Bible Reading: Acts 23: 9-11

A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue him from their midst and take him into the compound.

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome."

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This event took place when Paul took on his accusers by giving his great discourse in front of the Jerusalem Jews. But I mention this reading tonight because people tend to forget one thing. They tend to think of Paul as seeing Jesus only when he was Saul and fell from his horse when Jesus blinded him, asking why he persecuted him, and thus he converted to Christianity. But here in a simple sentence, you read how Jesus appeared to him in person, not vision or dream, for he "stood by him." Paul was great not only for his intelligence, courage and zeal, but also because he literally worked with Jesus at his side. Paul was not improvising or making it up as he went along. Jesus taught him, spoke to him, and appeared to him as necessary. This is made very plain in this simple yet powerful example.

It's a Pauline year coming up this Sunday. The real Paul would be very embarrassed! He constantly pointed all glory back to God. But he would be pragmatic and glad if his year marked a greater return to understanding his own personal journey, teachings and admonishments on behalf of the Lord God and Jesus Christ.