[Paul continues to describe his conversion.] “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
I’ve never done scuba or diving with a helmet and air hose. The latter is called either helmet or surface supplied diving. In this type of diving, the diver wears a helmet connected to a surface air supply via a hose, allowing them to breathe underwater while remaining tethered to the surface. (Thanks, ChatGTP for that explanation.) But I’ve had my metaphorical air hose stepped on with predictable results: I get anxious or angry. Maybe you can identify with that.
A sudden financial turn to the bad: Anxiety flares up.
A criticism that you fear will stick and cost you friends or career: Fear takes over.
A credible threat to your family or yourself: Panic clouds your view.
Your worldview is tested: Fight or flight?
It is this latter thing that has happened to the Jews in Jerusalem. Paul had experienced the reaction of others when he stepped on the financial air hose of the silversmiths in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41). He had lost friends because of his missionary activities such as Demas who forsook Paul while he was in prison in Rome (2 Timothy 4:10). Here Paul’s very life is threatened because he had undercut the worldview of the Jews in Jerusalem. They chose to fight him.
The degree of their anger and the intensity of their wrath is turned all the way up. Their shouts echo those hurled at Jesus. They call, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” This is worse than current political figures claiming that their opponents will destroy democracy. This is more than trying to deface the Mona Lisa as a statement about climate change. This is like the Houthi rebels from Yemen launching ballistic missiles at ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Incited by others, or home grown from our own visceral responses to threats real or perceived, when our air hose is stepped on, we must react. In this case the reaction to Paul by the Jews in Jerusalem will not accomplish what they desire. Nor will anger ever truly serve God’s purposes. James says it well, “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:20).
Next time someone steps on your metaphorical air hose, take a breath (it’s still possible), and seek peace and pursue righteousness. God had Paul. He has you.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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