I don’t suppose you would think very highly of an organization whose leader was on public trial for evil and perversion, would you?
Here we have a well-known Christian leader who is being accused of evil and perversion. (Acts 24:5.) I don’t think talking about this will put people off believing Christianity is real. In fact, I hope this story will make some people want to become real Christians.
The accused man, a bishop or “overseer” of the Christian Church, had been promised that he would be sent to Rome, where the Emperor would decide whether or not he was guilty. (Acts 25:10-12.)
Meanwhile, Festus, the Roman governor, was holding the prisoner at Caesarea. When King Agrippa came to visit Festus, he was told about the problem Festus had over having the apostle Paul as his prisoner. His opponents, Festus said, "… did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus, whom Paul claimed was alive.” (verses 18-20.) So, Paul was blameless of any crime!
“Agrippa said to Festus, ‘I would like to hear this man myself.’” (verse 22.) Festus promised they would hear the blameless bishop the next day. (verse 22.)
In the Holy Bible, one of the conditions for a Christian leader, who teaches and watches over other Christians is, “An elder must be blameless, … Since a bishop is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless … " (Titus 1:6-16.)
The fact that even Paul’s opponents could not accuse him of any evil crime shows that he was a good example of a blameless bishop.
“The next day Agrippa and (his wife) Bernice came with great pomp and ceremony and entered the audience hall with the high-ranking officers and the leading men of the city.” (verse 23.) Paul was introduced as the man whom “all the Jewish people... scream that he should not live any longer”, yet he is blameless of any evil crime! (verses 24-25.)
What will YOU do about the message Paul was hated for preaching? Paul taught that no one was able to bring a person into friendship with God, except the Lord Jesus Christ. (1stTimothy 2:5-6.) Although Paul was blameless of their accusations, he never claimed to be able to forgive sins, or bring people to God. (Acts 13:37-39.) Paul saw his job was just to point people to the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Shepherd and Bishop for their souls. (1stPeter 2:24-25. Ephesians 3:7-12.)
You have a decision to make just now, not what to do about Paul, the blameless bishop, but what will your response be to the message Paul preached about the only Saviour, Jesus Christ. The necessity of having to “repent and turn to God, and prove your repentance by your deeds.” (Acts 26:20. Hebrews 7:24-27.)
Make sure you turn to Jesus Christ, as the only Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of your soul. (1stPeter 2:24-25.)
Read Acts chapter 25, verses 13-27.
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