The Real Reason (Acts 22:30)

 


Friday, 29 August, 2025


Psalm 145

1 Kings 2:1-12

Acts 22:17-30


Observance: Beheading of John the Baptist


The Real Reason (Acts 22:30)


But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, [the tribune] unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.


One the whole, Christians seem to be very good at living the Christian life in public, more or less. We are generally more likely to be generous, kind, brave and aloof from petty concerns. More often than not, we live like this not just to please our Saviour, but to encourage those around us to come close to the Lord as well. But how often do we feel impotent, desperately wanting people to be like the tribune, desiring to know the real reason for why we are the way we are?


Last week I gathered with my fellow clergy and one of the topics we discussed was why public evangelism seems so difficult. There were plenty of ideas thrown around: perhaps we don’t know what to say, or how to say it; we might feel like it is not our work, but belongs to someone else; maybe we have tried to be explicit in the past and had a bad experience, and are now gun-shy. In the end, we had plenty of reasons why evangelism was difficult, but they all just seemed like excuses, especially when compared to the biblical witness in places like today’s lesson from Acts.


While I don’t think anyone has the magic weapon, we are nonetheless left with the desire for people to know the real reason. Perhaps God has not left us with a list of tips and tricks because he is looking after that side of things. All God has given us is a Bible chock-full of examples of people just going out there and doing it, and his Holy Spirit who gives us this burning desire.


How might you live in such a way that compels people to know the real reason? What, in fact, is the real reason for you to live the way you do?


Holy Spirit, you are an ever-burning flame, inspiring your people to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ: give us the courage and the words to compel people to know the real reason for why we are who we are.

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