Acts 24:27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Paul remained in prison for at least two years waiting to be sent to Rome. We have no scriptures indicating what Paul went through while in that prison. Some will wonder, some will not, because doubt is a human condition that many of us suffer.

What Paul went through during those years is not the point because what we have in scriptures is what Paul did afterwards. His attitude and actions when he was brought before King Aggrippa might lead us to believe that nothing bad happened to Paul during that time.

Study history of the situations during those times, it is likely that the experience was harsh even if he was only kept in isolation. When we are left without evidence we begin to have doubts. Doubt is natural, of the flesh, not of God.

Here is an opinion of mine and not to be read as evidence of faith. Paul didn’t have a bible of any type to comfort him in prison. He had Jesus.

John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

While Jesus said this to His apostles, Paul is an apostle called by God, so I expect that promise applies.

Those thoughts comfort me about Paul. When doubts surround me, I try to remember I too am chosen. Not as an apostle but I look first to what responsibilities I have been given and not to allow doubt to interfere. Here is something I ponder.

1 Corinthians 12:12-20 English Standard Version

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Acts 14:15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

2 Corinthians 2:17

For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

Yesterday when I addressed the issues Paul encountered with the Roman Tribute, Governor Felix and King Aggrippa I had hoped to address the differences between being convinced and being convicted. My memory failed me somewhat in that effort but as I read the scriptures a new message appeared.

Similarly I find something in these opening verses which I did not expect. I have no desire to be associated with what Paul calls “peddlers”. I am no Paul, that is for sure but neither were any of those who came alongside Paul or after Paul to preach the gospel. In that effort, we are all alike.

Present the Gospel and let the Word do what the Word does best, speak to the heart of each of us, whether to convince or convict. It does not have to be one or the other.

Aggrippa was not convicted by Paul’s witness, but who is to say that as it festered in his heart that it might have done God’s will. That is not for me to judge. I can only testify that in my life what was heard early came to mind later when it served God’s will.

Over the years this pattern of seeking answers has often led to discovering something different and worthy of presenting. I cannot deny the Spirit when that happens. I am willing to put aside my personal agenda in furtherance of the gospel. It is not my gospel, it is His.

Rather than heeding too closely to my vision, pay attention to what these opening verses speak to you. That is more important than anything I think and say. As I said, I do not wish to be considered a peddler.

The reason I named this article “Likeness” is because in this we are all the same, when we do not see the same thing in the scriptures let the Spirit speak.