Acts 24:1-27 "Paul's Trial Before Felix"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! (Elder Recognition and prayer)

Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 24. Acts 24:1-27 today.

We left off where Paul had been escorted to Caesarea Maritima… Caesarea by the Sea… the coastal city that was majorly developed by Herod the Great…

And the location where the current Roman Procurator or Governor Felix resides.

Paul had been escorted to Caesarea from Jerusalem by 470 Roman Soldier who were protecting Paul because he was a Roman Citizen…

And, the Roman Commander who was stationed in Jerusalem did not want a blemish on his record that a Roman died under his watch.

A 470 Soldier escort may seem extreme, but there were over 40 Jews who took a vow to not eat nor drink until they killed Paul.

Which they never did… so either they became severely dehydrated and died, or they broke their vow.

Last week we talked about being careful with our words, and not making foolish promises… like these Jews did.

All this hub-bub about Paul began back in Acts 21:28, when Paul was at the Temple in Jerusalem, and Jews from Asia stirred up the crowd, laid hands on Paul and cried out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

This was a false accusation against Paul… and we are still dealing with the aftermath of this lie now in Acts 24.

Be careful not to wrongly accuse another person… as we see with Paul, it takes time for the dust to settle.

And, you don’t want to make the same mistake and carry the burden of knowing you mis-spoke on your conscience.

Paul had two opportunities to address the Jews… both ended in a riot, and at the end of those day, Jesus appeared to Paul in Acts 23:11 to encourage Paul for his faithfulness in Jerusalem, and to commission Paul to go now to Rome.

What we may see as our greatest failures in life, God may deem as faithfulness.

So now, in Acts 24… Paul is heading in the direction of Rome, but will be waylaid for about two years… held as a prisoner in the Governor’s mansion… the Praetorium… in the beautiful coastal city of Caesarea.

I think this is how mob bosses are imprisoned… at least in the movies… imprisoned in luxury.

Paul and Governor Felix are waiting for Paul’s accusers (the Jewish Religious Leaders)… to arrive from Jerusalem, so Paul’s trial may commence.

Which is reflected in our title for today, “Paul’s Trial Before Felix.”

Let’s Pray!

Acts 24:1 “Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.”

Five days from Paul’s arrest in the Temple… the high priest comes down from Jerusalem…

North or South… you always came down leaving Jerusalem… the descent was both spiritual and in elevation. So, “the high priest came down.”

V1 sets the stage… Paul is on trial. The accusers have just arrived in Caesarea and will present their case before the governor Felix.

I keep thinking about Felix the Cat… that cartoon created in 1919. Old cartoon.

Governor Felix was not a cat… more like a rat… because of his poor reputation.

And, then enter the scene another rat… Ananias the High Priest.

Ananias’ name means “God is merciful”… if only he lived up to his name.

Ananias was appointed as High Priest by Herod Agrippa II and served twelve years from AD 48-59.

The Jewish Historian Josephus described Ananias as wealthy (which is not a problem), but also greedy (and there’s the issue… money was an idol)… also Josephus said he was insolent and cruel… so he definitely did not live up to his name.

This is the same High Priest who had his servants strike Paul in the mouth in Acts 23:2 when Paul claimed innocence.

Paul called him a “whitewashed wall”… a hypocrite for breaking their own law.

So, now Ananias is again on the scene in Acts 24… with the elders… there were 70 elders that made up the Sanhedrin… the Jewish High Council…

So, quite the intimidating crowd if they all attended.

All of them pointing their crooked fingers at Paul.

And, they bring a spokesperson… an orator… Gk. rhētōr- a teacher of rhetoric… some scholars call him a lawyer…

He is the closest they had to a prosecuting attorney…

I’m not sure if Tertullus is a Jew or a Roman Gentile.

When you hear his defense, he will use words like “our law” in V6… which makes it seem like he is a Jew. Maybe a Hellenistic Jew bearing a Roman name.

But, some scholars describe him as a Roman… which is just unthinkable to imagine that the Sanhedrin would hire a Roman.

Jews hated Romans and Gentiles. They considered them unclean.

So, if he is a Roman and they indeed hired him… it just goes to show how low they sunk.

