SERMON OUTLINE:
(A). The charges against Paul (vs 1-9)
(B). Paul’s defence (vs 10-21)
(C). Felix’s (in)decision (vs 22-23)
(D). Felix’s dialogues with Paul (vs 24-27)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
Some stupid questions or answers that were actually given in court.
• ◦Lawyer: "Now, Mrs. Johnson, how was your first marriage terminated?"
• ◦Witness: "By death."
• ◦Lawyer: "And by whose death was it terminated?"
• ◦Lawyer: "What is your date of birth?"
• ◦Witness: "July 15th."
• ◦Lawyer: "What year?"
• ◦Witness: "Every year."
• ◦Lawyer: "What gear were you in when the car crashed?"
• ◦Witness: "Nike T-shirt & Reebok trainers."
• ◦Lawyer: "What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke that morning?"
• ◦Witness: "He said, 'Where am I, Cathy?'"
• ◦Lawyer: "And why did that upset you?"
• ◦Witness: "My name is Susan."
• ◦Lawyer: "Sir, what is your IQ?"
• ◦Witness: "Well, I can see pretty well, I think."
• ◦Lawyer: "What happened then?"
• ◦Witness: "He told me, he says, 'I have to kill you because you can identify me.'"
• ◦Lawyer: "Did he kill you?"
• ◦Witness: "No."
• ◦Lawyer: "Now sir, I'm sure you are an intelligent and honest man--"
• ◦Witness: "Thank you. If I weren't under oath, I'd return the compliment."
• ◦Lawyer: "You say that the stairs went down to the basement?"
• ◦Witness: "Yes."
• ◦Lawyer: "And these stairs, did they go up also?"
• ◦Lawyer: "Have you lived in this town all your life?"
• ◦Witness: "Not yet."
• ◦Lawyer: "Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?"
• ◦Witness: "All my autopsies have been performed on dead people."
• ◦Lawyer: "And lastly, Gary, all your responses must be oral. Ok?
• What school do you go to?"
• ◦Witness: "Oral."
• ◦Lawyer: "How old are you?"
• ◦Witness: "Oral."
TRANSITION:
• Once again the apostle Paul is on trial for the faith;
• And you can bet he will not be giving stupid answers.
At the end of the book of Acts Paul will give six defences of the faith:
• (First):
• Scripture: Acts chapter 22 verses 1-30.
• Location: Jerusalem.
• Audience: Jewish public and Roman commander.
• (Second):
• Scripture: Acts chapter 23 verses 1-10
• Location: Jerusalem.
• Audience: Sanhedrin.
• (Third):
• Scripture: Acts chapter 24 verses 10-23
• Location: Caesarea (Herod’s Praetorium - this was the residence of a city's governor)
• Audience: Felix Governor of Judea.
• (Fourth):
• Scripture: Acts chapter 24 verses 24-27.
• Location: Caesarea.
• Audience: Felix and Drusilla.
• (Fifth):
• Scripture: Acts chapter 25 verses 8-12.
• Location: Caesarea (The court of law)
• Audience: Porcius Festus Governor of Judea.
• (Sixth):
• Scripture: Acts chapter 26 verses 1-32
• Location: Caesarea (The auditorium)
• Audience: Festus, Bernice, Agrippa II and also a large audience)
This morning we are looking at defences three and four:
(A). The Charges Against Paul (vs 1-9)
“Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.
5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”
9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true”.
• Five days after his escape from Jerusalem;
• Where his life was very much under threat from Jewish leaders in Asia;
• A dusty and travel worn Paul, chained hand and foot stands before Felix to stand trial.
Question: What kind of man was Felix the governor?
Answer: Others commentators and historians describe this colourful character.
Quote: William Barclay:
“He had begun life as a slave. His brother, Pallas, was the favourite of Nero. Through the influence of Pallas, Felix had risen first to be a freedman and then to be a governor.
He was the first slave in history ever to become the governor of a Roman province…
He was completely unscrupulous and was capable of hiring thugs to murder his own closet supporters. It was to face a man like that that Paul went to Caesarea.”
Quote: Tacticus the Roman historian, said of him:
“He was one of the most depraved men of his time. Tacitus says of him that “with all cruelty and lust he exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave.”
It is worth noting who else was or was not in the court that day:
(a).
• Noticeably absent were the Asian Jews;
• Who had mistakenly assumed that Paul was seeking to defile the temple;
• And caused Paul so much trouble and their actions ended with Paul being arrested.
(b).
• Also absent was Claudius Lysias, the commander of the Roman troops,
• Who had rescued Paul and sent him to Caesarea for trial.
(c).
• We are not told how many of the Sanhedrin/Jewish Council were present,
• We are just told that ‘The high priest and the other elders’;
• Came to Caesarea to press charges against the apostle Paul.
• What we do know is that these opponents of Paul;
• Hired a Roman lawyer, called Tertullus,
• To represent them, and to prosecute Paul on their behalf.
• They knew that their case was weak;
• Remember they are not out just to imprison Paul, they want him dead!
• (see Acts 22:22; 23:12, 27; 25:3).
