Courtroom of Conscience
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Theme/Topic (What’s the problem, the question, etc.)
In the 1500s, a preacher named Hugh Latimer was summoned to preach before King Henry VIII.
The reason…
Latimer had recently delivered a sermon that deeply offended the king. So, the king commanded him to appear again the following Sunday to issue an apology and preach again before the king himself.
Everyone understood what this meant.
The king held enormous power. If Latimer displeased him again, the consequences could be severe.
So the next Sunday arrived. The cathedral was full. The king was seated before him. And Hugh Latimer stepped into the pulpit knowing that the man sitting before him had the authority to take his life if he wished.
Imagine standing in a moment like that.
Every word you speak is being weighed.
Every sentence could have consequences.
And the question hanging in the air is simple:
What will he do?
Will he soften the message?
Will he change his words?
Will he say what the king wants to hear?
Or will he speak faithfully, no matter the cost?
Moments like that force a question upon us—because sooner or later, every one of us finds ourselves in situations where something important is on the line.
Sometimes those moments are public and dramatic.
Some of you may remember the case of Jack Phillips, the Christian baker in Colorado who spent years in court because he would not violate his conscience bound by God’s Word and participate in the celebration of a same-sex wedding.
But moments of trial do not always happen in courtrooms.
Sometimes they happen quietly.
At work…
in school…
in a difficult conversation…
or in a situation where following Christ might cost you approval, opportunity, or comfort.
And in those moments a question presses in on us:
What will we do?
How will we respond?
We’re going to carry these questions into our text in Acts this morning, and we will consider this question together:
How will you respond when the truth about you is put on trial?
Let’s turn now to Acts 24 and read our passage together.
Scripture
Let’s get to the Word of God now. Please turn with me to Acts 24:1-27. If you need to use a pew Bible, you’ll find today’s text on page 1109. Once you’re there, please stand with me if you are able and follow along with me as I read...
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.
And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,
in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.
But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
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.
By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.
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.
Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—
they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.
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.’ ”
But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”
Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
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.
When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
This God’s Word!
Prayer
Father, we’ve opened your word this morning — now we ask that Your living word would open our hearts and like a two-edged sword or scalpel in the skilled hands of the Holy Spirit, expose the thoughts and intentions of our hearts that they may be brought under the life-giving light of truth. We ask this in Christ’s Name — AMEN!
Intro: Formal (give context to passage, setting the scene, big idea)
Now as we step into this scene, it helps to understand what has just happened to Paul.
Paul has come to Jerusalem bringing a financial gift to bless the believers there and hoping to worship peacefully in the temple. But instead of peace, he finds himself at the center of a storm.
A crowd accuses him of defiling the temple.
A riot breaks out.
Roman soldiers rush in to rescue him from the mob.
From there Paul is bound in chains and taken into Roman custody where he narrowly avoids being flogged.
Last week we saw how God’s quiet providence worked through unlikely and unexpected people to thwart a plot to assassinate Paul — and the literal Roman calvary is called in transferred under heavy guard to the Roman governor in Caesarea.
And that is where we find him as we begin Acts 24.
Paul now stands in a Roman courtroom before the governor Felix. The high priest and other religious leaders have come down from Jerusalem to present their accusations, and they have even hired a smooth talking lawyer to present the case against him.
Now Paul stands before this court.
Facing the accusations.
With is fate hanging in the balance.
And we find ourselves asking the same questions we raised earlier.
What do you do in moments like this?
What do you do when the pressure is real…
when the stakes are high…
when your character itself is being tested?
Which brings us back to the question guiding our time this morning:
How will you respond when the truth about you is put on trial?
As this passage unfolds, Luke shows us the answer this passage gives us is this:
In times of trial, we must choose between faithful obedience and fearful avoidance.
That choice becomes clear as this courtroom scene unfolds.
In my three points this morning we will first see:
The Unjust Trial.
Faithful Obedience.
The Unseen Trial.
Let’s begin by looking at the accusations brought against Paul in The Unjust Trial.
The Unjust Trial
The Unjust Trial
In verse 1 we see the Jewish high priest Ananias arriving in Caesarea with an entourage of elders and a high-powered, silver-tongued lawyer named Tertullus to present their case before the governor Antonius Felix.
