Today’s Scripture Reading (February 21, 2018): Acts 23
Nelson Mandela once remarked that “it is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside
its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens,
but its lowest ones.” A nation should never be
judged by the rewards and tax-breaks that it heaps on the powerful that
inhabit the land, but rather by the compassion it gives to the weak in their midst
or, as in Mandela’s case, the way that the culture handles those who oppose the
ruling class. The words of Jesus should still bring us pause when we consider the
way that we live our lives. “Truly I tell you, whatever you
did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”
(Matthew 25:40).
Paul presented opposition to those who ruled the society in
which he lived both politically and religiously. Up until this point, although
he had been beaten almost killed, and arrested, on several occasions, he had actually not yet been imprisoned for long
periods of time; primarily because he was a Roman citizen. Not everyone could
claim citizenship. It was restricted to
only the best and the most heroic of the nation. What makes Paul’s citizenship
even more unique is that it appears that his citizenship was hereditary, passed
down from father to son. But, again, not
all citizenship worked that way. What this meant was that the local governments
were often hesitant to take steps against Paul for fear of Rome. By law, only Rome
could punish a Roman citizen.
But now things were about to change for Paul. Because the Jews
were plotting to overthrow the small Roman guard and kill Paul, a change was
quickly made to move Paul to Caesarea and have his case heard by the Governor,
Marcus Antonius Felix, who is sometimes referred
to as Claudius Felix. Once again Luke, who endeavors to tell us a historical story,
anchors this event in history. Felix was the Governor of Judea from 52 – 58 C.E. And if we were to judge his reign we
would probably not do so very positively. Felix, like many of his day, was a
Governor of the rich and was swayed by their bribes while frequently treating
the weak with cruelty. As a result, there was a great increase in crime in
Judea during his reign. And the change in location meant that Paul would not be
released from this incarceration as he had been before. In fact, this event
begins a period of at least five years
that the apostle would spend in prison. Two years would be spent in prison in
Caesarea and then at least another two years in prison in Rome, plus the travel
time and time spent in jail in Jerusalem. This
imprisonment would result in a marked change in Paul’s lifestyle. Previously
he was able to go wherever he wanted and was able to preach in various out of
the way places. Now his place of residence and the people he would meet would
be outside of his control.
But something else was also happening. Felix would be the highest-ranking
official that had ever heard Paul’s story. King Herod would also hear the
story, and in spite of the fact that Paul was in jail, his incarceration was
allowing a promise, made to a holy man named Ananias more than twenty years
earlier, come true. “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man
is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and
to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my
name.’”
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Acts 24
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