Pushing off the ground, the teeter totter sailed upward until my feet no longer touched the ground. With his longer legs and firmly planted feet, my son sent me plummeting downwards with one swift movement. His size, power, and position gave him all the leverage in that moment. Perhaps you’re familiar with the concept of leverage—whether it’s physical (like the teeter totter) or financial (like borrowing against an asset). There’s a third kind of leverage, however, that’s more subtle but incredibly powerful: the ability to influence others.
We establish credibility when we have knowledge, connections, and experiences that are relevant to others’ circumstances. This gives weight to our words and increases our leverage. For example, when I speak to moms of young kids, I gain leverage by sharing relatable personal stories about my parenting journey. Once I’ve established my credibility, they lean in as I tell them about biblical truth that steadied me in young motherhood. This is one example of emulating what Paul describes: “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-20, NIV)
Paul leverages his credibility as he interacts with both Jews and Gentiles on our continuing journey through the book of Acts. In chapter 22, zealous Jews begin rioting and beating Paul after making a false assumption about him (Acts 21:29). Roman authorities must extract him from the upheaval by carrying him up the steps to the barracks. Before going inside, Paul leverages his credibility with the soldiers by speaking their language (Greek) and revealing he’s from the highly respected city of Tarsus. Because of this, they allow him to address the crowd:
“`Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.’ And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: ‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.’” (Acts 22:1-3, ESV)
Note how Paul builds rapport with the Jewish crowd. First, he addresses them respectfully as a peer, calling them “brothers and fathers.” Despite the teaching about Jesus, he shows he’s still one of them—“Christianity is simply a loyal extension of Judaism.”1 He also speaks in the common language among Palestinian Jews (called Hebrew in ESV and Aramaic in NIV). “He used Aramaic not only to communicate in the language of his listeners, but also to show that he was a devout Jew and had respect for the Jewish laws and customs.”2 His choice of language catches the attention of the crowd and quiets them enough to hear more.
He continues to leverage his credibility by explaining his background and connections: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today… I even obtained letters from [the high priest and the Council] to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.” (Acts 22:3 & 5, NIV) Paul increases his credibility by mentioning he was the student of Gamaliel, who was the most influential educator of pharisees at that time. On top of that, Paul knew the high priest well enough to ask him to write letters on his behalf. He mentions these ties not to brag, but to reveal the access he’s had to prominent people the crowd respects. Additionally, he shows he has deep knowledge of Jewish laws so they’ll understand that his proclamation of Jesus as Messiah isn’t heresy—it’s a fulfillment of what they’ve been awaiting for generations. He identifies with the people, finds common ground, and builds from there.3
Unfortunately, after Paul shares the incredible story of his conversion on the road to Damascus, the unruly mob moves beyond the ability to reason. In an uproar, they call for his execution. Removing him from the vicious crowd, the Roman soldiers take him into the barracks to be flogged and questioned. Again, Paul leverages his credibility by sharing another significant piece of personal information: “But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?’” (Acts 22:25, ESV)
By revealing his Roman citizenship and knowledge of Roman law, Paul changes his situation dramatically: “When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, ‘What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen’…The tribune answered, ‘I bought this citizenship for a large sum.’ Paul said, ‘But I am a citizen by birth.’ So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.” (Acts 22:26, 28-29, ESV) The Roman tribune cancels the flogging and shows fearful respect for Paul after learning of his status as a natural born Roman citizen.
With both Jews and Gentiles, Paul knows which aspects of his biography to leverage. He uses his credentials when necessary, but they don’t define his identity. In Philippians he writes, “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:4-7, NIV)
Paul knew his credentials and recognized when and how to use them, but he wasn’t unique in that. All of us have life experience, connections, family, education, skills, resources, and hardships that give us credibility with different types of people. We can invite the Spirit to use those things as leverage so that we can lead them to reconciliation with the Lord: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20, NIV)
What aspects of your life experience can be leveraged for God’s kingdom? Why not invite the Holy Spirit to show you where and with whom you can capitalize on your credibility to build rapport and share the gospel?
- 1. Elizabeth Woodson, week 8 video of Acts: The Gospel Goes Out Part 2 by the Village Church.
- 2. NIV Study Bible, Zondervan p. 2008
- 3. Elizabeth Woodson, week 8 video of Acts: The Gospel Goes Out Part 2 by the Village Church.
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