Paul Before Agrippa
Acts 25:23 – 26:32
July 7, 2013

Tonight we continue on our study of Acts and most recently
The segment devoted to Paul’s trial before he went to Rome.

Luke has been very interested in making sure that
You and I saw all the components regarding the trial of Paul
Before he was sent to Rome.

On one hand this is good because it helps us fill in the blanks,
But that is not the real reason Luke includes it.

As I have told you many times before, although the Bible is historically accurate, it is not primarily a history book.

There are both theological and practical reasons
To everything that is contained here.

The purpose of Scripture is never just to make you smarter or better educated.
The purpose of Scripture is always to equip you.

Paul wrote to Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

So when we read long narrative sections like this in the book of Acts,
We must take the time to ask exactly what it is
That the Holy Spirit wants us to learn.

• We know He is trying to teach us something…
• We know He will use this truth to reprove us…
• We know He will use this truth to correct our thinking…
• We know He will use this truth to train us according to righteousness…

Our job is to find out how.

Well, as we have been looking over this section there have been thus far three main truths that we have sort of focused in on as things we need to learn.
1) THE EXPECTATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITHFULNESS

We know that we as believers are called to be faithful.
This includes being focused at all times and obedient at all times.

• We saw this first with Paul in his willingness to share his testimony from the steps of the Roman barracks with those who had just tried to beat him to death.

• We saw it again when Paul stood before the council and declared that he had lived his life with a perfectly clear conscience up to this day.

• We saw it again before Felix as Paul shared with him about “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come”

Paul has been faithful to fulfill his calling.
And this certainly challenges and convicts each of us to remember
Why we are here and what our true job is.

We so easily get sidetracked in this life.
There are always other things to do.
There are myriads of things that catch our eye and divert our attention.

• But we are called to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”
• We are called to “fix our eyes on heaven”
• We are called to “preach…as we go”

And not to get consumed with the other lesser things of life.

(It’s not that the details of life are bad, or even wrong,
It’s just that we have to remember our main purpose for being here)

So we have been reminded about the expectation of Christian faithfulness.
2) THE PROVIDENTIAL HAND OF CHRIST

We have also been fortunate to see how Christ works
For those who are working for Him.

At times it is easy to see God at work
He simply interjects with a miraculous work.

Paul was certainly no stranger to that type of experience.
• He was in Philippi when the jail cells opened up.
• He saw the false prophet Bar-Jesus be struck with blindness.
• He had been witness to numerous miracles.

But what we have been looking at are those times
When God sort of does His work from behind the scenes.

Most notably we saw Jesus rescue Paul from two assassination attempts.

• The Jews plotted against him in Jerusalem and through almost peculiar circumstances Paul was escorted out of the region to Caesarea.

• We saw again last week how another assassination plot was foiled through Festus’s unwillingness to go against Roman protocol.

And so while we haven’t seen the Lord step in and altar the flow of events,
We have seen every event end up working according to His divine will.

He told Paul:
Acts 23:11 “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

And Jesus has been working that out to perfection.

And then the third thing we have been learning about:
3) THE OFFENSE OF THE GOSPEL

• We saw it in Felix who was terrified at the preaching of the gospel and refused to accept it for fear that it would alter his lifestyle.

• We saw it in Festus who found the gospel to be foolishness and was not willing to be considered a fool in order to believe it.

And it is important for all of us to realize this,
For all three of these work together.

We need to know
• That the gospel we preach is not universally loved or accepted.
• That in order to preach it faithfulness is required.
• That Christ is always working behind the scenes to bring about His determined end.

But we have seen that the gospel is offensive.

And we will see it again tonight in Agrippa
Who comes across as sort of a procrastinator.

Namely he is a man who misses his golden opportunity to be saved, simply because he is too proud.

So tonight, let’s start looking at the next leg of Paul’s trial,
And that is PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA

I told you last week who Agrippa was, bet I’ll refresh your memory.

• He was King Agrippa II
• His Great Grand Father was Herod the Great who tried to kill the Baby Jesus
• His Great Uncle was Herod Antipas who killed John the Baptist and tried Jesus
• His Father was Agrippa I who killed James and then died and was eaten with
worms.

Agrippa II traveled with a woman who was his consort named Bernice,
Who also happened to be his sister.

Their sister was also Drusilla who was the wife of Felix.

So Agrippa was no model of virtue.
He was however an expert on Jewish Law and custom,
And that is why he has been included in the trial here.

What he did not realize is that while he would listen to Paul’s case,
The Holy Spirit was about to put him on trial.

Let’s look at the story tonight.
3 things

#1 AGRIPPA INFLATED
Acts 25:23-27

You will remember last week how Festus was stumped.
He agreed to send Paul to Caesar, but had no clue what charge to write against him.

Festus was actually relieved when Agrippa arrived
As he might be able to provide some religious insight to help Festus.

So Agrippa is already feeling good about himself as the resident expert.
And you will quickly notice here that it was all going to his head.

(23) “So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.”

You can envision the scene.
It’s not enough for Agrippa just to hear Paul’s story,
He actually has to put on a display.

• He and Bernice come “amid great pomp”
• And not only that but they bring in all the “commanders and the
prominent men of the city”

It’s growing quite obvious that Agrippa has the big head.
This really isn’t even about Paul getting a fair trial as much as it is about Agrippa showing off his vast understanding of Jewish issues.

He is using this as his time to shine.

And Festus is right in line with it.
Once Paul was brought in, Festus tells it straight.
(We actually admire his honesty in what he says)

(24-27) “Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer. “But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. “Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. “For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him.”

There again, Festus doesn’t strike you as a bad guy or even an arrogant guy. He just wanted to do his job to the best of his ability.
His problem was an unwillingness to become a fool for Christ.

But here he is quite honest.

He doesn’t know what to write as charges against Paul, and it seemed “absurd” to him to send a prisoner and not indicate the charge.

So he is appealing to the wisdom and understanding of Agrippa
For help in finding out what is wrong with Paul.

And obviously Agrippa is eating the notoriety up.

So we see Agrippa Inflated
#2 AGRIPPA ENLIGHTENED
Acts 26:1-20

Don’t you just love how the whole thing starts?
(1) “Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”

You can almost see his big head right there on the page.

And Paul begins to make his defense.

And what I want you to see is that even though there is a room full of dignitaries, and military commanders, and even Festus and Bernice, PAUL JUST ZOOMS IN ON AGRIPPA.

You can tell from reading here that
The Holy Spirit has singled out Agrippa,
And is making this his opportunity to hear the gospel first hand.

From here on out, everyone else sort of fades away
And God reveals the truth to this Jewish king.

You even see that in Paul’s address to Agrippa.
(2-3) “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”
You not only hear Paul’s gratitude for getting to speak to Agrippa, but you even hear Paul begging Agrippa to listen all that he has to say.

It is reminiscent of Paul’s statement to the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

You can hear that same concern in what Paul says to Agrippa there.

And so the hearing begins and Paul starts off by relating how PITIFUL all the CHARGES are against him.

READ VERSES 4-8

I don’t want to dwell too long on the details of these verses,
But you get Paul’s main gist.

They know what kind of a Jew I am

Furthermore they are trying me for preaching the fulfillment of a promise that they are hoping for.

This promise was God’s ability to raise the dead, and resurrect men to new life.
All of this would be culminated in the Messiah.

And that is why Paul says:
“Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?”

In other words:
You believe that God can raise the dead, why does it shock you when He does?

I mean the whole trial is just strange.
They are seeking to condemn him only because He has said that something they believe can happen, actually did happen.

So these are pitiful charges.

From there Paul becomes more direct with his purpose in speaking with Agrippa.
Paul reveals his POWERFUL CHANGE

And this of course is another account of Paul sharing his testimony.

And Paul begins where every testimony should begin, and that is:
Your life before Christ.
(VERSES 9-11)

That was Paul.
• He was a faithful Jew.
• And because he was a faithful Jew, he was a hater of Christianity.

• He viewed it as heresy
• He viewed it as blasphemy
• And he was on a personal mission to protect the religion of his fathers.

• To do this he locked some up on prison
• Others he voted to condemn
• And still others he tried to force to deny Christ under torture

• And when that seemed to small he tried to expand his role and actually received permission to hunt Christians down from various foreign cities.

There is no doubt what sort of man Paul was.
• Driven
• Focused
• Relentless
• Anti-Christ in every form of the word

We should also note, that at no time in Paul’s life
Did he ever go looking for Jesus.

At no time does Scripture ever indicate that Paul even had a quiver of a doubt that he might not be right in what he was doing.

He was on a mission and he isn’t vacillating about it in the least.

But then Paul had a very intense encounter.
(VERSES 12-14)

And of course you remember the story.
Paul was blinded and he heard a voice.

