Acts 21:17 – 24:27; Philippians

When Paul told of his Roman citizenship, they listened to him because he spoke to them in Hebrew, not Koine Greek. As he told them of his days persecuting The Way, they related to him and appreciated that a student of the renowned Gamaliel would fight against the enemies of the Law. There was common ground here. They even tolerated him as he spoke of his seeing the Risen Lord and his sins being washed away in baptism as he called upon the name of Jesus. But, the Gentiles? No way.

“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 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.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'” 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.”

Acts 22:17-22

At first the church feared the persecutor. Then, the idolaters were angered at the disruption to business and their way of life. The Romans would not tolerate anyone threatening civil order. And the Jews followed him from town to town to stir things up. Paul was at peace.

The “Hebrew of Hebrews”, Saul of Tarsus – now known as the Apostle Paul – stood before men who were formerly his peers and mentors. He knew them. He knew how they thought.

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Acts 23:6-8

In the same breath, Paul found common ground with some and divided them from the rest. They turned on each other. Seeing the Jews act this way, the Roman commander escorted Paul away. Paul was at peace.

He was in chains and at the mercy of his captors. The Jews plotted to kill him at any cost. He is sent to the pagan Felix for “justice”, but wallows in chains for two years with nothing being done. The Jews believed he was a blasphemer deserving of death. They falsely accused him of sedition, knowing the Romans would put such an offender to death. It did not look good. Paul was at peace.

As the letter from Paul to the brethren in Philippi was read in the assembly, I wonder if HE was there to hear it. You know, the Roman jailer. Paul was in jail there when the pagan idolaters accused him of preaching the way of salvation. From the inner part of the jail, the jailer heard singing. There was joy in their voices. He saw a man in trouble and bleeding from his beating, but he was hearing a man at peace.

Imprisoned again, Paul spoke of joy because none of the things happening to him had any eternal bearing. Everything except Christ and His salvation was garbage to Paul. The chains, the false charges, the violence and former friends who wanted him dead could not rob him of the precious gift of peace that comes from knowing the Savior and knowing that heaven awaits. So, the letter unfolds in an array for joy and encouragement. I hope the jailer was there to hear it. He needed to know that even his dastardly role inflicting punishment upon an innocent man was all part of God’s plan to bring peace to his own life as well as to Paul’s.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:6-9

Paul said don’t worry about anything. That’s powerful coming from a man in chains. My problems pale in comparison. Just tell God about it and you will be amazed at the peace that comes. It makes no sense, but it is very real. Paul was at peace because the peace of God was a gift to him from the God of peace.

We can all be at peace. The present troubles do not matter. In Christ and through Christ we can endure all things and God will give us the power to endure. If Paul, going through all he went through, had this peace, then surely Jesus can give you and me the same peace. He can.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. … And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13, 19

I want His peace. The question is do I want HIM? That was Paul’s “secret”. When he renounced all for the sake of Christ, his life fell into relentless turmoil, but he was at peace because he was in Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:8-11

All he wanted was Jesus, and God gave him peace.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!