Overview:
Even with an abusive mob and murder plot following him, Paul courageously proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. False accusations, beatings, and imprisonment couldn’t stop him! Fierce courage and supernatural peace marked Paul’s character and words. Pastor Chuck Swindoll narrates the five trials Paul endured for defending his faith (Acts 21–23). Paul’s “straight thinking” not only saved his life on several different occasions but also provided peace and confidence as he proclaimed the truth. While you may not face court trials for your faith, you likely encounter challenging opportunities to courageously share about Jesus with others. Listen in to hear how Paul navigated all this and more.
Message Summary:
In “Thinking as Paul Thought,” Chuck Swindoll examines the chaotic events surrounding Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem and his subsequent trials. Faced with an abusive mob, a murder plot, and false accusations, Paul demonstrated a level of “straight thinking” that was both strategic and spiritually grounded. Swindoll explores how Paul’s character—marked by fierce courage and supernatural peace—allowed him to speak the truth even when his life was in immediate danger. This message highlights that while we may not face literal court trials for our faith, we often encounter challenging opportunities where we must choose to think clearly, act courageously, and trust in the sovereign protection of God.
Message Key Facts:
- The Temple Riot: Paul’s arrest was sparked by a false accusation that he had brought a Gentile into the temple, illustrating how legalism often relies on “fake news” and emotional manipulation to silence the truth.
- The Strategic Witness: When given the chance to speak to the mob, Paul shared his testimony in their native tongue, showing that “thinking like Paul” involves finding common ground and using one’s own transformation as the primary argument.
- The Pharisee vs. Sadducee Strategy: During his trial before the Sanhedrin, Paul brilliantly identified the theological divide regarding the resurrection, causing his accusers to turn on each other and proving that wisdom can be a powerful tool in self-defense.
- The Providential Escape: The message details how God used Paul’s nephew to expose a murder plot involving forty men, reminding us that God often uses “minor characters” and quiet circumstances to preserve His chosen instruments.
Message References:
- The Riot and the Arrest
- The seizure of Paul in the temple and the Roman commander’s intervention to prevent a lynching.
- Scripture: Acts 21:27–36 (The Jews from Asia… began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him).
- The Testimony to the Mob
- Paul’s defense on the steps of the barracks, focusing on his Jewish pedigree and his Damascus road conversion.
- Scripture: Acts 22:1–21 (“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia…”).
- The Defense Before the Sanhedrin
- The clash with the High Priest and Paul’s clever identification of the hope of the resurrection.
- Scripture: Acts 23:1–10 (“Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”).
- The Midnight Transfer to Caesarea
- The exposure of the ambush plot and the heavily guarded journey to protect Paul’s life.
- Scripture: Acts 23:12–35 (They bound themselves under a curse… but the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush).
