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When It's Convenient

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When It's Convenient When It’s Convenient Acts 24:1—25:12 Antonius Felix •First slave in the history of the Roman Empire to become a governor of a Roman Province. •Married to the granddaughter of Antony and Cleopatra. •Also married to Drusilla, daughter of Herod Agrippa, and great granddaughter of Herod the Great. •Known as a brutal, scheming, pandering politician. Accusations Acts 24:1-9 Acts 24:1-3 “And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: ‘Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all …’” Acts 24:3-9 “‘gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.’ The Jews also joined in …” Acts 24:9 “the charge, affirming that all these things were so.” (ESV) Tertullus •Serves as the spokesman for the Sanhedrin •Has a Roman name •Is probably a Gentile lawyer Acts 24:2-3 “Through you we enjoy much peace; and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.” (ESV) Most Excellent (kratistos) • Used of Governor Felix “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix … Through you we enjoy much peace … Most excellent Felix” (Acts 23:26; 24:2, ESV) • Used of Governor Festus “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus” (Acts 26:25, ESV) • Used of Theophilus “It seemed good to me … to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3, ESV) Charges Against Paul •Plague (loimos) •A pest or rodent • In the 1st century, rodents were spreaders of disease, thus ESV translates it as “a plague.” •Figuratively—a public menace or trouble-maker. •Used only here in our N.T. Charges • Plague •Stirs up riots (stasis) •Uprising, riot, revolt, rebellion Charges • Plague • Stirs up riots •Ringleader (protostatās) •Not just a leader, but the leader who is whipping up trouble among the Nazarenes. •Used only here in our N.T. Charges • Plague • Stirs up riots • Ringleader •Profanes (bebēloō) the temple •To desecrate, profane, violate sanctity. •Used 2x in our N.T. A Defense Acts 24:10-21 Acts 24:10-13 “And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: ‘Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what …’” Acts 24:13-17 “‘they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now …’” Acts 24:17-21 “‘after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than …’” Acts 24:21 “‘this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’” (ESV) The Charges Answered •I am not a ringleader or trouble maker stirring up riots. •Actually, I was only in Jerusalem a few days. The Charges Answered • I am not a ringleader or troublemaker stirring up riots. I was only in Jerusalem a few days. •I am part of “the Way,” which follows the Law and the prophets. The Charges Answered • I am not a ringleader or troublemaker stirring up riots. I was only in Jerusalem a few days. • I am part of “the Way,” which follows the Law and the prophets. •I did not desecrate the temple, but was alone in the process of purification at the temple. A Non-Decision Acts 24:22-27 Acts 24:22-24 “But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, ‘When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.’ Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him …” Acts 24:24-27 “speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.’ At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” (ESV) An Appeal Acts 25:1-12 Acts 25:1-4 “Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem— because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself …’” Acts 25:4-7 “intended to go there shortly. ‘So,’ said he, ‘let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.’ After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from …’” Acts 24:7-10 “Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. Paul argued in his defense, ‘Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.’ But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, ‘Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?’ But Paul said, ‘I am standing …’” Acts 25:10-12 “‘before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.’ If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.’ Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, …” Acts 25:12 “‘To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.’” (ESV) Application •Even though God promised Paul that he would preach in Rome, Paul had to endure over two years in prison. Application • Even though God promised Paul that he would preach in Rome, Paul had to endure over two years in prison. •Even in prison, Paul preached boldly to those who would listen. Application • Even though God promised Paul that he would preach in Rome, Paul had to endure over two years in prison. • Even in prison, Paul preached boldly to those who would listen. •Both Felix and Festus wanted to please people rather than doing the right thing. Application • Even though God promised Paul that he would preach in Rome, Paul had to endure over two years in prison. • Even in prison, Paul preached boldly to those who would listen. • Both Felix and Festus wanted to please people rather than doing the right thing. •Felix had the opportunity to respond, but he did not. Acts 24:27 •“And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” (Acts 24:27, ESV) •“But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor …” (Acts 25:9, ESV) •“Felix was alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.’” (Acts 24:25, ESV) When It’s Convenient “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).
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