Have you ever seen someone so convinced they are right, yet they are actually completely wrong? Nowhere is this more apparent than on social media. I heard someone say the other day, “I’ve never seen someone win an argument on social media.”
However, the problem is not social media itself; social media highlights the problem that is in us as humans. Sometimes we are simply ignorant and arrogant (that’s a bad combination, isn’t it?). To be ignorant and arrogant means we don’t know what we’re talking and we’re overly confident in ourselves.
We see in this passage that there is a group from Jerusalem who are very confident that they can take down the Apostle Paul. They are so confident that they travel all the way from Jerusalem to Caesarea to stand before Felix, the governor of all Judea.
We’re going to see that these arrogant and ignorant men do not get their way. They are so confident in their position that Paul should be further punished, yet they are so wrong.
Paul will not be punished further. In fact, not a lot will change in this passage, which is why I’ve labeled this sermon, “More Indecision and More Waiting.”
Before we go any further, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.
(prayer)
Ok, well let’s see what we have going on in Acts 24. We’ll cover the entire chapter.
Let’s start with this:I. The case against Paul.
Look at verses 1-9:
1 Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.
Notice that Ananias (the high priest) and some other important Jews came down from Jerusalem to Caesarea, where Paul was being held in Herod’s palace.
Not only did they come, they showed up with a lawyer. They were serious.
So, this lawyer, named Tertullus, presented their case to Governor Felix.
Notice, first, how Tertullus tried to “butter up” Felix in verses 2-4.
He said, “We enjoy great peace because of you . . .”
He said, “ . . . reforms are taking place . . . . because of your foresight.”
He said they had the “utmost gratitude” for Felix.
He asked that Felix be “kind” so that he would not be burdened any further.
Notice, also, how confident Tertullus was in their position. He said in verse 8, “By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.”
Basically, Tertullus said, “Once you hear the truth, you’ll understand what this scoundrel, Paul, has done.”
Finally, notice the accusations that Tertullus brought against Paul.
In verse 5, he said Paul was a plague, an agitator, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
By the way, they used the term Nazarenes because Paul and others followed Jesus of Nazareth.
Then, in verse 6, Tertullus said that Paul had desecrated the temple.
Now, did Paul actually do most of these things? Of course not!
However, that did not prevent the accusations from Tertullus, and (as we read in verse 9) it did not prevent the Jews from joining in the attack and saying that the claims against Paul were true.
Let’s see how Paul reacted.
Let’s see . . . II. The defense by Paul.
We know Paul was going to make a defense, right? He wasn’t going to let things slide.
Let’s look at verses 10-21:
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people. 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ”
We see in verses 11-13 that Paul laid out some facts:
He said that he was only in Jerusalem a short while, less than twelve days before the present time that he was speaking.
In that short time, these accusers never found Paul arguing with anyone, and they never found Paul causing a disturbance anywhere.
Further, though they were making strong accusations against Paul, they could not prove that he committed any of the acts that were accusing him of doing.
In verse 14, Paul did admit that one thing they said was true.
Paul said, “I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect . . . ”
Paul wanted Felix to know that he was, indeed, a follower of Jesus.
Paul never shied away from people knowing that he was a Christian.
However, Paul wanted Felix to know that following Christ was not that crazy of an idea for a faithful Jewish person.
Pay attention to what Paul went on to say.
He said, “ . . . believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.”
He also said, “I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.”
What Paul was doing here was pointing out that what he believed was not some far-out belief. What he believed was actually in line with what the Jewish Scriptures taught concerning the coming of Messiah.
What’s more, Paul said that some of the accusers believed the same thing that he did concerning the resurrection of the dead.
Paul went on to say that he always sought to live a life of good character, not sinning in any way.
Then we learn that Paul said while he was in the temple, being a faithful Jew, men who were from outside of Jerusalem accused him of wrongdoing. Yet, strangely, none of those men were to be found at that hearing before Governor Felix.
Finally, Paul asked that the men who were there tell Felix what Paul was found guilty of when he stood before the Sanhedrin.
Of course, Paul wasn’t found guilty of anything before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court).
Rather, as we learned last week, Paul wisely turned the Pharisees and the Sadducees against each other, creating such chaos that the Roman commander shut down the trial.
So, Paul basically said, “Tell me what I’ve done wrong. I’m a faithful Jew who has followed the Jewish Messiah. I’ve caused no harm, and I’ve broken no law.”
Paul stood before God and men with a clean conscience.
Are you able to do that, brothers and sisters? Are you able to stand before God and men with a clean conscience?
Are you able to say, “I have lived at peace, I have lived within the law, and I have lived with a clean conscience. The only thing I am found guilty of is following my Lord Jesus Christ”?
Finally, we see . . . III. The preaching by Paul.
One thing we know for sure about the Apostle Paul: That guy loved to preach the message that Jesus Christ saves sinners.
If ever given an opportunity, Paul was preaching.
Notice Paul did that again in these final few verses.
Let’s read verse 22 through the end of the chapter.
22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.
24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.
27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.
Ok, we learn that Felix allowed Paul to have some freedoms while he was held as prisoner in Herod’s palace in Caesarea.
We also learned that Felix came to visit Paul later with his wife, Drusilla.
Felix was familiar with Christianity, and he knew that it sprung from Judaism. Since his wife, Drusilla, was Jewish, he thought that she might want to speak to Paul and learn more about faith in Jesus Christ.
Of course, Paul was glad to share about faith in Jesus Christ.
Notice what happened in verse 25. As Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and judgment, Felix became afraid.
Apparently, Felix felt conviction over his sin and the judgment of God that was coming. So, Felix said, “That’s enough of that!”
Notice this also: In verse 26, Felix continued to send for Paul to talk with him.
Felix’ motivation was that Paul might grow tired of this, and pay money to Felix in order to speed up his release.
However, Paul wasn’t giving Felix any money. What he was giving him was the message that Jesus Christ saves sinners.
In fact, we learn that for two years, Paul stayed in prison and continued to speak to Felix, surely continuing to preach the gospel.
So, we see more indecision and more waiting.
Felix didn’t know what to do with him. In fact, in verse 22, Felix says, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”
Lysias was the one who brought Paul to Felix because Lysias didn’t know what to do with Paul. Now, Felix wants to kick the can back to Lysias.
In all of this, Paul was not in control of what was happening around him. However, he did have a decision about how he would respond.
That takes us to our bottom line:Bottom Line: We cannot control our circumstances, but we can control our reaction.
Paul had no control over his arrest; after all, he hadn’t even committed a crime.
Paul had no control over Felix holding him in prison for two years.
Paul had no control over his circumstances, but he could control how he reacted.
Notice how he reacted: He was wise and he was faithful. He responded to situations with wisdom and he continued to preach the gospel.
You can’t control your circumstances either, can you? You can’t control hardships, unfair accusations, unjust punishment, or any other negative thing that happens to you. However, you can control how you respond.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:Weekly Challenge #1 – Identify the character you need to deal with the circumstances.
Paul had the character to deal with the circumstances. He had integrity, faithfulness, resolve, godliness, and more.
What about you? What character traits do you think you need to deal with what life may throw your way?
Identify those this week and then seek to develop those in your life.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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