Responding to the Charges - Acts 24:1-27

“Responding to the Charges”

Acts 24:1-27

©Copyright 2004 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, February 15, 2004

A courtroom is always an intimidating place to be. The authority that resides in the judge makes a person feel like they are at “the mercy of the court”. The interrogation of the attorneys makes you feel like people don’t believe you. There is often a foreboding feeling that says, “One wrong word and you are in big trouble” . . . even if you are not the one on trial.

This morning we continue our study of the book of Acts by turning to Acts 24. In this chapter the Apostle Paul faced the charges brought against him by the Jewish leaders before the Roman Governor, Felix. Paul was given a “change in venue” from Jerusalem because it was discovered that there was an assassination plot against Paul.

This is a fairly straightforward historical passage. This morning we will look at the charges against Paul, his defense of those charges, and the verdict of his trial. Hopefully, we will also be able to draw some principles for living from Paul’s example and experience.

THE INDICTMENT

The Jewish leaders who were against Paul followed him to Caesarea. Their goal was not just to run him out of Jerusalem, they wanted to see him executed. We are told the High Priest (Annas), some elders (some of the members of the Sanhedrin) and a lawyer by the name of Tertullus went to Caesarea. The Greek word for lawyer is actually, retoros, from which we get our word, Rhetoric. Tertullus was a person skilled at making arguments. He was the Johnny Cochran or F. Lee Bailey of his day.

Tertullus began his prosecution by trying to butter up the judge. Tertullus said,

“We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

The problem was that none of what this man said was true. The Jews hated Felix. He was a horrible governor and his tactics had led to anything but peace. Tertullus is willing to say whatever is necessary to get the results his clients are paying for.

Tertullus made his charges against the Apostle Paul. First, he said Paul was a trouble-maker. The word that is used here could also be translated “plague”. Tertullus said Paul was like a cancer that infected and destroyed everything around him. Everywhere he went trouble followed him. Tertullus was counting on the fact that the last thing Felix wanted was trouble.

The second charge was that Paul was the “ring-leader” of the Nazarene Sect. On the one hand, Paul is certainly guilty of being a leader of the Christian Church. However, Tertullus chooses his words carefully. He calls Paul a “ring-leader”; literally, the “chief revolutionary”. The title was obviously meant to make Paul appear subversive. He said Paul was a leader of the Nazarene sect. The term “sect” would be similar to calling something a “cult” today. It creates a negative impression right off the bat. In the Roman Empire it was illegal to begin a non-sanctioned religion. Tertullus did not want Felix to think of Christianity as an offshoot of Judaism but rather a brand new religion that was illegal.

The third charge was that Paul tried to desecrate the temple. Notice Tertullus does not say that Paul actually did desecrate the temple. He had no evidence to support that fact. Since the Romans gave the Jews power to deal with those who sinned against the temple, Tertullus is implying the Jews have the right to take care of Paul themselves.

There is an interesting textual note here. In most of your Bibles you will note that the text jumps from verse 6 to verse 8. Usually at the bottom of the page you will read something like, “Some manuscripts say, him and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander, Lysias, came and with the use of much force snatched him from our hands and ordered his accusers to come before you.”

Because of the high regard held for the actual words of the Bible, scholars are very careful. These scholars compare the various copies of the Bible that have survived the passage of the years. In most cases the copies agree perfectly. In some cases there are variations. This is one of those cases. Most of the time scholars assume that something was added (such as a marginal note that later was mistakenly added to the text) rather than subtracted from the text. The addition does not mean that what is added is wrong . . . just that it probably was not written by Luke.

Actually, the note does explain things. It would be natural for Tertullus to imply that Paul was in Jewish custody and was taken from them by force (even though that wasn’t true). In a sense, Tertullus is arguing that the case should be kicked back to Jerusalem.

THE DEFENSE

When Tertullus completed his prosecution Paul was offered a chance to respond.

