Living In Good Conscience

We're going to beginning verse 12.

We're going to be starting in verse 12, all the way to the end of chapter 24. A lot of texts. Again. These are long narratives towards the back half of acts. So we're going to take him bigger chunks of tax and kind of just getting overview of the trials of Paul. This is a little bit different than the previous passages. We've seen your earlier in acts with that said though. I want you to go 1 verse earlier. 2 verse 11 because verse 11 really begins the power graphed below. Begins the section on what, where to look at the brakes that you seen your Bibles works as a plot to kill. Pull those brakes. Are not divinely-inspired, grammatically, and sequentially. We're starting in verse 11, an act brings us into contact, the sort of the bridge verse between what happened before and after and as you'll see it all kind of makes sense. First 11, a sort of overshadows the Meaning, passages and kind of indicates to us why everything is taking place in. So it says in verse 11, the following night. The Lord stood by him and said take courage or as you have testified to the facts about me Jerusalem's. So you must testify also in Rome. And when it was day, the Jews made a plot and they bound themselves by oath neither to eat in order to drink till they had killed Paul, and they were more than 40 who made this conspiracy. And they went to the chief priests and the elders. And said, we have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste. No food till we have killed Paul. Now, they are for you alone with the council. Give notice to the Tribune to bring him down to you as though you were going to determine his case more. Exactly. And we are ready to kill him, before he comes near. Now the son of Paul sister heard of their Ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul the Paul called one of the century instead. Take this young man to the Tribune for, he has something to tell him until he took him, and brought him to the Tribune said, Paul The Prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you. So the Trivium took him by the hand and throwing aside, s can privately, what is it that you have to tell me. He said the Jews Evergreen to ask you to bring, pull down to the council tomorrow, as though, they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him, but do not be persuaded by them for more than 40 of their men are lying in Ambush for him who have bound themselves by now. If neither to eat nor drink to, they've killed him and now they are ready, waiting for your consent. So, the Tribune dismissed, the young man charging him. Tell no one that you have. Informed. Are these things at Sprague?

Father God, in heaven.

We bless you. Almighty God. We praise your holy name. For me, humble ourselves. Now, we stand under your word, under the purity of your word, under the protection of your word. Oh lord, your word speaks to us guides Us in spires of Sanctified us o'lord. When you cleansing today renewal old father God instruct us in your precepts. May we behold wondrous things from your law? Oh Lord, maybe see Christ magnified and oh Lord may we understand the great love that you have for us through this passage today as we learn more about pool at about his trials. Help us to remember that in our trials and threw it. All you're with us every step of the way. Father, I ask that you would eliminate the text before us today. Give us Insight. Give us understanding to not only hear the word b, hears of the word but to be a juror of the word. Oh Lord. I pray that you bring about conviction, repentance, renew us in our faith. I asked the Lord for unction in an anointing. Oh, Lord, Holy Spirit. I need you in my mind and in my lips, I pray that you go pass out on me, speak to me, use me as a vessel of Honor For Your Glory. O, Lord me, you receive the honor and praise today in Christ name. Amen.

