Where in the Word? Acts 23:1-22 The Plot to Kill Paul

Spotlight Verse: Acts 23:1

“Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’”

…can we talk about?

A bittersweet candy. An icy hot rub. A love-hate relationship.

Oxymorons-expressions that are seemingly opposite but come together to describe something. Here’s one that seemed to fit Paul: humble boldness. Gather your family around and see if you can come up with more.

Ananias, the high priest, and the Jews who were gathered were appalled at Paul’s statement in verse 1. What they heard was nothing but heresy and arrogance. But how else could we really expect them to hear it? The “religion” of the religious leaders in that day was based on what looked righteous. It was based on legalistic rules and measuring sticks. There was no place for grace and mercy, let alone honesty. It was showy on the outside but dead on the inside.

The Pharisees had no concept that religion is really a relationship. A relationship which allows the participants to mess up and be forgiven. A relationship that allows those who believe to go through moments of unbelief. A relationship which allows those involved to stand clean before the Lord even though they are sinners. A relationship that has nothing to do with what we can do but what Jesus has already done.

Paul understood the relationship. That’s what gave him his “humble boldness.” He never said he stood perfectly before God, but he stood honestly before God. His humility came from knowing the full forgiveness Christ offers and how much in need of it he was; and his boldness came from a faith that had been put to the test. There was strength and boldness in his life because of the One in whom he had placed his faith.

Our witness must be more than humble, and it must be more than bold. Boldness without humility is arrogance, and humility without strength of character is weak. Paul found the balance that brings the two together. We are bold when we have not only an intimate, hands-on knowledge of our topic but also when we can be sure with all sincerity that we have walked the walk--not perfectly, but humbly and sincerely, asking for and giving forgiveness when forgiveness is needed.

This humble boldness won Paul lots of enemies- enemies who didn’t just dislike him, but who swore not to eat or drink until they had killed him. But this boldness also encouraged other believers in the early church, and now even us, to persevere in light of persecution, knowing that we really are a part of something so much greater than ourselves.

…can we pray for?

Let’s pray that our experiences with God would be so real and our life’s witness would be so sincere that we would have the humble boldness Paul had.

Let’s pray for the strength to face the opposition as it arises, knowing that ultimately we will be an encouragement to those who come after us.