“But this I confess thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” (KJV, Acts 24:14-15).
“But this I confess thee”
In context, Paul is defending himself before the Roman governor, Felix. He starts by stating his confession. The Greek word translated as confess is homologeo which carries the meaning of acknowledging, confessing, and professing.
“that after the way which they call heresy”
Paul starts by speaking of the way. The term “the way” was a common description of early Christianity. In John 14, Jesus stated that He was the way, truth, and life and that nobody can get to the Father apart from Him. Jesus’ words in John 14 are the origin of the term “the way.”
The term is stated several times in Acts. For instance, the Bible states, “But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9). Later it is said, “And the same time there arose no small stir about that way” (Acts 19:23).
The miracle is that Paul confessed what he once sought to destroy. In Acts 9, Paul was a murderous man. He had recently been involved in the death of Stephen, who was likely the church’s first martyr. Paul was enraged against the way, and the Bible states, “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2). Saul went to Damascus with letters from the great high priest intending to extradite Christians to Jerusalem for trial and punishment for being a part of the way.
As a result, Paul believed at one time that Christianity was a heretical movement that opposed the Old Testament Scriptures. He believed the way to be unorthodox and in line with what would be properly deemed a cult in today’s language. However, Paul took a turn on the Damascus road and never looked back. But Paul’s transformation was not accepted by all. Instead, many of Paul’s former companions persisted in believing the way was a heretical movement.
“so worship I the God of my fathers”
But this did not deter Paul from proclaiming what he believed. Paul believed that the way was rooted in the God of his fathers rather than being unorthodox. To say that the way was heretical and thus unorthodox would be like saying, “The way has departed from historical Judaism.” However, Paul wanted to make it clear that it did not divert. Instead, the way was founded upon the God of Paul’s fathers.
In speaking of the God of his fathers, he spoke of the God of Israel. Thus, Paul declared first that he had not delineated to a different set of beliefs.
“believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets”
Instead, Paul claimed his beliefs were founded upon the law and the prophets. In speaking of the law and the prophets, Paul spoke of the Old Testament Scriptures. Elsewhere, Jesus has said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:17-18). Later Jesus stated, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). While the Sadducees denied parts of the Old Testament, Paul vehemently declared that he believed all things found within, including the prophecies fulfilled in Christ.
The law and the prophets spoke about Jesus in several ways. Genesis tells of the one who would come and bruise the head of Satan. Deuteronomy speaks of the Prophet like Moses. 2 Samuel tells of the King that would sit on David’s throne forever. Psalm 22 speaks of the crucified Christ. Parts of Isaiah 52 and 53 tell of the Suffering Servant Who would die for the transgressions of man. Daniel foretells of the Anointed One Who would be cut off from the people but at the same time make atonement for sin and usher in an age of reconciliation. Finally, Zechariah tells of the piercing of Christ. The list could be added to, but the point is clear. Paul believed what the whole of the Old Testament said, unlike the Pharisees, who denied the prophets by denying Christ, and Sadducees, who denied even more.
“And have hope toward God”
Thus, Paul could have hope toward God. The hope he spoke of was the hope of eternity and the resurrection of the dead. Elsewhere, Paul would tell the church of Colossae, “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the gospel” (Col. 1:5). Paul also wanted to assure Titus of his eternal hope and stated, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Jesus Christ is the believer’s Blessed Hope. He is the hope of eternity.
“which they themselves also allow”
Yet again, Paul wanted his hearers to know he was not off track in his thinking. Paul was not only a defender but a soul winner. He was strategic in his approach, aiming to win over the lost.
In Acts 17, the strategy of Paul is on display. He went before many philosophical thinkers of his time. He did not simply seek to win a debate; this is clear. Instead, he stated that they were men who were looking for God. He even spoke of one of their false gods as having an inscription of being an unknown god. Thus, Paul strategically touched upon areas that may influence them to Christ. First, he spoke of them as being interested in God. Then he talked about His God to spark their interest. Next, he spoke of their unknown god. Then He talked about His God, Who they did not know.
Similarly, Paul gently brought up the allowance for his beliefs based upon the Old Testament. He was not angry, nor was he forceful. He was not overly zealous to appear like a freight train coming through town. Either get on board or get out of the way. Instead, his speech was gracious and seasoned with salt.
“that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust”
Based upon the resurrection of Christ and the Old Testament Scriptures, Paul knew there would be a resurrection of the just and the unjust. Therefore Paul was not the one who was opposed to orthodoxy. Instead, it should have been the Sadducees who were brought forward as teaching heresy, as they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Nevertheless, Paul affirmed the Old Testament and the words of his Savior. A day will come when both the just and the unjust will rise. It is a certainty that this day will occur because Jesus has risen from the dead.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was dead in my sins and trespasses, without hope and without God. I was straying like a lost sheep. But the Captain of my salvation came and died for me. He ransomed my life, and now I am in Your hands. I know that You will take care of me and not let me go. I believe that I will rise with Christ and be with Him forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.