WEBVTT

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 Well, friends, why don't you turn with me to the book of Acts.

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 That's what we're going to be studying this morning.

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 Can everybody hear me okay?

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 We're trying some new things with a microphone this morning because we have fans.

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 So the options are I can hold this microphone like this or you can all sweat a lot by the

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 end of the service.

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 So we're going to go with the microphone option, but can everyone hear me okay?

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 Yeah, good.

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 All right, great.

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 We're in Acts 22 this morning.

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 That's page 931 in the Pew Bible.

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 If you want to turn there, we're actually going to start in chapter 21, verse 37.

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 And to kind of pick up a little bit of the context of this narrative that Luke wants

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 to tell us about the Apostle Paul and his defense in Jerusalem.

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 One of the things we see way back in the beginning of the book of Luke, actually, which is the

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 first volume that sets up volume two, which is the book of Acts, is that Luke has written

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 this two-volume work to give us certainty.

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 That's what he writes to his young friend Theophilus, that he's writing this long narrative about

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 the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and about the growth of the church and the

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 spread of the gospel so that we might put down deep roots in the certainty of the things

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 that we've been taught.

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 In other words, that this message about Jesus might not just be more credible to us, but

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 more beautiful too.

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 So let's see how Luke does that in Acts 22.

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 Again, we'll start at chapter 21, verse 37.

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 Let me read this story for us.

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 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune,

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 May I say something to you?

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 And the tribune said, Do you know Greek?

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 Are you not the Egyptian then who recently stirred up a revolt and led the 4,000 men of the

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 assassins out into the wilderness?

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 Paul replied, I am a Jew from Tarsus and Cilicia, a citizen of Nobes, your city.

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 I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.

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 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand

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 to the people.

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 And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying, Brothers

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 and fathers, hear the defense that I make now before you.

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 And when they had heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more

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 quiet.

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 And he said, I'm a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated

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 at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers.

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 Being zealous for God, as all of you are this day, I persecuted this way to the death, binding

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 and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priests and the whole council of

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 elders can bear me witness.

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 From them, I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those

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 who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

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 As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus about noon, a great light from heaven shone

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 around me.

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 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting

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 me?

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 And I answered, who are you, Lord?

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 And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.

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 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who

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 was speaking to me.

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 And I said, what shall I do, Lord?

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 And the Lord said to me, rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that

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 is appointed for you to do.

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 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those

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 who were with me and came into Damascus.

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 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who

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 live there, came to me and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight.

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 And that very hour I received my sight and saw him and he said, the God of our fathers

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 appointed you to know his will, to see the righteous one and to hear a voice from his

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 mouth.

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 For you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

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 And now why do you wait?

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 Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.

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 When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him

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 saying to me, make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly because they will not accept your testimony

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 about me.

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 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another, I imprisoned and beat

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 those who believed in you.

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 And when the blood of Stephen, your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving

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 and watching over the garments of those who killed him.

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 And he said to me, go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.

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 Upon this word, up to this word, they listened to him.

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 Then they raised their voices and said, away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should

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 not be allowed to live.

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 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,

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 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined

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 by flogging to find out why they were shouting against him like this.

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 When they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing

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 by, is it lawful for you to flog a man who was a Roman citizen and uncondemned?

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 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, what are you about

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 to do?

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 This man is a Roman citizen.

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 So the tribune came and said to him, tell me, are you a Roman citizen?

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 And he said, yes.

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 The tribune answered, I bought this citizenship for a large sum.

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 Paul said, but I am a citizen by birth.

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 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately.

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 And the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had

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 bound him.

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 I recently read the story of an American tourist who is visiting a Greek Orthodox monastery on

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 an island in the Aegean Sea in Greece.

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 And, you know, these monasteries are places where you're supposed to be able to get away

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 from it all and sort of spend some time in prayer and fasting and contemplation.

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 And this tourist, while he was there, happened upon a monk sort of quietly sitting in the

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 monastery.

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 And to this American tourist, this person looked to be very Greek and very Orthodox.

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 He was dressed in all the sort of strange garb to him and he had sort of olive, suntanned

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 complexion.

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 So the visitor approached this man, this monk, and asked him one or two questions.

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 And then to his American surprise, this very exotic-looking monk spoke to him in perfect

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 Oxford Queen's English.

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 Not exactly what he was expecting from this very exotic-looking monk.

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 Well, it turns out that this monk was actually a guy named, well, as he came to be known,

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 Bishop Callistus Ware.

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 But his original name was actually Timothy.

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 And he was born and bred in England.

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 And Timothy Ware had converted to Eastern Orthodoxy as he was growing up.

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 And he actually taught theology for a number of years at Oxford.

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 And, of course, the American tourist, not knowing any of this, sort of blurts out in surprise,

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 my, you do speak good English.

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 And the bishop, with sort of classic English humor, replies, well, one picks it up here and there.

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 One picks it up here and there.

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 Now, maybe you've been in a similar sort of situation, surprised at finding someone in an

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 unlikely place that actually speaks your language or maybe knows something about something that

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 you're very interested in, but, you know, you wouldn't have expected it coming from them.

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 Someone who speaks your language.

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 You know, I think that's the surprise, the sort of surprise that this Roman tribune,

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 this military officer, must have felt when sort of grabbing him out of a crowd that was ready

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 to rip him to pieces, Paul turns to him and speaks in perfect, eloquent Greek,

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 ah, excuse me, sir, might I have a kind word with you?

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 And the tribune turns in shock because, according to the tribune, he was thinking that Paul was

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 this sort of notorious criminal that sort of had been nicknamed the Egyptian, this sort

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 of wild rebel leader who a few years prior had taken a whole band of assassins, as the

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 tribune calls them, out to the Mount of Olives, prophesied that the walls of Jerusalem would fall,

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 and then they would rush in and conquer the Romans.

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 This was the Egyptian, and we know from historical sources that the Romans killed off the entire

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 band, and somehow this character named the Egyptian got away.

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 So the tribune's thinking, well, this is probably this guy who got away, causing up, stirring up

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 trouble in Jerusalem once again.

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 But of course, such a wily character wouldn't speak polished, perfect Greek, would he?

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 The tribune is a bit shocked when Paul turns to him and says, can I have a word?

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 And of course, this tribune's going to be just as surprised at the end of our story, right?

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 When Paul reveals his Roman citizenship, a citizenship that he says he was born with and hadn't procured

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 through a petty bribe, which was a way that a lot of people got their citizenship back in the day,

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 by bribing a sort of higher official to grant it to them, which it turns out that's how the tribune got his.

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 That must have been a bit surprising.

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 But you know, maybe the thing that surprised this Roman military officer the most

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 was the fact that Paul, standing on the steps of the barracks,

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 turns and actually tries to make a defense to this angry crowd.

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 Just seconds ago, last week we looked at this passage, Greg walked us through it,

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 this crowd of worshipers in Jerusalem was ready to rip Paul limb from limb

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 because they thought he was defiling the temple by bringing Gentiles into the inner courts.

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 They had heard rumors that he was teaching Jews not to keep the law of Moses.

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 Surely this guy was no friend of the people.

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 He was a traitor.

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 He was a betrayer of Israel.

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 And with mob mentality, they're ready to do away with him there and then.