And naturally Paul wanted to know who it was:
(15) “And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

I hope you could hear the gasps in the room when Paul said that.

Paul just asserted publicly, before all the noble guests
And military commanders, and Festus, and Agrippa and Bernice
That Jesus talked to him.

(It’s no wonder Festus later accused him of being insane)

Paul’s story just become far-fetched to everyone in the room.

And yet, it is the only explanation for why Paul is who he is.
It was this Jesus who changed Paul’s course.

(16-18) “’But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’”

• Paul was not looking to be saved…
• Paul was not doubting the right in his venture…
• Paul had no intention of swapping sides…

And yet, one encounter and the churches primary enemy
Became her primary advocate.

WHY?
Christ chose to appoint him a minister.

Jesus wanted it that way.
There was nothing Paul could do about it.

Paul was now going to Jew and Gentile alike to turn people from “darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”

And there is the explanation as to who Paul is.
That was Paul’s powerful change.

And then Paul reveals his PERMANENT CHOICE
(19-21) “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. “For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death.”

Paul’s response – I did just what He said.

And notice that Paul is very clear here to address Agrippa specifically
And to spell out for him the gospel.

Paul has spoken of repentance, forgiveness, faith in Jesus,
And eternal inheritance.
He is giving Agrippa the truth of the gospel,
And he is directing it directly at him.

In fact, it is almost as though Paul is completely ignoring everyone else.

This is Agrippa’s moment.
He came into this room amid great pomp, but the God of the universe wanted to have a conversation with Agrippa.

So we have Agrippa Inflated
We have Agrippa Enlightened
#3 AGRIPPA CONFRONTED
Acts 26:22-32

First Paul sums up the message he wants Agrippa to hear.
(22-23) “So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Paul is very clear to Agrippa here.
• The Prophets said it…
• Moses said it…
• Now I am saying it…

• The Christ had to suffer (cross)
• The Christ would rise
• And He is the “light” of salvation for Jew and Gentile alike

There is no doubt what Paul is up to here.
He wants Agrippa to fully understand the gospel message
And that Jesus alone is the source of salvation.

Now you may remember from last week that Festus
Is blown away by such a thought.

(24-25) “While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.”

As we said last week Festus was too much of an intellectual to believe such a “fairy tale”. There was no way he was going to become so foolish.

But I want you to recognize here that Paul really disregards Festus.
He assures him that his words are truth,
But notice that Paul immediately turns right back to Agrippa.

Agrippa (not Festus) is the one on the hot seat.
(Festus is being used to make Agrippa’s decision more difficult)

(26-27) “For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. “King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.”

It doesn’t get any more direct that that.
Agrippa, you know about what I’m talking about.

• You know about Jesus…
• You know about the crucifixion…
• You know about the resurrection…

You’re an expert on Jewish matters and “this has not been done in a corner”. Which is to say, “This is all public knowledge”

Agrippa knew the truth of the matter.

And then came the direct confrontation:
“King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.”

Paul had just said that the Prophets had already proclaimed Jesus,
Therefore if one claimed to believe the Prophets,
Then they had to also believe in Jesus.

That is what Paul is driving at.

And yet here is the tragedy of the scene.
Agrippa isn’t interested in coming to Christ here in this pompous setting.

(28) “Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.”

And that translation is a little misleading.
That almost sounds like Agrippa is promising he will trust Chris later.

A better translation is: “Do you expect me to become a Christian in such a short time?”

Agrippa couldn’t refute what Paul said,
But he still pushed Paul’s message to the back burner.
And because of that, he remained lost.

Charles Spurgeon said, “To be almost persuaded is to be certainly damned”
You don’t get to almost come to Jesus.
A nearly believer is still an unbeliever.
With Jesus you are either all in or all out.
There is no middle ground.

Agrippa had chosen to reject.

And this of course was not Paul’s desire.
(29) “And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

Paul wanted every man everywhere to be persuaded to follow Christ.
He was genuinely grieved that Agrippa would reject such truth

And then Agrippa completely ends the session and changes the subject.

(30-32) “The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, ” This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

You can see there is another admission of Paul’s innocence,
But also a fine job by Agrippa to get the focus off of himself.

And yet here again we are reminded of the offense of the gospel.

• The gospel demands a change in lifestyle – which Felix was unwilling to do.
• The gospel demands a willingness to be considered foolish – which Festus
was unwilling to do.

• And the gospel demands those things TODAY, which Agrippa was unwilling to
do.

The gospel does not come to you on your timing, but on God’s timing.
Salvation is only available when the Lord offers it,
Not when you think you might want it.

That is why Paul told the Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 6:2 “for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”

And yet throughout Scripture we have that recurring theme
Where people are offered the truth of the gospel and yet reject it.

Remember what Jesus said about Jerusalem?
Luke 19:41-44 “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

And that is exactly what Agrippa is doing.
When the gospel comes you must accept it.

And this is another thing that is offensive about the gospel to people.
IT REQUIRES SUBMISSION OF THE WILL.

People in our society like to remain in control.
They want to do things on their time table and at their convenience.

We’ve all heard statements like – “There are things I still want to do before I commit to follow Jesus.”

And yet Jesus said:
Luke 9:59-62 “And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

In other words, you come when He calls, and you never look back.
And people don’t like that.
They don’t want to be backed into a corner, or roped into a decision.

But the God of the universe is in charge of salvation,
Not the sinner to whom it is offered.

And when God graciously offers forgiveness to a soul,
That soul must accept, for it only has the opportunity when God offers.

You come when God calls.
And that may not be a time when you deem convenient.

It certainly didn’t seem convenient to Agrippa.
• I’m sure he would have rather been alone with Paul at that moment, not dressed in all his splendor before all those dignitaries.

• Agrippa was actually called to believe in Christ immediately after Felix said such belief was insane.

The gospel confronts man when God is ready.
It asks for more than man wants to give,
And often makes him look like a fool for believing it.

And that is the message we are preaching.
However, for those who will humble themselves
And turn from their sin
And value the gospel even above their own reputation…

They find forgiveness and life and joy and peace.

But you must accept it when it is offered.
Hebrews 3:7-11 “Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'”

Paul Before Festus
Acts 25:1-22
June 30, 2013

As you know we are currently studying the portion in the book of Acts
That chronicles Paul’s arrest and subsequent trip to Rome.

• Paul went to Jerusalem knowing trouble would come
• Paul was arrested there, and yet has remained faithful
• Jesus has been providentially working to both protect Paul and take him to Rome

And those are really some of the things we have been focusing on.

Not only is Luke revealing to us the details of how Paul ended up in Rome,
But also seems to be showing us the truth about various other realities.

1) CHRISTIAN FAITHFULNESS

We have seen Paul not only travel to Jerusalem despite the danger,
But also faithfully share testimony even in the midst of that danger.

He has faithfully sought “first the kingdom of God”

And Paul’s faithfulness paid off.

Acts 23:11 “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

And that reveals the second thing we have also seen during this narrative.
2) THE PROVIDENCE OF CHRIST

Paul has been faithful to Jesus, and Jesus has been faithful to Paul.

We first saw it with the foiled assassination attempt.
It was a good plan the Jews orchestrated to have Paul killed,
But Jesus merely used that plan to move Paul one step closer to Rome.

And we were reminded of that tremendous truth:
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

And again, that does not imply that
God will never let anything bad happen to His children.
(Let’s not forget Paul has been beaten, and has spent the last two years in jail)

What it does promise is that God will accomplish His perfect will.
The enemy cannot thwart God’s redemptive plan.

In fact God is so sovereign that He can even take the devil’s plans
And use them for His own glory.
And then last week we introduced a new concept we are also seeing in this trial narrative with Paul, and that is:
3) THE OFFENSE OF THE GOSPEL

Last week we watched as Paul stood before Felix.
• Felix was not a noble man, nor a moral one.
• He was a former slave promoted to a position he did not deserve,
• He had immorally stolen the wife of another man because of her beauty.

Paul stood before Felix and he pulled a definite Pilate on Paul.
• He knew Paul was innocent…
• Everyone knew Paul was innocent…
• And yet, because Felix feared the repercussions of the Jews, he left Paul in prison for two years, until he was eventually dismissed from office.

And what we began to see firsthand is that gospel is offensive.
It confronts you at your deepest level
And requires complete and total allegiance.

• It cost the disciples their homes…
• It cost Matthew his tax booth…
• It cost Paul his prestige in Jewish society…
• It would have cost the rich young ruler all of his possessions…
• It would have cost Pilate his position…

And Felix felt the full cost and offense of the gospel
As he sat in trial of Paul.

He had to make a decision, and it was one he was unwilling to make.
Felix was a blasphemer.

• He knew the truth.
• Scripture even said he had “a more excellent knowledge about the Way”
• Paul even preached to him on numerous occasions.

