I. Paul escapes to Governor Felix
(Acts 23:31 – 24:21)
A. Context
57AD… Roman Commander Lysias …sense of justice and self-interest… tensions between Jews and Romans
60 to
Felix governor for 5 years… former
slave… politically sharp… Drusilla … daughter of Herod Agrippa I ruthless…
Felix’s brutality … removed from his office by
Paul under guard until his accusers
arrive in
Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz quote
B. The charges against Paul and
Paul’s defense
1. v5a “agitator among the Jews throughout the whole world...” and he “tried to profane the temple” (v6)
this is partially true… possible insurrection… breaking temple law leads to death… supported by Roman law
Paul: If the charges are true then why didn’t Lysias himself or the Council find him guilty (20)
2. v5b “ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”… distancing Christianity from Judaism
Christianity appeared to be a form of Judaism to the Roman… a dangerous sect to the Jewish leadership
Paul’s argument a. same God, b. same Scriptures c. same beliefs and hopes d. clear conscience
Paul argues it is not a sect (14)… Luke’s intentions
II. Paul before Felix and
Festus (Acts 24:22-25:13)
A. Context
Felix is using a stall tactic… v26 hoping for a bribe… Paul is under guard… chained 24/7
Drusilla (Jewish)… 20 years old… sincerely interested?... committing adultery… Drusilla’s influence (v26) Felix “frightened” (25)… Paul spoke on “justice, self-control and the judgment to come.” (25)
Felix leaves Paul in prison two years to do a favor for the Jews (27)… Porcius Festus replaces him
Immediately Festus goes to see the
Jewish leadership (25:1)… assassination plot…8 days later in
Paul refutes behaving “against the
law of the Jews, or against the
Paul is accused of teaching contrary to Moses and contrary to Caesar… pax Romana… facing death.
Festus wants to do a favor… start on the right foot… he does not want to lose his power and control
Paul sees death at the doorstep and seizes his right to appeal to Caesar.
B. Observation
1. Fulfillment of prophecy: Matthew 10:18-20… Acts 9:15
Life application: The Spirit speaking the words of the Father through us
2. What prevented Felix from embracing the gospel?
a. v25c he didn’t want to be inconvenienced
b. v25b he was afraid of change: “What will happen if I accept Jesus?”
c. v27 people pleasing: he wanted to please the Jewish leadership and keep his job.
d. v26 greed: the gospel demands dying to self but Felix was busy trying to make money for himself.
Life application: The gospel demands we lay down self-interest and self-protection (Tim Keller)
·
Jim Burns: Pain of
regret or the pain of discipline
III. Paul before Herod Agrippa II
(Acts 25:13-26:32)
A. Context
Roman citizen rights… Festus is stuck… Festus must describe the charges… but it’s a theological dispute
Herod Agrippa II… age 17 father Agrippa I died (Acts 12)… symbolic head of the Jewish nation…
sister Bernice (v13)
hear Paul’s story… an epic event… v23 “They came in with great pomp and they entered the hall with military tribunes and prominent men of the city.”… All gathered to hear Paul!... What an opportunity
B. Paul’s argument
V2-3 pays a sincere compliment…
V4-11 Paul shows consistency with Jewish fathers… a Pharisee… believes in the resurrection
V9-11 Paul persecuted Christians himself… describes a turning point
V12-16 Paul on the
V17-23 The reason the Jews charge Paul…God wants to invite the Gentiles in as well
C. Herod’s Response (Acts 26:28 –
32)
Herod thinks Paul has gone mad… Herod himself knows about the Way… Herod put on the spot by Paul
Herod: “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?”… sarcasm and pride
Herod: “Do you think you can convince me so easily?”
Paul: “I don’t care how long it takes but I pray that you and everyone here becomes a follower of Jesus.”
Their final assessment: “This man is innocent, he would be free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”
D. Observation: Herod family dysfunctional and violent
The Herod’s are descended from the line of Esau, not Jacob. Mal. 1 “Jacob I love and Esau I hated.”
Tim Keller: This scene is both strategic and dramatic.
Life Application: Paul’s testimony… he shares, he adapts, he describes personal life change
Romans 8:28 God worked together for good several “bad” events