SELF DEFENSE (PART 4)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin—unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence:”

“’It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

Acts 24:19-21

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Paul had made a solid case while defending himself, systematically debunking the false allegations levied against him by the Sanhedrin as voiced by Tertullus, their prosecuting attorney.

First of all, he was just as much a Jew as those waging false charges against him. He believed in God, the Law of Moses, and the prophets. He sought to live right before the Lord in everything he did so he could stand with a clear conscience.

Second, because He was such a fervent God-believer who sought to live in righteousness, he would have never even considered desecrating the temple as he was accused of doing. He had come to Jerusalem to worship God, not disrespect Him.

Finally, Paul was far from a troublemaker as he had been portrayed. Quite the opposite actually as he came to the capital city of Israel intent on helping those who were in need. He testified how he brought gifts to the poor.

In sum, it was easy to see that Paul was in no way, shape, or form the man that Tertullus mentioned. There were people to blame but it wasn’t Paul who makes this clear in our passage which forms the foundation for the final devotion in this series. Look at the closing of Paul’s self defense here:

“But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin—unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence:”

“’It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”  Acts 24:19-21

The truth be known, and Paul was making it known, there were Jews in Jerusalem who had traveled to the city from Asia and they were the ones who instigated the trouble, stirring up the people in the city by propagating lies about Paul. Their evil work led to Paul almost being killed and had it not been for the intervention of the Roman officials, he would have probably lost his life.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the same Asian Jews who initiated the riots then refused to give us, hatching a plot to assassinate Paul with the very Sanhedrin bringing charges against Paul serving as accomplices. Had it not been for the son of Paul’s sister getting wind of the ploy and telling Paul, he may not have even made it to give a defense of himself. You’ll recall that he ended up in Caesarea and before Felix because of the danger present in Jerusalem.

So Paul was innocent. He had done nothing to deserve being brought to trial. He had only held true to His God and His Son Jesus, the One who made the Way to the Father through the resurrection of the dead. If Paul was guilty of anything, it was for carrying out the will of God while doing his part to fulfill the new covenant, the new covenant the Jews were rejecting.

Had the Sanhedrin taken the time to consult God, Paul would have never been in court but the men who were viewed as being God-committed were really all about themselves, about their power and prestige. It was sad but frankly it’s the place that anyone else can find themselves in when they turn away from God and rely on their own devices.

If we learn anything from looking at the Sanhedrin, first when they took down Jesus and then when they tried to do the same to Paul, it’s that bad things happen when anyone places themselves above the Lord. Such behavior only results in sinful wickedness and evil because a godless lifestyle is where Satan abides. It’s a place no one should want to be.

So now that Paul had finished up his defense, what would Felix do with the case?

We’ll find out tomorrow as we continue to study from this chapter.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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