Introduction
John Antioco was the CEO of Blockbuster, whose ubiquitous stores were then a fixture of American life, renting videos and DVDs to millions of customers.
In 2000, Antioco received two young men, Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings, into his office.
The two men started a business three years earlier, renting DVDs via the postal service to customers. They had also begun renting DVDs via a streaming service.
Randolph and Hastings wanted Blockbuster to buy their business for $50 million.
Antioco flat-out rejected their offer and laughed them out of the room.
Antioco deemed their business too niche and said, “The dot-com hysteria is completely overblown.”
What business did Antioco reject?
Netflix.
Today, Blockbuster is bankrupt and Netflix is worth an estimated $497.55 billion.
John Antioco missed a tremendous business opportunity.
History is replete with individuals who have missed opportunities.
The Bible is also full of people who have missed opportunities regarding eternity.
For example, Jesus called people to follow him, but they asked if they could attend to some personal business before following him.
One man wanted to bury his father before following Jesus.
Another man wanted to say goodbye to those at home before following Jesus.
In each case, they lost the opportunity to follow Jesus because of procrastination (see Luke 9:57-62).
Jesus told a parable of wise and foolish virgins (see Matthew 25:1-12). The foolish virgins show us the tragedy of a missed opportunity.
Judas was one of Jesus’ original Twelve Disciples.
He spent three years with Jesus.
He saw Jesus’ miracles.
He heard Jesus’ teaching.
He was one of the twelve people closest to Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Yet, he betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
Judas shows us the tragedy of a missed opportunity.
Today, we will examine another example of a missed opportunity.
Paul was in custody in Caesarea.
He was waiting for a trial before the governor named Felix.
According to John MacArthur:
Felix was tragically similar to Judas. Judas lived with the Lord Jesus for more than three years; Felix had Paul in his palace for two. Judas had many opportunities to talk with Jesus; Felix “used to send for [Paul] quite often and converse with him” (v. 26). Judas betrayed the Son of God for money; Felix “was hoping that money would be given him by Paul” (v. 26). Judas betrayed the Lord to the Jewish authorities; Felix, fearing those same authorities, betrayed Paul by refusing to release him despite his innocence (John F. MacArthur Jr., Acts, vol. 2, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody Press, 1994], 301–302).
We will examine Paul’s trial before Felix in the message I am calling, “Procrastination and the Gospel.”
Scripture
Let’s read Acts 24:1-27:
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.
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.’ ”
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.
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.” 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.
Lesson
Acts 24:1-27 shows us the tragedy of a missed opportunity.
Let’s us use the following outline:
1. The Prosecution (24:1-9)
2. The Defense (24:10-21)
3. The Adjournment (24:22-27)
I. The Prosecution (24:1-9)
First, let’s look at the prosecution.
Paul was in Roman custody in Caesarea.
Governor Felix had sent for Paul’s accusers to come to Caesarea and bring charges against Paul.
In verse 1, we read, “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.”
Ananias was the high priest in Jerusalem.
He brought some elders with him who were presumably the legal prosecution team against Paul.
The spokesman was someone named Tertullus. He was the lead attorney for the prosecution.
Once the prosecution team had arrived in Caesarea from Jerusalem, Felix summoned everyone together.
The trial began with the prosecution making its case.
Tertullus began with a typically flowery introduction designed to win Felix’s favor.
Then he presented his charges against Paul to Felix.
There were three charges.
The first charge against Paul was a political one.
Tertullus said in verse 5a, “For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world.”
This was the most serious of the three charges.
It was also the only charge of the three that involved a crime against the Roman Empire.
The primary task of Roman governors was to squelch any riots.
Tertullus gave the impression that Paul was a subversive against the Roman Empire, stirring up riots wherever he went.
The second charge against Paul was a religious one.
Tertullus said in verse 5b that Paul was “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”
The term “Nazarenes” was initially intended to be a derisive term for Jesus' followers.
Tertullus was attempting to accuse Paul of being the leader of a religious group that Rome disapproved of.
And the third charge against Paul was a criminal one.
Tertullus said of Paul in verse 6, “He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.”
This was a reference to the earlier charge that Paul had brought Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, into a prohibited section of the temple precinct in Jerusalem (see Acts 21:29).
This was the original charge against Paul back in Jerusalem.
They were still trying to get Paul condemned for something that could not be proven at the time.
Tertullus concluded his case against Paul by saying to Felix in verse 8, “By examining him yourself, you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
Luke added in verse 9, “The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.”
II. The Defense (24:10-21)
Second, let’s notice the defense.
Paul began his defense with the usual acknowledgement to the person overseeing the trial, in this case, Governor Felix.
He then launched into his defense.
Paul categorically denied each charge.
First, Paul denied the political charge.
Paul said in verses 11-12, “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.”
Paul did not have time to stir up riots against anyone.
He was in Jerusalem to worship and not to cause anyone to riot against either Jews or Romans.
Moreover, Paul insisted in verse 13, “Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.”
In fact, all three charges brought against Paul lacked supporting proof.
Second, Paul denied the religious charge, at least in the way it was stated.
He was not the leader of a “sect,” as they called it, although he was a follower of the “Way.”
Paul said in verses 14-15, “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 was saying that he believed the same things that his accusers believed.
However, he believed that what was written in the Law and the Prophets was fulfilled in the resurrected Jesus.
And third, Paul denied the criminal charge.
Paul said in verses 17-21 that he had gone to Jerusalem to bring alms and offerings.
While he was in the temple, some Asian Jews—who should have now been in Caesarea—accused him falsely of desecrating the temple.
