Understand the Assignment
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We are at the part of Acts where Paul has finished his three missionary journeys and was going through a series of trials. We know from 1 and 2 Corinthians that he brought contributions from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to help bring relief to the church in Jerusalem.
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
True enough, in Acts 21, when he arrived in Jerusalem, James was glad with all that God did among the Gentiles through Paul’s ministry. But he warned Paul that some Jews would falsely accuse him. And the false accusations led to Paul being on a series of trials.
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
However, as we can observe from the verses we just read, Paul already knew that all these trials and afflictions would happen. Here he even have a word from Jesus that he must go to Rome as a witness to Jesus too. At the end of chapter 23, Paul was sent to Caesarea. Chapters 24 and 25 show the trials that happened in Caesarea.
For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
Paul’s accusers accused him of two things. Stirring up riots and profaning the temple. The part about profaning the temple would not be something that the governor cared about. But riot was a serious issue in the Roman empire. Rome would not hesitate to send in the army to crush any riots and rebellion. Peace in the Roman empire was upheld by an iron fist. Paul’s accusers knew that the governor would likely throw out their case if it was only their religious squabble, so they accused him of stirring up riots, even though it was always the Jews who stirred up riots in opposition to the gospel. We already saw a clear example of that in Acts 19.
You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.
Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ ”
Paul pointed out that the accusation of stirring riots was untrue. Paul was minding his business in worship but his accusers were the troublemakers by finding fault with him. Paul then seized the opportunity while giving his defense to bait the governor to listen to the gospel by talking about the resurrection of the dead. Paul not only calmly refuted the false accusations, but he also created opportunity for fulfilling his mission to testify about Jesus.
When falsely accused, calmly present the truth and continue to seek to draw people to God.
When falsely accused, calmly present the truth and continue to seek to draw people to God.
After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
Governor Felix was hooked by what Paul said. He was obviously interested in gospel message. However, he remained on a level of being intrigued by the gospel and never received the gospel. As Paul focused on righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment, it is likely that Felix became aware that in order to escape the coming judgment, he had to repent, receive the righteousness of God, and walk in His ways. However, his love of this world captivated his heart more than the love of God in Christ. The cost of discipleship was too high for him and he walked away from the chance to follow Christ.
Cares and love for this world are hindrances to following Christ.
Cares and love for this world are hindrances to following Christ.
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”
If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”
Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
The next governor Festus was more political and sought to please the Jews. As a new governor, he likely thought that making himself popular among the people he ruled over would help to maintain peace. That would make his job easier. Even though he knew that Paul did not deserve to die, he had no qualms about setting him up to be killed by the Jews. His political benefit was more important to him than justice. He was so eager to sell out Paul that Paul did not even have chance to pivot the conversation towards the gospel. Even so, Paul was ready to move forward in his mission to testify about Jesus in Rome. So, while the governor and the Jews sought to bring harm, it became a providence of God to bring Paul to Rome to testify about Jesus to Caesar and all the inhabitants of Rome. Paul may not have realized this from the beginning. But as he remembered what the Holy Spirit and Jesus said to him, and as he watched how everything unfolded, he made use of his privilege as a Roman citizen to fulfill Jesus’s words about testifying in Rome. Paul would go on to fulfill his mission till the end. Paul understood the assignment.
Even malicious attacks can be God’s providence in fulfilling His mission. We must be ready to cooperate with Him.
Even malicious attacks can be God’s providence in fulfilling His mission. We must be ready to cooperate with Him.
God wants to reconcile the world to himself through Christ. We are His ambassadors. As we try to live faithfully to this calling as Christians, we can face all kinds of trials and difficulties. Nevertheless, let’s be encouraged by today’s passage and always seek to draw people to Christ in all situations while trusting that God will work according to His providence. Let’s pray.
