False accusations
Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. Acts 24:1
Have you ever been falsely accused of something? What about had a wrong done to you? We all have at some point in life. Because people are people, there will always be misunderstandings, miscommunications and false accusations. How do you take it when those times come? Do you argue and make your case known loudly so everyone can hear the truth? Or do you take it patiently and let your actions be your witness?
The apostle Paul was no exception to the rule of being falsely accused. Most of the time we hope it is just a mistake or a misunderstanding when it happens to us, but in Paul’s case false evidence was made up against him intentionally. It seemed to be a common practice among the religious leaders of that day. Just as they drummed up charges against Jesus to have Him crucified, they were trying to do the same thing to Paul. Paul’s response to these charges can be an example to each one of us still today. He responded with unwavering faith, grace in his defense, patience in waiting for the outcome and in God’s timing. He also used each one of these opportunities to share the message of the good news.
Let’s take a brief look at how he displayed each one of these attitudes:
- Unwavering faith – Even though Paul had been detained and wrongly accused, he did not doubt his purpose and his faith in God stood firm. He was not persuaded to doubt his calling, or the grace and provision God was giving him right in the middle of his circumstances.
- Grace in his defense – He waited patiently as the charges were brought against him and didn’t interrupt or return accusations against the witnesses. He waited for his turn to speak and gave a clear and calm explanation even though he was under great pressure to be very defensive.
- Patiently waited for the outcome – Again, after everyone gave their side of the situation, Paul was held longer to wait for another witness. He didn’t get a bad attitude about it, he just continued to do what he could to share God’s message of salvation right in the middle of his crisis.
- Confident of God’s timing – Paul trusted that God was with him through it all and He was orchestrating the circumstances with perfect timing.
Today I want to encourage you to not get riled up and defensive with misunderstandings and offenses come in your life. Follow Paul’s example of unwavering faith, grace, patience and God’s hand on the situation. Determine that your witness for Him is the most important outcome and share the love of God with all those involved throughout the entire process. The same way He was with Paul in his troubles, He is with you in yours.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 24:1-21
1 Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,
3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.
5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension 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 seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.
7 But the commander 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 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,
18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.
19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.
20 Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council,
21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
The Daily Dose 