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 But in the heat of the moment, Paul turns and gives, as he says in verse 1, his defense.

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 And at that very word, we come to a new section in the book of Acts.

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 For the rest of the book, from this point forward, Paul is going to be under Roman arrest.

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 You know, up till this point, Paul's been sort of roaming freely about the country,

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 as Southwest Airlines likes to tell us.

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 He's been going here, there, and everywhere in seemingly utter freedom

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 and on the offensive for the kingdom of God.

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 But now, he's imprisoned.

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 And in the next five chapters, Paul is going to offer a defense five times.

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 And eventually, this imprisonment and defense is going to take him all the way from Jerusalem to Rome.

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 And each defense speech that we're going to look at over the coming weeks offers us kind of something unique.

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 But with our particular speech here, I want us to see three things as Paul sort of defends himself

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 before these angry crowds in Jerusalem.

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 And to sort of give our time together some points or some heads,

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 we're going to just basically look through and see why Paul defends himself.

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 We're going to see how he does it.

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 And then lastly, we're just going to look at what his defense actually is.

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 Why, how, and what.

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 And each of these things is going to be helpful to us, I think,

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 as we think about sharing the good news about Jesus in our context.

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 Now, you might be thinking,

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 I've never faced a rabble crowd that wants to tear me limb from limb.

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 I'm not really sure how this is going to apply to me.

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 Well, you know, if you ever find yourself in that situation, here you go.

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 No, but I mean, think about it.

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 Don't we still today face frustration, anger, misunderstanding?

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 Isn't it not uncommon for new Christians to face family members who feel like they've been betrayed

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 by their son or their daughter converting to Christianity?

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 You know, we live in a world where civil discourse isn't really easy to come by.

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 It's a lot of hatred and anger and cynicism.

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 What does it look like to respond in a context like that?

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 Well, let's look first at the why of Paul's defense here.

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 In other words, just the fact that Paul even turns to the crowd to speak to them is helpful for us to see.

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 Now, imagine, here are angry crowds shouting off with his head and sharpening the guillotine.

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 And in case you didn't realize it, angry mobs, enraged mobs,

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 aren't really known for their openness to cool, detached reason and conversation, right?

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 I mean, if I'm Paul, I'm thinking, thanks, I'll just take my spot in the Roman barracks.

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 That's probably the one safe place for me in all of Jerusalem,

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 where they can't get at me and rip me apart.

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 But Paul still turns and says to them,

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 brothers and fathers, family members, let me reason with you.

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 Hear my defense.

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 Now, why in the world would you do such a thing?

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 Maybe there are a lot of reasons we could come up with,

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 but I think at the end of the day,

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 the only answer, the only thing that could really drive you to do that would be love.

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 As Paul looks out at the people before him,

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 through the shouts and the anger,

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 he sees people that he loves.

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 He sees his own people, right?

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 Some of them there that day may have even been close relatives,

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 uncles, cousins, friends,

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 people he had lived with, studied with, worked with,

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 shared a meal with, laughed with, worshiped with, hoped with.

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 And through their angry eyes and through their violent shouts,

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 he sees a people that he loves.

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 And Paul sees something else too, doesn't he?

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 He also sees in those squinting eyes and those raising voices,

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 a picture of himself.

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 He sees that he was just like them,

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 not so long ago.

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 Zealous, angry, violent.

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 And so Paul turns,

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 turns into the teeth of the lion,

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 raises his hand and says,

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 brothers and sisters, hear my defense.

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 And out of love, he's ready to be consumed.

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 If only he might say one last thing that could reach them.

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 Now consider what that means for us today.

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 First, maybe just kind of as an aside,

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 you know, it's good for us to remember

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 that this is the same Paul who wrote about half

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 of the rest of the New Testament.

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 So when you read a book like Romans or 1 Corinthians,

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 you're reading the letters of a person

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 who loved people deeply

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 and who often risked his neck for them.

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 So, you know, when you come across things

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 in the Bible that Paul wrote

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 and when they seem confusing or hard,

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 friends, don't imagine a petty little man

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 wrinkled over with anger and bigotry

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 trying to make everyone's life miserable.

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 That is the picture you might get

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 according to how some people

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 would have us view Paul the Apostle today.

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 Instead, friends, when you're reading those letters,

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 see a man with tears in his eyes

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 and a longing in his heart

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 to see others come to know the love

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 with which he has been loved.

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 And hear the voice of a man

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 who has tasted the new creation

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 and wants to do anything

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 so that others can experience it too.

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 In other words, read Paul's letters

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 as if Paul actually wrote them.

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 The man who would turn and speak

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 with an angry crowd because of love.

00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.480
 But, you know, don't we also see something else here

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:03.160
 as Paul sort of turns and defends himself,

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.400
 the fact of his defense.

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.620
 And don't we see this,

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.759
 that in the light of the gospel,

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:12.339
 no one, absolutely no one

00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:14.579
 is too far gone.

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:18.119
 No one is beyond hope.

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.019
 Isn't that what Paul's actions

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.779
 are telling us here?

00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:24.099
 Isn't that what we should seek to understand

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:26.059
 that even the person filled

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:27.539
 with generations

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:30.400
 of anger and prejudice

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.720
 and even violence,

00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:33.799
 even that person is still

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:35.759
 a human being made

00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.940
 in the image of God,

00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:39.180
 is still a human being

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:41.579
 worthy of dignity

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:44.000
 and respect,

00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:49.420
 that there are no lost causes,

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.240
 that there's no one

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.180
 who's beyond the pale.

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.420
 And furthermore,

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.460
 had not Paul lifted up

00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.559
 his angry voice

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.379
 with that same crowd in Jerusalem?

00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.579
 Had he not stood there

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.799
 while they gathered stones

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.279
 and executed Stephen

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.720
 with the same anger?

00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:06.019
 And was not Paul the one

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:07.120
 who was standing by

00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:08.539
 approving of their actions

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:10.680
 with eyes filled

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:12.259
 with the same kind of hatred?

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.420
 And friends,

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.240
 isn't that the same

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.140
 with all of us?

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:22.640
 Haven't we all felt that grip

00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:25.559
 of self-righteous zeal

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.519
 and prejudice?

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.960
 Our circumstances

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:31.700
 were no doubt different.

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:34.440
 But weren't our hearts

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:34.920
 the same?

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.799
 When someone threatens

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.980
 something that we hold dear,

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:43.360
 that props up our identity,

00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:45.740
 aren't we quick

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.960
 to lash out?

00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:50.259
 You see,

00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:51.880
 what Paul knew by experience

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:53.400
 and what we know as well

00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.420
 as followers of Jesus

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:57.259
 is that we ourselves

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.900
 weren't beyond the reach

00:18:58.900 --> 00:19:00.059
 of God's grace.

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:02.619
 even when we were angry

00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:04.759
 and kicking tooth and nail

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:06.940
 against the truth.

00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:09.819
 Friends,

00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.339
 we weren't beyond

00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:11.339
 the reach of God's grace

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.440
 and neither are they.

00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:18.139
 So we see the why

00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:19.339
 of Paul's defense,

00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:20.819
 that it's ultimately love.

00:19:22.179 --> 00:19:22.720
 But second,

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.799
 take a look at the how

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.039
 of Paul's defense.

