After pleading to give his defense in chapter 21, Paul now gets the opportunity here. This will be the first of 6 defenses He gives (22:30-23:10, 24:10-21, 25:1-12, 26:1-29, 28:17-29).
In giving his defense, Paul recounts the events of his conversion on the Damascus road – how he himself was persecuting Christians but God totally changed him around. He ends this first defense with these words: “Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' " Yeah – this was too much for the crowd to handle! Teaching that Gentiles could be saved without being circumcised was seen as blasphemy to them! So they threw a fit and as they were getting ready to flog him, he asks them if they should be flogging a Roman citizen!? Oops – Roman citizens were exempt from such brutal punishment and Paul here exerts his rights as a Roman. Unlike those who use bribes to get their citizenship (28), Paul was born a Roman citizen and when they found this out, they were alarmed and made sure not to harm him, as it was unlawful to punish a Roman citizen until they were proven guilty.
The chapter ends with Paul being brought before the Sanhedrin in an unofficial meeting where Paul will give his second defense.
SO WHAT?
*Ever been accused of something that you know you were innocent of? How did you feel? How did you respond? Paul stuck to the facts. It’s easy to get sidetracked and emotional but we must remember to be both truthful and respectful.
*Speaking the Truth of the Gospel can cause tension because the Word of God divides truth from error and nobody likes to admit they’re wrong. We just need to make sure that as we speak God’s Words, we do it lovingly, so that the offense is with the message not the messenger!
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