NOTES for Act 9:23-25

In Paul's life, especially during his apostolic ministry, all kinds of things happened. And persecutions, of course, happened too. It would seem that a person bearing witness to Christ must be absolutely and at every moment ready for any persecutions and for death. But here the apostle flees the city after learning that they intend to kill him.

Does this mean, then, that sometimes even a faithful witness of Christ may flee from his murderers, even if they are pursuing him in connection with his ministry? That is exactly what follows. However, Paul's decision can seem strange only at first glance, and only to a person obsessed with some idea, an idea that for him is more important than life itself.

But the point is that for a Christian there is precisely nothing more important than life, or more exactly, Life with a capital letter. And witness to Christ and to the Kingdom becomes precisely witness to this fullness of Life, necessarily with demonstration, otherwise the witness is unconvincing. Sometimes the brightest witness becomes precisely readiness to give up earthly life for the fullness of the life of the Kingdom, the part for the sake of the whole.

It is no accident that the word usually translated into Russian as "martyr" means in the original, Greek or Latin, precisely "witness." Such a death itself becomes part of the witness, part of the ministry. But the murder that threatened Paul then in the city could not become such a part. And the apostle does not intend to follow the lead of those who want to get rid of him. His ministry is part of God's plan. And it had to end when God wanted it to, not when a handful of murderers maddened by hatred wanted it to end.