Acts: To The Ends Of The EarthSample

There is solidarity between the Lord Jesus and His apostles. We see it in the records of Jesus healing a paralytic and then also healing a paralytic through Peter (Acts 3) and Paul (Acts 14).

Also, Jesus raised the dead (Luke 7:11 ff.; 8:51 ff.) and he raises Dorcas through Peter (Acts 9:39 ff.) and the dozing Eutychus through Paul (Acts 20:10).

There is another remarkable parallel going on here, in the record of Paul’s trials. Firstly, in Acts 23:27–30, the commander sends a covering letter regarding Paul’s case, to Governor Felix. In it, he says there was no charge against Paul that deserved death or imprisonment (Acts 23:29). Secondly, Governor Festus declares before King Agrippa: "I found he had done nothing deserving of death" (Acts 25:25). Finally, King Agrippa declares of Paul: "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment" (Acts 26:31). Three times, Paul is declared innocent.

In Luke 23, when charges are brought against the Lord Jesus, the Roman governor Pilate says: "I find no basis for a charge against this man" (v. 4). He repeats this in verse 14 and refers to Herod in verse 15, saying: "…he has done nothing to deserve death." Three statements of innocence.

All that is happening is under the direct oversight of God. Neither the Lord Jesus, nor His apostolic representative, is tainted by a criminal record. Both have been declared innocent three times.

In Acts 25 Paul defends himself before Festus, Felix’s replacement (v. 8), but because he has no confidence that Festus will stand up to the persistence of the Jews, he claims his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar (v. 11). That right must be respected. In Acts, Paul claims his citizenship rights when, as far as he can see, to do so would be to further the witness of the gospel.

Reflection

Think about these two quotes from John Calvin in light of today’s reading:

• "The more brightly the light of doctrine shines, so as to press more closely on wicked men, they are driven to a greater pitch of madness."*
• "No man is fit to preach the gospel, seeing the whole world is set against it, save only he which is armed to suffer."**

* John Calvin, Synoptic Gospels, II:159.

** John Calvin, Acts, I:381.