And yet Felix, knowing the truth, determined to disregard it.
Scripture says it is impossible for that person to be saved
Because they again crucify Jesus to themselves.

Felix rejected the gospel due to its high cost.

Well tonight we move in to the second example
Of the gospel offending someone.

That man is Festus.

While Felix was a blasphemer, Festus was a scoffer

He couldn’t believe the gospel
Because he was unwilling to become a fool.

And people who aren’t willing to look foolish to the world
Cannot follow a dead man, who claims to have come back to life.

So tonight let me show you who Festus is, and how the gospel confronted his life.

5 points
#1 FESTUS WAS PROMPT
Acts 25:1

The main things that I want you to notice about Festus
As we work our way through this text
Is that Festus was a very professional person.

He was one who did his job well.
And because of that, by the world’s standards,
Festus would have been a “good man”.

In fact, history remembers Festus
As better than the last two rulers who succeeded him.

And we begin to see that just by the way he takes office here in verse 1.
“Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.”

So Felix was removed and ultimately replaced by Festus.
And Festus moves into office and yet wastes no time getting to work.

No sooner does he move into the office, then does he take the 65 mile trip To Jerusalem to meet the people he is now in charge of.

• Keeping the peace in Jerusalem would have been one of the main objectives of his reign as governor, and he wastes no time getting to it.

Felix had left a bad taste in the mouths of the Jews,
Festus quickly goes to straighten it all out.

• He wasn’t a procrastinator…
• He wasn’t one of those guys who irritates you because he just never does what he says he’ll do.

Festus was prompt, he quickly got to work.
That bodes well for his career.

Festus was Prompt
#2 FESTUS WAS PATRIOTIC
Acts 25:2-8

So Festus makes a trip to Jerusalem to meet with the people he will be ruling,
And the first item of business on the minds of the Jews
Was that Festus do something about Paul.
It really shows you the rage and anger that the Jews had toward the gospel
Since, over the last two years they had yet to calm down.

They still want Paul’s head, they still haven’t forgotten,
And when the new ruler arrives, this is their first item of business.

(2-3) “And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him, requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way).”

They were also prompt.
They wanted Paul brought to Jerusalem.
(not for trial, they never planned to let it get that far)

And Festus picked up on their rage.

Even later, when Festus speaks to Agrippa
Acts 25:15 “and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.”

• The Jews didn’t want a fair trial.
• In fact, they didn’t want a trial at all.
• They just wanted Festus to condemn Paul and get it over with.

He understood their desires.

But Festus wouldn’t give in to their plans.
(4-5) “Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly. “Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him.”

Festus will not consent to bring Paul back for a trial and condemnation.
WHY?

Again, Festus reveals much when he talks later to Agrippa:
Acts 25:16 “I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges.”

The answer is that Festus was a patriot.
• He cared about Roman law.
• He cared about the Roman way.
• He cared about Roman citizens.

He didn’t know Paul
He didn’t know about Judaism or Christianity
But he did know about Rome and that is how he operated.

He was a patriotic kind of fellow.
And so he suggested that the Jews come with him
And that they hold this trial in the proper way.

And incidentally, that is what happens.
(6-8) “After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove, while Paul said in his own defense, “I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

We don’t have to re-hash this whole trial, for the charges are the same.
In two years the Jews still don’t have any more evidence
Than they did the first time.

All they have are those same old tired accusations.
• Paul conspires against Rome…
• Paul breaks Jewish Law…
• Paul desecrated the temple…

And through all these charges we again note that
They “could not prove” any of them.

And then, just like before, Paul adequately defends himself.
“I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Two years and nothing has changed.

And just as we saw before Felix, we now see that again
Paul should be released due to lack of evidence.

This trial should be thrown out.

However, Festus wasn’t just Prompt, and Festus wasn’t just Patriotic
#3 FESTUS WAS POLITICAL
Acts 25:9-12

Now, this description may not do much for you,
But it does seem to be a very important attribute to the world.

The media is always throwing around words like
bi-partisan, tolerance, and compromise.

• Society does not praise conviction…
• Society does not praise steadfastness…
• Society does not praise moral endurance…

Society loves a guy who will bend in order to make everyone happy,
And so society would have loved Festus.
He was a bender.

It was obvious Paul was innocent, however:
(9) “But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?”

Festus could see that the Jews had no case, but he also knew that
Acquitting Paul would lead to a riot and unrest in the region.

So his solution is to
• Take Paul back to Jerusalem like the Jews wanted…
• And to let Paul stand trial before him, assuring a fair trial…

He was trying to compromise.
He was trying to find an easy solution.
He was trying to appease everyone.

The only problem is that Paul knew what Festus did not,
And that was that he would never make it alive to trial.

Paul already left Jerusalem due to a death threat once, he knew better than to return.

Which is the reason for Paul’s appeal:
(10-12) “But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. “If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

Paul was sure of a few things.
1) Going to Jerusalem was a death sentence.
2) He was innocent and Festus knew it.
3) His only shot was to appeal to Caesar.

And that is what Paul did.

But namely you get a look at Festus here.
A Prompt man A Patriotic man A Political man
#4 FESTUS WAS PERPLEXED
Acts 25:13-22

So at this point, Festus has agreed to send Paul to Caesar.

The only problem with that is that Festus had to include
The charges against Paul, of which he is appealing.
And Festus doesn’t know what they are.
• There was no proof…
• There was no relevance…

And Festus is stumped.

In fact, verse 13 indicates that he was stumped for “several days”
For it was only then that Agrippa arrived.

“Now when several days had elapsed King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus.”

Agrippa was an interesting fellow.
(Herod Agrippa II)

• His Great-Grandpa (Herod the Great) tried to kill baby Jesus, and ended up killing all the Hebrew babies in Bethlehem.

• His Great-Uncle (Herod Antipas) was the man who beheaded John the Baptist due to the incestuous affair with his sister’s wife. He was also the man who tried Jesus.

• His father (Agrippa I) was the man who killed James and met an untimely death after glorifying himself and worms ate him.

And now Herod Agrippa II was ruler.

He was also a special type of fellow.

• His consort “Bernice” was also his sister.
• Their sister was also “Drusilla” who you will remember was Felix’s wife.

They were a messed up family.
And yet, they had a reputation for being experts in Judaism.

Which is what Paul asserts later when he stands before him.
Acts 26:2-3 “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”

And that also explains why Festus was so eager to talk to Agrippa.

Festus was a perplexed man.
He knew Paul was innocent of Roman crimes,
But had no clue why the Jews hated him so much.

And that is really what Festus begins to relate to Agrippa.

There were four things about Paul that really perplexed Festus.

1) WHY IS HE HERE? (14)

(14) “While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix;”

Ordinarily a new ruler would assume that if a previous ruler left a man in custody for two years without ever producing a trial or a verdict that something was fishy.

And indeed it was.
Felix of course was corrupt and kept trying to get bribes from Paul.

But for a straight-laced ruler like Festus,
Paul’s presence just didn’t make any sense.

Is he guilty or innocent, but why is he here?

2) WHY IS HATED? (15)

(15) “and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.”

Again, you would think that after two years the animosity toward this man would have died down, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Their first order of business was to ask for me to condemn this man.
He is hated.
The Jews want him dead, and I don’t know why.

3) HE APPEARS TO BE HARMLESS (16-19)

And this is really the puzzling fact to Festus.
He had the trial, and heard all the information, and that was strange.

(18-19) “When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive.”

Festus can’t seem to figure out
Why they are dragging him into the middle of all of this.

It just didn’t make any sense.
• This man wasn’t a Roman criminal…
• This man didn’t incite riots…
• This man just had some crazy beliefs about a dead man that he thought was alive.

But nothing seemed to be deserving of death.
4) WHERE HE IS HEADED (20-21)

And then this really didn’t make sense.

Obviously Festus didn’t realize that trying to take Paul back to Jerusalem
Would result in an ambush and murder,
So he couldn’t understand why Paul was unwilling to go back there.

Instead, Paul appealed to Caesar, and this was also peculiar to Festus.

In his mind, there had to be more going on here
Than what he had been told.

It just didn’t make sense that this man would be kept in custody,
So badly hated, and headed now to stand before Caesar
When he hasn’t done anything wrong.

And coupled with that,
Festus has no clue what charges he will write against him.

Festus is perplexed and so he is tossing the trial to Agrippa.
(22) “Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

And so you see that Festus is a man who doesn’t understand,
And he is not the type of man who likes it when he doesn’t understand.

• He is a professional kind of guy.
• He does his work promptly.
• He does his work according to Roman code.
• He does a fine political job of trying to solve problems.
And so when a peculiar case like this springs up, it perplexes him.