Instead of V1 saying “the high priest came down” from Jerusalem… it should have said “the high priest sunk low and departed Jerusalem.”

He’s a poor example of what the high priest should have been.

Hard to imagine living in a day an time like that.

Oh wait, no it’s not… you don’t have to look far to see Religious Leaders are still falling low.

Earlier this month the Baltimore Catholic Archdiocese was in the hot seat when the Attorney General released a 463 page report… a four-year investigation detailing 156 clergy members who abused more than 600 children over six decades starting in the 1940s.

Terrible. An abomination before God. I’m glad this sin has been exposed. It doesn’t represent God at all.

When you read the Gospels… Jesus was the hardest on the religious leaders… repeatedly Jesus would exclaim, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”

Let their sin be exposed. And, in some ways… I think that’s exactly what Chapter 24 of Acts is doing… it’s exposing the lies of the religious leaders.

So… the high priest and elders hire this guy named ‘Tertullus.’

His name means “triple-hardened, Liar or imposter” according to The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names.

So, maybe a good indicator of the type of lawyer he was.

A silver-tongued orator full of lies… which is exactly what we see in his opening remarks of this trial… beginning in V2… and let’s read to V9…

Acts 24:2-9 “And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity [meaning reforms] is being brought to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. 5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.”

Tertullus is a skilled orator… and he begins his accusation really buttering up Governor Felix, saying in V2…

“through you we enjoy great peace”… he credits Felix’s foresight as bringing prosperity through reforms to Israel… and he says they are thankful for this peace and prosperity… and calls him “most noble Felix” in V3…

I thought God brought peace and prosperity to the Jews?

In the OT, the Jews had many names for God’s attributes:

Yehovah Yireh (meaning The Lord Will Provide)

Yehovah Shalom (meaning The Lord Is Peace)

Truly… God brings peace and provision… not Governor Felix.

If you are looking to the government to bring you true peace and provision… you may be waiting a long time.

This peace that Tertullus spoke of was an illusion. There was no peace in Israel. Felix would even lose his position eventually because he couldn’t keep peace in Israel.

Peace in Israel was so elusive to Rome because of constant Jewish uprisings… that in 70 A.D. they destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple, killed or enslaved the Jewish population, dispersed them throughout the known world, and renamed Israel “Palestine” in attempt to erase the cultural identity of the Jews…

Felix DID NOT bring peace Israel.

It’s sad, but the Jewish leaders go along with this wrongful attribution of who their true provider is.

They don’t stop Tertullus with a rebuke to say, “NO! God brings us peace and prosperity...”

Because… everyone knew this was all show… it was customary flattery… the Jews didn’t really feel this way towards Felix.

But a good orator won many cases through tactics like this. But, it was a lie.

Remember last week, we talked about how the former high priest Jonathan vouched for Felix, but once Jonathan had a complaint against Felix’s Governing… Felix hired robbers to kill Johnathan during a Jewish feast!

There were NO warm feelings between the Sanhedrin and Felix…

Even Felix knew this.

And, you have to wonder at the end of V3… after all this buttering up… did Felix roll his eyes… or yawn… or do some sort of hand motion to speed things up because…

In V4… Tertullus shifts gears… promising not to be tedious any further… and promises to be brief…

Which was another custom… a promise of brevity in court cases.

Now in VSS 5-6, Tertullus presents the charges…3 or 4 charges depending on how you see it…

He begins in V5 describing Paul as “a plague.”

Maybe that was an official charge… or maybe he’s just trying to paint Paul in a really bad light before presenting the official charges.

Either way… is this true? Was Paul a plague? By def. A pestilence? A pest?

One could argue that he was. Just about every city Paul went to he either started a revival or a riot.

He was thrown out of synagogues… thrown out of the temple… arrested… beaten… stoned to death… and he just kept coming.

He was bold in his faith, and people were coming to Christ through his ministry.

I would hope we are all plagues. I hope when people come against you… criticize you… mock you for your methods… or mock you for you connection to Christ… I would hope that you are a plague in the best kind of ways.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he wrote about how we are the fragrance of Christ to the world.

