Paul before Felix

First stop Caesarea

Paul is in the early stages of an all expenses paid trip to Rome. A place he wanted to go, that was prophesied that he would go and preach the gospel to kings.

From speaking before angry mob and Ananias the High priest, and the Sanhedrin

Now goes to Caesarea to speak before the Roman governor (procurator) Felix

Maybe a little background on Felix. His name is Antonius Felix he became the procurator (governor) over Judea in AD52 and served in that capacity until AD60 when he was recalled to Rome by Nero because of complaints by the Jews against him. Tacitus and Josephus in their writings paint him as a brutal, incompetent politician.

As you see him tonight you can draw you own conclusion.

Tonight we will see this broken down as:

The charges (Act24:1-9)

The defense (Act24:10-21)

The procrastination (Act24:22-27)

The Charges

Paul defending himself in Jerusalem, and God’s protector the commander Lysias sent him onto Caesarea to protect him, but God did it as His way of provision to get him to Rome to fulfill prophesy.

Acts 24:1–2 NASB95

1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation,

Acts 24:3–4 NASB95

3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.

Acts 24:5–6 NASB95

5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. We wanted to judge him according to our own Law.

Acts 24:7–8 NASB95

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.”

Acts 24:9 NASB95

9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: Who comes down from Jerusalem (v.1)?

High Priest Ananias, some elders, and Tertullus an attorney, orator, scribe.

Question: After many words of flattery (vv.3-4) Tertullus lists the charges (vv.5-6) can you see them?

He is a real pest and stirs up dissension (v.5)

He is ringleader of the sect of Nazarene’s (v.5)

He tried to desecrate the temple (v.6)

Question: How did Lysias take Paul according to Tertullus (v.7)

With much violence he was taken from them.

Question: So we have Ananias, some elders, Tertullus the orator and now in (v.9) we find more people, who?

The Jews who joined in the attack.

(insert making their case PowerPoint here)

So we have the accusers, the antagonists show up (v.1) we know who they are now (v.1) and they even rile up others, the Jews s(v.9) and that leads to the orator, to speak up.

The method of speech (vv.2-4) was very common for the time in addressing Felix as “most excellent Felix.” but he goes over the top with platitudes.

As a reminder also this is a time in history of the Pax Romana a time of peace. The outposts wanted to keep the peace at any cost, they did not want anything to get the attention of Rome that could lead to any trouble. So as we now look at the charges and keep in mind the times, so the presentation by the prosecution, the words used matter.

Charge 1 - He is a real pest, Stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world.

So the implication here would be linking Paul the the previous insurrectionists who caused uprisings before and that is what Paul is doing here and being charged with now, Insurrection and that would be a very serious thing that Felix would take into consideration in a time of peace, to keep the peace not have any insurrection happen.

Notice also that he is accused of doing it “throughout the world” Remember who the original instigators were? They were Jews from Asia (Act21:27, 24:18) they had followed Paul, and had been following Paul, they knew the problems for them that the gospel message Paul taught from city to city was causing them.

Charge 2: He is ringleader of the sect of Nazarenes

By saying this, they were proclaiming that he was part of those who believed that there was another king besides Caesar, and it was Jesus the Nazarene and he is a leader within those people

This again would be something that they had seen already cause problems, hence even why Paul was there in the first place.

Charge 3: He tried to desecrate the temple

One of the original claims was that Paul brought a Gentile into the temple and he had already answered to that charge before the High Priest and the counsel before.

If the Romans did not back up the Jews in keeping their own laws it could lead to problems with the Jews and an uprising by them. The Sadducees were Pro-Roman and the appeal was for Rome to line up with the Sadducees and protect the peace now.

Fact check:

Did the Jews arrest Paul? (consider Act24:6, Act21:26-31)

They ceased him, they stirred up the whole city against Paul with accusations of desecrating the temple, they intended to kill him not try him.

Did Lysias come with much violence and take Paul? (consider (Act24:7, Act21:32-33)

Word had reached to Lysias that there was problems in the temple and they intended to kill Paul so he dispatched troops to bring peace and protect Paul. He had Paul chained, there was no violence

Was Paul a “ring-leader” of the sect of Nazarenes? (Act24:5)?

Why yes he was! but the issue was they thought that he was teaching contrary to the law of Moses, circumcision and traditions of the father.

Again these things could take away the peace, for all of these things had made people angry, angry to the point of false accusations and wanting to put Paul to death.

Did Lysias the commander order the accusers to come before Felix? (Consider Act24:7-8, Act23:26-30)

Yep, again true statement, in the letter written by Lysias to Felix it says that he ordered the accusers to stand before Felix with the accusations

(Transition): Now comes the time for Paul to make his defense, he was always ready to make a defense (makes you think of 1Pt3:15).

The Defense

Time for Paul to speak his own defense of the accusations raised against him. Even as Paul makes the defense you will not see him speak with self-pity or bitterness. He stood with a clear conscience ready to account to both God and man.

