Acts 21:37-40 – As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?” 39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.” 40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:
“As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”” Paul had a mob materialize with the intent of killing him. They had been beating him when the Romans rescued him. If the Romans had not rescued him this hate filled mob would have killed him. Yet the Jews who responded so explosively and in a united way, who did not have the true facts, thought that they did have some reason to react to Paul as they did other than a rejection of the Gospel message itself. One of the lies said about him was that he had brought a Gentile (Trophimus) into the temple. They were told that he had done so and that would have been, in their mind, an attack against their very beliefs. What the Jews most valued was “the people, The Law, and the Temple. Bringing a Gentile past the established boundary would have been considered not just a mistake, but an attack against all three of what they cherished. Besides it was clearly written at the entrance gate, and archaeology has verified it, that for a non-Jew to pass into the temple demanded death. The Jews zealously guarded that demand. So the fact that it was being yelled out that Paul had defiled the temple certainly would have spread like yelling fire in a theater. It was instant reaction with no further evidence needed.
““Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?”” The question do you know Greek was likely not asking Paul if he spoke Greek, but was a surprise statement that may have also be understood as “Oh, you know Greek!” After all, when Paul asked the commander if he may speak to him he likely asked the commander in Greek, and Paul would have known the commander spoke Greek as he likely had already spoken Greek in front of Paul.
The commander told Paul that he had took Paul to be a previous trouble maker who had led a failed revolt around A.D. 54.
“Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”” Paul let the commander know that he was not an Egyptian but a Jew from Tarsus, a well know and powerful city. Paul also revealed that he was Roman citizen and that would have certainly carried weight with the commander.
Paul asked to speak to the people. How the commander was probably amazed as this man Paul, who was going to beaten to death, or ripped apart by the frenzied crowd, wanted now to talk to them. We know the deep love Paul had for his fellow Jews (Romans 9:1-3) and he perhaps thought that if he spoke truth and reason to them, then they would listen. It is another example that those with a pure heart often find it hard to understand how others will not listen to reason and truth. Usually the pure at heart are the most gullible of all. (Titus 1:15) Not to their fault, but to their credit!
“After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic.” After receiving the commander’s permission Paul began to speak to the Jews, certainly he was hoping that a revival would sweep over the crowd that hat just tried to kill him. Paul loved even those who beat and wanted to kill him and thereby exemplified the very same love of Jesus his Savior and Lord. We are also told to forgive others in such a way (Matthew 6:14-15, Romans 12:14). After all Jesus forgave us. Near the death of His life Jesus called out from the cross “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” We should also realize that people who mistreat or persecute us may not fully know the ramifications of what they are doing. And if they do understand, and still want to harm and kill us, then they are most to be pitied because God will cause them to pay for what they do to us (Romans 12:19). Pray for them. Fear for them. Love them so that perhaps they might repent and be saved. In that way we show we are the children of God. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”