Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Acts 13 – We Are Hard on People Who
We Are Hard on People Who….
Ever notice the first miracle of Paul? Paul’s first miracle is personal, very personal, and is a statement both on Paul and the person who was…notice I didn’t say “healed”.
Paul’s first miracle was not healing, it was the exact opposite. Paul must have seen in the man himself, and how destructive this man could be because of how destructive Paul had been. It is as if the Holy Spirit is giving us hints to connect the two events.
• The first miracle of Paul was striking Elymas blind (Acts 13:11). Paul was struck blind (Acts 9:8).
• The blindness was not permanent, but “for a time” (Acts 13:11). Paul’s blindness was not permanent either (Acts 9:18).
• Elymas needed others lead him “by the hand” (Acts 13:11). Paul was led by his companions “by the hand” (Acts 9:8).
There are other connections also:
• In both narratives, Paul is mentioned as being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:9; 9:17).
• In both narratives, the word “straight” is mentioned (Acts 13:9,10; Acts 9:11).
How does Paul “see” himself in this man? Paul accuses Elymas of trying “to turn the proconsul away from the faith” (Acts 13:8) and being “full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10). Later in Paul’s life, looking back on his erring ways, he calls himself, “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man” (1 Timothy 1:13), concluding “I am the worst of them”, that is sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul sees himself as worse than the man he accused of being the “son of the devil”!
How should we view Paul’s first miracle? Strangely, I find it an act of mercy.
• Paul is stopping the influence this man had on others, the same evil influence Paul had on others.
• Paul is giving the man the gift of seeing how spiritually blind he is, as was Paul.
• The blindness was temporary which itself is merciful.
• Showing mercy to others can let them see how wrong they are and suffering the consequences of their actions.
Why might Paul had struck this man blind, just like Paul himself had been struck blind? Ever notice we are hardest on the people we see making the same errors we made?
Comments