Acts 24

Acts 24:1

Here is Paul, standing before Felixa man who, according to biblical scholar and secular historian alike, had no business being in a position of power. Paul had been in Caesarea for five days, when one of the most famous lawyers of his time, an eloquent speaker named Tertullus, arrived from Jerusalem to argue against him. It is interesting to me that Ananias made the journey along with Tertullus. At this point, Ananias was eighty years old, and the trip from Jerusalem to Caesarea was an arduous sixty-mile journey. For Ananias to make such a difficult trip at his age to see Paul go on trial before Felix speaks to me of the great degree of animosity he felt in his heart toward Paul.

Acts 24:2

Quietness? There were riots breaking outconstantly. Worthy deeds? Felix had robbed the people blind and had appointed corrupt leaders.

Acts 24:3

Everyone in the country knew Felix was a rat, yet Tertullus came on with flowery language and flattery, knowing his case would be strengthened as Felix drank it all in.

Acts 24:5

“Paul’s a pest,” charged Tertullus. “Wherever he goes, he causes riots and problems.” The enemies of the early church called the believers either Christians or Nazarenes. “Christian” or “little Christ” was meant to mock the Lord, and “Nazarene” called attention to the fact that He was from Nazareththe hick-town about which Nathanael asked, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (see Joh_1:46).

Acts 24:6

Rumor had it that Paul had taken Gentiles into the temple. Although that was not true, Tertullus didn’t care about the truth. He simply wanted to make his point and win the case. Contrary to the testimony of Tertullus, the Jews were not about to judge Paul according to their law, but rather to tear him limb from limb (Act_23:10). It was only through the intervention of Lysias and the Roman army that Paul’s life was spared.

Acts 24:8

After rescuing Paul from three riots and one death threat, Claudius Lysias decided he had done his part and turned Paul over to Felix.

Acts 24:9

Those who went with Tertullus and Ananias from Jerusalem to Caesarea were all in one accordunited in their stand against Paul.

Acts 24:10

Paul acted as his own defense lawyer. Paul addressed Felix with the only truthful thing he could say about him: “Felix, it’s true you’ve been here many years.”

Acts 24:11

“These men speak lies, rumors, and innuendoes. They cannot present any proof whatsoever,” insisted Paul.

