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.
There’s form and then there’s substance. Think of a beautifully-wrapped gift box that contains garbage. Form: Good. Substance: Stinky! Or the other way: treasures wrapped in dirty clothes buried deep in a banged-up suitcase. Good stuff. Garbage in a garbage bag: No surprise here, but still stinky. It’s best when form and substance align.
The form of speech that Tertullus takes is quite eloquent and gracious. He complements Felix the governor appropriately. And then he tells Felix that when he hears Paul’s testimony, he will surely agree that Paul is a bad guy. Paul will make his defense saying that there is no proof in the charges of Tertullus and the Jews. In effect theirs is all form. No substance.
Paul’s defense, however, will go far beyond form. He is respectful but not as deferential toward Felix as Turtullus was. He simply lays out the case: They cannot prove their accusations. But he does not stop there. There will be substance to his defense. He says, 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.”
The substance is God, the Law and the Prophets, hope in God and belief in the resurrection of the just and unjust. He makes the point that he lives an honorable life toward both God and man in anticipation of that resurrection.
I seek to do the same thing. I struggle to discern just how God is going to sort out those who claim faith in Jesus, or “God,” and those whose lives are living testimony to that faith. But for that reason, I’m thankful that’s not my call. And I entrust myself to God’s grace according to the promises of Jesus anchored in his death and resurrection.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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