Integrity On Trial
Notes
Transcript
Pastoral Prayer
Praise God for His awesomeness. He’s worthy to be praised.
Confession of sin
Pray for the sick in our church.
Pray for those who are burdened.
Pray for our missionaries: John, James and Lois, Jennifer
Pray for those who are away on vacation
[SLIDE 1] Introduction
If you have your Bible, then please turn to Acts 22:30. I’m going all the way to Acts 23:11.
30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. 1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ” 6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Today, I’m going to talk about Integrity On Trial.
Illustration
There was once a man who lived in the Middle East.
He was very wealthy.
He had a big family.
Most importantly, he was a man who feared God.
He had godly character traits, such as being a man who was blameless and upright. In other words, he was a man of integrity.
One day, he lost everything through catastrophe. Plus, he suffered health problems.
Afterwards, this man had friends (three exactly) who questioned his integrity. This man’s integrity was put on trial.
They believed that this man lost everything because he was in sin.
Therefore, God judged this man and took everything away from him.
In his dialogue with his friends, this man stood up for himself and said that they’re wrong in their allegation and accusation.
Eventually, God vindicated this man, and restored him and his fortune.
And God rebuked his friends because they have not spoken what is right.
And some of you may know that the story that I gave you was from the book of Job. And his story should give us an understanding of “Integrity On Trial.”
Integrity is a fundamental quality of a person and a vital element of a person’s character.
It refers to someone who consistently upholds moral and ethical principles, demonstrating honesty.
A person with integrity is someone who both speaks and lives in alignment with their beliefs and principles.
As Christians, it means being an upright men and women of God, and having an undivided heart that is consistent to the teaching of God’s word.
From this passage that I read, we will learn that Paul’s integrity is put on trial.
Biblical Theology
Context
Let me remind of you of the context. Paul gave his testimony before the Jewish mob that wanted him dead.
In Acts 21, we remember that Paul was wrongly accused of defiling the temple and teaching the Jews to abandon the law of Moses.
And then Claudius, the tribune, was about to flog him, but it was illegal for him to do since Paul was a Roman citizen.
Now, Claudius, the tribune, was afraid of Paul, a roman citizen. (v.29, cf. Acts 23:10)
Roman citizens cannot be flogged and bound without first going through an official trial.
[SLIDE 2] So, this text begins the following day after Paul’s testimony. And verse 30 provides us the set up of Paul’s trial before the Jewish council.
Now, we haven’t seen these folks in a long time.
If you were here, you should recall back in Acts 4-7 that the early believers, like Peter, John, the Apostles, and Stephen, were arrested for teaching the people about Jesus and His resurrection from the dead.
They also stood before the council and were tried by them.
The Jewish council is also known as the “Sanhedrin,” which literally means assembly in Greek.
The Sanhedrin is like the supreme court of Canada or USA.
It was the supreme council and tribunal of the Jews in Judea. It’s made up of 70 elders plus one high priest.
Claudius commanded the chief priests and all the council to have a meeting, and Claudius brought Paul down and set him before the council.
Here, Claudius is giving Paul an official trial.
These Jewish council should already know about the Apostle Paul.
At the very least, the Sanhedrin would presumably not be as violent in comparison to the mob outside the barracks.
But why? Why would Claudius want Paul to stand on trial?
It’s because, as it says in verse 30, Claudius was desiring to know the real reason why Paul was being accused by the Jews.
Twice already, he’s been trying to figure who Paul was and what he did that got him into so much trouble. (Acts 22:24; Acts 21:33)
Why does Claudius care so much about Paul’s issue? I think there may be two reasons:
First, Claudius wants law and order. The Roman authority perceives any sort of riot or uproar as an attempt to threaten Rome’s authority and stability.
So, when Paul’s life is being threatened, Claudius wants to intervene.
Second, he wants to seek justice for Paul because he was a Roman citizen that’s being accused.
During that culture, Roman citizenship was highly valued.
It offered legal protection and other benefits under the Roman law.
If those two reasons gave Claudius the reason to care about Paul’s issue, then he’s fulfilling his responsibility as a representative of the state, which is to seek true justice and defense for his citizens.
Some of you may think that the Roman Empire was a corrupt and evil nation, which it is to a certain degree in different timeline and ruler. It is capable of great wickedness and cruelty.
However, I personally appreciate Claudius’ stance in doing what is right for Paul.
Some of you may have come from countries where they don’t treat their citizens too well.
When the state is doing its job in performing justice and operating correctly according to the law, it should protect its citizens from criminals and injustice.
So, we move to the next chapter as Paul is on trial before the Sanhedrin.