And before Tertullus even begins his accusations, he spends two full verses flattering Felix.
But he’s not just being polite.
This is calculated manipulation.
Because everything he says is flagrantly untrue.
He praises Felix for bringing peace and stability to the region. But historically, Felix’s rule was marked by harsh policies, corruption, and repeated Jewish uprisings. Peace was not the hallmark of his administration—instability was.
And the truth is, many of the Jewish leaders bringing this case couldn’t stand Felix.
So notice what happens rhetorically.
The case against Paul begins with lies meant to flatter the judge in order to secure a favorable verdict.
Then Tertullus turns to the accusations against Paul in verse 5.
First, he calls Paul “a plague.”
Paul’s gospel ministry was certainly contagious and spread rapidly, but this was clearly meant as an insult. It paints Paul as a dangerous infection in society.
Second, Paul is accused of stirring up riots among the Jews throughout the world.
Now it is true that riots sometimes erupted around Paul’s ministry—but never because Paul was inciting them. In fact, Paul repeatedly tried to calm crowds and avoid disorder.
But the accusation paints Paul as a troublemaker.
Third, Paul is labeled “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”
This is the only place in Scripture where Christians are called “Nazarenes.” This may be another insult given what Phillip said about Jesus being from Nazareth in John 1 —
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth.”
And calling the Christian movement a sect is strategic.
It lumps believers together with other radical insurrectionist groups that Rome feared—groups like the Zealots.
The religious leaders knew exactly what they were doing here.
Rome prized order and stability above almost everything else. So if they could portray Paul as the leader of a dangerous movement, they might persuade the governor to act.
Finally, they accuse Paul of attempting to profane the temple, which again could provoke unrest in the region.
So when you put it all together, the charges are clear.
Paul is portrayed as a dangerous man—
a disturber of the peace,
a leader of a rebellious sect,
and a threat to public order.
The message to Felix is simple:
This man is dangerous. You need to deal with him.
Now we’ve actually seen this tactic before in Acts. When Paul stood before the Roman tribune earlier in Jerusalem, similar accusations were made. And here they surface again before the governor.
And there is something we should learn from this.
Our enemy is relentless in trying to smear faithfulness with lies.
This has happened to Christians from the very beginning.
In the early centuries of the church, believers were accused of cannibalism because of misunderstandings about the Lord’s Supper.
They were accused of incest because they called one another “brother” and “sister.”
Later the emperor Nero blamed Christians for the great fire in Rome—a fire he likely started himself.
And that accusation unleashed horrific persecution.
Christians were tortured, thrown to wild animals in the arena for entertainment…
And even burned alive as human torches to light Nero’s gardens.
This pattern repeats throughout history.
Because when the gospel challenges the values of a culture, the easiest way to dismiss Christians is to misrepresent them.
When people reject the message, they often attack the messenger.
And we still see this today.
Christians are frequently portrayed as intolerant, hateful, or bigoted simply for holding biblical convictions.
Believers are sometimes labeled anti-science or anti-intellectual for believing in the authority of Scripture.
In situations like the legal battle involving Jack Phillips, Christians have been portrayed as enemies of human rights for simply trying to live according to their conscience.
And if you pay attention to movies, television, and media coverage, Christians are often depicted as:
hypocritical,
ignorant,
judgmental,
or manipulative.
Recently one popular podcaster called evangelical Christians in our country a cancer and the worst people in our country!
The message becomes loud and clear:
Serious Christians are either dangerous… or foolish.
Now we do need to acknowledge something honestly and humbly.
Christians are not perfect people. Sometimes believers really have acted hypocritically or harshly.
And when that happens, we should repent and seek to represent Christ more faithfully.
But many times believers are criticized not because we have done wrong—but because we refuse to compromise the truth.
And when that happens—when your character is attacked because of what you believe—
When people twist your words or question your motives—
When faithfulness to Christ brings criticism instead of applause—
What will you do?
How will you respond when you find yourself under trial?
Let’s look now at how Paul responds in our second point:
Faithful Obedience.
The Faithful Response
The Faithful Response
Now in verse 10, Paul begins his defense.
