Paul taught and taught and taught about Jesus. If people would just listen to him... (Acts 22-28)

23:1

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." Paul was against the Christian church and then he was for it. However, in both cases, he was living according to his conscience. He was, in his mind, choosing the right. He was doing what he thought God wanted him to do. This is the definition of living according to your conscience.

God would not hold him accountable for his persecution against the early church. Paul was not rebelling against what he knew to be true. There was not rebellion in him - only faith and commitment.

Once he learned additional truth, he immediately accepted that and was equally committed to that new understanding. This is what a righteous, teachable, humble servant of God does.

How can this apply to us? One way is to not judge those who have different standards than we do. For most of the world, drinking alcohol is certainly not a sin. Neither is fornication. Many have been taught, since their youth, that these types of things are okay. Many don't believe in God and certainly don't attend church each week. They aren't rebelling. They haven't made covenants not to do these things. They don't believe in a prophet who has asked them to do these things.

What Paul was doing wasn't inherently wrong. In fact, it counted for him as righteousness as he thought he was being committed to his church and his beliefs.

23:3

"Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?" I just love that Paul is willing to call out the high priest in front of the entire council. Paul didn't care about who he offended as he served the Lord.

23:6-9

Paul was strategically clever. "But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided." He realized that the council was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees, he brought up a topic in which they were very divided. In fact, I think the topic of resurrection is the main point of contention between them. "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both."

Paul used this to take the focus off of him. In fact, it influenced the Pharisees to defend him. "And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God." This is clever stuff. The fact that he perceived this and said something that seemed harmless enough. He connected Christ's teachings to what the Pharisees believed. It was subtle. But this one statement turned the focus off of him and put the Pharisees in a position to defend him. Pretty intelligent.

24:24-27

Paul was brought before Felix and Felix seems pretty reasonable. In fact, he wanted to learn about Christ as his wife was a Jew. "And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."

I'd love to have a conversation with Paul. He seems like a great communicator! He seems to bring people along to a point through reason. I think reason will resonate with those whose hearts are prepared.

If someone's heart requires softening, I am not sure any amount of reason will have a converting effect. The Spirit is what changes hearts. A clever argument does not change someone.

For whatever reason, Felix sent for Paul often to "commune with him." But, in the end, it doesn't sound like Felix was converted. Felix was replaced by Festus. When Felix was relieved of duty, he was "willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." He left office with Paul in prison. This doesn't sounds like conversion.

26:26-28, 32

Paul is very bold with King Agrippa. Paul knew that Agrippa knew of the Jews and the prophecies of the prophets. With this foundation of knowledge, Paul obviously felt that he could be more bold with Agrippa. "For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner."

Paul obviously had a talent for perceiving his audience. He built on common beliefs. Because Agrippa was more familiar with Jewish beliefs, Paul could be more emphatically bold.

In fact, Paul perceived that Agrippa was being convinced. He said, "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest." This was basically an invitation to the king to bear testimony.

We can learn from this. When we feel that someone is being touched by the Holy Ghost, we should invite that person to act. It might be as simple as answering a question or it might be to offer visits from the missionaries. It might even be and invitation to be baptized. Christ always offered the invitation, "come, follow me." We should listen to the Spirit and look for those opportunities that will happen for all of us at some point.

It didn't quite work for Agrippa. "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." He didn't immediately convert and ask to be baptized. But, Paul did win the king's favor. Agrippa said, "This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds." Paul's boldness had a good outcome.

27:10-12, 21-22, 34

Paul is taken as a prisoner on a ship. When they reached Crete, Paul warns them. "And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives." This is what prophets do. They are a voice of warning. It's interesting that Paul uses the word "perceive." That same word was used when Paul perceived the Sadducees and Pharisees.

His ability to perceive has proven useful. Paul is not self-focused. He is present and attentive to what's happening around him. He responds to promptings. His feelers are out. He is observant. He has the spirit of discernment. We would all do well to develop this skill. If we are to have an influence on others, we should work on how perceptive we are.

When we are at church, what do we observe? Are there needs that others have that are invisible but could be perceived? Are our feelers out? I can say that Marci and I are getting good at this. It's a work in progress but we attend our meetings with the idea of discerning who needs a kind word. We believe that there are people at church who need someone to be interested in them. We consider who to invite over to our house. Our primary reason for going to church is to partake of the sacrament. The next priority is to discern how we could support and uplift others. If we are spiritually fed by the lessons or others, that's great but it's not our main reason for attending church.

