10 When the governor had nodded for him to speak , Paul responded : "K nowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation , I cheerfully make my defense , 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship . 12 " Neither in the temple , nor in the synagogues , nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot . 13 " Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 "But this I admit 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 ; 15 having a hope in God , which these men cherish themselves , that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked . 16 "In view of this , I also do my best to maintain always e a blameless conscience both before God and before men . 17 "Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings ; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple , having been purified , without e any crowd or uproar . But there were some Jews from Asia - 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation , if they should have anything against me. 20 "Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council , 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 .' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 24:10-21
Commentary on Acts 24:10-21
(Read Acts 24:10-21)
Paul gives a just account of himself, which clears him from crime, and likewise shows the true reason of the violence against him. Let us never be driven from any good way by its having an ill name. It is very comfortable, in worshipping God, to look to him as the God of our fathers, and to set up no other rule of faith or practice but the Scriptures. This shows there will be a resurrection to a final judgment. Prophets and their doctrines were to be tried by their fruits. Paul's aim was to have a conscience void of offence. His care and endeavour was to abstain from many things, and to abound in the exercises of religion at all times; both towards God. and towards man. If blamed for being more earnest in the things of God than our neighbours, what is our reply? Do we shrink from the accusation? How many in the world would rather be accused of any weakness, nay, even of wickedness, than of an earnest, fervent feeling of love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and of devotedness to his service! Can such think that He will confess them when he comes in his glory, and before the angels of God? If there is any sight pleasing to the God of our salvation, and a sight at which the angels rejoice, it is, to behold a devoted follower of the Lord, here upon earth, acknowledging that he is guilty, if it be a crime, of loving the Lord who died for him, with all his heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. And that he will not in silence see God's word despised, or hear his name profaned; he will rather risk the ridicule and the hatred of the world, than one frown from that gracious Being whose love is better than life.