Interview with an Apostle

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