Acts 24:1-27
Key Verse: 24:15
“...and I have
the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both
the righteous and the wicked.
In
chapter 24 Paul stands on trial again. By observation he is a prisoner with
little hope. However in his defense he shares his hope that God will raise both
the righteous and the wicked. Moreover he was a prisoner under Governor Felix.
He could have pleaded with Felix to free him. Instead he used his time with the
governor to study the Bible with him. Tomorrow begins a new semester. From Paul
let us begin the semester by being remind of placing our hope in God for the
resurrection. Also let us learn the importance to keep studying the Bible for
ourselves and with others.
Part 1. I Have the Same Hope in God as These Men….
Verse
1 tells us: “Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with
some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges
against Paul before the governor.” Ananias and the elders’ plot to kill Paul with the help of 40 Al
Queda-type of fanatics failed. Jesus was faithful to his promise to protect
Paul by using 470 armed Roman soldiers. Now Ananias and the elders hoped to
kill Paul through the use of the Roman judicial system and a lawyer named
Tertullus. Tertullus was one of those lawyers who could make someone as
harmless as Mother Teresa look like a traitor and serial murderer. Look how
this man begins to soften up Felix to their side of the case. Verses 2b-4 he tells Felix. His opening
remarks flatter the governor to the point of nausea. Felix was no less a
barbaric ruler than Herod was. The peace and reforms he brought to Israel was
through the use of slaughtering anyone who opposed him. For Tertullus this was
a good thing. He knew all he had to do was to paint Paul out to be an enemy to
Felix’s reforms; Felix would feel compelled to executed Paul.
Now
let us look at the charges Tertullus brings against Paul. Verses 5-8 he tells
the court. Looking at these charges
unemotionally we find they are unsubstantiated accusations filled with words
such as troublemaker, stirring up riots, ringleader and desecrate the temple.
Tertullus knew the famous Pax Romana or the peace of Rome was established by
Roman rulers’ brutal execution of all suspected troublemakers and ringleaders.
Normally Tertullus’ crafty use of words would allow him win his cases even if
there was no truth to them. This day in court was different. Felix wasn’t so
easily swayed. We find out why in verse 22: “Felix was already well acquainted
with the Way.” Felix knew if there was one group of people who never caused
trouble it was those who followed the Way. Therefore Felix allowed Paul his
turn to make a defense. First Paul categorically denies every charge just made
against him based on time, place, motive and evidence. Verse 10b Paul begins:
“I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nations; so
I gladly make my defense.” Paul was glad to make his defense before Felix, because
he knew being a judge wasn’t something new for Felix. Paul believed Felix's
experience as a judge would allow him to easily recognize the truth. Verse 11
“You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem
to worship.” There were many witnesses who could testify Paul’s only purpose in
Jerusalem was to worship God in the temple.
Paul said: “My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the
temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.
And they cannot prove to you the charges they are not making.” Basically in
this part of Paul’s defense he is saying: None of the charges Tertullus so
eloquently brought against him could be proven. Actually the only reason these
charges are brought against Paul is because he belongs to Jesus. Sometimes we
Christians find it difficult to understand why people hate us just because we
believe in Jesus. What we should remember is that if the world hated Jesus then
of course it will continue to hate anyone who belongs to Jesus. Hate from the
world is actually the badge of identification proving we belong to Jesus
Christ.
Paul
could have ended his defense here if he only thought about getting himself out
of this situation. Paul however was Jesus Christ sounding board. He was now
given the opportunity to testify and he was not going to use it to testify
about God’s truth. Look at verse 14: “However, I admit that I worship the God
of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect.” Tertullus
called Paul a ringleader of a Nazarene sect. That would be like someone calling
UBF a cult. It was made to make Paul ashamed of his following Jesus Christ and
the work he did for Jesus Christ. Paul wanted it to be known he wasn’t ashamed.
He admitted he worshipped the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way. He
was proud to worship God through Jesus Christ. Have you noticed it is easy for
people to say God bless you. How often do you hear people say; “God bless you
through Jesus Christ.”? People are too ashamed to use the name of Jesus Christ.
We’re afraid to use Jesus Christ name for fear people may label us as being
part of a cult. Nevertheless the only way to worship God or follow God is
through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and
the life. No one comes to Father except through me.” Without Jesus no one can
come to God. It was when Jesus died on the cross the curtain that separated the
Holy God from all men was torn in two from top to bottom. This curtain
represented the wall of separation between God and men because of sin. God tore
this curtain into two when he arranged his one and only Son Jesus to die for
our sins on the cross. The question now is; "Are you or I too ashamed to
admit we worship God through Jesus Christ?”
If someone gave us an opportunity to talk about our faith, would we say:
I believe in God and leave it at that. Or would we go that one more critical
step and say: “Yes, I believe or I worship God through Jesus Christ.” Paul
didn’t end his confession of faith here. He adds in verse 14b: “I believe
everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the prophets.”
Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ was not just based on his personal experience.
Most importantly it was rooted in Scripture.
