Title: The Law, The Christian, and the World…
Scripture: Acts 24
I would like to use some scripture to use as a sort of prelude to Acts 24. Then, with that in our minds, we’ll be better able to understand a short discussion on Acts 24.
(2 Timothy 3:1b-5) There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
(John 12:25-26) The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
(John 15:18) "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
(John 17:14-26) I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
(Romans 1:20-23) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
(Romans 12:2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(1 Corinthians 1:20-29) Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
(1 Corinthians 2: 12-16) We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-4) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
(Galatians 3:22-25) But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
(Ephesians 6: 12-18) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
(Colossians 2:8) See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
(Colossians 2:21-22) "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? :22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
(James 1:27) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
(2 Peter 1: 3-8) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Law? (vv. 1-9)
The Christian? (vv. 10-21)
The World? (vv. 22-27)
The Law?
24:1 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. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. 5 "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. 7
8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."
9 The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
The Bible tells us that the Law was put into effect to tell us just how sinful we really are, and what God desires of us in order to wipe away that sin. And, we can see just how sinful man is in this attempt to get rid of Paul. We can see to what great lengths they went to in order to silence Paul, and the teaching of Jesus Christ.
The Jews starting out by spouting a lot of useless information about Felix. They knew how to butter up Felix, and, their only desire was to propagate the burden on the people that Judaism had evolved into. They knew that with Felix in charge, they would continue to get things their way.
Looking at those verses, we can see that there was only one thing in the entire passage that was true. Those words that were untrue: the Jewish people had not experienced peace, they experience oppression and domination by the Romans. There were no reforms, except for more taxes. Additionally, Paul never stirred up a riot. It was always the group of Jews following him around.
The only true part was, “By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” That was true. If Felix had taken the time to investigate the accusations he would have learned the truth. Instead, Felix followed the Jews in relying on his own wisdom to decide the case. Which in actuality was not decided at all.
The Christian
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.
11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 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.
13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,
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.
16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17 "After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.
18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.
19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.
20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin--
21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ’It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’"
Paul doesn’t begin his defense as was the custom of the day, which was to build someone up to the point of absurdity. He depends upon the conscience of the Felix to convict his own heart to look into the matter firsthand. He appeals to Felix first as a Judge, second as a person, then as a Jew.
Finally, he brings forth his own testimony, not only to exonerate him from any wrong doing, but, to provide a character witness on behalf of himself. Meaning that the things that he was being accused of were ridiculous accusations of breaking the law that no good Jew or Jewish Christian would ever dream of doing. He seemed to be somewhat successful, for we find out in our next portion of scripture, how long he was held in prison awaiting a decision from Felix.
The World?
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case."
23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
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 Christ Jesus.
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."
26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 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.
This is the very reason why we are told in scripture not to have anything to do with the world. Paul was kept in prison for two years and nothing had been decided either for, or, against him. The reason, because of money. He expected a bribe from Paul. He wanted Paul to buy his way out of prison. And, it was because of his image with the Jews! Felix desired to make himself look good in front of the Jews, so he kept Paul under arrest. But, he would have quickly changed if Paul had given him some money.
Our passage tells us that Felix was ‘well’ acquainted with The Way. How much did he know? How familiar with Christianity was he? I can’t say, nor can I speculate. But, we can assume that he knew of the miracles and teachings of Jesus, as well as the crucifixion of Jesus. And, if he knew that much, he would have to know that The Way was a movement that was not rich, nor did it seek after affluence, position, or reward. He had to know that it was a movement that was humble and did not seek any high political standing, nor did it seek to overthrow the government or advocate the like. He should have learned Pilate that Pilate made a possible mistake in the crucifixion of Jesus, and that he should be cautious in deciding in favor of the Jews (as Pilate did).
But, he didn’t learn, nor did the passage of time increase any of his knowledge about the matter. Instead, like scripture says, he remained in his own foolishness and skeptical of God’s promises in Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
The Law, the Christian, the world. Until we are caught up in a whirlwind, until we die, or are raptured from this world, these are the things that we will always be confronted by. The world desires to pull down the Christian through confounding your testimony, or getting you to lose your testimony through some means or another.
We can learn from Paul the importance of relying upon Jesus. We can rely on Him to provide us the life testimony that He desires to be put in front of His people at the appropriate time and place.
He took Paul from the dust on the way to Damascus and grew him into a mighty man of God that made the king tremble!
Jesus can do the same for every one of us. If we let Him!
