Acts - Part 37
Paul Frightens Felix
Mason Adair
August 14, 2022

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11b …“Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” —Acts 23:11b

1 Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:.. —Acts 24:1-2a

2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. 3 For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. 4 But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. 6 Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. 8 You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” 9 Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true. —Acts 24:2-9

3 charges against Paul; 1) He was a troublemaker, 2) He was a leader of a cult called the Nazarenes, 3) He desecrated the temple

10 The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. 11 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12 My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. —Acts 24:10-13

14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. —Acts 24:14-16

17 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. 18 My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. 19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! 20 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, 21 except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” —Acts 24:17-21

22 At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs. —Acts 24:22-23

27 AFTER TWO YEARS WENT BY in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison. —Acts 24:27

24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, THEY LISTENED AS HE TOLD THEM ABOUT FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened (interesting). “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. —Acts 24:24-25

1. Righteousness

6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags… —Isaiah 64:6a

10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. —Romans 3:10

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that WE COULD BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST. —2 Corinthians 5:21

2. Self-control

3. The Day of Judgement

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. —Hebrews 9:27

28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. —Matthew 10:28

25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became FRIGHTENED. —Acts 24:25

15 …“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” —Hebrews 3:15