Acts: Part 7 - Ch. 22-25

Paul’s Defense

As we move onto our final week in our study of Acts, we will be looking at the final seven chapters throughout our last two posts. If you were with us last week, you know we ended chapter 21 with Paul being arrested as he continued his journey into Jerusalem. Once this takes place, it is now up to Paul to present his defense as to why he is not guilty of any crime for preaching the gospel. And due to this trial being pretty massive, a large majority of these chapters cover just that. Paul will be going back and forth between himself and many leaders of the area who decide what to do with him. This is why chapter 22 starts off with “Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.” Everything that follows from here through much of chapter 26 is the back-and-forth of this defense. As Think & Act Biblically states, “Paul gave a magnificent defense. He actually used the word “defense”. In Greek it is the word apologia, from which we get our word “apology.” It refers to a formal defense of one’s past life or actions.” Paul’s defense here is not just a defense for why he is preaching the word in Jerusalem, it is an entire testimony as to who he once was and who God has transformed him into today. This is why this defense of Paul’s is not just long but powerful. With this in mind, let’s see what Paul lists out in his defense of the gospel. 

Paul Passed Around

One of the greatest aspects that Paul brings up in his defense is his past life. Acts 22:3-5 says, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brothers, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.” Now you may be thinking to yourself, ‘Why would Paul mention this part of his life?’ This is a man who has performed miracles, was spoken to from heaven on the way to Damascus, and witnessed the power of God in ways that many could only dream of. So why bring up your dark, sinful past? The reason for this, of course, is because Paul is saying that he was once like the people who were accusing him of crimes, but look at what God was able to do for him. There is perhaps no better defense for the power that God can have in one’s life than seeing how God completely turned Paul’s life upside down. After stating his conversion, Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin to see what they thought of his actions. Once Paul tells his defense to the Sanhedrin, it doesn’t take long to realize that they did not take it well, as a plot to kill Paul was put into place. Now, the son of Paul’s sister heard this plot and reported it to Paul, who in turn told him to report it to the commander. Once this plan was reported to the commander, Acts 23:23-24 tells us, “And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.” They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” Even amid his trial, God is watching out for Paul and using him exactly how He has planned. 

No Conclusion 

After protecting Paul and making sure he arrived safely in Caesarea, Paul can now present his defense to the governor named Felix. Once this case is presented, Felix tries to conclude Paul but only prolongs the process. Acts 24:24-25 says, “Now some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and responded, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.” Felix actually feared that what Paul had to say might be true, so he told Paul to go away and left his case up to someone else. This ‘someone else’ would soon be a man named Festus, who eventually took over for Felix about two years later. And this is what leads us right into chapter 25. This is where Paul continues to be passed around because a decision still can’t be made. 

After learning about Paul’s story, Festus requests Agrippa and Bernice to come from Caesarea and help him in making a decision. We can see what Festus originally thinks about Paul’s trial when talking to King Agrippa. Festus says in Acts 25:25-26 “But I found that he had committed nothing deserving death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. “Yet, I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore, I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write.” This sets up Paul to perfectly make his defense before Agrippa as Festus is already persuaded that Paul has done nothing worthy of death. Paul’s response, however, is covered in chapter 26, which we will discuss in our final post of the month when we close the book of Acts as a whole. For now though, I think we can see that regardless of what this world thinks of us, it is always worth sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This world may think that we are guilty of crimes, telling lies, or just flat out crazy, but at the end of the day, what matters is that people know the truth that leads to salvation. May we have this same bravery that Paul possessed, despite what people may do or say to us. 

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Sources

[1] Blue Letter Bible. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/

[2] Thinkact_Qklktp. (2023, November 15). Wednesday: Paul’s Defense | Think & Act Biblically. Think & Act Biblically. https://www.thinkandactbiblically.org/wednesday-pauls-defense/