00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.539
 And very importantly,

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.259
 Luke notes

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.960
 at the end of chapter 21

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:30.039
 that Paul starts

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.940
 addressing them,

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.940
 as he says,

00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:34.039
 in the Hebrew language,

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.519
 which is sort of Luke's way,

00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:36.220
 a common way

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.500
 of referring to Aramaic,

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.200
 which was the language

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:39.220
 that most Jews

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:39.720
 in Jerusalem

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.299
 would have spoken

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:40.900
 at the time.

00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.559
 And you can even see

00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.900
 the impact that this makes

00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:45.539
 in verse 2 of chapter 22.

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.460
 When they heard

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.319
 that he was addressing them

00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.000
 in the Hebrew language,

00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:49.840
 they became even more quiet.

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.160
 And in the rest

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.880
 of the speech,

00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:57.560
 Paul is at pains

00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:59.260
 to make the point

00:19:59.260 --> 00:20:01.540
 that he too

00:20:01.540 --> 00:20:04.000
 is a faithful Israelite.

00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:04.520
 Isn't he?

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.700
 Notice how often

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.100
 he points to his loyalty

00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:09.180
 to his Jewish heritage.

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:10.420
 After all,

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.820
 isn't it Paul's loyalty

00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:12.660
 to the traditions,

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.660
 to the people,

00:20:13.820 --> 00:20:14.560
 to the temple

00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:15.500
 that's brought him

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.060
 under fire?

00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:19.160
 Paul wants them

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.880
 to see in this speech

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.100
 that he hasn't forsaken

00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:21.920
 the God of their fathers,

00:20:22.020 --> 00:20:23.140
 that he'd been brought up

00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.040
 right here in Jerusalem,

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:25.680
 that he'd sat at the feet

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.440
 of Gamaliel,

00:20:27.540 --> 00:20:28.300
 the great teacher.

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:31.120
 And certainly his zeal

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.900
 for these traditions

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:33.060
 could not be questioned.

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.160
 Go ask the high priest,

00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:34.580
 he says.

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.440
 Go ask the council.

00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.540
 They're the ones

00:20:37.540 --> 00:20:38.140
 who gave me

00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:38.820
 their commission,

00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:39.920
 their blessing

00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.340
 to go round up Christians

00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:42.480
 to bring them back

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.000
 to Jerusalem

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.660
 so that they could

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.400
 face the music.

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.320
 Now you have to consider

00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.560
 that's pretty impressive stuff.

00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.780
 Very few in that crowd

00:20:49.780 --> 00:20:50.660
 could have imagined

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.840
 rubbing elbows

00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:53.000
 with the high priest.

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.799
 It's like a scientist

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.759
 sort of saying

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:56.160
 that she has a prestigious grant

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.680
 from the NIH

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.480
 to do her research

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.160
 and on top of that

00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.940
 the president wrote her

00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.720
 a letter saying

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.759
 that he's very excited

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.240
 to find out

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.039
 about her findings.

00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:05.960
 It's like a civil rights

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.799
 activist saying

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.980
 that they marched

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.839
 with Dr. King.

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.940
 Paul is an insider

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:13.559
 in ways that this crowd

00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.559
 could not imagine.

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.720
 Faithful to Israel's God.

00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.500
 And notice what he says

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.339
 about Ananias

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:19.960
 as he continues

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.619
 with his story.

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.839
 Here's a devout man

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.519
 according to law.

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.460
 Well spoken of

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.139
 by all the Jews

00:21:24.139 --> 00:21:25.019
 who lived in Damascus.

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.799
 In other words

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.619
 the very person

00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.799
 who initiated Paul

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.900
 into the Christian community

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:30.000
 into the way

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.299
 was also a faithful Jew

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.220
 just like me

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.180
 just like you

00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:34.779
 he's saying.

00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.359
 And then on top of it all

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.359
 where does Paul

00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.859
 hear Jesus reaffirm

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.480
 his commission

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.660
 to go to the Gentiles?

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.900
 In the temple itself.

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.839
 In the very center

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.359
 of Jewish identity

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.819
 loyalty and loyalty.

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.159
 In that very place

00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:52.919
 where Isaiah

00:21:52.919 --> 00:21:55.079
 had his earth-shattering vision

00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:56.419
 of the holiness of God

00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:57.639
 there Paul too

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:58.299
 has a vision

00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:59.459
 of the Lord

00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:00.159
 the Lord Jesus

00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:01.319
 telling him

00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:01.799
 to go

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.059
 to the Gentiles.

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:04.539
 Right in the temple.

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.139
 The very place

00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:08.139
 that Paul is accused

00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:09.259
 of dishonoring.

00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:09.819
 You see Paul's

00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:11.000
 very purposeful here

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.399
 isn't he?

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:13.119
 To speak their own language

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.179
 and to build

00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:14.959
 many bridges

00:22:14.959 --> 00:22:15.979
 of credibility

00:22:15.979 --> 00:22:17.259
 and commonality

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.319
 and trust.

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.139
 And none of it's

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.819
 fabricated

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.899
 none of it's put on

00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:22.879
 he's telling the truth.

00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:25.959
 But he's doing it

00:22:25.959 --> 00:22:26.739
 so that this crowd

00:22:26.739 --> 00:22:27.279
 before him

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.399
 will be able to listen

00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.659
 and to hear

00:22:29.659 --> 00:22:30.579
 and to understand

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:32.319
 and hopefully believe.

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.459
 Now friends

00:22:36.459 --> 00:22:37.379
 isn't that instructive

00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:38.019
 for us today?

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.219
 If you think about your life

00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.160
 I'm sure that none of us

00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:44.860
 are sort of insiders

00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:46.200
 to first century Judaism

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.400
 and the way Paul was.

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:47.860
 If you are

00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:48.500
 come meet me

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.100
 after the service

00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:50.100
 I'd like to talk to you.

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.740
 But if you think about it

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.299
 each of us

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.559
 is an insider somewhere

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.079
 aren't we?

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.539
 Each of us knows

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.360
 how to speak

00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:00.500
 a language

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.519
 if you will.

00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.400
 Consider this morning

00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.000
 what world

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.900
 are you

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:06.980
 inside?

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.779
 What language

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.140
 can you speak

00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:10.360
 with ease?

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.120
 Is it the language

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:14.059
 of science?

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.259
 Is that your world?

00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:16.460
 Medicine?

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.740
 How about the language

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.519
 of the arts?

00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.240
 Is that where God

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.900
 has put you

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:24.360
 and made you proficient

00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:25.740
 and fluent?

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.360
 What about business

00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:30.180
 or education?

00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.259
 Is that your native ground?

00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.400
 Maybe it's sports

00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:33.400
 the athletic field.

00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.720
 Maybe friends

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.559
 you know the language

00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.579
 of hard knocks

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.339
 and what it means

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.279
 to go through loss

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.180
 and hardship.

00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.559
 And you can speak

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.220
 with credibility

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:45.440
 to those who come

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.599
 from the same background.

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.019
 Whatever it is

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.299
 God has providentially

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:50.799
 put us

00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:52.240
 somewhere

00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:54.059
 and made us

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.720
 an insider

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.680
 to that world.

00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:00.119
 And it's not

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:00.639
 an accident.

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.259
 It's not an accident

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.899
 that you speak

00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.579
 the language

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.879
 and that you have

00:24:05.879 --> 00:24:06.799
 credibility there.