That was a little off topic but I digress...

Did the people listen to Paul? Nope. Why didn't they. It's clearly explained in verses 11 and 12. "Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also." So, the centurion listened to the master of the ship and the "more part" of the passengers. In other words, the centurion relied on experts and the opinion of the crowd. He disregarded the opinion of the apostle.

How does this apply today? Yes. Many of us are turning to experts and mob mentality. If a majority of people (everyone's doing it) have an opinion, that opinion is probably right. Right? If someone held up as an expert has an opinion, that opinion is probably right. Right? Many church members are going to leave this church because they will trust experts and the majority.

We will see this more and more. As the world descends, the experts and the mob will descend with it. They will make logical arguments about how our beliefs are outdated and bigoted. They will choose to set sail on ships that will not survive the storms of life. We would be infinitely better to trust our apostles and prophets rather than the experts and majority.

It's not until the storm arrives that the people now turn to Paul. But, by now, it's too late. Their window of choice is past. This can happen in our lives. We can choose to ignore counsel from our leaders and head off in our own direction. When our path leads to addiction, unwanted pregnancy, etc., we may want to reverse our course. But, in terms of worldly consequences, it may be too late and we have created a huge storm that we now have to ride out. Better to follow God's mouthpieces!

When the storm does arrive, Paul reminds them of his warning. "Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me." It's interesting that Paul delivers a strong "I told you so." He does then offer some comfort. "And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship." Paul is predicting that trouble is coming but wants the to "be of good cheer."

This sounds familiar to what our current church leaders are telling us. Trouble is coming. Things are going to get bad. Stuff is going to get damaged. But, in the end, we will be safe. This is exactly like what prophets have said about the second coming. It is like we are on a plane experiencing turbulence. We're going to get knocked around a lot. But, we will arrive at our destination safely.

Paul suggests that the eat. "Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you." Although they are not going to be harmed, they still need to prepare. They need to strengthen themselves.

I can compare this with what's happening now. Even though we know that Christ has already won and that we are all saved already, we still must do what we can to prepare for the struggles ahead. We may not be able to command the waves to stop but we can certainly do the things that will mentally, physically, and spiritually prepare for the hardship that is ahead for all of us.

28:3-6

People are fickle. I'm not sure why. I think, without an understanding of the plan of salvation, it's easy for men to be swayed from one point of view to another. We see how fast people can change their minds in this story. "And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god."

These people formed strong opinions based on seeing a little "evidence." Their opinion of Paul shifted from MURDERER to GOD! Their opinion shifted so radically because they thought they could judge righteously after a little observation.

So, the question is, do we do the same thing? Can our opinion change about someone in an instant? It's happened to me many times. Many times, throughout my life, I have quickly formed an opinion about someone. Usually, it's negative. I see someone do something rude or stupid and I make a snap judgment.

Then, I learn more about the person and my opinion changes drastically. When I hear the backstory of the person, my opinion often completely flips. Their observable behavior now makes sense.

The key is to not judge based on very limited information. We should assume that everyone has a compelling backstory. Everyone behaves how they behave for a logical reason. The "evidence" of a ten minute interaction isn't statistically accurate.

28:23-24, 27

I consider Paul a great teacher. I would love to learn from him about how to present a principle in a way that is understood. I have to think that his approach to teaching was amazingly effective. "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening."

I can imagine him standing in front of many people and making a perfect argument for Jesus out of their own scriptures. I bet he communicated in a supremely articulate way. In addition, I am sure that the Spirit was present to testify of the truthfulness of what he was saying. He was teaching about Jesus. It's been my experience that, when Jesus's name is evoked, the Spirit testifies very strongly. The Spirit was present when Paul taught.

However, not all were converted. "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not." People are so frustrating! Here Paul delivers, what we have to assume is, a perfect sermon. He spoke with power and with a confirmation from the Holy Ghost. Still, some didn't believe. How is this possible?

"For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." People can be so hardened that pure truth, reinforced by the Holy Ghost, cannot convince them to change their opinions. Missionaries should take solace in knowing that they can deliver a message exactly as Christ would want them - people still have their agency to choose to ignore it. If someone's heart is not prepared for the truth, they won't accept it - no matter how eloquently it is communicated.

We should all work to be more self aware in this area. How is our heart hardened? What truths are we not accepting? What don't we believe? Every one of us could soften our heart and open our ears and see reality more clearly. It takes a lot of work to maintain a broken heart and a contrite spirit. This is our offering to the Lord. It isn't an easy or insignificant offering.