"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." – Acts 22:1

Today's Scripture Reading (March 30, 2021): Acts 22

Paul's story began with the trial and execution of Stephen. The first mention of Paul, then known as Saul, is tagged to the end of the story of this early Christian's trial and execution. Luke simply makes this comment; "Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul" (Acts 7:58). A few verses later, Luke adds this comment; "And Saul approved of their killing him [Stephen]" (Acts 8:1). But it is unlikely that Paul just showed up for the execution. It seems likely that his 'approval' was probably an informed one. He was an individual in the crowd who listened to the words of Stephen's defense and was enraged by the young disciple's argument. And so, he gave his approval to the execution. The mob didn't need his permission, but as a Pharisee, he gave an air of authority over the events. It wasn't that Stephen was the victim of an unruly mob. Saul's approval made the stoning of Stephen a formal Jewish event; the execution was a legally sanctioned incident, accepted by someone in authority, namely Saul.

The stoning of Stephen took place in about 32 C.E. Paul, at the time, could never have conceived that twenty-five years later, he would be standing in the place of Stephen, giving his own testimony to defend himself and the Christian faith just as Stephen had two and half decades earlier. The stoning of Stephen was an event that Paul would come to regret. But it was not an event that Paul ever forgot. And the proof of how much of an impact the stoning of Stephen had on Paul's life might be found in that he copies Stephen's words as he opens up his defense. Stephen had started his defense with "Brothers and fathers, listen to me (Acts 7:2)! Paul repeats Stephen's words, speaking in Aramaic so that he would be understood by everyone who was listening; "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense" (Acts 22:1).

With these words, Stephen began to tell Father Abraham's story, starting with Abraham's call to leave Mesopotamia and "go to a land I will show you" (Acts 7:3). Stephen told the story of Abraham and the story of Egypt and Moses. He spoke about the desert wanderings. Stephen talked about the reign of David and the building of the Temple under the leadership of Solomon. He spoke clearly of the prophets that Israel rejected and the Messiah that they nailed to a cross. And before he was finished, the people picked up their stones to execute him.

Paul essentially picks up the story where Stephen left off, speaking of his beginnings, both in life and his confrontation with Jesus on the Road to Damascus. But the message would be the same. Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The Messiah came, and you missed it. And yet, it is still not too late.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 23