Acts 24:14

“These are the things of which I am guilty,” said Paul. “I’m a follower of the Way. I’m a believer in the Scriptures. I’m waiting for the Resurrection.” Paul: Guilty or Not Guilty? A Topical Study of Act_24:14-15 The apostle Paul was just too hot to handle. Following the swirl of controversy that surrounded him in Jerusalem, Paul was called to defend himself before Felix, the governor. Denying he was guilty of pestilence and sedition, as he was accused (Act_24:5), Paul admitted being guilty of the following three charges: I am a follower of the Way. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers.Act_24:14 Six times in the Book of Acts, believers are referred to as “the Way.” Only three times in the New Testament are they called Christians because “Christian” was a term of degradationlike “Jesus Freak” or “Holy Joe.” I’m sad that in our day “The Way International” cult has clouded this term, because I think “the Way” is an excellent name. What Jesus taught and the model He gave is “the Way” to go indeed! Only the Way of the Lord leads to our own well-being and welfare, for truly, the Way of the Lord is right. Early Christians were called the Way not simply because Jesus points out the Way, but because He is the Way (Joh_14:6). That makes Christianity unique. Unlike Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs, Christianity does not say, “Go through therapy. Follow these principles. Work hardand you’ll be a better person.” No, Christianity is resurrectionnot resuscitation. It’s not twelve stepsit’s one step: Allow Jesus Christ to live His resurrected life in and through you because it is only the living Lord in your heart who can change you powerfully and permanently from within. I am a believer in the Scriptures. …Believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets…Act_24:14 I bet Paul emphasized the word “all.” You see, he believed every picture painted in the law, and every illustration given by the prophets because they all pointed to Jesus Christ. Not so the Jews. Paul’s Jewish audience would have been unable to explain Isaiah 53, where the prophet declared, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa_53:5). Nor would they have been able to explain Psalms 22, where the psalmist accurately depicted God’s Son crucified on a Cross hundreds of years before crucifixion was even known in the Middle East. Like Paul, we believe all Scripture. The pseudo-intellectual false pastors and teachers who contend that certain passages imply cultural understanding that is no longer relevant today are wrong. God hasn’t changed His mind just because we’ve “progressed” culturally. Here’s the problem, gang. If I adopt the pseudo-intellectual posture that says, “I will decide which parts of the Bible are relevant to my culture and meaningful to my society, which words are inspired and which are no longer applicable,” I place myself in a very precarious position because I then become the judge of the Bible rather than allowing the Bible to judge me. I say to you with absolute certainty and with intellectual integrity that all Scripture is inspired. How do I know? One way: Jesus quoted the most controversial Scriptures as being absolutely factual. He talked about Adam and Eve literally. He talked about Sodom and Gomorrah geographically. He talked about Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt physically. He talked about Jonah being swallowed by a great fish in reality. You see, the question of inspiration does not center around culture or geography, linguistics or history. When you talk to your professor, your neighbor, or your co-worker, the question is singular: Who do you believe Jesus is? He’s either Lord, a lunatic who only thought He was God, or a liar who knowingly deceived people. How do we know He’s God? “One proof I’ll give you,” He said. “Destroy this temple and in three days I’ll raise it up” (see Joh_2:19). And just as He said, three days after He was crucified, He rose again. In the debate over inspiration, you can go in circles endlessly unless you keep returning the dialogue to the subject of Jesus Christ. Move the question from inspiration to the Resurrection. It’s a powerful, irrefutable argument. I am looking for the Resurrection. And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.Act_24:15 In actuality, there are two resurrections. When Jesus comes back, the world will experience one thousand years of unparalleled peace and prosperity. At the end of that time, the unbeliever will be resurrected and will stand before the Great White Throne. And I saw a great white throne, and with him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.Rev_20:11-12 There will be those who will say, “I’m okay. You’re okay. Why should I go to hell?“until the books are opened wherein is recorded every deed, every thought, every lie, every attitude. You see, for our own sanity, God has made us in such a way that we don’t remember how rotten we’ve been throughout our lifetime. Oh, we remember the big thingsbut the day-to-day junk conveniently fades from our conscience over time. When the books are open, however, when people see their lives as they really were, when people are reminded of their sin, they will, for all intents and purposes, condemn themselves to hell. A preacher vehemently pounded his pulpit, saying, “Every member of this congregation is going to stand before the Lord. Every member of this congregation will have to give account of what he’s done. Every member of this congregation will be judged. There will be no exceptions.” A man in the front row began to laugh, and the preacher said, “What are you laughing at?” “I’m not a member of this congregation,” the man said. So, too, you might think, This doesn’t apply to me. I don’t believe this stuff. But that doesn’t matter. As a member of the congregation of humanity, you will stand before the Lord, where you will either hear Him say “Depart from Me, I never knew you” (see Mat_7:23), or “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord” (see Mat_25:21). The choice is yours. The second resurrectionthe one in which the unbeliever stands before the Lord at the Great White Thronetakes place at the end of the millennium. When does the first resurrectionthe resurrection of the believertake place? Based on 2 Corinthians 5, I believe the first resurrection takes place over a period of time. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.2Co_5:1-4 “The body I’m in presently,” said Paul, “is nothing more than a tabernacle, a tent.” How much time do I spend on the tent in which we camp every summer? Not very much. There are some stakes missing. There’s some mildew in the creases. There are some holes in the sides. It’s adequate lodging for a week or twobut I don’t live there permanently. It’s portable. It’s temporary. It’s flimsy. So, too, the body you’re in is just a tentand a lot of us are becoming a little mildewy and are missing a few stakes. But when we die, when our tent is dissolved, buried, returned to dustPaul said we have a buildingliterally a mansionwaiting to take its place. This, I believe, is the commentary on what Jesus said in John 14. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.Joh_14:2 Although when most people think of a mansion, they think of white columns in the front, lots of rooms inside, and a pool in the backI don’t think that’s what Jesus was talking about. I believe the mansion He spoke of was a new body. You see, designed to take only fourteen pounds of pressure per square inch, dependent upon a mixture of seventy-nine percent nitrogen and twenty percent oxygen, my body is extremely limited. But there is a body waiting for me designed for total joy and exploration of all the cosmosno longer limited by the restrictions and flimsiness of this present “tent.” “Wait a minute,” you say. “Doesn’t 1Th_4:16-17 say that we will all be resurrected at the same time? How, then, can you speak of a resurrection that takes place over a period of time?” I believe Einstein shed light on this through his “theory of relativity,” which essentially says, “When an object travels at the speed of light, time ceases to be.” Since God is light (1Jn_1:5), there is no time in heavenno past, no future, just an “eternal now.” Therefore, at the moment a person dies, he or she moves into the “eternal now.” From his perspective, the Rapture has already occurred. Thus, no one in heaven is saying, “I miss my mom,” or, “I can’t wait until my husband gets here.” While it might be poetic to talk about being greeted by those who have gone before, in actuality, from the heavenly perspective, it’s all simultaneous. From eternity’s viewpoint, the first resurrection has already taken place. If you read in the obituary column tomorrow that Jon Courson diedcall the paper and correct that error. I didn’t die. I simply moved out of this musty, crusty tent into a much better place. Like Paul, therefore, I stand accused of following the Way, believing in the Scriptures, and looking for the resurrection. And, like Paul, I gladly plead guilty.

