The Third Way

Today's reading: Acts 22:17-30, 23:1-10

“Is it legal to whip a Roman citizen?”

“...my hope is in the resurrection of the dead.” - Acts 22:25, 23:6

When facing impossible situations like Paul is here, we often only see two options. Either he denies everything, or he tries to one-up his previous insult directed toward the high priest.

Yet Paul saw a third way two times in our reading for today. First he uses his Roman citizenship to side step a beating. The he plays into the existing schism between the Pharisees and the Saducees by mentioning the resurrection. Paul was calculated and intelligent. His goal was not to lose his life in Jerusalem. His goal was to speak the Gospel into the largest microphone in the Mediterranean (Rome).

Jesus taught his disciples to act the same way...

”Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” - Matthew‬ ‭10:16‬

It isn’t enough for us just to show up to share the Gospel. We have to prepare. We have to use our God-given minds to extend our reach.