The Bible tells us. Today's Christians, you will face trials and tribulations. And if you are Christian worth your salt and if you've been saved any amount of time, you will have had experienced the trials and tribulations of following Christ. The Lord said, never said, it would be easy, the Lord never told us. It would be a better roses. In fact, he says, pick up your cross and follow me indicating if you want to be a Christian. It's a cruciform life. It's a life where you die to self. It's a life where you are constantly carrying around the symbol of the Cross, which is death. Because that's what Christ has set. An example for us and came to this world and suffered and humbled himself to the point of death that we may understand that being a Christian is not about having more about the world and having more materialistic things and having more fun and having great health and prospering and successful. God blesses us sometimes with those good thing. But life is about difficulties two in Trials. It's about God, being with us and getting through it. We're going to face difficult times in life. And sometimes you're going to be moments where you're going to be under such pressure under such strain that fear may come over you. Fear is a natural result into human in Instinct that indicates to us of danger imposing danger of beer is a, is a good thing. If we're fear, that means that in some ways, you're a sociopath and your Reckless right here. Is that way of telling us that there's dangerous things, that hadn't we ought to be cautious here when he gets out of control can paralyze and ruin our lives. If you were in Paul's shoes right now, just imagine how you would feel. You've been detained, you know, that the hijinks of the Sanhedrin is determined to bring you down, to destroy you and kill you. You've already seen how a mob a vicious mob went out to take pull down. He was rescued by Claudius lysias, the Tribune of Jerusalem running to the 4 to San Antonio. And here he is. Now wondering, what is next. And if that moment of darkness, the Lord Comforts and Paul, I'm with you. Buried his prison cell alone in the dark fearful not knowing what would happen. God's presence, comforted him. Paul just as you testified in Jerusalem. You must testify in Rome. You know what? Jesus Is Telling Paul? Don't worry about it. You're going to be okay. I have a plan for you. You're my plan. Is your own room. And nothing will get in the way of that. What comfort that must have brought to Paul Richard wurmbrand, the Lutheran, Pastor who endured great persecution during the Communist Regime in the Soviet Union, in Eastern Europe, was arrested and was held as a prisoner for quite some time tortured back to his autobiography. Room is tortured for Christ. Voice of modern skills that out quite often isn't book form and even his video is on there. But what really touched me about his testimony in his darkest moments net cell when all seemed lost? When all hope was gone. It was the sweet presence of God that comforted him in his cell. That's what takes away the fear.

Paul said in Romans chapter 5 verses 3 through 5, we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering, produces endurance, endurance produces character character produces. Hope and hope does not put us to shame because God's love is been poured into our hearts. Through the Holy Spirit has been given to us the same. Paul who wrote those words, live those words. We're about to see how his suffering will only intensify it. So what happens. Now we get to the next stop here in the next stop here. Is that up? There is a plot to kill Paul, right? He's already escaped death twice. He was beaten to within an inch of his life by a vicious mob. I can't imagine how how physically hurt he was and how much a bottling damage and harm he endure. It must have been a recovery. He was beaten and nearly taken out. He was rescued brought into the Fortress. He stood before a preliminary hearing hearing brother before the Sanhedrin and seen that it was a kangaroo court, seeing the cards are stacked against them. He basically appeals to the Pharisees, which he was a member of the English, and I'm on trial for the resurrection and it causes a great upheaval and they're all at each other's throats and there's a big war and conflict within the Sanhedrin. And once again, he escaped within an inch of Like the Jews are fed up. They want them dead. They're sick and tired of the nonsense and you could just see the murderous rage. This is not even about having a fair trial. You can see her, we want to do it. I'm in 40 fugs. We're not told who these guys are. I'm assuming that these are radicals. He's our zealous. These are possibly the terrorist that we were. We've been referred to as many times as the sicarii. These are the Jewish terrorist of those days. I probably plotting that we're going to fast and pray. We're going to find ourselves by note to God. What a stupid oath Rite Aid. I love the, how are our Bible study in our in our preaching kind of go hand-in-hand. Sometimes we see these themes of the sovereignty of God. And if you're with us this, Wednesday in the Book of Judges will read about Jeff, the who made a horrible office. Well, and you had to live with the consequences of that. But here's a stupid of they found themselves by. Now. We're not eating and drinking.

And then they bring it before the Sanhedrin, the High Council, the religious authorities are this real, the representatives of God, to the people. And they say, guess what? We've plotted to kill Paul. And we're bound ourselves by nothing till we reach even in the Sanhedrin. Does what? Thank you. Blessings. It shows you how I really corrupt, and filthy and dirty, the Sanhedrin was, but then again, this is the same religious Council that crucified, our Lord. These men are not men of God are pagans. They're worse than pagans. The pagans have more honor. Here is we see the Romans have more honor than the Jews. The Jews who know the love. I don't know the ways of God in and you can almost see when Paul is riding to the Romans. In the second chapter. He said you want to know the law, you break. The law, the Gentiles are the Lord renew their hearts. They do the lawn more than you.

I'm paraphrasing here, but you could see that utter hypocrisy wickedness of the Jewish state.

