The Book of Acts ~ Study Seventy-Two

"Living Truth"


Acts 24:1-27 (NLT) Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:
   “Your Excellency, you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. For all of this we are very grateful to you. But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.
   The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.
   “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
   “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”
   At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.
   A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
   After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.

It seems that this time Paul had really done it. He was in jail now at Herod's palace in Caesarea and was brought before  the governor of the time who was known as Felix. Felix was known as a cruel and dishonest man. Ananias, the current High Priest in Jerusalem came to Caesarea with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. All the charges they brought before the Governor against Paul were all lies. Here again we see the high priest breaking the Ten Commandments, the Law, to further his own agenda. Here's what the ninth commandment says:

Exodus 20:16 (NLT) You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

Seems pretty clear cut to me and yet the high priest used lies against Paul to stop the Gospel and further his own agenda. This wasn't his first rodeo. He used the same tactics to bring charges and ultimately crucify Jesus. We know that Jesus rose from the dead and now rules and reigns at the right hand of God. Ultimately, Anaias' lies got him nowhere except he lost his soul.

What does lying get us? It sets our feet on a long road to nowhere on this earth. Even as believers, we often justify our lying by sweetening the word. We redefine the word "lie" by watering it down to make it more palatable.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NLT) Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

When Paul get's up to testify before Felix he refutes their lies and challenges them to prove their charges against him. He was at peace because he knew that the ultimate Judge knew the truth. It is ok to challenge others when they lie, but ultimately God knows the truth and will eventually right the wrong.

Felix listened to both sides. The Bible says that he "was quite familiar with the Way" and several days after the hearing he sent for Paul and he listened to him speak about Jesus. He brought along his wife, Drusilla who was a Jew herself to hear what he had to say. Here's a little FYI about her:

"Drusilla" means "watered by the dew," daughter of Herod Agrippa, and Cypros. Born AD 38. She was at first betrothed to Antiochus Epiphanes, prince of Commagene, but was married to Azizus, king of Emesa. Soon after, Felix, procurator of Judea, brought about her seduction by means of the Cyprian sorcerer Simon, and took her as his wife. Felix who, together with his mother, perished in the eruption of Vesuvius under Titus. (See Smith's Bible Dictionary)

These two based their marriage and lives on lies and now they were going to hear the truth. Felix would listen to Paul and put him back in prison bringing him before him to hear more and hope for a bribe from Paul for about two years. He did this until he left office and another governor was put into his position named Festus. Instead, Felix only got the truth and if he had listened he would have found life.

How long can a person listen to the truth and still live a lie? It seems that Felix heard the truth and died in the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius living a lie. What a tragedy. It's not uncommon to this world to hear the Gospel and continue to believe a lie.

We can go to Church Sunday after Sunday and still not accept the Truth ~ Jesus and live according to what He desires for us. We can "believe" in Jesus but not cross the lie into a full relationship that leads to eternal life. What keeps people from crossing the line into submission to Jesus? What is the lie that folks hold on to?

Psalm 25:3-5 (NLT) No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

This Psalm gives us the benefits of living in truth. There is no disgrace in truth. There is disgrace in deception. God shows, those who follow His Truth, what road to travel on in this life that leads to the next. The more we seek truth the more He shows us His Truth. God saves the truthful and hope resides within them.

Jesus tells us this in John 3:20-22 (NLT) All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

This is why the high priest Anaias and his cronies hated anyone who spoke the truth about Jesus. It exposed them for what they were. They were evil posers who wanted nothing but what they felt was their due. Sadly, their due was condemnation from the One who they claimed to serve. Their lives were lies and just like Jesus said, they were "white-washed tombs full of death."

We need to examine our hearts when we are tempted to lie. No matter how small or how big we lie it is still wrong. What do our lives really stand for? Is Jesus really the Leader of our lives? Let's seek the Truth in all we do and live as He desires for us to live. Nothing but hurt and death comes from lies. Seek Jesus for He alone knows the truth because He is the Truth.