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July 12, 2004
Interview With An Apostle
by Ron Wood
In the infamous reporter's scoop some church leaders have called
the “Acts 28 Incident" a correspondent from CNN, recently
purchased by the giant Strang Media Group, flashed back in time
using the Crichton Time-Travel technique in order to grab an exclusive
interview with the great Apostle Paul.
The somewhat tricky and risky quantum physics technology worked
well— in this instance— because there were reliable
historical records that precisely placed Paul’s location both
in space and time while he was still being held as a prisoner in
Rome.
The interview took place under the watchful eye of a friendly but
wary Roman guard at Paul's house where he was under arrest awaiting
his appearance before Caesar. Paul met with the reporter in the
inner courtyard, a large open atrium in the middle of his spacious
rented house.
Several men from local house churches had already gathered that
day with Paul, having finished afternoon prayers and having brought
fresh food for Paul’s meals, which the jailers did not usually
provide. These brave believers gathered around in a subdued circle
and listened intently as Paul sat down to be interviewed by the
SMG (Strang Media Group) reporter.
The reporter, in keeping with local customs and as part of his
time-travelling protocol, kept his compact microphones and recorders
hidden and his identity concealed beneath simple garments.
SMG Tell me Paul, How are they treating you here
under house arrest?
Paul It’s not so bad. At least here, I’m
not chained in the dark like when Silas and I were jailed in Phillipi,
down in the Macedonian province. That was certainly bad but it didn’t
last long. God sent His angel and freed us. And there, if you remember,
the jailer and his family were all saved, and here, some of Caesar’s
officials are already being saved. So it will work out for the best.
SMG Do you regret appealing to Caesar?
Paul Not at all. Well, maybe for a little while,
but I had already been held for a long time after the riot in Jerusalem
and it seemed there was no other way to get out of jail. But when
I was on the ship being taken to Rome before it wrecked in the storm,
the Lord sent His angel and confirmed that I would stand before
Caesar. That’s when I knew all this was meant to happen.
SMG Some people have questioned whether or not
you really are an apostle. They say you are a trouble maker and
that if God were with you, you wouldn’t upset so many people.
What do you say to that?
Paul shrugged his shoulders and turned his sun-bronzed
face up into the sky and thought for a long moment before he answered.
When he shifted his weight and turned, his ragged robe parted slightly.
Underneath his tunic on his chest old jagged scars were suddenly
visible where lashes and whips had torn his flesh and ripped his
skin. He began to speak slowly, softly.
Paul You know, I don’t want trouble, but
trouble seems to want me. It’s everywhere. Even when I was
caught up in this legal stuff that got me hauled off to Rome, I
was trying to make peace with my kinsmen. It’s almost like
I’m a marked man; like trouble seeks me out. One thing I do
know, it keeps me broken and humble. I’ve prayed for God to
spare me but He told me His grace is sufficient. For some reason,
the more I suffer, the more the Holy Spirit’s power seems
available to me when I preach the gospel. So, if that’s the
price, then I’ll keep on paying it.
The reporter cast his head down, almost afraid to meet Paul’s
steely gaze. He cleared his throat adjusted his clean, comfortable
robe, and continued.
SMG Tell me, Paul, is it glamorous, the life of
an apostle? Don’t you get adoring throngs who follow you everywhere?
Paul You must have me confused with the actors
you see in the city, those who are called hypocrites, who parade
on stage in their costumes! No, I don’t get crowds tossing
me flowers– I get mobs throwing stones!
SMG But you’ve had many well-to-do citizens
and many noble women who’ve opened their homes up to you,
subsidized many of your ministry trips, and there have been many
churches which have been partners with you. Haven’t you lived
comfortably off their support?