So, Paul’s integrity is on trial. He has to stand up for himself against the allegation and indictment.
In this message, I want to offer you four aspects of Paul’s trial that demonstrate his integrity so as to endure suffering.
Exposition
[SLIDE 3] 1. The Conscience
Luke tells us that Paul was looking intently at the council.
Now, what’s interesting is that Paul was either staring at them or trying to keep his eyes focused.
Some have commented that Paul had poor eyesights, which can be true.
Later in verse 6, it seems like it took Paul a while to perceive the make up of the council: Pharisees and Sadducees.
Paul speaks to the council, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
This sounds like a rather bold statement from Paul as he begins his defense by appealing to his conscience.
The phrase, “I have lived my life,” is a single Greek word.
It carries a sense of conducting one’s life as a citizen that fulfills his duty and obligation to his community.
He didn’t violate the temple law. He didn’t teach anything that was contrary to the word of God. He didn’t abandon the Jewish custom.
Paul knows that in his own good conscience that he has not done anything wrong before God.
So, Jewish mob was accusing Paul of something that even God doesn’t know (so to speak).
It doesn’t mean that those who believe they have good conscience are always morally right.
Conscience is not an infallible guide to knowing what is right and wrong.
Generally, conscience tells you that you should do what is right and not do wrong.
[SLIDE 4] Even non-believers can sometimes know what’s considered right and wrong.
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
But, conscience cannot always explain to you what is considered right and wrong. It is not perfect.
Our conscience is often informed by our upbringing, sinful culture, and environments, not God’s word.
You can weaken your conscience when you violate it. And when you repeatedly violate your conscience, you become desensitized to wrongdoings and sin.
The Bible calls that a seared conscience, where the sense of moral discernment becomes diminished or distorted.
That’s why there are psychopaths who commit acts that are objectively evil, when they believe they are doing what’s right.
[SLIDE 5] Paul talks about his own conscience in a lot of places in the New Testament. Here are some samplings:
In his defense before Felix, he says, “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” (Acts 24:16)
He says to the Corinthians that he has conducted himself before them with godliness:
12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
As Christians, it is important for you to have a good conscience whether or not you go through trials.
Having a clear conscience is vital because you should not be aware that you have done anything wrong.
If you are aware of sin that you have not repented of, then you can confess your sins before Christ and ask Him to purify your conscience.
Furthermore, we need the word of God to tell us what is right and wrong...
not based on the standard of the world...
But based on God because He’s the one who determines objective morality.
And not only that, we need to live our lives with a clear conscience before God Himself, always trying to be aware of His presence.
Brothers and sisters, are you living your life before God in all good conscience? Or, are you living your life?
If you were being accused and tried for wrong doing, will your conscience tell you that you are innocent or guilty? Will it accuse you or excuse you?
[SLIDE 6] 2. The Correction
Things get a bit violent here. Ananias, who was the high priest, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
Why did Ananias command Paul to be striked?
What Paul said about having a good conscience before God was offensive to him.
Ananias believed that Paul did not have a good conscience and was in the wrong before God. So, as a high priest, he believed that he was defending God’s honour.
So, Ananias tells the folks around him to strike or punch him on the mouth. They literally wanted to shut Paul up.
Am I glad that this doesn’t happen to many preachers at church?
[SLIDE 7] Paul responded to Ananias in verse 3 and hurls an insult and curse at him. There are three things he brings up:
First, God will strike you.
In other words, Paul cursed Ananias with a death threat.
Second, Paul calls Ananias a whitewashed wall.
This expression is awfully similar to Jesus’ accusation against the religious leaders in Matthew 23.
Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees whitewashed tombs.
What Jesus meant is that a person may be clean on the outside, but dead on the inside.
Certainly, what Paul is saying is an insult.
[SLIDE 8] The phrase whitewashed wall may be an allusion to Ezekiel 13:10-11.
In that context, Ezekiel was speaking out against the false prophets who kept promising peace and security, when in fact they’re false peace and false security.
Ezekiel compares their deceptive actions to building a flimsy wall and covering it with a layer of whitewash, giving the appearance of strength and stability.
And when God brings the storm, the walls will collapse.
And what this means is that Paul is calling Ananias a hypocrite.
[SLIDE 9] And here’s the reason why Paul calls him a hypocrite, which is the 3rd thing he brings up: “For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
While Ananias may have looked nice with his high priest robe, he did not fulfill his office in terms of intercession for the Jewish people.
He violated the very law he was supposed to be upholding in his function as a judge.
