12 April - Acts 22

Today we are reading Acts 22 for the Tattoo Church Reading Plan. Here are a few things to think about:

1. As we ended the last chapter yesterday Paul was being led away to jail but he asked to speak to the crowd and was permitted.
2. When Paul addressed the crowd they listened because he was speaking their language and telling them his story. They listened closely until he told them he was sent by God to the Gentiles then they wanted to kill him.
3. The guards took Paul inside and ordered him to be flogged but as he was being prepared Paul asked the soldier the “magic” question; “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” At finding out he was a Roman citizen the judgement was lifted and a trial was called the next day.

It’s interesting that the crowd listened to Paul isn’t it? It must be because he was speaking their language and showing them he was one of them by his story. Paul told them he used to kill Christians and put them in prison. The Jews were fine with this. Then Paul told them how he met Jesus, was blinded, then healed, believed in Jesus and was baptized. Again, the Jews were all fine with this. Then Paul told them how God had sent him to tell the Gentiles (the non-Jews) about Jesus and then the Jews freaked out and wanted to kill Paul again. Clearly the only problem the Jews had was that Paul wanted to share God’s love with people who were different from them. They believed in an exclusive God. The problem is that God is an inclusive God. 

Do you have difficulty with thinking God would accept people different from you? It’s easy to think people should act like we do but the reality is we are all different. God likes our differences. He made us all unique. God loves all people. Who can you try to share God’s love with who is different from you this week?