ACTS
Lessons in Courage Part 5
Dr. Tom Bartlett
October 20, 2019
Acts 24:1-27 (ESV)
OUTLINE
When you’re misunderstood, lied about, plotted against, and falsely charged
• LISTEN IN PEACE WITH PATIENCE
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. 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, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 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. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him. The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.” Acts 24:1-9 (ESV)
• RESPOND WITH GRACE AND TRUTH
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. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 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. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 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, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 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.’ ” Acts 24:10-21 (ESV)
• SEE GOD’S GUIDING HAND
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.” 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. 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. 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.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. Acts 24:22-27 (ESV)
PROVIDENCE: The Hand of God in the glove of human events
MANUSCRIPT
When I was 20 years old I worked for a large department store in the sporting goods section. There were 4 main employees in that section and we got to know each other pretty well. Very physical, athletic and typical guys always trying to show each other up. We played tennis and hung out together. One of the guys, Brett was a good-looking dude and he was engaged to be married. In between tennis, work and other things I had many conversations with Brett about Jesus. His response was, I know I need that, but I’m young and not ready. He told me, “one day”. Well more about that later.
Now, most of you I don’t know, but I must ask this question. "If it were against the law to be a Christian, and you were arrested, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" (Author David Fuller).
You see, Paul the Apostle was on trial for that exact accusation.
Here was the most powerful Christian leader of the early church. He had been misunderstood and unappreciated by the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. He was falsely accused by some unbelieving Jews as he exited the Temple. He was even the object of a case of mistaken identity with a notorious criminal. Everywhere Paul went in Jerusalem, he was misunderstood and falsely accused. Now, in Acts 24, he finds himself in a Roman court, defending himself from false charges made by the leaders of what amounted to the Jewish Supreme Court.
They accuse him of violating Roman Law, religious law and then God’s law or commands. So how would this church leader, this teacher of the ways of Jesus respond to these accusations? How would you respond?
When you’re misunderstood, lied about, plotted against, and falsely charged
The first thing we can observe is that as the accusations fly, Paul is calm and peaceful. When accused. . .
• LISTEN IN PEACE WITH PATIENCE
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus.
Tertullus was a Roman lawyer who was a Jew, he lived in both worlds. Paul was a Jewish lawyer who was a Roman citizen. Tertullus was a paid-for attorney that would take any case as long as he was paid.
They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 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, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
This hired legal power immediately starts with his flattering of Felix. The name Felix, like the Spanish word Feliz means happy, but Felix was anything but that. Actually, he was known for being a terrible leader. Everyone knew it, but Tertullus was there to get his case won.
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. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him. The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.” Acts 24:1-9 (ESV)
So, here’s the charges brought against Paul.
• He’s a plague to Roman society. You should do away with him because he’s upsetting your region that you oversee.
• Plus, he’s related to that religious sect known as the Nazarenes and is their “ringleader” in all this trouble. (Here this term is derogatory, can anything good come from Nazareth?). Jesus was from that region, but people from there were looked down upon. He’s a menace and he’s a low-life, not of the “right people”.
• Finally, he says you should do away with him because he “profaned” the temple. He made it an unclean place because he brought a non-Jew into the temple. (An accusation that was not true). The Sanhedrin only accused Paul of “attempting to desecrate the temple” a charge that was fictious.
With peace, Paul listens. How well would you do? Would you lash out and say, that’s not true? Not Paul.
After Tertullen finishes, it’s Paul’s turn. Maybe now Paul would lash out? Nope, he responds in such as way that grace was evident even to those accusing him.
• RESPOND WITH GRACE AND TRUTH
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.
Felix, we all know you’re not a novice when it comes to these matters. He doesn’t fluff up Felix, he shoots straight.
You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 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. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
Felix, what they’re spelling out for you supposedly happened in the last 12 days, if it were true, you would have heard about. So, what am I guilty of? Paul continues. . .
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, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
Paul says, I believe what they’re supposed to believe.
• I believe in the Law (The fist 5 books of OT). The Sadducees would agree to that.
• I believe in the prophets, all the writings after the law. BTW – can you say that?
o I believe in the creation account!
o I believe in the flood!
o I believe in Moses and the children of Israel crossing the Red sea on dry ground!
o I believe Jonah was swallowed by a great fish!
o I believe that the Messiah was foretold about starting in Gen 3 and every portion of the OT is about setting up His coming!
CAN YOU SAY THAT?
• My hope is in God, I’m trusting Him alone!
• I believe in the resurrection of all life - He already left the Sadducees but the Pharisees would agree with this statement.
Paul is saying, I believe more about this book than these men do!
He continues. . .
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
Now this is an interesting thing to say. “A clear conscience before God and man.” Paul realizes that many people are so self-righteous that they do all their religious duties so God will accept them never thinking about the fact that religion is a scam. It’s all about the influence God has on you so you can have that same connection with others. If you don’t love others, you can’t love God. If you don’t love God, you won’t love others.
As a matter of fact, Paul would write to Timothy around this time, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5.
He continues. . .
Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
I can almost see Felix ears perk up here. You what? You brought money?? (He’d keep that in the back of his mind).
While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 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.’ ” Acts 24:10-21 (ESV)
So, the real reason I’m on trial today is not sedition or trying to over throw your government. I didn’t profane the temple or blaspheme God. I’m on trial for believing God and trusting that He sent the Messiah who was killed and rose again.
Paul, calmly puts the facts out there. BTW – in Roman law, if someone made an accusation against you that you broke Roman law, that person must by law, be present to make their claim, or they were to be punished as if they committed the said crime. These men didn’t come and Paul points it out. If this were true Felix, they should be here.
So, Paul listens in peace and he responds with grace and truth. From this comes and through this ordeal God begins to fulfill Paul’s calling that He gave Paul at his conversion. Acts 9:15.
After you listen and respond graciously like Paul you can . . .
• SEE GOD’S GUIDING HAND
Now Felix has a chance to respond and Luke gives more details.
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.” 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.
Felix understands that there’s more to this than these false accusations. He also is familiar with or heard about the “Way” those who believed in Jesus as the resurrected Messiah.
So, Felix dismisses this large group of accusers and keeps Paul. He had other interests in mind.
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.
Drusilla is an Edomite, or a descendant of Esau a descendant of Abraham. She and her husband are very curious about spiritual matters and Jesus in particular. So, Paul began to speak to them about this.
And as he reasoned
Unlike many people today who are unreasonable, he dialogued literally in the Greek with Felix and Drusilla.
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.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. Acts 24:22-27 (ESV)
PROVIDENCE: The Hand of God in the glove of human events
Felix gets nervous about the coming judgement. He tells Paul, When I get an opportunity, I’ll talk to you about this. At a more convenient time, when I get around to it!
Brett, my friend that I kept inviting to church and to know more about the Lord kept telling me, there’s a lot of things I want to do first, I know I need Jesus, but not yet.
Within a few months, I left that job and went to work elsewhere with the manager of the department store Brett and I both worked in. All three of us along with another co-worker used to play tennis and hang out some. I came into work one morning and my manager said, did you see the paper this am? I said no. He handed it to me and I saw Brett’s high school picture. My first thought, was wow, he made it famous. The next picture I saw was an accident scene where Brett just 3 days before his wedding crashed his motorcycle into the side of an ambulance as it rushed to another accident. He died on the spot.
