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This Sect Everywhere Spoken Against – Acts 28:22
This Sect Everywhere Spoken Against – Acts 28:22
The Jewish leaders informed Paul: “They said to him, "We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere." (Acts 28:21-22).
Sect or THE way? Judaism had broken itself into differing ‘sects’ such as the Pharisees (cp. Acts 15:5) and they considered the Christians to be of ‘the sect of the Nazarenes’ (Acts 24:5, 14). The Christians on the other hand spoke of themselves as being of ‘THE way’ (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:22), the way of the Lord (Acts 18:25), and the way of God (Acts 18:26). Jesus himself had said that he was ‘THE WAY, the truth, and the life and that NO MAN could come to God except by Him” (John 14:6).
Already in Rome when Paul arrived! This shouldn’t surprise us as we saw there were ‘visitors from Rome’ that were in Jerusalem to hear Peter’s first sermon (Acts 2:10). Then later, Aquila had been in Rome, left, and by the time Paul wrote the Roman letter had returned (Acts 18:2; Romans 16:3). Paul in fact greets by name many other believers in Rome (Rom. 16:1ff).
Already causing problems! These Jews of Rome had NOT been in contact with the leaders that lived in Jerusalem, yet they were well acquainted with the evil reports concerning the Christians! All the way to Rome itself, the report of their faith was being spoken of. From the problems the Christians had elsewhere in the New Testament, we can understand why they were spoken against! They were ‘exclusive’. It wasn’t ‘a way’, but THE way, and Jesus was the ONLY way to be saved (cp. Acts 4:12). They would not join with the Pagans, nor the Jews, nor the Romans in their worship of Caesar. They were thus considered ‘narrow-minded’. They demanded holiness among themselves and refused to join in the worldly amusements of the day. They even believed that this ‘Jesus’ had been crucified, raised from the dead, and made to be Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
Paul’s response? “… he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening: (Acts 28:23). Jesus died and was raised. He is the Christ – the promised savior. He is the King descended from David. All will stand before Him to be Judged by Him. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD.
Result? SOME were persuaded! Which means MANY were NOT! And so it is yet today. The People of God are spoken against everywhere, yet we maintain our preaching of the gospel, our narrow-minded exclusiveness, and our holy manner of life. The result is the same: we persuade some! Are you persuaded?
Hugh DeLong
Notes
Acts 15:5 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
Acts 24:5 5 "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Acts 24:14 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;
24:14 “The Way” This was the early title for Christians which emphasized that Jesus is the way to God (John 14:6) and a lifestyle fellowship (cf. 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:22 and possibly 18:25–26). The way of the Lord 18:25, the way of God 18:26
Acts 2:10 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
Acts 18:2 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,
Paul knew of these Christians long before he ever set foot in Rome. In the letter he wrote to the Roman believers he is able to mention many by name! (cp. Rom. 16:1ff).