I remember the words of the Lord, take courage, Paul, but you're going to testify in room just as you testified in Jerusalem. This is what we're really seeing the Sovereign hand of God. So so the first part of our sermon. Let's look at this, this Sovereign care. The providential care pool in this plot. So what happens if light is on your ID is let's get Paul for another hearing before the saying he'd ring while they're transporting him through the dark. Alleys of Jerusalem. We're going to lay in Ambush. This is very common in those days and as they're walking through, we're just going to take him out. We're going to kill him. Nothing. So surprising here historically, these things happen all the time. It was actually Martin Luther and I saw a lot of Echoes here of Luther's on trial when he went before the diet of worms to testify of his own convictions on justification by faith alone. He was guaranteed safe. Passage there in the midst of the of the, the forest were many people lying in Ambush. Ready to kill him too. And got providentially and safely kept him. God is with you. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. And this is something that the child of God needs to know. These men could plot and plan and fast and pray, all they want. Nothing, not a hair on poles, head would be singed, the part from the will of God. Amen. So anyway, Paul is in prison and what takes place, holds nephew discovered the plot. We learned about that. Paul has a nephew has a sister Grammy. They probably live in Jerusalem and it's probably one of those tantalizing parts of scripture, right? We're not told who he was. We're not told his name when I told her her name, in fact, nothing more told about Paul sister and nephew throughout the remainder scripture. And Luke doesn't satisfy her curiosity. Does he? However, we see that in this context? God moves upon this young man. How did he find out the what? We don't know. Somehow, he must have had in roads within the circles of the high Echelon of Jewish Society. He discovered the plot, he overheard it. And so, what is he doing? Gains access to the prison? How did he gain access? The Greek term here is speaking that he's alive. He's a young man. How in the world can a young man gain access to a Roman Tribune to get to the prison to speak to Paul. All of this is very questionable. And I think that that's the whole point rather than get bogged down in the details. We have to see that this is God's Providence. It was God who allowed him to discover the plot to take Paul's like it was God. Who allowed him to get into the prison. It was God who allowed him to speak to Paul and it was God who Moved upon the heart of Claudius lysias to actually sit down and talk with the young man and not take his head off and it was God who Moved upon Claudius lysias. It's hard to believe the young man.

You can't help, but to see the Providence of God in this all, I'm keeping you safe. And God is as good as his word.

It is amazing when you see the providential care of God on bow. Robert Rayburn comments, this we are. First of all God's Sovereign disposal of History, even the history of a particular man that events that make up his life, that take him from one place to another from one situation to another, the divine plan and purpose include very obviously here. Not only the end result by the moon's, but the means, by which it is achieved.

Do we believe that God is Sovereign? Do we believe that he is Sovereign over every human being over every event? Every Affair that nothing happens by circumstance, or coincidence or, or or was not incidental. But that every event, even the slightest thing that happens in the created order is part of the purpose and plan on God.

The Lord is in heaven. He does all that. He Wills. And yet at the same time, if it were not for Paul's nephew hearing the report if we're not for Paul's, nephew acting up on it and going and taking a risk in going to the prison and taking the risk. In speaking to Claudius lysias. None of this would have happened. This is what we call. We talked about the sovereignty of God in the will of man the doctrine of concurrence. That both the will of God in the will of men are working. Concurrently. We talked about the primary cause being that of God. It is God who will do this to occur? But the secondary cause is the fact that Paul's nephew made the action. He took took the steps to make this occur. So what does that mean? It means that Paul's nephew didn't sit there and say well. The Lord. Sovereign he can take care of it. I'm not doing anything. What is nothing wrong with saying that, but something had to be done when Paul receive the report focuses. If you think you bless your soul, what we can do about poor. What do nothing. God is Sovereign, you'll take care of it. See, that's the exact wrong way, to look at God's sovereignty.

