The Men of Authority Among You

Scripture Reading

Acts 25:1–12 ESV

1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.” 6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9 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?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 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.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Good morning everyone. Would you pray with me this morning?

Pray

Lord, you see so far ahead of our circumstances that you have ordained their conclusions. Every adverse trial you use to refine us and those around us for the glory of Christ. Teach us not to avoid the pain of trial, or the pruning of sin. Teach us not to avoid the pruning of something good because something greater may grow in its place. Extend your compassion to us in your refinement because we are so weak. Thank you for the strength of Christ. He holds our countenance high when we are so low. Give us Your resolve to be bold, and proclaim the gospel of Christ no matter the cost. Help our church to grow in our discipline Lord. It’s hard to be an undisciplined disciple. We want so badly to be like Christ, but we are often unguided in our direction. Refine us by your Word, Your Spirit, and your church to pursue holiness. Teach us boldness and confidence that only rests in the precious name of Jesus. We pray this in His holy name. Amen.

Introduction

We’re nearing the end of the book of Acts. Two weeks ago we heard from Ryan Dammarell who preached on salvation by faith, and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. Last week we heard from Brandon Gregory who preached on man’s plans and how everything we do should not only consider the Lord’s purposes, but rely on them.

Three weeks ago we last left Paul in a prison cell. He remained there for two years after which Felix was recalled, and Festus arrived as his replacement.

Acts 24:27 ESV

27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

We spent our time together considering the difference between appeasement and the peace of God. Appeasement is a tool to control a person or circumstance and the peace of God is rooted in God’s character. The peace of God is rooted in all of God’s character and cannot be separated by any of it.

The trial against Paul hasn’t happened. To prevent further rebellion from the Jews, Felix leaves Paul in prison.

Along with God’s peace, Paul also trusts in something else: God’s providence.

God’s Providence

Epicureans

The doctrine of God’s Providence has fallen on hard times today. Like the epicureans of Paul’s day, most secularists today believe that we should “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” YOLO. When bad things happen, we are quick to lay blame at whatever it is that interferes with our little comforts, indulgences, kingdoms, and self-created identities. We are quick to lay blame at God who hasn’t provided what we made up that He would give us. We don’t want to change or mature and what’s the point anyway?

Stoics

Like the stoics of Paul’s day, we have an entire culture built around moralistic therapeutic deism. Moralistic: we want to be good people and we want to do it on our own merits. I determine what is righteous and everyone around me had better affirm my truths. Therapeutic: we want to be comforted. We want our trauma to go away. We want affirmed in not just who we are, but what we perceive ourselves to be. Deism: God is impersonal. Since he is impersonal, he cannot hear my prayers. Life is fatalistic. We are doomed. We blame God when his plan doesn’t affirm our morality or comfort, but our blame doesn’t matter because God doesn’t care anyway.

Christians Today

Christians, we often fall into these camps or something euphemistic for them. At the end of the day, we operate out of what we want, and we don’t like our comfort or our self-righteousness disrupted by anyone, especially God. “How dare he infringe upon my will?” As if our will were somehow superior or stronger than God’s. Paintings are never greater than the painter.

God’s providence is a doctrine that captures all that Scripture teaches on God’s ongoing preservation, ruling over, and active relationship to His creation. It implies God’s foresight, His prior knowledge of His plan for the world, and His sovereign power to accomplish what He said He will do.

In other words, God personally appoints all of His creation to His designed and purposed end.

This is a beautiful reminder that God works in and through everything, including hardships, people, governments, and even the wicked to accomplish His purposes.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Propositional Statement and Outline

This morning we will look briefly together at some practical examples of God’s providence through Paul’s circumstances as a framework for how we can see God’s providence in our lives right now.

Hardships and trials are for God’s glory.

God’s provision through governments.

The wicked are sustained for God’s intentions.

In God’s creation, nothing is wasted to display His glory. Not even a man under house arrest for the last two years. Let’s turn our attention now to our passage today.

