They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. – Acts 25:3

Today's Scripture Reading (April 2, 2021): Acts 25

I grew up watching Batman before I fell in love with Spiderman. My introduction to superheroes was with the campy "Batman" starring Adam West as the titular hero. I loved the idea of Batman. He has no superpowers; he isn't from another planet like Superman, and unlike my beloved Spiderman, he wasn't bit by a radioactive spider. He works out and has some great gadgets, and that is it. He is a very human hero who happens to go about his activities wearing a mask. He is the superhero that maybe isn't all that super, someone who even a child can aspire to be. But that was when I was a child.

I still love to watch superhero movies and television shows, but I also recognize the fatal flaw present in every superhero story. In some way, superheroes can only exist because the law cannot or will not do what it needs to do. In the Batman saga, it is partially the existence of super-criminals that necessitates a Batman. He is the only one who can combat villains like the Joker or the Penguin. These criminals are beyond the abilities of ordinary law enforcement. Only Batman can restore order to Gotham City.

Of course, in the Batman story arc, there is another problem. Not only are the supervillains too strong for the police, but the police themselves, in fact, the society at large, has been corrupted by the criminal enterprise that has gripped the city. And both the power of the criminals and the society's corruption has made Batman's presence essential. When you can't trust authority, you have no option other than to take the law into your own hands. Vigilante justice becomes the only answer. Without a Batman in Gotham City, justice dies.

Paul is being tried in front of the political powers of the society. King Agrippa has a firm hold on the Herodian throne and offers part of that political power. Porcius Festus is the Roman procurator. Agrippa II reigns as King in Judah only because Rome allows him to, and the visible hand of Rome in Judah was the procurator. These are the men who decide significant issues of justice, and it is before them that Paul has been brought.

But Paul's opponents are not convinced that Agrippa and Festus will do what they believe must be done. Scholars argue that they don't have the evidence to get to a guilty verdict, but other elements were also at play here, including the concept that Paul was born a Roman citizen. Taking action against a Roman citizen was problematic, even for those in charge of the nation's system of justice.

So, those who opposed Paul lobbied for a change in venue for the trial of Paul. It wasn't that they hoped that the trial would end differently if the trial were moved to Jerusalem, but rather that in moving Paul, they would have an opportunity to kill him. They didn't trust Agrippa and Festus to get the job done, so now they wanted to take matters into their own hand. It was time to get in touch with their inner Batman, or maybe better their inner super criminal, and make sure that Paul is eliminated.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 26

… and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. – Acts 24:6

Today's Scripture Reading (April 1, 2021): Acts 24

In "The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu," Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi writes, "Moreover, I have heard that those who are fond of praising men to their faces are also fond of damning them behind their backs." The truth is that we enjoy being flattered, especially if the alternative is criticism. But the unfortunate reality is that while flattery in moderation encourages and strengthens us, we grow more from criticism. Zhuangzi speaks the truth; those who flatter, and especially those who liberally apply their flattery wherever they go, are also the ones who are going to condemn the very ones that they flatter once the backs are turned.

The official charge against Paul is that he attempted to desecrate the temple. No, he did not try to paint some questionable graffiti on the Temple gates. The method of this desecration was that he brought an uncircumcised male, Titus, into the Temple complex's inner portions. But while there is a charge, what is notable is that there seems to be no evidence to support the charge. While there is no evidence, that does not indicate that the charge is not problematic for Paul. While we like to believe that our innocence is our shield, we know that even today, innocent people are often found guilty because of the intensity of those on the side of the prosecution. A lack of evidence does not mean that charges are dropped, but rather that a different method must be employed to get to the guilty verdict. If that is true today, it was even more true in the society in which Paul lived.

Those who stood against him were adamant in proving his guilt. And step one in the process was getting those who would judge Paul, in this case, the Roman procurator Marcus Antonius Felix, on their side. And, as often happens, everything starts with the flattery. Specifically, Tertullus begins his prosecution of Paul with this opening statement.

We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly (Acts 24:2-4).

It is unlikely that Tertullus believed what he said. And even though Felix likely knew that his words were empty flattery, the comments completed their task by making Felix feel good about Tertullus and willing to listen to the charge that was being presented without evidence. Still, the flatter's words need to be handled carefully. And in this case, the flattery is all that Tertullus has on his side. He could not use the truth because the truth is not his side.

