Paul Before Felix

Sermon Text: Acts 23:12-24:27

The Faith in Christ Jesus

I. Intro

a. Hook

i. Something good. Create a problem. Saved from what?

b. Context

i. Brief summation of preceding and current texts (leading up to Acts 24:24)

c. Scripture Reading (Acts 24:24-27)

i. 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. 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.

d. Thesis

i. The Faith in Christ Jesus consists of righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. This is our only hope of salvation. We will center our conversation around a discussion between Felix and Paul, which is a type of conversation that many will have with God/His messengers.

e. Prayer

II. Body

a. Righteousness

i. Explanation

ii. Felix’s Failure (a man of injustice)

1. The impending arrival of a new governor could have a been a suitable time for Felix to release Paul, especially since the Jews had not succeeded in bringing witnesses forward to advance the case against him. But because Felix wanted to grant a favour to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. Just as the Jewish authorities needed Felix to enforce certain judgments, so Felix needed them ‘to help maintain order in Judea and give favourable reports of his administration to the emperor’. So political expediency triumphed over justice for Paul in this situation.

b. Self-Control

i. Explanation

ii. Felix-Failure (a man of bribes)

c. The Coming Judgment

i. Explanation

1. A resurrection of the just and unjust (matt 25)

2. The Lord will render to each man according to his work

ii. Felix’s Failure and Final Response (a governor who fails to judge rightly, now will be judged)

1. Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

2. Regarding the topic of faith in Christ Jesus and all that involves, he puts it off. He continues the conversations with Pual because (“so” in Acts 24:26b) he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. As far as we know, Felix never embraced the truth. He knew just enough about it to ignore it, which in effect denied the truth of it.

a. Felix is presented as a confused and divided man, with some understanding of the great issues at stake, but unwilling to take the steps required of him by the challenge of Paul’s gospel. His conversations with Paul continued for two years, until his procuratorship came to an end.

III. Conclusion

a. How do you rank on the scales of righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgement? How have you handled that message? Will you share a response like Felix, ignoring truth? Or will you share the response of Paul, understanding that it is a powerful message, which is able to save your soul from death?

b. Our Only Hope in Light of All of This = Faith in Christ Jesus

c. What is the solution to the problem?