Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to
"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."
The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to
"After an absence of several years, I came to
Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
Before Felix, the Jews accused Paul of 1) being a troublemaker, 2) stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world, 3) being a ringleader of the Nazarene sect, and 4) trying to desecrate the temple.
As Paul rose to defend himself, he refuted some of the charges while admiting others. What did he refute? What did he admit?
Paul denied arguing or stirring up a crowd. He claimed that he was ceremonially clean and not involved in a disturbance while he was at the temple. Essentially, three of their four accusations were false. Paul was not a troublemaker, he was not stirring up riots all over the world, and he was not trying to desecrate the temple.
But Paul admitted one thing: “I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (Acts 23:14-16). Paul admitted that he was part of what these Jews were calling a sect. But he made it clear that he was worshiping the God of the Jewish fathers. He testified again to the resurrection – the key hope of the gospel.
Although Paul did not mention Jesus Christ in these words, he made it so that anyone wanting to know more would hear Jesus’ name in the answers. “What do you mean, Paul, that you’re a follower of the Way?” Paul: “Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” // “What agrees with the Law and the Prophets, Paul?” Paul: “Jesus Christ fulfills the Law and the Prophets.” // “What is your hope in the resurrection about, Paul?” Paul: “Jesus Christ rose from the dead and promises that those who repent of their sins and confess Him as Lord will rise to eternal life, too.” Paul’s answers were all about Jesus – and this was what he was glad to admit, even while on trial!
Father, even when it seems dangerous, even when following Jesus is part of the prosecutor’s accusation in a criminal trial, may I be happy to admit my allegiance to Your Son. Jesus is the King! You have exalted Him! He is the Way—to You, to righteousness, to glory, to eternal life! He is the fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures, the One You promised all along! He is the basis for the certainty of our hope that we will one day rise to life and live with You forever! Thank You for Jesus Christ! He is worth more than everything.
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