And I hope by now you see what type of fellow Festus is.
• He’s a smart guy.
• He’s an intellectual guy.
• He is a guy that follows his logic and earthly wisdom.

But he is about to be presented with something
That will challenge his earthly wisdom to the core.

Let me show you one more thing about Festus.
#5 FESTUS WAS PROUD
Acts 26:24-25

Now this is during the hearing before Agrippa.

• Paul is speaking to Agrippa and Festus is merely listening in.
• Paul is sharing his testimony.

And here is the most recent thing that Paul has said:
Acts 26:22-23 “So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

And when Paul says this, it is more than the logic of Festus can take:

Acts 26:24-25 “While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.”

Festus just ran across a truth he could not accept.
It was foolishness to him to assume that a dead man could rise
And be the source of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.

In fact, Festus even accuses Paul of being “mad”.
He accuses Paul of being crazy.

And right there we see again another offense of the gospel.
• For Felix the gospel was too costly.
• For Festus it is too foolish.

And there are people throughout our world
Who reject the gospel for this very reason.

• The gospel forces a man to reject his own logic and his own assertions.
• The gospel forces a man to reject his own intellect and submit to the wisdom of God.

And some people are far too proud to do such a thing.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

According to Paul men don’t find the wisdom of God
Through their own intellectual endeavors.

The worldly wise, and the worldly debater are rarely found in the church.

Human intellect doesn’t lead to the cross.
It is foolishness to them.

That is why we don’t argue people into heaven…
That is why we can’t debate people into the kingdom…

Men aren’t won to Christ through logical reason.
Men are won to Christ when the Spirit of God
Reveals truth within their heart and draws them to Jesus.

John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

That is also why Paul was always careful
Not to present the gospel based upon reason or ability or intellect.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

Paul knew that human intellect was powerless
As a weapon for leading men to Christ.
Only God’s Spirit could successfully do that.

Man in his wisdom does not come to know Christ.
The gospel is too backward for them.

• The gospel offers freedom through an arrested man…
• The gospel offers forgiveness through a condemned man…
• The gospel offers life through a dead man…
• The gospel offers hope through a crucified man…
• The gospel offers joy through a sorrowful man…

This doesn’t make any sense.

• How can one man’s death pay the penalty for every man’s sin?
• How can one man satisfy God’s righteous requirement?
• How can others share the righteousness of one man?

None of that makes sense.
It is foolishness and the world rejects it.

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”

And there we have Festus.
He was just too smart to believe something like what Paul was preaching.
And we face those people in our world today.
Especially a young person leaves home and goes off to college –
Our universities are filled with those types of people.

• People who are too smart to believe a message like the gospel…
• People who are unwilling to face the ridicule of being considered a fool…

And because of that, they stumble over the offense of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”

The reality is, for you or I to believe in Christ,
We must become fools in the eyes of the world.

Hollywood mocks us…
Universities mock us…
The Media mocks us…

Paul said:
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 “For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.”

The world sees Christianity as the bottom of the barrel.

And friend if you want to confess Christ,
Then you might as well give up trying to prove yourself an intellectual.

And yet this is a problem we face as well.
It is hard for some Christian people to be considered a fool.

I always laugh inwardly any time I see someone study theology
To the point of earning a doctorate or really any degree.

I know how smart these people are, and so do you.
But to the world that must be a pointless endeavor.

You cannot seek to be considered wise in the world
And faithfully follow Christ.
Any more than you can seek to gain this world and follow Christ.

If you want to be faithful, you must follow Paul’s pattern
And preach a simple gospel apart from human wisdom and persuasion.

• Determine to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
• Determine to preach the simple message that causes the world to think you are out of your mind.

For when you do, the Spirit of God goes to work
And leads other men to become fools as well.

That is one place Festus wasn’t willing to go.
He wasn’t willing to look like a fool.

• He had worked too hard…
• He had achieved too much…
• He had too great a reputation to just throw it all away to believe a fairy tale…

It is the offense of the gospel and we see it here again.

• So Paul is faithful
• And Jesus is working (Paul is now headed to Rome)
• And the gospel is still offensive

 

Paul was just the opposite of Felix – (a man who loved the world)
Paul is just the opposite of Festus – (a man who wanted to be considered wise)

But Paul was pleasing to Christ, whereas those men were not.

It becomes very clear where we must stand.

Paul Before Felix
Acts 24:1-27
June 23, 2013

Over the last couple of weeks we have begun studying the events and circumstances surrounding Paul’s arrest and eventual trip to Rome.

• You will remember that despite various warnings from friends Paul obeyed the Lord and traveled to Rome.

• Upon arrival he was told of a prejudice against him by Jewish Christians and to quiet that prejudice Paul was asked to purify himself and pay the fees of 3 men taking a Nazarite vow.

• While Paul was in the temple fulfilling this request, he was spotted by Jews from Asia who stirred up the crowd to lay hands on Paul.

• While being beaten by the crowd Paul was rescued by the Roman commander and Paul seized his opportunity to share his testimony with the crowd who was trying to violently kill him.

• From there Paul stood before the Jewish council where he was ignored.

• The next night Jesus appeared to Paul and promised him that he would be granted his desire to testify in Rome.

• Jesus began to work out that plan using the animosity of angry men who sought to kill Paul. When their plan was found out, Paul was moved by night to Caesarea where he awaited an audience with Felix, the governor.

And that is where we are in the story.

And thus far we have talked about two important concepts.

1) The required faithfulness of a Christian even in these tough circumstances.

Luke 21:12-15 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.”

The Christian is called to trust God’s plan and seize every opportunity.
Jesus even said to “not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves”

Seize the opportunity to share Christ.

And Paul certainly did that.
He could have told them immediately that he was a Romans citizen,
But safety wasn’t Paul’s first priority – faithfulness was.

1 Peter 3:15-16 “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.”
So we got a good view of the required faithfulness of a Christian.
That faithfulness is always KINGDOM FIRST

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

2) The providence of God to carry out His plans regardless of tough circumstances.

Acts 23:11 “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

Jesus told Paul he was headed to Rome,
And that is precisely what He began to orchestrate.

And we are reminded that even in a world filled with evil
And billions upon billions of possible contingencies,
God still fulfills His perfect will.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

And so thus far in our story we know that despite the evil and wicked circumstances that have surrounded Paul;
We know that Paul was faithful and Jesus was working.

Well tonight we push the story forward.

And what we have taking place here
Is Luke sort of filling in the holes on the timeline.

• He still wants you to see Paul’s faithfulness…
• He still wants you to see Christ’s sovereign providence…

But he also wants you to have a practical understanding
Of how it all came together.

And as Luke shows you the details it is also apparent that
Luke wants you to see the THREE RULERS that Paul was brought before.

Jesus said that we would be brought before rulers, Paul certainly was.

But Luke doesn’t skip those accounts, rather he focuses on them.
It is as though he wants you to see the responses of these men
To the gospel that Paul preaches.

Acts 24, 25 & 26 together show us Paul’s trial before these three men.

3 trials – 3 opportunities – 3 rejections

You will see as we study through them:
• We have Felix who is a blasphemer
• We have Fetus who is a scoffer
• We have Agrippa who is a procrastinator

And it seems important to Luke
That you see how each of these men responded.

You will also see that their decisions regarding Paul’s gospel
Were largely based upon their desire to keep their life
And not jeopardize their standings.

• Two of these men specifically want to do the Jews a favor
• One just doesn’t want to upset the apple cart for what he knows is right

In short, we have three Pilate’s here.
Men who know what is true,
But men who cave under the pressure of losing life as they know it.

So not only do we see the faithfulness of Paul and the providence of Christ, WE ALSO SEE THE OFFENSE OF THE GOSPEL.

And that is really the only explanation for why these men don’t release Paul.

To believe Paul’s message and to side with him against the world will cost them dearly, and that is more than they are willing to give.

Such is the call of the gospel.
Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Luke 14:25-27 “Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Jesus even saying later in that same chapter:
Luke 14:33-35 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

That reality stares the world right in the face.
You cannot have both.

You can have this life or the next and as you stand at the fork in the road,
The gospel forces you to answer.

To choose this life is to seek to keep all that the world offers.
To reject the demands of the gospel
To fail to faithfully follow Jesus

(Oh sure, many say they accept the gospel and promise to follow Jesus, but the proof has always been in the action, not the claim)

When we look back on life and see that Jesus has cost us nothing,
One must face the reality that perhaps I haven’t followed Him at all.

To choose the next life is to willingly forsake all that world offers.
To accept the demands of the gospel
To faithfully follow Jesus

But you never could do both at the same time.
You have to choose, Christ or the world.

That is the offense of the gospel,
That is what makes being a Christian so hard.

And that is the very decision that Paul will throw before the men
That he now stands before.

