We serve God in times of glory and shame, whether the things people say about us are good or bad. We’re genuine, but people treat us as if we were fakes.
Some people claim that they’re Jews, but they’re not. They’re lying. They’re a synagogue of Satan. I’m going to make those people come and fall down at your feet and admit in public that I have loved you.
“We’ve found that this Paul is a troublemaker. Everywhere he goes in the world, riots break out among the Jews. He’s the leader of a cult called the Nazarenes.
Demetrius has a good reputation with everyone, and even with the truth itself. We can also vouch for him personally, and you know you can trust our word.
If we’re going to think like that, we might as well say, “Let’s do evil things so that good things will happen!” Some people lie about us and claim that this is what we teach. They’re the ones who will be found guilty, and they’ll deserve it.
The men answered, “We’ve come from Cornelius, a Roman commander. He’s a good man who worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to invite you to his house so he could hear what you have to say.”
The leaders warned Peter and John again and then let them go. They didn’t dare punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you’re honest and that you don’t let other people tell you what to do or say, no matter how important they are. Instead, you teach the way of God truthfully. So, according to the law of Moses, is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar, or not?
They sent their disciples to him with some of the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you’re a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t let others influence what you do or say, no matter how important they are.
It’s enough for students to be like their teachers and for slaves to be like their masters. If the head of the household has been called Beelzebul, the prince of demons, what should the others who live in the house expect to be called?
A leader must also have a good reputation among those who are outside the church. If it turns out that he’s done a lot of wrong things, he’ll be embarrassed, and the devil will be able to ruin his work.
Instead, we refuse to do secret and shameful things. We don’t trick anyone, and we don’t twist God’s word. We do just the opposite! We present the truth plainly so that everyone can judge us in their own conscience before God.