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.819
 it's part

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.399
 of your mission.

00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.980
 Have you experimented

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.559
 with ways

00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.519
 you can express

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.359
 the truth

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:17.960
 of the gospel

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:19.119
 in your native tongue

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.099
 as it will

00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:20.919
 as it were?

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.579
 What do your colleagues

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.299
 or your classmates

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.639
 love and long for?

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.180
 What are they really

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:26.779
 going for?

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.539
 You know when you think

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.180
 about your friends

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:28.859
 that you work with

00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.079
 when you think

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.519
 about your neighbors

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.480
 what's driving them?

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.639
 What's getting them up

00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:32.240
 in the morning?

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.919
 What are their hopes

00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:33.779
 and fears?

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.680
 You know you probably

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.660
 share a lot of them

00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.140
 don't you?

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.860
 You're from the same world.

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.160
 But friends

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.740
 how has Christ

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.299
 made himself

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.160
 known to you

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.700
 in that world?

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:46.019
 How has his glory

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.740
 been revealed

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.720
 in its own particular

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.539
 way there

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.220
 so that others

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.080
 might see it too?

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:51.980
 And how can you

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.920
 begin to speak

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:53.820
 in ways

00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:54.620
 that they'll understand?

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.100
 Now I grant you

00:24:59.100 --> 00:24:59.539
 that is not

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.519
 an easy thing to do.

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.200
 Easier said

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.700
 than done.

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:06.420
 It's a lot easier

00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.319
 to burn bridges

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.080
 than to build them

00:25:08.080 --> 00:25:08.440
 isn't it?

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:11.100
 It's easy to post

00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:11.600
 and forward

00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:12.600
 that Facebook article

00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:13.539
 that blasts the people

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.460
 you disagree with.

00:25:15.080 --> 00:25:15.860
 It's a lot harder

00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:16.840
 to speak in ways

00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:18.039
 that those others

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.640
 will actually have

00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.259
 a chance of hearing

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.019
 what you have to say.

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.340
 It's a lot easier

00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:22.920
 to sort of

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:24.640
 build a huge wall

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.720
 around our own tribe

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.680
 than try to go out

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.120
 to the people

00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:27.680
 that we share

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.319
 something with

00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.759
 and try to help them

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.799
 see the beauty

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.519
 of Christ.

00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:35.980
 But friends

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.480
 for as hard

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.119
 as it is

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:38.519
 haven't you and I

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.720
 also been the recipients

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.419
 of someone

00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:42.220
 speaking our language?

00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.200
 Haven't you and I

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.139
 received the gift

00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:47.720
 of that too?

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.799
 Hasn't someone

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.059
 done that for us?

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.839
 Someone else

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.460
 took the time

00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.019
 and the pains

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.720
 to share with us

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.200
 the good news

00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.220
 in ways that we could hear.

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.759
 Not dumbing it down

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:01.400
 not taking out

00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:01.839
 the depth

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.500
 of the teeth

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.819
 but singing it

00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.359
 in a way

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.099
 that the melody

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.660
 actually beckoned to us.

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.640
 And friends

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.119
 what those

00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:12.400
 faithful bearers

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.960
 of the gospel

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.599
 did for us

00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.119
 isn't that

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.660
 ultimately

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.140
 a picture

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.819
 of what Christ

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.259
 has done?

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.680
 Coming down

00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.180
 to earth

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.859
 taking on

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.559
 our flesh

00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:23.799
 speaking our language

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:25.059
 sharing our humanity

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.579
 so that it might

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.759
 bring us to God.

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.700
 coming across

00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.700
 to us

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:33.920
 so that he could

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.599
 bring us across

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.059
 to him

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:38.000
 so that we could

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.359
 at last

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:39.119
 know God.

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:40.960
 Friends

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.660
 think of all the ways

00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.259
 in which Christ

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.240
 has become an insider

00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.019
 to our fallen

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.819
 and broken world

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.579
 for its redemption

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:46.619
 and doesn't that

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.259
 inspire you?

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.220
 Doesn't that empower you?

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.299
 Doesn't it encourage you

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.259
 to know that his Holy Spirit

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.059
 is in you

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.319
 to enable you

00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:53.559
 to do the same

00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.500
 thing?

00:26:54.500 --> 00:27:00.619
 Consider also

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.220
 what we see

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.480
 in this how

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.940
 of Paul's defense.

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.079
 You know

00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:06.240
 you also have to realize

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.119
 that what Paul's

00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:07.700
 doing here

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.240
 is a pretty

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.940
 costly

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.799
 risky

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.819
 move

00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:11.680
 and not just

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.180
 because

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.920
 this crowd

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:13.920
 is very very angry

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:15.319
 but also because

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.319
 as soon as Paul

00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.240
 starts speaking

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.079
 in Aramaic

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:19.980
 who has no idea

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.900
 what's going on?

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.119
 The tribune.

00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:25.000
 he might speak

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.539
 Greek okay

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:27.279
 but he has no idea

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.459
 about this Hebrew language

00:27:28.459 --> 00:27:28.979
 or at least

00:27:28.979 --> 00:27:29.739
 not enough of it

00:27:29.739 --> 00:27:30.159
 to follow

00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:30.699
 what in the world

00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:31.500
 is going on.

00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:37.319
 So

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.239
 as a result

00:27:38.239 --> 00:27:39.599
 I mean

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:39.919
 imagine

00:27:39.919 --> 00:27:40.819
 imagine someone's

00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.919
 you arrest them

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.859
 they stand on the steps

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.459
 they start talking

00:27:43.459 --> 00:27:43.819
 in a language

00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.439
 you can't understand

00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:45.459
 and then the crowd

00:27:45.459 --> 00:27:45.919
 breaks out

00:27:45.919 --> 00:27:46.759
 in double fury.

00:27:46.959 --> 00:27:47.639
 You must be thinking

00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:48.919
 what has this guy

00:27:48.919 --> 00:27:49.739
 just said to them?

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.699
 He's probably

00:27:50.699 --> 00:27:51.659
 the problem right?

00:27:52.239 --> 00:27:52.599
 Okay

00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.859
 here's the plan guys

00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:55.019
 bring him into the barracks

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.879
 and we're going to

00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:56.819
 basically torture him

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.439
 until he tells us

00:27:57.439 --> 00:27:58.139
 what's going on.

00:27:59.079 --> 00:27:59.439
 That's what

00:27:59.439 --> 00:28:00.459
 that's what examination

00:28:00.459 --> 00:28:01.659
 by flogging means.

00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:04.079
 It was a whip

00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.819
 with lots of pieces

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.619
 of metal and bone

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.240
 tied into it

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.779
 that they would just

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.699
 keep raking across

00:28:07.699 --> 00:28:08.219
 your back

00:28:08.219 --> 00:28:09.119
 until you hollered

00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:10.639
 whatever it is

00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:11.240
 they really wanted

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.899
 to tell you

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:14.159
 or you to tell them.

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.240
 And as Luke tells us

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.899
 Paul sort of

00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:20.039
 barely escapes

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.719
 that one

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.660
 pulling out

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.720
 his Roman passport

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.720
 just in time

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:26.319
 and you know

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:26.759
 as you sort of

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.319
 see Paul

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.259
 kind of hung

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.279
 between the horns

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.700
 of these two

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.620
 groups of people

00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:33.640
 you have to admit

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:35.160
 that Paul must have

00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.380
 seemed a bit strange

00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.960
 right?

