NOTES for Act 21:27-22:30
Now Paul addresses his fellow countrymen from the steps of the Roman fortress. To understand the situation better, one needs to see how unfavorable his position is. Accused of renouncing the Mosaic law, he is seen in the city in the company of the "Gentile" Trophimus, accused of defiling the Temple, which was punishable by death, and people want to punish him. Let us note that the Jerusalem Christians from among the Jews are not even mentioned in this episode; evidently they did not sympathize much with Paul's position. But the unit of the Roman centurion, occupiers in the eyes of the Jews, prevents the carrying out of this judgment, which in their opinion is lawful. They arrest Paul, thereby ensuring his safety, and allow him to address the people.
It would be completely natural to hear from Paul a word in defense of Christianity, a description of his meeting with Christ, an indication that it is lawful and righteous for a Jew to believe in Jesus because He is the Messiah. But to speak about mercy for the Gentiles and their calling to eternal life - not here and not in this situation, not from the tower of the occupiers' garrison! Christians of the Soviet Union were in a similar situation during World War II, when in the occupied territories the Germans allowed them to open churches destroyed by Soviet power and bring the Gospel to people - by the mercy of enemies. Paul is willing to respect the feelings of his people, to respect their views and customs, as we saw in the previous reading. But Paul cannot renounce the words of the Lord Jesus, his calling to bring to the Gentiles and to the enemies of his people the message of forgiveness of sins and salvation by faith in Christ.