Acts 24  - Maintain a Clear Conscience Before God and All People

Alas, we are nearing the end of Acts.  Yet no need to despair, the adventure will continue!

I don’t adhere to patron saints.  But if I did, I’d suggest Paul be the patron of all good lawyers.  Yes, there are some.  Tertullus, on the other hand, is the patron of the ubiquitous crooked lawyer.  They never lack clients.  It’s been almost 30 years since I walked into the first day of classes at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.  Wow.  My advice to my young self would be to trust God alone.  God has been so merciful and gracious to me.  And I am so stubborn and slow to learn.  Common sense and success belong to God; insight and strength are His (Proverbs 8:14).  I thank God for his mercy and patience.  Back to the story.

Tertullus shamelessly flatters the judge here, Governor Felix.  Tertullus, the General Counsel, if you will, of the Sanhedrin, is arrogant and confident.  He cares nothing about a clear conscience before God and before all people.  He’s a typical liar - when he refers to peace, he means the opposite (he’s as peaceful as a spike in the eye).  He cares about pretense, appearances, and, of course, “winning” at all costs.  He cares about power.  He arrogantly pontificates that he will only need a moment to conclude his case against Paul.  A moment to destroy a man; little did he know the power of a man who patiently waits on the Lord God.  Tertullus generalizes with no evidence.   He falsely claims Paul is a troublemaker, an instigator of riots, and a ringleader of the Nazarene cult.  As a Jew presenting before the adjudicator of Jewish affairs, he ought to have known better.  But he didn’t care.  He was a paid gun.

  There is no shame for the arrogant, prideful, corrupt, and perverse.  You see, false attacks, pretense, half-truths, innuendo, personal attacks, and skirting evidentiary rules are how the devil attacks.  His followers are easy to identify.  Satan and his counsel care nothing for justice, not a tittle for fear of God and the need for a clear conscience.  Tertullus does not understand the burden of responsibility.  Remember, men, we speak not just to judges but in the presence of Jesus Christ.  Keep your conscience clear.  Paul’s accusers do not present evidence.  Instead, Tertullus tells Felix to “find the truth” by examining Paul.  Yikes - march the guilty bugger in - that is not a standard of due process.  Evidence by interrogation with no third-party witnesses.  You can see where this is going.  A good judge would have thrown this out of court before Paul had to say a word (remember in Acts 18 how Judge Gallio said, “I refuse to judge such matters” and threw them out of the courtroom (v.16)).

On the other hand, Paul is respectful but does not cross the line into flattery.  He points to fairness and justice.  Lord Jesus, thank you for your standards of Justice.

Paul’s conscience is clear before God.  That is the best place to start any defence, nay, any endeavour.  Tertullus speculated on what he did not know and could not prove.  Paul hit the facts, what he could prove, and Paul publicly acknowledged his faith in Jesus and that he was a follower of the Way.

As believers in Jesus, we too “firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets” (v. 14).  But we believe the law and the prophets are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  That’s the difference.  The Jews do not believe Jesus is the Messiah or God.  We do.  Paul deflates the accusations by finding common ground.  We, too, should do that.  Finding common ground is not being weak or a compromiser.  As an ambassador for Jesus Christ, find common ground.  Indeed, do so but keep a clear conscience before God and never compromise on the Truth.

Paul does not hide that he brought money back to aid the church.  Never be ashamed of helping those God wants us to help.  And he focused again on the resurrection of the dead.  We believe in the raising of the righteous and the unrighteous.  That is our common ground.  All will be raised.  Some to eternal life with God.  The rest to an eternity away from God.  Hard facts.

Notice when Paul reasoned and witnessed to Felix and Drusilla, he focused on righteousness, self-control, and the day of judgment.  That is a model for us; teach these things.

It’s a rare day when one may discuss eternal judgment with an earthly judge or a governor.  But not so rare to come across people at work and in your community.  Be ready in all circumstances.  If Felix did not believe in Jesus Christ, it is not for lack of Paul’s witness.  Paul’s conscience was clear.  May the same be said of us.

Lord Jesus, please give us patience, courage, and boldness to witness for you.  At all times, everywhere.  Amen.