Hardships and Trials for God’s Glory (1-5)

Acts 25:1–5 ESV

1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

Can you imagine being stuck in prison for two years, knowing that there isn’t a trial in the foreseeable future? What about if the charges against you were false? What if you were stuck in prison with false charges, with no trial in sight, knowing that when you get out, those same people accusing you will try to kill you and likely succeed? I can imagine Paul just mulling that over and over day after day with no television in sight to numb his mind and distract him from his circumstances. Just constant waiting.

What would you do if you were waiting like this? If this were me, and likely you, we would work our frustration back. Sure, we would accept some responsibility for how we got here. The blame would shift to self-pity, poor me. “My circumstances are unfair.” After a decent period of questioning whether we actually are right or wrong, we begin to blame the people around us for our bad circumstances. We’re angry at Felix for leaving us here so long. We’re angry at the Jews for false accusations, a mock trial, and their hope for your assassination. We eventually break a little more, and begin to blame God for our circumstances. “Doesn’t He know how hard my life has been? I’m the victim here! If He really cares for me, He’ll get me out of here. Maybe God doesn’t care. Maybe God isn’t in this.”

Over time and with external and internal pressures, our sinful state begins to boast in our victimhood for our glory. We believe that happiness depends on who you blame.

God wastes nothing. He purposed everything for His glory from the foundations of the earth. Paul is a righteous example for us in recognizing God’s providence.

Previously, Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem without any wrongdoing. He speaks to an angry mob, is sent to Caesarea to avoid assassination, tried before Felix, left in prison, still under the threat of assassination, and now tried again before a spiritually bankrupt Rome by spiritually bankrupt Jews. How much vindication do you think his soul longed for? To be known as righteous and upstanding before wicked people.

Joseph

One of the clearest examples in Scripture of God’s providence through similar hardship is expressed in the life of Joseph. This is in Genesis 37-50. You’ll remember, that Joseph was one of Jacob’s 12 sons. He was the most loved son by Jacob. His brothers hated that, so they faked his death, and instead sold him into slavery in Egypt.

Joseph, through no great might of his own, rose to power in Potiphar’s court. Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce him, and then accuses him of the unspeakable when he doesn’t give her what she wants. He too goes to prison.

In prison, Joseph interprets dreams for a cup-bearer and a baker regarding their standing with Pharoah. Those dreams come true. Two years later, after the cup-bearer is reinstated, the Pharoah struggles with his own dreams. The cup-bearer remembers Joseph’s interpretation, tells Pharoah, and Joseph interprets the dreams.

The interpretation points to a famine that is soon to come, so they prepare by housing grain and food ahead of time. Joseph continues to rise to power.

Meanwhile, Jacob still hasn’t let go of his love for Joseph. Jacob and his remaining sons are starving. All of this culminates through a brotherly drama where Joseph is the one who reveals that he is still alive. He brings the Israelites into Egypt, saving their lives and restoring the relationship in his family.

With all of the bad that happened in Joseph’s life, Moses, the writer of Genesis never indicates that Joseph sinned. That doesn’t mean that he didn’t, but none of it was ever recorded. After Jacob passes, there is an interchange between Joseph and his brothers:

Genesis 50:18–21 (ESV) 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Application

The point is this: God is good. Always. Even in the most trying, difficult, incomprehensible situations. He remains good when the pillars of our lives crumble around us. We talk about God being omniscient and all knowing, omnipresent and present everywhere, omnipotent and all powerful. But in our trials and hardships, even the consequences of our sin or the sin of someone else, forget that God is omnibenevolent. He is completely good. Always. We see this in his loving kindness. God isn’t hostile and demanding, but coaxing and compassionate. He is forgiving and desires that all may be saved. He uses everything for His glory because that is the purpose of His creation.

The fullness of God’s goodness displayed upon the cross of Christ where God’s beloved Son took the wrath we deserved because of our sin and paid for it with His blood, so that we may be reconciled to the God who is good. God knows what it is like to lose a beloved Son. But He sent His Son so He would Glorify His Father.

