They Had Said, "No Charge!"

Acts 24:19-21 “But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin – 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
 
LET’S return to Acts 23:9c
“We find nothing wrong with this man,” the Pharisees said. These proceedings and the lawyer, Tertullus’, charges were useless because the ruling Jews had judged Paul innocent. Paul wanted to know what crime they were considering? Was it something he had done amid the Asiatic Jews, a group he had once belonged to?
   Paul wondered if his only offense against the Jews was concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today. Paul wanted to stop the lies and talk about the truth. He seemed to incite the Jews and the court to question him about the resurrection.
   Paul always looked for an opportunity to defend Jesus’ deity. Acts and Paul’s epistles inform us that each time Paul stood accused, his primary concern was to defend Jesus of Nazareth. He would then defend his work as Jesus’ called apostle. God was his supreme authority. He rejoiced when a court or other opposition found him guilty of his faithful service.  
 
Honoring God’s Servant
 
Acts 24:22-23 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
 
We shouldn’t be surprised Felix knew about the gospel message. His wife Drusilla was a Jewess (Acts 24:24) and had likely heard the gospel. We have also learned many Roman leaders were aware of Jesus. As in all classes and groups of people, some Romans believed.
   Felix seemed to favor Paul’s arguments. He awaited Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander who had protected Paul, to testify. Paul’s friends could care for him in the jail.
   Amid the injustice of Paul’s bondage, the Lord worked for Paul’s good. For his own purposes, God has bound his apostle into the Roman system. Perhaps God was using the Romans to be “a shield around me, O Lord, to bestow glory on me and lift up my head.” (from Psalm 3:3) As we read of Paul’s ongoing persecutions and incarceration, we will see he always kept his head high and his mind alert for Jesus’ sake.