To the charge of trouble-maker

Paul answered the first charge with two statements. First, he told Felix that he had only been in Jerusalem for twelve days. Five of those days Paul had been in jail in Caesarea, he had been in jail in Jerusalem for a couple of days which only leaves 4-5 days. During this time he was visiting friends and fulfilling his purification rites. In other words, Paul didn’t have time to stir up any trouble!

Second, Paul reported that he had come to Jerusalem to worship. When the Jewish leaders found him in the temple he wasn’t preaching, teaching or anything else. Paul told Felix he was just “minding his own business.”

To the charge of following Christ

Paul admitted to Felix that he was a follower of Jesus Christ. Paul called it “the Way” which focused on the fact that Jesus provided the way to forgiveness, salvation and new life. He took exception to the idea that Christianity is a sect. He stated four things,

He worshiped the same God as the Jews doHe took the Law and the Prophets as his authorityHe had the same hope-- that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous. (Not all the Jewish people believed this, but many did)He worked hard to live a righteous life before God

In other words, Paul argued that Christianity was not separate from Judaism, it was the fulfillment of the Jewish faith! Therefore, if Paul was a heretic, his accusers must be heretics also.

To the charge of desecrating the temple

Paul addressed the charge that he tried to desecrate the temple by simply stating the facts. He had come to Jerusalem on a mission of mercy. He was not standing against the law . . . he was adhering to it by going through the purification rites! He wasn’t engaged in any kind of public activity at all. The charge stemmed from some false assumptions of some Asian Jews. Paul challenged the true accusers to come forward and testify to what they saw. The Jewish leaders had no firsthand information and could not, therefore, make this charge.

Paul said the only real charge these leaders could make against him was that he said he believed in the resurrection and that statement led to a fight between the Pharisees and Sadducees. Paul had these leaders in a tough spot. They could not argue that believing in the resurrection of the dead was a crime, or they would be condemning many of their fellow Jews!

THE VERDICT (or Lack Thereof)

We are told Felix had an “accurate understanding of the Way”. He knew what Christianity believed. He was in a tough spot. He knew Paul was innocent. He should have dismissed the case immediately. However, Felix was not very popular with the Jews (or with Rome) and he didn’t want to risk causing more trouble with the Jews. He was afraid it would cost him his job. So, he declared a continuance until he could hear from the Roman commander.

We have a pretty good idea that Felix knew Paul was innocent by the way Paul was treated. He remained under guard but it was more like a “house arrest” than real imprisonment. He was still under guard but was free to have visitors and to have his needs provided by his friends.

After several days, Felix called for Paul again to talk with he and his wife Drusilla. The story of Felix and Drusilla was quite interesting. Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa (who we saw in Acts 12). She was known for her stunning beauty. She had been married to another man when Felix conspired to lure her away from her husband. The two of them were married when she was just 16 years old. It was Felix’s third marriage and Drusilla’s second. Drusilla had a special interest in Christianity. Her Great-Grandfather had tried to kill Jesus in Bethlehem. Her Great-Uncle killed John the Baptist and her Father killed the Apostle James.

Luke tells us Felix called often for Paul to talk with him about Jesus. Luke said Felix was hoping for a bribe from Paul. I wouldn’t be surprised if he also was intrigued by the message of Paul.

CONCLUSIONS

This is a historical passage but it can also teach us some practical truth. First, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the best defense against antagonists a life of integrity. Paul was able to deflect these charges because they were not true. It reminds us of the story of Daniel. In Daniel 6 we are told the Babylonian administrators tried to find grounds for some kind of charge against Daniel . . . but they could find nothing. Someone has said, “a good example is better than a thousand arguments.”

Integrity is becoming a lost commodity today. Politicians check the polling numbers before they tell us what they believe. Some people define truth by whatever suits them at the moment. Others will promise you anything and feel no obligation to fulfill that promise. Many define what is important by what is important to them at any given moment. They define morality by what feels good.