John 12:27–28 ESV

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

God wastes nothing for His glory. None of my hardships are wasted, none of yours are wasted. Every trial, hardship, and violent heart is used by God for His purpose: to Glorify His name.

Paul is in prison because he preaches that even death is used by God to display the goodness of the resurrection. Paul’s imprisonment brings glory to God and nothing Felix, Festus, or the violence of the Israelites will thwart God’s plans.

God uses everything to display His glory. Praise His Holy Name!

God Provides through Governments (6-12)

Ronald Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the english language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

Keeping in mind these first five verses, let’s read again Acts 25:6-12, and look at how God used the Roman government for His purposes.

Acts 25:6 ESV

6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

Bad Government

I don’t even feel like I need to give an example of “bad government” because that’s how our minds as Americans naturally perceive government, or any kind of authority for that matter. Let’s just stick to the text for this case.

Before he was removed, you’ll remember that in Acts 24, Felix was just the worst display of the Roman government. He was arrogant, corrupt, eager to take a bribe, hired assassins to remove rebellious opposition, slow to process justice, duplicitous, and foolish.

He represents everything wrong with how any government should work. Yet, God still used Felix. Instead of sending Paul to the Jews, likely to Paul’s death, Paul has been protected in prison for these last two years. Instead of quelling the insitement of riots because of Paul preaching the resurrection, the tension is so high that the Jews can’t help but want to kill Paul because of the resurrection.

Do you know what that means? It means that they can’t stop thinking about the Resurrection. They can’t stop talking about the resurrection. The resurrection has caused such division in their hearts that it has rended them crazy and eager for bloodlust. The resurrection of Christ has rended their beliefs and their community and no matter how hard they try they’ll never be able to go back to the way life was before Paul preached the resurrection. They must decide if it is true or a lie right now. This is the power of the resurrection.

Look at how God has used bad government for His good purposes. The resurrection is the “hot topic” for over two years for the Jews because of the injustice performed on Paul’s account.

God used bad government to stir up the resurrection to make it an unavoidable conversation among the Jews. God uses bad government His divine purpose of bringing glory to His name.

Good Government

Meanwhile, God uses good government for His purposes. Though we rarely talk about good government as Americans, it does happen.

Festus is in many ways the opposite of Felix. Where Felix is slow to quell riots, Festus meets with the Jewish leaders almost immediately. Where Felix considers trying Paul in Jerusalem to appease the Jews, Felix maintains his Roman authority and the dignity of his government. Where both Felix and Festus want to win favor with the Jews, only Festus puts his responsibilities as a Roman governor above his desires. Felix follows through with his desires, Festus follows through with his responsibilities.

Acts 25:7–9 ESV

7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9 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?”

This moment is of pinacle importance for Christianity. The Roman government is on the verge for being a political puppet for Israel. They will carry out justice on their behalf. But Paul does not want tried before the Jews, knowing that they are giving accusations that appeal to Rome.

Acts 25:10–11 ESV

10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 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.”

This is the moment where Christians are separating themselves from the Jewish judicial system. Paul’s defense is that he is charged with Roman violations and wants to be tried in a Roman court. If he did the crime, he will do the time. However, if he is innocent, then his appeal to Caesar should be accepted.

Paul’s Opinion on Government

Paul in prison, while struggling with his circumstances holds true to the same conviction about God’s use of government he shared when he wrote his letter to the Romans when he was in Corinth.

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Paul submits to the government because he trusts God’s providence. He trusts the authorities over him because he knows that God’s plans will never be thwarted. Paul’s desire to spread the gospel in Rome, and now potentially before Nero, the Caesar, the “His Majesty,” of Rome is a sign that God is doing exactly what he promised he would do.

The point isn’t to do whatever the government tells you. It is to submit to it when it is righteous, and to submit to its judgments when it is unrighteous and you remain righteous. Governments aren’t perfect. That’s a title only reserved for God.

God still uses government today. Our stubborn hearts don’t want to believe it, but whether good or bad, there is no other authority above God and every rule is raised up and torn down by His good divine providence. God wastes nothing and uses everything in making His name glorious through all creation.

