Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. (Acts 24:1)
Paul's original accusers were the Jews from Asia; (Acts 21:27) The brethren and elders of the church informed Paul when he first arrived in Jerusalem, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs." (Acts 21:20-21)
No wonder, These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) The Jews had committed most of these seven abominations towards Paul.
Then, instead of coming and making their accusations before the governor themselves, they send Tertullus, an orator, an eloquent and skilled public speaker. Paul had once warned the church in Colossi, "Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words." (Colossians 2:4) Just because what someone is saying may sound good doesn't mean it is good. We have to be very careful to not just listen to people but to really hear them. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
So what did the eloquent and skilled public speaker have to say? 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. (Acts 24:2-4)
"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. (Acts 24:5-9)
Well, he sure was eloquent and laid it on thick, but no criminal charges were given, just a bunch of general accusations, opinions and assumptions about Paul. Paul had told the church in Corinth, " I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (I Corinthians 2:3-5) The Holy Spirit would demonstrate His power through Paul during this also.
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. (Acts 24:10-13)
"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. (Acts 24:14-16)
“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.’ [Acts 21:15-23:10]” (Acts 24:16-21)
The eloquent public speaker stated a lot of accusations, opinions and assumptions; but the weak apostle and follower of the Way spoke the truth with boldness. God once told the prophet Ezekiel, "You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious." (Ezekiel 2:7) Even on trial before the governor, Paul did exactly that, using every opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through him and witness for Christ Jesus, saying that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth would come, "He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:..." (John 16:8)
But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. (Acts 24:22-23) Watch the Holy Spirit Work! The Spirit of Truth and the Word of God can accomplish more through us and for us than we can ever do on our own!
Jesus taught, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:27-28) Paul also was living proof that we are to have that mindset towards men. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,... For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (I Timothy 1:8-12) AMEN!
Paul's original accusers were the Jews from Asia; (Acts 21:27) The brethren and elders of the church informed Paul when he first arrived in Jerusalem, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs." (Acts 21:20-21)
No wonder, These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) The Jews had committed most of these seven abominations towards Paul.
Then, instead of coming and making their accusations before the governor themselves, they send Tertullus, an orator, an eloquent and skilled public speaker. Paul had once warned the church in Colossi, "Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words." (Colossians 2:4) Just because what someone is saying may sound good doesn't mean it is good. We have to be very careful to not just listen to people but to really hear them. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
So what did the eloquent and skilled public speaker have to say? 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. (Acts 24:2-4)
"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. (Acts 24:5-9)
Well, he sure was eloquent and laid it on thick, but no criminal charges were given, just a bunch of general accusations, opinions and assumptions about Paul. Paul had told the church in Corinth, " I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (I Corinthians 2:3-5) The Holy Spirit would demonstrate His power through Paul during this also.
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. (Acts 24:10-13)
"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. (Acts 24:14-16)
“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.’ [Acts 21:15-23:10]” (Acts 24:16-21)
The eloquent public speaker stated a lot of accusations, opinions and assumptions; but the weak apostle and follower of the Way spoke the truth with boldness. God once told the prophet Ezekiel, "You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious." (Ezekiel 2:7) Even on trial before the governor, Paul did exactly that, using every opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through him and witness for Christ Jesus, saying that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth would come, "He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:..." (John 16:8)
But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. (Acts 24:22-23) Watch the Holy Spirit Work! The Spirit of Truth and the Word of God can accomplish more through us and for us than we can ever do on our own!
Jesus taught, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:27-28) Paul also was living proof that we are to have that mindset towards men. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,... For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (I Timothy 1:8-12) AMEN!
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