Truth on Trial Again!

The Truth on Trial in the Roman courts again! Just as Jesus stood in a Roman court mocked by the Jews, now Paul stands trial again, mocked by the religious elite of Israel. As the trial opens up we see quickly that the prosecution moves to false whiteness and flattery to appeal to the ego of Felix - the judge. They’ve hired a professional smooth-talking lawyer, but brought no real evidence other than ‘we just don’t like him’. They accuse him of leading a cult against their religion and religious law. However, in Paul's defense, not only does he speak for himself, but he brings evidence of the truth. First, he was only free in Jerusalem for a few days, not long enough to turn the whole Jewish world upside down. Further, his time spent in Asia would have surely brought some upset Jews from that region to bear witness against him, but not one could be found. And finally, he refutes the accusation of starting a cult, but openly confesses his love for the Jewish Law, that is his love of God's word, and bearing witness to the hope he has in Christ through the fulfillment of that scripture. 

Notable points here demonstrate to us that the lie is always upset by truth while the truth has nothing to hide. The lie always wants to be the loudest voice in the room. Yet the truth is always confidently humble. Further, the lie is often afraid of the truth, and when mankind operates in fear, it can get volatile.