Find

Paul has been turned over to Governor Felix in Caesarea for trial. They are waiting for Paul’s accusers to arrive so the trial can begin.


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. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “Your Excellency, you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. 3 For all of this 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. 5 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. 8 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.


Find. I love the fact that Tertullus challenged Felix to “find” the truth in his accusations because most of the truth had been covered up or distorted. Here are a couple of examples: Felix hadn’t provided “peace” or “reforms” as much as he had provided “tyranny”. The Jews weren’t “grateful” as much as they were “fearful”. Paul hadn’t been stirring up riots “among” the Jews as much as the Jews had been stirring up riots “against” him. Paul wasn’t trying to “desecrate” the Temple as much as he was trying to “consecrate” a Jewish vow. The Jews didn’t “arrest” Paul as much as they tried to “assassinate” him. You see, the truth was there ... distorted by jealousy and covered up by pride. Seriously, in reading this part of the story, I am reminded of the importance of diligently seeking the truth whenever someone shares with me an accusation against someone else.