Paul I could have, but I didn’t. I wasn’t
called to settle down, I was called to plant new churches. I’m
like a soldier going off to war. I know how to be poor and I know
how to be rich. I’ve learned that when I’ve got more
than I need, it means God has given me a surplus so I can give it
away. Besides that, I’ve always had a team travelling with
me. Rarely if ever have I been alone… hey… we were like
a mobile church! And they all had to be cared for, often with their
families. And they all agreed with me, that we ought to give alms
to the poor–that’s what Jesus always did, you know.
SMG Your techniques have been admired by some
and laughed at by others. You don’t use fancy sermons or build
special meeting houses. Yet you claim to have planted churches in
dozens of cities across the Mediterranean. To what method do you
attribute your success?
Paul I don’t have a method, I have an anointing!
Without God’s power, I’m dead in the water! Yet even
then, I haven’t always succeeded. You know my letters are
circulated to the churches that I began. Tell me, have you seen
my letter to the church at Athens?
SMG No, I haven’t.
Paul That’s because there isn’t any!
I failed at Athens.
The startled reporter looked in shock at the famous apostle.
SMG Tell me why?
Paul Because: I didn’t have proper prayer
support. I was alone! All my education, all my indignation, all
my preaching did me no good. I didn’t have enough power by
myself to win the battle in the air and so I failed to establish
a colony for Christ’s kingdom in Athens. It’s still
full of idols… I won’t go back there alone… It’s
a waste of time. But the tide turned for me after that.
SMG So what happened after that?
As though seeing scenes being replayed in his memory, Paul’s
eyes brimmed with tears and his voice softly trembled as he answered.
Paul I left Athens in disgrace and went on to
Corinth, feeling defeated. I sought God for answers. I started making
tents with a young couple I met, Priscilla and Aquilla, you know
them, the house church leaders? Later, Silas and Timothy, my dear
friends and faithful co-workers, joined me. Now, with these troopers,
we had enough of a team! I was able to get into prayer and the Word,
and by uniting together in prayer, and with their support enabling
me to stand, we had a breakthrough like you’ve never seen!
The power of God began to flow until we knew God would win! I stayed
there and taught God’s Word for six more months after the
breakthrough, until we had new leaders established. Then I went
to Ephesus. In that city, another sinful stronghold of idols, I
put what I had learned into practice and we succeeded big time!
(Paul reached over to a scroll lying rolled up on his writing desk.)
I’ve got a letter I’m writing to the Ephesians right
now. Do you want to see it?
SMG Not right now, thank you. I’m sure I’ll
get to read it later… I’ve got to be leaving soon. But
tell me this before I go: How does it feel to be a prisoner of Rome?
The gray-bearded apostle tilted his head back, his nostrils flared,
and his eyes opened wide. He glared at the reporter and then suddenly
leaned forward with ferocious intensity.
Paul I’m no prisoner of Rome! Rome isn’t
strong enough to hold me just like the grave wasn’t strong
enough to hold Jesus. I’m a prisoner of Jesus, not Rome!
With that final remark ringing in his ears, the reporter stood
and started to the door, expressing his thanks to Paul for sparing
him some of his precious time for the interview.
(Publisher’s notes: The final edited remarks and concealed
video and audio recordings may be downloaded on MP7 format for thumbnail
playback on the Strang Media Group archives index.)
--------end of broadcast-------fade to black------credits--------
Interview with an Apostle © 2004 by Ronald Wood, ron@touchedbygrace.org,
Touched by Grace, P.O. Box 12749, Wilmington, NC 28405 USA. Permission
is granted to share this article provided no content is changed
and the byline is kept intact. Visit www.touchedbygrace.org.
(All rights reserved. This article will be part of a forthcoming
book on the apostolic ministry.)
Author’s note-
No offense intended to Steve Strang, whom I went to Bible College
with and whom I respect, nor to his wonderful publishing empire.
Playfully I say, I wish he did own CNN! -Ron Wood
www.touchedbygrace.org
American address for contributions:
Touched by Grace, Inc.
P. O. Box 12749
Wilmington, NC 28405 USA
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