Speaking of the resurrection...

With Respect to the Resurrection of the Dead

(Acts 24:1-23, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 7, 2013)

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

Paul had already appeared before the ruling religious council in Jerusalem. At that time the Roman tribune, Claudius Lysius, had to remove him from the assembly to prevent him from being torn apart. Ananias, the high priest, had attempted to make Paul and his sect the issue of the day, uniting all of the religious rulers in their opposition to Paul and his companions as those who would upset the fragile peace that existed in Jerusalem.

Paul contended in front of them that the reason that he was on trial was because of his belief in the hope of Israel, that there would one day be a resurrection of the dead. This priority of the doctrine of the Christian hope is hard to miss in these final chapters of Acts. If the topic is hope, specifically the hope of a heavenly kingdom on earth with God and His Messiah reigning, new divisions arise and more interesting discussions may ensue. If the topic is Paul the troublemaker and the Nazarenes, all of those in power might speedily agree that they can all do without Paul and his type, and return to their otherwise successful lives. But one day we face death, and Paul's topic is the only one that counts. We cannot ignore eternal questions forever.

Paul is not in Jerusalem. A plot to kill him has been stopped, and Claudius Lysius has had this prisoner safely delivered to Governor Felix in a Roman courtroom in Caesarea. The governor has called for the high priest to make his case against Paul, and he has retained a lawyer to represent their interests. His speech is not just meaningless fluff. He seeks to make Paul the issue again. Paul will ruin the peace that Felix has tried to establish. Paul is a plague upon any well-ordered society. Paul stirs up riots among Jews. Paul is a ringleader of a dangerous sect. Paul was detained in Jerusalem because he has no respect for the ceremonial order of the temple.

10 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. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 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. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Paul, once again, quickly turns the discussion to more profitable matters. As far as these specific charges, there is simply no evidence that supports their contentions. Ananias and those who are with him cannot prove their charges.

Then comes the change in topic. It is rather shocking. It would be like you and I finding ourselves at a gathering of people that wanted to talk about how people who insist in the truth of the Bible are dangerous to society, and one of us saying, “All of this comes down to whether there is any life after death. I believe in that life, and I am sure that some of you do as well.”

Paul does confess some facts. He is a follower of the Way, the assembly of those who believe that Christ is leading His people to a new resurrection world. Paul does not worship a false God. He worships the God of the Jews. Paul does not reject the Jewish Scriptures. He believes everything in the Law and the Prophets. Paul does not believe in some new utopian spirituality. He believes in God, the God of the Jews, who will come to judge the living and the dead. There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This is what was written in Daniel 12:2.

Paul does not deny that he has been a controversial figure in Judaism over the last several years. He acknowledges that Jews from the province of Asia, where the city of Ephesus is located, could give their own testimony if they were in the courtroom in Caesarea and were willing to make the case that Paul was a trouble-maker. But those people were not in the courtroom that day and the charges of the Jews against him were false concerning the peace of Jerusalem.

The only riot in Jerusalem that Paul could reasonably be accused of instigating was the disturbance that came from this statement that he had made before the Sanhedrin: “It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.”

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

What a wonderful defense from Paul, a man under fire! The governor, Felix, was aware of Christianity. Luke says that he had “a rather accurate knowledge of the Way.” He was unwilling to see an argument over the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead break out in his courtroom. He “put them off.” Paul remained under arrest. Paul, who had done nothing wrong and who was one of the leading apostles of Jesus Christ, was being held in custody for no apparent reason.

When Jesus came to save, His own people did not receive Him. When He sends forth His church, we may also find ourselves despised by men. Do not allow yourself to be the topic of discussion. Do not let the group that others call your sect to be the topic of discussion. Do not let disagreements about ceremonial righteousness be the topic of discussion. Turn the attention of everyone to something that is a most shocking topic in a world that does not want to talk about death: the hope that we have together in the resurrection of the dead, and be a servant of all.

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 6 – The Lord has heard my plea

Gospel Passage: Mark 10:35-45 – Indignant about greatness but the greatest will be the servant of all

Sermon Text: Acts 24:1-23 – The Jewish leaders make their case before the governor, Paul denies their charges, and again chooses the right topic of conversation, hope and the coming resurrection.

Sermon Point: In the midst of great religious contention, Paul, speaking before Jews and Gentiles, focuses their attention on the hope of mankind.