¹⁰When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, ¹¹since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹²Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. ¹³Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.”

Somewhat nonchalantly, Felix motioned for Paul to respond, according him the right to a defense as a Roman citizen. Paul commenced to contradict the charge of sedition. The Jewish antagonists were trying to gaslight Paul and Felix. The term “gaslighting” is a term used today for describing one person’s attempt to alter another person’s perception of reality. It is an involved form of lying, or more simply put, attempting to distort reality. The Jews were asserting strenuously that Paul was doing things to lead people to rebel against Roman authority.

Paul’s response was to simply assert the facts. Absolutely nothing he did, whether in Jerusalem (now for almost two weeks) or anywhere else, or any discussions he had with anyone, could be remotely construed as seditious, or attempting to persuade people to rise up against Roman authority. He invites anyone, as it were, to produce evidence to the contrary. The force of Paul’s argument was essentially this: “Present the evidence.” He was confident that such evidence could not be found, short of false testimony.

Paul follows in the footsteps of Jesus, who was falsely accused:

Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” (Matt. 26:59–61)

What Jesus said was, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). His accusers consciously twisted his words to mean something different from what Jesus meant. Of course, it was a huge stretch, but by that time, Jesus’ antagonists would use any excuse to execute Him. We see the same accusation in the martyrdom of Stephen, whose “wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking” the Jews were unable to refute. False testimony was created that Stephen “incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and later the customs which Moses handed down to us” (Acts 6:10–14).

Lord, I accept that when I faithfully follow You, people will falsely accuse me.