Pastor David Guzik makes this comment about Tertullus's methods. "Significantly, the same man who found it so easy to flatter also found it easy to accuse with no evidence. The two almost always go together; the person who flatters today will likely tomorrow accuse without evidence."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 25

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." – Acts 23:1

Today's Scripture Reading (March 31, 2021): Acts 23

One of my favorite quotes from George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is the comment that "all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." It hits at the false equality that we sometimes want to believe exists in our society. The truth is that equality is still a fairy tale, a concept toward which we all strive, as we should, but one that we will likely never reach. The rich and powerful will always be more equal than the rest of us. And regardless of who we are, there are always people who are richer and more powerful than we are, and there are always those to whom we hold the edge in power. All of us are both more equal and less equal, although we might not want to acknowledge that fact.

Paul begins his defense in front of the Sanhedrin in a rather bold way. "My brothers" is not the approved way of addressing the Sanhedrin, just as walking up to Queen Elizabeth with the words, "Hey Liz, how's the family" is not the approved way of greeting British royalty. We live in an age where we stretch toward equality, but some are still more equal than others. The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of Israel, and it consisted of Priests, Levites, and ordinary citizens who had been born into families having a pure Jewish lineage. These were the "more equal" members of society. As a result, Paul's salutation should have been "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel." "My brothers" was to make an assumption that had no merit. And the Sanhedrin was likely shocked by the familiarity.

Later, Paul explains why he feels that he can address the Sanhedrin in such a familiar way. He reminds them that he is a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. Paul can also claim that he is more equal. He also informs those sitting in judgment that he has acted in good conscience in everything he has done. This is not a proclamation that he is not a sinner. Paul considers himself the greatest of sinners, writing to Timothy these words; "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15).

Paul's defense is that he did not contravene Jewish law by bringing an uncircumcised Greek, Titus, into the Temple (Acts 21:28), which is the charge that has been leveled against him. Paul has a clear conscience that he has not violated the law; he did not bring Titus past the Courtyard of the Gentiles in the Temple, a place where Titus was allowed to be. Paul also argues that the real reason his opponents are trying to persecute him because they do not share his belief in Jesus Christ, and they oppose the hope that he holds in the resurrection of the dead.

The Sanhedrin had both Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead, and Sadducees, who opposed the belief. As a result, Paul's defense started a brand-new argument among the members of the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:7-8).

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 24

"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

We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. – Acts 21:4

Today's Scripture Reading (March 29, 2021): Acts 21

There is a belief within the Christian church that most of the opposition and division originates with Satan. We believe that Satan is finite and has limited resources to throw at any situation. And because of that, he is likely to be more active inside the church than at the local bar. As a result, the church is often a place of turmoil and chaos resulting from the battle between good and evil that is taking place within the spiritual community. We believe that Satan is active in the spaces where significant spiritual decisions are being made.

Is there any truth to the idea? Maybe. I agree that Satan's resources are not unlimited, so he has to carefully consider where he will use those resources. And a lot of the bitterness and gossip that exists inside the church carries the characteristics of Satan's preferred methods. But there is also a danger to the belief. While I agree that Satan is active in the lives of the people of the Christian Community, his meddling is not the only source of our struggle.

Most of the struggle that is present in the church might just be because of us. We have wants, desires, and egos that can cause division without Satan being forced to spend any of his limited resources. We are a selfish people and seem to be able to create division very easily. And often, we seem to react negatively to the ghosts of division and insult that only exists within the confines of our own minds.

But maybe one of the most surprising reasons for our struggle is that God places it within our midst at least some of the time. At least, that seems to be the case as Paul continues his journey toward Jerusalem. As Paul approaches Jerusalem, bringing with him the offering that he had collected on his latest missionary journey to help those impacted by the famine in Judea, the resistance to Paul's idea of going to Jerusalem increases. Repeatedly we are told that the people he met as he proceeded toward the Holy City encouraged him not to complete his journey. Surely, there was someone else who Paul could entrust with the task of taking the offering to Jerusalem. Their message is clear. Paul, if you go to Jerusalem, things are going to go bad for you. I know you feel you have to go, but we are begging you to send someone else.

