The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
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. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 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. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
Dealing with false accusations might be one of the most difficult situations in life to deal with. Paul, in the above passage, is faced with this moment in life. He was asked by the elders in Jerusalem to show the Jews that he was NOT preaching against the Law. He was to take some of the Jewish Christians into the Temple to complete a vow they made. Instead Paul is seized, beaten, imprisoned, questioned and then had a death plot formed against him. It should be noted that Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, at no time mentions those leaders in Jerusalem who asked Paul to “show his great respect” for the Jewish traditions of the Law.
After discovering the plot to kill him the leader of the Roman guard sends Paul to Felix in Caesarea, who was the Roman Governor of the providence. After five days of being imprisoned by Felix, Paul’s accusers show up, with legal representation (see Acts 24:1-3). They make harsh acquisitions and the, as we see in the above passage, some random Jews “also joined in the charge.” At one point in all this story Paul could have acquiesced and simply appeased these Jewish leaders. But, Paul’s purpose is NOT to seek being acquitted. No, Paul had a bigger purpose that God gave him in the midst of this persecution and struggle. When Paul was first beaten and then taken into custody note what he was told:
Acts 23:11 (ESV)
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Paul was not pleased that he was before Felix in Caesarea. But, he also was not afraid to be there since this was a necessary step in Roman legal hierarchy to get him to Rome. Paul had no problem defending himself against these false accusations. He simply told Felix they have no proof. But, he also was not interested in acquittal. He was interested in making a testimony for Christ. During false accusations we can spend our entire time defending ourselves, or we can use this time of struggle as a platform for speaking Christ. This is Paul’s plan. Does he want to be beaten, imprisoned, plotted against and falsely accused? No! No one would want that and God is not teaching we should pursue such things. But, what we learn in the above passage is that God does allow these things to happen and it is for the sole purpose of proclaiming Christ and Him crucified and resurrected. Persecution is for proclamation!
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