Now… smell is very particular. What smell good to you, may smell terrible to someone else. It’s very subjective.

And, so if you go about diffusing a fragrance… you’ll get all kinds of reactions.

Some people will say, “That smells sooo good!!!”

Others will say, “That’s horrible. What died in here?!?”

Well that’s what Paul is impressing upon his Corinthian audience when he wrote 2 Cor 2:14-16 listen to this… Paul wrote, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”

When you are diffusing the fragrance of Christ in the world… you’re going to diffuse either a really good smell OR a really bad smell.

And that’s not on you… it’s all on the recipient. How will they receive Christ?

To the saved… Jesus is the aroma of life.

To those who have rejected Him… Jesus is the aroma of death.

Eternal life or death… heaven or hell.

There’s no middle ground. If you’re here today and you’re on the fence about Jesus.

“I’m not sure about Jesus yet.” Time is short. Life is short. James said, ‘life is but a vapor.’

Maybe today is the day you get off the fence and make a decision for Christ?

And, even as I say those words… someone would hear that invitation to Jesus… the invitation to heaven and the warning of hell…

And, that diffuses a certain fragrance depending on the recipient.

And, for Paul… as he diffused that same fragrance… multitudes were saved… and multitudes rioted. Life and death.

Thus the words of Tertullus are somewhat true... to them… Paul was a pestilence… for they were perishing.

The first official charge against Paul in V5

Now this charge coupled with calling Paul a “pestilence” is painting a picture that Paul is a leader of seditions.

Tertullus states Paul is “a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world”… he’s a leader of revolts.

This was a serious charge because this would violate the Pax Romana… the peace of Rome. Maintain peace and order… or Rome will maintain peace and order by getting rid of you.

The next charge was Paul was “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”

A Nazarene was used to describe one who followed Jesus of Nazareth.

Matt 2:23 states of Jesus “He shall be called a Nazarene”… which pointed to Messiah being despised.

Nazareth was a despised city with a poor reputation. Remember how Nathanael said in Jn 1:46, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Paul is now being linked to this despised city… and a despised faction that Jews saw as a heresy. The Nazarenes.

So far… Tertullus has painted a picture that Paul is a trouble maker… he’s a pestilence… causes revolts… he’s working against peace (which was Felix’s job to maintain)… and Paul is a leader of a despised sect…

Tertullus is basically saying Paul is trash… just take him out back and dispose of him.

Tertullus has called for the death penalty… which you see also with this third and final charge in V6.

“He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.”

While the Jews had lost the right to capital punishment… when it came to their temple and a person desecrating their temple… Rome allowed Jews to enforce the death penalty in that circumstance.

Now Paul never did profane the temple… He was accused of bringing Trophimus the Ephesian… a Gentile into the temple in Acts 21:29, but he never actually did.

And, so when Tertullus says in V6 “we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.”

Tertullus is stating “we seized him and wanted to kill him… which is our right”…

And if you look back to Acts 21:31 “… they were seeking to kill him…” They were beating Paul to death.

Which would have been a mob death… not the typical ‘death by stoning’ sentence of the Jews.

Tertullus in V7… now comes against the Roman Commander Lysias.

The accusation is that Paul profaned their Temple… they had the right to carry out the death penalty… they were in process of doing so… and the nerve of the Roman Commander…

He violated the right of the Jews by taking Paul out of their hands…

And, he did so “with great violence”… Tertullus not only states that their right was violated, but the Roman Commander was guilty of something like “Police brutality.”

Tertullus is saying, “My clients were victimized in more than one way.”

Further, V8… we have been commanded to travel from Jerusalem to Caesarea (a great inconvenience) to present the case.

And, he closes stating he is confident that as Felix examines Paul… Felix will no doubt discern all of the accusation against Paul are true.

He’s scum… we were wronged… and you can make it right by killing him.

And, to add to his closing argument… the Jews… again maybe as many as 71 men of significance… they also assented or “joined the verbal attack.”

This puts great pressure on Felix. It worked with Pontius Pilate… as the crowd shouted “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!”

