3.7.25 5.24.2026 (Pentecost) From Pentecost to Present. Acts 24-26

Start:

Entice: Today, on Pentecost Sunday, we are nearing the end of this little foundational tour through the book of Acts. One of the central topics that animates virtually all my preaching and teaching is that

Theology matters.

that

Theology is practical.

To grasp how Theology is formed we need to know the Bible, and we need to know History. The book of Acts is where Bible and History merge to provide the theological framework for much of what remains in the New Testament. Ultimately what we believe (our theology), informs our behavior (practical Christian living.)

Engage: The practical work of the Church takes many forms. In the book of Acts we see the Church

Communicate Christ.

We see the Church

Comfort the Hurting.

And we see the Church 

Confront Empire. 

This has been the reality from the beginning. This has been the most common environment for followers of Jesus. Following Jesus is costly, and often those exacting the cost are those with political, cultural, social, religious, or economic power.

This is our focal point today.

I define Empire as 

the human impetus towards absolute centralized power. 

It is embodied in these words from Genesis

Genesis 11:4 ESV

4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

Empire is that mixture of political, social, economic, and religious systems, constructed in such a way that God is, at worst,  excluded and at best, subordinate. The God who created the universe is jealous and sovereign. His authority will be neither ignored nor abridged. 

Expand: How does that fit in with our reading of Acts? Beginning in Acts 23 the assaults  on Paul’s ministry change. the attackers changed from those who opposed the Messianic role of Jesus to those who were opposed to His claims to Lordship. Rome may not have had a dog in the “Jesus is the Christ fight”, but it sure had one in the “Jesus is Lord” fight. Paul preached Jesus in such a way that His universal claims could not be simply ignored as back country superstition or dismissed as foolishness from the fringe. Today we will look at texts in which Paul stands opposed to the spirit of Babel—the spirit of Empire.

Excite: We all need to understand of the scope of this ongoing project of which we are a part.  From Pentecost to present the Church has born witness to Christ before the Empires of the world.

All government of every nation has delegated authority.

None is absolute.

None speaks for Him.

That is the job of His Church.

Consequently, the world resents us.

Empire always resists that which it cannot control. 

At various times the world may try to confuse us,

compromise and use us.

There have even been times when

the Empire has tried to bribe us.

For much of Church History Empire has worn no masks. It is opposed to the Lordship of Christ, it mimics and appropriates His story to advance its own ends and when all else fails, it persecutes us. 

Explore:

The risen Christ expects and directs His Church in ongoing confrontation with Empire. 

Expand: Despite ups and downs, successes and failures we need to celebrate several marks of our consistent witness. 

Body of Sermon:  We should confront the Empire with an

1 Ongoing indictment of sinful humanity.

Acts 24:24–26 ESV

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.

1.1 Indifference.

1.2 Injustice.

1.3 Avarice.

Next, we confront Empire with the

2 Ongoing “incarnation” of Jesus in human history. 

Paul’s next chance to address another “representative of Empire” comes in Acts 26…Let’s pick up the story in verse 9…

Acts 26:9–23 ESV

9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

The incarnation of Jesus is seen through

2.1 His transforming power.

And the incarnation of Jesus is known through

2.2 His compelling story.

Finally, we confront Empire with what it resents most of all, an 

3 Ongoing invitation to repent. 

Acts 26:24–29 ESV

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

3.1 The message of Jesus vs. the method of empire.

3.2 The appeal of Jesus vs. the allure of empire. 

Shut Down

The Church is the present, incarnate body of Jesus. Our presence is both a reminder and indictment of humanities sinfulness. Our message of Jesus invites a fallen world to repentance. 

Paul was not cowed by representatives of the most powerful Empire of his time. He was not impolite, He was not rude, rambunctious, or rebellious. That Empire would eventually kill him. Faithful to his calling he preached Jesus, disclosed Jesus, and offered Jesus to those who heard. That is still our mandate. 

I invite you to be a part of this ongoing chain of witness. When you come to Jesus your own forgiveness is the calling to bear witness to others. You become a part of God’s enduring Kingdom. You become a part of the solution not a part of the problem. Today is a good day to say yes, today I will be a Christian.