Clear Conscience Series

Clear Conscience

Text: Acts 24:10-21

Introduction

1. “A sleeping pill will never take the place of a clear conscience.” (Unknown).

2. One of the great things about having faith in Christ is the knowledge that your sins have been wiped clean.

3. In our text today, for the second time in defense of himself, Paul states that he has a clear conscience before God and people.

4. Acts 24:10-21

Transition: Let’s take a listen to …

I. Paul’s Defense

A. Last week we talked about the beginning of Paul’s trial before Felix. The Jewish elders brought a high-priced lawyer with them name Tertullus. He tried to sugar coat things with the governor in a most insincere way. Then he brought three charges against Paul, but none of them were true.

B. Now, Paul gets to give his defense for the accusations against him. In v. 10 Luke tells us, “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.”

1. Notice the huge difference between what Tertullus did, and how Paul addressed the governor.

2. Paul didn’t try to kiss up to the governor the way the lawyer had done, he merely told the truth.

3. He simply acknowledged that the governor had been a judge over the Jews for many years, which was true. He didn’t try to over exaggerate the governor’s character; he simply told it like it is.

4. However, he did show respect for the governor.

5. This shows that we can tell the truth and still show respect for others.

C. Now, Paul begins his defense. In vv. 11-13 it says, “You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12 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. 13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.”

1. First, Paul makes it clear that he had only been in Jerusalem for twelve days.

2. He came to the city for the purpose of worshipping the Lord because he was there for the feast of Pentecost.

3. The point is that he hadn’t been there long enough to stir up any trouble.

4. Furthermore, he makes it clear that they hadn’t found him arguing with anyone, nor did they see him starting riots in the local synagogue or the streets.

5. In other words, he was saying that his accusers couldn’t prove anything they had said about him.

6. He knew that they didn’t have a shred of evidence to present against him.

D. As Paul continues in v. 14, he says, “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.”

1. Here Paul affirms that he follows “The Way.” The term “The Way,” is a reference to Jesus’ statement in John 14:6, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

2. People outside of the church used this to refer to the followers of Jesus.

3. But Paul was more than willing to say he was a follower of the Way, but he was not willing to agree that they were a cult.

4. Paul’s point here is that they were the fulfillment of what Judaism is supposed to be. Jesus himself said, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” (Matt. 5:17).

5. The church was not a cult but the fulfillment of the purpose of the people of God.

E. Paul continues in vv. 15-16, “I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.”

1. Rather than going into an argument over Jesus as Messiah, he went to the issue of resurrection and the judgment.

2. These were the same issues he talked about when he went before the Jewish council that started the Pharisees and Sadducees arguing.

3. However, I think the key here is that Paul says he tries to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

4. Paul is saying that he is ready to meet God, and that all people should be ready for that meeting as well.

5. Paul agreed with what Jesus said, “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” (Jn. 16:8).