Collinsville-Troy CHURCH OF CHRIST

A Different Kind of Plague

Jason Wright

For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5). Who is the WE and this MAN in the text and why was he considered a PLAGUE?

The Lord's church is growing in number and in faith. It is spreading just as Jesus said it would in Acts 1:8. Paul is the man defending himself before the Roman governor in Caesarea. His accusers are Ananias, the elders, and Tertullus. They were all presenting their cases before Felix the governor. As Tertullus offers false accusations against Paul, in verse five he calls Paul a plague.

When I think of a plague, I can't help but think of Exodus 7-11 and the plagues of darkness and frogs and flies and lice and hail. All 10 of them fell on God's enemies, while His people were left untouched. So, how could the Apostle Paul be considered a plague? What was he doing that was so annoying and destructive?

Here are the accusations. Paul was being connected to the Nazarenes. A place considered to be a despised and lowly place. Could anything good come from Nazareth? (Jn. 1:46) Tertullus suggested Paul's bad reputation stretched throughout the Roman Empire. Also, there were accusations of profaning the temple. The orator offered no evidence of this charge. Perhaps, he was repeating rumors from Acts 21.

So, what was Paul guilty of? Was he politically dangerous? Was he trying to destroy the Old Law? Remember, back in Acts 21, the elders in Jerusalem told Paul that he was being accused of teaching all the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses and they should not circumcise their children and to ignore Jewish customs. Of course, Paul taught the Gospel but believed in the Old Law and the prophets (Acts 24:15). So, what was he really guilty of? In Acts 24:15, we are told, I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead (I Cor. 15), both of the just and the unjust.

Tertullus called Christianity the sect of the Nazarenes; Paul called it The Way. Paul would teach the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus with all boldness and courage, and because of this, he was considered a plaque. It would eventually cost him his life.

How much attention do we give to the world and their perception of Christianity? Hopefully, a lot! But not to the point of compromise. We are the light in a dark world. We are meant to shine not meant to be hidden. We are to teach and share and seek and save. Paul taught and defended the greatest message ever delivered, and as a result, he was a different kind of plague. Regardless of what the world calls us, God has called us to show people the way to Heaven thru Jesus.

Who Will Intercede?

Renn Ferguson

Samuel is known as a prophet and Israel's last judge. His mother, Hannah, is known for her devotion to God. She prayed that God would give her a son and if He did, she would devote her son to the Lord. After Samuel was weaned, Hannah kept her word. She gave Samuel to Eli the priest. Eli's sons were wicked men abusing the people and perverting the sacrifices. In a rebuke to his sons Eli said, “If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” (1 Samuel 2:25).

Under Mosaic law if one committed a sin against another the case was to be brought before a judge. The judge then would hear the case and make a ruling on the punishment of the guilty. The one who committed the sin would pay the penalty and would then be free. The two parties would be reconciled. The point is, any infraction against a fellow man could be resolved but what if the sin was against God? To whom could they turn to act as a mediator? The implication of Eli's statement is no one. Under the law, there could not be true, full, reconciliation or justification (Galatians 2:16). This does not mean that those under the law are hopelessly damned. Though the blood of animal sacrifices could not take away sins their faithfulness was rewarded by God in view of the cross. However, at the time, they did not understand this.

Under the New Covenant, we have no such dilemma. We are blessed with a present and full justification by our faith in Christ (Galatians 3:24). Yet, just as all people, we still sin. As John puts it, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Or, “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8,10). What happens when we sin then? Are we in the same position as those under the law? Are we left without one who can intercede for us? No! John goes on to say in the next verse, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) We have one who is ever present before the Father, pleading for us each time we sin.

Let us praise God for His tremendous grace that He extends to us by His Holy Son!