Acts 24:10–11 NASB95

10 When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

Acts 24:12–13 NASB95

12 “Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. 13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.

Acts 24:14–15 NASB95

14 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Acts 24:16–17 NASB95

16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings;

Acts 24:18–19 NASB95

18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me.

Acts 24:20–21 NASB95

20 “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21 other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’ ”

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Paul is absence of the platitude of pleasantries (vv.10-11) though does acknowledge years of service

Question: How long had it been since Paul had gone to Jerusalem (v.11)?

It was no more than twelve days

Question: What does Paul in his opening statement say about the accusations (vv.12-13)?

They did not find him in any discussion with anyone or causing a riot (v.12)

Nor can they prove the charges in which they are accusing him (v.13)

Points to grasp (vv.14-15)

I do serve God in the sect the way

He said he served the God of “our” fathers, he is identifying himself as a believing Jew.

I believe everything accordance to the law

He believed in the law (written) and the prophets while having the same hope in God which the Jews have and cherish.

I have hope in God and in the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked

Oh no, here is where trouble came in, the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection (think of Act23:7-8)

Question: Paul makes a bold statement in (v.16) what is it?

I do my best to maintain a blameless conscience before God and men.

In (vv.17-20) Paul gives more information in building his defence, we will come back and talk about that in a few minutes. But still one more question now.

Question: Why does Paul say he is on trial (v.21)?

He is on trial for the resurrection of the dead.

Paul is permitted to speak by a simple nod from Felix (v.10). He acknowledges Felix and what he had done in Judea.

(Making a defense PowerPoint inserted Here)

Now looking at the bullet points of Paul’s defense

It had been no more than 12 days since coming to Jerusalem

Wonder why that may be important? for we know it had been 5 days there in Caesarea waiting on the accusers, there was 2 days that he was held in the barracks for his own protection, and a day of travel.

So Not much time for him to stir up dissension among all the jews (first charge)

They did not find Paul in the temple, Synagogue or the city causing any riot.

Paul boldly says “they cannot prove the charges” (v.13).

Paul’s defense his faith (vv.14-16)

I serve the God of our fathers

I believe in the written law

I have hope in God, the same God they cherish; hope in the resurrection from the dead too.

This is the same faith the same defense we should be able to offer up too. today, again thinking of 1Pt3:15.

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Contrary to Peter and the other apostles (Act5:29) and even Paul himself previously (Gal1:10) he lived blameless before God and man. (v.16)

Paul goes on to conclude his defense case

Hey the reason I came to Jerusalem was to bring support to the needy there (v.17) ; it says after several years, remember he had been away for the most part of 15 years, 10 years since the Jerusalem counsel.

They found him purified in the temple, not defiling the temple (v.18) He had no crowd, no uproar. Just some accusers from Asia.

Where are the accusers, the ones who started this, they should be before you Felix if they have anything against me (v.19)

So really the only charge that can be dealt with by these hear today is about the resurrection of the dead (v.20-21)

(Transition) Just like the courts today the accused need to be able to face the accusers to question them, so there is really only one charge to face. But still more to learn from the rest of our passage this morning.

The procrastination

The decision, time for a verdict, or is it? The prosecution and the defense both made their cases, now we see what Felix does with with case.

Acts 24:22–23 NASB95

22 But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.

Acts 24:24–25 NASB95

24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”

Acts 24:26–27 NASB95

26 At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Things we can glean from this section.

(Insert Procrastinate PowerPoint here)

Felix now has more information about “the way” and he wants to hear from another witness (Lysias) before rendering a decision (v.22)

He orders Paul to be taken care of until that time, and interesting it is not in a prison but in a palace he is taken and given more freedoms than most prisoners would be.

We see an introduction of another character to the scenario, Drusilla the Jewish bride of Felix.

She was the youngest daughter of King Agrippa I. Previously married to King Aziz of Emesa. Felix with some help a magician won her away from her husband.

Felix and Drusilla heard of Paul’s faith in Christ and wanted to hear more oftentimes calling for Paul to come before them. Well also that maybe Paul would offer them a bribe and buy his freedom too.

Paul did share faith, righteousness, self-control and the pending judgment to come with them and it scared Felix to procrastinate a judgment.

This went on for 2 years when Felix was recalled to Rome and replaced by Porcius Festus, but He did not want to leave with an uprising by the Jews so he left Paul imprisoned.

Procrastination:

It is procrastination that led to the downfall of Felix. We have seen he had ample opportunity to hear, believe and obey the gospel, but put off for a more convenient time, and that time did not come since after he returned to Rome he contracted tuberculosis and died without responding to the gospel.

May we not be people who procrastinate, and I’m not just talking about salvation, but sharing the hope with others, for today is the day of salvation for tomorrow may be too late.

(Prayer) (Exit)