Staying in His Blessing, in the Midst of the Battle, Acts 24

 

Paul was simply doing the Lord’s work.

He is in the middle of a battle.

He did nothing wrong.

He’s in legal trouble.

He’s in custody.

He is blessed.

The blessing of the Lord may not remove battles of the world.

But battles of the world cannot remove the blessing of the Lord.

In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. John 16:33.

Acts 24
 Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

It was about 65 miles northwest, a two to three day journey, from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Paul’s persecutors wasted no time gathering a posse of prosecutors to arrive five days after Paul was put in custody.

Ananias was chief justice of the Sanhedrin (Israel’s supreme court of sorts. He was like John Roberts, Chief Justice of US Supreme Court).

Ananias showed up with the elders, and silver tongued attorney, Tertullus, a Roman.

High priests and elders, chief justices and judges and attorneys are supposed to be unbiased. They ought to simply, rightly divide the letter of the law without personal prejudice.

However, their hatred toward Paul was such that they threw decorum and jurisprudence, they threw the Law, their Constitution, out the window and became both judge and jury.

They would’ve been executioners too, but twice Roman soldiers rescued Paul from being beaten to death. Acts 21:32, 23:10.

Standing for the Kingdom of God triggers the kingdom of the world.

Standing for Righteousness, inflames the unrighteous.

All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, 2 Tim. 3:12.

2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.

Antonius Felix was once a slave who was freed by emperor Claudius.

Felix had a brother named Marcus, who was popular in the Roman courts. Marcus pulled some strings and got his brother the job as procurator of Judea.  

According to Tacitus, a Roman historian, Felix was a master of cruelty and lust, who exercised the power of a King with the spirit of a slave.

He was brutal.

History tells that he had one of the high priests, Jonathan, murdered because he offended him by speaking against his tyranny. Since the wickedness went unpunished the murderers went on to stab several others some for personal reasons, some for hire, some even in the temple itself.

They all knew it.

The chief priest and elders knew it, but to curry the favor of Felix in hopes his cruelty would be turned on Paul, they treated him like the best thing that ever happened to Israel.

Tertullus knew the failures of Felix, but he was hired to spread flattery and falsehood, to call evil good, and good evil.

Notice how folks in the world normally at odds with one another come together under one banner, against the Lord.

5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

They say: 

When the facts are on your side, speak the facts.

When the law is on your side speak the law.

When neither is on your side, attack the person.

Paul is a plague, a dissenter, a ringleader, of the Nazarenes.

Only time Christians are called Nazarenes. It was a derogatory term. Folks from Nazareth were looked down upon. Like calling someone, “white trash”.  

 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.

“According to our law.” In other words, they tried to kill him.

7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you. ...

They even threw the Roman commander Lysias under the bus. Which wasn’t so smart to do in front of the cruel Roman governor Felix.

But hate and deceit blinds good sense.

By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.

In one accord they all agreed with all the lies of the silver tongued devil Tertullus.

Felix the cat was probably shrewd enough to see through the flattery and falsehoods and lack of facts being slathered on him.

So, without so much as a word to the prosecutors, he nodded to Paul.

10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,

Paul stands alone against a death sentence, being accused by the whole supreme court and the entire congress, yet he uses words like “more cheerfully answer.”

That must've irritated his accusers, and puzzled the inquisitors. Why isn’t he freaking out? How is he so calm?

Battles of the world cannot remove the blessing of the Lord.

11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, 21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

When the facts are on your side, speak the facts.

No more than twelve days.

Neither disputing nor inciting.

Came to bring alms, offerings.

When the law is on your side speak the law.

Jews from Asia ought to have been here.

Or they who are here should say if they found any wrongdoing.

Okay, now for the good part.  

Even in the middle of a battle the blessing of the Lord overshadows the battle.

Right smack dab in the middle of his defense, Paul stops and drops a mini sermon (verses 14-16). Then, he went right back to speaking facts and law (verses 17-21).

But this I confess, I follow the Way, (that’s Jesus, the Way the Truth the Life).

I worship God.

I believe His Word cover to cover.

I have hope in Him and believe this life isn’t the end, but there’s a resurrection of the just and the unjust.

Therefore, I strive to have clean conscience before God and man.

I pray we all do the same.

22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” 23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

Interesting. The Holy Spirit lets us know, Felix, having knowledge of the Way, promptly adjourned the proceedings.

Felix may have heard the sermon louder than the facts of the case.

Paul is held, but with favor, like house arrest, with liberty, visitation and provision.

24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

Paul had the honor of witnessing, to Felix and Drusilla.

Even there, even then, Paul was blessed, with a prison ministry.

And what did he talk about?

Righteousness. Interesting choice since Felix was the picture of unrighteous.

Self-control. Even better since Felix had seduced Drusilla while she was yet married.

History tells us Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. Known for her beauty. Married in her mid-teens. Her great grandfather killed the babies in Bethlehem. Her great uncle Herod Antipas had John the Baptist's head delivered on a silver platter.

She wasn’t so happily married and fell for sly Felix and became his third wife.

You thought your family was messy?  

And Paul talked about the judgement to come. This might’ve been the final straw that made Felix afraid (trembled, in KJV).  

Felix knew, was convicted to the point of trembling, but rather than yielding to the conviction, he procrastinated for a “more convenient time.”

Today is the day of Salvation. Today if you hear His Voice, harden not your heart. Hebrews 3:7-8.

Today, Felix may be tormented in Hades, still waiting for a more convenient time, which never comes.

27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

Two years!

Battles with the world are for a lifetime, not one and done.

But no worries, “for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your awesome, timeless, ever timely Word. Even in the midst of battle, we pray to stay in You, our blessing.

Please don’t let us procrastinate, but keep us busy about Your business, redeeming the time, making the most of every opportunity. Make us soul winners and disciple makers, so that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

 Thank You, Lord.

We love You, forever.

Amen. 

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: Staying in His Blessing, in the Midst of the Battle, Acts 24

You Tube: Staying in His Blessing, in the Midst of the Battle, Acts 24

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.