Pilate gave into the pressure. He found no fault in Jesus… he wanted to release Jesus… but ultimately it was kill Jesus or the Jews would riot… and there would be no peace or order.

Remember the Jews cried out saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend.”

It was manipulation… and they got their way. And, now… about 25 years later… they are doing the same thing.

Pressuring the politicians… and calling for the end of Paul.

And, today… almost 2000 later… have things changed that much?

Statistics from Open Doors and their World Watch List 2023 shows data that ‘More than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.’

The slide behind me shows the Top 50 countries as ranked by violence plus oppression.

And, the United States is not on the list.

Which means there is still time to get out there and speak freely about Jesus. Christians can’t do this in many parts of the world.

But… more and more agendas are mounting… and principalities and powers want to end the sect of the Nazarenes still today.

Because we’re a plague… creators of dissensions… we profane ideologies of the world with our talk of salvation in Jesus Christ and Him alone.

We’re the trouble makers… as was Paul… there’s nothing new under the sun.

After Tertullus presents his charges. Now it is Paul’s turn to speak.

The most influential Religious Leaders of Israel… with their famous orator Tertullus… a Robert Shapiro or Johnnie Cochran of their day…

Versus Paul. Seems like the cards are not stacked in his favor.

What they don’t realize… is God is on Paul’s side. Jesus said, in Acts 9:15 that Paul was “a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”

Which Paul was partly fulfilling here in Acts 24.

If you ever face a difficult and unfair circumstance for His name’s sake.... don’t forget…

You’re not alone no matter the accusations against you.

Jesus didn’t say “I am with you sometimes.”

He said to His disciples, “...lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

And, He was with Paul. So… VSS 10-13… let’s hear Paul’s defense.

Acts 24:10-13 “Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, 11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.”

Paul’s opening remarks are quite the opposite of the Jewish dream team.

There no buttering up and cordiality… ‘Felix you’re so great and you bring us peace and prosperity…’

There’s none of that. In V10, Paul simple says… I know you’ve been of judge of Israel for many years. I’m glad to offer my defense...”

Paul begins with a brief and true statement.

Somewhat cordial as if he is saying, “Since you have been a judge for so long, I’m happy to present my case before you, because you know enough about the situation in Judea to make an accurate judgment.”

In V11, Paul tells Felix take note… verify for yourself…

He points out that he had not been in Jerusalem even 12 days… which was not enough time to build a following and become the leader of sect of troublemakers who cause a dissension.

Think about it Felix. Are the charges even logical… is it even possible to cause so much trouble is so little time?

Paul says, “I went up to Jerusalem to worship.” That was his purpose. Celebrating Pentecost in Israel… never was it his intent to start a riot.

Paul’s saying, “The accusations against me are false.”

If someone falsely accuses you, you can say, “Yeah that’s not true.”

Paul refutes the charges against himself here. We can too.

V12… no one found me disputing with anyone or stirring up the crowd anywhere. Not in the temple… not with the crowds… not in the synagogues… not in the city… not in a boat… not with a goat.

Paul wasn’t instigating trouble. Riots did break out after he spoke to the crowds and said God is going to the Gentiles…

But he was minding his own business in Jerusalem before the Jews started beating him up. It was the Jews for Asia who stirred up the crowds with false accusations against Paul.

They are the ones who truly should be on trial.

At this point, with the conflicting stories… Felix has to realize… someone is lying.

And, how valuable right about now is that letter from the Roman Commander in Acts 23:26-30? That letter is like gold.

It attested the Paul was a Roman Citizen who was almost killed by the Jews… and Lysias found that none of the charges against Paul were deserving of death or chains.

I’m sure that letter influence Felix’s judgment of this case.

V13… Paul states Tertullus and the Sanhedrin cannot prove the accusations against him are true.

Their claim lacked foundation. Sometimes… just rest in knowing you are innocent.

I like how in Psalm 62:5-6, the Psalmist David wrote, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.”

David, in spite of facing opposition… had confidence in the Lord.

David said, “They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly.”

His enemies were deceitful… just like Paul’s accusers.

And, when Paul had the opportunity… he set the record straight… the accusations are false.