Acts 24:16

“I have a clean conscience toward God and men,” said Paul.

Acts 24:17

Here’s the question: since the law required every accusation to be verified by at least two witnesses (Deu_19:15), where were the witnesses? I have another question: Not only where were the witnesses, but where were James and the leaders of the church in Jerusalem who gave Paul the counsel to go into the temple in the first place? Tertullus, Ananias, and the elders made the journey to accuse Paul. Why did no one make the same journey to defend him?

Acts 24:21

When Paul went into the Sanhedrin and said he believed in the resurrection, he caused a riot to break out. “I am guilty of that,” he said.

Acts 24:22

How did Felix get his knowledge of the Wayof Christianity? We don’t know for sure, but there are references in ancient literature to Felix spending a great deal of time with Simon the Sorcerer. After Simon’s conversion was called into question (Act_8:20), he disappeared from the scene scripturally. But history records much about Simon the Sorcerer, including his becoming a friend of Felix. Felix said, “I’ll send for Lysias and see what he has to say about this matter.” Why? Because Felix must have begun to suspect that Paul had committed no crimethat this was a religious rather than a civil issue.

Acts 24:23

“Keep him in protective custody,” said Felix, “but allow him liberty and visitors.” Paul had the opportunity to have his friends comebut as far as we know, none came.

Acts 24:24

Daughter of Herod Agrippa (whom worms ate in the amphitheatre at Caesarea), great-granddaughter of Herod the Great (who ordered the slaughter of the infants when Jesus was born), and great niece of the Herod who beheaded John the BaptistDrusilla didn’t have the greatest heritage, and hers is a tragic story. Tradition has it that she was married to a Syrian prince when a magician, secretly in the employ of Felix, told her she should marry Felix. Enamored with the occult, Drusilla, at the age of nineteen, left her husband to become Felix’s third wife. Paul now stands before Felix and Drusilla.