Now
look at verse 15: “and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there
will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” As a prisoner
Paul could have hoped God would foil his enemies and work to set him free.
Instead he helped all who listened to him share in his hope God would one day
raise both the righteous and the wicked. This is true hope in God. True hope in
God is when we no longer can hope in men or ourselves. The only hope left is
hope in God. This hope comes in the form of hoping God will raise both the
righteous and the wicked. No man alive can raise the dead. Especially those who
have died cannot raise the dead. Only almighty eternal God can raise the dead.
If we can really have hope God will raise both the righteous and the wicked
then we can have hope God can do all things. For apostle Paul this hope in God
had dramatic effect on his life. Look at verse 16: “So I strive always to keep
my conscience clear before God and man.” The resurrection of the righteous and
the wicked has serious implications for every single person who lives on this
earth. God raises the righteous as his show of faithfulness to them. He then
brings them to live with him forever in his kingdom. He will also raise the
wicked to hand out his eternal punishment to them. No wicked person can escape
God’s punishment. It is an undeniable principle of life what we reap what we
sow. If we allow Jesus to use our lives
to sow God’s righteousness we will reap eternal life. On the other hand if we
use our lives to sow wickedness we will reap destruction. How did Paul make
sure he used his life to sow for righteousness? Look at verse 16: “So I strive
always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” It is no easy life to
keep our conscious clear before God and man. We need God’s help. We must pray
daily Jesus will help us to keep our conscience clear before God and man. Then
we can live with a joyful hope in God that he will one day, at his right time
raise both the righteous and the wicked.”
Part 2. Paul Studies the Bible with Felix.
When
Paul was done with his defense, verses 22-24 read: Because Felix was well
acquainted with the Way” he knew Paul’s defense was true. Nevertheless Felix
was not only a judge he was a politician. He found himself in a dilemma of not
wanting to condemn Paul at the same time leaving the Jews feel he would help
them in this matter. Therefore he kept Paul in prison hoping the Jews’ anger
and rage over this matter would soon die down.
Look
at verse 24: “Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a
Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Jesus
Christ. Paul was a prisoner. Felix was a free man and a governor. This did not
discourage Paul to share with Felix and his wife their need to have faith in Jesus
Christ. Many people are very successful in this life without Jesus Christ.
While many who have faith in Jesus Christ are poor in this life. The
Christians’ poor life in this life should not discourage them from sharing
faith in Jesus Christ with those who look successful. From the president of the
United States to the professor to the homeless person to the prisoner inside a
jail everyone needs faith in Jesus Christ. Paul explained in Romans 1:16 why he
was never ashamed to speak about faith in Jesus Christ. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it
is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile.” Found in faith in Jesus Christ is the power of God
for Salvation. Salvation is not the only gift of God associated with faith in
Jesus Christ. Look at verse 25: “As Paul discoursed on righteousness,
self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s
enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for
you.’” First, notice the points Paul
discoursed in; Righteousness, self-control and judgment to come. Paul as a spiritual Bible teacher could see
Felix needed to work on these three areas in his faith in Christ. For example
self-control is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless Paul had a discourse in
it. Felix had married three wives. We can imagine he was like Donald Trump who
keeps divorcing one beautiful wife for another whenever he was bored with one
wife and turned on by another woman. All people have different areas we must
work on in this area of self-control. For example I find when I’m working on my
car I become easily angered with my family when they do not do exactly what I
want. I must work more on being more self-controlled with my quick tamper. Others
need to work on self –control on watching videos, TV and doing things like
shopping. Many students have failed out
of school because they spent all their time on extra curricular activities.
Self-control is a gift our faith in Jesus Christ gives us. However like all
gifts we lose it if we do not use it.
Ultimately the
judgment to come is why we should come to Jesus and pray to accept faith in
Christ. Just as a final exam always is
to come in every class we take, God’s judgment is an event one day we will have
to face.
Look
again at verse 25: “As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the
judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may
leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” Felix was convicted of
his sin. He should have repented. But he postponed until a more convenient
time. He is like some who study the Bible until it touches their sin problem.
Then they say, “Don’t call me. I will call you when I am ready.” The gospel
requires a personal decision to repent and believe in Jesus. Parents cannot do
this for their children. Shepherds cannot do this for their sheep. Sooner or
later each person must decide to accept Jesus Christ. Those who postpone this
decision run a great risk. We don’t know if we will live through tomorrow. What
the future holds for our life is uncertain. The only thing that is certain
Hebrews 9:27 teaches is that all men are destined to die once and after that to
face judgment.
Verse 27 shows
us what the future held for Felix: “When two years had passed, Felix was
succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the
Jews, he left Paul in prison.” Felix lost his job as governor. Some people
believe he was executed in Rome. Felix lived in indecision for two years. Then
his indecision became a rejection of Christ. Without Christ he could not escape
the fires of hell.
In
this passage we learn we should place our hope in God for the resurrection of
the righteous and the wicked. This
semester let us place our hope in God.
We must also accept faith in Jesus Christ today. Only in this way can we
at all times be ready for the judgment
to come.