Lechem Panim #230 “Paul’s Defense Before Felix” (Acts 24:10-27) Pastor Cameron Ury

Greetings! As always, it’s good to have you with us today as we continue to move through the book of Acts together, this week continuing our study of Acts 24. You’ll remember that Paul (now a prisoner) has been brought before the Roman governor Felix after a group of Jews began accusing him. As we talked about last week, their consciences were stirred by Paul’s message and they wanted to rid the world of him. So he is brought before Felix and their lawyer (Tertullus) accuses Paul of being a plague, a stirrer of riots (which wasn’t true; they had actually been the ones to start the riot in Jerusalem), a ringleader of the sect known as the Nazarenes, and a profaner of the temple. Every smear they could think up, they level against Paul as they stand before Felix. And now it has come time for Paul to defend himself. And so it says in…

Acts 24:10-22 (ESV)— 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. {By the way, remember that before this Paul had stood before the Jewish court known as the Sanhedrin. And when Paul had proclaimed that he had a clear conscience in that context, the former high priest Ananias had commanded Paul to be brutally struck. I love here how Paul says the same thing he had been slapped for yet again; and in front of Ananias, who remember is here. But Ananias commands no illegal slap here, where he would be held accountable by Felix. Paul continues…} 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.’” {Now notice how twice now in this passage alone he has highlighted the resurrection. He showing that the real motive behind all of this is religious.} 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.”

Subverting Justice— Now the reason he does this is because the witnesses never showed up and the Jewish leaders are unable to prove that Paul committed any kind of crime. So, in keeping with Roman law, the only verdict Felix would be able to render is “not guilty”. But he doesn’t want to give that verdict because of how much he knows it will infuriate the Jews. So, in order to keep the peace, he decides that the best thing to do is to put everything on hold until Lysias comes, which wasn’t necessary because Lysias had already sent his report stating [that the dispute involved questions of Jewish law (23:29), and that Paul was not guilty of any crime (23:29).] It is hard to imagine what else Lysias could have said; and there is no evidence that Felix did in fact send for him. So we see that justice is subverted. 

Acts 24:23-25 (ESV)— 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.”

Locked Away— Now the reason he was alarmed was because this wife who came with him (Drusilla) was actually his third wife. But she was not really HIS wife. She had been Agrippa I’s wife, but Felix (seeing her beauty and being enraptured by her) [had lured her away from her husband. At the time of Paul’s hearing, she was not yet 20 years old.] So we see we have another Malchus’ ear situation. Conviction comes and what does Felix do with the source of that conviction. He locks him away. Then it says…

Acts 24:26-27 (ESV)— 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.

The Heavenly Vision— One author I have been reading lately (whom I have mentioned to you before; and who is having an extraordinary impact on my life, is Samuel Logan Brengle). Just recently I finished his book Heart Talks on Holiness, in which he shared two stories that had an indelible impact on me. I’d like to share them with you:
    [Several years ago a girl of eighteen, full of fun and love of society, was induced by a friend to enter a Salvation Army meeting for the first time. No sooner had she entered than the people's faces enchained her eyes and their testimonies went to her heart. She sat for a while, and Jesus came to her, not in visible presence, but in a spiritual vision. She left the meeting convicted of sin. On her way home, the vision spoke with her. "You ought to have gotten saved, tonight."
    "But I am engaged for that dance next Wednesday night.”
    "You should give up the dance."
    “But there are my lovely white dress and slippers. I will get saved after the dance."
    “But you may die before Wednesday night, and lose your lovely dress and the dance—and your soul."
    That was sufficient for this young girl. She tore the feathers from her hat and threw them into the fire. She rushed upstairs, got her lovely white dress, cut it up, and cast it into the fire. The next evening she went to the meeting. At last a woman, probably discerning in her face the hunger of her heart, went to her and asked, "Don't you want to get saved tonight?"
    "Of course I do," replied the girl. "Why did you not come to me before?" Immediately she rushed to the penitent form (the special place for prayer before the altar) where, in obedience to the heavenly vision, she found Jesus almighty to save. And after four years her face shines with the glory of her Lord, and her voice rings with triumph as she testifies to the cleansing power of His blood and the sanctifying power and presence of His Spirit. She was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
       A man, a millionaire, came into a meeting and listened to an Army Captain (minister), and the heavenly vision came to him. He saw the cross, the narrow way, and the hard road, and like the rich young man who came to Jesus (see Mark 10:17-22), he went away saying, "If it were not for the red stripes round that fellow's collar (on his Salvation Army uniform), I would have gone forward." He was disobedient to the heavenly vision.
    Sooner or later the heavenly vision comes to everyone. It comes in the whisperings of conscience, in the strivings of the Spirit, in the calls of duty, in the moments of regret for an evil past, in moments of tenderness and sorrow, in the crises of life, and in the entreaties of God's people. It comes in afflictions and losses; in the thunders of the law; in fearful, ominous threats of eternal judgment; in the death of loved ones; and in crushed hopes, disappointed plans, and thwarted ambitions. In all these things, Jesus hides Himself as He hid Himself in the burning bush, which Moses saw on Horeb. If people would but turn aside and heed the vision as Moses did, a voice would speak and cause them to know the Lord, and if they would not be disobedient to the heavenly vision, Jesus would turn them back from the pit and satisfy every questioning of their minds and every longing of their hearts.]

When The Vision Comes— One of the questions I would like to ask today is “What are you going to do when conviction comes; when Jesus gives you a heavenly vision? Are you going to accept Him and turn to Him in faith? Or are you going to leave without receiving the best thing you could ever receive. Are their dresses and feathers that stand in your way? Or are you willing to do what this young girl did and burn them (to burn those bridges) and embrace the Way of Jesus Christ? My heart broke for the man who turned back because of the collar of all things. But then I felt God impress upon me, “It wasn’t the collar.” You see, some people are willing to be turned back by anything, even if it is something so trivial as a striped collar, rather than give up whatever it is they are clinging to. The question is, is that you or me?

The Way Opened— In Jesus, God has opened up the Way for us to enter into another world. In Him the very gates of Heaven have been opened to us; and we often are found stuck worrying about silly things. Jesus, what about my security? What about my stuff? What about my clothes? We are Marthas worrying about the carnal when the very presence of Jesus is beckoning to us to come and be healed.

God’s Hand Extended— Recently my family and I were driving along on the highway and I looked out over the city and the beautiful clouds hanging overhead. And I imagined God sticking His hand out of those clouds and offering it to anyone who wanted to grab it, whenever they were ready. How long would you wait to seize that hand of God extended unto you? Would you put it off until a reasonable time, or would you bolt for that hand as fast as you could, seize it and kiss and embrace the hand of God? How long would you wait?

Those Who Cling to Idols— You know a verse that God keeps bringing to my mind over and over again. It’s Jonah 2:8. It says: "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. By the way, that word “grace” is hesed, in case you are curious. It’s the deepest, most profound love God can offer you. That’s what we forfeit when we cling to the chaff of the world; the flakes that are here today and gone tomorrow.

Let Go Your Idols— What are you clinging to today that is preventing you from laying hold of the hand of God? What are you holding on to? Whatever that is, let go of it today. If it’s sinful, let it go. If it’s of the world, let it go. Anything that is holding you back in your quest to know and follow Jesus, abandon utterly and completely. Choose to follow Him today. Let’s do so. Amen.