Inflamed Hearts

After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullius. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent affliction, with utmost gratitude, however, so that I will not burden you further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a hearing. For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes! He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him (and wanted to judge him according to our law. But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, commanding his accusers to come to you.) by examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of." The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so. Acts 24:1-9

It is so interesting to read legal process. Paying compliments to Fleix was the first thing to be done, in this way he could be favourably influenced to the side of the Jews. Felix was married to a Jewess and also had good knowledge of The Way. However, Felix was removed in AD 59 for mishandling conflict between Jews and Greeks in that area.

Tertullius charged Paul with more than taking a gentile into the temple, he accused him of agitating throughout the Roman Empire, this was a serious accusation, one bound to grab Felix's attention. Paul did not take a Greek into the temple, it had been assumed he did. No one asked him if he did, they attacked him because they hated what he represented, The Way. This was abhorrent to them. The Jews from Asia also hated Paul for the same reason, they were the agitators and trouble makers.

People who hate what you represent will fabricate facts to accuse, this is what our enemy does all the time. We have to be honest ourselves if we find we are wanting to oppose a person. What are we inflamed? Did they really do something wrong or are we offended? We cannot take someone else's life or reputation because we don't like that person or are offended by them.

Satan so hates the truth and Christ, we can't be found working for him.

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