But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. Acts 21:39
A group of young Americans living in New Brunswick, most of them draft dodgers, became involved in an anti-nuclear power campaign in the 1970s. The province at that time was considering building a nuclear power plant, and was conducting public hearings. When several of the American draft dodgers appeared at the hearings to make a submission, they were addressed by one of the MLAs. The MLA informed the young men that when he was living for several years in the United States, he was strictly forbidden from taking part in any public meetings or government affairs there. He urged the Americans to appreciate the extra freedoms and privileges that were available to them as foreigners in Canada that were not available to foreigners in the United States. We as Christians are living as foreigners in a foreign land. But we have privileges here that we should not ignore or despise.
The chief captain who had rescued Paul from the Jewish mob outside of the temple thought that he was an Egyptian revolutionary, because of the ferocity of the Jews’ animosity. But Paul quickly informed him that he was not only a Jew but also a Roman citizen. And he appealed for the chief captain to give him the privilege of speaking to the people. That was his right, and he exercised that right. Just as we should exercise our right to speak out for our Lord in our witness for Him.
The laws of our land permit the preaching of the Gospel, not only in our Halls, but also in public places, in tents, in rented buildings. This is not permitted in much of the world. Give thanks for faithful men who take full advantage of this privilege. The laws also allow us to personally witness to people we work with, study with, encounter in public and private places, and live amongst. Several people died today in North Korea because such witnessing is against the law there. Such witnessing is not against the law here, although one might think it is because we do so little of it.
Paul was in a very precarious position. He had just been rescued at the last moment from almost certain death, and there was nothing rosy in what appeared to lie before him. Our first instincts might have been to accept shelter with the Roman soldiers and be as quiet and unassuming as possible. But not Paul! His first thought was to seize the opportunity to speak to the large crowd that he was facing. Even though most of the multitude was crying for his blood, Paul thought only of presenting them with the Gospel. What great lessons we can learn from this man, who loved the souls of men and women far more than his own life!
God grants to us the privilege of sharing the Gospel with others. Our country also grants us this same privilege. What will we do with this privilege? – Jim MacIntosh