Inaction doesn't believe in God's already doesn't equal in action. It means that acting upon what we know to be true. What we know to be right and doing something about what we need to do. That's caring about the will of God. He had to rescue his uncle and he did everything. He could his power to do it. Is God able to save him without him? Absolutely, God could have intervened. There's a point. Could have secret got someone else to accomplish the work that falls nephew would have done but he was faithful in following what he believed to be, right? And true. And so this doesn't negate human will and human responsibility. But in fact, the firm's that God's will old ultimately triumphs. This is throughout the Bible. God told Abraham when he made a comment with him, you should listen your descendants. You're going to be servants in Egypt for a long time. It's going to be like 400 years before they come back to settle the land of Canaan. That was it. So I told him he did not tell him how that was going to happen. You didn't tell him that among is grandchildren. There is going to be a big dispute. He didn't tell him that among his 12 grandsons, that one of them would be favored by Usher. Six great-grandchildren would be favored by his grandson. Jacob, and that, the other great-grandchildren would be absolutely jealous and sell him into slavery to Egypt. Joseph, who was Abraham's great-grandson, would be there for many years. First as a slave and Potiphar's house. Then he would be a slave. Be in jail. Rather imprisoned on. You stationed. In was there, we know, the whole story meant the baker, the wine-cup bear, and eventually, he gets an audience with Pharaoh. He interprets his dream. He was elevated to the prime minister of Egypt and then Joseph, who really shouldn't have had a chance finds himself and it was prosperous place in my ear. Excuse his father. He rescues, his brothers. They all move to Egypt to escape the diamond. His brothers find out who he is. They're terrified. That's it. Just is going to get us. And what is Joseph say to them and Genesis 50:20. What you intended for evil, God, intended for good? That's the doctrine of concurrence. Did. Jacob Brothers. Intend evil? Absolutely. They hated Joseph. They wanted him dead.

But God had a greater intention at least this gives us the confidence to know that even when evil occurs in life, even when evil people seem to get that way. Like why does God allow evil to succeed? Because in that God has a purpose and a plan. God uses the evil intentions of men to achieve his purpose and will for his people Romans 8:28 tells us. God works all things, all things together for the good of his people called, according to his grace called, according to his love. That means all things. Both Pleasant and unpleasant. God is using all things together for good. Not using, I think it back and texted he's working. He's energizing, he's crapping it out.

And so what do we see here? Paul is rescue from this plot is made aware to Claudius lysias and wheels. Get in motion for Paws Rescue. Let's look at verse 23. Then he called. This is Claudius lysias called two of the centurions and said, two centurions. That means two captains over 100 soldiers at two hundred soldiers. That's a big attachment. A sentence with two centurions and to get ready, 200 Soldiers with 70 Horsemen at two hundred spearmen to go as far as sex area at the third hour of the night, provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor and you wrote a letter to this effect, Claudius lysias to his Excellency, the governor Felix readings. This man was seized by the Jews, was about to be killed by them when I Came Upon and then with the soldiers and rescued him, Having learned that he was a Roman citizen and Desiring to know, the charge, which they were accusing him. I brought him down to their counsel, I found and he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing, deserving of death or imprisonment. When it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man I sent him to you at once or during his accusers. Also, to State before you would they have against him. So the soldiers, according to the instructions to Paul, and brought him by night to Auntie patras, and then the next day they returned to the barracks. Letting the Horseman go on with him when it comes to sex. And deliver the letter to the governor. They presented. Paul also before him on reading the letter he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from silicia. He said I will give you a hearing when your accuser has arrived and He commands them to be guarded and have hers. Herod's praetorium.

