Credentials of Paul

Acts 22:1-5 

“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

Resume’

It is not very amusing for most professionals from Asian countries to draft their resume’ when applying for a job in Canada, why? Take for example: a medical doctor who was educated and practiced her profession in the Philippines is not privileged to practice her career as a doctor in Canada right away. The doctor needs to be accredited or certified in Canada, first and foremost.

If doctor has a family and short of financial support, she needs to work. What if the doctor applies as waitress or crew in a Fast food chain or restaurant? What would the doctor write in her resume’ when all her work experiences were in the medical field? How challenging could it be to lower one’s expectations down to the level of job offer? How does a medical doctor feel when working as waiter under a high school graduate manager?

We can learn from the Lord Jesus. In Philippians 2:6-8Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Christ’s example was the very opposite of what Paul did when he told the crowd about his credentials, education, and experiences.

1.  Education

“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:  “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

Among the Apostles, Paul had the highest or most awesome credentials.  He was thoroughly trained in the Law of Moses, and he can speak and understand Hebrew language or Aramaic. Paul studied under Gamaliel. Gamaliel was a well-respected professor of Jewish Laws in Paul’s time. Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel. Hillel was the founder of the House of Hillel or University of Jewish Laws.

Gamaliel was the first president of Sanhedrin according to tradition. He was well respected by members of Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin is similar to Supreme Court.

In Acts 5:34, 35, 40, 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men…40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Paul told the crowd that he was brought up in Jerusalem and studied under Gamaliel, why? Did he wish the crowd to know that he is one of them, and they should respect him because of his education? It’s no trivial to be a Pharisee.

Traditionally, Pharisees start learning and asking question at the age of 12. This was what Jesus did as written in Luke 2:41-43, 46, 41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.  42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.  43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Paul was a Pharisee. A Pharisee is considered disciple of the wise and spiritual fathers of Judaism. When Paul claimed to have studied under Gamaliel, he implied that he was obedient to the law, and no accusation or violation against the law can be applicable to him. After Paul informed the crowd about his educational background and experiences, his credential were not sufficient enough to stop the opposition from persecuting him. He himself persecuted Christians.

 2.  Experience

I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,  as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

Paul made it clear that the crowd would recognize his zealousness for the Lord. Before his conversion, Paul wanted also to please his superior by obtaining letters from higher authorities. He was also very cautious, and made it sure that what he was doing was approved by the high priest and the Council. He was very methodical in taking appropriate communication among high officials. He did not persecute the followers without a written approval from the higher office.

Paul might have hoped that his zealousness and systematic approach in persecuting Christians would convince the crowd that he was not against the law.  There was no intelligible or well-spoken explanation can convince the enemies of Paul to stop inciting the crowd against him. Their accusation that Paul has been breaking the law was just a legal reason to persecute him.  Breaking the law or not was not the main point. They just hated Paul, that’s all! They wanted to get rid of him, no matter what.

His defense of telling the crowd about his credentials did not matter at all. His enemies were decided to get rid of him with whatever means.

King David

One of the highlights of David’s story was when he was escaping from his son Absalom. In 2 Samuel 16:5-12, As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” 11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

David was surrounded by more than 10,000 soldiers yet Shimei was not scared to curse and pelt stones at David. David did not bother to get back to Shimei.

That incident displayed that God’s grace was at work in David’s heart. He had hoped that whatever God allowed David to suffer was good the Lord’s sight.

David had problems in his office as king He had problem with his family, relatives, and soldiers. We don’t need to be King David to practice faith in God. King David’s life example is an inspiration for us to trust that whatever God allows us to experience or suffer is good in His eyes, which must be good for us, too.

Paul was persecuted and it made him stronger in his faith in God. Like Paul and King David, credentials may be important but it cannot stop those who were decided to persecute us. If God has sanctioned or authorized things or persecutions to happen in our life, it might be that He is preparing us for our betterment.

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