Acts 28:17

Monday, 17 June 2024   And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, Acts 28:17   The Greek more closely reads, “And it was, after three days, Paul called together those being leaders of the Jews. And they, having come together, he said to them ‘I – men, brothers – having done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans’” (CG).   In the previous verse, it noted that Paul was delivered with the prisoners to the captain of the guard. From there, he was permitted to dwell by himself with a soldier guarding him. Now that he is in his accommodations but in bonds and guarded, it next says, “And it was, after three days.”   This is probably stated to show that he gave full attention to the Christians who so honorably greeted him before calling together the Jews. He spent enough time with them to get to know them, talk about all that had happened, and to answer any questions that they may have had. Now it was time to address his brothers according to the flesh. And so, it next says, “Paul called together those being leaders of the Jews.”   It was shown in Acts 18:2 that Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome, but that order had been allowed to lapse and the Jews had returned. Those who were the leaders were specified to come and meet with him.   The reason was certainly at least twofold. First, he would present them with the gospel, and he would also defend this stand for his faith as a believing Jew which resulted in his chains. Therefore, Luke next records, “And they, having come together, he said to them ‘I – men, brothers – having done nothing against the people or the customs of our fathers.”   He begins with an emphatic “I.” He is ensuring right off the bat that they understand that any word that may have arrived against him was untrue. In order to make his defense, he then notes that everything he had done was in accord with both his life as a Jew and the heritage that made him a Jew.   There is a definite article before the word people. It is not “our people,” but literally, “the people.” It is the special mark that he fully identifies them as the chosen people and that he is among them. He was careful to be respectful of the people and their customs. Despite this, he next says, “I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.”   Paul acknowledges that it is his own people who handed him over, as indicated in the words “from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” It is an implication that he was betrayed by the leaders of “the people” despite his innocence concerning those things he had been accused of.   Life application: The people of any given nation are under the authority of those who are in charge. Therefore, whether they have done anything wrong individually, they bear the consequences of the decisions of the leaders.   There were probably many Germans before WWII who didn’t know much about what was going on. They were living their lives like any normal people. Suddenly, a family would receive a note that the oldest son had been drafted into the army. A few months later, they receive a note that he had died in battle.   The decisions of the leaders have negatively impacted the lives of a family who really had no idea why their son was taken from them. In Israel, the people hailed Jesus as their Messiah on Palm Sunday. However, the leadership – those who stood for the nation – rejected Him. Despite many individuals heralding Jesus, He spoke to Jerusalem, meaning the leaders of the nation and who represented the nation as a whole, saying –   “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:37-39   The leaders of the nation had Jesus crucified. Even after His resurrection, they continued to reject Him. In fulfillment of Jesus’ words concerning the sign of Jonah (forty days representing forty years), the nation was destroyed, and the people were exiled.   The point is that in some nations, we can choose our leaders. We must choose wisely. If we put our fists in God’s face and elect those who will not honor the Lord, negative consequences will result. If we elect leaders that are always getting the nation into wars, our sons and daughters may die in battle because of it.   Think through what you will do on election day. The leaders represent your nation before God. Choosing a bad leader may lead you to find yourself in bad circumstances.   Glorious Lord God, as Christians, Jesus is our Head and Leader. However, we still have to live in this world until the day our placement changes. Help us to make wise decisions concerning our lives and the circumstances in which we find ourselves. May each of our decisions include You in the process. In this, we can hope for peace and tranquility through the days of our lives. Amen.