Acts 24 - Know Your Audience!
10 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 defense. 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.
Yesterday, I wrote about how Jesus appeared to Paul a second time and told him that He would stand by his side. The Lord had told Paul he would testify in Rome, so Paul did not have to fear when he came to Caesarea. He had already been rescued from one plot to kill him. Today Paul is brought before the Roman Governor Felix, who governed Judah for Rome. Caesarea was named after King Caesar and was the Roman capital of Judea.
The interesting aspect of chapter 24 is King Felix. Here is some historical background regarding King Felix.
Corruption: The Roman historian Tacitus described Felix as "cruel, licentious, and base". Felix kept Paul in prison for two years, not because Paul was guilty, but because Felix hoped Paul would offer him a bribe.
The Sermon: During Paul's imprisonment, Felix and his wife Drusilla (the daughter of Herod Agrippa I) listened to Paul preach. When Paul spoke about "righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come," Felix became terrified and postponed the discussion.
Felix was walking a fine line trying to play the middle man. He wanted to keep the Jews happy, but he also new Paul was innocenet of the charges they were making against him. Interestingly it says he was "familiar with the Way". This was probably due to his wife, Drusilla, who was a practicing Jew. Since there was quite a bit of animosity between the early Christians and Jews, she would have local knowledge. Also, many thought Christianity was a sect of Judaism, so he had to be aware of the tensions that cause between the two.
Paul is accused of being a ringleader for this sect, someone who provoked riots, and someone who desecrated the Jewish. temple. These were all false charges and Paul summarily dismissed each one of them. Felix knew Paul was telling the truth, but to appease the Jewish elders, he kept him in prison.
What is especially interesting was Felix's interest in the judgment of the righteous and wicked, and the resurrection of the dead. It seems as though the Holy Spirit was convicting of his need to accept the message Paul was preaching. At the end of the day Paul would not back down from preaching about the judgment of God and the resurrection to eternal life.
It is interesting that Paul does not specifically mention Jesus at first when he talks to Felix We know the Way was also known as a Nazarene sect, which believed Jesus was the Messiah. Also, remember Jesus claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life. But specifically Paul is on trial because of the Jews, and Paul knows that the Pharisees did believe in the resurrection, so he is saying he is not preaching anything different from them. This made Felix extremely curious and terrified at the same time.
Notice Paul did not hammer Felix over the head with the gospel. He spoke to him in a way that made him curious and wanting to hear more. The passage says,
"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."
Paul knew his audience. Notice in verse 24, he know talks about faith in Jesus Christ. Paul began with the idea of the judgment of the righteous and the wicked and the resurrection of the dead. Now he shared Jesus with him, the only one who could save him from his eventual judgment.
Jesus, was we gain an audience with those who don't believe in you help us to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). Like Paul we know that you stand with us as we share the Good News that you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God! We know you will come again to judge the living and the dead, and Your kingdom will have no end. Amen.
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