Acts 22:1-22 - Homiletics

Argument and prejudice.

We have here—

I. AN ADMIRABLE ARGUMENT . Paul, at the inspiration of the moment, made a powerful defense of his position. He showed:

1. That no one could enter into their feelings more perfectly than himself. Was he not a Jew by birth ( Acts 22:3 )? Had he not received a thoroughly Jewish education, at the feet of a Jewish master ( Acts 22:3 )? Had he not been absolutely possessed by a devotedness to the Law, and a corresponding hatred of the new "Way" ( Acts 22:4 )? Had they not the evidence in their own hands of the bitter and unrelenting persecution of which he had been the eager and active agent ( Acts 22:5 )? If, then, he was found advocating this hated "Way," it was not because he did not understand Jewish sympathies, nor because he had always been one of its votaries; quite the contrary.

2. That no one could possibly have weightier reasons for changing his mind than he had. First came a heavenly vision, arresting him in his path of persecution, and forbidding him to continue ( Acts 22:6-11 ). Then came a powerful confirmation, in a miracle of healing of which he himself was the subject and of which a most honorable and estimable Jew was the instrument ( Acts 22:12 , Acts 22:13 ); and a further confirmation in the message with which he was charged ( Acts 22:14-16 ). Then came a third influence of a powerful character in the shape of another manifestation, and a command, against which he vainly strove, to go out and work among the Gentiles ( Acts 22:18-21 ).

II. A SENSELESS AND SUICIDAL EXASPERATION . ( Acts 22:22 , Acts 22:23 .) Such was the violent antipathy in the minds of his audience to any fellowship with the Gentile world that all Paul's arguments went for nothing. This was such an opportunity as was little likely to recur, of having the facts of the case placed plainly and forcibly before their minds; it was a day of grace to them. But so utterly prejudiced were they that one word filled them with a senseless exasperation which stole from them the golden chance they had of learning the truth, and which riveted the chains of error and exclusiveness they wore upon their souls.

This defense of the apostle and this exasperation of his audience may suggest to us:

1. The fullness of the Divine argument. God "reasons with" us. He does so

2. The foolish and fatal anger which it sometimes excites. There are those who, when God speaks to them in nature, providence, or privilege, instead of lending their ear to his word and bowing their spirit to his will, are only angered and exasperated; they go still further away from him in increased alienation, in still more determined rebelliousness of soul. But so doing