Paul was versatile and adaptive. He was well educated in Jewish Torah (Acts 22:3) and was able to command several languages. Moreover, he was able to adapt himself to the situations. If you want, you may call him a chameleon. But in his own words, Paul explains his motive for being so fluid.
To the Jews, I became as a Jew in order to win Jews ...
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).
The Acts recorded several incidents in which Paul saved himself from desperate situations by becoming all things to all men.
To the Jews, I became as a Jew in order to win Jews ...
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).
The Acts recorded several incidents in which Paul saved himself from desperate situations by becoming all things to all men.
Angry Jews dragged Paul out of the Temple, intending to lynch him (Acts 21:27-31). He was saved by Roman soldiers just in time. In order to pacify the crowd, Paul requested to speak to the mob. He spoke to them in Hebrew. The crowd listened to him intensely (Acts 22:2). Paul recounted his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. The crowd was willing to listen until Paul mentioned Jesus sending him to the Gentiles. The crowd could tolerate no more and the situation immediately turned volatile (Acts 22:21-23).
Then the tribune sent Paul back into the barrack to be interrogated. He commanded the centurion to scourge Paul to find out why he had stirred up so much chaos in Jerusalem. Then Paul made use of his Roman citizenship to evade the scourging (Acts 22:24-29). The next day, the tribune sent Paul to a meeting of the Jewish Sanhedrin to find out the issue. The Sanhedrin was hostile to Paul and Paul knew very well that the Sanhedrin would not give him a fair hearing. Paul then made use of his Pharisee identity to call on the support of the Pharisees faction in the Sanhedrin. A heated argument erupted between the Pharisees and Sadducees in the Sanhedrin. In confusion, the tribune removed Paul and brought him back to the barrack (Acts 23:1-10).
Then the tribune sent Paul back into the barrack to be interrogated. He commanded the centurion to scourge Paul to find out why he had stirred up so much chaos in Jerusalem. Then Paul made use of his Roman citizenship to evade the scourging (Acts 22:24-29). The next day, the tribune sent Paul to a meeting of the Jewish Sanhedrin to find out the issue. The Sanhedrin was hostile to Paul and Paul knew very well that the Sanhedrin would not give him a fair hearing. Paul then made use of his Pharisee identity to call on the support of the Pharisees faction in the Sanhedrin. A heated argument erupted between the Pharisees and Sadducees in the Sanhedrin. In confusion, the tribune removed Paul and brought him back to the barrack (Acts 23:1-10).
Himself a Jew, of course Paul wanted his fellow countrymen to share the salvation he had found in Jesus. He spoke to the Jewish mob in Hebrew in order to appeal to their common Jewish root. He failed because Jesus was truly a stumbling block for the Jews. Furthermore, the national sentiment of the Jews was boiling under the pressure-cooker of Roman sovereignty. The mere mention of Gentiles would ignite an explosion. The situation was beyond Paul's control.
Now that he was in the hands of the Roman soldiers, of course Paul would take advantage of his Roman citizenship in order to ensure that he would survive and bear witness for Jesus in Rome. He claimed a common platform with the Roman authority in order to achieve this mission.
In the Sanhedrin, he declared his Pharisee identity in order to save his position. On the other hand, Paul pinned his hope on the Pharisees faction to seek sympathizers for Christianity. He was able to spot their common ground --- resurrection.
But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am on trial." (Acts 23:6)
Christianity was on trial because of the belief in resurrection. For the time being, Paul put the divinity of Jesus aside. This was a crucial difference but this difference could be handled later. At the moment, the most urgent issue was to seek a common ground and to win sympathizers. So Paul kept their differences.
In the pluralistic environment we live today, it is all the more essential to seek common ground and keep the differences. Otherwise, there is no room for dialogue, for collaboration.
Now that he was in the hands of the Roman soldiers, of course Paul would take advantage of his Roman citizenship in order to ensure that he would survive and bear witness for Jesus in Rome. He claimed a common platform with the Roman authority in order to achieve this mission.
In the Sanhedrin, he declared his Pharisee identity in order to save his position. On the other hand, Paul pinned his hope on the Pharisees faction to seek sympathizers for Christianity. He was able to spot their common ground --- resurrection.
But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am on trial." (Acts 23:6)
Christianity was on trial because of the belief in resurrection. For the time being, Paul put the divinity of Jesus aside. This was a crucial difference but this difference could be handled later. At the moment, the most urgent issue was to seek a common ground and to win sympathizers. So Paul kept their differences.
In the pluralistic environment we live today, it is all the more essential to seek common ground and keep the differences. Otherwise, there is no room for dialogue, for collaboration.
Dear Lord, we are unworthy and incompetent servants. Empower us to seek closer collaboration with our fellow men to build up Your Kingdom on earth. Amen.
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