Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19980913.htm

ACTS: THE LOCAL CHURCH AS GOD'S AGENCY FOR DISCIPLING
Part LIII: God's Sovereign Oversight Of His Servants' Geographical Placements
B. Overcoming The Obstacle Of False Charges Of Sin In Achieving God's Service Assignment Location
(Acts 23:11; 24:1-27)
  1. Introduction
    1. As we learned in Acts 16:6-10, our service for God involves His geographically placing us for service.
    2. Yet, there can arise obstacles to our arriving at or staying put where God wants us. These obstacles can be so big that the believer may quit trying to arrive or stay in that spot, or question God's will as to location.
    3. One hurdle may be false charges of sin that can force the believer to be moved from his assigned location.
    4. Acts 23:11; 24:1-27 reveals God's involvement in Paul's experience in this issue with lessons for us today.
  2. Overcoming The Obstacle Of False Charges Of Sin In Achieving God's Service Assignment Location.
    1. Jesus told Paul that it was necessary (dei) for him to witness in Rome as he had in Jerusalem, Acts 23:11.
    2. Yet, there arose a big obstacle to Paul's making it to Rome, the barrier of false charges of sin against Paul:
      1. After he arrived in Caesarea (Acts 23:11), Jerusalem's high priest, Ananias came down with the elders and an orator, Tertullus to bring legal charges against Paul, Acts 24:1.
      2. In the hearing, Tertullus excessively flattered the governor, Felix, known for his violent, corrupt and selfish rule to influence the governor against Paul, Acts 24:2-4, Bib. Know. Com., N.T., p. 421.
      3. Then he laid out three charges, making Paul look like a wicked man guilty of Roman law, Acts 24:5-9:
        1. Charge One - Tertullus charged Paul with being a worldwide troublemaker who stirred up riots, a very serious charge in the eyes of Romans who sought to keep order in the Empire, 24:5a,b, Ibid.
        2. Charge Two - He charged Paul with leading a sect separate from the government-sanctioned Jewish faith, a sect of the Nazarenes, Acts 24:5c, Ibid.
        3. Charge Three - Tertullus claimed Paul had tried to desecrate the Jewish temple, 24:6a. This charge would have bearing on Roman Law as Rome let the Jews execute anyone who desecrated their temple. If the charge stuck, the Roman judge could return Paul to the Jews for execution, Ibid.
      4. In each case, were any of these charges to be validated, Paul would not have made it to Rome, but would have been sent back to Jerusalem for execution or punished by death in Caesarea.
    3. However, Paul defended his credibility by using FACTS and LEGALITIES of law established under God's ordination of human government (Rom. 13:1-5):
      1. Response One - Unlike his enemies, Paul did not flatter the governor, thus avoiding deceit, Acts 24:10.
      2. Response Two - To the charge that he stirred up riots, (a) Paul stated that it had been only 12 days since he had entered Jerusalem, not nearly enough time to have stirred up an uproar. Such a riot had to have risen from others -- not Paul, Acts 24:11 (b) Also, Paul showed that his opponents could not legally CITE an instance when he had caused a riot, making their charge unfounded, Acts 24:12. (c) Paul noted that they could not prove their charges, making their case weak.
      3. Response Three - To the charge he led an unlawful sect, Paul claimed he was part of the way that worshipped the God of his Jewish fathers, believing the law and prophets, 24:14-16. Paul could prove by Old Testament documentation that Christianity arose from a faith protected under Roman law.
      4. Response Four - To the charge he had tried to desecrate the temple, Paul claimed he had come with offerings for the temple, not as its defiler, Acts 24:17. The riot arose from Jews from Asia, so he claimed a legal point of order that needed correcting as the Asian Jews who started the riot were absent, 24:18-19. He also said that unless the accusers present had facts to prove their case, they were lacking by way of Roman proceedings to make a case against him, Acts 24:20-21.
    4. The governor, Felix, realized Paul was innocent, but not wanting to stir up trouble with the Jews, he kept Paul in custody. At least Paul stayed away from certain death at the hands of the Jews, 24:22-27.
Lesson: When the believer is unjustly charged with sin that threatens his staying in God's assigned location, he should (1) avoid deceit, (2) lay out the facts and (3) appeal to laws ordained under God.

Application: The TRUTH and GOD-ORDAINED LAWS belong to God's realm of tools the believer can use to contradict the forces that try to keep him from God's work (Eph. 6:13, 14a; Rom. 13:1-5)!