In Deuteronomy 25:1-2, it mentions that if the man is found guilty, then he deserves to be beaten. (see Lev 19:15 about being impartial)
So far, however, Paul hasn’t been pronounced as a guilty man, yet Ananias commanded Paul to be punched in the mouth as an innocent man.
This is injustice.
A man is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, yet the Jewish council viewed him as a guilty man until proven innocent.
[SLIDE 10] However, Paul was then rebuked in verse 4-5.
We don’t know who spoke to Paul, but they asked a rhetorical question, “Would you revile (literally can mean insult) God’s high priest.”
Paul responded that he didn’t know that Ananias was the high priest. And then proceeded to quote from Exodus 22:28
Why didn’t Paul know that Ananias was the high priest?
I think the more likely answer is that he had a poor eye sight. So, it is possible that he didn’t clearly recognize Ananias as the high priest.
Plus, it is also possible that Paul spoke out against Ananias because Ananias wasn’t acting and functioning like a high priest, so he didn’t know that was him.
If he knew, then Paul may have responded differently.
While what Paul have said to Ananias was right, it still wasn’t good for him to curse the ruler.
Perhaps, Paul was upset and lost his cool. This happens to the best of us.
There’s a difference between knowing:
What to say.
How to say it.
When to say it.
And if you should say it.
Paul was in the wrong here for violating the OT law since he shouldn’t have insulted and cursed the ruler.
This may have been his expression of apology.
But more importantly, it also shows Paul’s desire to follow the Old Testament law, but failed at this moment.
Having integrity doesn’t mean we’re perfect, and never sin and make mistakes.
But, we learn about Paul’s integrity in correcting himself when he’s in the wrong.
When you do and say something wrong, you can still be a man and woman of integrity if you are willing to humbly correct your course of action.
[SLIDE 11] 3. The Conviction
Paul’s integrity is demonstrated in stating his conviction about what he believes. And because of what his believes, he is now on trial.
In verse 6, Paul perceived that the council was made up of Sadducees and Pharisees.
When he saw them, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
Paul explains that he’s on trial because it is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead.
This would also be another of Paul’s theme in his defense (Acts 24:15, 21; 26:6-8; 28:20).
[SLIDE 12] After mentioning the resurrection of the dead, there was a dissention amongst the Pharisees and the Sadducces as they are having a theological argument and divide over the doctrine of the resurrection.
In case you do not know the Sadducees and Pharisees, they represent two different schools of thought in Judaism.
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit.
These were the ultra conservatives in the party.
They only believed in the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) as Scripture, but not the rest.
However, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection.
They believed that the Hebrew Bible (from Genesis to Malachi) was the word of God.
And the various places in the Old Testament talks about the resurrection.
But what’s really odd is that the Sadducees deny the existence of angel and spirit because Genesis talks about them.
So, scholars offered six different views to understand the Sadducees doctrinal denial.
Perhaps the best view is that the Sadducees denied that people in the afterlife will be raised into a spirit or an angel.
One can also say that the Sadducees do not believe in the afterlife.
Perhaps there may be some of you who are skeptical of the afterlife, resurrection, and the existence of angels and spirits. Guess what! You’re no different from the Sadducees.
But let me tell you that Christianity exists and thrives today precisely because Jesus rose from the dead.
Without the resurrection of Christ, Christianity is nothing.
But because Christ was raised on the 3rd day, He appeared to many eye witnesses (around 500 of them) and also the Apostles.
And the resurrection of Jesus is what fueled the early church to be bold in preaching the hope of the gospel to sinners who need to be saved from sin and the wrath of God to come.
[SLIDE 13] Returning to verse 9. Because of the resurrection, there was a great clamor. They were shouting at each other. Paul threw the trial into a confusion, not intentionally.
And then Pharisees rose (and defended Paul) and contended sharply.
Since Paul believed in the resurrection of the dead, the Pharisees protected Paul and did not find him guilty by saying, “We find nothing wrong in this man.”
And then the Pharisees said, “What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”
That’s rather cute. We know who spoke to Paul and commissioned him, right?
Little did the Pharisees know, it was GOD who spoke to Paul, not a spirit or an angel.
It was the Risen Lord Jesus whom the Jews wanted crucified on the cross.
[SLIDE 14] In verse 10, after the Pharisees asked, “what if a spirit and angel spoke to Paul,” the dissenssion became even more violent.
The Sadducees did not want true justice for Paul. They want him condemned. They were not fond of him gaining support from the Pharisees with his doctrinal statement.
So, Claudius, the tribune, was concerned and afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them.
It literally means being pulled apart.
This word is used in Mark 5:4 when the demon possessed man wrenched the chains apart.
