O: Paul used his audience’s heart language—Aramaic—to address the crowd, which immediately calmed them down. He then shared his background, establishing common ground with them. Things were going well until he challenged their prejudices by mentioning his mission to the Gentiles. At that point, their anger flared up.
Even after that, Paul continued using his background to his advantage—this time asserting his rights as a Roman citizen to prevent himself from being unlawfully flogged.
A: It makes sense to be culturally sensitive and to use our unique attributes (like Paul’s Aramaic-speaking ability, Jewish background, and Roman citizenship) to our advantage. However, that’s no guarantee of success. In the end, we must still speak the truth of the Gospel, even if it means rejection. And who’s to say seeds weren’t planted in the hearts of some that day? Even when people seem to reject the message, God may be working in ways we don’t immediately see.
P: Lord, help me to be wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove as I represent You to others. Give me discernment to know when to build bridges and when to stand firm, trusting You with the results. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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