Paul in Prison - Acts E6

Mar 25, 2019

This discussion highlights Paul's daring journey to Jerusalem, driven by a desire for unity among early Christians. It explores the dynamics of his arrest and trials, emphasizing loyalty to authority despite flaws. The conversation delves into how Paul's experiences model Christian engagement with the broader cultural landscape, illustrating the concept of God's Kingdom as a transformative force rather than a political movement. Additionally, it touches on the challenges of being a Christian within society and the importance of embodying compassion and community service.

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ANECDOTE

Paul's Risky Trip to Jerusalem

Paul, despite knowing of death threats in Jerusalem, felt compelled to deliver an offering to the church there.
This offering symbolized the unity of diverse believers, a value of utmost importance to him.

INSIGHT

The Significance of Paul's Trials

The writer of Acts, Luke, intentionally structures the narrative with six cycles of Paul's trials.
Luke uses this pattern to portray Paul as a model for how Christians should relate to power structures.

INSIGHT

Navigating Tension with Power Structures

Luke emphasizes Paul's trials to teach followers of Jesus how to relate to power structures.
Paul's story exemplifies how Christians can navigate the tension between loyalty to God and engagement with the world.

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In part one (0:00-13:30), Tim and Jon discuss the motives Paul had for putting himself in harm's way. Tim says that Paul's priority was to show a unified world between Jew and Gentile through belief in Jesus.

Tim then outlines Paul's time in Jerusalem and his arrest. Tim points out that there are six cycles that begin with Paul being arrested, then Paul is given a platform to speak, then the authority figure saying that Paul doesn't deserve death, but he is never released.

Tim says Luke is portraying Paul as a model for how Christians should relate to the powers and cultural structures of the world. Christianity is not a movement that is political, or social, or anything else, but it does encompass those things. It is an entirely different movement of an entirely different nature.

In part two (13:30-30:00), Tim continues to outline Paul's trials.
Tim quotes from Kavin Rowe: "The Christians are not out to establish Christendom. A new culture, yes, a new political movement, no." Tim points out that Paul submitted to the Roman authorities despite the flaws. It's a stance of loyalty and subversion.

Tim points out that Luke is laying Paul's story on top of Jesus' story of also being on trial by the Jewish and Roman authorities.

Luke wants the reader to think intelligently about how Christians should relate to the government. God's Kingdom is not a human kingdom; it is a vision of a new and better humanity. There is no such thing as being a Christian in private in the ancient world, nor should there be that option today.

In part three (30:00-35:00), Jon points out that Christianity is a movement that doesn't need the same type of power that the Romans had. It's a groundswell, not a top-down approach. Tim says that Luke is trying to communicate that the Jesus movement is its own thing that doesn't fit any other type of movement in human history.

In part four (35:00-end), Tim points out that Paul always seemed to interact with corrupt Roman politicians. But when he did, Paul encouraged that official to follow the road of high integrity that they aspire to.

Show Resources:
World Upside Down: Reading Acts in the Graeco Roman Age by Kavin Rowe
https://www.amazon.com/World-Upside-Down-Reading-Graeco-Roman/dp/0199767610/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=kavin+rowe&qid=1551724935&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Show Produced by:
Dan Gummel, Jon Collins