Acts 24:17-21 

¹⁷ “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. ¹⁸ I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. ¹⁹ 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.’”

Laglag Bala

Flying back to the Philippines has made many travellers more vigilant because of the “Laglag Bala” (drop a bullet) scheme of scammers. Before passengers’ luggage passes by the x-ray machines or baggage screening at the Philippine airport, members of “Laglag Bala” syndicates would drop a bullet or two into the bag of their victims. Scam victims are placed in a difficult situation of defending themselves.

Paul was also in a difficult situation of defending himself. By God’s grace, through the commander of the Roman soldiers in Jerusalem, Paul had been moved to Caesarea where he had been given fair trial.

In the first part of his defense against the accusation of the chief priest and elders of the Jews, Paul denied any wrongdoing but admitted the he believes what his accusers believe in the law and everything written in the book of Prophets.

Paul delivered his defense. He also stated his purpose why he came to Jerusalem.

1,  Purpose

¹⁷“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.

Why did Paul need to tell the governor about the gifts he has given to the poor? This is a practical exhibit of defense that he came to Jerusalem not disturb the city but to promote the betterment of the city by helping the people in need. Giving gifts to the poor was Paul’s counter-affidavit to the charge that he was stirring up riots among the Jews.

Why did Paul speak also of the offerings he presented? The Lord teaches not to let others know the good things you do, right? In Matthew 5:2-4, ² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

He thought that to tell about what he did in Jerusalem can help the governor and his accusers understand that he was far from kind of person Tertullus the lawyer pictured in the charge against Paul. Telling other about the good things they do expects some kind of appreciation or commendation. Contrariwise, Paul spoke of the good things he did in Jerusalem to defend himself or to invalidate the charge against him.

¹⁸I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.

Paul challenged the charges that the lawyer Tertullus presented to the governor.

Paul said that he was ceremonially clean, no crowd with him, nor involved in disturbance,

He contested their accusation. Tertullus said in Acts 24:5-6, ⁵ “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect ⁶ and even tried to desecrate the temple.

Truly, opposition of the gospel would try to discredit every good work God is doing in the life any obedient disciple.

Greatness

During election, the media is full of accusation against any good and sincere candidate. Those who are more popular or those who have probability of winning get greater share of attacks from opposing candidates. But for the unknown personalities, they get fewer shares of protests or objections because they are sure losers.

Similarly, great athletes are called great because they overcame great challenges. Even when applying for a job. Good paying job opportunities attract great competition. In school, the aspiration to be top-notch or most outstanding in class does not attract mediocre students. Exceptional students strive to be the best of the best.

Likewise, when believers grow greater in their faith, they would be faced with much greater challenges, why? God want each believer to grow to the level of maturity of Christ, why? God allows us to experience things appropriate to our faith. There are great things to be experienced with the Lord, more than we can ever think or imagine.

The menial problems and death are the greatest problem of man. Christ has overcome death.  If Christ has conquered the greatest problem of mankind, by God’s grace, He can help us to overcome all challenges that He allows us to experience.

God has proven that His grace is sufficient for Paul. Enemies wanted to harm him but the Lord delivered him from harm. His accuser had no valid proofs to their charges.

2.  Proof

¹⁹ 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.  ²⁰Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— ²¹unless 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.’”

Paul defended himself not save himself from harm but he related his defense to his belief of Christ’s resurrection. Paul was quick to shift from delivering his counter-affidavit to proclaiming the resurrection of Christ.  He insinuated that those who accused him were actually opposing him because he proclaimed the resurrection of Christ. He presented the idea that the trial was actually about the resurrected Christ and not necessarily about disturbing peace or desecration of the temple.

His accusers cannot disprove that the resurrection of Christ is false because they knew all along that others were also talking about it and not just Paul. They targeted Paul because he was very vocal about the resurrection of Christ. And each time the resurrection of Christ is mentioned, His death is mentioned, and those who killed Him are sure mentioned.

If you are living by God’s grace your storyline have similarity to the storyline of Paul’s life. Living by God’s grace becomes more challenging and difficult for human efforts. As a church, how should we approach our ministries? Shouldn’t be more by God’s grace?

 Day Care Centre

Who would like the idea of having a “Day Care Centre” run by the church? It’s a good ministry right? What can the church benefit it we start a “Day Care Centre?” Does the church have the right approved by the government to implement curriculum that suitable for a Christian school? Can we impose our belief to student from non-Christian families? Can we exclusively admit Christians only?

“Day Care Centre” can be a very noble of good ministry but we need to consider its implication to the church. I would openly support “Day Care Centres” run by Christians but for “Day Care Centre” run by the church, it needs experts in that field.

Like “Day care Centre,” there are ministries that may distract us from fulfilling the purpose of the church. There are many popular ministries out there called social gospel. They are efficiently run by qualified individuals. Are we mandated to follow their style?

The Lord fashions each church very uniquely. One church has different character from the other. We need to be more prayerful to find out what God’s will is for us.

Keep praying that our church leaders will be able to discern the will of the Lord. It is easy to be attracted by the styles of successful church. But Christ did not instruct us to follow the styles of others. Each church has its unique personality and character. We need to know God’s will. The church leaders need to know God’s will for our church.

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In Romans 12:1-2, ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

What does offering your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God means to you personally? What does the phrase “do not conform to the pattern of this world” mean to you in relation to our approach of ministry?

When our mind is renewed by the Lord, our lifestyle will be transformed, that’s when we will be able to know the will of God—things that He approves that we should do individually and as a church.