• And so with a weak case they hire a Roman “Perry Mason / Rumpole of the Bailey,”
• Someone who was familiar with Roman legal system;
• And who could make their weak case look much stronger than it really was.
Note: There were 4 main charges against Paul:
• Charge 1 (verse 5a):
• He was, in the eyes of the Jews, a ‘troublemaker, stirring up riots’
• Charge 2 (verse 5b):
• He stirred up unrest among the Jews ‘all over the world’
• Charge 3 (verse 5c):
• He was the ringleader of a non-Jewish sect – a ‘Nazarene sect’
• Charge 4 (verse 6):
• He tried to ‘desecrate the temple’.
• Those were the charges;
• But the case which Tertullus presented against Paul was a truly shoddy one.
• Note: In the first place, there were no eye-witnesses.
• There were only general allegations, and mostly of misconduct elsewhere.
• Note: The best that they can do is to point to what they considered;
• In their opinion there was a threat of the temple being desecrated,
• For the offense had not actually taken place.
• Note: That they have the audacity to suggest in verse 8;
• That if this Roman official cross-examines Paul;
• They will find sufficient evidence to find him guilty.
• They actually want Felix the Governor;
• To find a charge against Paul because they haven’t got a legitimate one!
• Note: In both Roman law and in Jewish law,
• Paul is not required to testify against himself.
• He had the right to remain silent!
Tertullus the Roman lawyer did the best he could with what he had to work with,
• But it was not enough to convince Felix,
• Who was too well informed to be taken in by the arguments of the prosecution.
• And the lack of substance in their accusations.
(B). Paul’s defence (vs 10-21)
Joke:
• A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this creative defence:
• "My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few trifling articles.
• His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual;
• For an offense committed by his limb."
• The judge liked the banter of the lawyer and replied.
• "I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's imprisonment”.
• Adding: “He can accompany it or not, as he chooses."
• Then to the judges horror, the defendant with his lawyer's assistance;
• Took off an artificial limb, laid it on the bench, and proceeded to walk out.
TRANSITION: Let’s now look at Paul’s defence (vs 10-21):
“When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defence. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
You can divide Paul’s defence into three parts:
PART 1:
• Verses 10b-13: Paul began with an introductory statement.
• Notice how Paul’s introduction is very different from that of Tertullus.
• Tertullus’ introduction was longer, contained much more flattery,
• And was essentially untrue.
• Paul’s introduction was short and truthful:
• Paul factually states:
• He could not possibly be guilty of the charges,
• For he had only arrived in Jerusalem 12 days before.
• He had not been to Jerusalem for several years,
• And he could hardly have had the time required to do all the evil things;
• Which his opponents alleged.
• Throughout the short time of his stay,
• He had only engaged in private matters,
• And had not made any public appearances or statements.
• The charges which were levelled against Paul, he said, were without any basis
PART 2:
• In verses 14-16: Paul spoke about his relationship to Judaism,
• And its bearing on his conduct.
• In his defence, Paul very carefully sticks to the issue at hand;
• That is his conduct in Jerusalem.
• The Jewish council wanted Felix to believe that Paul was not a true Jew at all,
• But one who opposed the Jews,
• Notice Paul openly professes his association with “the Way,”
• Which the Jews call a sect, but he strongly protests the charge that it is a sect.
• Paul insists that his faith and practice is not only consistent with Judaism,
• But it is, in fact, the only true Judaism.
• Notice his wording in these verses which is carefully chosen;
• Instead of reflecting a “we/they” polarization,
• Paul refers to an “our/us” commonality in many areas,
• By doing this he is affirming his close ties with Judaism.
• Note: Jews who come to faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah;
• Do not see themselves as ‘former’ Jews;
• But rather as ‘completed’ or ‘fulfilled’ Jews.
PART 3:
• In verses 17-21: Paul concluded by specifically answering some of the charges;
• Which were made against him.
• Paul’s conduct while in Jerusalem;
• Was completely consistent with all that he had said up to this point.
• In order to refute the charges against him,
• Paul talked through the events of those few days in Jerusalem,
• Explaining exactly what he did, and what happened as a result.
(C). Felix’s (In)Decision (vs 22-23)
Ill:
• Former U.S.A. president Ronald Reagan;
• Once had an aunt who took him to a cobbler for a pair of new shoes.
• The cobbler asked young Reagan,
• "Do you want square toes or round toes on your shoes?"
• Unable to decide, Reagan didn't answer, so the cobbler gave him a few days.
• Several days later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street;
• And asked him again what kind of toes he wanted on his shoes.
• Reagan still couldn't decide,
• So the shoemaker replied,
• "Well, come by in a couple of days. Your shoes will be ready."
• When the future president went into the cobblers shop;
• He found one square-toed shoe and one round-toed shoe!
• The cobbler said to him:
• "This will teach you to never let people make decisions for you,"
• Ronald Reagan said years later,
• "I learned right then and there, if you don't make your own decisions, someone else will."
TRANSITION: Felix’s (In)Decision (verses 22-23)
“Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.”
• Felix because he was a man with considerable experience;
• Felix was no “wet behind the ears” novice,
• He would not be taken in by the fancy words of Tertullus,
• Or by the impassioned words of his opponents.
