Where Tertullus opened with flattery, Paul opened with a fact. Then he took the prosecution apart piece by piece. Twelve days in Jerusalem is not enough time to start a revolution. No one found him arguing or stirring up crowds. The original witnesses, the Jews from Asia who started the whole thing, were conspicuously absent, which under Roman law was fatal. Then he confessed the one thing he would own: he follows the Way, worships the same God his accusers worship, believes the same Law and Prophets, and waits for the same resurrection. Christianity is not a new religion competing with Judaism. It is the flowering of Judaism’s deepest hope. Paul told Felix he trains for a clear conscience the way an athlete trains for competition. The reason he stood calm before a Roman governor is that he had been doing the quiet work of conscience long before anyone called his name.
What is Acts Daily Devotional Podcast?
What if the story of the early church isn’t just history, but a blueprint for following Jesus today? The Acts Daily Devotional Podcast is a 141-day journey through the book of Acts in the Bible, hosted by Pastor Derek. Each short episode combines Scripture and practical teaching to help inspire your daily chair time with God, whether at home or on your drive to work. Starting April 26, discover how the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to advance the mission of Jesus from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.