Daily Scripture Reading Acts 24:1-23

One of the fundamental tenets of logic is that it is impossible to prove a negative. No one can prove that something did not happen. Therefore, when anyone is accused of wrongdoing, the burden of proof should always be on the accuser, not on the accused.

Unfortunately, human emotion and deception often play a part in how people determine guilt and innocence and those who are falsely accused often end up in situations where they have to try and prove they did not do anything wrong. Since it is not possible to prove a negative, sometimes innocent people are considered guilty because the general public assumes the accusers are being honest even though they offered no proof, and the accused can’t prove they did not do what they are accused of doing.

Paul found himself in that situation. Paul was on trial before the Roman governor, and ended up having to defend himself by pointing out that his accusers had not actually proven anything. His story illustrates how easy it is for people in positions of power and influence to wrongly accuse and imprison an innocent person.

The 23rd chapter of Acts tells us about a plot to kill the Apostle Paul which was foiled when Paul’s nephew learned of it and informed the Roman commander. The commander sent Paul to Caesarea at night with an armed escort as protection. The soldiers successfully delivered Paul to Felix the governor, as well as a letter to Felix from the commander, at which time Felix gave orders to keep Paul in Herod’s Praetorium until his accusers arrived to state their case against Paul.

Acts 24:1 ¶ Now after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul.

The word “down” means they came down to Caesarea from Jerusalem.

Acts 24:2 And after Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, ¶ “As we have attained much peace through you—and because by your provision reforms are being carried out for this nation—

Acts 24:3 we welcome this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

Acts 24:4 But, that I may not weary you any further, I plead with you by your forbearance to hear us briefly.

Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

Note the word “dissension”. We know from Acts 23:29 that when the commander brought Paul before the Sandhedrin in Jerusalem to learn why they were condemning Paul, the dispute was over questions about the Jewish Law, none of which deserved death according to the Roman commander. When the lawyer stood before Felix and brought the charges against Paul, he accused Paul of stirring up dissension, which would have concerned the Romans because they insisted on law and order.

Acts 24:6 And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [We wanted to judge him according to our own Law.

It was not true that Paul had tried to desecrate the temple.

Notice the bracket before the pronoun “We”. There is some doubt that the words between the brackets were part of the original text. The brackets cover verses 6b through 8a.

Acts 24:7 But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands,

Acts 24:8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.”

There was some truth to the latter sentence. If Felix had asked the right questions of other Roman governors, he could have ascertained that when Paul visited a city, a disturbance of some sort often occurred. That does not mean the disturbance was Paul’s fault, but the disturbances did take place.

Acts 24:9 And the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

Acts 24:10 ¶ And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul answered: ¶ “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,

Acts 24:11 since you are able to ascertain the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

This trial was taking place in Caesarea, and Paul had been in Caesarea before he went to Jerusalem, so there would have been eyewitnesses who could have testified that Paul went to Jerusalem no more than twelve days prior.

Acts 24:12 And neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor across the city did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot.

Acts 24:13 Nor are they able to prove to you of what they are now accusing me.

One of the fundamental tenets of logic is that it is not possible to prove a negative. It is impossible to prove that something did not happen. That is why in America people are innocent until proven guilty. An accused person does not have to prove he is innocent, the prosecutor has to prove that a crime took place and that the accused committed the crime.

That is the defense Paul relied on. He pointed out that his accusers did not actually present any evidence that Paul did what they accused him of doing.

Acts 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;

Acts 24:15 having a hope in God, for which these men are waiting, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Acts 24:16 In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a conscience without fault both before God and before men.

Acts 24:17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings;

Acts 24:18 in which they found me, having been purified in the temple, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—

Acts 24:19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me.

Once again Paul pointed out that the Jews from Asia, who supposedly had something against Paul, were not at the trial to provide evidence that Paul did anything wrong.

Acts 24:20 Or else let these men themselves tell what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

Acts 24:21 other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

There are two things to note in this verse. First, Paul pointed out that even the men at the trial had not given any proof of any wrongdoing on the part of Paul. Second, Paul got to the real issue which was Paul’s accusers were against Paul because Paul believed Jesus rose from the dead, and the Jewish leaders did not want Paul proclaiming that message because the Jewish leaders were the ones who had conspired to put Jesus to death.

Acts 24:22 ¶ But Felix, having a more accurate knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”

According to Acts 23:26, Lysias is the commander to arrested Paul in Jerusalem and then sent Paul to Felix.

The phrase “put them off” indicates Felix did not really want to make a decision on this case.

Acts 24:23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some rest, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.

Paul’s accusers had not proven their case, and yet Paul was still in prison.

Since it is not possible to prove a negative, the burden of proof should always be on the accuser. Furthermore, people should not assume an accuser is telling the truth simply because the accuser has a position of power or influence. We should not assume that prosecutors, church leaders, business leaders, or politicians are telling the truth when they accuse someone of wrongdoing. They should be forced to present real evidence that proves their accusations.

What examples have you seen of people being forced to try and prove they did not do something?

What are some examples of church leaders, business leaders, or prosecutors making accusations without presenting evidence, and most people assumed the accusations are true because they assumed the accusers would not deliberately levy false allegations?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”