Tonight we see Paul before Felix.

There are three main things I want you to see.
#1 A VAGUE PROSECUTION
Acts 24:1-9

Well you notice there in the first couple of verses that
The Jews are pretty serious about condemning Paul.

It was 65 miles to Caesarea, so for the Jews to put together a case, hire a lawyer and make the journey in 5 days indicates their zeal.

And so Tertullus takes to accusing Paul.

Now you will notice first that Tertullus is going to grease up the judge.
(2-4) “After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.”

That was really a stretch there by Tertullus.
• Felix was far from a decorated leader.
• He was a former slave who used the reputation of his brother to gain an office in Caesarea.

As far as granting peace to Israel, the only thing of record that he did was stop that Egyptian assassin that the commander mistaking thought Paul was.

Felix was far from a good leader, but he is being greased up here.

And then comes the attack on Paul.
(5-6a) “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him.”

There is really a three-fold accusation here against Paul.
And from a Roman perspective really only one mattered.

He first accuses Paul of dissension against Rome.
Saying that he “stirs up dissension among all the Jews”

The implication here is not that Paul angers Jews,
But rather that Paul riles Jews up against Rome.

This would have been a very serious crime for Paul to have committed. Romans were very intolerant of trouble makers.

If they could prove this, Paul would have been in grave danger.

Secondly they accuse him of being a heretic against the truth.
They call him “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes”

I suppose he says it that way because it sounds worse.

But Jesus was a Nazarene, and so they credit Paul with now being a leader in this new sect which they deemed to be theologically wrong.

And thirdly they accuse Paul of defiling the temple.
“he even tried to desecrate the temple”

Of course, they never saw him do that, they only supposed that he did.

In reality, only one of those accusations should have mattered to Felix,
He would have had no concern about their law or their temple.

So really the only charge of any merit
Is that Paul incites dissension against Rome.

If you read the NIV, the end of verse 6 and all of verse 7
Is only contained in a footnote at the bottom of your page.

(6b-7) “We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands,”

The reason is because an older manuscript did not contain the verse,
And the thought is that it must have been mistakenly added.

However, these verses seem to fit right in line, not only with the story,
But also the thought of the chapter.

EXPLANATION
If you take those verses out, then Turtullus stops with the statement “we arrested him” It goes right into verse 8 with the Jews asking Felix to “examine him”

With that reading one can only gain that the Jews wanted Felix to examine Paul and discern whether he was guilty or not.

That is not likely, especially since the Jews knew he wasn’t guilty.
Their goal was to persuade Felix, not let him find the truth on his own.

However, if those verses are left in, Tertullus is heard talking about how Lysias rescued Paul as they were about to try him. And in verse 8 Tertullus is not asking Felix to examine Paul, but rather for Felix to examine Lysias the commander.

And this is preferable since all Lysias could confirm was that
The Jews had in fact apprehended Paul,
And could offer no evidence either for or against him.

Furthermore since Felix ends by waiting for Lysias to come,
This seems to be what occurred.

So, we have here the Jews throwing out accusations against Paul,
And telling Felix to question Lysias
To see whether or not their accusations are true.

And at this point, the rest of the Jews concurred…
(9) “The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.”

In other words, what we have here is a vague prosecution.
They offer three threats, only one of which has any merit,
And then offer no proof of any of their accusations.

A Vague Prosecution
#2 A SOLID DEFENSE
Acts 24:10-21

So at this point Felix looks at Paul and asks for his defense,
And Paul here is very wise and methodical.

He does recognize Felix’s authority, but strays far from flattering him.

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.”

Paul says, “I’m glad you are in charge, namely because you have been here long enough to know that nothing they are saying is true.”

I did not stir up a riot, in fact I was only in Jerusalem for about a week.
(12 days, minus the last 5 in Caesarea.)

Furthermore Paul adds:
(12-13) “Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.”

In other words Paul says, “They accuse me of causing dissension, but they can’t name a single mob or even discussion I had to the effect.”

• Where are the people I talked to?
• Where did I hold this protest?
• What did I say at the riot?

They can’t prove that I encouraged dissension against Rome in any way.

Now, really at this point,
The trial should have been dismissed for lack of evidence.

Paul should have been a free man
Namely because the other accusations were of no merit.

But Paul continues anyway.
(14-16) “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.”

They accused Paul of being a heretic.
Paul adamantly refutes the notion.

Saying, “I do serve God” and unlike them, I “believe everything that is in…the Law and …the Prophets”
Furthermore, unlike them “I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience…”

I mean, if you really want to take their accusations down to the core.
Paul could quote numerous Old Testament passages that he believed,
Which the Jews did not.

• The Sadducees openly rejected all but the Torah…
• The Pharisees obviously didn’t believe passages like Isaiah 53…

“They can call me the heretic, but the reality is, I am the faithful one.”

Then Paul defends himself against the accusation of defiling the temple.
(17-19) “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia — who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me.”

I didn’t come to desecrate the temple, I came to give an offering in the temple, and that is where they found me.

A group of Asian Jews (who by the way aren’t here) made that accusation that I desecrated the temple, and with no proof they apprehended me.

And so thus far:
• They have made an accusation they can’t prove.
• They have made an accusation that isn’t true.
• They have supported an accusation they didn’t even initially make.

This is obviously a bogus prosecution.

And then Paul takes it a step further and says, “There is really only one trial they know anything about, let’s see what they found at their trial…”

(20-21) “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.'”

Not only can they not prove all those other facts against me, but they’ve already had a trial, and they couldn’t even condemn me there.

Their prosecution is faulty.

And so Paul has more than adequately defended himself
And by all rite should be released.

A Vague Prosecution, A Solid Defense
#3 A CORRUPT RULING
Acts 24:22-27

And here is old Pilate at work.

Paul should have instantly been released,
But Felix wasn’t willing to do that.

Instead:
(22-23) “But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.”

Now there are a couple reasons he did this, and both of them are corrupt.

1) He didn’t want to irritate the Jews.

In fact you will notice down in verse 27, that even when Felix was removed of office he wanted “to do the Jews a favor”.

It was just like the mob, favors are more valuable than money.

And so he doesn’t release Paul, he keeps him in custody,
Saying he will call for Lysias, which he never does.

Then he gives Paul good treatment.
WELL, WHY TREAT PAUL SO WELL?

This is the old “good cop” routine.

2) He wanted money from Paul

(26) “At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him.”

He knew that Paul was traveling with alms for an offering,
Perhaps if he treated Paul well, Paul would come to him with an escape plan,
And offer Felix money to release him.

But either way, we are seeing exactly what kind of man Felix was.
He was a corrupt man.

• He wanted favors
• He wanted money
• He could care less about justice
But let me show you something else
That Luke is very concerned that you know.

Luke wants you to know what Felix knows.
And that is that Felix knows the truth.

(22) “But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way”

Felix knew much of the truth about Jesus and the gospel.

And Felix even allowed Paul to speak to him about it.
(24) “But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.”

In fact verse 26 says that Felix conversed with Paul “quite often”

So Felix was a man exposed to the truth of the gospel.

However, Felix was a man who still chose to reject it.
(25) “But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”

History teaches that Felix spotted Drusilla
When she was the fourteen year old wife of another man,
But was so captivated by her beauty that he bartered for her to become his wife.

So it’s no wonder that as Paul spoke about
• “righteousness” (which Felix did not have)
• And “self-control” (which Felix was also lacking)
• And “the judgment” (which Felix was sure to experience)
That “Felix became frightened”

And Felix’s answer was “Go away”

In fact there is no record that Felix ever became a believer.
Two years later, when his brutality caused Nero to remove him from office, Felix left Paul in prison, still wanting to do a favor for the Jews.

So there is the first leg of the trial.

• Paul is still faithful, preaching the gospel
• Jesus is still working to get Paul to Rome.

But here we are also introduced to the offense of the gospel
And a man who is a blasphemer.

WHY DO I CALL HIM A BLASPHEMER?

Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.”

To know the truth, to feel the conviction, and to adamantly reject
Is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

And it isn’t just that it won’t be forgiven, it is that it can’t be forgiven.

If you reject the message of the Holy Spirit regarding salvation,
You are rejecting the only means of salvation.

Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Hebrews 6:4-8 “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”

Luke 12:47-48 “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

And that is Felix.
• A man who knew the truth.
• A man who knew the expectations of the gospel
• And yet a man who chose his present life over the life to come.

It is a sad reality.

What a contrast he was to Paul.
• Paul was faithful to the gospel regardless of the cost.
• Felix rejected the gospel because of the cost.

No doubt Luke wanted us to see the difference.

The Providence of God
Acts 23:12-35
June 16, 2013

In the Old Testament there is a book of the Bible
Devoted to telling one unique story.

