Paul's Defense Before Felix Continues

Tom:

This is our Understanding the Scriptures segment, we’re in the Book of Acts, we’re in Acts chapter 24 and I’ll continue with verse 17: “Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.This of course is Paul speaking before—is it Felix?

Dave:

Felix the governor.

Tom:

Felix the governor, right.“Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.”Verse 20-21: Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.”

Dave:

Well, we better set the stage here again Tom.

Tom:

Okay.

Dave:

Because Paul has been arrested.He is in custody.He had to flee to the governor, he had to go to Caesarea in order to get away or the Jews were going to kill him in Jerusalem.They have now come down from Jerusalem to Caesarea to state their case as to why he should be stoned to death.And they brought Tertullus, he is a brilliant lawyer and he has buttered up Felix the governor.

Tom:

I was going to say, he is quite the painter—

Dave:

Flowery orator, right.So he has made his case. Paul, the governor has beckoned to him, you know to speak and he has given his defense and he does a little buttering up too of Felix the governor.He praises him for being a wise man and honest and so forth.

Tom:

But Paul is being honest as opposed to Tertullus.

Dave:

Right, but Paul points out that these charges are not right, they are false charges and they can’t prove anything that they have said, but he is now going to confess what his sin is and verse 14 is really a key verse: “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:…” So it’s just a matter of a difference of opinion of religious people.This is what Felix the governor is thinking.So they call you a heretic, but you say you are not a heretic, but you are following the scriptures.So Paul is now in the midst of his defense, and he says I have been away for many years, and I came back to bring alms to my nation and offerings whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me and here are these men—Paul says I was in the temple following all the rules, the Jewish law, and I don’t have any rabble that I am rousing, I’m not stirring up anybody, and now if these men have an accusation against me, who actually found me there in the temple, they ought to have been here.They should have been here to present their case, to explain.Why is some third party telling us about this and why couldn’t we cross-examine these men?[This] is basically what Paul is saying.They haven’t found any evil in me and the only thing against me is that I believe in the resurrection and they don’t even agree on this, you know?Their opinions are divided.So Felix, he knows about this.

Tom:

Yes, he understands their religion, to a degree.

Dave:

Right, right, yeah….He’s been the governor for sometime apparently.Why don’t you carry on from there Tom, verse 22.

Tom:

“And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.”

Dave:

He’s a nice guy.

Tom:

He was treating him right.

Dave:

Yeah, I think his sympathies are somewhat with Paul.I would get that impression.

Tom:

Yes, but he may have another idea here Dave.He may have another agenda.Well, we’ll see.Verse 24: And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Dave:

Tom that’s a classic verse of course, for gospel preachers.Some more convenient time and we have a hymn [with words that say] almost persuaded now to believe, Almost persuaded Christ to receive.Seems now some soul to say, Go spirit, go thy way, some more convenient day on Thee I’ll call.I can remember preachers emphasizing that.You aren’t going to get a more convenient day than right now and if you’re not willing to receive Christ now what’s going to change?You are only going to get more hardened in your unbelief.That was Felix’s problem.He knows it’s true, he’s trembling.He knows that Christ is the Messiah; he knows Christ rose from the dead.He knows that these Christians are right.

Tom:

But he has an overriding—it was greed.I mean here it is, it is characteristic.

Dave:

But it’s—first of all, before you get to that Tom—it’s going to cost him.He’s going to lose his position as governor.You come over on the side of these Christians?Well you’ll be hated and persecuted.You wouldn’t join these Christians would you?You wouldn’t admit this, you’d become part of this sect?I think he’s thinking of that to begin with and then go ahead and read verse 26, because they don’t go together you know.He’s trembling, he knows it’s true.But now he’s got some base motive in mind.

Tom:

Verse 26:“He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. Well, you know Dave, maybe the money was a little bit of icing, a little bit of—well you know it would be really great if I could have a few more shekels.

Dave:

Yeah but, we got a real problem here.What is money good for?For this life?You can’t take it with you.And you remember one of my favorite writers, William Law from way back.He says here’s a man, he’s saving money, he’s got millions of pounds, this was in England and what would you say to him?Well, he’s been very prudent you know, he’s been wise with his investments and so forth.So William Law says what about a man—he’s accumulated a million pairs of boots and spurs?What would you think of him?Well, the guy is crazy!!No, they are both crazy!Boots and spurs are just as good as money where they are going.So that’s the problem with Felix.He’s thinking of this life and he has shut the door on eternity with God; with Christ and he’s done a very foolish thing.Verse 27:But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.”“…willing to show the Jews a pleasure…left Paul bound.”Now he was willing to get the displeasure of the Jews if Paul would pay him a little something.This guy is really corrupt.He is mixed up, but he has bartered his soul.I remember the song Tom, if I can think of it…or a little poem:“To lose your wealth is much, (you know this one) to lose your health is more, to lose your soul is such a loss as nothing can restore.”I think Felix just did that.