Safe In Prison

I have chosen to skip preaching through Chapters 21-23 not they are not good just not what I am focusing on. I recommend you read that on your own time. Lets sum this up.

These chapters form a bridge between Paul’s third missionary journey and his trip to Rome.

Paul is accused of expanding the verdict of the Jerusalem council found in chapter 15, beyond its original scope. And many opposed his gospel being taught to the Gentiles without making them Jews first. Jerusalem was becoming a hot spot for Paul. Christians are having trouble with him, but also Jews who, if you remember he was teamed up with, are really angry at what he has been doing.

On the final leg of the Journey back to Judea, many tell Paul that you shouldn’t go to Jerusalem. One prophet takes his belt and ties himself up with it, saying that the man that this belt is will be bound, in dramatic prophet methodology. But Paul would not be deterred, saying, “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v. 13)

Paul met with the Jerusalem leaders and submitted to the law for the sake of the gospel (21.17-29). Coming safely to Jerusalem, Paul reported to the leaders there all that God had done for the Gentiles of the broader Mediterranean world. While they glorified God in the matter, they were primarily concerned for how this news, and Paul’s presence during the festival of Unleavened Bread (cf. 20.6), would affect the Jewish believers who were yet zealous for the law. Some must have thought that Paul had taken the message of the Jerusalem council—that Gentiles should not be burdened with the Mosaic law—a bit too far; it had been reported to them that Paul told even the Jews “to abandon Moses” (v. 21). To thus ensure Paul’s acceptance in the city, the Jerusalem leaders urged him to submit to ritual purity and assist those who had taken a vow by paying for them to get their heads shaved (vv. 22-24a). The Jerusalem leaders thought, “Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law” (v. 24). They were wrong. Near the end of the festival, “the Jews from the province of Asia saw him (Paul) in the temple complex, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him” (v. 27). They slandered him to the crowd saying that he “teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place” (v. 28), and falsely accused him of bringing a Gentile into the temple complex, profaning it (v. 29)

Paul was apprehended and then testified before hostile audiences (21.30-23.10). The accusation from the Asian Jews was enough to get the crowd into a murderous frenzy against Paul; but “As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos” (21.31). Once Paul informed the Roman commander that although he was of Jewish descent he was also a citizen of Tarsus, he was permitted to address the crowd with at least some degree of military protection (21.40-22.30). Speaking to the temple crowd in Hebrew, he recounted his Jewish heritage (22.3-5; cf. Gal 1.13-17; Phil 3.4-6), Christian testimony (22.6-20; 1 Tim 1.12-17), and call to the Gentiles (v. 21; cf. Rom 1.5, 13-15; Col 1.24-29; 1 Tim 2.7). Those gathered to observe the final day of the celebration of Unleavened Bread listened intently until Paul reached the point of the Lord’s commission to him, “Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles” (22.21). They replied, “Wipe this person off the earth—it’s a disgrace for him to live!” (22.22). While the Roman commander initially ordered Paul to be beaten in hopes of finding out the ‘real’ reason the mob was so enraged with him, he withdrew when Paul informed him that he was a Roman citizen (22.23-29). Yet wanting to get to the heart of the matter, the Roman commander “instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene” (22.30), and set Paul before them. Although Paul was initially chastised by the high priest, once he discovered that he was before a mixed panel of Pharisees and Sadducees—who denied the resurrection of the dead, angels and spirits (23.8)—Paul shouted, “I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” (23.6b). The two Jewish sects got into such a shouting match against each other that, “the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, rescue him from them, and bring him into the barracks” (23.10)

Paul was protected by Rome and sent to Caesarea for trial (23.11-35). The next night, Jesus visited him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (v. 11). Once the Roman centurion was informed—via Paul’s nephew—that the Jews planned to assassinate Paul, he arranged for Paul to be sent to Caesarea and arrive to the care of Governor Felix. He would hold Paul for trial until his accusers could arrive (vv. 23-35)

12 days after Paul arrested

Today we are looking at chapter 24 of Acts not going to read it out loud I am instead going to sum up what is going one and will read some of it

Five days after Paul first gets to Caesarea, Ananias (the chief priest) and some other elders arrive to present their case against Paul. The High Priest is going to put pressure on Felix the person that will be over hearing the problem. Along with them they bring a lawyer, Tertullus. Who we are not sure if he is a Roman or a Jew. Whatever the case he is good at his job. And he brings three primary accusations against Paul.

