Chapter Twenty-Four: Felix

Psalm 2 NASB95

1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’ ” 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Paul Imprisoned

Paul is in jail for his faith. He is being kept in Herod’s Palace in Caesarea awaiting his trial.

Acts 24:1–9 CSB

1 Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.

What is integrity?

Integrity: “Doing the right thing when no one is watching.”

Integrity: “Choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.”

Paul’s Integrity vs. the Religious leaders

Tertullus’ description of Felix vs. Historical Felix

Acts 24:2–3 CSB

2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude.

“Felix became the procurator by the petition of his brother. Felix's cruelty, coupled with his accessibility to bribes (see Book of Acts 24:26), led to a great increase of crime in Judaea. The period of his rule was marked by internal feuds and disturbances, which he put down with severity.

In 58, Felix hired assassins to murder Jonathan, the High Priest, shortly after the latter took office. Jonathan had often criticized Felix about governing the Jewish affairs, and threatened to report to Caesar if Felix did not do well because Jonathan was the one who made recommendation to Caesar to send Felix to be the procurator of Judea. Felix persuaded one of Jonathan's most trusted friends, Doras, a citizen of Jerusalem, to hire robbers to kill Jonathan by promising to give him a large sum of money. Doras arranged for some hired men to mingle with the worshippers in the Temple in Jerusalem, while they hid daggers under their garments. These assassins succeeded in killing Jonathan during a Jewish festival and were never caught.

After Paul the Apostle was arrested in Jerusalem and rescued from a plot against his life, the local Roman chiliarch Claudius Lysias transferred him to Caesarea, where he stood trial before Felix. On at least one further occasion Felix and his wife Drusilla heard Paul discourse, and later on frequently sent for Paul and talked with him. However, it appears that his actual desire was to receive a bribe from Paul, a request that the Apostle didn't give into (Acts 24:24–26). When Felix was succeeded as procurator, having already detained Paul for two years, he left him imprisoned as a favor to the Jews (Acts 24:27).

Upon returning to Rome, Felix was accused of using a dispute between the Jews and Syrians of Caesarea as a pretext to slay and plunder the inhabitants, but through the intercession of his brother, the freedman Pallas, who had great influence with the Emperor Nero, he escaped unpunished.

Porcius Festus succeeded him as procurator of Judea. Many historians believe that Felix may have had tuberculosis (like many other Romans), and that this was the cause of his death.”

Tertullus’ description of Paul vs. Historical Paul

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 24

But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.

Historical Paul: “The “apostle to the Gentiles” who spread the message about Jesus Christ throughout the ancient world through his missionary efforts. Several of his letters are included in the New Testament canon.”

Paul’s only crime was following Jesus. He never desecrated the temple nor was he plotting a rebellion. Paul was doing what God had called him to do.

Paul is the only character in this story with integrity. Felix was a corrupt and abusive leader and the Pharisees were manipulative and law breakers. Paul stands alone in this story.

Paul is an “Alligator”

Alligators creep below the surface stalking their prey

When Alligators attack it is sudden and violent

Living with Integrity

Acts 24:10–13 CSB

10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me.

By living with integrity, Paul’s life was above reproach

Reproach: “the expression of disapproval or disappointment.”

Paul’s life was not above Men’s reproach but was lived to honor and glorify the Lord

Does God receive glory from how we are currently living our lives?

What do we need to change in our lives to give God more glory?

This call to live above reproach is important to how we live as Christians. It is so important that Paul tells Titus not to consider a man to be pastor unless he is living a life above reproach

Titus 1:6-7 “6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,”

1 Timothy 3:2-3 “2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.”

Imagine you had a pastor that did not live with integrity. What kind of damage can that cause a congregation? Why is it important for leaders in the church to have integrity?

Imagine Paul had no integrity. Would he be able to stand before Felix as innocent and be able to defend his cause? No.

Here is the beauty of the Gospel. Thirty years earlier, Paul would not have been able to stand before anyone. Paul used to have no integrity. He would defend the law, that said you shall not murder, then he would hunt down Christians and have them thrown in jail and executed. Something changed in the heart of Paul.

Acts 9:1–20 CSB

1 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink. 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. 11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”

Before Jesus we were dead in our sin. No integrity. Liars, thieves, murderers, adulterers, and blasphemers at heart. We stood condemned before a holy God. We broke His law and were deserving of eternity in Hell, separated from God.

But God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty of our sin. Jesus came in the form of a man, fully God, fully man, and He lived a life of integrity. Jesus was perfect. He never sinned not even once, yet He was put to death on the cross for our sins. He died on the cross making payment for our sin and He rose again proving He had power over death. Now He invites us into a relationship with Him. One we could not have before because of our sin but can have now because of His righteousness.

The Holy God that we once stood before as condemned and dirty now sees us as clean and blameless. We have been justified, not because of what we did, but because of what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. In response to that good news, Jesus calls us to follow Him and to live our lives just as He did, with integrity.

You may be saying to yourself, ‘I don’t want to be a leader in the church, do I still need to live with integrity?”

The call to live with integrity is for all who put their faith in Jesus. When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our heart is transformed. He gives us His Holy Spirit and makes us into new creations. To be a Christian and to live without integrity fundamentally goes against what Christ has made us into.

1 Peter 2:9–12 CSB

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

How do we live as people set apart for God?

I spent a good part of my Christian life living without integrity. It is exhausting. Living without integrity is so against our nature as Christians that it begins to feel like we are living two lives. We have our Sunday-Wednesday personalities and then we have our everywhere else personalities. The reason it becomes so exhausting is because our two natures are at war with each other. We cannot live according to Christ and according to our flesh. One has to die. That is why Paul says He has been crucified with Christ. His flesh is dead to sin and he has been made alive to Christ.

Galatians 2:20–21 CSB

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Paul also tells us that in war between flesh and Spirit when we walk according to the Spirit the attributes of Jesus begin to take root in our lives.

Galatians 5:13–26 CSB

13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. 16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Christian Liberty

What is Christian liberty?

Those areas of our lives that the Bible does not directly address. How should I dress? What should I eat?

Christian liberty is a gift from God. We are not burdened by the Law of Moses but free to follow Christ in grace. Is it possible that we can cause people to stumble with our liberty? Does the Bible tell us how to use our liberty? Part of living with integrity involves learning how to walk in our Christian liberty.

1 Corinthians 10:23–11:1 CSB

23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. 24 No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person. 25 Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, 26 since the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. 27 If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. 29 I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

Look at Christian Decision Making Chart and run through it with some examples. (Food sacrificed to idols)

Paul defends his innocence before Felix

Acts 24:14–21 CSB

14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people. 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ”

You may never stand trial in the way Paul did in our story, but we will all stand before God one day and answer for all that we have done. On that day, where will you stand with God? If you are a Christian you have your defense. Christ has paid for every sin and I am free to walk with Him. If you are not a Christians you have no defense. If you have never made the decision to follow Jesus do not put it off. Pray and ask Jesus to be your savior and to make you new.

Acts 24:22–27 CSB

22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs. 24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him. 27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.

Paul reasoned with Felix just like I have done with you tonight. He talked about righteousness, self-control, and the judgement to come. Felix was afraid and avoided giving his life to the Way. Don’t avoid what Jesus is doing in your life. Trust in Jesus, because He is the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Him.