Acts 24 – Paul Before Felix
In chapter 23
the Jews plotted to kill Paul. The commander
sent Paul to Governor Felix who ordered that he be kept under guard at Herod’s
palace until his case could be heard.
Five days later Paul was brought before him. Paul was charged with making trouble,
stirring up riots and desecration of the temple. Felix didn’t question Paul. He let Paul speak about himself. This was Paul’s third time to defend
himself. He presented Jesus as the Messiah. He spoke of faith in Jesus, talked about
righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.
As most
politicians Felix wanted to please everyone.
He knew about the Way and about Christian beliefs because he had a
Jewish wife. Felix knew Paul was right
and not guilty, but he didn’t want to offend the Jews. He made no decision and kept Paul in prison
for two years hoping Paul would try to bribe him. While Paul was imprisoned, Felix visited him
many times which allowed him to speak the gospel to Felix for those two
years. This shows that God uses wicked
leaders to fulfill His purposes.
This world is
made up of sinners who love darkness rather than light. A life of integrity exposes the evil deeds of
sinners so they will often slander someone who has integrity just like they
slandered Paul. Even King David was
often slandered and of course we know that Jesus was constantly slandered. The more godly you are the more you will be
slandered. So we should expect it.
How can you
respond with gentleness and reverence to those who slander you or treat you
unjustly?
Principles: A
life of integrity doesn’t shield us from being falsely accused.
Acts 25 – Paul Before Festus
Festus succeeded
Felix, but kept Paul in prison. The Jews
wanted Festus to send Paul to Jerusalem so they could ambush and kill him along
the way. Festus said he wanted to see
Paul for himself. Then Paul was put before
Festus for yet another trial. He calmly
defended himself again. He didn’t grow
frustrated or impatient. He said he had done
nothing wrong and had obeyed the laws of the Jews, the temple and Caesar. He said if he had done anything wrong, he
deserved death and would not refuse to die.
If he had not, then no one had the right to hand him over to the Jews.
Festus consulted
King Agrippa as to what to do with Paul.
Festus told the king that he had found nothing Paul had done wrong. The king was interested and wanted to hear
what Paul had to say.
Principle:
God will protect His servants from evil and use them according to His
sovereign purpose.
Acts 26 – Paul Before Agrippa
Paul was brought
before King Agrippa and allowed again to plead his case again. He was probably happy for the opportunity to
speak before Agrippa because it allowed him to preach the gospel to kings and
rulers. This was a fulfillment of what
God promised at Paul’s conversion. “Go! This man is my
chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and
before the people of Israel.” – Acts
9:15.
In that day it
was a custom for a person waved his hand to show honor and to praise the
ruler. As Paul began to speak, he waved
his hand and gave praises to the king before he told his story. Then Paul told his story again. This time he emphasized different parts of
the story. He didn’t say he became blind
or mention Ananias. Instead he
emphasized what Jesus said to him. He said
was he was a faithful Jew and believed he must persecute the followers of Jesus
and that he had been compelled to do it.
Then he told how Jesus revealed Himself to him while on the road to
Damasus. Paul gave a full account of his
experience. He saw a great light. Jesus called him by name and asked him why he
was persecuting Him. This changed Paul’s
life and he understood that Jesus was alive.
Paul said he now preaches they all should repent and turn to God.
Paul’s message before
the king was that his aim was to give the gospel to the Gentiles. He wanted to “… open
their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to
God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who
are sanctified by faith in me.” – Acts
26:16-18.
The Gentiles
weren’t blind in a physical way, but in a spiritual way. Satan was ruling over them making them in
spiritual darkness. Paul wanted them to
turn away from spiritual darkness to light.
Satan rules over everyone who doesn’t accept Jesus as their Lord and
Savior. Jesus called Satan the prince of
this world in John 12:31; 14:30. When you become a Christian, Satan doesn’t
rule over you any longer. God forgives
your sins and the Holy Spirit comes to live in you. You come into God’s light.
Paul said after
his conversion, he began to preach that people should repent and stop sinning. They should ask God for help and start
obeying Him. Then he told them to prove
they had repented by their deeds. The
Gentiles are important to God and belong to His family, too. This is the reason the Jews seized him and
tried to kill him.
As Paul was
speaking, Festus interrupted and said “You are out of
your mind …. your great learning is driving you insane” (Acts 26:25). It is reasonable that Paul looked crazy. Here a prisoner seemed to be happy; he
insisted that God could raise the dead; he experienced a heavenly vision that
changed his life; he was more concerned about proclaiming Jesus than his
personal freedom; he had hope and believed in redemption for all people, even
Gentiles.
Paul replied
that he was not insane, but true and reasonable. He knew the gospel was true. He based this truth on historical events – his
conversion, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. He knew that God may sometimes act as if He
is above reason, but our ways are not His ways.
Paul asked the
king if he believed the prophets, knowing that he knew of them. It’s just as people today who know of Jesus
and who He is, but it makes no difference to them in the way they live. The king asked Paul if he thought he could
persuade him to be a Christian in such a short time. I think the king was close to becoming a
believer, but close doesn’t count. He
threw away his opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness and the gift of eternal
life. Paul said he would pray that he
and others would listen to him. The king
decided Paul did not do anything that deserved death or imprisonment. The king said Paul would have been set free
if he had not appealed to Caesar. Now he
would have to go to Rome and stand before the Roman Emperor Nero for yet
another trial.
Agrippa was the
king, rich and famous, successful and had everything anyone could ever want. He was probably embarrassed in front of all
these people and worried about what they might think if he took Paul
seriously. Peer pressure is a powerful
force to draw people away from God and keep them in this world. People laugh at dirty jokes, go to drinking
parties, cut corners at work, fudge on taxes and tell little white lies. Agrippa knew about the Old Testament
prophets, but he needed to repent of his sins and trust in Jesus as
Savior. Paul offered him saving faith
which includes repentance. It was his
choice and he chose not to believe.
Have you
committed yourself to Jesus when the choice was given to you?
If you were
almost persuaded, what is keeping you from surrendering?
Principle: To
truly know Jesus as Savior should make a difference in the way you live.
If you are a
believer, when was the last time you told someone your story of salvation?
Have you ever
written out your testimony? Here are three parts to remember when giving
your testimony:
1. Tell what you were like prior to
salvation. This identifies with those
listening.
2. Tell you were saved with emphasis on who
Jesus is and what He did to save you.
This gives the opportunity to explain the gospel.
3. Tell about the changes that have happened
in your life since your salvation. If you
have a chance, make a personal invitation to your listeners.
Interesting note:
King Agrippa’s great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his
grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred the first
apostle, James.
Join me here
next week for our next study of the book of Acts. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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