September 11, 2023 | Be On Mission
Paul Defends Himself
Scripture: Acts 24:10-23(NIV)
10 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. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 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. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 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.’”
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 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.
Devotional
At the conclusion of Paul’s speech, he laid it all on the line: “It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.” The Sadducees didn’t believe in life after death. Ananias the high priest who was bringing charges against Paul was most likely a Sadducee. The Roman governor Felix was not oblivious to this Jewish skirmish. Verse 22 says that he “was well acquainted with the Way,” that is, with Christianity.
For Paul, it was all about the resurrection. He staked his life (and his eternal life) on it. What can you say about the resurrection from the following verses penned by Paul?
“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.” (1 Timothy 2:8-9)
“The gospel… regarding his Son…who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 1:2-4)
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)
“That power is the same as the mighty strength [God] exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21)
“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1 Corinthians 15:12-14)
“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5)
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” (Romans 8:11)
“By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” (1 Corinthians 6:14)
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)
Poem
What's Behind The Hate?
What’s behind the hate we see?
Is it really a true issue?
Or are we mad
Or jealous have
Which clouds our motivation?
What’s behind the ways we act?
Is there purity intention
Or does our anger,
Fear or shame
Drive strong our innovations?
What will change the way we act?
What transforms hate to love?
The honest truth
The humble heart
Which seeks God’s best for others
