Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2016
Delivered on Lord’s Day Morning, April 1, 1888
“Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: but had certain questions against him of their own superstition and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Acts 25:18,19.
FESTUS is giving to King Agrippa a brief account of the matter between Paul and the Jews. It may not be a very accurate account. For Festus did not profess to understand the business. He was a Roman governor newly come to Judea. He had no acquaintance whatever with Jewish Scriptures nor with Jewish laws. He is, therefore, merely giving to King Agrippa a rough and ready outline of the affair as it struck him. He had never thought it worth his special attention but he was a little puzzled how he should represent the matter to Caesar, to whom Paul had appealed.
Festus is represented by our translators as calling the Jewish religion a “superstition.” I hardly think he would have used so harsh a term before Agrippa who professed to be of the Jewish faith. But yet, as he probably knew that Agrippa’s religion did not lie very deep and was the mere appendage of a man of fashion, Festus was not very particular about the word which he used. And he lighted upon one which may mean “superstition” as the Authorized Version has it, or “religion” as the Revised Version has it.
“Well, well,” he seems to say to Agrippa, “I do not know much about it. I supposed, when the Jews brought this man before me, that he would be charged with a breach of the Roman Law and I was prepared, of course, to deal with the prisoner. But when I listened to their accusation and found that there was nothing in it but some disputes about their religion, I hardly knew what to say. Their controversy is important to them, I dare say. But it can be of no consequence either to you or to me, for it turned very much upon a person of the name of Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
I want you to notice that, rough and ready as this description is, and neither full nor deep, yet on the surface we see that in the controversy we have the same condition of things as we usually see in such conflicts. On the one side Paul’s opponents fought with the weapons of “certain questions,” and on the other hand he defended himself with a bold affirmation. This is the old story of speculation against dogmatism. It is always the way—the adversaries of the Cross of Christ assert nothing but they question everything. They will not lay down a basis nor define their opinions. If they would do this, we might soon demolish their fabrics of falsehood. But all that they propound is “certain questions.”
On the other hand, those who are witnesses for the Lord Jesus have little care about questions, speculations and the boasted outcome of cultured thought. They affirm certain definite facts—they affirm these to be a Revelation from God and there they stand. Brethren, it is, at least, a hopeful token when we are on the side of the affirmation. As to that side which is abundant only in questions, what can be the practical value of its contentions? Can ten thousand questions ease a guilty conscience? Can a myriad of speculations yield comfort for the dying hour? Are we helped forward in true holiness or even converted to the way of life by questions?
Let us take hold upon the Truths of God which are surely revealed, the things which we have tasted and handled and verified. And, holding these intelligently and heartily, let us resolve to hold them to the end. Let us accept that which has come to us by Revelation of the Holy Spirit and let us stand firmly there, as Paul did when he affirmed that Jesus was alive. Let us plainly declare definite Truths of God of which we are not ashamed—Truths which are often disputed but can never be disproved.
Another thing is very noticeable in this somewhat flippant account of the whole affair by Festus—namely that he noticed that the Jews raised certain questions about opinions, superstitious or religious. But Paul made a statement concerning a Person. Paul was seen with half an eye to be the more conscientious and the more religious of the two. But still his religion resolved itself into attachment to a Person—“one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Brethren, the hinge
of the controversy must ever turn upon our Lord, His Divine nature, the authority of His teaching and especially the meaning of His death and resurrection.
Did He die as a sacrifice for sin according to Old Testament prophecy? Did He justify many by bearing their iniquities? Did He, or did He not? The side which Paul takes is that which magnifies Jesus. He finds his chief treasure in the Person of the Savior. May the Spirit of God lead us more and more to contend for Jesus who is not only the Author and Finisher of our faith but the sum and substance of it! Son of God and yet Son of Man. Eternal, yet born into this world. Our Sacrifice and yet our Prophet, Priest and King. Bearer of our sorrow and fountain of our joy. Sacrifice for our transgression and yet source of our righteousness. Jesus Christ is our All in All!