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by Sandy Shaw
In Acts 24:10, Paul, on trial in Caesarea is invited to reply to the accusations which have been made against him. Here we see a man of God who has a clear conscience in the presence of God, and before his accusers. There is no trace of bitterness - no trace of ranker - no self-pity. He does not appeal to feelings. He certainly avoids flattery. Paul keeps to the facts - declares the truth - and demolishes the charges.
He is specific - verse 11 - It was only 12 days ago, when I went up to Jerusalem to the Temple - to WORSHIP! Nobody found me arguing in the Temple, nor was I discovered stirring up a crowd in the synagogues, or anywhere else in the city. They cannot prove to you the charges they are making against me. But let me admit this - I worship the God of our fathers, as a follower of the way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in the Word, the law and the prophets - all of it - and like them, I believe in the resurrection. I believe there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. These are these two groups in the world. I have worked hard at this, having a clear conscience before God and men." We too have to work at this.
A man with a clear conscience can keep to the facts. Paul is innocent as he stands in that courtroom. He has nothing to fear from the truth. He had not always had a clean sheet - but that has been dealt with - and he had discovered what to do with his failures - his guilt - his weakness - his sin - he took all that to the Cross and Jesus dealt with it.
Paul has been so open, telling us in his testimony how he had been violently opposed to those who believed in Jesus. He hides nothing. He does not try to cover things up.
Verse 17. He explains what happened and what he did on arriving in Jerusalem. I committed no crime. If I have - let those who are here state what it is - but, if I am accused of this one thing - of believing in the resurrection - if I am accused of believing that Jesus Christ is Risen and Alive - then that is true.
Felix the Governor knows that there is no case. Paul should have been released and let go and set free. But Felix says, When Lysius the commander comes I will decide your case.
No matter how ably you may defend your cause and state your case, that does not mean you will automatically be released and set free - not when you are a prisoner and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be prepared to accept that, know that God is in control and we never see the whole picture.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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