And this message was not inspired by Satan but rather by the Holy Spirit. The problem is that Paul's insistence that he go to Jerusalem is also inspired by the moving of the Spirit in Paul's ministry. And our question might be how the Spirit can inspire his people in opposite directions. I am convinced that, part of the time, the division in the church is a deliberate act on the part of God, ensuring that in every situation, we understand that we are people with free will and a choice. And not every option is a choice between good and evil. Sometimes our choices are just that, choices. And in these neutral cases, God has promised that he will work within the boundaries of the decisions we choose to make.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 22

Greet one another with a holy kiss. – 2 Corinthians 13:12

Today's Scripture Reading (March 28, 2021): 2 Corinthians 12 &13

As the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic began, I was called to a meeting with someone I didn't know. We met, just the two of us, at a table at a McDonald's. Even though it was early in the pandemic, I was already aware that some of the ordinary things, which included shaking hands, were now problematic. And yet, I walked into the McDonald's with this man I didn't know, and the first thing I did was extend my hand as I had in almost every meeting in my adult years. He eagerly accepted my invitation with a comment; "Finally, someone who is not afraid to shake hands." I recognized my mistake, but when it was too late. I sat, and we talked. And when the meeting was over, I rose and left, without the customary good-bye handshake. I am a slow learner, but I can learn.

As I write this, more than a year has passed since that meeting, and still, one of the hardest things for me not to do when I meet someone is not extending my hand for the customary greeting. Some have argued that we will never return to the days of the handshake, but I am not convinced. It might take us a while, but the handshake is too deeply ingrained in our culture to be lost forever, possibly only to be replaced by the polite bow that is customary in some oriental societies.

In the first century, it wasn't a handshake; it was a kiss. Five letters, four from Paul (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and 1 Thessalonians) and one from Peter (1 Peter), end with the instructions to "greet one another (or all the brothers in 1 Thessalonians) with a "holy kiss." The kiss was a nonerotic expression of peace. St Augustine speaks of the "holy kiss" in one of his Easter Sermons.

When the Sacrifice is finished, we say the Lord's Prayer which you have received and recited. After this, the 'Peace be with you' is said, and the Christians embrace one another with the holy kiss. This is a sign of peace; as the lips indicate, let peace be made in your conscience, that is, when your lips draw near to those of your brother, do not let your heart withdraw from his (St Augustine).

Augustine seems to indicate that this kiss was not a peck on the cheek as is customary in some contemporary societies today, but a kiss on the lips.

But even in ancient times, there was one moment when "the holy kiss" was deemed inappropriate. And that time was on Good Friday. Judas had betrayed Jesus with a kiss on that first Good Friday, so it was the one day when Christians avoided exchanging "the holy kiss" in greeting each other. Because on that day, the kiss was not one of peace, but instead a remembrance of betrayal.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Acts 21

I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. – 2 Corinthians 11:6

Today's Scripture Reading (March 27, 2021): 2 Corinthians 11

Pastor David Guzik tells a story about a dinner party at which the invited guests were expected to stand up and recite something for the group after the meal's conclusion.

A famous actor was present, and he recited the twenty-third Psalm with great dramatic flair and emotion, and sat down to great applause. Then a very simple man got up and began to recite the same Psalm. He wasn't very eloquent, so at first people thought it was a little funny. But his presentation was straight from his heart, so when he finished the group sat in respectful silence. It was obvious that the simple man's presentation was more powerful than the actor's, and afterwards the actor told him: "I know the Psalm, but you know the Shepherd" (David Guzik).

A few years ago, I met with an older pastor who admitted that he lacked the education he felt was required to speak week after week to his congregation. And so, he tasked a teacher in his church with the job of evaluating his grammar and helping him improve his speaking ability. The last thing he wanted was to make a fool of himself in front of his congregation. It is quite possible that he wasn't the best speaker, but his community loved him because they knew his heart, and they were sure that he knew the Shepherd.

Paul argues that he is untrained as a speaker. His argument is that he does not know the intricacies of rhetoric, which involved speaking in an entertaining and polished way that was popular at the time. The Corinthians had people who practiced rhetoric come and talk to them,  and they preferred to listen to these entertainers more than they wanted to hear Paul.

Somehow, I doubt that Paul was untrained in rhetoric, he was highly educated, and rhetoric would have been a foundational part of that education. But Paul had chosen a different path. He didn't want his message to be lost in the entertainment. And so Paul purposefully spoke from his heart, rather than try to entertain. But even if he was uneducated in the ways of rhetoric, he had been very effective in his ministry, speaking from his heart about what was important.

Too often, we let our inabilities or inadequacies stop us from attempting to live out our discipleship in front of the people in our circles of acquaintance. But the world around us doesn't need another eloquent speech about Jesus. They need to hear our heart; they need to know the Shepherd and not just the words of the Psalm.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12 & 13