Acts 24:10

Acts 24:10 says, 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:  Paul begins his defense.  The first thing he states is that he knows that Felix has been a judge of the people for many years, and that he would cheerfully answer for himself. Confronted with the same type of situation, we should pray to be as gracious as Paul was.  Verse eleven adds, Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.  He said that not twelve days had passed since he got to Jerusalem to worship.  He hadn't been there long, and he wasn't there to stir up trouble, but simply to worship.  What a great defense we would have if we were brought before a judge for causing dissension and we could truthfully say we were only there to worship.  Verse twelve continues, 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:  Paul said they didn't find him in the Temple disputing with anyone, or raising up the people, either in the synagogue or the city.  Again, another good defense for us would be that they lied.  Verse thirteen states, Neither can they prove the things of whereof they now accuse me.  Paul was not saying there was proof they couldn't produce, but that there was no proof that existed.  We should hope to always be as innocent as Paul was.  Verse fourteen adds, But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Paul did say then that he would confess to one thing, that after the way they called heresy, he worshipped the God of his fathers, believing all the Law and the prophets. Verse fifteen continues, 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.  Paul said he had hope toward God of the resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust, which the Jews themselves allowed.  Verse sixteen says, And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men. He said he had good conscience toward both God and men, that he was guilty of no offence to either.  He could say this about God because of the grace of Christ.  This would be a powerful testimony for any Christian.  Verse seventeen adds, Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.  Paul said after many years he had come to bring alms to his nation and offerings.  Even if we cannot always help others immediately, we should do so as soon as we possibly can.  Verse eighteen continues, Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Certain Jews from Asia found him purified in the Temple, neither with a multitude nor with tumult.  Verse nineteen states, Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.  He also said those who had something against him should be there before Felix. If we are accused of some wrong, our accusers should be there to state their claim.  Verse twenty adds, Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,  He said that since his accusers weren't there, let those of the council accuse him, but they should have been.  If we are being accused of wrongdoing as Christians, our accusers should at least face us.  Paul said that they needed to say before the council if they had found any evil things that he had done.  I guess this would be like swearing under oath.  Verse twenty-one continues, 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.  The only thing they could accuse him of was proclaiming the resurrection of the dead.  We always need to make sure that what we are accused of is what someone is trying us for, and not what they claim falsely that we have done.