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:38.960
 I mean

00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.339
 Luke is showing us

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.259
 here how Paul

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.620
 seemed to belong

00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:44.400
 in both of these worlds

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:45.819
 the Jewish world

00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:47.059
 and the Roman world

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:48.759
 how he was a

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.940
 verifiable

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.179
 card-carrying citizen

00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:51.879
 of both

00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.519
 Jerusalem

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.740
 and Rome

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:55.399
 and yet

00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:56.559
 at the same time

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:58.359
 Paul seemed

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.000
 to belong

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.940
 to neither.

00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:04.059
 To his fellow Jews

00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.740
 Paul seemed

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.819
 very odd

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.700
 in fact

00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.259
 at times

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.039
 dangerous.

00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.359
 He spent way

00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:09.940
 too much time

00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.759
 with the Gentiles

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.960
 his views about

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.279
 the law

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:12.659
 and the temple

00:29:12.659 --> 00:29:13.399
 were constantly

00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:14.240
 raising eyebrows

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.779
 at best

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.740
 and on top

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.079
 of it all

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.500
 he was a

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.440
 citizen of Rome.

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.319
 Someone might ask

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:19.799
 well why did he

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.220
 wait to get

00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:20.960
 into the barracks

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.399
 to sort of

00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:21.720
 tell them

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.079
 that he was

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.559
 a citizen?

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.779
 Well not exactly

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.240
 something you

00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:24.920
 want to flash

00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.559
 before an angry

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:25.940
 mob

00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.539
 who hates

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:26.980
 Romans

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.480
 right?

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.579
 I mean

00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.480
 being a Roman

00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.259
 citizen as a Jew

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.740
 is sort of like

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.500
 being a Jedi Knight

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.039
 with a standing

00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:32.720
 welcome to stay

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.359
 at the Death Star

00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.160
 whenever you wanted

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.839
 right?

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:36.379
 There's a bed

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:36.899
 right next to

00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:37.299
 Darth Vader

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:37.980
 it's all yours

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.579
 on the Emperor's

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:38.799
 dollar

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.519
 come get it.

00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.319
 Not exactly

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.819
 someone who's

00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:43.099
 maybe most loyal

00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:43.839
 to the cause

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:46.720
 but you know

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.179
 to his fellow

00:29:47.179 --> 00:29:48.000
 Roman citizens

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.679
 Paul probably

00:29:48.679 --> 00:29:49.519
 seemed just as

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:49.899
 odd

00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:51.240
 and maybe

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.199
 just as dangerous

00:29:52.199 --> 00:29:54.019
 I mean

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.539
 think of Paul

00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:54.919
 with his

00:29:54.919 --> 00:29:56.740
 strict moral code

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.899
 Paul are you

00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:58.319
 serious?

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.279
 No sex

00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.159
 and no idols

00:30:00.159 --> 00:30:01.019
 what am I

00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.359
 going to do

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:02.019
 with my time

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.500
 when I become

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:02.980
 a Christian?

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.240
 Come back

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.879
 for 1 Corinthians

00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.299
 this fall

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:07.699
 we'll figure

00:30:07.699 --> 00:30:08.220
 that one out

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:11.199
 so his strict

00:30:11.199 --> 00:30:11.559
 morals

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.299
 and definitely

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.519
 what must have

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.059
 seemed very

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.539
 odd

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:16.500
 this talk

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.059
 about a man

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.759
 named Jesus

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:20.399
 who was crucified

00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:22.579
 but now alive

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.019
 again

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.839
 and before whom

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.319
 apparently

00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.059
 every knee

00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:26.599
 would bow

00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:28.180
 and through whom

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.859
 perfect justice

00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.940
 would come upon

00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.519
 the world

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:34.919
 and through whom

00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:36.379
 sins

00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:38.119
 could be forgiven

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:42.559
 Paul belonged

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.139
 everywhere

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.799
 and nowhere

00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:46.159
 all at once

00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:49.179
 the insider

00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:50.819
 and the outsider

00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.559
 at the same

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.059
 time

00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:55.279
 and friend

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.679
 if you become

00:30:55.679 --> 00:30:56.139
 a follower

00:30:56.139 --> 00:30:56.939
 of Jesus

00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:58.939
 it'll be the same

00:30:58.939 --> 00:30:59.379
 for you

00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:02.119
 all your progressive

00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.000
 friends will find

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.639
 you odd

00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:05.419
 no sex

00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:06.239
 no idols

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.779
 really

00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:09.740
 but all your

00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.480
 conservative friends

