Atos 22
Alexander Maclaren · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 22
Maclaren - Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? - Bring your plans, your purposes to God’s throne. Test them by praying about them. Do nothing large or new—nothing small or old either, for that matter—till you have asked there, in the silence of the secret place, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”
Atos 22
Maclaren - “Let us say all that is in our hearts. He will listen, and clear away hesitations, and show us our path, and make us willing to walk in it. Jesus did not discuss the matter with Paul, but reiterated the command, and made it more pointed and clear; and then Paul stopped objecting and yielded his will, as we should do.” And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles - This is an interesting verse -- notice the command to Go which clearly is Paul's choice (man's responsibility) juxtaposed to "I will send" which is Jesus' empowerment (God's sovereignty). Our part/His part - this pattern is seen all through the Bible as God invites saved sinners to join Him in saving sinners! Amazing grace indeed! As as aside, "I will send you far away to the Gentiles" is a prophecy, a fore-telling! And of course it was fulfilled. Jack Andrews - It is always good to go where the Lord wants us to go and do what the Lord wants us to do. May God give us wisdom and clear direction to know His will and obedience and faithfulness to do His will! Homer Kent said, “Paul had not repudiated his people. He had preached to Gentiles only because God had directly ordered it.” Are we going where the Lord commands us to go? Are we doing what the Lord commands us to do? Are we serving where the Lord has us to serve? Are we taking advantage of every opportunity to share our testimony and His gospel? Paul took advantage of every opportunity to witness for Jesus! Paul talked about his testimony: his conduct before Christ. Paul talked about his transformation: his coming to Christ. Paul talked about his task: his commission by Christ. Let us be faithful in taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who need Him. Would you take advantage of every opportunity in Jesus name?.(Jack Andrews Expository Studies – Understanding Acts) It is interesting that Jesus gives Paul "go" commands in Acts 22 - Acts 22:10 (go on into Damascus), Acts 22:18 ('Make haste, and get out ) Acts 22:21 (Go! from Jerusalem) Go (4198)(poreuo) means to move from one destination (port) to another and it implies (especially in the context of this passage) to travel along a purposeful ("PURPOSE FILLED") passageway! Go is in the present imperative which is a command for this to always be Paul's direction in life. In addition it is in the middle voice which underscores Paul's personal involvement in the process. THOUGHT - When we willing travel on the path God has laid out for us we are blessed for He gives eternal meaning to our temporal journey when we "go in His direction," (so speak). And best of all when we "go in His direction," He puts the wind of His Spirit in our sails to enable us to navigate the inevitable challenges that will arise along that journey. And remember, the secular ad got this one right - to paraphrase it "You only go around once, grab for all the gusto of God's purpose you can!" (Gusto means "enthusiastic and vigorous enjoyment or appreciation; vitality marked by an abundance of vigor and enthusiasm" - Dear believer, don't you want a life like that? Of course you do and it is yours for the taking, by grace through faith, daily taking in the Word and relying wholly on the Holy Spirit! Gary Hill adds "The Lord views all or goings (poreúomai) as "rewardable" or "judgable" (Eccl 12:14). Indeed, we are eternally held accountable for every decision (action) we make (cf. Jn 1:4,7,9 with 1 Cor 4:5). This is underlined by the fact that poreúomai is always middle voice in the future tense, and perhaps in other forms (depending on the context). All of our "goings" (traveling) have eternal significance (everlasting repercussions) because the Lord purposefully designed all the physical scenes of life before creation. This truth calls each of us, all the time, to a purpose-driven life (God's purpose)! (See Ps 119:89-91, 139:16.) Each decision (action) we make in faith transports us to "His next stop," i.e. the next scene He set from eternity for our everlasting gain (cf. Eph 2:10). There is no amoral scene in life – so everything counts...because God counts all things! (Discovery Bible) Jesus amplifies the "Go" in Acts 26 ‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, (HERE IS THE HIGH AND HOLY PURPOSE) to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ (Acts 26:16-18) Acts 22:22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!" KJV Acts 22:22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. Away with such a fellow from the earth Acts 7:54-57; 21:36; 25:24; Luke 23:18; John 19:15 for he should not be allowed to live Acts 25:24 See Map of Events Associated with Saul's conversion and ministry (Do not copy - copyright by Holman) Watch Video of Jewish reaction and Paul taken into barracks Acts 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE LAST STRAW! They listened (imperfect tense) to him up to this statement - "Until he said this" - The Jews were patient but Paul's mention of a Jew going to Gentiles was the proverbial "last straw" or the "straw that broke the camel's back." In a word, the Jews were adamantly closed to ethnic openness as explained by Barton! Barton - They were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, telling them about the one true God, but they had renounced that mission by becoming separatist and exclusive. Did the Jews hate the Gentiles? No. Continual efforts were made by the Jews to try to convert the Gentiles. The implications of Paul's testimony and Christian gospel were clear, however. He was suggesting that the Gentiles could be saved and made right with God without first subscribing to the law and submitting to Jewish circumcision. In effect, Paul was claiming divine approval for the idea that Jews and Gentiles could have equal standing before God. This message collided head-on with the blindness, pride, and prejudice of the Jews. The results were explosive. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts)
Atos 22
Maclaren wrote, “What a picture of frenzied hate! And what was it all for? Because Gentiles were to be allowed to share in Israel’s privileges. And what were the privileges which they thus jealously monopolized? The favor and protection of the God who, as their own prophets had taught them, was the God of the whole earth, and revealed Him to Israel that Israel might reveal Him to the world. The less they entered into the true possession of their heritage, the more savagely they resented sharing it with the nations. The more their prerogative became a mere outward thing, the more they snarled at any one who proposed to participate in it. (ED: MACLAREN'S NEXT STATEMENT IS VERY INTERESTING) To seek to keep religious blessings to one’s self is a conclusive proof that they are not really possessed. If we have them we shall long to impart them.” Matthew