. Can you recall a spiritual experience God gave you that you have never forgotten, because you were willing to do something God impressed upon your heart? Do you recall a time when you knew you should have been willing to obey God but did not? Do you still wonder to this day what you would have experienced if only you had been willing?

Pray and tell God that you want to be a person He can rely on to willingly obey and serve Him when He calls upon you. In your prayer, express your honest feelings as to why it is a challenge at times to willingly respond to his clear guidance and direction. Confess what has hindered you from willingly responding to Him. And then tell Him you want to experience a front row seat to His activity and witness Him supernaturally change lives that will, in return, change yours!