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:10.940
 will probably

00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.380
 think you're

00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:11.819
 a bit weird

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.140
 too

00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:15.500
 you see

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.240
 Luke is writing

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.839
 acts

00:31:16.839 --> 00:31:17.660
 to help

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.140
 his young

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:18.460
 friend

00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:19.039
 Theophilus

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.500
 as I mentioned

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:19.940
 at the very

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.319
 beginning

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.420
 get a deeper

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.240
 grasp

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.120
 of what he's

00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:24.000
 been taught

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.240
 and friend

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.940
 if you feel

00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.599
 a tug

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.559
 between two

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:27.940
 worlds

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.559
 if you feel

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.259
 like you

00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:29.740
 just don't

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.120
 belong

00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:30.980
 anywhere

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.759
 Luke is

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.079
 saying

00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:33.299
 yes

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.539
 that's

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.019
 sometimes

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:36.019
 how it feels

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.859
 to be a

00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:37.240
 citizen

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:38.660
 not just

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:39.259
 of Jerusalem

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.180
 not just

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:40.680
 of Rome

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:42.259
 but a citizen

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:42.799
 of heaven

00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:44.099
 a citizen

00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:44.639
 of the kingdom

00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:45.240
 of God

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:48.619
 that's exactly

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.619
 how it feels

00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:50.720
 to be living

00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.339
 in light

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:51.980
 of the new

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.519
 creation

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.359
 right in the

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.799
 midst of the

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.180
 old

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:57.519
 so Theophilus

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.279
 so brothers

00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.619
 and sisters

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.400
 don't give up

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:01.320
 even

00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:01.340
 even

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:01.600
 when

00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:01.800
 your

00:32:01.800 --> 00:32:02.420
 every

00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.280
 worldly

00:32:03.280 --> 00:32:04.160
 defense

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.880
 seems

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.500
 lost

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.240
 and

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:06.420
 you're

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:06.860
 standing

00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.320
 on the

00:32:07.320 --> 00:32:07.759
 steps

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:09.720
 with an

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.240
 angry mob

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:10.580
 in front

00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:10.980
 of you

00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.920
 and Roman

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.400
 chains

00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.220
 behind you

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.060
 you're

00:32:14.060 --> 00:32:14.220
 not

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.560
 alone

00:32:14.560 --> 00:32:17.120
 even

00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:17.340
 when

00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:17.800
 no

00:32:17.800 --> 00:32:18.100
 one

00:32:18.100 --> 00:32:18.380
 is

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:18.759
 standing

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.000
 up

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.180
 for

00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:19.460
 you

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.540
 you're

00:32:20.540 --> 00:32:20.780
 not

00:32:20.780 --> 00:32:21.320
 lost

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:25.460
 and doesn't

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:25.839
 that bring us

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:26.299
 to the last

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:26.599
 thing

00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.679
 that we see

00:32:27.679 --> 00:32:28.019
 here in

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.299
 Paul's

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.720
 defense

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:30.919
 what does

00:32:30.919 --> 00:32:31.259
 he talk

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:31.460
 about

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:31.819
 what's the

00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.480
 what's the

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:32.799
 what

00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.579
 of Paul's

00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:33.740
 defense

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.039
 what's the

00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:34.439
 substance

00:32:34.439 --> 00:32:34.799
 what's the

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.179
 matter

00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:36.819
 of all

00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.099
 that he

00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:37.500
 says

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:40.079
 and at the

00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.399
 end of the

00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:40.619
 day

00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:41.059
 Paul's

00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:41.419
 defense

00:32:41.419 --> 00:32:41.960
 comes down

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.599
 to one

00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.279
 and only

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:43.639
 one

00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:43.980
 thing

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:46.200
 and it's

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:46.759
 not ultimately

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.220
 his good

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.460
 Jewish

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:47.899
 upbringing

00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:49.720
 and it's

00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.379
 not ultimately

00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:50.919
 his great

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.480
 zeal for

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:51.880
 the law

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:53.220
 and it's

00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:53.940
 not ultimately

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:55.039
 his Roman

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.519
 citizenship

00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.060
 being from

00:32:56.060 --> 00:32:56.620
 no obscure

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:56.980
 city

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.300
 as he

00:32:57.300 --> 00:32:58.160
 sort of

00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:58.660
 coyly

00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.140
 touts

00:32:59.140 --> 00:32:59.400
 to the

00:32:59.400 --> 00:32:59.800
 tribune

00:32:59.800 --> 00:33:03.700
 it's

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.060
 not where

00:33:04.060 --> 00:33:04.660
 Paul rests

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.360
 his defense

00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:07.100
 you know

00:33:07.100 --> 00:33:07.360
 he could

00:33:07.360 --> 00:33:07.720
 have

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.160
 right

00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.279
 I mean

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:09.620
 think of

00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:09.980
 how this

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.340
 scene could

00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:10.660
 have run

00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:10.880
 a little

00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:11.240
 differently

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.100
 if maybe

00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:12.380
 you or

00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:12.539
 I

00:33:12.539 --> 00:33:12.800
 were in

00:33:12.800 --> 00:33:13.100
 Paul's

00:33:13.100 --> 00:33:13.380
 shoes

00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.200
 we would

00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:14.440
 have stood

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:14.660
 on the

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:14.920
 steps

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.320
 and said

00:33:15.320 --> 00:33:15.600
 look

00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:15.980
 idiots

00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:17.240
 I'm

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:17.620
 smarter

00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:18.259
 and better

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.000
 than all

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.380
 of you

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:20.940
 check my

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.320
 credentials

00:33:21.320 --> 00:33:22.500
 I know

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:22.780
 people

00:33:22.780 --> 00:33:23.100
 and have

00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:23.220
 been

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.600
 places

00:33:23.600 --> 00:33:23.920
 that you

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.340
 backwater

00:33:24.340 --> 00:33:24.620
 hicks

00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:25.160
 could only

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:25.740
 dream of

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:27.800
 so cool

00:33:27.800 --> 00:33:28.180
 it down

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.620
 before I

00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:29.200
 pull rank

00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.580
 on this

00:33:29.580 --> 00:33:30.100
 tribune

00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:30.720
 and have

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.100
 him send

00:33:31.100 --> 00:33:31.640
 you packing

00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:32.260
 with the

00:33:32.260 --> 00:33:32.480
 edge of

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:32.960
 a sword

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:37.900
 but that's

00:33:37.900 --> 00:33:38.220
 not what

00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:38.760
 Paul does

00:33:38.760 --> 00:33:40.220
 it's the

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.560
 furthest

00:33:40.560 --> 00:33:41.000
 thing from

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.540
 his mind

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:45.039
 in that

00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:45.359
 moment

00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:45.879
 when Paul

00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:46.339
 stands

00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:47.059
 defenseless

00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:48.259
 before the

00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.599
 angry

00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.180
 shouts

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.920
 of Jerusalem

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.819
 on one

00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:51.220
 hand

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.899
