Speaking the Truth with Boldness and Grace

If this content resonates with you, share your thoughts in the comments below.

Acts 28 records Paul yet again being compelled to offer a defense for the message he so passionately desired to spread.

While on house arrest, as he stood before the Jews in Rome, this would mark his sixth and final defense recorded in the book of Acts since his arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21).

As I’ve studied Paul’s various defenses, I’ve noticed a common approach in the way he handled himself, whether standing before the Roman officials or the Jewish leaders.

I’ve always pictured Paul as bold as a lion, fearless, unwavering, and willing to say what needed to be said, regardless of the price he might have to pay.

And that picture is certainly accurate.

Paul was bold. He did not shrink from difficult conversations, soften the truth, or allow the threat of persecution to silence his testimony.

But as I have studied his defenses in Acts more closely, I have noticed another element of Paul’s boldness that I had not fully appreciated before.

I’ve observed how Paul was bold enough to speak the truth, but wise enough to consider how that truth was heard.

He was not unnecessarily abrasive. He didn’t attack people simply because they opposed him. He didn’t rehearse every wrong committed against him.

Often, he even refrained from saying everything that could have been said simply because he had the right to say it.

Instead, Paul consistently seemed to understand that there was something more important at stake than merely winning an argument or vindicating himself.

His ultimate goal was that people hear the gospel.

That realization offers an interesting look at Paul’s final recorded defense in Acts, and a valuable lesson to us about what it means to be both bold and gracious in our words.

Paul’s defense – explaining why he was imprisoned and appealing to Caesar – is recorded in verses 17-20.

Many commentators noted how careful and gracious Paul needed to be as he addressed the Roman Jews.

John MacArthur said Paul “… faced a delicate task. He needed to explain why he was a prisoner, and to defend his innocence, without alienating the members of Rome’s Jewish community.”

John Phillips said, “Paul … had to be careful. … Paul did not want to antagonize his listeners by accusing his accusers.”

Alexander Maclaren noted that Paul, trying to balance proving his innocence while not unnecessarily offending either the Jews or the Romans “… was a difficult course which he had to steer …”

But Paul was up to the task, and just as he had done in his previous defenses, Paul was indeed “careful” in handling this “delicate task,” and perhaps what is as interesting as what he said is what he didn’t say.

He didn’t discuss what the Jews at Jerusalem had actually done to him.

He didn’t mention them beating him in an attempt to kill him, nor did he mention their multiple conspiracies to take his life.

He simply stated the facts necessary to establish his innocence.

Nor did Paul say anything disparaging about Rome, despite having been mistreated by Roman officials at various points in his ministry and currently being chained to a Roman soldier despite his innocence.

In fact, rather than speak ill of Rome, he acknowledged that the Roman authorities had examined him and found no basis for the charges against him.

Even when Paul had to explain his reason for appealing to Caesar – the fact that the Jerusalem Jews objected to his release – he was still gracious and said only what needed to be said to establish the facts.

He could have discussed the Jewish hatred for him, the vitriol, the violence, and much more, yet as John Phillips noted, “Paul left much unsaid.”

In addition to showing restraint, Paul finally assured the Roman Jews that his appeal to Caesar had nothing to do with bringing charges against his Jewish accusers.

Simply put, Paul was informing them that he was not out for vengeance for all the wrongs done against him.

Of the defense as a whole, Maclaren noted how masterful Paul was in giving his defense without being an offense: “… he picked his way between the shoals with marvelous address,” Maclaren said.

Can we see the picture and the application?

Paul wasn't simply trying to win a legal argument. He was trying to clear the way for the gospel.

Paul was truthful, but he wasn't unnecessarily inflammatory. He defended himself, but he didn't attack his accusers. He acknowledged Rome's involvement, but he didn't disparage Roman authority. He was careful with his words because he understood that his ultimate objective was not simply to vindicate himself – it was to give the gospel a hearing.

And if you know the rest of the story, you know Paul succeeded in his objective. The Roman Jews expressed interest in hearing Paul’s take on Christianity (Acts 28:22) and came back at a later date to do so, and souls were won to Christ as a result (28:24).

There is a valuable lesson for us here.

There is a difference between speaking the truth and speaking the truth in a way that unnecessarily closes the ears of those who need to hear it.

We all know those people, or you may be one of those people, who pride themselves on “telling it like it is.”

While there is something to be said for being bold and truthful, we need to be reminded that if that truth is told in a way that unnecessarily alienates one from the message of the gospel, it has been counterproductive.

There was never a question as to whether or not Paul was going to speak the truth – and that should be true of us as well.

However, Paul understood that the manner in which he presented the truth could either help or hinder his opportunity to proclaim the ultimate truth – the gospel.

Paul was not compromising the message, but He was being careful as the messenger, doing everything he could to ensure the message would actually be heard.

Paul lived out the very instructions he gave to the believers at Colossae to conduct themselves wisely toward unbelievers, and to be sure their communication was always gracious (Colossians 4:5-6).

He would later instruct young Timothy to refrain from being quarrelsome, but rather be gentle to all men, and in meekness correct those who oppose the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Those were not just empty words. Having served alongside Paul for years, Timothy had undoubtedly seen him model this kind of conduct over and over again.

What an example for us to follow.

May God grant us the courage to never compromise and always speak the truth, the humility to consider how we speak it, and the wisdom to remember that every conversation could lead to an opportunity to share the gospel.

Please Note: We moderate all reader comments, usually within 24 hours of posting (longer on weekends). Please limit your comment to 300 words or less and ensure it addresses the content. Comments that contain a link (URL), an inordinate number of words in ALL CAPS, rude remarks directed at the author or other readers, or profanity/vulgarity will not be approved.