It is a story of providence

It is a story of how God’s people are under a severe attack,
And threatened with complete annihilation.

However, through a sovereign plan of events
God is able to save His people and deliver them from peril.

The unique thing about the book is that it never mentions God,
Not even one time.

That book is the book of Esther.
• It reveals the plot of a wicked man named Haman who desired to completely wipe out God’s people.

• But through a chain of events, a young Jewish orphan girl is actually named queen, and through the help of her uncle she is able to stop the annihilation of Israel.

And even though God is never mentioned in the book,
Matthew Henry said, “His fingerprints are everywhere.”

It is a story that reveals the providence of God.

A scoffer might say it was
• Coincidence that Queen Vashti was removed…
• Coincidence that Esther was chosen…
• Coincidence that Mordecai overheard the assassination plot…
• Coincidence that the King wanted to reward him…
• Coincidence that Haman died on the gallows he built for Mordecai…

A scoffer would see that as blind chance
Or perhaps even as a result of extreme human ingenuity.
We know better.

And incidentally, so did Mordecai.
When Esther was actually seeking to retreat from her calling to approach the King on behalf of her people, Mordecai said:

Esther 4:13-14 “Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Mordecai knew that this matter was not up to chance.
He understood a divine sovereignty and providence behind the scenes.

And just as Mordecai expected, God delivered.
God’s providence won the day.

I bring that story to your attention tonight
Because here in the book of Acts we have a similar story.

A story which, in our text, does not mention God or Jesus or anything He did,
But just like Esther, His fingerprints are everywhere.

We know God to be at work behind the scenes
Working for His good pleasure.

Now in Esther’s case, God’s providence is expected
Based on promises written beforehand.

There was a promise that God would not forsake Israel.

They may be punished…
They may be persecuted…
But according to God a remnant would always remain.

So Mordecai, though he did not know the specifics,
Could know with certainty that Israel would not be completely annihilated.

God was bound by His promise to providentially perform.

And it is the same in our story.
There is a promise at stake here.

Acts 23:11 “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

Jesus had already promised that Paul was going to testify to Rome.

Now, please understand that this was completely out of Paul’s control.
It was not as though he were free to go where he wished.
He did not have the luxury of simply getting on a boat and sailing to Rome.

He was a prisoner, held in custody, awaiting a trial.
He was not free to leave.

The point is, if Paul was going to get to Rome,
Then God was going to have act.

It is all on God’s shoulders at this point.
And that is why we know that God’s providence is at work.
Let’s look at the story and see this:
3 things
#1 THE CONSPIRACY
Acts 23:12-15

I do think it is important, especially in viewing God’s providential work,
To first of all see how much man’s efforts sought to thwart God’s plan.

Jesus told Paul he was headed to Rome.
The Jews are doing everything in their power to nullify that promise.

Let me show you some specifics about that plan
1) SEVERITY (12)
“When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.”

The equivalent of this oath was to call down a curse upon oneself
If they failed or backed out.

It would have been like those oaths we see in the Old Testament, “May God do so to me, if I don’t kill Paul today…”

It was that sort of serious oath.

And to further state the seriousness of that oath, these men “bound themselves…that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.”

That means that you had better fulfill the oath rather quickly.
The human body can’t go long without water,
And yet that is what they had bound themselves to.

They were serious in their plan to kill Paul.
2) SIZE (13)
“There were more than forty who formed this plot”

Obviously this was no small thing.
• This wasn’t just the hot-headed response of a few.
• This was 40 men under a severe oath to make sure they kill Paul.

This was a big deal.
A lot of men working together to thwart God’s promise to Paul.

3) SCHEME (14)
“They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.”

Here we find their partners in crime.
They go to the Sanhedrin and pull them in on the plot.
You will see in a moment that they need their help to carry out their plan,
And they will have it.

So this conspiracy is not only gaining rage and man power,
But also ability and authority.

By getting the Jewish leaders in on the plan,
This conspiracy is looking more and more possible to carry out.

These are angry men putting their heads together to pull off this plot.

4) SPECIFICS (15)
“Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”

And there is the simple plan.
As the council, you call for him, and when they bring him,
We are ready to kill him.

Certainly 40 men can surround and kill one prisoner,
Especially if that prisoner and his guards are unsuspecting.

In reality, this seems like a pretty good plan.
It looks like it just might work.

• They’ve got plenty of hostility…
• They’ve got plenty of motivation…
• They’ve got plenty of men…
• They’ve god a good plan…

By all accounts Paul should be dead in a just a short while.

But we are about to see the PROVIDENCE OF GOD take over.

Similar to in the days of Joseph.
Genesis 45:7-8 “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. “Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

What we find throughout Scripture is that
God is capable to take the worst plans of man (or the devil)
And not just stop their plans,
But actually use their plans to further His own.
It is really miraculous

In our mission sermon we listened to this week,
John MacArthur talked a little about the miracle that is God’s providence.

And when you think about it, it really is miraculous.

It’s one thing for God to just intervene with a miracle.
• Sort of like when Peter was in prison, and God just led Peter right out…
• Or like when Paul and Silas were in prison and God threw open the door…

Because we know God is omnipotent those don’t surprise us.

But when you think about, providence
Is really a tremendous display of God’s power and wisdom.

How do you let millions of people make their own plans and carry them out, and yet you still, with all the billions of contingencies and options available, you still cause the end result to be what you desire?

God let’s men plan and scheme and decide and choose and act according to their will, and yet at the end, His will is achieved.

That is really mind-blowing when you think about it.

Joseph’s brothers thought there were hurting Joseph.
No, God was saving Israel.

It reiterates that verse we love to quote so much:
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Well, that is what we are about to see here.
Not only does God not allow this wicked plan to succeed,
But God actually uses this wicked plan to further His own.

The Conspiracy
#2 THE PROVIDENCE
Acts 23:16-30

Now I suppose we could probably stop and see God at work in hundreds of ways throughout the story, but to help make things clear, let’s just look at the four obvious ways God was at work here.

The scoffer would call it good luck or coincidence, but we know better.
1) PAUL’S NEPHEW HEARD (16)

“But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.”

Now this to me is really bizarre.
• Who knew Paul had a sister, let alone a nephew?
• What in the world was Paul’s nephew doing in Jerusalem?

Some even think that since Philippians 3:8 says Paul suffered the loss of “all things” that his family had disowned him.

And yet, with impeccable timing, here is Paul’s nephew
Stumbling upon some very valuable information.

Very similar to that of Mordecai:
Esther 2:21-22 “In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. But the plot became known to Mordecai and he told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.”

Some would call that “being in the right place at the right time”.

But we know that God certainly used that
And so it is not far-fetched to say that God orchestrated it.

This conspiracy has been unintentionally leaked.
That is God at work.

2) THE CENTURION CONSENTED (17-18)

“Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.”

Now it certainly isn’t shocking that Paul would want to get this information to the commander (every prisoner would)

What is a bit shocking is that the centurion consented to Paul’s wishes.
Paul was a Jewish prisoner.

It could be that the only reason the Centurion did consent
Was because Paul was a Roman citizen.

It may even be that the whole “putting Paul wrongfully in chains”
Had the guards a little more eager to keep Paul happy.

Of course that is all speculation.
What is amazing though is that this centurion actually listened to Paul
And led Paul’s nephew to the commander.

God was intervening.

3) THE COMMANDER LISTENED (19-22)

So maybe we have a compassionate centurion,
But certainly the commander is far too busy to take the time
To listen to a young Jewish relative of a prisoner.

And yet…that is precisely what happens.
(19) “The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?”

That is really impressive, and then when the boy relates the story,
The commander believes everything he has heard.

I especially like verse 21, where the boy says, “So do not listen to them…”

How often do boys get to tell commanders what to do?
• It really required a humble man…
• It really required a man concerned with truth…

I can imagine on most days this sort of thing doesn’t happen,
And yet it is obvious to me that God is orchestrating it.

No different than Esther going before the king.

She didn’t know if she’d be welcomed, she didn’t know if he would accept her.
It was going to take some divine favor to orchestrate that meeting.

And yet God granted that favor.
Esther 5:1-3 “Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.”

Or as VeggieTales put it, “My little queeny-poo can come any time she wants”

That was obviously divine favor.
God was causing things to work out on Paul’s behalf.

4) THE COMMANDER ACTED (23-30)

So not only did the commander listen,
But the commander acted and acted wisely.

I could have easily seen the commander say, “Well, that’s just 40 Jews, have 100’s of soldiers, I think Paul is safe. I don’t think they’ll be able to do anything to him.”
And then just dismissed the boy and told him not to worry about it.

But that is not what the commander did.
He made arrangements for Paul to be transported to Caesarea.

Namely because God’s plan wasn’t just to protect Paul,
But to send Paul to Rome.

