“But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.” Acts 28:22

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A bit more literally, “And we deem it worthy to hear from you what you think, indeed, for concerning this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is contradicted” (CG).

In the previous verse, the Jews let Paul know that they had not received any letters from Judea nor any bad reports from those who traveled from there. Now, they next show their curiosity about Paul’s message, saying, “And we deem it worthy to hear from you what you think.”

These leaders had heard about the message of Christianity and they wanted to hear it explained by the person who seemed to be the main voice behind it. This was probably more interesting to them now that they had heard the Jews in Jerusalem were after him.

Seeing the chain around him and a guard standing right there made it a true point of curiosity that they wanted to see satisfactorily resolved in their own minds. And so they continue, saying, “indeed, for concerning this sect.”

They especially deem it worthy to hear what Paul thinks because they use the same term, hairesis, as was used by the lawyer Tertullus during Paul’s trial. It is the root of the modern word heresy, but this is not the intent at Paul’s time. It deals with the matter of a personal choice within the confines of the overall religion. Hence, there were sects of Pharisees and sects of Sadducees, etc.

In Paul’s case, he was of the sect known as the Christians, specifically followers of Jesus. The term Christian comes from the Greek word signifying Christ which bears the same meaning as the Hebrew word Messiah. Both mean Anointed One.

In Israel, there were many “messiahs,” over their history. Therefore, one needed to know specifically who was being heralded as the Messiah. Paul proclaimed Jesus. Of Paul’s sect, the Jews next say, “it is known to us that everywhere it is contradicted.”

These words are a fulfillment of Luke 2 which was prophesied by Simeon –

“Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’” Luke 2:34, 35

Wherever Jews went, or whoever had come to them from elsewhere, they had been speaking against this sect of Jews, and apparently Gentiles, who were proclaiming its teachings. This is evident throughout the book of Acts. Paul, from the start, was considered a pariah because of his proclamation that God had done all the work and that anyone who simply believed could be saved based on that faith.

Life application: Nothing has changed to this day. In some ways, it is becoming more like it was at the beginning. Anyone who proclaims the risen Christ is demeaned and spoken against. The days when the gospel was proclaimed freely and without intimidation seem forever behind us.

This is because man simply cannot accept that grace means grace. It is deeply rooted in us that we must do something to be right with God. When a person finds out that the things he has done do not merit God’s favor, it puts up a wall of frustration and enmity. “How could God not see what great things I have done! I am worthy of His attention! How dare someone tell me that I am not good enough and will never be good enough to merit His favor!”

But this is what the Bible teaches. What we cannot merit on our own, God has accomplished for us. He has set the path that leads back to Him, and that path is found in accepting the message of Jesus Christ through faith. We follow Jesus because He is God. To say that what Jesus did isn’t enough is to say that God Himself has not done enough. It is an act of replacing God with self.

Don’t be caught up in such lies of the devil. They have been used since the very beginning of man’s time on earth, and they are what brought us all this trouble. Trust God! He has done it! Trust Jesus who is the Lord God!

Lord God Almighty, You have done what we can never do. You merit what we can never merit on our own. To You alone, we give our praise, adoration, and glory. You have brought us back to Yourself through Jesus. Hallelujah for Jesus! Hallelujah and Amen.