Key:
Green– shared word for word
Yellow– approximate or stylistic
Blue– uniquely
Why the use of “the Nazarene”?
Paul is using the term the authorities used for Jesus. The way Paul has shaped the speech is to identify with the High Priest and Sanhedrin and implicate them in the process. He identifies himself strongly with the Council. This is his chance to challenge the Jewish authorities. He has been accused of teaching things that are against the Law and Jewish customs. Paul is merely pointing out to the crowd and to the authorities that he was being very Jewish and was actually on the side of the authorities. Hence he calls Jesus the Nazarene. He pointed out so clearly that everything he did was with the blessing and letter of authority from the Sanhedrin. Not only in the case of Jesus but also in the case of Stephen. He was on the side of the authorities on both occasions and agreed with them.
Why doesn’t Paul refer to Jesus as the Christ / Messiah as Peter did in Acts 2 and other places?
While Paul doesn’t state the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, as clearly as what Peter did in his preaching, it is still there. It is hardly possible for the High Priest and the members of Sanhedrin to miss the point. Note the use of “Lord”, “The Name of the Lord” and Ananias’ use of the “Righteous One”, all are Messianic terms. Note also “The God of our Ancestors” is a strong Jewish term for God. It is very clear who Paul was encountering during his testimony. The Sanhedrin could not have missed the point in what Paul was saying. How did you end up switching sides, Paul? I had an encounter with God and the Messiah. He spoke to me personally. The significance of the bright light from heaven which outshines the sun, the blindness, the testimony or actions of others, his companions on the road, encountering Ananias and what he told Paul. All of these things led Paul to become a follower of the Way. Who was Ananias? “A godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.” This godly man said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight. The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’ Paul has made it clear to the Sanhedrin and the Jewish crowd that at the very moment Ananias said these things he could see again. A message from the LORD accompanied with signs and wonders. It is very clear why Paul has switched sides. Because the Lord of Heaven and earth has spoken to him. He has seen and heard Him.
Notice carefully the role of the other players, how they are introduced and the part they play.
Every person whose part in the events Paul has chosen to highlight are evidence in their reactions or spoken testimony that the words Paul is saying are true and accurate. Remember he is giving his defence to the allegations made against him. So he includes along the way the things that were said and done by others as well which make it clear he had an encounter with the risen Christ and with God. He even dares to include the members of the Sanhedrin in the testimony. “There are letters of authority given which would have been on file. You can check out all of what I am telling you” is Paul’s inference. Note the masterful little jibe when he says, “I was in complete agreement [with you leaders] when your witness Stephen was killed.” Oh ouch. That was barb if ever there was one. Paul was doing exactly what Stephen was doing at the time when he implicated the Sanhedrin in the action with his use of the second person pronoun. And now Paul is doing it again here. I am sure they didn’t miss that one. Every person mentioned is a witness to the truth of the events.
Allow me now to address the issue of the hear-say testimony as some of you asked about:
- How can Paul use so many quotes of what people said? This is years after the events happened.
- It is not Paul writing this account, it’s Luke. Can we trust the accuracy of the record of what was said?
When events are made personal and you have had very poignant experiences with God you remember it vividly. At least that is my personal testimony. I remember years later exactly what He said to me as though it was yesterday. I don’t doubt at all that Paul would have remembered these words spoken to him accurately. On the matter of Luke being the one to write them down, how is that supposed to discredit the testimony as though it was of no worth to us? Remember Luke was travelling with Paul and clearly became his chronicler. Luke, the one who pays careful attention to detail and is meticulous in the way he recorded the facts. I can think of no better person than Luke to be the one who recorded it all.
- What is your overall observation?
- Why has Paul constructed his speech like this?
I love what Ross wrote about his overall impression. “The speech is constructed in such a way for maximum impact. He is showing empathy with his audience and he knows who his audience is! They are Saul before his conversion and baptism.” Exactly Ross, Paul is laying out the details of his defence in such a way as to leave the leaders of Jewish religious life and the crowd who have been incited to riot by the rabble rousers in no doubt as to the source of Paul’s change of heart and mind. The inference being you too can be part of this transformation. It a masterful speech complete with an obvious challenge to them to draw their own conclusions if they dare and change their minds and hearts too. But we will see what happens and why at the end of all of this.
In the meantime there are a number of elements that I wish to comment on before we come to the punchline. I trust you have noticed already how many quotes we have from the words of Jesus. Suffice to say they are important for a number of reasons and we will turn our attention to those in the next Gems. But before we do that read over Paul’s speech again and take in the panorama of all he has said to the leaders of Jewish religious life. If you want something more to do and are willing to take up the challenge: read this speech of Paul’s in conjunction with Stephen’s speech in Acts 7. (See Bible Gems 1477–1482) It is eye-opening.
We all get what we tolerate in ourselves and other people….When you’re no longer willing to tolerate something…That’s when your life changes.
Fred Dores
I once heard a ski instructor tell a discouraged student – “You will NEVER be a good skier until you learn how to fall!” If you’re not falling – you’re not learning.
Rick Godwin
You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
Abraham Lincoln
Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.
Adolf Hitler
The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem at the time of Christ employed the approach that Hitler used as do many today, but it doesn’t make it true.
Ian Vail