Permission to Speak

Scripture: Acts 21:37-40

37 As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, “May I have a word with you?” “Do you know Greek?” the commander asked, surprised. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?” 39 “No,” Paul replied, “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people.” 40 The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic. (Acts 21:37-40 NLT)

Paul has just been dragged out of the Temple by an enraged mob, beaten within an inch of his life, and bound in chains by Roman soldiers. Yet, as he is being led up the steps into the fortress Antonia for protection, he turns to the Roman commander and asks, “May I have a word with you?” The commander is surprised that Paul speaks polite, educated Greek—having mistaken him for a radical rebel—and Paul clarifies his identity and his Roman citizenship and asks for permission to address the very mob that had just tried to kill him. Most people in Paul’s position would have been hyper-focused on self-preservation—hurrying into the safety of the barracks. Instead, Paul saw the stairs leading away from safety as a pulpit. Here are two things for us to ponder:

Poise and Courtesy Under Fire: When Paul spoke to the commander, he didn’t scream, demand rights angrily, or hurl insults back at the crowd. He spoke with dignity, respect, and self-control, surprising the Roman officer. His gracious demeanor earned him the right to be heard. When you feel misunderstood or falsely accused, do you respond with grace and dignity, or do you allow others to dictate your reactions?

See People, Not Enemies: The crowd was screaming for Paul’s execution, yet when Paul saw them, his heart was moved with compassion, not vengeance. Where others saw a dangerous mob, Paul saw people who desperately needed to know the grace of Jesus Christ. Is there someone in your life who feels like an opponent or enemy? What if you viewed them as someone in need of grace rather than an adversary to defeat?

God’s purpose isn’t suspended during hardship. Sometimes the most powerful witness can happen right in the middle of the most chaotic storm.

Prayer:

Father, Please give me grace to see those who oppose or threaten me as people you love and not enemies to hate. And give me a “Jesus and Paul” ability to respond peacefully and not react angrily. May I be an instrument of your peace. In Jesus’ Name!