And what marks his response?
Three things:
Respect.
Truth.
Boldness.
First, Paul is respectful.
Notice what he does not do.
He does not engage in the false flattery of Tertullus.
He will not tell a lie—even if it might help his case.
But neither does he lash out in anger.
He doesn’t insult Felix.
He doesn’t mock the court.
He doesn’t attack his accusers.
He speaks with dignity.
Even under false accusation, Paul refuses to sin with his tongue.
This is so instructive for us.
When you are misrepresented…
when someone questions your motives…
when you are criticized unfairly…
Is your instinct to retaliate?
To vent?
To fire off the sharp reply?
To “win” the verbal battle?
Paul shows us that faithfulness under pressure begins with self-control.
Second, Paul answers every charge with truth.
He begins by calmly stating in verse 11 that it has only been twelve days since he came to Jerusalem. Hardly enough time to organize a political uprising.
He says in verse 12 that no one found him disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd.
Then in verse 13 he makes it plain:
“They cannot prove to you what they now bring up against me.”
No evidence.
No witnesses.
No case.
And in verse 19 he notes that the supposed eyewitnesses from Asia aren’t even present.
The charges are baseless.
Then Paul clarifies the heart of the matter.
Yes, he belongs to “The Way.” But it is not a sect bent on political rebellion.
It’s the fulfillment of Israel’s hope.
He worships the God of the fathers.
He believes the Law and the Prophets.
He shares the Jewish hope of resurrection.
And he anchors that hope in what the prophet Daniel foretold:
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Now far from causing chaos, Paul reveals his motives. He came to Jerusalem to bring financial aid and to worship. He was even ritually clean when he entered the temple — Not profaning it!
Then Paul summarizes it all in verse 16:
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
That’s the key.
Paul is not claiming perfection.
In fact, earlier he had spoken hastily to the high priest—and when corrected, he apologized.
But his life direction was clear.
He worked hard to keep a clear conscience before God and man.
That is why he can stand calmly in this courtroom.
When your conscience is clear, you do not have to panic.
Third, Paul is bold.
He makes it clear that the real issue is not political unrest.
It is the resurrection.
He says plainly in verse 21:
“It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.”
This is risky.
Because the last time he brought up the resurrection in Jerusalem, it sparked a riot and nearly cost him his life.
But Paul brings it up again. — Why?
Because the resurrection is the hinge of the gospel.
And faithfulness means keeping the main thing the main thing.
Paul is not primarily concerned with preserving his comfort.
He is concerned with proclaiming Christ.
As the Lord had said about him in Acts 9:15:
“He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings…”
And this is that moment.
Standing before a Roman governor, Paul chooses bold faithfulness.
Application
Now what does this look like for us today?
Because most of us will never stand before a Roman governor.
But you may stand before:
A supervisor who pressures you to compromise your integrity
A classroom where biblical conviction is mocked
A family gathering where your faith is misunderstood
A social setting where silence would be easier than speaking truth
In those moments, faithful obedience looks like this:
Respectful in tone.
Truthful in speech.
Bold about Jesus.
Not combative.
Not defensive.
Not ashamed.
But a clear conscience.
Steady heart.
Anchored hope.
Paul shows us that when falsely accused, we do not have to grasp for control.
We stand firm in truth, and we entrust the outcome to God.
But as this scene continues, something unexpected happens.
Up to this point, it appears that Paul is the one on trial.
He stands before the governor.
He answers the accusations.
He defends his conduct.
But the longer the conversation continues, the more it becomes clear—
There is another trial happening in that room.
And the next person to feel the weight of judgment is not Paul.
That brings us to our third point:
The Unseen Trial.
The Unseen Trial
The Unseen Trial
In verse 22, Luke tells us that Felix had an accurate knowledge of “The Way.”
He likely knew Christians were not violent revolutionaries. So, he dismisses the Jewish leaders and keeps Paul in protective custody, even allowing his friends to visit him.
On the surface, it appears that Paul’s trial is winding down.
But another trial is about to begin.
In verse 24, Felix and his wife send for Paul to hear him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
And Paul does not waste the moment.
He speaks about:
Righteousness.
