Core Convictions (Acts 24:10-27)

Intro: A few years ago I watched a leadership talk called Start with the Why. Every leader needs to take a step back and ask “Why” Why does this organization exist? Why am I here?

That’s also vital to understanding the Bible. We need to ask: Why did the Holy Spirit inspire this to be written?

If we start with the why question of Acts 23-24, it helps to go back to Luke 1.

Luke 1:3–4 ESV

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

When I was a college student I took a few classes at a community college one semester. One class I had to give presentation on any topic. I chose: Who is Jesus Christ. It was a great opportunity to share the gospel. After I was done there was a time for Q&A. One student asked: What if you are wrong about all of this?

That showed me early on that people care about core convictions and truth

Luke and Acts were written to pass along core convictions of truth that the church cherishes and embraces

In Chs 23-24, Paul stands on trail twice . Before Sanhedrin and Governor Felix. There are a total of 5 trials from Acts 21-25.

(v11) Paul offers up his defense.

The word translated “defense” is where we get our word apologetics

Apologetics is essentially sharing our core convictions.

What core convictions do you operate with? If you had just a few minutes to share you faith with someone, what would you highlight?

Main Point: As Paul stands on trail we see his core convictions emerge. They are core convictions that shape his life and hope.

**His core convictions were not just for him. As we look at his core convictions, we see in his example what believers are to believe, do and say

What believers believe (v21)

The lingering question that the Romans have for Paul: what have you done? What have you done to warrant such hatred?

The charges laid against Paul—disturbing the peace and defiling the temple

In Ch 23 the hostility is so strong that 40 Jewish men take an oath they will not eat till the apostle is dead.

Paul is straightforward with what he believes.

Acts 24:21 ESV

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.’ ”

The resurrection in Acts prominent. Prominent in preaching; prominent in shaping believers hope and identity.

The resurrection even shapes the when of our worship. We prize the cross. We sing about it, it reminds us of the great love poured out. Yet…the church gathers on Sunday—Resurrection Day

Gospel: That’s the core of preaching in Acts is resurrection. Death did not hold the Lord Jesus down. He defeated death—and claimed victory..A victory that struck a fatal blow to sin’s dominion and Satan’s power.

Justifying grace is tied to Christ’s resurrection

Romans 4:25 ESV

who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Believers are justified because Jesus has been raised!!

Apply: I think this truth would have been massively encouraging for Paul. He is being unjustly accused.

*Yet he already knows the greatest verdict has been rendered in the highest court!

Christians fiends, is that your core conviction? That the highest verdict over you life has been rendered?

Romans 8:33–34 ESV

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

This is what believers believe and where we anchor our heart and hope. No charge brought against us. More that that—Jesus is presently risen, reigning, and interceding. Standing as our Great High Priest.

What Believers Do (v16)

Now there can be a massive breakdown between believing and doing—James warns us about.

Paul sets an example of living consistently with a clear conscience.

At both trials, Paul defends himself that he indeed has a clear conscience (23:1, 24:16)

Conscience can be confusing; the picture is usually the cartoon devil and angel standing on a persons shoulder—each trying to make an appeal

—It’s a common enough NT word: twice in Acts; 20 times in Paul’s letters; 5 times in Hebrews; three times in Peter

Conscience: best way to define is a person’s moral sensitivity. It’a also the independent witness to our character—only we know what is true about ourselves; only we know what we do behind closed doors and what goes on the shadow of our mind.

Conscience reflects the moral aspect of being made in God’s image.

Scripture speaks in categories

Guilty conscience

Defiled or desensitized conscience (Titus 1:15)

Clear conscience (1 Tim 3:9)

Note two things about a clear conscience: 1) It’s demanding—take pains 2) The direction: God and man

—Paul had a sensitive heart toward God, obeying his commands…also doing what is right in his sight

—Yet he also took those same pains to do what is right in the eyes of others.

I’ve had people tell me before, “I don’t care what anyone thinks about me” I usually don’t buy that, since that very statement is a way of triggering me to think a certain way about that person.

