Obey God Rather Than Men

PART TWO

 

Probably the greatest candidate for the most extreme change from unbelief and disobedience to believing and obedience is Paul. Paul went from being utterly and fervently against the truth of God regarding Jesus Christ to being thoroughly and wholeheartedly the greatest champion for God and for man’s redeemer, Jesus Christ.

 

Paul recounted his dramatic change when making a public self-defense to King Agrippa in Acts 26:

 

I verily thought with [within] myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice [I cast my vote] against them.    ACTS 26:9-10

 

In the Judean culture of that day, the people were ruled by the religious hierarchy. These rulers were empowered by their religious law, and by that law had the authority to vote for or against the execution of individuals. A ‘legally’ convicted offender was stoned to death. These are the votes that Paul had cast against many saints in Jerusalem.

 

More details of Paul’s past deeds in Jerusalem are recorded earlier in the book of Acts:

 

As for Saul [Paul], he made havoc [he ravaged] of the church, entering into every house, and haling [dragging out] men and women committed them to prison. ACTS 8:3

 

And Saul [Paul], yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter [murder] against the disciples of the lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters [authorization documents] to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way [the way], whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound [bound!] unto Jerusalem.  ACTS 9:1-2

 

This was Paul’s former commitment of life which he is now describing to King Agrippa:

 

And I punished them oft [frequently] in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad [enraged] against them, I persecuted [pursued] them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me….       ACTS 26:11-14A

 

While on the road to Damascus, where Paul planned to arrest and bind ‘any of the way’, Jesus Christ spoke to him and helped Paul realize and understand that he (Jesus) was truly the promised Christ (‘Christ’ means ‘Anointed one’).

 

Jesus Christ said to Paul, “I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things   which I will show unto you.”

 

Paul was at a point of decision. He could remain entrenched in the ‘status quo’ of which he was a revered and elevated member, or he could stand with Jesus Christ and the truth of God. The latter choice would result in his becoming an enemy of men but a minister and friend of God. He told his decision to King Agrippa:

 

Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the nations, that they should repent [change] and turn to God, and do works meet [fitting] for repentance [a change of heart]. For these causes the Jews [the Judean leadership (of which he had been)] caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.  ACTS 26:19-21

 

This is how he came to be a prisoner of the Roman government. The Judean leadership in Jerusalem attacked him and would have killed him if he hadn’t been rescued by a Roman official. Paul chose to obey God rather than men, and look how those men, who previously had been his peers, respected his decision.

 

Because Paul had chosen to stand with and serve God, God stood with Paul and took care of him. Still in custody, while sailing to Rome (upon leaving Caesarea and King Agrippa), the ship was engulfed in a ‘tempestuous wind’ and ‘exceedingly tossed’.

 

And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.    ACTS 27:20

 

But God sent His messenger angel to bring Paul His message. How great is that!

 

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, Whose I am, and Whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.      ACTS 27:23-25

 

Paul obeyed God rather than men and could boldly say, “Whose I am, and Whom I serve.” He served God by speaking the truth of the message of the new covenant. That message is forgiveness and justification by the grace of God and not by good works of men. Paul taught this everywhere he travelled as recorded in Acts.

 

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [this man: Jesus Christ] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. And when the Gentiles [people of all nations] heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord.  ACTS 13:38-39, 48A