He acts on this Claudius lysias again. God Sovereign, Lee Moving upon the heart of this, man. You must be baffled at this point. You have to be perplexed. I can't imagine going home at night and having dinner with what you'll never believe what happened to work today. Again, this guy Paul. I just can't seem to figure out. Everybody wants him dead. I don't know why we have boxing in in the Sanhedrin. It's just crazy. So at this point he realizes Paul's life is in Jeopardy. Paul is a Roman citizen and he doesn't want that blood and responsibility on his hands. And so being a righteous man. He couldn't support the language but he sends Detachment of 470 soldiers to escort. Paul to Cesery in cesarina is the Roman capital of Judea. This is why the governor's mansion is and Felix is the Roman Governor. At this point will learn a little bit more about him in a minute. The governor at one point when Jesus was crucified, was Pontius Pilate Governors that are sent to today or not the happiest people. Why? Cuz Israel Jerusalem particular Judea is just filled with turmoil. This is like, this is like the place you do not want to go that the Jews are angry their hostile. Their man is constant instructions. There's constant riots, and if there's one thing Romans 8, They hate riots. They hate insurrections and we'll see how this leads up to the charges against. Paul. Remember, Rome was founded on the principle of Pax. Romana. Right, they brought peace to the world, peace through the sword. That is and so the idea that there's instability in Roman provinces basically, makes the Roman Empire look like, they don't have control. It's so if you're a governor of a region and the people there are out of control that falls on you and you get in trouble. Nobody wants the job in Judea cuz your day is a place where there's constant rides. Austin. Insurrections, and you constantly have to bear the weight of the responsibility that Forget a picture of how this is really, a tense situation between Rome and Jerusalem. And here's Paul in the middle of a tall, Paul's in this Balancing Act is Roman citizenship. He's he's dealing with the Roman government on the same time. He's Jewish. And and here he is, caught in the balance between the two major powers of the world. On one in the religious hierarchy of Israel. And on the other hand, the most powerful Empire in the world. This could go Dad either way and end with Paul's life. But Paul is confident through all of this. Why so many soldiers. Again, terrorist groups are in wait in Ambush along, the open roads. And so they need to get him safely about halfway there. The two Legions return. The calvary brings Paul to caesarea, ain't held in detention there until his hearing you skip sing. I want you to think about this because think about your own life. You talk about the Providence of God, we talked about this. I've got to think over your own life, think of how many times God has orchestrated events in your life in such a way that it kept you safe. Think about. How many times were you thought? Oh my goodness. I could have been there years ago during September 11th 2001. We were members of North Shore, Baptist Church in. We had a friend of ours who worked in the building, the Twin Towers. He was supposed to go to work that day. He was supposed to be in his office. He took off that day. I forgot what reason it was, but he took off, he did not go into the office. That was the day that H burn down. I can't remember the details, but the providential hand of God kept him out of those buildings on that day. How many times that's happened to me? In my life, where God has kept me off. Sometimes when I get stuck in a traffic jam, on the parkway, it brings great annoyance, right? Here we go fishing. If you live in New York, Long Island. The Bronx. Queens traffic is. Forget it. What you don't want. You always wonder. What is God? Protecting me from down the road. I may be detained. Here would be detained for 2. Here's accesoria.

Two years. This is a man. Who's on the go everyday. This is a man who doesn't sit still. He just into one town. Preachers are gospel. Okay, we got to go in here and preach the gospel. We have to go here. This is a guy who's been on the moon for years. God says, I'm going to slow you down for him. I'm going to hold you in detention for two years and sister Ian. Could drive someone mad, especially when they're on the go.

But God was protecting Paul. You should be a different season in Paul's life. Sometime, God works through us that way.

