Truth is Truth
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It never ceases to amaze me the number of times people in the New Testament use difficult and awkward opportunities to teach the Gospel. Paul had been teaching in the temple. A mob of people gathered that didn’t like what Paul was teaching and they were going to kill him. When the Chief Captain saw what was being done, he took Paul into custody partly just to save his life until things could be sorted out. When Paul was taken bound to the castle, he asked the Chief Captain if he could speak. Paul then addressed all of the people from the castle stairs.
What would you say in this opportunity? You are arrested for teaching the truth. The people hate you for teaching the truth and tried to kill you. Now you have an opportunity to say just a few words before they are going to carry out whatever sentence they deem necessary. What would you say? Would you plea for your life? Would you try to smooth things over?
Paul takes this opportunity to continue teaching. He knows that they are going to listen. He knows that they are angry, but yet he still has an opportunity to teach one more time. Paul tells them that he was one who persecuted Christians (and they liked that). He put them in prison and even got letters from the high priest to persecute Christians in Damascus. Paul then tells about what happened as he traveled to Damascus. A light shined around and Christ spoke to him. Paul then tells about how he was taken to the city, taught of Ananias, and baptized for remission of his sins. Then Paul tells them how that the Lord told him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul was speaking to Jews at this time who hated and despised the Gentiles. When Paul said this, they immediately called for Paul’s execution. Between their anger and the mob encouragement they were determined to see Paul killed for the things that he had said. Fortunately the Chief Captain kept Paul from being killed, however he had Paul beat for nothing more than teaching the truth.
I just find it interesting that while Paul was on trial for his life, he took that opportunity to teach the truth of the Gospel one more time. Paul didn’t do this for his own benefit because it didn’t help his case. Paul did this for the benefit of those listening and it was those listening that were the reason he was about to be put to death. Paul cared so much about souls that he was willing time and again to risk his life to make sure that they had every opportunity to obey the truth. Paul was so successful as a teacher for these reasons. He was passionate about truth. He was uncompromising in his stand for truth. He lived what he believed. He didn’t back down regardless of his audience.
We need to be Christians that have this love for truth. We need to be passionate about the truth that we believe and stand in. We need to be uncompromising. If it is truth it is truth and there is no justifiable reason to compromise. We need to take this stand regardless of who we are around, from our friends and family, to our co-workers, to people that hate us. Truth is truth and we must stand for it!
Acts 22:1-22, "Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. [2] (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)[3] I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. [4] And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. [5] As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. [6] And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. [7] And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [8] And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. [9] And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. [10] And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. [11] And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. [12] And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, [13] Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. [14] And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. [15] For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. [16] And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. [17] And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; [18] And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. [19] And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: [20] And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. [21] And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.[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. [23] And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, [24] The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him."
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Awesome story.
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There is 3 sides to every story, side 1, side 2 and the Truth.
Sometimes 1 or 2 align with the Truth.
