THE INDICTMENT OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
              ACTS CHAPTER 23—Sermon by Ed Bousman

Ladies and Gentlemen, in Acts 23, the Apostle Paul is going to be indicted before the highest Jewish Council, in preparation for three trials that will follow in the process of sending him to Rome. In a similar way there are also three courts we must appear before. The first court is the Court of Public Opinion. The second court is the Court of Conscience. The third court is the  Court of the Word of God. Many people depend on the court of Public Opinion for everything in life from fashion to faith. Morality is decided by what the polls say. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Many times the decision of Public Opinion is, not guilty. However, if you want to play it safe, this decision needs to be appealed to a higher court--the Court of Conscience. Is the decision of the Court of Public Opinion morally right? The decision of the Court of Public Opinion may be over turned in the Court of Conscience. But, then again, many times, the Court of Conscience may be influenced by the Court of Public Opinion. It may also render a verdict of, not

For example, the courts of a hundred years ago would never have legalized abortion. Their verdict then would have been, guilty. While morality has not changed, public opinion has and the courts sometimes will cave in to public opinion and give a verdict of, not guilty.

Isaiah tells about the corruption of conscience when he speaks of those who call evil good and good evil; that put light for darkness and darkness for light; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes. These words find fulfillment everywhere today. The practice of two consenting adults living together without benefit of marriage, used to be regarded as a public disgrace. One lady recently when questioned about it said, "Everybody is doing it." The Court of Public opinion has handed down the verdict of not guilty. Good is now evil and evil is good. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. So, when the decision is appealed to the Court of Conscience, that court of  Conscious that court being corrupted many times, will agree with the Court of Public opinion and also declare, not guilty.

Anything and everything goes. Paul explains the violated conscience when he tells Titus, "To the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving

is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They confess that they know God, but in works they deny Him being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate." Paul expands on this to Timothy when he says that their conscience is seared as with a hot iron. The conscience can develop a callus just as well as the hands. When the heart develops a callus, it is no longer able to feel the pangs of conscience. The decision of both of these lower courts needs to be brought before the highest court of all, the Supreme Court, better known as the Court of the word of God. Here in Acts 23, we have an example of how the Court of Conscience can be corrupted. It is not always safe to let your conscience be your guide. Paul stood before the council led by the High Priest and declared, "Brethren; I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day."

The word of God is the final court of appeal. You can be faithful to the doctrines and commands of your denomination, your preacher or priest, and at the same time be disobedient to the word of God.

At this point, Paul saw that he could not get a fair trial, so he cried out in the council, "Brethren I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope of the resurrection from the dead I am called in question this day." When he made that statement the Sadducees and the Pharisees got in an argument. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, neither angels nor spirits, but The Pharisees confess both. The Pharisees saw the chance of getting revenge on the Sadducees and they forgot Paul momentarily and cried out, "We find no evil in this man, what if an angel, or a spirit hath spoken unto him?" It looks like the Pharisees had a change of heart. Paul is not such a bad fellow after all. He is one of us. But remember that Pilate also said of the Lord, "I find no fault in Him," however, he still gave the order to crucify Him. In the next chapter, Paul reminded Governor Felix that the charge against him was touching his belief of the resurrection. They believed in the resurrection, but like Pilate, they had no intentions of acting on what they said they believed.

I know people who say they believe in the observance of the Lord's Supper every Lord's Day and don't do it. So what else is new? I know people who say they believe there is a Hell and live like the Lord never mentioned it.

There is nothing unusual that Paul should identify himself with the Pharisees when they had so many differences. I can identify with people in all denominations on our common beliefs. I agree with the teaching of many denominations when they tell me they believe that Jesus is the virgin born Son of God. I agree with all denominations that teach that the Lord Jesus will come again and that He might come at any time. I can agree with all denominations that teach that we need to repent regarding the sins of sanctified "shacked-upness," and sexual perversion.

I stand shoulder to shoulder with all denominations that believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. However I cannot agree with any denomination that denies the plain teaching of what Peter told the penitents to do for forgiveness on the Day of Pentecost. The command given is plain enough for all to understand. Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I do not argue the point. I do not debate the point, I simply announce it.

So the Pharisees said, "We find no evil in this man what if an angel or a spirit hath spoken unto him." This reminds me of the time I spoke in a Bible College or. the bogus tongue speaking going on among some of the students. The next day, one student told another that he had been praying for me and the Lord told him that I was a false prophet. The other student told him, that's nothing, I was praying for him the other day and the Lord told me he is all right. I personally don't think that first fellow heard or saw anything and, as far as the second fellow is concerned, I find no evil in this man. What if an angel hath spoken unto him?

In Paul's case, the uproar was so great that the chief captain was afraid they would tear Paul limb from limb. The Pharisees were trying to hug him to death and the Sadducees tried to crush him to death. He ordered his troops to go and take Paul by force from among them and bring him into the castle for safe keeping.

