Paul before Felix
Dawn Sermons in Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Hallelujah. This morning we’re in Acts 24.
And just a quick recap before we get into the passage. We saw Jesus coming to Paul in the dumps of discouragement, promising that Paul will testify in Rome. And the next day there’s a group of more than 40 bloodthirsty Jews plotting to ambush Paul and put an end to his life, and more specifically to put an end to his mouth.
But what they meant for evil, God meant for Paul’s good, and it became an opportunity for Paul to be delivered out of Jerusalem and into Caesarea, where he would stay for about 2 years before being transported to Rome.
And the events of those 2 years are in chapter 24, our passage for this morning.
1 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.
2 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,
3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
Now, Paul has thus far testified before the Sanhedrin council, and now he stands on trial before the Roman governor over Judea, whose name is Felix. And this Felix is a guy with nothing to his name. No achievements, no accolades. What we do know of Felix is that his name was Antonius Felix. He served as the governor of Judea from 52-60 AD. And he used to be a slave. But he became a freedman and rose to a high political office.
And history doesn’t give Felix a five star review. The historian Tacitus wrote that Felix exercised royal power with the mind of a slave. Josephus said that Felix was a corrupt politician who did nothing for the Judea while he ruled over the region.
And before Felix comes Paul and the high priest Ananias and his entourage. As we saw before, this Ananias was a brutal and violent man with no regard for the law of God. And he comes to Caesarea where Paul is, and brings his some elders and a spokesman named Tertullus. Tertullus is their lawyer, a man professionally trained to butter up the governor Felix and to bring forth the false accusations against Paul. And Ananias brings some elders along as false witnesses.
And they make three accusations against Paul.
5 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. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
First, they accuse Paul of treason against the Roman empire. He is a plague who stirs up riots among the Jews throughout the world. He’s a figurehead of Jewish rebellion.
Second, they accuse Paul of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. So Paul is against the Romans, but he is also against the Jewish religion. He’s a heretic.
And third, they accuse Paul of trying to profane the temple. They don’t say he actually did it, because they couldn’t produce any witnesses. Why? Because he didn’t do it.
So they accuse Paul on three points, and all three points are complete falsehoods.
Now, let’s pause here for a moment. You might notice there wasn’t a verse 7 included. That’s because some manuscripts don’t include verse 7. But verse 7 is completely necessary to the reading of this passage. Let’s see it again without verse 7, as per the ESV.
6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
The lawyer Tertullus says “By examining him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” Without verse 7, who does the “him” of verse 8 refer to? It refers to Paul. But it doesn’t make sense for the accusers to say, “Examine Paul, and you will see the truth.” Why would Paul testify against himself?
Now, if you include verse 7, as per the NASB, then who does the “him” of verse 8 refer to?
6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you. By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.”
It refers to the Roman tribune, Claudius Lysias. So if you include verse 7, then the accusers are telling Felix to examine Claudius Lysias.
And the proof that this reading is correct is in verse 22.
22 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.”
And so here we see how they disregard God’s law. They break the 9th commandment in order to break the 6th commandment. They bear false witness against their neighbor in order to commit murder.
And this brings to mind the scene before Golgotha, where the religious leaders hurled false accusations in order to have Jesus tried and crucified. And the governor at the time was Pontius Pilate, who caved in before the political pressure the Jews exerted upon him.
Now Felix faces the same thing. And the Jews have given their false account of Paul. And unless Felix gives them what they want, they can easily weaken his position as governor. They put Pilate to the grill, and they are very much able to put Felix to the grill.
10 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.
11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,
12 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. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
Now, Paul shows us an example of what Jesus meant in Matt. 10:16 when He said “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
So first, Paul addresses the accusations by saying, “I’ve only been around for 12 days, and five of those days have been spent here at Caesarea. How could I have mobilized an anti-Roman rebellion in seven days? How did Paul spend those seven days? He was carrying out a purification vow in the temple. The saints in Jerusalem said to him, “The people say you teach all the Jews to forsake the Law of Moses, so you should do carry out the purification vow and shave your head to show that you still live in observance of the law.” So that’s what Paul did for seven days.
