URC Daily Devotion 19th September

As I read, reread and contemplated this passage my focus was repeatedly drawn to this clause and as I interrogated that internal response I wondered;

• Why focus on the very end of the passage that we are exploring today?
• Why indeed are we considering this sentence with today’s passage and not tomorrow?
• Is there a liminality dynamic at work here?
• Is this a formula pointing readers towards a deeper interpretation?

Indeed stretching out the hand was symbolic, it was a marker before a formal speech much like the town crier’s bell and “hear ye”, the MC’s gavel and “ladies and gentlemen” or even the fairy story’s “once upon a time”.

Paul’s use of the gesture here discloses him as an educated man one who is apparently at ease addressing the company gathered in the Caesarea audience hall. He does not seem to be daunted by the grandeur of the place or the collection of this most Roman of Judean town’s great and good alongside Agrippa and his entourage.

Festus we can see appears to be an honourable and responsible Governor neither washing his hands of his inherited prisoner nor failing to respect his predecessor’s approach and seems to be more than happy to consult Agrippa with his inherent knowledge of all things Jewish and of their interfacing with those following Christ. Perhaps he could tap into Agrippa’s insights in order to formulate an appropriate charge to be forwarded to Rome.

Paul clearly had the wit to navigate the legal system (his use of his right of appeal, as a Roman citizen, to the Emperor discloses this) and the ability to speak up for himself and so, I wondered, why had he allowed matters to escalate over a period of two years to risk this hand-stretching moment?

Might it be that it best suited his purpose, that playing the long game was of greater benefit to his goal than a quicker fix?

Paul was being held within the Governor’s palace and was privileged to receive visitors (including his companion Luke who was probably making use of the time afforded to write his accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry and of the acts of the apostles) this does not exactly equate to doing hard time. He therefore had had abundant opportunities to share the good news of the Christ and now after two years preparation time Paul stretched out his hand to preach the sermon of his life!