David knew the character of his enemies, and placed his confidence in God. He did not need to defend himself… He expected God to be his defense.

Two men of God… and two good strategies when facing ungodly opposition.

Paul continues in VSS 14-16, now confessing what he was guilty of…

Acts 24:14-16 “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”

Well… if you’re going to be guilty of something… let this be your crime. Paul was guilty of being “according to the Way.”

In Acts 9:2 we first hear of this title for the church.

In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

So, perhaps this name originated from that statement.

The Jews called this a sect.. by def. a faction, even a heresy.

But, it’s not a sect… it’s the way… the only way to truth and life and to Father God.

The world thinks life is like the Burger King motto, “Have it your way.”

That motto only applies to Burgers… NOT to eternity.

In Matt 7:13-14, Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The broad way is the wrong way. It’s the way of the world… the teaching that all paths lead to God.

Which is true, but not all paths lead to heaven. Many paths lead to destruction.

There is ONE WAY… an exclusive way… by faith in Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

And, don’t be quiet about the truth of that Way… the enemy and the world are so happy when you are silent.

Paul also worshipped God and believed all things “written in the Law and the Prophets.”

The whole counsel of God. The entire OT in Paul’s day. The entire New and Old Testaments today.

Paul believed the Bible was inspired by God… God-breathed… infallible.

He didn’t doubt the word of God… He believed the word of God.

He continues V15, “I have hope in God...” and his hope is grounded because of the resurrection.

Though I die, I shall live. That’s our hope. Eternal life after death. It’s the best hope out there.

You don’t need to invest in plastic surgery or the fountain of youth… when you die, you are resurrected… absent from the body and present with the Lord… given a glorified body… to be in His presence face-to-face. It’s the best hope around.

I’m not sure why Paul said his accusers also accepted this because Ananias the High Priest and the Sadducean portion of the Sanhedrin surely rejected the resurrection.

Remember Paul divided the Sanhedrin in Acts 23:6 crying out “...concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” He caused a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees over that statement.

The “resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” in V15 refers to eternal life for everyone.

All saved and all unsaved people are resurrected...

One of the most gripping passages on this is Rev 20:11-15 when the books are opened at the final Great White Throne Judgment.

There is a Book of Life… all who place their faith in Jesus Christ have their names inscribed in that book.

And, there were several other books for the dead who are judged by their works.

Rev 20:15 states, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

That’s the resurrection of the dead… you don’t just cease to exist upon death.

And, even though Paul caused some riots over his words… even though he had an outburst after being slapped and called the High Priest a “white washed wall” … a hypocrite.

Paul still recognized the gravity of eternity and said in V16, “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”

Paul strived… he endeavored… he didn’t always do things perfect… but he strived not to offend God or fellow mankind… in order that his conscience was clear.

We do this through accurate teaching and representing the word of God.

Through representing Jesus well in our dealings with others.

Through being willing to extending grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

By not extending our liberties over the love and care not to offend weaker believers.

Paul was not self-centered. He loved God and he loved people and he strived not to offend either.

You and I will not do this perfect always, but it should be a goal.

Beginning in V17, Paul shifts gears to share some background of his testimony in coming to Jerusalem…

Acts 24:17-21 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, 21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

In V17, Paul establishes he was not an enemy of Israel… quite the opposite… he had returned with financial relief from Macedonia and Achaia… the Grecian peninsula which included Corinth, plus churches in Galatia (all according to 1 Cor 16:1-4 and Rom 15:26).

All throughout these travels, Paul made many disciples, and many enemies.

This is what happens when you pursue the good work of the Gospel.

In John 15:20, Jesus said, “‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

Paul was experiencing this first hand. As do most ministers of the gospel.

And in V18, Paul mentions these Jews from Asia… these were enemies he made during his time in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)… home to the Region of Galatia and the City of Ephesus.

These Jews found Paul in the temple going through purification rituals peaceably… without a mob in an uproar.

These Jews from Asia are the true culprits of unrest. They lied against Paul, and made themselves out to be victims… stirring up and manipulating the masses with their cry in Acts 21:28 “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

A bold-faced lie… and where are they now? Where are Paul’s accusers? In V19, Paul says they should be present at this trial if their accusations were indeed that serious.