Now there is surely a people-pleasing fear of man to avoid.

Yet living with a clear conscience means we care what people think about us. We want to do right in their eyes.

Question: What is the main way to shape a conscience? Feelings? Friends? Those are often the go-to’s

we get an answer back in Ch 23:1-5

Unaware of who he is speaking to, Paul calls the high priest a whitewashed wall (figuratively—hypocrite); he is punched in the face like Jesus was a his trial (Jn 18:22-23)

After he finds out it’s actually the high priest, Paul realizes his misstep …based on the law (23:5; Ex 22:28)

To have a clear conscience we must have our hearts directed by the Word of God as the foundation of our thinking. The more we immerse ourselves in the Word, the more it shapes our conscience.

Where is your conscience today? Guilty, seared, or clean?

A core conviction of our faith is the confession of our faith: Jesus alone cleanses the conscience

Hebrews 10:22 ESV

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Finally, before moving on—there is is sweet picture I think of the fruit of living with a clean conscience: The Lord’s personal presence to reassure us.

Acts 23:11 ESV

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

this is key to seeing how Acts unfolds: Clearly the Lord’s assignment for Paul is to get to Rome. No plot against his life will succeed.

**But it so sweet to also see the comfort of God’s presence!!

God has given this picture to show us his presence in our service and suffering: The Lord stood by him...Often when we are serving the Lord, or suffering—sometimes they go hand in hand—we forget that God is near.

Q: In world of uncertaainty , anxiety, and delay…where does your heart go?

Some of you may need to just hear the words today that were told to Paul: Take courage. God is not done yet. He is standing by.

What believers say (24-25)

The final encounter is between Paul and Felix;

Paul had a friendly Roman military escort to Caesarea at night (23)

It may look like a friendly interaction. Earlier in Ch 24 we read a letter of flattery—but the true Felix was far from a flattering figure.

Felix: Gov of Judea from 52-29 AD. Three words that describe him: corrupt, cruel, and cynical. We see his corruption in 24:26; According to the historian Tacitus (History 5.9) Felix “reveled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.

Felix actually hired a Jewish sorcerer to deceive Drusilla to break off her marriage and marry him Felix added here as a 3rd wife as a teenager.

He was just sleazy.

Our attention is drawn to what Paul shares in v24-25

—Note the 3 categories emphasized: righteousness, self-control, and future judgment.

These are not sappy or shallow things—but they are core convictions

Righteousness: God alone is righteous. We fall radically short. Only One way to be right with God—rely on Christ alone.

Self-control: Righteousness will lead to a transformed life. Controlling lust, anger, the tongue....all central to godliness.

Coming Judgment: there is a final accountability. Since Paul is sharing his “faith in Christ, most likely he spoke of Jesus as the final Judge.

E.G. Ps 110 Jesus will crush even rulers and kings in his final judgment.

—What all these have in common: they all issue a call to repentance

Sadly, Felix is not all that interested in true life change.

In every story there is often a tragic figure—like Tolkien’s Gollum. A character who at the end of the day is and remains poisoned by their own self.

Felix is that guy.

V22—Felix had knowledge of the Way…but was far from the way.

One theme we to trace through Acts is how people respond to the Word. Some believe. Some have a hard rejection.

Felix is a picture of a person who rejects the Word and the Way because they are too fixated on self. They can’t see the work and worth of Jesus because their eyes are are narssisitcaly seeing only their own reflection.

Conclusion

We see that Paul was a man who lived, suffered, and was willing to die for his convictions—just like the Savior he worshiped.

There is also one core conviction that we can’t miss and is the final challenge:

Boldness to take God’s Word to all people

Paul does not shrink back or shy away from declaring truth to someone very powerful and in authority. Through the Power of the Spirit he boldly declares God’s Word.

Who is the Felix in your life? Is it someone intimidating? Someone maybe corrupt, cruel, and cynical?

Since the beginning, the core conviction of the church is that all need to hear.

So let us, by the Spirit, boldly speak freely about our faith in Christ Jesus.