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Acts 24:10–15
“This I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust” (vv. 14–15).
Speaking on behalf of the Sanhedrin during Paul’s trial before Felix, Tertullus grossly exaggerated the details of Paul’s ministry, even lying when he said that the Apostle had stirred up riots all over the Roman world and tried to profane the temple (Acts 24:1–9). Neither Tertullus nor the Jews who had hired him to prosecute the case against Paul cared about the truth. Yet truth was the utmost concern for the Apostle, as we see in today’s passage.
After Tertullus concluded his accusations against Paul, Felix motioned for the Apostle to speak in his defense. Paul began by recognizing that Felix had been a judge over the Jews “for many years,” a recognition that he had served as the Roman governor for about five years by that point (v. 10). Paul’s statement was certainly true, but it was also wise, designed to present the governor in the best light possible so as to receive a more favorable hearing. Commentators note that Paul, by reminding Felix that he had been in authority for many years, was implying that he had the skill necessary to make a right decision, thereby encouraging the governor to see the Apostle in a good light.
Paul then moved on in his defense to deny the charges made against him. He had caused no riot in Jerusalem. He had not even entered into a theological argument with his opponents, and they could not prove any of their charges (vv. 11–13). As readers, we already know this to be the case from Acts 21:17–29, but Paul had to make clear to Felix the circumstances of his arrest and that the charges against him were groundless. Tertullus’ claims may have seemed right to Felix at first, but once Paul had his say, Felix would be less certain that the charges against the Apostle had any real basis (see Prov. 18:17).
Paul denied his guilt regarding the accusations that he had stirred up Jews, but then he bolstered his defense by arguing that his own beliefs made it impossible for him to be against Judaism. His following of the Way, the gospel of Jesus Christ, did not deny the Law and the Prophets but embraced them. Paul even agreed with his accusers that there would be a resurrection of the just and the unjust (Acts 24:14–15). In other words, Paul was confessing that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Jewish messianic hopes and that his ministry could by no means be opposed to the Jews even though they were opposed to him.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Although Paul spoke in his defense with few words, he both denied the charges against him and made a positive case for the Christian faith. This gives us a model to follow when people tell lies about us and about what we believe. We may deny false charges against us, but we should also make a positive case for what we do believe as much as we can.
For further study
- Proverbs 14:5
- Luke 24:44–49
- Romans 3:21–31
- 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
The bible in a year
- Jeremiah 42–43
- Hebrews 2