Not only did Paul's friend, Luke, know that Paul actively persuaded people, but Paul's enemies were also conscious of that fact. After Paul's lengthy ministry in Ephesus in Acts 19, a disturbance arose spearheaded by the silversmith Demetrius. Having gathered other craftsmen together he stated, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded (peisas) and turned away a considerable number of people" (19:26-26). Demetrius would have no doubt ignored the situation if people were only "comprehending," but Paul's persuasion obviously resulted in detrimental "action" to his business, as people "turned away" from purchasing silver idols of the goddess Artemis (Diana).

Advertisement

Paul's persuasion was not always successful, however, as the instance with Agrippa demonstrates. After Paul's detailed defense before Agrippa in Acts 26, he confronts the king with a question, "King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do" (26:27). Agrippa's response, "In a short time you will persuade (peitheis) me to become a Christian," has been interpreted in a variety of ways (see Bruce, 1974, pp. 494-96; Custer, 2000, pp. 368-69). Regardless of Agrippa's meaning, however, Paul's effort at persuasion was clearly to seek a change of "action" in Agrippa's life.

Paul's Use of Persuasion Words

The book of Acts shows that Luke knew he persuaded for action. Not only that, but Paul's enemies knew he persuaded for action. Moreover, Paul himself clearly used the verb peitho to refer to persuasion with the force of action involved. Sometimes the translation focuses on obedience (e.g. Rom. 2:8; Gal. 5:7 and notice that peismonh is also used in 5:8). In these instances, Vine accurately states that the "obedience suggested is not by submission to authority, but resulting from persuasion" (1966, III, p. 124). On other occasions, the translation may stress the element of confidence (e.g. Rom. 2:19; Phil. 1:6; Philemon 21), of being convinced (e.g. Rom. 8:38; 14:14; 15:14), or of trust/faith (e.g. 2 Cor. 1:9; Phil. 1:14; 2:24).

Concerning the relationship of persuasion and trust, Vine again writes, "Of course it is persuasion of the truth that results in faith (we believe because we are persuaded that the thing is true, a thing does not become true because it is believed), but peitho, in N.T. suggests an actual and outward result of the inward persuasion and consequent faith" (Ibid). In all instances, the underlying concept continues to be the resulting action of being persuaded of something.

A significant Pauline statement is, "Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade (peithomen) men" (2 Cor. 5:11). Here is a declarative statement by the apostle that he is actively engaged in persuasion. "The present tense is not conative . . . : 'try to persuade,' [as held by Robertson, 1931, p. 229] but durative: 'we are busy persuading men . . . 'Men we are engaged in persuading' is broad and general and signifies: bringing them to faith" (Lenski, 1961, p. 1018).