Now, (thanks to this evil plot of the Jews,)
God’s plan is being carried out to perfection.

Man had plans, but God is using those plans to accomplish His own.
That is what we call – providence.

The Conspiracy, The Providence
#3 THE DELIVERANCE
Acts 23:31-35

And now we learn that Paul has not only been safely delivered,
But is in fact one step closer to Rome.

Furthermore he is also not being housed in a prison, or dungeon, but in “Herod’s Praetorium”

And what else can we say, except that God is working on Paul’s behalf.

NOW WHAT IS THE POINT?

That God always delivers and thwarts the plan of the enemy to protect His people?
No.

• Many believers over the course of history have been imprisoned,
tortured, and murdered.
• Many believers even today suffer these horrible realities.

To set here an advocate that if you get in trouble, don’t worry,
God won’t let anything hard or bad happen to you is a false hope.

That is the ground work of the prosperity gospel, and it simply isn’t true.
God’s people do suffer and suffer wrongly sometimes.

WHAT IS THE POINT?

GOD IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL
• He always has a plan.
• He always knows what He is doing.
• He always does what He wants.
Ephesians 1:11 “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”

Our God is the God “who works all things after the counsel of His will”

HE DOES WHAT HE WANTS.

Now, don’t misunderstand that either.
That doesn’t mean that nothing ever happens
Which God doesn’t approve of.

Because things God doesn’t approve of happen all the time.

• We read in Genesis about God being sorry that He made man
because their actions had grieved Him.

• We read in Exodus about God being so disappointed in the behavior of
the Israelites that He doesn’t even want to accompany them to the
Promised Land

• We read in the New Testament where Paul tells us specifically not to
“grieve” the Holy Spirit.

So we know that things happen all the time that God is not pleased with.

What we mean is that God, in His providence,
Takes even the things that displease Him
And still causes His overall plan to be accomplished.

He takes the evil and forces it to work for His predetermined end.

WE CALL THAT SOVEREIGNTY.

Psalms 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”

Psalms 135:5-6 “For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.”

Daniel really had it figured out:
Daniel 4:35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

And we understand then that God is in complete control.

Proverbs 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.”

The indication there is that God can NOT ONLY directly lead His children
Who have pledged to follow Him.

But God can also indirectly lead,
Even those who refuse to acknowledge Him.

If He wants to lead a sinner,
God can even manipulate the things a sinner will listen to.

Consider when Nebuchadnezzar was debating
Whether or not to attack Jerusalem:

Ezekiel 21:18-23 “The word of the LORD came to me saying, “As for you, son of man, make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to the city. “You shall mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem. “For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver. “Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to set battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to lift up the voice with a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall. “And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; they have sworn solemn oaths. But he brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized.”

God caused Nebuchadnezzar’s pagan practices
To direct Him to fulfill God’s predetermined will.

God can do whatever He pleases.
Isaiah 44:24-26 “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone, Causing the omens of boasters to fail, Making fools out of diviners, Causing wise men to draw back And turning their knowledge into foolishness, Confirming the word of His servant And performing the purpose of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’ And of the cities of Judah, ‘ They shall be built.’ And I will raise up her ruins again.”

God controls everything He wants to control.
Isaiah 45:7 “The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.”

And the simple point that I want to make to you tonight is that
God is sovereign and His providence rules all.

Now, that DOESN’T mean nothing bad will ever happen to you.
But it does mean that even in the bad things you suffer
God is still in complete control
And will guarantee to bring your life to His determined end.

And even when life is hard to understand, TRUST the providence of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

Psalms 37:23-24 “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.”

A righteous man can suffer hardship,
And still know how the story will end.

Now a sinner, cannot have the same encouragement.
He may have blessing in life,
But the providential hand of God will not let it end well for him.

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13 “Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.”

So the simple point tonight is for you to know that God is in control.
His providential hand is at work.

When things happen you don’t understand,
It is does not mean that God has forgotten or somehow lost His sovereignty.

But you can rest assured that God can and will take
Even the worst and hardest of circumstances
And yet somehow, according to His wisdom and power,
Turn those events to fulfill His predetermined plan.

• Jesus promised Paul he was headed to Jerusalem.
• Jesus used the wicked plan of 40 Jewish men to get that ball rolling.

He did it because He is God and He can do it however He wants.

Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

The Faithfulness God Uses
Acts 22:30 – 23:11
June 9, 2013

This year as our mission team has been preparing to go to Africa,
The theme God laid on my heart was a simple one.

It was that we as a team needed to make ourselves “USEABLE” to God.

• If you’ve ever tried to cut a log with a dull chainsaw…
• If you’ve ever tried to prepare a meal with a dull knife…
• If you’ve ever tried to use a machine with a bad motor or engine…

Then you understand that just because a tool looks like a tool, and feels like a tool, that doesn’t guarantee that the tool is always useable.

And that is true in Christianity.
We do a lot of pushing on people in this day in time to participate.
• We love for people to get involved.
• We love for people to sign up.
• We love for people to join the work.

But in reality getting a volunteer is only a small part of what is needed.
God doesn’t just need volunteers, he needs useable volunteers.

• You can participate on a trip and still not be used by God…
• You can participate in VBS and not be used by God…
• You can participate in a church service and not be used by God…

Participating does not guarantee that God will use you.

WHAT DOES?
Faithfulness

God uses those who are faithful.

Now, faithfulness is an important word to the Christian.

It is certainly something to pursue.
1 Timothy 6:11 “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

It is certainly costly at times
(see Paul coming to Jerusalem)
Acts 21:12-13 “When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

It is also extremely inspirational to others
(the believers that accompanied Paul to Jerusalem)
Acts 21:15-16 “After these days we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.”

And at the same time it is also rewarded by God
2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

And through these realities we begin to learn that
Apart from faithfulness we will not be used by God.

We may participate, but God will not use us.
Acts 15:36-38 “After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.”

Consider Paul even saying:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

In this light we have studied in our mission meetings
Two very telling passages:

2 Peter 1:5-8 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Peter is very clear, that there are essential qualities
That need to be added to our faith.

Faith was given to us by God, but that faith needs to develop and grow.

HOW DOES FAITH GROW?
What does growing faith look like?

Well Peter spells that out.
It adds “moral excellence” “knowledge” “self-control” “perseverance” “godliness” “brotherly kindness” “love”

And the Peter says:
“if these qualities are your and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful…”
And you get the idea.
• It’s not enough just to have faith…
• It’s not enough just to be a child of God…

If you desire to be used by God the faithfulness is required.

Consider what Paul wrote to Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:20-21 “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Here Paul is using an analogy.
He speaks of “a large house”

This house would represent the entire church of God.
And all the vessels inside the house are genuine believers.

But what we instantly notice is that some vessels are desired,
While some vessels are despised;
Some vessels are useful, while some are not.

But Paul is clear, it is NOT the Master of the house
Who has dictated who is useful or not, IT IS THE VESSEL ITSELF.

For notice what Paul says:
“if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

The idea is that the vessel makes itself useful to the Master.

Just because you are a vessel in the house,
Does not automatically mean the Master is going to use you.
There is the required element of faithfulness before you can be used.

I would also add another passage that reiterates this point:
Jeremiah 15:15-19 “You who know, O LORD, Remember me, take notice of me, And take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; Know that for Your sake I endure reproach. Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers, Nor did I exult. Because of Your hand upon me I sat alone, For You filled me with indignation. Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable? Therefore, thus says the LORD, “If you return, then I will restore you — Before Me you will stand; And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, But as for you, you must not turn to them.”
Jeremiah was having a pity-party, and he wants to quit.
His desire for faithfulness is waning, and he is in trouble.

In fact Jeremiah even accuses God of being deceptive.
But notice God’s response:
“If you return, then I will restore you – Before Me you will stand”
That is called repentance.
Jeremiah needed to make a change.

“And if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman”

There God is telling Jeremiah how to be useful.

• Was Jeremiah God’s child? – Yes
• Was Jeremiah God’s prophet? – Yes
• Was Jeremiah currently useable? – No

He needed to repent, return to God, and remove those worthless attributes from his life, then he would be useable.

I suppose we could also, at this point,
Go into a section about the many requirements
Put upon those who are called into ministry.

Look at 1 Timothy 3 and see what sort of character qualities a man must posses before he is useable to God as an overseer or a deacon.

Look at Acts 6 when the first deacons were selected and listen to the apostles require “men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom”

It wasn’t enough for men to be willing, they also had to be faithful.

God is looking for faithful people.
And when He finds them, He uses them.

And there is no greater example of that than Paul.

As we look at this story
I just want you to see a man that God was determined to use,
And perhaps you will be able to see the attributes in Paul’s life
That indeed made him useable.

