Paul experienced false accusations pointed directly at him, and yet he responded cheerfully:
Acts 24:1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
Talk about ‘name-calling’ .... look how Paul was labelled:
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow,
and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world,
and a ringleader of the sect (same Greek word [hairesis] as translated "heresy") of the Nazarenes:
6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple:
whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
Tertullus had a 'congregation' behind him, egging him on:
9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
Paul realized that Felix was well acquanited with being a ruler of the Jews, and was happy to have the opportunity to give his own defense:
10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
Paul testified that he was not going around stirring up trouble:
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Though they did not agree with his preaching, they had no concrete evidence of misbehavior:
13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
Paul admitted that they called him a heretic .... but they had no reason to do so .... because he praised the God of Israel, and affirmed the law of Moses and all the scriptures:
14 But this I confess unto thee,
that after the way which they call heresy [hairesis],
so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Paul knew Israel’s hope was the dead being raised. He also spoke of the judgement
(as Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:)
where the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished:
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Though Paul had just been accused of being a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, and a ringleader of heresy .... his heart was clean inside and out:
16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
The Jews had a problem with his teaching about the resurrection:
Acts 24:21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Paul warned Timothy of infection like doctrinal gangrene, or like a spiritual ulcer .... for wrong division of God’s word, specifically about timing of the resurrection of the dead:
2 Tim 2:15-18 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Getting the resurrection in the right place was important to Paul ....
and it should be for us, as well.
God, through Paul, said it will be "at the last trump" (1 Cor 15:52), after the way ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ call heresy.
We would not want to be unprepared, now, would we?
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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