Based on Acts 26:24-end

When we are faced with someone who speaks with zeal and passion, it is hard to put aside their ideas. When we listen to Greta Thunberg, it is clear she speaks with passion and commitment to her view of the world. Whatever we may think of our leaders in the world, when they speak with passion we tend to be convinced. Oratory, powered by sincerity, can change people’s minds.

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles today we witness such an example. Paul arrived in Jerusalem a strong-minded Jew, in his previous life a Pharisee but moulded now by his vision on the road to Damascus. A learned man and a passionate man who was in prison for two years under the Governor Felix, and now faces the new Governor Festus. We have a man who was plotted against by the Jews, his people, because he was called by God to share the gospel with the Gentiles. Paul saw God as the Saviour of all and the one who loves all the peoples of the world, the Jews to whom he spoke saw God as the Saviour only of the Jews.

So Paul was imprisoned and appealed to be heard in Rome as he was born a Roman citizen. Luke in the book of Acts makes it clear that this was God’s will, Paul was bound for Rome to preach there, and there is a complicated route of capture, imprisonment, audiences with Governors and now King Agrippa himself, at which he must plead before the road to Rome is open to him. What becomes so clear in this hearing before Festus and Agrippa is that their power and earthly influence is weakened by a prisoner in chains before them. It is Paul who is confident, not these rulers. It is Paul who wins the argument, causing them to falter in their private conversation, no longer seeing why he should be charged.

Paul’s power comes only from God. He is sure, he is certain and with all the odds stacked against him, he wins the argument with his oratory and sincerity.

As we face earthly power this week, in changing safety regulations, in trade talks between nations, while all seems momentarily uncertain and shifting in the affairs of men, call on the power of God so that we too can speak with zeal and passion in the name of love.