14 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: (Acts 24:14 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here the apostle answers the second part of the charge brought against him; namely, the charge of heresy, and being the ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Where note, That although the apostle would not, out of his great modesty, take upon himself to be one of the heads or chiefs among them, a ringleader, as they styled him; yet as to the owning of that way, notwithstanding all the imputations they had cast upon it, he doth it with the greatest freedom and courage, in the presence of his judge and accusers; This I confess, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I, &c.
Here observe, 1. The false imputation that Christianity suffered under in its first appearance; After the way which they call heresy. It is no new thing to nickname the worshippers of the true God to call them heretics and their way of worship heresy.
Observe, 2. The way taken by St. Paul to remove this false imputation; namely, by an appeal to scripture and antiquity: So worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the law and the prophets.
Where note, How he appeals to scripture as the ground and rule of his faith, the law and the prophets; and then he appeals to the best and purest antiquity for the object of his worship; So worship I the God of my Fathers.
Observe, 3. The freedom and courage of Apostle Paul in owning his religion, notwithstanding these false imputations, even in the presence of his greatest enemies, and when they were in hopes to destroy him for it; This I confess unto thee. The apostle abhorred that mean and base-spirited principle, which makes it lawful for men to deny their religion when it brings them into danger: no, he valued his religion above and preferred it before, his personal safety.
God Almighty inspire us with the same courage and holy resolution, that when our adversaries of the church at Rome pronounce us heretics and call our religion heresy, we may answer them as our apostle answered their forefathers, the subtle Pharisee, After the way which you call heresy, so worship we the God of our fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets.