Unstoppable! 'The Deep Silence' — Acts 21:40

The Roman commander was in charge even though the mob had been trying to kill Paul a few moments earlier.* While most Jewish residents in Jerusalem disdained the Roman soldiers, they also feared them and knew to obey them. Paul's fluency in different languages now became even clearer than previously when the Roman soldier had heard him speaking in perfect Greek. After speaking in Greek, Paul addressed his people in the language of the common people, Aramaic.** He also knew Hebrew. Paul's fluidity in going from language to language was part of his commitment to work well in, and adapt to, all sorts of cultures and people to win others for Christ.*** In this situation, Paul could break the "deep silence" with words and language his hearers could comfortably understand. Which raises an important question: How are we — and how am I — growing to be able to carry on conversations about Jesus with other people whose culture, values, and language are different from my own?

* See the first set of Related Scripture Readings.
** See this article for information about Aramaic.
*** See the second set of Related Scripture Readings.