Acts 23:20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. (NIV)

I am preferring the NIV translation here today because it better serves my purpose. It is not more accurate than other translations, it does not make things any clearer, it serves my purpose.

This is the information age and there is much to be read about anything and everything these days. Almost all of it has conflicting information that can be found if you look hard enough. Some of it is so opposed in viewpoint one or another of the sources is lying.

My use of the NIV translation serves my point in this, “on the pretext”. I once was in charge of data collection and analysis. One could arguably look at the data and say my work was accurate and valid. The truth behind any of it lay in the data collection. The source of the data was just as important as the collection and analysis.

If I were to analyze shipping methods to reduce spoilage of food items and I looked at handling, temperature, duration, and packaging, one can determine the best methods to reduce spoilage. None of that data would tell me anything about the product as it left the processing plant. The quality of the data is useless if the product left the plant rotten to begin with.

Such is the influence of “pretext” information. It serves a purpose to which you have no information to subjectively analyze. None of us have the time and financial resources to do a thorough analysis of information. We rely on the work of others and as long as we trust the source we accept the information. So what is the truth?

Truth is not knowledge. Truth is not understanding. Truth is not a thing to be examined.

John 14: 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Truth is a man and that man is God.

Trust me, I am well informed.