After Paul
was captured in Jerusalem, he had a couple of opportunities to defend himself,
once publicly, and once before the chief priests and the council. He was subsequently
brought before Felix, the governor, because the commander found out that there
were Jews who lay in wait for him.
There are
two points that I noted in today’s reading of Paul’s defence before Felix.
Firstly, it
is Paul’s blamelessness that strikes me. Paul was able to speak so freely and
confidently before Felix because of his clear conscience.
“I myself always
strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:16)
Indeed, he
was not guilty of any disputes or mob, like what the Jews might have tried to
suggest. Who can accuse you of something which you have indeed not done?
That’s the
power of having a clear conscience. We have done nothing against the
commandments of God, and we have done no wrong to anyone. We are able to walk
with our heads high because we know that we have indeed done no wrong, and God
can attest to that.
On the
other hand, one who is guilty of deeds done against God or men (especially
secretly) will find himself without peace. If he was to be placed in a similar
situation like Paul, his voice will surely not be as loud and confident as
Paul’s.
On the last
days when Jesus comes again, if we were to be called up one by one to give our
defence before God, giving an account of what we have done or not done, will we
be able to stand before God with a clear conscience? Can we speak boldly and
with confidently, being blameless before God?
Of course,
this is not to say that we are perfect creatures and ought never to be guilty
of any trespasses and that if we were to commit any wrong, we are condemned.
Being in
the flesh, we will definitely have moments of weakness and times when we fall
into sins. However, if we are able to confess our weakness and our sins before
God, asking Him to wash us clean and help us to do right, then Jesus’ blood
would continue to cleanse us of all unrighteousness and justify us before God.
In other words, we remain blameless in the eyes of God.
The second
thing that strikes me was how Paul still maintained his stand of believing in
Jesus Christ and declared it openly so, despite the fact that this was
precisely the reason why the Jews captured him in the first place.
“But this I confess to
you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of
my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the
Prophets.” (Acts 24:14)
If we were
in Paul’s circumstances at that time, what would we have said? Paul said it so
plainly, but it must have come with conviction and with true knowledge and deep
faith, knowing that this is the True Way. He did not reject the Old Testament
Scriptures, nor the Jewish God, drawing parallels with the Jews who spoke
against him, but testified of the Way. Are we able to speak with such
conviction the next time we are questioned regarding our faith?
May we be
blameless in our journey of faith and learn from Paul’s confidence that arise
from his clear conscience and conviction.
