Relate to Your Audience, But Speak Truth - Acts 21-22

 Acts 22:3-5 (ESV)

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

In the previous chapter we read the story of Paul being surrounded by a mob in the Jewish Temple.  The prominent Jewish leaders from around Asia had arrived in Jerusalem and had stirred up the mob to cry out slanderous things about Paul (is that not what the Pharisees did to Jesus to have him crucified?).   The Roman Tribune (leader of the assigned troops for the Temple/Jerusalem) intervened since riots were not allowed in the Roman culture.   Paul convinces the Tribune to all him to speak to the mob and to those Jewish leaders flaming the fire.  So, in the above passage we read Paul’s speech to a mob who was lead by leaders who wanted to stir them to violence.   Paul gives us great strategy for a persuasive, apologetic approach.  Here are some principles to follow and learn from Paul:

1. Start with relating to your audience.  Paul outlines his history that matched their history.  He was a Jew, born in Tarsus.  Paul relates to his audience (1 Corinthians 9:19-22).

2. Let your audience (opponent) know that your qualifications are based upon their approval list.  Paul states that he trained at the feet of Gamaliel was like saying you went to the highest esteemed college in your country.  Paul wanted them to know he was steeped in the teachings that they were swearing their allegiance.  Your audience (opponent) knowing your are knowledgeable in their area is a key to your success to convince, persuade and/or relate.

3.  Paul tells them that he also once hated the “Way” (that is what they called the Christian movement).   There is no faster way to relate to an audience than to agree on the same enemy.   Paul did, at one time, persecute the Church (the Way) to the fullest extent.  He is grieved by that later in his writings, but he uses it here to relate to his audience.   

Those are three very powerful ways to relate to your audience.   But, the fact remains, that  the fourth point is in the text that follows.   Paul goes on to say that all this is true, but something changed for him.  At some point Paul needed to tell them about his encounter with Christ.  That is the difference maker.  That is the part that offended this crowd.  They will ultimately turn on him because he tells them that Christ sent him to the Gentiles.  The Jewish crowd was basically racist about Paul going to the Gentiles.  His claim was that Jesus was THEIR Messiah.  He then tells them that THEIR Messiah was being made available to the Gentile race.  That was offensive to them on many levels.  But, at some point the world has to be confronted with an experience with Christ.   Paul did his best to relate to his audience.  But, in speaking Christ you eventually have to speak truth.  The Gospel is offensive to the natural mind.  We can do our best to relate to our audience.  But, in the end, truth must be spoken.