Acts 28:22
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
The setting is Paul's arrival in Rome as a prisoner after wintering at Melita and landing at Puteoli, where by the centurion's permission he stayed seven days with Christians and then traveled the one hundred and forty miles to Rome. Along the way he was welcomed by Roman Christians who had eagerly expected him since receiving his epistle to the Romans and who loved him the more because he came in chains and suffering. Though in chains and facing death, he trusted God's word against the power of Nero's empire.
The words were spoken by the leading Jews in Rome three days after Paul arrived. They said they had received no public or private letters with charges against him and that none of the Jews who had come to Rome had accused him of any crime. They expressed a strong desire to hear for themselves Paul's own thoughts and reasons for his faith in Christ. They described Christianity as a sect spoken against and opposed everywhere. They regarded it as replacing their ancestral religion and as causing disputes and divisions harmful to the people.
Because they themselves desired to hear, a day was set for presenting the truths of the gospel. At the appointed time many assembled, and Paul related his own experience and presented arguments concerning Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets. He testified about the kingdom of God from morning till evening with simplicity, sincerity and power.
The description applies to those laboring for souls by preaching unpopular truth, to God's people, to Sabbathkeepers, and to followers of the message. They are likewise a sect everywhere spoken against, looked upon as degraded, despised and opposed in every place. They are counted as worthless, treated as society's refuse, and dismissed as weak-minded, poor, low people holding strange teachings.
Because this reproach is already widespread and is not always undeserved, since foolish conduct and the inconsistent conduct of some professed believers give critics reason for such talk, those who bear the message must act with caution, discretion, circumspection and faultlessness. They must so live as to commend the truth to unbelievers, especially those disposed to receive it, and must take an elevated position lest they misrepresent the truth and stand in the way of would-be believers. They must live out faith in every particular with the truth reforming their lives, being prompt and neat and keeping business matters straight. For the truth elevates, cleanses, purifies, sanctifies, fits for translation and prepares for fellowship with holy angels and sinless beings in the kingdom of God.
In particular, those who go with the tent effort must lay aside gallantry and attention to females and avoid even sociability with females and anything like intimacy or courting. They must abstain from the very appearance of evil and utterly abhor such behavior, or they will certainly be spoken evil of.