 and the

00:33:51.899 --> 00:33:52.240
 prisons

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.819
 of Rome

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.899
 behind him

00:33:53.899 --> 00:33:54.539
 his defense

00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.159
 was nothing

00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:55.779
 in himself

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:58.039
 nothing what

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.500
 he had done

00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:58.899
 not his

00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.339
 wisdom

00:33:59.339 --> 00:33:59.940
 not his

00:33:59.940 --> 00:34:00.480
 status

00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.180
 not his

00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.579
 zeal

00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.240
 he had

00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:02.519
 one

00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.039
 defense

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:05.940
 the words

00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.720
 of Ananias

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.460
 coming back

00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:07.859
 to his

00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:08.279
 memory

00:34:08.279 --> 00:34:09.000
 in that

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.360
 moment

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:09.739
 Jesus

00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:10.300
 Christ

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:11.440
 the

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:11.820
 righteous

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.200
 one

00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:16.260
 as Paul

00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:16.820
 stood before

00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.320
 a crowd

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.039
 roaring for

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.760
 his execution

00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:20.300
 as he

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:20.840
 opens his

00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:21.320
 mouth and

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:22.000
 starts speaking

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.480
 their own

00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:22.980
 language to

00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.400
 people who

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:23.700
 were his

00:34:23.700 --> 00:34:24.740
 own flesh

00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:25.180
 and blood

00:34:25.180 --> 00:34:25.700
 how could

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.320
 Paul not

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.840
 remember

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:28.360
 the one

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.100
 who years

00:34:29.100 --> 00:34:29.860
 earlier had

00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.420
 faced the

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:31.220
 same crowd

00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.760
 stood before

00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:33.220
 people of

00:34:33.220 --> 00:34:33.580
 his own

00:34:33.580 --> 00:34:34.100
 flesh and

00:34:34.100 --> 00:34:34.480
 blood

00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.400
 shouting for

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.060
 his own

00:34:36.060 --> 00:34:36.720
 execution

00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.740
 and how

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.220
 could Paul

00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:38.920
 not remember

00:34:38.920 --> 00:34:39.780
 that this

00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:40.180
 one

00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:43.079
 instead of

00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.739
 being saved

00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:44.059
 from the

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.460
 jaws of

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:44.899
 the lion

00:34:44.899 --> 00:34:46.899
 was crushed

00:34:46.899 --> 00:34:47.239
 in its

00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:47.539
 grip

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:50.179
 that Jesus

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.779
 goes to

00:34:50.779 --> 00:34:51.339
 the cross

00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:52.519
 for Paul's

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.279
 own sins

00:34:53.279 --> 00:34:57.039
 so that

00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:59.679
 before the

00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:00.779
 only bar

00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:02.119
 of the

00:35:02.119 --> 00:35:03.119
 only courtroom

00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.379
 that really

00:35:04.379 --> 00:35:05.440
 matters

00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:08.000
 you and

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.340
 I could

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:09.400
 actually have

00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:11.059
 a righteous

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.659
 defense

00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:14.480
 that the

00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:14.800
 righteous

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:16.099
 one is

00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:16.619
 cast out

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:16.900
 with the

00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:17.400
 unrighteous

00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:17.780
 so the

00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:18.360
 unrighteous

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.240
 can finally

00:35:19.240 --> 00:35:20.420
 stand before

00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:20.900
 God

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:22.059
 even when

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.720
 every

00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.500
 worldly

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.139
 defense

00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:24.980
 has been

00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:25.260
 stripped

00:35:25.260 --> 00:35:25.679
 away

00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:29.960
 Jesus is

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.500
 his defense

00:35:30.500 --> 00:35:30.960
 friends

00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:32.440
 is he

00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:32.840
 yours

00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:36.679
 he is

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.360
 if you've

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:37.679
 placed your

00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.099
 trust in

00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:38.340
 him

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:41.599
 a righteous

00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.059
 one

00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:43.099
 isn't I

00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:43.639
 mean think

00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.240
 about it

00:35:44.240 --> 00:35:46.440
 I mean

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:49.139
 Harper Lee

00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:49.740
 just released a

00:35:49.740 --> 00:35:50.079
 new novel

00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:50.500
 this week

00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:50.760
 has anyone

00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:51.240
 read Harper

00:35:51.240 --> 00:35:51.639
 Lee's new

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:51.940
 novel

00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:53.300
 no because

00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:53.699
 you all read

00:35:53.699 --> 00:35:54.059
 the New York

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.599
 Times review

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:54.980
 that said

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.280
 it's the

00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.679
 worst piece

00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:56.019
 of literature

00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.199
 ever created

00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.980
 and they've

00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:58.579
 destroyed

00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.500
 all of our

00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.460
 childhood dreams

00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:01.859
 that the

00:36:01.859 --> 00:36:02.399
 one

00:36:02.399 --> 00:36:03.139
 righteous

00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:03.779
 person

00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.239
 that we

00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:04.839
 could find

00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:05.599
 in all of

00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:05.980
 American

00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:06.539
 literature

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.899
 Atticus Finch

00:36:07.899 --> 00:36:08.659
 the one

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.079
 who held

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.659
 out one

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.460
 little shred

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:10.879
 of hope

00:36:10.879 --> 00:36:11.299
 for us

00:36:11.299 --> 00:36:11.859
 that there's

00:36:11.859 --> 00:36:12.819
 some last

00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.839
 spark

00:36:13.839 --> 00:36:14.919
 of dignity

00:36:14.919 --> 00:36:16.019
 and rightness

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.939
 in the world

00:36:16.939 --> 00:36:18.779
 lo and behold

00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:19.460
 has feet of

00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:19.819
 clay

00:36:19.819 --> 00:36:24.719
 Ghost Out of

00:36:24.719 --> 00:36:25.219
 Watchmen is a

00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:25.859
 beautiful book

00:36:25.859 --> 00:36:26.419
 it's a hard

00:36:26.419 --> 00:36:26.819
 book

00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:28.180
 and there's

00:36:28.180 --> 00:36:28.519
 a chapter

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:28.800
 in that

00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:29.059
 book

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:29.620
 where Scout

00:36:29.620 --> 00:36:30.100
 sorry if

00:36:30.100 --> 00:36:30.360
 many of

00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:30.559
 you have

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:30.840
 read to

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.500
 go kill

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.080
 to kill

00:36:32.080 --> 00:36:32.559
 a mockingbird

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:32.940
 go read

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.380
 it after the

00:36:33.380 --> 00:36:33.780
 service

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:35.500
 there's a

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.200
 beautiful passage

00:36:36.200 --> 00:36:36.760
 where Scout

00:36:36.760 --> 00:36:37.280
 having come

00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:37.640
 home

00:36:37.640 --> 00:36:38.340
 she's 26

00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:38.860
 she's been

00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:39.240
 living in

00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:39.500
 New York

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:39.760
 City

00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.660
 her father

00:36:40.660 --> 00:36:41.240
 has just

00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:44.039
 been shown

00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.400
 as being

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.539
 very morally

00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:47.019
 questionable

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:49.420
 and suddenly

00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:50.160
 she's spinning

00:36:50.160 --> 00:36:51.000
 in her mind

00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:52.840
 everything that

00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:53.220
 I'd built

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:53.960
 my life on

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.740
 and all those

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:55.460
 moments growing

00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.420
 up when I

00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:56.740
 wondered

00:36:56.739 --> 00:36:57.579
 what should

00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.019
 I do

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.759
 is there

00:36:58.759 --> 00:36:59.379
 hope for

00:36:59.379 --> 00:36:59.659
 me

00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.439
 is there

00:37:00.439 --> 00:37:01.019
 right in

00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:01.519
 the world

00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:02.439
 the one

00:37:02.439 --> 00:37:02.979
 voice that

00:37:02.979 --> 00:37:03.279
 she could

00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:03.639
