The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 24:10-21, ”When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: ‘Knowing 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.

PAUL CONTINUES HIS CHEERFUL, OPENING NARRATION.

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.

STILL, SOME THINGS THEY SAY ABOUT ME ARE TRUE…

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.

MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR BEFORE YOU AND BEFORE GOD.

16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

LISTEN TO A NARRATIVE OF WHAT OCCURRED…

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 any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—

…AND, BY THE WAY…

19 (THEY) ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me.

…MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE ONES THAT BOTHERED
TO COME…

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.'”

Have you ever witnessed a trial in a court of law? It’s an interesting
experience. Listening to witnesses gives you a sense of whether they are being honest. Watching the jurors’ behavior is interesting, too. I even once saw a judge go to sleep on the bench.

But, did you ever hear of a witness challenging his accusers?
If the accusers wanted him found guilty, why are they not here to
accuse him at this trial? I think it was Samuel Clemons who said,
“Always tell the truth and you don’t have to remember anything.”

Someday, we will all stand before the LORD. We won’t have to
say a thing because He knows everything about us: those who
belong to Him, and those who don’t. If you’re in the group that
has not trusted Him, it will then be too late… Confess all of your
sins to the LORD today. He already knows everything about all of
us. And He never sleeps on the Bench!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We may never know that Christ is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.”
– Corrie ten Boom