Furthermore, he goes on to say, “I did not dispute with anyone or stir up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.” Is that true? Now, if you know Paul, you know that he preaches the Gospel wherever he goes. But did you know that Paul had reason not to preach while in Jersualem? Why? Because he knew his mission field was not to the Jews but to who? The Gentiles. In fact, God Himself told him that the people of Jerusalem would not accept his testimony. Acts 22:18.
Now, Ananias and his entourage accused Paul of being a heretic. Of being anti-Jewish. So how do you disprove this claim? Paul says “I am the true Jew, and they are the heretics.”
14 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,
15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
See what Paul’s saying? I worship the God of our fathers according to the Law and the Prophets. But it this this same God that they deny. A true Jew is one inwardly. We are Jews in the truest sense because through Christ Jesus we are all sons of Abraham.
Paul goes on.
17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.
20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 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.’ ”
So that’s Paul’s statement of defense. His accusers have tried to lay charges against him on the grounds of treason and rebellion. Paul confidently points out their complete lack of eyewitnesses, because there was nothing to witness. He didn’t do any such things.
Rather, Paul shows it to be a theological dispute on the grounds of whether Christ has risen from the dead.
Now, how does Felix respond?
22 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.”
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.”
26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
How does Felix respond? He postpones the entire case, saying he’s summon Claudius Lysias and we can have a second hearing then. But he never makes the call. Rather, he keeps Paul in custody at Herod’s palace, with some freedom to meet his friends, who most certainly did come to visit him.
And some time later, Felix comes with his wife Drusilla, a Jewish girl born of Herod Agrippa I. She was married at a young age to a regional king Azizus of Emesa, but Felix fell in love with her and seduced her away, and they had a marriage many considered scandalous.
And Paul spoke with Felix and Drusilla about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgement. All of which would have made the two of them very uncomfortable, given the circumstances of their immoral marriage. So Felix is alarmed, and says “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
See, Felix refused to call for a second hearing for two years. And the Holy Spirit saw into his heart and revealed to Luke what was going on. Felix hoped that Paul would bribe him with money. He probably knew of the large sum that Paul had given to the saints in Jerusalem, so perhaps Paul had some more. And so for two years he sent for Paul, hoping for a bribe.
But of course, a bribe doesn’t even cross Paul’s mind. Why? Because Paul never saw himself as a prisoner of Felix. That’s not how Paul saw things. Rather, Paul saw himself a prisoner of who? Jesus Christ.
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
You find yourself falsely accused, and you’re locked up in prison. And things start to seem gloomy and glum, but then comes your jailer, and you recognize him. Your best friend. And all of a sudden, things don’t seem so bad after all.
Paul always saw himself a prisoner of Christ. And so they play a waiting game. Felix waits for Paul to offer him a bribe, and Paul waits for Felix to summon Claudius Lysias for his second hearing. And they wait for two whole years.
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.
At the end of two years, in 59 AD, the Jewish leaders made a case against him for mismanagement of a conflict between Jews and Syrians. And so Felix is removed from office, and he leaves an innocent Paul in prison for the sake of not stirring up the Jews some more.
Now, what does this have to do with us? Why would the Holy Spirit have this written down? I think it shows us an example of the power of innocence, and the dangers of procrastination.
Paul was innocent through and through. His accusers laid all kinds of charges against him, but it was like pouring water on a ball. None of it sticks.
On the other hand, we look at Felix, who had an amazing opportunity right under his nose, and completely missed it. I mean, how could you have the apostle Paul in your backyard and not receive the gospel? He was a man who procrastinated everything in order to keep the comfortable status quo. He enjoyed the things of today, today, today, and pushed the difficult things to tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.
Here’s what Felix doesn’t do.
He does not summon Claudius Lysias.
He does not call for a second hearing.
He does not listen to Paul’s Gospel.
He does not receive Paul’s money.
He does not do anything beneficial for Judea.
He does not keep his position as governor of Judea.
He does not set Paul free.
Jesus warned us against procrastination toward the spiritual things. There is a certain day appointed for us to walk in salvation, and that day is called “Today.”
61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
If like Felix, our minds are set on greed for the comforts or pleasures of this world, we will procrastinate and procrastinate. But let us receive this warning from the Word of God, and never put off or postpone the mission and work of God. Amen?
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
