Paul was doing pretty well until he used the “G” word. He knew that going to Jerusalem was a risky proposition. He believed that the Spirit was leading him to return to the holy mount (Acts 20:23). Those around him were just as sure the Spirit was revealing that this wasn’t going to go well for Paul (Acts 21:4, 11). But went he did . . . and trouble there was. He was accused in the temple courts by some Jews who had recognized him from one of his missionary journeys . . . they assumed that he must have defiled the holy place by bringing one of his Greek buddies with him . . . and so they shouted out the accusation . . . and Paul was mobbed . . . and the Roman guard stepped in to calm things down . . . and Paul was taken into custody (Acts 21:27-36).

But Paul asks for, and is granted, permission to address his accusers. So, standing on the steps of the barracks, Paul motions with his hand to the people that he wants to talk to them and, as he starts to speak to them in Hebrew, they fall silent and there is a great hush. He has his audience . . .

Paul’s story is compelling. He was one of them. He drops the name of Gamaliel to demonstrate the purity of education he had received concerning “the law of our fathers.” He identifies himself as a persecutor of “the Way” . . . zealous to destroy this upstart sect of followers of the Carpenter from Nazareth. And then he tells them of an encounter . . . an unplanned encounter . . . an unforeseen encounter . . . an unimaginable encounter. He’s on his way to Damascus to seize more of the Christians and return them to Jerusalem for “due process” and judgment. And, on the road, he is suddenly stopped dead in his tracks . . . by a great light from heaven . . . by a great voice out of nowhere. “Who are you, Lord?” Paul asks . . . “I am Jesus of Nazareth who you are persecuting” (Acts 22:1-8).

And Paul has the crowd in the palm of his hand (Acts 22:11-20). As he tells of being blinded and then having his sight restored . . . as he relates the prophetic word spoken over him that the God of his fathers had appointed him to know His will and to see His Son, “the Righteous One”, and to be a witness for Him to the world . . . as he tells of again seeing and hearing the risen Christ while praying in the temple . . . you sense that he has the crowd’s undivided attention as they process what all this means.

And then Paul blows it . . . he says the “G” word . . .

And He said to me, “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”
                                                                         (Acts 22:21 ESV)

That was it. Up until that word they listened to him. But the “G” word sealed the deal, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live” (Acts 22:22)

How come? Because they were those of the uncircumcision . . . outsiders to the commonwealth of Israel . . . foreigners to the promises of the covenant given to the patriarchs. They were the unreligious . . . they were the uneducated . . . they were the uninformed . . . they were the unpeople of God. To even suggest that God was reaching out to these “dogs” was repugnant for these devout Jews. They would spit when they said the “G” word.

But . . . oh wondrous but . . . what they didn’t get was another “G” word . . . grace . . . and another “G” word . . . gospel.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13 ESV)

Praise God, that in His over-flowing grace, He has sent the gospel to those in desperate need of good news . . . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .

Brings to mind another “G” word . . . to Him be glory! Amen?