So, you can imagine the Pharisees pulling one side of Paul’s arm, and the Sadducees pulling the other.
For the sake of Paul’s safety, Claudius took him away by force and brought him into the barracks.
Here, we learn about Paul’s integrity in standing up for his conviction and beliefs.
He didn’t compromise on his doctrinal stance, even if it means causing tension, contention, and dissention to the point of almost getting himself killed.
Sadly, it is often the fear of men that would cause Christian leaders not to stand up for their convictions because doing so is costly and would get them in trouble.
Perhaps their conviction is not deeply rooted in Scripture.
So, they’re toss to and fro by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
But, if we really want to be a man and woman of integrity before God with a clear conscience, then we must have conviction about our beliefs and doctrines.
And this conviction can only be formulated through the careful study of God’s word.
And when you carefully study and read God’s word, you would become convinced, “Thus Saith The Lord. This is exactly what God’s word teaches and means.”
[SLIDE 15] 4. The Courage
What’s interesting is that the Risen Lord appears to Paul after the Sadducees (and even in this world) denied the very existence of the resurrection.
It’s possible that Paul may have been going through some discouragement and perhaps fear during this evening.
He’s uncertain of what his future will hold.
Will he live to see another day? (we know that the Jews will plot to kill him)
However, the Lord spoke to Paul with a word of encouragement.
He didn’t say to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You’re done with your task now.”
Instead, Jesus strengthens him with a commandment, “Take Courage.”
Why did the Lord command Paul to take courage?
It’s because the Lord isn’t done with him.
Paul may think it’s over for him, but he is not done with his responsibility.
The Lord reminds Paul of his calling and commission in life.
He tells him to take courage because since Paul has been testifying the facts about Him in Jerusalem...
HERE”S THE PROMISE FROM JESUS...
So you must testify also in Rome.
That’s a promise from the Lord Jesus when Paul was going through suffering.
Now, the promise from Jesus sounds rather illogical and unreasonable.
How can Paul get to Rome? Its like thousands of miles away!
Furthermore, how can Paul get out of the barracks with thousands of Roman soldiers that can throw him back into the barracks?
Even if he can get out of the barracks, there are thousands of Jews that want him dead.
The odds are rather stacked against Paul in this situation.
But we know that if Jesus promised him to go to Rome and testify about Christ, then He will provide Paul the means and the way.
Certainly, this requires faith and trust in the promises of God.
We need to be bold and courageous and trust in God’s promises and be found blameless.
The words of Jesus should serve as an encouragement for all of us.
Perhaps you need to hear the words of Jesus this morning, “Take Courage!”
This phrase is often used by our Lord in the gospels, when he says, “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid.”
We live in a corrupt and dark world.
Our culture and society have tragically fallen away from the foundation of western civilization, which is the makeup of family, marriage, and gender.
They have fallen from rationality and true science.
They denied that there is any objective truth in this world.
Truth can only be found in self and your own feelings and desires. (e.g. relativism, subjectivism).
Honestly, when I look at the world and where our culture is heading, I feel hopeless from time to time.
I think about my children (the next generation of young people, myself included) and what kind of world they will grow up in...in a world that is rather confused about what is considered truth and how we can know what is truth.
But, we need to take heed of the Lord’s word.
It takes courage and boldness to have biblical integrity, and not compromise and be divided in biblical principles and truths when time gets tough.
We need to trust in the Lord’s word and trust in His promises as given to His people in the New Testament.
GOSPEL
[SLIDE 16] Application/Conclusion
So, as we are about to wrap up this message, let me review four aspects of Paul’s integrity in his trial:
The Conscience. Paul was being blameless.
The Correction. Paul was being humble.
The Conviction. Paul was being firm.
The Courage. Paul was being encouraged.
[SLIDE 17] As you consider this message, brothers and sisters, and as you navigate the trials and challenges of life, will you stand with unwavering integrity just like Paul and also our Lord Jesus?
Our Lord Jesus Christ stood with integrity as a sinless and innocent man when he was tried by the Jewish council.
If He weren’t a man of integrity, then we will not have the gospel. And Jesus would have died for nothing.
However, He died as an innocent man for guilty sinners. He died as a godly man for ungodly sinners. He died as an upright man for corrupt sinners.
He did so that those who repent of their sins and trust in His death and resurrection would have eternal life.
Their conscience would be purified by His blood.
By the grace of God, they would desire to follow Jesus and live just like Him.
May the Lord grant you the grace and strength to walk in integrity and to endure the evil days ahead. And may your lives be a witness to Christ’s faithfulness and power in your life.