Let's get to the second part of the second Point. That's Paul's trial before Felix. Let's learn a little bit about Felix. He's the judge who will preside over this case. The Felix is a very ungodly men like most women Governors, but Felix is a pretty bad guy. Felix was born a slave and he was granted, his freedom by Emperor, Claudius and much like the Tribune who was also granted his freedom lysias. I Claudius lysias actually adopted the name, Claudius and honor of receiving his, his freedom. Also, he was born a slave and once he was given his freedom. He worked his way. Up the ranks of high, Roman society pretty quickly. He learned to impress people in the yard, good political Acumen, and he was able to achieve a governorship which coming from being a slave was an incredible feat. He really was ranking High buddy. He was also a horrible person. He was brutal. He was known for his violence oppressions of uprisings with Andrews. And I remember we don't want Uprising. So he had very any hint about prizes. He basically arrested everyone crucified. He was known for crucifying more people than any other governor before him, that crucifixions were brutal. You know that already through understanding the death of Our Lord. He was also a very man who had a great lust for power and women had four wives. He kept, he certainly had no way of restraining his Indulgence and he had a great desire to write even more power. And he would do anything, he could to accomplish that. His wife In. This passage is Drew will learn about her shortly and she is equal to him. In terms of her lust for power. And for pleasure. She was married to a king of a small Kingdom within Syria and they had an illicit illustrious affair. They both cheated on their spouses and left their spouses and their own relationship. She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa the first. So she was a Jew by birth and as a Jewish she was an apostate. So she understood Jewish religion. She was an apostate. Talk to kiss, the Roman historian describes Felix's. This and I quote a master of Cruelty and lust and exercise the power of a king, but he had the mind of a Slave. Not the kind of guy that you really want to have judge in your case, right? How cool was he? Well, I'll tell you how cruel he was shortly after Claudius died and will read in our chapter. He was recalled from his governorship because his brutality. He was told you need to come back to Rome. You are way too brutal. You're too cruel. We don't want you representing wrong. And guess who the emperor was who recalled him near row. Now he is the most brutal and cruelest of any leader in ancient history. And if he thinks that Felix is too cool, that tells you a lot about who Felix's You get a sense of the world that our forefathers lived in. We have it pretty good. Don't we? So anyway, here we are and Paul is being brought before this wicked man. And yet, God is going to use this. Wicked man to accomplish his purpose. Now, the accusers, I didn't we read about this in 24, one, and after five days, the high priests and and eyes came down with some Elders in a spokesman 122. Ellis, Court, spokesman. There is translated lawyer. And so we have a high-powered attorney that was hired by the Sanhedrin to represent them to bring their case against Paul ananias. The corrupt, high priest comes down with some of the elders, clearly. These would have been Sadducees my last time if you recall the same hedron's made up of a majority of Sadducees, these were political Cinco pants tonight. And I are, they could care less about the ology. They were more concerned about keeping their power and prestige in Jerusalem. They said that they came down and they were summoned before Felix, and the accusation of formal accusation. Begin. This is a Roman trial trial. And we see here, in verse 24, to last addresses. I feel it's now listen to this. This is now Chulas begins. Since through, you was referring to Felix. We enjoy much peace. And since by your foresight, most excellent. Felix reforms are being made for this nation in every way and everywhere. We accept this with all gratitude. What a phony? Now, it was quite common in Roman courts, that as you give your opening statement, you would have dressed the judge with a sense of of of you no respect in a sense of Honor. This was referred to as a benevolent gay. But this was over the top. This is just this is incredulous because here you're dealing with a man who has been crucified, Jewish people who hate Jewish people. None of his policies have been good for the Jews. You're a liar and you're slimy, and you're trying to appeal to this crooked ruler for your own selfish purposes.

The coolest and went on to enumerate, three charges against Paul. And what we see here is that the charges are really no different than what Christians endure throughout history.

The first one we see in. First floor, but to detain you, no further. I beg you and your kindness to. He was briefly, we have found this man, a plane. Craigslist, the first accusations up like this man's disease. He's a cancer. One who stirs up Riot among all the Jews throughout the world, and is the ringleader of the sect of the nazarenes. Even try to profane the temple, but we seized him and by examining Michelle, you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him. So, there are three charges enumerated here. Number one. He's a troublemaker Easter's up riots all over the Roman Empire. That is probably the worst thing you could accuse. Someone of remember the context. Romans don't like Rebel rousers. They don't like rides. And he saying this guy everywhere he goes, he starts riots. What a twisting of the facts. Lawyers are good at that, aren't they? Lawyers and the median and politicians love to twist facts. They're all in the same bed, right? And still here or did you know most people that work in Congress and Senate are lawyers anyway, so you get the idea. So, here we go. So it's so this, this twisting of the facts this perversion of the fact, I was starting to write, it's the people who hate in the restarting lights. Everywhere. He goes. It's the the Jewish zealots were chasing him. They're the ones who starting the ride, but this is a serious charge. This is the one that could land Paul dead. It's not the irony, though. Christians are always accused of disrupting. The peace, aren't we?

I was reading recently. I saw an article about how Chinese authorities are going into churches in arresting people and bring them down. Why cuz it disrupting the Peace of China. You can see the same communist countries in dictatorships and we see it even here. Now, you know, that there's there's the Zeitgeist of American culture and look at his Christians. Why can't you guys? Why do you have to be the ones that disagree about everything and have your depends? Can't you just go with the flow? They see us as the troublemakers. That's always the way it is. The world is going to hate us. They're going to see us as as people who are troublemakers, who who inflict problems. Why can't you guys just get along? Well, I have to be your way. What? Why is it only your God and one way to heaven. You're so narrow-minded. You're, you're so bigoted.

