Paul's Defense

 Eighth Saturday after Pentecost

Lectionary Texts:

Saturday:

1 Chronicles 16-17

Sunday:

OT: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a

Psalter: Psalm 89:20-37 (UMH 807)

Epistle: Ephesians 2:11-12

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

 

The Governor Felix gives Paul an opportunity to answer the charges against him. Paul's defense is superb rhetoric. Paul justifies himself by showing that his own Jewishness is in full accord with both his thought and his actions. He went to the Temple to offer sacrifices and undergo a rite of purification, perfectly normal things for a Jew to do. He did not cause any disruption in the Temple. The disruption was caused by Jews from Asia Minor (Ephesus to be specific). Those Jews were not present for this trial before Felix, so they could not present any testimony on this charge.

 

The Nazarenes/the Way/the Christians were not an illegal sect in the Roman Empire. They would be 50 years later. Paul says that the only thing he is on trial for is stating his belief in the resurrection of the dead, which neither Ananias, being a Sadducee or presumably Tertullus, his lawyer, would believe in, although many other Jews did.   

Paul has effectively changed the charge against him. He freely confesses to this new charge of his own making. There is nothing illegal in either Jewish or Roman law about believing in the resurrection. Paul avoids speaking about anything that might lead to further interrogation about his beliefs. His purpose is to defend himself, not to convert Felix, or Ananias, or Tertullus. Paul does not mention Jesus or that Jesus is the first-fruits of the resurrection of the dead. Paul testifies to his own belief in and obedience to the Jewish Law. He does not say anything about his teaching that gentiles do not have to follow the Jewish Law in order to be Christians.

Felix has no strong opinion on this case. He knows about the Christians and knows they do not present any particular danger of violence. He prefers not to judge the case until he has talked to the tribune, Claudius Lysias. Felix, like other Roman governors, is much more interested in preserving order than in administering justice. He adjourns the hearing without making a judgment. 

Felix turns over Paul to Roman custody, not in jail but in something of a house arrest situation, allowing free visitation from Paul's friends. As with American law, Roman law can take a lot of time. There is no bail system. Paul will be in Roman custody for the rest of Acts, though seldom in a severe lock-up situation. 

Lord God,

We give you thanks for fair judges and honest lawyers. We are thankful for DNA and other new scientific advances that enable judges and juries to render fair verdicts. May we focus our judgment on rehabilitation and not punishment. In the name of him who renders the final judgment. Amen.

 

Faithfully,

Christian

P.S. Our daughter April's best friend in college and close friend to this day, Myrna Perez, was nominated by President Biden to be a federal circuit court judge (next thing down from the Supreme Court). Myrna is a committed Christian. In her Senate hearing earlier this week she was being grilled by Senator Ted Cruz, who lamented what he regarded as her less than tough stance on punishment of hardened criminals and her apparent opposition to the death penalty. She responded that she believed "God could redeem the life of any person."