The soldiers carry Paul up the steps because the mob keeps surging at him, screaming the same words a different crowd had screamed at Jesus on these same streets: get rid of him. Halfway up, Paul turns to the commander and asks a question in flawless Greek. Am I allowed to say something to you? Three things just happened in one sentence. Paul kept his composure after a beating. He spoke a language the tribune didn't expect. And he did it with the courtesy of a diplomat. Lysias agrees. Paul stands on the stairs of the Antonia Fortress, raises his hand, and the crowd goes still. Luke calls it a great hush. The same crowd that wanted his blood thirty seconds earlier is leaning in to listen. Boldness isn't the same thing as belligerence. The boldest Christians in Acts also tend to be the most respectful. God just took a riot and turned it into a podium.
What is Acts Daily Devotional Podcast?
What if the story of the early church isn’t just history, but a blueprint for following Jesus today? The Acts Daily Devotional Podcast is a 141-day journey through the book of Acts in the Bible, hosted by Pastor Derek. Each short episode combines Scripture and practical teaching to help inspire your daily chair time with God, whether at home or on your drive to work. Starting April 26, discover how the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to advance the mission of Jesus from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.