The real reason why the Jews in Jerusalem were so opposed to Paul is that he 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” (v. 21b).
The bottom line is that there was simply no evidence to support any one of the three charges against Paul.
III. The Adjournment (24:22-27)
And third, let’s look at the adjournment.
Though Felix was a Roman governor, Luke notes that he had “a rather accurate knowledge of the Way” (v. 22a).
He knew that there was no case against Paul.
Tertullus and the Jewish prosecution against Paul had not been able to prove their case against him.
The Jewish Council had found no fault in Paul (23:9).
Claudius Lysias had also found no fault in Paul (23:29).
Felix knew that Paul could not be convicted of a crime.
But Felix was stuck.
Felix was mainly stuck because he wanted to curry favor with the Jews (v. 27). He knew that releasing Paul would not make the Jews happy.
Also, Felix was stuck because he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe (v. 26).
So, Felix’s only option was to “put them off, saying, ‘When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case’ ” (v. 22).
Meanwhile, Felix “gave orders to the centurion that he [Paul] should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs” (v. 23).
The Romans had different degrees of imprisonment.
Because Paul was a Roman citizen and had not been convicted of a crime, he was given some liberty while in custody.
Likely, he was still guarded by a Roman soldier, but his friends had free access to him.
Paul would spend the next two years in custody (according to verse 27).
During this time, Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, “sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus” (v. 24).
In other words, Paul shared the gospel with them.
Notice, however, the comprehensive gospel that Paul shared with them.
Luke tells us that Paul “reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment” (v. 25a).
John Stott rightly notes, “In this case the three topics of conversation were what are sometimes called the ‘three tenses of salvation,’ namely how to be justified or pronounced righteous by God, how to overcome temptation and gain self-mastery, and how to escape the awful final judgment of God” (John R. W. Stott, The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church & the World, The Bible Speaks Today [Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994], 364).
It is not surprising to read, then, that as Paul pressed home the claims of the gospel, “Felix was alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity, I will summon you’ ”(v. 25b).
This is where we most clearly see the tragedy of a missed opportunity.
Conclusion
Don’t miss what Luke was doing in the Book of Acts.
While it is true that Luke was demonstrating that Paul was innocent of all charges, he also wanted to prove that the primary goal for Paul—as it should be for all Christians—is to advance the gospel.
Paul’s primary concern was not to demonstrate his legal innocence but to promote the gospel.
What caused Felix to miss the opportunity to respond to the gospel?
Procrastination.
Felix had heard all the arguments.
He knew that Paul was innocent of all charges.
He put off until another day the opportunity to do the right thing.
When it comes to the gospel, we all tend to procrastinate.
When I was a teenager, I thought I would wait until I was well into my retirement years before responding to the gospel.
Then I went to war.
My friend was killed in the war.
Death was not a distant thought but a current reality for me.
I dared not procrastinate any longer.
Gloria Pitzer has written the following poem:
Procrastination is my sin.
It brings me naught but sorrow.
I know that I should stop it.
In fact, I will … tomorrow (Gloria Pitzer, Today in the Word [Chicago: Moody, 1990], 41).
One of my favorite authors is Bishop J. C. Ryle.
He wrote a book titled Thoughts for Young Men, in which he warned against the error of procrastination regarding your eternal destiny. He writes:
Do you think that you will have a more convenient time to think about these things? So thought Felix and the Athenians to whom Paul preached, but it never came. The road to hell is paved with such ideas. Better make sure to work while you can. Leave nothing unsettled that is eternal. Run no risk when your soul is at stake (J. C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men [Amityville, NY: Calvary Press, 1996], 7).
You are here in this worship service today.
Are you a Christian?
Are you a new creation in Christ?
Has the grace of God transformed you?
Maybe you are here today, but you are not yet a Christian.
Like Felix, you also possess accurate knowledge of Christianity.
You feel you are okay because you attend church services like this one.
But you have never really trusted in Jesus and repented of your sins.
Like Felix, you think you will take Christ seriously when you have an opportunity to do so.
Harry Ironside (1876-1951) was a renowned Bible teacher and pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago, IL.
He recounted an incident that occurred when he was twelve years old.
He had gone to hear Dwight L. Moody in Chicago.
Moody was preaching in an old theater that held about ten thousand people, a building that has since been torn down.
Because the theater was jammed with people and he was just a boy, Ironside managed to climb up on a rafter above where Moody was speaking.
From there, he was able to look down upon that vast host of people.
There was a point in Moody’s address where he said to the people, “I want everybody who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Savior to stand.”
From where he was looking down, Ironside saw perhaps six or seven thousand people out of that great host of ten thousand rise to their feet.
Then Moody went on, saying something like this: “I want everybody from this large number who are Christians but who became Christians before the age of fifteen to be seated.”
Ironside saw that about half of those who had been standing resumed their seats.
There were about three thousand left.
Moody said, “I want everybody who became a Christian before the age of twenty to sit down.”
Another half were seated.
Now, there were only 1,500 standing.
Moody raised the number by tens to thirty, forty, and fifty.
By the time he got to fifty, there were only about twenty people on their feet in all that vast auditorium (James Montgomery Boice, Acts: An Expositional Commentary [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1997], 393).
Friends, as you grow older, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don’t delay.
Put your trust in Jesus today.
Your eternal destiny is at stake.
Felix was a judge, and he died.
When he died, he appeared before God, who does not postpone judgment and does not accept bribes.
We have no evidence from Scripture that Felix repented of his sins and trusted in Jesus.
He is in hell at this moment.
Don’t be like Felix.
Don’t procrastinate.
Put your faith in Jesus Christ now. Amen.
