UNDERSTANDING MISSION (17)
The Necessity of Language Acquisition As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" The tribune replied, "Do you know Greek? Aren’t you the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?" Paul responded, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people." And when the tribune had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying... (Acts 21:37-40). Aside from the 'immeasurable' grace that Apostle Paul carried, one of the things that made him excel more than any other apostle or disciple was his ability to switch between languages. Paul was fluent in the common languages of his time. He was not just an apostle to the Gentiles; he was a speaker of Gree...