Feb 16 2006
Paul Can’t Preach in Jerusalem
Why didn’t Paul preach in Jerusalem? He was, by his own admission, a Jew among Jews, a Pharisee among Pharisees, educated at the feet of Gamaliel. He knew the law inside and out. Jerusalem was Judaism headquarters, so why couldn’t he win an audience there? Acts 9 says, “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple,” and later “Saul stayed with [the apostles] and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.” (9:26,28)
Then something interesting happens: peace breaks out. Why? Because Paul was given the boot.
The passage continues,
“When the brothers learned of this [the Grecians Jews trying to kill him], they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.“
Why did things go well when Paul was sent away? I think it was because Paul was a disruptive influence within the fledgling church. God obviously had quite a plan for him once he matured in his newly-discovered faith, but he wasn’t there yet. It isn’t until chapter 13 that Paul begins his missionary journeys which built the Gentile church, rather than a refurbished Jewish church. He does return to Jerusalem on occasion, but it’s never his mission field.
It certainly would have made sense for him to be a church leader in that city, just based on his credentials. But God’s economy is different. God calls us where He needs us, not where we think we’re best suited. Paul was content to wait on the leading of the Holy Spirit and his ministry (and the church) blossomed. If he had stayed in Jerusalem and tried to “make a difference” in the Jewish community, I’m convinced that he would have continued to be a disruptive influence until he learned to listen to what the Holy Spirit was teaching him.
Our prodigious talents are wasted when we’re comfortable, because God doesn’t want us comfortable. Thank God that Paul didn’t let himself get comfortable.
