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Four Verses, Two Years

(Acts 24:24-27, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 28, 2013)

[24] After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. [25] And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

In the prior chapter (Acts 23:11) we were given an inspired record of an experience that the Apostle Paul had when he was confined in the Roman barracks in the city of Jerusalem. At night, the Lord Jesus Christ stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

This was the promise of the One who had been given all power and authority in heaven and on earth, and who bid His church to make disciples of all nations. Paul was not able to baptize or to travel around and teach when he was in jail. He was in the custody of the Romans. Yet the Lord promised Paul that he would testify about Christ in the capital of the empire.

Paul had been transferred from Jerusalem to the city of Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast. But Rome was far away. How would the promise of God be fulfilled, and when would it take place? Prior to Paul's arrival in Rome, he would spend two years right where he was. During that time, the governor, Felix, and his wife Drusilla, sent for Paul from time to time. He spoke to them about faith in Christ.

Faith in Christ Jesus is of utmost importance to our lives in every way. Our religion is not just a matter of answering our curiosities about questions like where we came from or what our purpose in life might be? Paul writes in Romans 3 that “all are under sin.” He goes on to say that “by works of the law no human being will be justified.” This is our condition, we are under sin, and we will not get out from under sin by our works. This is a horrifying reality, but thankfully it is not the only truth of our faith. The problem IS insurmountable but for the grace of God. His gift to us is our only hope. This is the only way we can come out from under the load of sin, pain, and death that we have. It only happens “by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, … to be received by faith.” This is the content of our faith.

We need perfect righteousness, and we cannot achieve that by law. Paul talked to Festus and Drusilla about righteousness and self-control, because they were lacking in it. They may have wanted to imagine that they were pretty good, but when Paul talked about real righteousness and real self-control, Felix's conscience accused him. History tells us more about Felix's marriages and the events that led Felix to disrupt Drusilla's marriage to another man and to entice her to become his wife. Paul was talking to Felix about right and wrong, about self-control in our relationships, and about the fact that we all have to stand before God in the coming judgment.

The word Luke (Paul) used which is translated “self-control” appears two other times in the New Testament. One is Galatians 5:23 as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The other is 2 Peter 1:6 which speaks of it as a Christian virtue that is built upon our faith in Christ. This “self-control” is the virtue of empowerment, the will and discipline to say “no” to what is wrong. This is a great need, and is a gift that comes from God as we grow in faith. Felix needed something that could only come from God. He was alarmed by Paul's message, but he put off God's messenger.

[26] At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. [27] When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Yet he often sent for the apostle. His motive was greed, expecting that Paul would eventually participate in bribery. These two men talked together for two years about very important matters, but when it came time for Felix to be recalled to Rome, Felix left Paul in prison.

Felix went to Rome, but Paul stayed in Caesarea.

Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Paul had faith in Jesus Christ, not only for the ultimate salvation of the new heavens and the new earth, but for the life that may be lived now, even during two years of an unjust imprisonment. Paul believed what he had written a little earlier in Romans 5:1-5.

[1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Jesus had promised Paul that he would be able to testify about the truths of the faith in Rome. This Jesus was now in charge of everything. Why did Paul have to spend two years in prison speaking to a very unlikely possible convert? There was no obvious answer.

When it was time for Jesus to come into Jerusalem, he needed to ride in on a colt in order to fulfill a prophecy. He had a need and it was done. He told the disciples where to go and what to say and everything happened according to the power and faithfulness of God. That's how we like things to happen in our lives. Sometimes we get the two-years-in-prison option instead.

We want the immediate-colt method of God's goodness, but we forget where that little ride on the foal of a donkey was heading. God provided not only a colt for Jesus but also a cross. Our Savior received both the colt and the cross. The only thing they have in common is that they both came from His Father for the accomplishment of His eternal purposes.

In this life here below we face many mysteries of the providence of God. Some of these can take longer to reach fruition than we would have imagined. Days turn to months and years. What are we to do during what feels to us like a very painful delay? (Years of loneliness, financial hardship, or pain; spiritual and moral struggles, or desires for more fruitful service are some examples of possible applications for this teaching.)

First, it is more than OK to tell God the truth and to cast your cares upon Him. It is a commandment. Talk with the Lord.

Second, we need to trust in God. Stay in the Word, and remember the Lord's steadfast love. Believe in His careful attention to every detail. He will do what He has promised.

Paul would testify in Rome. Christ would take Him there. We will be brought everywhere that God intends for us to testify. Look for it, and when the day comes, speak a faithful Word.

Finally, if you are a Felix, remember that this religion is not just a matter of curiosity and good conversation. We have a sin problem. Only Christ answers that great need. Do not put him off.