But they were not. Some people are really good at starting trouble, but they fade away over time.

Keep this in mind if someone stirs up a hornets nest in your life… because of the work you are doing for His name’s sake.

Give it time… most often they fade away.

Those accusers were not present at Paul’s trial… and even those who were present… the Sanhedrin… in VSS 20-21, Paul challenges them to share if they have any first hand witness of his wrong doing when he stood before them in Acts 23.

They are silent because they struck an uncondemned Roman citizen during that trial… and that would not be viewed as favorable in Felix’s eyes.

The only thing they could accuse Paul of was starting a theological debate over the resurrection… an issue that did NOT violate Roman law and one Felix would care less about.

So, that was Paul’s defense. Now it’s Felix’s turn to judge…

Acts 24:22-23 “But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case. 23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.”

How amazing is V22? Felix had a more accurate knowledge of the Way.

As a pagan Roman Governor, Felix reflected on his life’s experience and observations of Christians and determined the accusations that Paul was a plague… a leader of sedition… and a profaner of the temple…

These accusations didn’t line up with what Felix knew about Christians.

Let that be true in your life and in my life… where an accusation would be cast against us, and unbelievers would say, “Something is fishy about that accusation… because I know the character, and the clean record of that Christian.”

So, Felix postpones the case until he can hear the testimony of the Roman Commander Claudius Lysias.

Which we already know by Claudius’ letter that he felt Paul was innocent. Truly, Felix is being a politician in this matter.

He’s stuck. Paul is a Roman citizen who has no legitimate accusations, and has a Roman commander in his corner.

And, yet he does not want to upset the apple cart with the Jews too much and have them start more trouble.

So he postpones the case… and had no intention of seeing this case through as you read on.

And, I imagine the Jews just erupted in complaint and anger towards this ruling.

This was a victory for Paul, and for the Way… especially what we read in V23… Paul is ‘kept by the Centurion’ meaning he is placed in protective custody… he is given liberty or freedom…

So he’s not rotting in a dungeon, but also not free to depart Caesarea… and friends can visit and bring him provisions (which was typical for prisons of that day).

You were not guaranteed “3 hots and a cot” plus cable television like you are in prisons today.

Wrapping up…

Acts 24:24-27 “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.”

Acts 24 concludes with a brief portrayal of Paul’s life over the next two years.

Felix called for Paul, and Paul spoke to Felix and Drusilla about faith in Jesus Christ. They heard the Gospel message.

Paul shared about:

Righteousness… being right with God.

Self-control… not being a prisoner to the lusts of the flesh.

And, the Judgement to Come… which book would their names be scribed in? The Book of Life? Or, the other books?

Sadly, just like the court case… Felix once again responds in indecision.

Felix was deep in love with his sin… and would not let it go for the truth of the Gospel.

He responded, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

Life is but a vapor… we don’t know if we even have today.

In 2 Cor 6, Paul wrote, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Don’t put off salvation in Jesus Christ for a more convenient time. You’re not promised tomorrow.

In V26, you get a picture of the corruption in Felix’s heart… he called on Paul often and held him from release… hoping that through Paul’s network of Christian friends a bribe would be paid for Paul’s release.

But, V27… that day of financial gain never came for Felix…

Instead, after two years, Felix left Paul bound as a political favor to the Jews.

And Felix… unable to control the chaos and maintain peace in Israel… was replaced by Porcius Festus.

Felix would disappear into obscurity, and it’s thought he died of tuberculosis.

Josephus records in 79 A.D. (about 21 years after Acts 24)… the only son of Felix and Drusilla… perished during the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

And, it’s thought that Drusilla may have been there with him.

There’s no record that a more convenient time ever came for Felix and Drusilla.

Today is the day of salvation.

Let’s Pray!

If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Savior. Today is the day. There’s never going to be a more convenient time.

The Bible says Salvation is the free gift of God, and all you have to do is pray in faith to receive it… and we can do that after we close today.

For the rest of us… rest in God… our defender… knowing you are doing a good work.

Go diffuse the fragrance of Christ.

God bless you as you go.