The Trials of Paul (9)

Pray Psalm 35.27, 28.
Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.

Sing Psalm 35.27, 28.
(Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Let all rejoice triumphantly who would our vindication see.
Let them exalt the Lord above who love the ones that Jesus loves.
And let our tongues declare Your praise, and worship Jesus all our days.
Let those whom You are pleased to bless forever declare Your righteousness!

Read Acts 24.1-21; meditate on verses 10-21.

Preparation
1. What facts did Paul present for Felix?

2. To what charge did he confess?

Meditation
In his defense, Paul first explained that he did not resent this opportunity; rather, he welcomed it (v. 10). He said that Felix could verify his claims. Thereby he nodded toward the governor’s fairness, even as he reminded the court of how Roman justice works: accusation, facts, evidence, verification, then judgment.

The facts of the case included Paul’s reason for being in Jerusalem (v. 11) and the circumstances surrounding his visit (v. 12). He challenged his adversaries to prove their case rather than simply assert his guilt (v. 13). Paul admitted his involvement in the Christian movement (v. 14), but he insisted this was completely in line with the hopes even his adversaries embraced (vv. 14, 15). Paul asserted that he was settled in his conscience (v. 16). He was not troubled about anything he’d done, whether toward God or toward men.

Then Paul turned the tables: “Where, by the way, are these Jews from Asia who started all this ruckus anyway (vv. 18, 19)? Has anybody noticed – have you noticed, your honor – that anyone who might have any facts to substantiate the charges of my opponents is not present here? No? OK, then how about these gentlemen here: What fact-based charges – as opposed to these flimsy accusations – can they present (v. 20)?”

Paul dared them to introduce their facts. “Oh, well, OK, here’s something horrible I did: I cried out a word about the resurrection from the dead (v. 21).” That surely elicited a laugh from the Roman court. “That’s a transgression worthy of death?” That reported fact allowed Paul to crack open a door for the Gospel, almost as if to say to Felix, “Dare ya to ask for an explanation of that.” Paul was using this situation to the advantage of the Gospel, because he thought Gospel all the time.

Wouldn’t it be great if we thought Gospel all the time?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Paul was using this situation to the advantage of the Gospel, because he thought Gospel all the time.”

And this is how, in the midst of this trial, he was able to use the accusations against him to speak a cogent defense of the Gospel. He began with this confession of what he agreed was his guilt and transgression:

“I confess to this:
1. I am part of the Way which they call a sect.
2. I worship the God of my fathers.
3. I believe all things which are written in the Law.
4. I also believe all things that are written in the Prophets.
5. I have hope in God.
6. I believe in the resurrection of the dead.
7. I believe that the resurrection is for the just and the unjust.
8. I strive to have a good conscience without offense to God and men.
9. I am being judged for my belief in the resurrection.”
(Acts 24.14-16, 21)

How did he do that? How can we learn to do that? How can we be ready for this perpetual thinking of the Gospel?

We must be saturated in the Word (Ps. 119.11). We must be fully dependent upon the Holy Spirit (Mk. 13.11). We must always be ready (2 Tim. 4.2).

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1.7).

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3.8-14).

Just the facts.

For reflection
1. What are the facts of the Gospel?

2. What should you do each day to make sure you are ready to go into your Personal Mission Field?

3. What are some facts about the way the Gospel has changed your life?

If blamed for being more earnest in the things of God than our neighbors, what is our reply? Do we shrink from the accusation? How many in the world would rather be accused of any weakness, nay, even of wickedness, than of an earnest, fervent feeling of love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and of devotedness to his service! Can such think that He will confess them when he comes in his glory, and before the angels of God? Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Acts 21.10-21

Pray Psalm 35.1-8.
As you pray, remember that you are continuously involved in a ferocious spiritual warfare, in which the enemies of the Lord seek to devour your soul and frustrate your work. Pray that God will shield and protect you against all temptation and spiritual strife. Pray the same for all believers everywhere.

Sing Psalm 35.1-8.
(Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Contend, O Lord, with those who strive with me; my shield, my strength and buckler be!
Engage with spear and axe to fight and rescue me with all Your might!
My soul with Your salvation soothe,  and vanquish all who oppose Your truth.
Let those ashamed and humbled be who would destroy and humble me.

Let all my foes be blown like chaff, and let Your angel take my behalf.
No cause have they to hide their snare or for my fall a pit prepare.
Upon them let destruction fall;  disperse, destroy them one and all!
And let the net which they have made be for their doom and judgment laid.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.