Self-control.
The coming judgment.
And verse 25 tells us:
Felix was alarmed.
The word means he trembled.
Felix the judge is now the one shaking.
Paul is no longer on trial. Felix is.
History helps us understand why Felix was so alarmed:
He was born a slave and later granted freedom.
He became the first former slave to govern a Roman province.
But power did not purify him.
He rose to power through political intrigue.
He ruled with corruption.
His leadership was marked by violence and unrest.
The Roman historian Tacitus described him this way:
“He wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.”
That is devastating.
He was outwardly free.
Inwardly still enslaved.
So when Paul spoke of righteousness—Felix knew he lacked it.
When Paul spoke of self-control—Felix knew he had not mastered his passions.
When Paul spoke of coming judgment—Felix knew he would have to answer.
The gospel was not flattering him like Tertullus.
It was exposing him.
Hebrews tells us that this is what the Word of God does.
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
And:
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Felix felt that weight.
But conviction is not the same thing as repentance.
Notice what he does next. In verse 25 he says:
“Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
This is not denial.
Not disbelief.
But delay.
It was fearful avoidance.
He pushes the decision into the future.
And in the meantime…
He clings to power.
He hopes for a bribe.
He chooses comfort over Christ.
Paul stood under an unjust trial and responded with faithful obedience because his conscience was clear.
Felix stood under a just trial and responded with fearful avoidance because his conscience was guilty.
Paul was physically in chains but spiritually free.
Felix was politically powerful but spiritually enslaved.
Now listen carefully.
Felix’s problem was not that he felt conviction.
His problem was that he refused the cure.
And this is the cure:
Jesus died and rose again to give sinners what Felix desperately needed—a clean conscience.
Hebrews 9:14 says:
The blood of Christ…[will] purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Romans 8:1 declares:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
And Jesus himself promises:
Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
That is the offer Felix postponed.
That is the offer extended to you today.
Do you remember the Philippian jailer in Acts 16?
He too trembled.
He too felt fear.
But his response was different.
He fell before Paul and Silas and asked:
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
And they answered:
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:29–31)
Two trembling men.
One delayed.
One believed.
One postponed.
One repented.
One walked away unchanged.
One went home rejoicing.
The real tragedy of Felix is not that he delayed ruling on Paul.
But that he delayed responding to Christ.
He waited for a “more convenient time.”
And as we can tell, that time never came.
Hear the words of this poem by an anonymous author:
He was going to be all that a mortal should be
Tomorrow
No one would be better than he
Tomorrow
Each morning he stacked up the letters he would write
Tomorrow
It was too bad indeed he was too busy to see his friend,
but he promised to do it
Tomorrow
The greatest of workers this man would have been
Tomorrow
The world would have known him had he ever seen
Tomorrow
But the fact is he died and faded from view, and all that
was left when living was through
Was a mountain of things he intended to do
Tomorrow.
Friends, Felix lived in “tomorrow.”
But tomorrow never came.
So, if you feel conviction today, do not delay.
You may not feel that same urgency tomorrow.
But you will stand before God one day.
You can stand like Paul—declared righteous because your conscience has been washed clean by the blood of Christ.
Or you can stand like Felix—exposed and guilty.
Scripture says:
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Today.
Not when life slows down.
Not when it’s convenient.
Not when you get older.
Not when you feel ready.
Today.
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Turn from your sin.
Trust in His death and resurrection.
And you will be saved.
Do not leave this room saying, “Tomorrow.”
Come to Christ while there is still time—
And help others do the same.
Conclusion/Response (Gospel & Repent/Believe)
Let’s return to Hugh Latimer now.
We left him standing in the pulpit before King Henry VIII, knowing that this sermon might be his last.
And before he began to preach, Latimer spoke these words to himself:
“Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest; therefore take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease…”
But then he continued saying:
“But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest, and upon whose message thou art sent? Even by the great and mighty God, who is all-present, and who beholdeth all thy ways, and is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully.”
And with that, Hugh Latimer preached the same exact sermon again—only with even greater boldness.
Why?
Because Latimer understood something that Paul understood.
The highest court is not the court of kings.
The highest court is the court of conscience before God.