A person of integrity lives by the same standard in private as he does in public; When he makes a promise he delivers; when he makes a mistake, he admits it; When he signs a contract, he fulfills it; He honors Christ in the church as well as on the football field, the factory, or the classroom. These people don’t have to worry about the attacks of others because they have nothing to hide. This doesn’t mean you won’t come under attack, it just reminds us that the best way to withstand the attacks of the world is a life of integrity.

Second, we see that in every situation we should proclaim the message of Christ in a straightforward manner.

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

Paul talked to these rulers about “faith in Christ Jesus.” He understood that no other message was as important as the message of salvation. If Paul had toned things down perhaps he could have gotten out of jail. But Paul’s concern was not for his safety; he was concerned about the truth.

Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come. Instead of telling this couple what they wanted to hear, he told them the truth. He told them that they needed to be holy to be made right with God. He told them that this holiness could not be achieved by their own efforts. It could only be obtained through faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul didn’t stop there. He continued by telling them that true faith was more than knowledge; it also involved repentance (a sorrow and turning from sin) and a sincere effort to follow the way of Christ. Paul said if a person didn’t have the kind of faith that resulted in belief and action, they would face the wrath of God!

That’s wasn’t a popular message in Paul’s day and it’s not popular today either. People would rather hear about their goodness and all the things God will do for them. They don’t want to hear about sin, repentance, faith, and judgment. However, this is the message entrusted to us. Paul understood this. Paul was much more concerned with the judge of the universe than he was with the governor and his wife. We have no right to water down the truth. It is God’s truth and not ours. It is this truth alone that can set people free. When we back away from the true message of the gospel we are choosing to disobey the Lord and to hide the key to freedom from the person we are talking to.

Finally, Those who don’t avail themselves of opportunities for faith are often lost forever. Felix and Drucilla had every opportunity to hear the gospel. It appears they understood the message and came under conviction. Luke tells us Felix was afraid. But instead of turning to the only one who could provide forgiveness and new life, Felix told Paul to go away. He would send for him again when it was “more convenient”.

Dr. Clarence Macartney told a story about a meeting in hell. Satan called his four leading demons together and commanded them to think up a new lie that would trap more souls.

“I have it!” one demon said. “I’ll go to earth and tell people there is no God.”

“It will never work,” said Satan. “People can look around them and see that there is a God.”

“I’ll go and tell them there is no heaven!” suggested a second demon, but Satan rejected that idea. “Everybody knows there is life after death and they want to go to heaven.”

“Let’s tell them there is no hell!” said a third demon.

“No, conscience tells them their sins will be judged,” said the devil. “We need a better lie than that.”

Quietly, the fourth demon spoke. “I think I’ve solved your problem,” he said. “I’ll go to earth and tell everybody there is no hurry.” (As quoted in Wiersbe)

In his commentary on Acts Kent Hughes had this poignant poem.

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.

The story of Felix and Drusilla is a sad story. The message of salvation was before them. All they had to do was admit their need for a Savior and then receive the new life that comes through Christ alone. They put off turning to Jesus until it was too late.

It’s important that we ask the question: Where are you in your relationship with Jesus? Are you still merely talking about faith? Perhaps, like Felix, you are knowledgeable about Christianity. Do you realize that knowledge is not enough to get you into Heaven? You must not only learn about Jesus, you must entrust yourself to Him. We find salvation when we sincerely abandon all hope of being good enough on our own. We are made new when we receive the offer of salvation that is given to us as a gift, by means of the cross of Jesus. Salvation is a gracious gift offered by our merciful God. You can continue to put off making the decision to trust and follow Christ, but you do so at your own peril.

There is an opportunity before you today. To receive this gift of everlasting life you must 1) Admit your need for salvation 2) Believe that Jesus meets that need 3) Commit yourself wholeheartedly to Christ. Those who do this will live beyond the grave. Those who don’t will face God’s terrible judgment. A point of commitment needs to start sometime. You can begin today . . . or you can wait until tomorrow.

©Copyright 2004 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, February 15, 2004