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Christianity on Trial the Great CHRISTIANITY ON TRIAL everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, THE GREAT ADVENTURE that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by Derek Westmoreland Acts 24 11-17-19 your kindness, a brief hearing. Flattery of the judge was common and customary in 1st century Turn to: Title: Judea; and Tertullus, being the chosen lawyer, was an expert at Three weeks ago, we learned of a plot to kill Paul. 40 Jews it. He praised the governor for peace throughout his province made an oath to not eat until Paul was dead. In response to the which was used to win the governor’s favor. What mattered threat, the Roman commander moved Paul north to Caesarea most to the Romans was peace. If a governor could not keep st (map: Jerusalem to Caesarea 1 century; leave up until prayer.) peace then the governor would be replaced. Tertullus flatters where the governor of the province resided. There the governor governor Felix with comments about peace. named Felix read a letter sent by the Roman commander and agreed to hear the arguments regarding Paul. Paul has now been 2. The direct accusations held as a prisoner awaiting trial for five days. Today we read of After flattering the governor, Tertullus issued three charges the trial before Felix, for his accusers have now arrived in against Paul. One was a personal charge, one was a political Caesarea. charge, and the third was a doctrinal charge. Let’s address these charges one by one. We will read the text as we proceed through the message. Pray: 1. Personal charge Verse 5- “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow I. CHRISTIANITY IS ATTACKED who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the Verse 1- After five days the high priest Ananias came down with world, some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus (tuhr-tuhlʹuhs), This charge is very similar to the charge the Jewish Council Ananias was the high priest of the Jews. Paul had previously brought against Jesus some 30 years prior. stood before him and the Jewish Council, as recorded in Acts In Luke 23:1-2a, 5 it reads, Then the whole body of them got up 23:1-11. and brought Him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Now Ananias, and some elders from among the Jews, arrive in Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation… 5 Caesarea with Tertullus. Tertullus is the attorney and this is the ...they kept on insisting, saying, “He stirs up the people, first mention of him in the book of Acts. Let’s see what Tertullus says. The personal charge against Jesus is now the charge they bring against Paul. And notice that the personal charge is subjective. 1. The flattering introduction Stirring up people and misleading people are opinions that can Verses 1-4- After five days the high priest Ananias came down be easily exaggerated. Paul had not done what they accused him with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they of. brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the 2. Political charge governor, “Since we have through you attained much peace, Verse 5- “For we have found this man a real pest and a and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and Tertullus presented Christians as an entire new and dangerous Tertullus argued that all of his accusations would be confirmed sect and that Paul was a main leader of the movement. Should by Felix as he personally examined Paul; and the others that this charge stick, then the entire Christian community would be came with him gave their hearty agreement. considered a threat to the Roman empire. Let’s see if Paul agreed with the claims of Tertullus. For those days, it was illegal to establish a new religion in II. THE CHRISTIAN DEFENDS HIMSELF Rome without approval. If Paul was indeed the leader of a new Verses 10-11- When the governor had nodded for him to speak, sect, he would be in violation of Roman law; therefore, the Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a governor would have taken this charge very seriously. judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I 3. Doctrinal charge went up to Jerusalem to worship. Verses 6-9- “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and Paul began his defense by demonstrating respect for the then we arrested him. [We wanted to judge him according to governor and then reminding the governor of what he had just our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and done less than two weeks prior. As Paul gives his defense, he with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his responds to each of the three charges leveled against him by accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself Tertullus and the charges leveled against him by the Asian concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the Jews. things of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so. 1. Paul addresses the charges by Tertullus This third charge was tricky for Tertullus, for he was appealing 1) The Personal Charge to the Roman governor while claiming that the Roman Verses 12-13- “Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, commander Claudius Lysias intervened when he should not nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion have. with anyone or causing a riot. 13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. In those days, the Romans had given the Jews the right to Paul refutes the accusation that he caused a riot. enforce Jewish law within the Temple grounds. The Jews had Paul had been found in the temple 12 days before because he made it law to forbid Gentiles from entering the Temple. In was there to pay the costs of four Jews who had taken the Acts 21:28, the Jews from the province of Asia had come to Nazarite vow. The temple records would have been able to Jerusalem and claimed that Paul brought a Gentile into the confirm this truth. Paul wholeheartedly rejected this charge. Temple. This accusation was a lie, but had it stuck, Felix would have been obligated to give over jurisdiction to the 2) Political Charge Jewish Council which would have ended in Paul’s death. Verses 14-16- “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, Tertullus argued that if it had not been for the commander’s believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that poor judgment, the Jews would have tried Paul according to is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which these Jewish law and Felix would never have been burdened with this men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a case. resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 2. Paul addresses charges by the Jewish Council Paul did not shy away from what he believed and who he believed Verses 20-21- “Or else let these men themselves tell what in. Jesus referred to Himself as the Way in John 14:6, so Paul was misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21 other happy to be identified as a follower of the Way, a follower of than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing Christ. among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial Paul then claimed that he believed in the inerrancy of the Old before you today.’ ” Testament for he said, believing everything that is in accordance Paul had testified to the accusations by Tertullus. Now he aims with the Law and that is written in the Prophets. Paul believed in at the primary charge of the high priest and the elders. the worldwide flood, the parting of the Red Sea, and that Jonah They wanted him dead simply because of his Christian faith; was swallowed by a big fish. He was in full agreement with the simply because he believed Jesus to be the Messiah that died Jewish Scriptures; and Paul argued that those Scriptures were on the cross and resurrected on the third day. fulfilled in Christ Jesus. While the Sadducees rejected all resurrections, the Pharisaical Tertullus portrayed Paul as the leader of a new sect; but Paul did Jews did believe in resurrections and certainly in their future not see it that way. He did not see himself and other Jewish resurrection from the dead. This, Paul and the Pharisees agreed Christians as former Jews, but as fulfilled Jews. Jews that realized on. It was simply Paul’s belief that Jesus resurrected from the that the prophesies of the Messiah from the Old Testament were dead that caused them to oppose him. In other words, fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Christianity was on trial that day! 3) Doctrinal Charge The Jews came to Caesarea and accused Paul of being anti- Here Paul refutes the charge by Tertullus and thus the Asian Jewish and anti-Roman, but they could not prove their charges.
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