2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 4:5-5:17 ESV, Acts 25:1-27 ESV, Psalm 5:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 18:19 ESV
Daily Verse: “So, said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.” (Acts 25:1-27 ESV)
TOUTO (5129) & ATOPOS (824): Touto: “to (in, with or by) this (person or thing). Atopos: Out of place, i.e., improper, injurious, wicked. This word means lit, “out of place” and denotes unbecoming, not befitting.”[i]
Out of place.
Paul, appealing to Festus, asks what he’s done wrong. Whoever thinks Paul has done something out of place must accuse him. But they can’t because Paul hasn’t gone against Jewish laws or Caesar. So Festus decides to send Paul to Caesar.
In today’s world, false accusations happen regularly. Thanks to social media, lies can travel the world faster than ever. When truth becomes apparent, people don’t recognize it. No matter how we share the message, one thing remains the same: Jesus.
Eternal truth.
Paul’s accusers don’t have a case. But because they tried, Paul spoke in front of kings and queens about Jesus. To gain the audience of royalty, Paul suffered false accusations. Following Jesus takes us places we never thought we would go and gives us opportunities we didn’t know we would have.
Jesus never said we would have an easy life. Christ offers eternal life to those who place their faith in Him. On this earth, we will suffer in a myriad of ways. Our reward awaits in the peace of heaven.
The next time you experience false accusations, remember Paul’s story. God has a plan, one that has eternal consequences. Follow Him closely, and God will use in miraculous ways.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 47 & 252) Thomas Nelson