• Felix knew these Jews had other ‘religious’ issues on the agenda;
• That had nothing to do with Roman Law.
Notice:
• Verse 22 is surprising because it tells us that:
• Felix was a man with considerable knowledge concerning;
• Christianity, or “the Way”.
• We are not told how he knew, no source is revealed,
• But it appears that Felix understood quite a bit about both Christianity and Judaism.
FELIX (IN)DECISION:
• Felix could have and should have quickly pronounced judgment,
• And found Paul innocent and set him free.
• But this was not to be the case, for at least two reasons:
• First: God, in His sovereignty, had ordained that Paul go to Rome;
• And that he preach the gospel to kings (see Acts 1:8; 9:15; 23:11).
• Felix maybe a powerful Roman official;
• But he was only a pawn in God’s master-plan.
• Second: Felix was a politician;
• Who hoped to use this situation for his own advantage.
• If he were fortunate, he could manipulate this situation to his advantage:
• He wanted to obtain a bribe from Paul for an early release;
• With no bribe being offered;
• He was able to curry the favour of the Jews.
• By not releasing Paul and keeping him locked up for another two years.
• Notice: with considerable skill,
• Felix avoided coming to a decision and pronouncing a verdict;
• He was able to do this for the remaining two years of his office.
• He managed to leave this problem with his successor, Festus.
(4). Felix Dialogues With Paul (vs 24-27)
“Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favour to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.”
• We are not told very much about these two years;
• What we do know is that during this two year period of time;
• Frequent discussions took place between the politician, his wife Drusilla;
• And the preacher, the apostle Paul.
Question:
• If you were Paul, and you were summoned to Felix, a Roman governor,
• And his wife, a Jewess, and were asked about your message,
• What would you have said?
Answer:
• Three-fold (vs 25)
• Paul spoke about “Righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come”
• FIRST: He spoke of a righteousness that Felix did not possess.
• Felix was not right with God because he was like all of us a sinful man.
• SECOND: He spoke of self-control that he did not practice;
• Just research how he got his wife Drusilla who was wife no 3;
• He was also a politician who openly took bribes.
• THIRDLY: He spoke of a judgment he could not prevent.
• This was very important for Felix to understand;
• Because here Felix sits on the throne and in many ways seems above the law.
• But Paul reminds him he might seem untouchable in this life;
• But lets him know that judgment may not be right here and now, but it’s coming!
• And he like all of us need to be ready!
Paul’s sermon dealt with all three areas of human life:
• ‘Righteousness’ dealt with the past.
• We are sinners by nature and by practice.
• ‘There is no-one righteous, not one” (Romans chapter 3 verse 10)
• ‘Self-control’ dealt with the present:
• We must do something about today’s temptations.
• Self-control was something that Felix and Drusilla knew much about.
• ‘Judgement to come’ dealt with the future:
• Maybe Paul shared with Felix and Drusilla what he told the Greek philosophers;
• Acts chapter 17 verse 31:
• “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by Jesus Christ”
Notice:
• When Paul got around to the judgment to come (vs 25),
• Felix became frightened, and sent Paul away.
• He would talk with Paul more about this later.
• And so he did on many occasions over a two year period;
• But sadly there is no indication that he or Drusilla came to faith.
Conclusion
• This passage has much to say to us.
• Let me conclude by pointing out some important lessons.
(1) Notice the grace of God to Felix and his wife.
• Most of us are probably inclined to view this two year delay;
• From Paul’s point of view.
• And from that perspective it would seem that this was a needless waste of time,
• A needless, pointless two year stay For Paul’s – when Rome is calling!
• But from Felix and Drusilla’s perspective,
• It is a great example of the marvellous grace of God.
• Paul’s two year incarceration in Caesarea was,
• As verses 24-26 highlights for us;
• A time for the gospel to be repeatedly proclaimed to this governor and his wife.
• God not only ordained that this Roman ruler and his wife hear the gospel,
• But that they hear it for two years.
• They are surely without excuse.
Question:
• What about you?
• How many times do you need to hear before you respond?
• God in his grace may give you opportunity after opportunity;
• But eventually those opportunities will stop!
• God never promises us tomorrow, only today:
• Quote: 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2:
• “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”
(2) The power of the gospel is inseparably linked with the purity of our lifestyle.
• That simply means our lives must match our message!
• From Luke’s words in verse 26:
• It would seem that a bribe from Paul might have secured his release.
• It is implied by our text that Paul not only refused to pay this bribe,
• But that he refused to consider this as an option.
• If Paul was to be released, it would not be due to a bribe.
• Paul wanted a verdict which would protect and promote the preaching of the gospel.
• He left his fate in God’s hands.
• If he could not be released legally and honestly, then he would not be released.
• Honesty is telling the truth.
• Honesty is straightforward conduct.
• Honesty is being sincere, truthful, trustworthy, fair, genuine, and loyal with integrity.
Ill:
• Someone once said of a Christian:
• “I can’t hear the words that you are saying because your life is speaking too loud”
• May we be men and women whose lives match our message;
• We have a message of truth – let’s match that by living truthful, honest lives.
