Paul the Ringleader
Text: Acts 24:1-9
Introduction
1. “Integrity, the choice between what is convenient and what is right” (Tony Dungy).
2. “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching” (C.S. Lewis).
3. “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.” (Prov. 10:9).
4. In our text today, Paul is in a room with people calling him a ringleader, but he was the only one with integrity.
5. Read Acts 24:1-9
Transition: Let’s take a look as…
I. The Trial Begins
A. So far, Paul has had an eventful journey to Rome. He was attacked by a group of Asian Jews who tried to kill him, until he was rescued by the Romans. Then the Romans tried to beat him to death, until they discovered he was a Roman citizen. Once this was discovered, the Roman commander planned to send him to the Governor, and then he discovered that there was an assassination plot against Paul. So, the commander gathered a large attachment of soldiers to ensure that Paul made it safely to the Governor. Just another day in the office for Paul!
B. Now Luke tells us in Acts 24:1, “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.
1. Five days after Paul arrived in Caesarea, the high priest arrives with an attachment of elders and a lawyer named Tertullus.
2. Based on his Latin name, it’s possible that he was a Roman Jew like Paul.
3. The word translated “lawyer,” comes from the Greek word that means “public speaker.”
4. This is the only time it appears in the NT, but other Greek sources from the time usually used this word in courtroom settings.
5. So, this was the ancient equivalent of the “dream team.”
6. The Jews were so adamant in killing Paul that they brought in a professional, and he was considered one of the top trial attorneys of his time.
C. Then Luke tells us in vv. 2-4, “When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. 3 For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. 4 But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.”
1. Now that everyone was there, the trial began. As was customary, those bringing the charges got to go first.
2. As was also the custom, the lawyer for those bringing the charges, begins with a less than sincere form of flattery.
3. We might call it “kissing up” to the judge. In fact, his flattery takes up as much time as the case does.
4. Tertullus makes it sound like the Jews loved Felix, but nothing could be further from the truth. History tells us that he was a violent and corrupt ruler who was hated by the Jews.
5. None the less, he tried his best to get the Governor on their side.
6. But truth be told, he was lying through his teeth.
7. Prov. 29:5 says, “To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.”
8. It’s one thing to praise someone when it’s true, but another thing to dishonestly exaggerate their character for your own personal gain.
D. Then in vv. 5-6 we read, “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. 6 Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.”
1. Finally, Tertullus got to his case. He made three accusations against Paul.
2. First, he says Paul was a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. This wasn’t true because Paul hadn’t been all over the world, and they were the ones starting the riots, not Paul.
3. Second, he accused Paul of being a ringleader of an unrecognized Nazarene sect, which was against Roman law. According to Roman law the Jews were allowed to practice their religion, but other “new religions” were forbidden. In bringing this up, he was hoping to force the governor’s hand because his main duty was to keep the peace in the region.
4. The third accusation was that Paul tried to desecrate the temple. Again, this was also not true. There reference was an accusation that Paul brought a Gentile into the temple, which was an assumption that wasn’t true.
E. Then Tertullus concluded his argument in vv. 8-9, “You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” 9 Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.”
1. This is most likely a reference to Paul. Felix could learn the truth by examining Paul himself.
2. When he finished, the other Jews put their two cents in by saying everything that Tertullus said was true.
3. However, most of what Tertullus said was a lie. Paul had never disturbed the peace; it was his enemies who were the ones causing trouble.
4. He had never spoken against the temple or tried to desecrate it!
5. This ought to remind us to not believe everything you hear!
Transition: What does this passage teach us about integrity.
II. The Need for Integrity
A. Integrity has to be founded on the Word of God.
1. “A person who has no standard to live by other than the culture of the moment is a person whose principles might as well come from the latest public opinion polls.” (Mike Huckabee).
2. “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.” (Ps. 119:1-3).
3. We have a serious problem with a lack of integrity.
4. We can’t trust our political leaders, our civic leaders, and we can’t trust some of our educational leaders.
5. The reason for this, is we have abandoned the Bible and used the fickle standards of the world.
6. We hear things like, “Look out for number one,” “If it feels good do it,” and “be true to yourself.”
7. We have built our society on the latest whims and impulses we see on social media, on television, and in movies. And the foundation is crumbling.
8. We need to build on the firm foundation of God’s Word.
9. “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matt. 7:24-27).
B. Even in the church, we see a lack of integrity today.
1. “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
2. “It is dangerous to depart from Scripture…most of the controversies that have disturbed the Church have arisen from people’s wanting to be wise above what is written, not contented by what God has plainly revealed there.” (John Wesley).
3. There are things happening in the church world today that thirty years ago would have been unthinkable.
4. The church has abandoned integrity, morality and holiness.
5. Instead, we have embraced immorality based on the ever-changing standards of society.
6. It’s time for the church to return to the Bible and what it plainly teaches.
7. It’s time to build our foundation on the solid rock of Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ, our Savior and soon and coming King!
8. If Jesus and the Scripture is not your foundation, you have no foundation!
C. Don’t believe everything you hear!
1. “You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Deut. 19:15).
2. There’s an old saying, “Don’t believe everything you hear because lies travel faster than the truth.”
3. In our social media society, we should add, “don’t believe everything you read!”
4. These Jewish leaders and their crafty lawyer brought three accusations against Paul, and each one of them was based on lies.
5. The same is true today. People bring accusations against the Lord, the Bible, and the Church. Most of which are lies.
6. Some say that Jesus didn’t exist, that he was a myth. But history tells a very different story. Historical records show that Jesus was a real person, who was crucified on the cross, and was seen alive after his death.
7. Some say the Bible is a book of myths written by men. But there is more evidence to support the Bible than any other ancient document.
8. Some say that the disciples of Jesus made up the story of his resurrection. But there are more than 500 eyewitnesses that saw Jesus alive after his death.
9. The list goes on and on. So, don’t believe everything you hear!
What’s the point preacher? We are in dire need of integrity in our society, and it begins and ends with Jesus Christ and the foundation of Scripture.
