A Study of the Book of Acts
Sermon # 39
“The Problem of Procrastination”
Acts 24:1-27 (key vv. 22-27)
Dr. John R. Hamby
The prophet Joel described life as a valley of decision, (Joel 3:14) “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”
Some of you may be like the central character in the story that we are going to examine tonight. You are in the valley of decision, you are in the place that you need to make some decision or decisions that may effect how you will live the rest of your life. Listen well to the story of Felix and the disastrous decision that he makes.
There are some things that men do better than women. That sounds rather chauvinistic doesn’t it? But don’t stop listening yet. One of the things that men do better than women is procrastination. Men tend to think, “Anything worth doing is worth doing tomorrow.” But the truth is that putting things off often causes additional problems.
“A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came to investigate. "Hey, Willis," he called out, "forget your troubles for a spell and come on in and have dinner with us. Then I’ll help you get the wagon up." "That’s mighty nice of you," Willis answered, "But I don’t think Pa would like me to." "Aw, come on, son!" the farmer insisted. "Well, okay," the boy finally agreed. "But Pa won’t like it." After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. "I feel a lot better now, but I just know Pa is going to be real upset." "Don’t be foolish!" exclaimed the neighbor. "By the way, where is he?" "Under the wagon.". [Source Unknown.}
First let me set the Stage. After leaving Jerusalem under heavy armed guard, Paul was escorted to Caesarea where he was to be arraigned before, Antonius Felix, the governor of the province. He then had to withstand the clever attacks of a lawyer named Tertullus, who had been hired by the Sanhedrin. Verse one says, “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.”
Tertullus did not immediately immediate get to the charges against Paul, but rather began by flattering the governor saying (v. 2-4) “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.” None of this was truth. Felix had brought neither peace nor great prosperity to the nation. Instead there was constant turmoil throughout his governorship. By a mixture of outright lies and cleverly twisted half-truths, Tertullus began to accuse Paul. Instead of reading the entire account we are just going to look at the heart of the issue in verses five and six. “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. (6) He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.”
A summary of the charges brought against Paul were; (1) that he was at least in the eyes of the Jewish leadership, a real pest (v. 5). The word used suggests that Paul is like a disease that was spreading into an epidemic. (2) He stirred up unrest among the Jews world-wide (v.5) (3) He was a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarene. His choice of words were loaded with strong negative connotations; he called Paul a ringleader, and defined Christianity as a “sect”, which has the over tune of heresy, and his uses the term “Nazarene” purposefully avoiding the use of Jesus’ name. (v.5) and (4) He tried to desecrate the temple (v.6).
He went on to claim that Paul had been judged properly by their law and that the Roman centurion had intervened and taken Paul out of their hands (v. 7). This is so patently false as to be ludicrous.
When the governor indicated that Paul might speak; Paul addressed the governor with courtesy, but without the insincere flattery Tertullus had used. Paul’s defense is recorded in verses 10-21. At the real heart of the issue Paul states beginning in verse fourteen that the real charges against him are religious and not political. “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.”
He Made No Decision Though He Knew The Facts.
Felix was not so easily mislead however for we read in verse 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.
Even this early in the story we see that Felix habitually postponed decision even when he knew what he knew he needed to do. He made the decision not to make a decision even though his mind was informed with the facts, the text says, “having more accurate knowledge of the Way,” Felix had a passing knowledge of the facts of the gospel.
Felix could hardly find Paul guilty of any offense against Roman law, and since he was a Roman citizen, he had to at least make a pretense of protecting Paul’s rights. He should have released him, but by postponing a verdict he hoped to pacify the Jews and perhaps wrangle a bribe from Paul.
But perhaps to salve his conscience somewhat he commanded that Paul be given a considerable amount of freedom and that Paul’s friends be allowed to minister to him.
According to verse 24, “… 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.”
We need to stop for a word about who Felix and Drusilla were. The corruption of his rule became so great that Nero, no bastion of morality himself, recalled him. He would have been executed if his brother had not pleaded with the emperor on his behalf. Drusilla was just a sixteen when he stole her away from her first husband and she became his third wife.
Drusilla was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I, this is her second marriage and she is not yet twenty years of age. Unlike Felix who was a Gentile, Drusilla had been raised a Jew, through she did not practice faith in the one true God. dd
The text says in verse 25 that Paul, “Now … reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come…”
Paul preached to them boldly, although this undoubtedly was not what this couple in an illicit relationship wanted to hear. Paul first preached to them about righteousness – certainly a reference to justification by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone. He also spoke them about self-control.
Illustration. “Hugh Latimer, the English Reformer often preached to Henry VIII and on occasion offended the king with his boldness. So he was commanded to preach the following weekend and make an apology. On the next Sunday, after reading the text, he addressed himself as he began to preach.
‘Hugh Latimer dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest; therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease; but then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest; upon whose message thou art sent? Even the great and mighty God! Who is all present, and who beholdest all thy ways, and is able to cast thy soul in hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully.’
He then gave Henry the same sermon he had preached the week before – with even more energy!” [As quoted by R. Kent Hughes. Acts: The Church Afire. (Wheaton, Illnois: Crossway Books, 1996) p. 312.]
Next Paul spoke to this couple who had always followed their own passions about self-control. Finally he emphasized the “judgment to come,” undoubtedly warning them that they would not escape divine accountability for their lives.
These were the very things that Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would teach in John 16:8-11. “…when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) of sin, because they do not believe in Me; (10) of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; (11) of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
He Made No Decision Though His Heart Was Stirred
The outcome was that “…..Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
I do not know of any words that are sadder or more pathetic, then these. Felix said, “that is enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you!”
As R. Kent Hughes states it, “In a very real sense, his soul died at that moment – a tragedy of infinite proportions.” [Hughes p. 313.] Felix did not say that he never wanted to hear the message of the Gospel again, he just made the potentially fatal error of procrastination.
He displayed a foolish attitude in his failure to act on what he had heard. He displayed a foolish attitude toward God’s word. Felix felt that he could “take or leave it” with the demands of Scripture. He also displayed a foolish attitude the conviction that he had felt toward his own sin. Yet you will remember that Acts 17:30 said that, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,”
An important principle comes into play when pass on the invitation of the Gospel. Although you may hear the Gospel again if will not have same effect. Conviction passed over leaves a scar and the next time you are not as sensitive to the things of God. Although we are told in verse 26 that Felix frequently sent for Paul it was in the hope “that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him.” Although Felix called for Paul and talked with him “often” there is no evidence that he ever trembled again. That is the danger that men face when they are confronted with the reality of the claims of Christ and choose to do nothing. Their hearts are hardened
Verse 27 gives us the conclusion of the story, “But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.” Because Felix still wanted to seek favor with the Jews, he left Paul bound that is he left him behind as a prisoner.
Conclusion
If Felix is the classic example of what not to do, then the Philippian jailer is a good example of what to do. His story is found in Acts 16:2530, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (26) Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. (27) And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison door open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. (28) But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” (29) Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.(30) And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The phrase that is used in verse 29 to describe the fear that the Philippian jailer felt is almost identical with that describing Felix. However, instead of delay, the jailer allowed his fear to catapult him into eternal life saying, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
We need to remember that procrastination is not merely something we have to worry about before we get saved, but we face anew at each new level of discipleship. There is always a next step in growth in maturity as a believer. Some obedience that is demanded, some reconciliation mandated, some area of life awaiting commitment to the Lord’s control.