And that brings us back to the question that has been hanging over this passage from the beginning:
How will you respond when the truth about you is put on trial?
And Acts 24 has shown us the answer this morning:
In times of trial, we must choose between faithful obedience and fearful avoidance.
We saw this first in The Unjust Trial.
Paul was slandered, misrepresented, and falsely accused. The world called him dangerous because it could not tolerate the truth he proclaimed.
Then we saw The Faithful Response.
Where Paul answered with respect, truth, and boldness because he had a clear conscience before God and man.
And even under pressure, he would not flatter, compromise, or shrink back from the resurrection of Christ.
And then we saw The Unseen Trial.
What looked like Paul’s trial turned out to be Felix’s. The judge became the one trial.
The gospel exposed him.
He trembled under conviction.
But instead of repentance, he chose delay.
Instead of surrender, he chose avoidance.
Instead of receiving Christ, he clung to his idols.
And that is where this passage leaves every one of us.
Because in the end, Acts 24 is not only about Paul and Felix.
It is about us.
Some of you know what it is to stand in Paul’s place—to be misunderstood, criticized, or pressured because you belong to Christ.
And some of you, perhaps, are standing in Felix’s place right now.
You have heard the truth.
You feel the weight of it.
You know the gospel is calling for a response.
Do not answer that call with, “Go away for the present.”
Do not tell Christ, “When I get a more convenient time…”
Do not live in the deadly illusion of “tomorrow.”
Today is the day of salvation.
So if you are in Christ, then stand with a clear conscience and walk in faithful obedience, no matter what trials may come.
And if you are not yet in Christ, then do not delay another moment.
Turn from your sin.
Believe in the Lord Jesus.
Trust in His death and resurrection.
And you will be saved.
Because when the truth about you is put on trial, you must choose.
Do not respond like Felix with fearful avoidance.
Respond like Paul with faithful obedience.
And for some of you, your first act of faithful obedience today is this: repent and believe the gospel.
Run to Christ now.
Not tomorrow.
Not when it’s convenient.
Now.
Because your conscience can be cleansed.
Your guilty can be forgiven.
And all who trust in Christ will stand blameless in the judgment to come at the resurrection.
Prayer
Father, we thank You that when the gospel exposes us, You do not leave us condemned — You give us Christ.
Thank You that through His blood our guilty consciences can be cleansed.
—That in Christ there is no condemnation.
Lord, for those who feel conviction today, give them grace to respond — not tomorrow, but now.
Grant repentance and faith to believe.
And for those of us who already belong to You, strengthen us to walk in faithful obedience when trials come.
Make us respectful in speech, truthful in witness, and bold in hope.
And remind us that any faithfulness in us is not from us, but from Christ at work within us.
And now, as we sing our closing song, lift our eyes from ourselves to our Savior.
We pray this in Christ’s powerful name — AMEN!
Closing Song: Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Closing Words:
Church, what a fitting song for us to end with.
When we stand in the courtroom of conscience, our hope is not in ourselves.
Not in our record.
Not in our righteousness.
Not in our strength.
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me.”
Today if the Lord has stirred your heart…
If you felt the weight of conviction…
If you know you need that clean conscience that only Christ can give…
Don’t delay.
Don’t walk out saying, “Tomorrow.”
Come forward after the service and there will be people here at the front who would love to pray with you.
If you need to turn from sin and trust in Christ, come.
If you need counsel, come.
If you need prayer, come.
Today is the day of salvation.
And for those of you who already belong to Christ — faithful obedience doesn’t end at belief. It continues in steps of obedience.
For some of you, the next step is baptism.
For others, it’s committing to membership in the life of this church.
For others, it’s joining a discipleship group, serving in a ministry, or reconciling a strained relationship.
So, if the Spirit is prompting you toward a next step, take one of those orange Next Steps cards in the pew back in front of you. Fill it out and drop it at the welcome counter in the foyer before you leave today. We would love to help you take your next step.
Now Church, may you go out this week with a clear conscience.
Respectful in tone.
Truthful in speech.
Bold about Jesus.
Because you all know people who need Jesus today!
BENEDICTION: Hebrews 13:20–21
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
