Paul Defends Himself
Introduction:
Paul has been transferred from Jerusalem to Caesarea
and must face Ananias, the high priest and the elders from the
council one more time. He is in Caesarea to appear before Felix,
the Roman governor.
Text:
Acts 24:1-21
Body:
I.
The Accusers Bring their Charge
Acts 24:1-9
“Now after five days Ananias as the priest came down with the elders
and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the
governor against Paul. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began
his accusation, saying: ‘Seeing that through you we enjoy great
peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your
foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix,
with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any
further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.
For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among
all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of
the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized
him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the
commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our
hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him
yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse
him.’ And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things
were so.”
NKJV
·
The chief priest and elders arrive with Tertullus, an
orator or Roman lawyer. Notice there is no hint of the forty
conspirators!
·
Tertullus begins his case with flattering words
designed to secure the goodwill of Felix. He stretches the truth to
the breaking point. Some historians say that his administration was
the least peaceful of any. He was hated by the Jews and was
certainly not a kind and gentle person.
·
Tertullus charges Paul with being a plague or a
pestilence, with stirring up riots, and with being a leader of a
sect of Nazarenes [an attempt to degrade Jesus and
Christians], and trying to profane the temple. In Roman eyes, the
charge of instigating riots was a very serious one.
·
He tells Felix that the truthfulness of all these
charges will be obvious upon examination.
II.
Paul Makes His Defense
Acts 24:10-21
“Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered:
‘Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of
this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you
may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to
Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple
disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the
synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which
they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to
the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the Law and in the
Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept,
that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and
the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a
conscience without offense toward God and men. Now after many years
I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst of
which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither
with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you
to object if they had anything against me. Or else let those who
are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I
stood before the council, unless it is for this one statement which
I cried out, standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the
dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ” NKJV
·
Paul’s opening words are brief and honest. Felix had
been governor for five or six years.
·
Paul denies stirring up riots since he was in
Jerusalem for only seven days. Not enough time to start an
insurrection. No one saw him disputing with anyone or stirring up
the crowds anywhere in the city. His accusers could not prove any
of the accusations. They were baseless charges.
·
Paul now makes a confession of his faith. He
worshiped the God of his fathers according to the Way, which they
call a sect; he believed everything in the Law and Prophets; he had
a hope of the resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
(John 5:28-29) “Do not marvel at this: for the hour is coming in
which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth –
those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who
have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” NKJV
·
He concludes his defense by relating the events of
his capture in the temple. The charges made by Tertullus and the
Jews were just hearsay and without proof.
III.
The Way Which They Call A Sect
·
Paul lived in a religiously plural society much as we
do. Within so-called “Christianity” there are tens of thousands of
denominations, each with their own unique beliefs.
·
In Paul’s time, the Lord’s church was sometimes
designated as “The Way.” See Acts 19:8-9. “And he went
into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and
persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when
some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way
before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the
disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.” NKJV
Christians were possibly called this because they followed Jesus as
the Way. (John 14:6) “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’
” NKJV Note that Christ’s Way is a specific way, not several
different ones.
·
New Testament Christians are opposed to
denominationalism because Jesus wants unity and God’s Word condemns
religious division. (John 17:20-23) “I do not pray for these
alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that you
sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that
they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that
they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that
You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” NKJV
(I Corinthians 1:10-13) “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly
joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it
has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of
Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say
this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’
or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was
Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of
Paul?” NKJV
·
Churches of Christ are made of followers of Jesus who
are simply called Christians. They shun man-made doctrines and
abide in the apostles’ doctrine. (Acts 2:42) “And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in
the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” NKJV They use the New
Testament as their sole guide in matters of worship, work, and
organization.
Conclusion:
Those in the first century who became part of the
Lord’s church, the body of Christ, the Way, did so by:
·
placing their faith in the risen Savior,
·
repenting of their sins,
·
confessing the name of Christ, and
·
being baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
If you do what they did, you will become a part of
the same church they did.
Bobby Stafford
October 30, 2016
Acts: Lesson 50 Acts 24:1-24
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