The second accusation, you accuse them of all being a ringleader of the Nazarene sect, that's clear referring to Christian Jesus from Nazareth. Now, it's interesting to note that that could carry this point was still considered a sect of Judaism. It was not, its own religion, are from the wrong perspective. That's all it was. This is a Jewish sect. The word sect in is the word he rests, where we get the Modern English word of heresy. And so what, what he's really accusing Paul is being an orthodox. Is it, this is a man who is broke from the traditions of Judaism. He teaches heresy, teaches Doctrine country. It's a, it's a Orthodox sect of Judaism. So, therefore he's disrupting the Peace of the Jewish people. They finally, they accuse me of desecrating the temple. Again. This is a bold-faced lie. We know already that this was a false accusation will never step foot inside the temple, precincts with any Gentiles, but why is it such a serious charge? Again? It goes back to the unity Rome wants, peace and Rome made a deal with Jerusalem that they would not step foot beyond the court of the Gentiles into the temple. They treated it a sacred ground much like today you going to Jerusalem the Dome of the Rock. Right everybody respects and no one will cross that line over there because I know there be World War 3 if they did. It's the same thing with the temple in Jerusalem that at this current time in history that were looking at. And that is the Bromans understood. This was a sacred ground and respected it. There were signs outside the temple wall. That said Gentiles you enter upon pain of death. They understood there was a distinction. This would have upset the agreement in the peace between Jerusalem and Rome but there's one more thing that the ESV leaves out that earlier other manuscripts leave in there is inverse 6 b 2 ain't and it says is this even tried to profane the temple? We seized him and we wanted to judge him according to a law. But Commander lysias came by and with great violence, took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. So now they're accusing lysias of line. We wanted to treat him fairly. It's your Tribune who did everything wrong.

Well, you can imagine that this might not have went too well with Felix, but now look at Paul's defense look in. Paul's defense. and so, in verse 9, The Jews also joined the charger for me all these things were. So, so there were other people there present and burst 10. When the governor had not attend to speak, pull replied. And I think it's important.

Because it teaches us how to respond to false accusations. When people slander. You? What's the immediate response? You're angry. I hate when people misrepresent me. I hate when people slandering me. I hate when people say things about me. They're not true. And usually, when that happens Aiden books, an emotional response, right? And usually act emotional, right? But here we see pause a very measured and commerce fun. There's one way to deal with lies. Speak the truth. That's all you have to do is tell the truth. And rest in that people don't believe it. They don't believe it. Tell the truth and that's it. It's always seen here. We begin with Paul's defense. Briston and clearly. This is not a man who's trying to pop up Felix his head. Like you're to listen to me says. Knowing full reply, knowing that for many years. You've been a judge over this nation. I cheerfully make my defense very good Paul. That was very truthful. No, need to embellish. The facts. Felix is a wicked man. Verse 11, you can verify that it is not more than 12 days since I went up to Worship in Jerusalem. So it's been 12 days since this whole incident began. So he got to say, Surya. And they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up any crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogue or in the city. None of them may prove to you what? They now bring up against me. So you pay safe. Where's the proof? Where is the evidence? I'm going around starting riots, and and I need to talk to nobody. Nothing happened to whole time that I was there.

Then verse 14, he confesses his faith. Briken this I confess to you that according to the way which is what the church was called, which they call a sect. I worship the god of our fathers, believing everything laid down the law and the prophets, having a hope in God. She's been themselves, except that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience towards God and man. Felix. I'm not the leader of a heresy group. I worship the same God and what he brings in. Here's, the real issue is not a matter of whether he's bleeding at radical sect, the real issues that Resurrection.

Paul knows. He has Pharisees were standing by his side, back in Jerusalem. Until he's playing the game. Well. This is about the resurrection.