The Wicked are Sustained for God’s Intentions (13-22)

Festus consults with his advisers and agrees to send Paul to Caesar.

Acts 25:12 ESV

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

There is some irony here. Even though Festus senses Paul’s innocence, he can’t release him even if he wanted to because Paul made an appeal to Caesar. Though Paul is exercising his right not to be tried before an incompetent tribunal, his appeal may have prevented his release.

But Festus has a problem now. In order to send Paul to Rome, there must be a charge against Paul for the appeal to be proper. Festus now looks for help to find a charge so he doesn’t appear incompetent in sending Paul to Rome.

He goes to King Agrippa, who is familiar with Judaism for some advice. Let’s read Acts 25:13-22 together.

Acts 25:13–22 ESV

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 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. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

Agrippa

Our final point will be quick.

It is amazing how God uses wicked people for His purposes. This situation is stranger than it appears on its face.

In Matthew 2, King Herod kills all of the male children under the age of 2 in Bethlehem after hearing that the wise men came to worship Jesus, the Messiah.

Matthew 2:17–18 ESV

17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

In Acts 12, King Herod’s Son persecuted the early church. He killed James, and arrested Peter. His people were angry with him because he wouldn’t make peace withe them, and God struck him down.

Acts 12:23–24 ESV

23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. 24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

Both of these men have been used by God. King Herod’s persecution of the male children fulfilled the Scripture that said:

Matthew 2:13–15 ESV

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Because Herod’s Son persecuted Christians, killed James and imprisoned Paul, and died at the hands of the angel of the Lord, the Word of God increased and Multiplied

Acts 12:24 ESV

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

King Agrippa is the Grandson of Herod, and the Son of t

Now Agrippa is the Grandson of King Herod, and the Son of Herod who was killed by the Angel of the Lord. He is in an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice. Eventually he will side with Rome when Jerusalem’s defeat in AD 70. He now stands ready to help bring Paul to Caesar. They want to hear what Paul is being accused of, and in the next chapter, Paul will tell them his testinomy and the faithfulness of God. Just as God used both Herods to make His name great, he will use the next generation of wicked men to make His name great.

God uses wicked people for His glory. He wastes nothing, and uses all of His creation for his divine providence.

Conclusion – God’s Providence is our Hope

The greatest illustration of this is at the cross of Christ. Here we see all of these aspects of God’s providence come to their fullness. The hardship and trial of Christ’s procession to His death as ordained by God for the forgiveness of sins. God wasted none of it for His glory and our good. The government’s persecution of the savior who in their mockery title him, “King of Kings.” God wasted none of it for His glory and our good. The wicked men who both killed the King of Kings and who were redeemed by His blood. God wasted none of them for His glory and our good.

Turning to Communion

Communion represents our hope in God’s providence. This is our time to remember the hope that Christ promised that everything is done for the glory of the Father. We take this meal together as a covenant community who remind one another of God’s providence. God uses everything for His glory.

If you are a believer in Christ, you have been baptized by His Holy Spirit. He lives within you and now you are a new creation. You need no other baptism of the Holy Spirit because there is no other baptism of the Holy Spirit apart from what you received from Christ when you first believed. It is a baptism of fire. You are indwelled by the Spirit.

However, water baptism is an outward expression of faith commanded by Christ. It expresses what happened when we were baptized by the Spirit. Our sins have been cleansed, we have died to sin, and made alive to life in Jesus Christ.

› As the ushers come forward, let’s turn to the table before us.

If you have received Christ as your Lord and Savior from sin and expressed that faith in Him through baptism, then this is for you. This is an opportunity to fellowship with one another as sons and daughters of God to remember Christ’s sacrifice. His body broken for us. His blood shed for us. That our sin would be covered by the mercy and grace of God.

If you have not received Christ as your Lord and savior and expressed that through baptism I would ask you to refrain from communion. Instead, pray that God would make known the truth of His Son known to you and to teach you true obedience.

Pray

Communion

› Be sure to give elements to the ushers and music team.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

› Eat the bread.

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

› Drink the cup

Pray