Acts 24:25

Paul, an intellectual giant of theology, a lover of God, and a lover of people, begins to reason with Felix and Drusilla. Our faith is exceedingly reasonable. The longer I walk with the Lord, and the more I learn about the Word, the more I welcome opportunities to go into high-school classes or college seminars to discuss the faith with any who question it. Our faith is reasonable in every waylogically, philosophically, and scientifically. The cover story in TIME magazine recently was about a six-thousand-year-old frozen corpse discovered in the crevice of a glacier in the Alps one summer. I chuckled my way through this very interesting article as I read that the scientific world was shocked to find out that the “Ice Man” wasn’t bowed over with sloping forehead and thick jaw, as had been hypothesized and accepted as fact for decadesbut that he looked just like us. He had lined shoes, sewn clothes, and sophisticated tools centuries before he was “supposed” to have been able to do any of those things. Prior to this discovery, ancient man was regarded as little more than a glorified ape at best. But the discovery of Ice Man calls all previous suppositions into question. If only these scientists had read their Biblesthey wouldn’t have been surprised. Truly the Word is reasonable! Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla concerning the nature of righteousness. Felix and Drusilla were not righteous. Their life was filthy, their history diabolical. They were not liked by the people they ruled and were not trusted by even their own household of slaves, servants, and companions. But Paul must have told them that if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things pass away; all things become new (2Co_5:17). “Felix, Drusilla, you can have a new beginning. You can become righteous in Christ Jesus,” Paul must have said. When I was saved, not only did Jesus come into me, but, just as wonderful, just as fabulous is the fact that I was hidden in Him (Col_3:3). Therefore, when the Father looks at me, He doesn’t see my sin. He sees Jesus. When a believer finally understands this concept, how his walk will change. No longer will he think, God won’t listen to me because I’m such an idiot. No, he’ll say, “When God looks at me He doesn’t see my sin. He sees His Son.” Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla concerning the need for temperance. We live in a world that knows very little of temperance, self-control, or moderation. That is why our world is emotionally bruised, physically wiped-out, and spiritually dead. Temperance is so good and so necessary. “Let your moderation be known unto all men,” wrote Paul (Php_4:5). Lead tempered lives and you’ll be blessed. Finally, Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla concerning the nearness of judgment. While he was President, Harry Truman was awakened at three-thirty one morning by an energetic young aide. “Mr. President, I’m sorry to wake you,” he said, “but I had to inform you that the Commissioner of Highways just died, and I was wondering if you would be open to my taking his place.” Disgusted by such self-serving audacity, Truman is said to have replied, “Son, it’s okay by me if it’s okay with the undertaker.” The statistics on death are conclusive: Ten out of ten people die. Yet most people refuse to spend any significant time contemplating the fact that they’re dying. Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusillareminding them of the nearness of judgment and the reality of eternity. The Greek word for “trembled” is the same word used to describe an earthquake. In other words, Felix was literally shaking. The tactic of the Enemy is always to whisper in the ear of a man or woman who is convicted, “You don’t have to decide right now. Think about it a little longer.” You’ll always know it’s the voice of Satan when you hear, “Take your time. There’s no hurry. Ssssleep on it.”

Acts 24:26

“You have friends in Jerusalem, Paul,” said Felix. “In fact, you have friends all over the world. If they care about you, they’ll pay for your release.” You see, Felix sent for Paul for one reason: not to engage in spiritual discussion, but to attempt financial manipulation.

Acts 24:27

Felix was kicked out of power, called back to Rome, and replaced by Porcius Festus. Why? A riot broke out in Caesarea between the Greeks and the Jews. When the Greeks emerged victorious, Felix vented his frustration with the Jews by ordering the Greeks to go throughout the city bludgeoning Jewish men, raping Jewish women, and plundering Jewish possessions. When Caesar heard about this, he immediately sent for Felix. Thus, Felix lived out the rest of his life in disgrace in Rome. What happened to Drusilla? Two years after this event, in Europe on a shopping spree when Mount Vesuvius exploded, she was caught in the lava of the volcano and died at the age of twenty-one. Felix and Drusilla both had an opportunity to hear the gospel, but they put off making a decision. Eighty-two percent of all Christians are saved at the age of nineteen or younger. The lower the age, the higher the percentage of those who make a commitment to Jesus Christ. Why? Because a person who puts off a decision, saying, “I’ll think about it; I’ll wait until later; I want more information,” will find himself falling into a pattern that becomes more and more difficult to break. He trembles when He says no to the Holy Spirit the first time. The next time he hears the gospel and says no, he trembles less. The third time, it’s pretty easy to say no. The fourth time it’s a piece of cake. This happens not only when the Spirit is convicting unbelievers, but also when He convicts Christians. The first time we are tempted to do wrong, we tremble. The second time the temptation comes our way, it still kind of bothers us, but not as much as it did the first time. The third time bothers us a little less. And the fourth time, giving in to temptation doesn’t bother us at all. The conscience must be guarded very carefully because it can become seared very easily (1Ti_4:2). In fact, not only will our conscience become seared, or desensitized, it will become evil (Heb_10:22), justifying wrong and whispering to us, “Don’t worry about what you’re doing, or the show you’re watching. That’s simply the way society is. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just life.” Felix and Drusilla went from having a tender conscienceshaken when they felt the convicting work of the Spirit, to having a seared consciencewhen they didn’t tremble quite so easily, to having an evil consciencewhere they were only interested in making a deal monetarily. The result? Their lives were destroyed and they were damned eternally. You might be saying, “What if I’m doing stuff that used to bother me, but doesn’t anymore? What if I have a seared or an evil conscience? Is there any hope for me?” Yes. The Lord is so faithful. He comes to us over and over again, giving us opportunity to get right with Him. But in Gen_6:3, God said, “My spirit shall not always strive with man. I’ll come to you. I’ll speak to you. But I’m not always going to wrestle with you.”