David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 24:1-19

And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But 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, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

I recall an interchange during a presentation done by a colleague of mine, classmate from our seminary days and now professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. It took place at a pastor’s conference when a few younger and more earnest and vigilant brothers challenged what the professor was saying. Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs very patiently listened to their concerned then politely and firmly disagreed with their criticism. He was more patient than I would have been, I think, and I commended him for it.

Accusations fly against Paul, but their bluster is far greater than their substance. The charge against him is three-fold. He is a plague who stirs up riots, a ringleader of a troublesome Jewish sect, and he tried to profane the temple. None of these are true charges, and seem much like charging someone today with not loving baseball, and apple pie: difficult to prove to say the least.

Paul’s defense is far more substantive on two fronts. He denies the charge that he stirred up riots and protests the charge of profaning the temple. He shows his respect for the faith of his fathers and respect toward God and the temple as well as his peaceful ways. He even reminds them of the fact that they found him purified in the temple. The one thing he does admit: he used the controversial issue of the resurrection to his advantage, in effect turning his accusers against themselves since they were divided in regard to this profound teaching.

I’m not certain I would have had the patience of Paul in this same situation. Once you’ve been down the path with your detractors more than once (this is Paul’s second hearing and defense), patience can grow thin. Of course, however, our example ought not be only Paul, but the Lord whom he served. Jesus had saved him with a gracious patience difficult to imagine, reaching far into his life and granting him mercy in copious amounts.

Maybe there is someone who doesn’t understand you, someone who falsely accuses you, or someone who seems to undercut your every move or question your every motive. Our calling as those who follow Jesus Christ is to show the same kind of long-suffering (an apt synonym for patience!) that Christ has shown us. Patience is a gift well received when reflected toward others.