the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
Acts 21:33-40; ; Acts 22:1-11
Paul has been rescued from the violence of the crowd by the intervention of the chief captain, that is to say, the commandant of the Roman garrison. He who at first confused Paul with a notorious bandit, softens on hearing him speak Greek and authorizes him to address the crowd. Standing before the completely silent crowd, Paul recounts that he indeed had a very blameworthy past, but in quite a different sense from what the Jews thought. Blessed with qualities and advantages above the ordinary – "an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee" (Philippians 3:5), his reputation was that of a pious and irreproachable man. Indeed, his religious zeal, similar to that which incited to action the leaders of this crowd, had led him, in spite of the warnings of his teacher, Gamaliel, to fight against God (v. 3; Acts 5:39). "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest" (v. 8), is the terrible reply which he heard from heaven. Concerning those poor Christians, in persecuting them even to death, he was fighting against the Son of God. But instead of punishing him for his blasphemous audacity the Lord, at the same time as He gave him back his sight, also opened the eyes of his heart (Ephesians 1:18) – making this man, set apart from his birth, a faithful instrument for Him.
