Ye-eah We Wept, When We Remembered Zion

How would you have felt if you were in Paul’s place as a prisoner, after all you had tried to do to bring others to know and love the Risen Jesus? From what we read in Acts, how do you think Paul feels? Is there a lesson in this for us?

If I were in Paul’s place as a prisoner after all I had tried to do to bring others to know and love the Risen Jesus, I would be an absolute wreck: fuming at the injustice of it, frustrated by my own inefficacy and inability to solve the problem, disappointed in the God who was supposed to keep me safe from all harm while I worked in His name, indignant that my fellow workers hadn’t done more to save my bacon or at the very least end up in the clink with me…! I would be writing a mental autobiography that cast me as the betrayed hero down on her luck and alone against a cruel and indifferent world, and I would be loudly singing Boney-M style laments intended to torture anyone within earshot.

From what I read in Acts, Paul is an interesting and complex character, and while I find it difficult to imagine or empathise with how he feels, the things that he says and does show that he’s steadfastly committed to sticking with the task that God has given him, and making every effort to restrain himself from doing or saying anything that might sabotage his own best intentions and efforts.

When he is falsely accused, he doesn’t become aggressively defensive but manages to be diplomatic (Acts 24:10) and states the facts of his case: he knows he has right on his side. When his trial is postponed and he is kept in custody, he bears it out: he dares to speak to Felix about righteousness, self-restraint and the coming judgement (Acts 24:25), and even though he stops short of making a personal inference for Felix that he would be judged for failing to do justice for Paul, Felix probably hears the implication just before he becomes frightened. So I think Paul is being a bit of an undercover bully – which takes serious chutzpah and a lot of reliance on his status as a Roman citizen. And so Felix and Paul play a bit of cat-and-mouse (Acts 24:26) that seems to go on for two years before Felix makes a last play of leaving Paul in prison to be dealt with by the next governor.

When Paul is again falsely accused, and the new governor makes a political play to move the trial to Jerusalem in order to score points with the Jews (Acts 25:9), Paul insists on his due and appeals to Caesar. Before Paul is taken to Caesar, Festus brings him before King Agrippa – and Paul, whose patience must have been wearing thin by this time, is ever the diplomat (Acts 26:2-3) as he tells his story, publicly confesses his previous errors in dealing with the Way, and explains in detail the reasons he has for the choices he has made: even when his reasons might make him sound like a delusional madman. When he is indeed accused of being mad, he holds his ground and speaks assertively, even persuasively. He prays for those who are persecuting him (Acts 26:29).

Then he gets sent on a sea journey, and he warns his captors that setting sail is a bad idea (Acts 27:9-10). Even so, they set sail and disaster strikes. Paul takes a moment to squeeze in an “I­-told-you-so” (Acts 27:21) but he nevertheless depends on God to save him and everyone else – and he shares his conviction and the message he received from the angel (Acts 27:23-26). He continues to shepherd everyone aboard through each uncertain moment of the unfolding drama. He gives clear directions, he tells people what is expected of them, and he cares for their needs. Paul’s mere presence is enough to save his fellow prisoners from death (Acts 27:42-43). On landing on Malta, Paul has the rotten luck to get bitten by a snake, and the people around him take this as evidence of how he must have deserved some kind of punishment. Paul doesn’t berate them or wish snakes on them in return; he just calmly carries on with the business of living and curing the sick.

And so the story continues: some form of disaster strikes or some persecution is encountered, and Paul unwaveringly and unceasingly relies on God. He’s quietly determined to keep going, to persevere in speaking the truth about God’s kingdom and about Jesus as best he can whenever he’s given the opportunity. He remains open to dialogue and welcomes all comers. There is a great deal to be learnt from Paul’s example! I could do a bit less “fighting-to-convince-people-that-I’m-right” and more “calmly-and-assuredly-asserting-the-truth-of-God’s-love”. And if I can’t resist the compulsion to squeeze in an occasional “I-told-you-so”… well… I sure hope it won’t come back to bite me. And if it does, then I’m counting on Paul to put in a good word on my behalf with the Boss!