Acts 25:1-12 | Bondage to BitternessNäide

Standing against the Face of Bitterness

It doesn’t say how long Paul had to listen to the Jewish religious leaders spew their lies. Ironically, they may have been the same lies Paul once bought into. These were the same accusations these leaders once made against Jesus. The Jewish leaders were in such bondage to their own hatred of anyone they thought threatened their laws and traditions that they didn’t recognize the one whom God had promised to his chosen people.

Their purpose was control and compliance. Paul was showing the way to Jesus, who offered freedom. They had Paul put in prison in an attempt to contain the gospel. Paul heard them speak against him, but knew that they were attacking Jesus. He understood that he didn’t need to defend Jesus, as if he could. This is why he responded,

“I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar” (Acts 25:8, NIV).

This might not have been the response they were expecting from Paul, who was no stranger to debates. Just a simple, direct statement of his innocence. Nothing more, nothing less. He didn’t allow any room for them to engage or try to trip him up. Our natural inclination is to produce evidence that supports our claims of injustices against us. Sometimes, the most effective way to proclaim your innocence is simply to say, “I have done nothing wrong against…”, as Paul did.

Prayer

Pray that God’s truth saturates your life so that the lies of others don’t put you in bondage.