That night the Apostle Paul had a visitor. It was the Lord Himself. Luke tells us that the Lord stood by him. This was an actual visit of the Lord. When the Lord first appeared to Saul of Tarsus, He told him that this was not the only time He would appear to him. He appeared to him at Corinth in a vision. As an Apostle who suffered so much, it was necessary for the Lord to make these personal visits to Paul. This particular visit was important because it told Paul that his work was not done. There is more yet for you to do. Paul may have thought his life was at an end, but the Lord assures him that his ministry will continue. The Lord told him that as he had testified at Jerusalem he would testify also at Rome. Paul, you are going to the Big Apple. His testimony at Jerusalem did not seem to accomplish much, but remember we are not required to be successful.

Our responsibility is to be faithful in the proclamation of the word and Jesus, who gives the increase, will take care of the rest. For now, the Lord assures him that his witness was noted and he would be given the opportunity to witness in other places. His ministry would not be over until the Lord says it is over.

In another sense, the Lord is with us also. He will stand by us in various ways. He has said, "I am with you always even unto the end of the world." He is with us in our various ministries, He is with us in time of sickness, and He is with us at a time of bereavement. We can be sure that He will be with us at the time of our departure from this planet. Paul tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Not only that, but He will be with us on the Judgement Day when we through His grace are found worthy to stand before the Son of man.

Remember how Moses asked God to tell him who he should say sent him into the land of Egypt to deliver Israel? God told him to tell them I AM that I AM sent you. Jesus, in the Great Commission, used that same name. After telling them to go and preach, baptize and teach some more, He told them His real name. He said He was the great I AM. Listen to these words, I AM with you always even unto the end of the world. The great I AM is the One who is with us as we testify of Him before the human race. He has stood with us on this radio ministry for almost forty years.

Now the plot thickens. While the Lord is appearing to Paul, there is a meeting going on. Forty men have hatched a scheme to kill Paul. They have bound themselves under a curse that they will neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. When Paul heard about this he must have thought this is strange. The Lord stands by me at night and tells me all is well, and the next day I find out that forty men are plotting to kill me. They tell the chief priests to tell the Chief captain to bring down Paul as though they would inquire more exactly concerning him. When he is brought out of the castle they are ready to slay him.

The thing that spoiled their plan was the nephew of Paul. His sister's son overheard the plot and came and told Paul. If Paul had been like some, he might have said to his nephew, "Don't worry about this plot. The Lord told me last night that everything is going to be all right. I will just wait and see what miracle. He is going to Work to get me out of this mess." We need to be aware that God does not need to work miracles to work out His plan in our lives.  Many times He works through ordinary daily events.

 In this case, there was no lightning, no thunder, no bolt from the blue, just a visit from a nephew. Sometimes the everyday natural events of life, in retrospect, seem super natural. So Paul sent for a Centurion to take the young man to the Chief Captain and that set things in motion for Paul to leave Jerusalem.

We know nothing more of Paul's nephew or his sister other than this event. Although the young man's name is not given, you can be sure he will be remembered in Heaven for this providential event. His name may not have been mentioned in the bulletin the next Sunday morning, but be assured that God remembers. Paul's nephew is like countless members of the Body of Christ. People who render service that may effect thousands of people and who never get any earthly credit. I must speak a word of encouragement to the few among the thousands in this radio audience that support this ministry and make it possible. You are the nephew of Paul to this ministry that reaches thousands all over the world. Think not for a moment that your sacrifice goes unnoticed by the Lord Jesus. Without people like you, people like me are nothing.

Now the Chief Captain made sure the plot of the assassins failed. He called two centurians and ordered 200 soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, three score and ten horsemen, 200 spearmen at the third hour of the night and he commanded that they should provide beasts that they might set Paul thereon and bring him safe unto Felix, .the Governor. Four hundred and seventy altogether to bring one prisoner safely to his destination seems like more than needed, but the Chief Captain wanted to be sure he delivered his prisoner safely. God, in His working, is making sure Paul gets safely through. When God works out deliverance in our lives, He always uses overwhelming power. It was with the overwhelming power of the cross and His resurrection that Jesus used as a battering ram to knock down the gates of death. It will also be with overwhelming power that He will bring to pass our passage from this world to the heavenly realms. Paul reminds us in Ephesians that the Devil is the prince of the power of the air. Could it be that when the Christian dies his spirit passes through enemy lines? The idea of passing through the air, at that time, has found its way into our hymnology. We are reminded of the line from the gospel song that states, "And shout while passing through the air farewell, farewell sweet hour of prayer." If this should be the case, we can be sure that the Lord Jesus will lead us out with sufficient force.

The story of the Rich man and Lazarus informs us that at the time of the beggar's death the angels came and carried him away. That thought has also found its way into our worship in song when we sing, "0 precious cross, 0 glorious crown, 0 resurrection Day. Ye angels from the stars come down and bare my soul away." Rest assured that whatever the plot may be by the demons that infest the air with their demonic mine fields, there are not enough of these venomous spirits to foil the will of God with the safe arrival of His saints to the Heavenly home. We shall be conducted safely out with complete overwhelming power. Then too, think of the Second Coming of Jesus. The saints both those who are left alive unto His coming and those who have departed will all at the same time be caught up with overwhelming power to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.