Paul is an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world. This is a serious claim roman would take immediate steps to squelch any threat to pax romana. Any dissension was an act of treason against Caesar. Labeled Paul a ringleader of the Nazarenes. Leader of a religious sect without the approval of Rome was against the law. Claimed that Paul tried to desecrate the temple. On this basis Paul was arrested. Even though they tried to kill him first never arrest him.

Paul then had the chance to defend himself. He argued that to the claim he had been an agitator was unsubstantiated and unprovable (24:12-13). As for Christianity being a sect. He was a Jew and all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets were being taught. Not a new sect just reforming Judaism.

Desecrating the temple.

Paul tells him that he was bringing Charitable gifts and offerings to his nation. And he was confronted by some Jews from the province of Asia. And he was doing nothing wrong. He was ritually purified, Innocent.

The real issue was about the resurrection of the dead. And issue that did not belong in the Roman court of law.

Acts 24:22–27 LEB

22 But Felix, because he understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the military tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion for him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own people from serving him. 24 And after some days, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And while he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Go away for the present, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible and talked with him. 27 And when two years had passed, Felix received as successor Porcius Festus. And because he wanted to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul behind as a prisoner.

Felix knows that there is no reason to be holding him. The only one with any truth might be that Paul was a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes as Christianity will split from the Jewish faith but it hasn’t yet. So he pushes off the decision keeps him in prison.

What to do to keep the Jews happy, so push off the decision. He has freedoms it’s like he is under house arrest. He can have people over. He still gets to teach about the truth of Jesus Christ. And then he keeps him there because he is hoping that Paul will get fed up and buy his way out. As it is Paul has to be fed and supplied by others. The Government doesn’t provide. He is really hoping that they will just Bribe Felix to let him Go.

And during that time Paul teaches about self control and Righteousness something that Felix had nothing of but his third wife Drusilla a Jew would have known about and Felix felt endangered by the truth.

Two years pass and Felix keeps holding out for that bribe. But mob violence between Jews and Gentiles erupted in the city of Caesarea and Felix turned his troops on the mob. Many Jews were killed. Felix permitted the troops to sack and loot the houses of the wealthier Jews. The Jews reported the trouble to Rome and Felix was sent home. So Paul remained in Prison.

Keep Paul in Prison

Human nature to keep things that challenge our way of life locked up behind bars, compartmentalized so that we don’t have to deal with them. It safer for ourselves. Paul has been put in prison not because he needs to be there or because he committed a crime. But because the Jews wanted him there. And after the Jewish rebellions the uprisings. The person in power wanted to keep the Jews happy. Protecting himself and his way of life. The Jews what him there because he represents the Jewish Sect. That challenged their control. Safer for them and their way of life.

Locking up that which challenges our way of life can be a good thing. It is a natural defense mechanism. It’s a good thing when things are dangerous or harmful or destructive. But the problem is that we lock up even that which is good for us.

Challenge our way of life.

Weight loss. We are an obese nation even you pastor needs to lose a bit of weight. Good for us if we did, healthier, Live longer, Have more energy. Lock that idea up because we would have to change our way of life. I don’t like to give up my Nachos.

Jesus in this case Paul challenges our entire way of life. Life that is dead and leads to destruction, to one of eternal life. A life of love, of grace, of service. To something other than our sin and selfish desires.

Jesus wants to become the corner stone of our lives. Something that all of the other things in our lives is based on. Corner stone is that stone in a foundation that you get that one just right and then match all the rest to. If you mess that one up than the foundation will lean and eventually collapse. And Jesus needs to be that in our lives.

Sometimes we have this attitude that I will get my life right and then I will work for God but in truth we work for the for the Glory of God. Finances, Jesus then money. Family, Jesus then base family off of Jesus. . Spouse, Jesus then base spousal relationship off of Jesus. Jesus should be the basis for our actions in our life. Instead we lock up and then try to squeeze Jesus into our lives. We have trouble with devotion, with giving, with worship, with gathering, with sharing.

If Jesus isn’t the cornerstone. He’s just another stone.

He is stuck in a prison we make for him, God can’t be trapped, Can’t be controlled, But yet we try and we become “Christian” instead of Christian based on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ

For some Jesus is the Cornerstone. Some squeezed in someplace. Some don’t even know him.

Put Jesus in correct place

Cornerstone

Pray

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