THURSDAY January 18, 2024
The Nazarene
“Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”
Acts 24:4-5
The charges against Paul were very serious––a creator of dissension and a ringleader. The lawyer made him out to be some kind of gang leader of the Nazarenes, but he was no such leader. The name Nazarene was used by people to identify followers of Jesus because, as a child, he grew up in the city of Nazareth and was called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
Tertullus, a very sly lawyer, continued to spread a net of lies to entrap Paul by saying:
“He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so (Acts 24:6-9).
What a liar! Did you read about any of these accusations in the book of Acts? Why not call on the Roman commander Lysias, as he saw the whole thing? They were just making up lies. Paul never created the riot. The Jewish mob was attacking and pounding on him!
Meanwhile, Paul stood in front of Felix with a straight face, and he did not say one word––nothing. They were coming against a man who only wanted people to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and for them to enter into the Kingdom of God. The name of Christ infuriated them.
Here we see pure hatred toward Christians, as so often is the case in our world today. There are those who hate the Church, hate the name of Christ, and hate Christians. They will do anything to close the doors of the Church and stop the spread of Christianity. If they have to lie and bring false accusations and false testimony, they will do it.
I never knew how poor was my condition, for I was blind, and all my need unseen; until one day ... I chanced to meet the lowly Nazarene.
~Stanley Ditmer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