It really isn't that what the gospel is about. There's no Resurrection. There's no gospel. What's on trial? Here is the gospel. Turn your Bibles to ax15. I mean, 1st Corinthians 15. What does Paul say about the resurrection?

Worst 12 1st Corinthians 15:12. Now with Christ has proclaimed is raised from the dead. How can some of you say there is no Resurrection from the dead. If there's no resurrection of the Dead, not even Christ has been raised in a crisis. Not been raised in our preaching is in vain, and your face is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God cuz we testified about God, that he raised Christ who he did not raise. If it is true that the dead or not, raised from the dead or not, raised, not even Christ has been raising. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is funeral and you're still in your windows were falling asleep. And Christ also perished. If in Christ, we have hope in this life only we are of all people most to be pitied.

Pull over pull. The resurrection is the gospel. No Resurrection with the where the most pity with a big, most pretty people in the world are faith is in vain. This is all a joke. So this is not just playing the game with the Pharisee. This is an appeal to the doctrine of the resurrection and appeal to the gospel. This is what it's about. This is so fundamental. This is why I always encourage people. If you're sharing the gospel with someone who's not a Believer do not leave out. The resurrection. It is in it is an incomplete gospel when you tell people that Jesus died for their sins, but do not say that he was raised for them. You are preaching an incomplete gospel. Christ died, but he rose again and this is what Paul's on trial for ultimately. Isn't that what really is? It is a stick in the craw for the Jews is it that we're really angers them big kilchis, they murdered him and then they can't they try to go to the room and stay loose and you got to tell someone that they stole his body. They were infuriated. When they found out that Christ Rose and it didn't come to face the double down on their anger. They doubled down on their unbelief.

No, Paul is not the leader of the Harrison. He preaches the truth and he says, I confess I have a clear conscience before God and Men. That's what's more important. Anything having a clear conscience. When you can go to bed at night and lay down and sleep peacefully, knowing that you've lived your life before God and righteousness and Purity. When you know, you've done right by all men. That's a beautiful thing. When you can go to bed at night. It's a beautiful thing. When you can look at yourself in the mirror. And actually look at yourself.

Clear conscience. Money can't buy that. The cause of most psychological neurotic problems. That people have seared conscience. Has their conferences are afflicting them. They're carrying the guilt in the burden, weight of sin. And so what are they do? They try to placate it? They take pills think they drink. They do drugs. They go shopping. They indulge themselves and pleasure oil to quiet their conscience. He pull isn't afraid, he should have been afraid, but you know, why he can rest in his prison at night and sleep. Well, cuz he has a clear conscience.

Will juxtapose that with Felix and see it's much different member pilot. He couldn't sleep the night before Christ was condemned. He had nightmares all night. He was tormented. When you don't have a clear conscience, you have a tormented Soul. There's no other place. No worse. Place to be. That's when anxiety and fear. Take over your life when you don't have a clear conscience.

The pole goes on to defend himself.

17. It is. Now, after several years. I came to bring arms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this. They found me purified in the temple without any Crowder to a moat, but some juice from Asia. They ought to be here before you to make an accusation. Should they have anything against me or else let these men themselves? Say the wrong during they found what I stood before, their counsel. Other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them. It's with respect to the resurrection of the dead. I'm on trial before you today.

You see what was at stake here? Was not only the resurrection, but notice what's at stake. He says, where my accusers. Where's the witnesses? You see? It's a breach of Roman law to make an accusation without Witnesses. It's a breach of Jewish law to make an accusation of without Witnesses. If there's people here who have evidence of wrongdoing, let them speak. Is he at this point, you have the burden of proof lies on his accusers? Felix really supposed to judge at this point case dismissed.

But God has a different plan, doesn't she?

God always has a different plan. If I was supposed to spawn at the cave case is over. I'm going home.

Verse 22, Tales of Felix having a rather accurate knowledge of the way. Put them off saying when they see as the Tribune comes down. I'll decide your case. So, I put it off. 38 Waters to the Centurion, that he should be, kept in custody, but have some Liberty in that, none of his friends should be prevented from attending his needs. So, Paul is put on house arrest essentially asked for him to go into town. He can have his friends over but he is going to be detained until this case can be hurt again.