A Failure That Was Not Really a Failure In Acts 21 and 22 Paul almost gets himself killed, twice. Paul’s speech, however, does not warrant this severe hostile response from his audience. This extreme reaction can be explained by the setting of Acts 21. After seven days of purification, Paul, a follower of Christ Jesus, goes to Jerusalem and presents offerings at the temple. The Asian Jews accuse him of bringing Greeks into the Temple, defiling that holy place. The people seize Paul and seek to kill him. Roman soldiers rescue Paul from the crowd, and the Roman tribune give Paul permission to address the people. Paul proclaims salvation is through Christ, not only for the Jews, but also for the gentiles. This new teaching clashes against the
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Paul builds logos by appealing to the logic of his audience. He pleads, “brothers and father, hear the defense that I now make before you” (Acts 22:1). Through this petition, Paul capitalizes on the Jewish man’s desire to be logical and fair and makes a daring argument to be heard. Second, Paul constructs his argument by confirming many of the things he asserts, saying, “the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear witness” (Acts 22:5). In his next move, however, Paul weakens the logos of his speech. Paul abruptly switches from recounting that he stood by the stoners of Stephen to proclaiming God sent him to the gentiles (Acts 22:19-21). This is a critical mistake. The crowd thirsted to kill Paul even before he spoke for this same fact—that he believed God accepted the gentiles. The Jews had already accused Paul saying, “He has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place” (Acts 21:28). The last thing the Jews want to hear is that God sent Paul to the gentiles. If Paul hopes to convince his audience that the gentiles are included in God’s plan of salvation, he needs to back it up with support from the Jews’ own holy book. Old testament examples of gentiles added to God’s family—such as Rehab, Ruth, and Naaman—could have served this purpose. Unfortunately, Paul does not provide any connection between the Old Testament and God’s current inclusion of the gentiles. As a result, Paul loses his audience and they raise their voices shouting, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live” (Acts 22:2). Paul could have included a lot more support from the Old Testament for an important revelation which he had received from God. When the logos of Paul’s speech weakens, Paul fails to convince his
Paul builds logos by appealing to the logic of his audience. He pleads, “brothers and father, hear the defense that I now make before you” (Acts 22:1). Through this petition, Paul capitalizes on the Jewish man’s desire to be logical and fair and makes a daring argument to be heard. Second, Paul constructs his argument by confirming many of the things he asserts, saying, “the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear witness” (Acts 22:5). In his next move, however, Paul weakens the logos of his speech. Paul abruptly switches from recounting that he stood by the stoners of Stephen to proclaiming God sent him to the gentiles (Acts 22:19-21). This is a critical mistake. The crowd thirsted to kill Paul even before he spoke for this same fact—that he believed God accepted the gentiles. The Jews had already accused Paul saying, “He has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place” (Acts 21:28). The last thing the Jews want to hear is that God sent Paul to the gentiles. If Paul hopes to convince his audience that the gentiles are included in God’s plan of salvation, he needs to back it up with support from the Jews’ own holy book. Old testament examples of gentiles added to God’s family—such as Rehab, Ruth, and Naaman—could have served this purpose. Unfortunately, Paul does not provide any connection between the Old Testament and God’s current inclusion of the gentiles. As a result, Paul loses his audience and they raise their voices shouting, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live” (Acts 22:2). Paul could have included a lot more support from the Old Testament for an important revelation which he had received from God. When the logos of Paul’s speech weakens, Paul fails to convince his