4 things
#1 PAUL’S PEACE
Acts 22:30 – 23:1

• So now you remember that Paul was just apprehended at the temple and the crowd tried to beat him to death.

• However, he was rescued by the Roman cohort.

• During that time Paul shared his testimony with the crowd, and then was carried into the barracks of Ft. Antonita to be examined by scourging.

• Of course before the scouring occurred Paul displayed some cleverness and revealed that he was a Roman citizen and thus saved himself a beating.

• And once this news came to the commander’s ears, he was afraid and decided to release Paul.

Now he has ordered the Jewish leaders to convene together for a hearing
So that he can determine exactly why they are so angry at Paul.

And that is where we are when we get to verse 1.

(1) “Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”

Now let’s examine that statement for a moment.

DOES THAT MEAN PAUL IS INNOCENT?
No

Let me tell you why:
The conscience is NOT the Holy Spirit,
And the conscience is also part of our fallen humanity.

Just because a person’s conscience says they are ok,
Does not mean they really are.

Scripture says our conscience can be weak:
1 Corinthians 8:7 “However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.”

Scripture says our conscience can be wounded:
1 Corinthians 8:12 “And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.”

Scripture says our conscience can be defiled:
Titus 1:15 “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”

Scripture says our conscience can be evil:
Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Scripture even says our conscience can be seared:
1 Timothy 4:1-2 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,”

The point being that just because your conscience doesn’t bother you,
Does not indicate that you are right with God.
It could be that you have an evil conscience
Which doesn’t accurately address your actions.

And incidentally, Paul knew this.
1 Corinthians 4:4-5 “For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”

Paul knew that a clear conscience did not equal God’s approval.

So Paul was not saying that he was totally pleasing to God in all things.

WHAT WAS PAUL SAYING?
He only means that to the best of his knowledge he was doing,
And had done, exactly what God desired for him to do.

And because of that he was at peace.
Paul was not claiming to be a perfect man,
But was claiming to be a man at peace.

• As far as he knew…
• As far as it depended upon him…
• He was right where God wanted him to be.

And friend, that is really all that can be asked of you today.

• Now certainly we keep studying the word of God to have our thoughts and
opinions changed…
• Certainly we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us areas that are not pleasing in
our lives…

The idea being that we realize that God is not finished working on us.

But all we can do is live to the best of our ability
According to the will of God.

And Paul had done that.

When he stood before this council, he had nothing to hide,
And nothing to be ashamed of (as far as he knew).

That is living in peace, that is living with a clear conscience.

So Paul was a man that honestly tried to do God’s will,
Whenever he knew what that will was.
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A PERSON THAT GOD WILL USE?

Yes
Not necessarily a perfect person, but a committed one.

Paul’s Peace
#2 PAUL’S PASSION
Acts 23:2-5

I, for one, am thankful for these three verses.
I think it is always important that Scripture reveal the truth about men.

There was only ever one truly righteous and sinless man, and it wasn’t Paul.
Jesus is the only One to ever pull that off.

And so it doesn’t bother me in the least to have an account of a time
When Paul messed up.

So here is Paul on trial and he has just declared that
According to his knowledge he has done what God has asked him to do.

And then:
(2) “The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.”

It should probably be noted that Ananias
Was one of the more ruthless priests to ever serve.

Here he is operating more like a mob boss than a servant of God.

And you will notice that it didn’t set well with Paul at all.
(3) “Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”

Paul was a passionate man.
He hated injustice, he hated hypocrisy, and I’m fairly confident that
He wasn’t too fond of being punched in the face.

And when Paul puts it all together,
His flesh gets the better of him and he unloads.

Now, was this Christ-like?
No.

1 Peter 2:21-23 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

Christ handled His situation a little better than Paul did there.

Furthermore Paul had written:
Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

So obviously Paul had a weak moment.
He didn’t respond exactly how he should have.
And it’s because he was passionate.

But that wasn’t his only passion, for look what happens next.
(4) “But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

So one of the people there recognized that what Paul did was out of line.

So here is Paul, wrongly struck in the face, but also himself wrongly responding.

And then one of the bystanders
(who probably didn’t say anything to the priest)
Confronted Paul’s wrong behavior.

And notice Paul’s response.
(5) “And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.'”

So when confronted Paul recanted and admitted his wrong doing.

WHY?

Because Paul was also passionate about doing what was right.
It was important to him, not only to HAVE a clear conscience,
But to KEEP a clear conscience.

We know Paul was a man who battled the flesh.
Romans 7 taught us that at times he does the very thing he does not want to do.
I would think this incident was one of those times.

However, when confronted with it,
• He did not try to excuse himself,
• He did not try to justify himself,
• He did not try to divert the blame to someone else,
• He merely owned up to his fault and admitted his mistake.

He wasn’t perfectly righteous, but he was perfectly humble.
AND GOD CAN USE PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

God does use imperfect people,
But He does require that they be humble and submissive
And repentant when their wrongs are confronted.

Someone who insists upon keeping their bad habits
And exhibiting their bad behavior is not useable to God.

So we see Paul’s Peace and Paul’s Passion
#3 PAUL’S PERCEPTION
Acts 23:6-10

Here again we first recognize Paul’s cleverness at work.

We saw it last week when he used his Roman citizenship
To save himself from a severe flogging.

Here Paul uses his cleverness to end a pointless hearing.
Paul recognizes who the crowd is, and knowing them well,
He knew how to divert the attention off of himself.

And so Paul merely says, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

And since Pharisees believe in the resurrection and Sadducees don’t,
It proved to be the perfect distraction.

They became so engrossed in arguing with one another
They kind of took their sites off of Paul.

The riot caused Paul to be taken away by force again
And delivered to the barracks.

What we actually have occurring here is Paul realizing that
He has completed his mission in Jerusalem.

There was no longer a need to testify.
• He had already shared his testimony from the steps of the barracks,
• When he tried to speak in this hearing he was immediately struck in the mouth.
• Furthermore he could look at those in the crowd and realize that there was no interest in truth among them.

Paul was finished in Jerusalem.
He could see that.

And we are reminded of a faithful man who came to Jerusalem
Despite the adamant warnings of persecution.

• When the persecution broke out he was focused and shared his testimony
before he ever sought to deliver himself.

• And even when on trial he tried again to share the truth before realizing that
those he was sharing with had no interest in hearing him.

He faithfully accomplished his mission in Jerusalem.
And incidentally, God uses people like that.
• People who will go, even when they know it is dangerous…
• People who will die to self and do what is necessary to keep peace…
• People who will focus and seek first the kingdom of God…
• People who will testify before kings and rulers…

And that leads us then to the last point.

Paul’s Peace, Paul’s Passion, Paul’s Perception
#4 PAUL’S PROMISE
Acts 23:11

So Paul has just had a rough time in Jerusalem.
He has faithfully shared the truth with people who did not want to hear it.

And then the next night Paul gets a much welcomed visitor.

“the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

Now, the first thing we must notice is that Jesus was there for Paul.

Jesus told us:
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

For most practical purposes, Paul was alone.
• He was beat up…
• He was arrested…
• He was in custody…

And yet, Jesus was with Him.
He promised to always be there, and He was.

But the point we desperately need to see in this text is
What Jesus says about Paul’s faithfulness in Jerusalem.

• Remember, even Paul’s friends tried to talk Paul out of going to Jerusalem.
• But Paul was adamant that the Lord had given him this mission.

And when Paul got there, he was faithful despite the hardships he faced.

And now, it appears, that the Lord was using Jerusalem
As a bit of a test for Paul.

And Paul passed the test!

“as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause in Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

• Picture Christ looking among His servants for one who would be faithful enough to stand before the emperor and share the truth of Christ…

• Picture Christ looking among His servants for one faithful enough to encourage believers in the very hornets nest of their day…

And as Christ looks for the one who will faithfully do this, He sees Paul.

• Paul was a believer like thousands of others.
• Paul was a child of God like thousands of others.
• But what seemed to set Paul apart is that he was faithful, where
others seemed to waiver.

• He didn’t mind facing Jewish hostility…
• He didn’t mind facing pagan hatred…
• He didn’t even mind marching right back into Jerusalem, knowing it
would cause him pain, if it meant obeying His Lord.

That type of faithfulness is why Christ sent Paul to Rome.
Christ could use Paul and so He did.

And that truth should resonate in our hearts.

• It’s not enough to just be a child of God…
• It’s not enough to just be saved and headed to heaven…
• And It’s not enough to be a volunteer…

We must be useable to God,
And that only comes through our faithfulness to obey Christ.

Let me encourage you to make yourself useable to God.
Don’t just make yourself available, make yourself useable.
Cultivate in your life the things that God can use.

2 Peter 1:5-8 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Timothy 2:20-21 “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

This is what Paul understood.