 hear in

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:04.059
 her mind

00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:04.379
 was the

00:37:04.379 --> 00:37:04.719
 voice of

00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:05.299
 her father

00:37:05.299 --> 00:37:06.619
 back home

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:09.239
 one little

00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:10.599
 picture of

00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:11.119
 righteousness

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.459
 in a sea

00:37:12.459 --> 00:37:13.500
 of unclean

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:13.879
 lips

00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:18.079
 and when

00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:18.820
 that falls

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:19.920
 she goes

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.079
 into

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:20.720
 basically

00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:22.559
 existential

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.300
 tailspin

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:24.720
 who is

00:37:24.720 --> 00:37:24.900
 she

00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:25.500
 what is

00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:25.660
 she

00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.240
 what hope

00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:26.700
 is there

00:37:26.700 --> 00:37:28.240
 is it

00:37:28.240 --> 00:37:28.599
 worth

00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:29.900
 going on

00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:34.220
 friends

00:37:34.220 --> 00:37:34.619
 isn't that

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:34.980
 a heart

00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.400
 cry

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:37.180
 in all

00:37:37.180 --> 00:37:37.700
 of us

00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:39.819
 for

00:37:39.819 --> 00:37:40.099
 someone

00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:40.239
 who

00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:40.500
 actually

00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:40.899
 is

00:37:40.899 --> 00:37:41.460
 righteous

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:43.339
 for

00:37:43.339 --> 00:37:43.679
 someone

00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:43.859
 who

00:37:43.859 --> 00:37:44.379
 actually

00:37:44.379 --> 00:37:44.639
 in

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:44.819
 the

00:37:44.819 --> 00:37:45.439
 sea

00:37:45.439 --> 00:37:47.279
 of

00:37:47.279 --> 00:37:48.019
 injustice

00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:48.939
 and

00:37:48.939 --> 00:37:49.719
 duplicity

00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:51.079
 for

00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:51.579
 someone

00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:51.919
 who's

00:37:51.919 --> 00:37:52.859
 actually

00:37:52.859 --> 00:37:54.679
 right

00:37:54.679 --> 00:37:56.819
 and who

00:37:56.819 --> 00:37:57.079
 could be

00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:57.639
 a rock

00:37:57.639 --> 00:37:58.439
 on which

00:37:58.439 --> 00:37:58.799
 we could

00:37:58.799 --> 00:37:59.299
 stand

00:37:59.299 --> 00:38:00.259
 and a

00:38:00.259 --> 00:38:00.579
 hope

00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.399
 in a

00:38:01.399 --> 00:38:01.779
 sea

00:38:01.779 --> 00:38:02.319
 of

00:38:02.319 --> 00:38:03.539
 hopelessness

00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:06.239
 friends

00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:06.519
 there is

00:38:06.519 --> 00:38:06.920
 a righteous

00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.259
 one

00:38:07.259 --> 00:38:08.079
 it's

00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:08.300
 Jesus

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:08.800
 Christ

00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:14.340
 and like

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:14.679
 Paul

00:38:14.679 --> 00:38:15.079
 that will

00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:15.400
 give

00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:16.059
 you

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.679
 and me

00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:17.380
 when we

00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:17.840
 finally

00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.239
 come to

00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:18.519
 rest

00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.079
 in him

00:38:19.079 --> 00:38:21.000
 an

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:21.400
 incredible

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:22.039
 boldness

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:25.300
 look at

00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:25.500
 Paul

00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:25.960
 bold

00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.539
 to stand

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.000
 before an

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.259
 angry

00:38:27.259 --> 00:38:27.719
 crowd

00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:28.019
 and to

00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:28.320
 see them

00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:28.460
 with

00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:28.920
 love

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:29.159
 and to

00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:29.420
 tell them

00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:29.779
 the truth

00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:29.980
 about

00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:30.259
 Jesus

00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:30.639
 in ways

00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.019
 they might

00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.420
 actually

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:32.099
 understand

00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:34.559
 bold

00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:34.980
 to leave

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.159
 your

00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:35.599
 home

00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:36.000
 and all

00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:36.259
 that's

00:38:36.259 --> 00:38:36.599
 comfortable

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:36.980
 to go

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.500
 far away

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:37.900
 to the

00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:38.699
 Gentiles

00:38:38.699 --> 00:38:39.819
 as Paul

00:38:39.819 --> 00:38:40.259
 was

00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:41.659
 seeing

00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:41.900
 Jesus

00:38:41.900 --> 00:38:42.199
 as your

00:38:42.199 --> 00:38:42.460
 righteous

00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:42.619
 one

00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:42.799
 makes

00:38:42.799 --> 00:38:42.900
 you

00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:43.279
 bold

00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:43.699
 to see

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:43.900
 your

00:38:43.900 --> 00:38:44.559
 conversion

00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.579
 as also

00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:45.940
 what it

00:38:45.940 --> 00:38:46.299
 is

00:38:46.299 --> 00:38:46.759
 friends

00:38:46.759 --> 00:38:48.360
 your

00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:48.839
 conversion

00:38:48.839 --> 00:38:49.440
 just like

00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:49.839
 Paul

00:38:49.839 --> 00:38:50.539
 is a

00:38:50.539 --> 00:38:50.980
 commission

00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:51.779
 it's a

00:38:51.779 --> 00:38:52.380
 calling

00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:53.819
 to go

00:38:53.819 --> 00:38:56.639
 friends

00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:56.819
 what's

00:38:56.819 --> 00:38:57.259
 your defense

00:38:57.259 --> 00:38:57.819
 this morning

00:38:57.819 --> 00:39:01.360
 if it's

00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:01.579
 Jesus

00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:01.920
 Christ

00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:02.099
 the

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:02.380
 righteous

00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:02.699
 one

00:39:02.699 --> 00:39:02.960
 then you

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.079
 can

00:39:03.079 --> 00:39:03.340
 love

00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:03.539
 in the

00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:03.739
 face

00:39:03.739 --> 00:39:03.880
 of

00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:04.179
 anger

00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:05.279
 and you

00:39:05.279 --> 00:39:05.440
 can

00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:05.779
 speak

00:39:05.779 --> 00:39:06.059
 in the

00:39:06.059 --> 00:39:06.239
 face

00:39:06.239 --> 00:39:06.380
 of

00:39:06.380 --> 00:39:06.920
 confusion

00:39:06.920 --> 00:39:08.759
 and you

00:39:08.759 --> 00:39:09.019
 can be

00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.279
 brave

00:39:09.279 --> 00:39:09.519
 in the

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:09.679
 face

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:09.819
 of

00:39:09.819 --> 00:39:10.259
 danger

00:39:10.259 --> 00:39:13.440
 and if

00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:13.579
 he's

00:39:13.579 --> 00:39:13.799
 not

00:39:13.799 --> 00:39:13.980
 your

00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:14.360
 righteousness

00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:14.739
 this

00:39:14.739 --> 00:39:15.079
 morning

00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:17.099
 then hear

00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:17.380
 the other

00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:17.579
 thing

00:39:17.579 --> 00:39:17.699
 that

00:39:17.699 --> 00:39:18.299
 Ananias

00:39:18.299 --> 00:39:18.900
 told

00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.259
 Paul

00:39:19.259 --> 00:39:19.860
 when he

00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:20.000
 was

00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.380
 converted

00:39:20.380 --> 00:39:22.960
 why do

00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:23.099
 you

00:39:23.099 --> 00:39:23.420
 wait

00:39:23.420 --> 00:39:25.860
 why do

00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:25.960
 you

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.259
 wait

00:39:26.259 --> 00:39:28.819
 let's

00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:29.059
 pray

00:39:29.059 --> 00:39:36.940
 father

00:39:36.940 --> 00:39:36.960
 father

00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.099
 I

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:37.239
 pray

00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:37.380
 that

00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:37.500
 we

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:37.599
 would

00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:37.699
 be

00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:37.920
 so

00:39:37.920 --> 00:39:38.219
 rooted

00:39:38.219 --> 00:39:38.539
 in the

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:38.860
 righteousness

00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.159
 of

00:39:39.159 --> 00:39:39.539
 Christ

00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:42.519
 that

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:42.639
 we

00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:42.799
 could

00:39:42.799 --> 00:39:43.000
 not

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.299
 help

00:39:43.299 --> 00:39:43.519
 but

00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:43.679
 have

00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:44.079
 love

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:44.320
 and

00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:44.799
 humility

00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:45.179
 and

00:39:45.179 --> 00:39:45.579
 boldness

00:39:45.579 --> 00:39:45.820
 come

00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:46.159
 surging

00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:46.579
 forth

00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:47.940
 Lord

00:39:47.940 --> 00:39:48.340
 when we

00:39:48.340 --> 00:39:48.579
 too

00:39:48.579 --> 00:39:48.860
 feel

00:39:48.860 --> 00:39:49.360
 caught

00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:50.340
 in the

00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:50.519
 middle

00:39:50.519 --> 00:39:50.699
 of

00:39:50.699 --> 00:39:51.259
 worlds

00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:52.519
 belonging

00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:52.960
 everywhere

00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:53.619
 and belonging

00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:54.019
 nowhere

00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:54.639
 with no

00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.179
 defense

00:39:55.179 --> 00:39:56.179
 and no one

00:39:56.179 --> 00:39:56.719
 standing up

00:39:56.719 --> 00:39:57.239
 for us

00:39:57.239 --> 00:39:58.219
 God lift

00:39:58.219 --> 00:39:58.860
 our gaze

00:39:58.860 --> 00:39:59.500
 to Jesus

00:39:59.500 --> 00:40:00.679
 the righteous

00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:01.119
 one

00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:03.679
 Amen