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 13 – How long, O Lord, … I have trusted in Your steadfast love

Gospel Passage: Mark 11:1-6 – You will find a colt … The Lord has need of it

Sermon Text: Acts 24:24-27 – Paul's testimony before Felix and the governor's abandonment of Paul

Sermon Point: We can trust in God's steadfast love, His attention to every detail, and His faithfulness to His own Word.

Speaking of the resurrection...

With Respect to the Resurrection of the Dead

(Acts 24:1-23, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 7, 2013)

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

Paul had already appeared before the ruling religious council in Jerusalem. At that time the Roman tribune, Claudius Lysius, had to remove him from the assembly to prevent him from being torn apart. Ananias, the high priest, had attempted to make Paul and his sect the issue of the day, uniting all of the religious rulers in their opposition to Paul and his companions as those who would upset the fragile peace that existed in Jerusalem.

Paul contended in front of them that the reason that he was on trial was because of his belief in the hope of Israel, that there would one day be a resurrection of the dead. This priority of the doctrine of the Christian hope is hard to miss in these final chapters of Acts. If the topic is hope, specifically the hope of a heavenly kingdom on earth with God and His Messiah reigning, new divisions arise and more interesting discussions may ensue. If the topic is Paul the troublemaker and the Nazarenes, all of those in power might speedily agree that they can all do without Paul and his type, and return to their otherwise successful lives. But one day we face death, and Paul's topic is the only one that counts. We cannot ignore eternal questions forever.

Paul is not in Jerusalem. A plot to kill him has been stopped, and Claudius Lysius has had this prisoner safely delivered to Governor Felix in a Roman courtroom in Caesarea. The governor has called for the high priest to make his case against Paul, and he has retained a lawyer to represent their interests. His speech is not just meaningless fluff. He seeks to make Paul the issue again. Paul will ruin the peace that Felix has tried to establish. Paul is a plague upon any well-ordered society. Paul stirs up riots among Jews. Paul is a ringleader of a dangerous sect. Paul was detained in Jerusalem because he has no respect for the ceremonial order of the temple.

10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Paul, once again, quickly turns the discussion to more profitable matters. As far as these specific charges, there is simply no evidence that supports their contentions. Ananias and those who are with him cannot prove their charges.

Then comes the change in topic. It is rather shocking. It would be like you and I finding ourselves at a gathering of people that wanted to talk about how people who insist in the truth of the Bible are dangerous to society, and one of us saying, “All of this comes down to whether there is any life after death. I believe in that life, and I am sure that some of you do as well.”

Paul does confess some facts. He is a follower of the Way, the assembly of those who believe that Christ is leading His people to a new resurrection world. Paul does not worship a false God. He worships the God of the Jews. Paul does not reject the Jewish Scriptures. He believes everything in the Law and the Prophets. Paul does not believe in some new utopian spirituality. He believes in God, the God of the Jews, who will come to judge the living and the dead. There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This is what was written in Daniel 12:2.

Paul does not deny that he has been a controversial figure in Judaism over the last several years. He acknowledges that Jews from the province of Asia, where the city of Ephesus is located, could give their own testimony if they were in the courtroom in Caesarea and were willing to make the case that Paul was a trouble-maker. But those people were not in the courtroom that day and the charges of the Jews against him were false concerning the peace of Jerusalem.

The only riot in Jerusalem that Paul could reasonably be accused of instigating was the disturbance that came from this statement that he had made before the Sanhedrin: “It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.”

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

What a wonderful defense from Paul, a man under fire! The governor, Felix, was aware of Christianity. Luke says that he had “a rather accurate knowledge of the Way.” He was unwilling to see an argument over the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead break out in his courtroom. He “put them off.” Paul remained under arrest. Paul, who had done nothing wrong and who was one of the leading apostles of Jesus Christ, was being held in custody for no apparent reason.

When Jesus came to save, His own people did not receive Him. When He sends forth His church, we may also find ourselves despised by men. Do not allow yourself to be the topic of discussion. Do not let the group that others call your sect to be the topic of discussion. Do not let disagreements about ceremonial righteousness be the topic of discussion. Turn the attention of everyone to something that is a most shocking topic in a world that does not want to talk about death: the hope that we have together in the resurrection of the dead, and be a servant of all.

Old Testament Passage: Psalm 6 – The Lord has heard my plea

Gospel Passage: Mark 10:35-45 – Indignant about greatness but the greatest will be the servant of all

Sermon Text: Acts 24:1-23 – The Jewish leaders make their case before the governor, Paul denies their charges, and again chooses the right topic of conversation, hope and the coming resurrection.

Sermon Point: In the midst of great religious contention, Paul, speaking before Jews and Gentiles, focuses their attention on the hope of mankind.