Acts 28:22 ... "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."
After a long, difficult journey by sea that included shipwreck and spending the winter in refuge on the island of Melita, Paul at last was able to reach Rome. For many years he had planned to visit Rome to preach the gospel of Christ, (Rom. 1:15-16). Now he had arrived and would do this work for the Lord, but not under the circumstances he had expected. Paul would spend the next two years in Rome as a prisoner and would minister only through those who were allowed to visit him.
As soon as possible Paul called the Jewish leaders of the city to come to him so that he could explain the reason for his being there under arrest. They answered 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," (v.21). From this report it seems that Paul's bitter enemies in Judea lost all interest in his case once he was in a far distant land out of their sphere of influence. Then the Roman Jews said, "We desire to hear from you what your views are ... concerning this sect ... that is spoken against everywhere." Here we are given an interesting insight into current public opinion regarding Christianity. In most of the New Testament records we are told how the Lord and also godly men in the church thought of Christianity. Their statements, of course, speak of Christianity, (often called "The Way"), in the highest, most complimentary terms. We would expect that outside the brotherhood of disciples there would be a very different assessment, and this frank statement of the Jewish leaders in Rome reveals it to us. First, they call it a "sect" as though it were an upstart religious movement similar to the many that were then making their appearance throughout the Empire. They did not see Christianity as a unique system from God and not from man. Second, they said that Christianity was "spoken against everywhere." There still survive many ancient sources which bear out the truth of this report when the church was young.
It is necessary for Christians to live in such a way that their conduct makes a good impression upon society at large and draws credit to their religion. Jesus instructs His disciples in Mat. 5:16 to "let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." In spite of our best efforts and most beneficial effects upon the world, however, the Way of Truth will still be maligned, opposed, and even persecuted by some people. Even the perfect, exemplary life of Jesus drew heavy criticism and hostility so great that it led to His crucifixion. Sometimes the excellence of one's life is indicated as much by the resentment it provokes as by the praise conferred upon it. To be denounced by worldly, ungodly people is to be expected in the great struggle between good and evil. We should therefore never be discouraged or dissuaded in our efforts to live for Christ when we are criticized, ridiculed, or even ostracized in our world. With an understanding of the nature of our struggle and our hope fixed on the glorious rewards in store for those who continue "faithful until death," we must with humility and perseverance hold out resolutely for the glorious Lord we honor and worship.
