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9. The First Hearing of the Trial in Caesarea (Acts 24:1-23)
ACTS 24:1-9
1 After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. 2 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that excellent measures are coming to this nation, 3 we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But, that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him. We wanted to judge him according to our law, 7 but the commanding officer, Lysias, came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.
Ananias, the high priest at Jerusalem, was angered, and knew that Paul had been rescued from his hands. So he got ready to go after him at once, in order to eradicate Christianity by killing Paul. He did not take the forty rebels with him to Caesarea, that he might not show his violent and criminal intent, but took an eloquent speaker as a companion, that he might flatter the Romans with his bombastic language, and convince them of the necessity of destroying Paul immediately.
When Paul, the prisoner, was brought to the hearing, the eloquent orator began his speech with expressions of flattery and compliment, in order to draw the governor over to his side. He spoke as if the Roman peace had come to Palestine through him, as if the governor´s personal insight and prudence had brought development, security, prosperity and order to the Jewish nation. He played fast and loose, claiming that the highest council of the Jews was prepared to support him in his accusations and cooperate with him fully.
The character traits and virtues he spoke of were already known to Felix. They were as clear as the sun. Thus, he chose not to bore the governor by elaborating on the high degree and excellencies of his virtues. Instead, he moved immediately to describe Paul, the prisoner, as a very dangerous man. He charged him with three international crimes: First, that he troubled the peace, not only in Palestine, but also throughout the provinces of the Roman Empire, creating dissension, sedition, and quarrels among the Jews. Second, that the accused was the ringleader of all Christianity, its head and heart. This shows that the highest Jewish council had accurately recognized Paul, and not Peter, John or James, to be the impetus behind Christianity, and the reason for the internationalization of Jewish religious thought, which was changing into a universal message based on the free grace of Christ offered to all men. Third, the charge that Paul had despised and profaned the temple, even while the Roman governors had honored it, preserved its rights, and respected the center of the Jewish culture. The Jewish accusers did not bring any essential information to the governor, such as a discussion over judicial righteousness or the coming of Christ. Instead, they described the apostle of the Gentiles as a destroyer of the peace of the state, and a spoiler of the holiness of the temple.
Moreover, the Jews complained against Lysias, the commander at Jerusalem, for taking Paul by force out of their hands, thus placing Roman order over Jewish law. This complaint, in its heart, was a hidden demand for freedom of Jewish rights, for the Romans had taken away from the Jews the right to execute sinners in accordance with their law. All the chief priests had supported this complaint, and they called Paul a plague in the world, out of which grew infection and mortal danger for all men. Therefore, it was up to the governor to destroy this danger immediately and eradicate this plague from the body of the world. This complaint shows blind fanaticism, which is unable to recognize the love of Christ, calling the fountain of blessing a source of death. Satan is the father of all liars, who deceitfully falsify the truth, and in their hardheartedness think that they are upright.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You, for You are the evident truth. All lying and tale-bearing will be broken by the power of your uprightness. Teach us to speak with truthfulness and love, and guide us to preach boldly and prudently.
QUESTION:
- What are the three points in the complaint against Paul? What is the summation of this complaint?