Okay Sure, You Can Be Diplomatic Sometimes

In a previous instalment of this weekly trundle through the book of Acts, I had cause to mention the fact that Paul is a master in the art of lacking diplomacy. Such an art — although in the modern world frequently rejected as even being acceptable — has a rightful place in the mouth of any preacher of the gospel. Men of the gospel should not only possess this tool, but also have the backbone to use it when the time comes.

So nothing that follows may be taken as an excuse for wimpiness by all you jellyfish out there passing yourself off as men by the ruse of growing a beard and wearing a denim jacket.

Diplomacy itself is also a legitimate tool, worthy of both possession and use — and it is on full display in this section of Paul’s speech. In continuing his discussion with the word “brothers”, Paul is endeavouring to get his listeners on side. He does not wish to alienate them unnecessarily. Indeed, throughout v26-39, the tone of his phrasing is appealing, even conciliatory.

Note also that he differentiates between the Jewish criminals “who live in Jerusalem” (v2) and his present audience — who he describes as “those who fear God” (v1). He ‘others’ the Jerusalemites good and proper by consistently ascribing to them the pronoun “they.” (Please excuse how slimily and woke that sentence appears on face value; I assure you it’s not). By assuming an us-versus-them mentality, Paul is cleverly, subconsciously, drawing his Jewish listeners towards his own side.

Only when he gets to the explicit good news of the gospel (v32) does he put a we-versus-you distinction between himself and his audience.

The Holy Spirit didn’t give us the book of Acts as a mere chronicle. It’s also a living guidebook for gospel preaching.