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Two things are of prime importance in this scripture;

1. Paul's answer to the charge of heresy; and —

2. Paul's preaching to the Roman governor and his lady.

I. PAUL'S ANSWER TO THE CHARGE OF HERESY OR OF BEING THE RINGLEADER OF A SECT. A heresy is an opinion which someone chooses to hold, and which becomes conspicuous because it is not the commonly held opinion. Paul freely acknowledges that his way is the way which "they call" a sect or a heresy. He does not accept the popular and prevailing views. He confesses the sin, if it be a sin, of being in the minority. But having made that acknowledgment, he proceeds to defend that heretical way as the way of the old faith and hope. Paul's trouble was not that he did not believe enough, but that he believed too much. "That is the sum of my offence" — he says — "that I believe in all things which are according to law and which are written in the prophets." "I belong to a sect!" he indignantly cries, "much more a leader of it! Nay; but I serve the God of our fathers, and I accept the revelation which He gave them in all its fulness." That is a noble defence to make against such a charge, if it be a true defence, That has been virtually or actually the defence of the whole line of prophets and reformers from the days of Elijah down. The Church of God has from time to time settled down to a half belief in both His law and His love. A few earnest souls accept the message and apply it to their consciences and lives. Soon the cry of "heresy" and "a sect" is raised. But it is only the forgotten truth which was always in the Book, and which has been overlaid by the rubbish of neglect or overgrown by the weeds of sinful indulgence and its consequence, which has been brought to light. It is so easy to disbelieve some of the contents of the law and the prophets. Here was one party in this Jewish Church who had given up all belief in the supernatural, and another party who, putting it all in their creed, allowed it no weight in the conduct of their lives. Paul says, "I keep to the old faith, and the whole of it; and that is my offence." Paul also defends his way as that of the old hope. He believes in the resurrection both of the just and the unjust. There is glory in being a heretic when the common faith is lifeless and the common hope is dumb. But no one can be called a leader of a sect who in the decay of faith goes back to a vital faith. He represents the old faith and the old hope, and not a new. Paul also defends his way as that of the old righteousness. With this belief in the totality of revelation and this hope based on it, the apostle was striving to live a truly righteous life. He does not say that he has fully attained it, but he is seeking after it. He exercises himself "to have a conscience void of offence toward God and man alway." He is following the light of conscience enlightened by God's Word, and he follows it without fear or faltering. His heresy is too great moral earnestness; too large a receptivity for the whole truth of God.

II. PAUL'S PREACHING TO THE ROMAN GOVERNOR

(George M. Boynton.)

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KJV: But this I confess unto 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:

WEB: But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;