Lessons From Acts – Lesson 40
Acts 23:34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
Acts 23:35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
So Paul got taken out of harm’s way. Even though Paul messed up God was working and saved Paul’s life. The plot of the Priests and elders to have over 40 men kill Paul was foiled. But just like we saw in Nehemiah when the enemies of God are stirred up and they don’t get what they want they don’t just quit they just change tactics. Hatred does not quit.
And it is kind of ironic and defiantly hypocritical that the Priests and religious leaders who claimed to be followers of God had actually become the enemies of God. And the 10 commandments which taught thou shall not kill and which they taught others and now they had entered into a plot to kill.
And yet they think they are doing the work of God. It should never cease to amaze you the length and breadth and height that man can go in deceiving himself to get or do what he wants.
Especially when driven by hate or anger or pride or greed. They were losing their power base to the teachings of Paul and were driven by a whole bunch of wicked thinking.
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The bible clearly states that the heart of man is deceitful and wicked and who can know it. The bible teaches that all men have the ability to not only deceive others but that they can deceive themselves and it is possible that they can’t even know it.
Sometimes men deceive themselves and they on at least some level know it, and sometimes men can deceive themselves and can’t see it at all.
That is the truth clearly stated and here in acts we see an example of it.
It is amazing the mental gymnastics that religious leaders can do to justify just about anything.
And it is not just them. Anyone can twist and turn and come up with justifying just about anything. They can use feelings, and what others think and well you name it. They can base what they believe on just about anything to get what they want.
These priests and religious leaders had to be doing something like that. We are not told what reasoning they used or what they based their judgment on. But one thing is for sure they did not base it on the Word of God.
Thou shalt not kill and Love your neighbor was also in the Old Testament.
Psalm 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Vengeance is mine saith the Lord was taught in the Old Testament. It was not just one law or one teaching of the Old Testament that the religious leaders were breaking it was many of them.
And when they failed beating Paul to death, they entered into a plot to have him murdered by over 40 men and when that failed they still do not stop.
They go and hire a professional public speaker.
Acts 24:1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
Acts 24:2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
Acts 24:3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
O this professional orator is smooth. A professional brown noser and very slick with his words. Are you catching all the flattery and the stroking of Felix’s ego? The words just roll off the tongue.
A professional orator will say anything for a paycheck. Today we do have some good lawyers. There are. But we also have some that have zero morals and will say anything for a paycheck. Just rotten to the core.
And the high priest goes and hires a guy like this. Talk about getting into bed with the devil. This man is going to try to smooth talk his way into getting Paul killed for doing no crime at all.
This man is going to lie and lie and lie. We don’t know but I wonder if the High Priest justifies it by thinking well I am not the one lying and so he thinks it is ok. That loophole will not work with God. Paying a man to lie makes you in on it and guilty of it.
Acts 24:4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
Acts 24:6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
Acts 24:7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
Hold on! Who was committing great violence? The religious leaders were, they were beating Paul to death, they were not judging according to their law. There was no trial. There was no judgment. There was nothing in their law that would condemn Paul.
And so like so many others they accuse someone else of doing what they were doing themselves. We see that is nothing new, it has been going on for thousands and thousands of years.
Acts 24:8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
Acts 24:9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
Acts 24:10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
Acts 24:11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
So only about a week since those over 40 men entered into a curse to not eat or drink until Paul was dead. They have now either given up or are in really bad shape.
That might be one reasons the high priest hired a smooth talking professional liar. Trying to get Paul quickly so they can kill him and release these over 40 men from their curse.
Paul continues.
Acts 24:12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Acts 24:13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
Acts 24:14 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:
Acts 24:15 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.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Paul then says basically where are the witnesses that saw me in the temple? If I did what they say then they should be here before you and testify.
And Paul then says
Acts 24:21 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.
Acts 24:22 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.
The professional orator said that Lysias took Paul from them with great violence when they were only going to judge Paul according to their law.
Not a very smart lie because Felix can easily check that out and he says that he will. And Felix then deferred the matter until Lysias comes down to testify.
Of course that will not go well for the high priests and religious leader’s case. They will be caught in a bold face lie. A lie told with boldness and smoothness to try to get what they want quickly.
This is another truth we have seen before. Hate and anger tends to make you not think things thru clearly. It just often acts out. And anything goes. Do anything and say anything.
So the high priest and his professional orator have to leave and return to Jerusalem empty handed. And Paul has to stay locked up. But the bible makes special note that Paul will be locked up with some liberty.
Acts 24:23 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.
This is interesting that this is here. During Paul’s time here being locked up, it was not solitary confinement. It was not that anyone wanting to see Paul had to jump thru a bunch of hoops and fight to see him.
Visiting hours were wide open for Paul. Ok. So this fact is very noticeable and clearly stated at the beginning of Paul being locked up.
So would you then expect to hear about people coming to see Paul and would you expect to read about Paul teaching and ministering to others during this time.
In other letters Paul will record something that happened in the past and he will record interactions that he had with people in the past. An example is in Galatians when Paul tells of how Peter quit eating with the Gentiles.
You can read the rest of Acts and you can read all of the letters that Paul writes later and not one mention. Nothing. I mean zero mention of anything happing during this time.
Verse 23 is here to make it known that you can’t blame it on Paul being in jail. Visiting was wide open. And I like to believe that Paul did have a few visitors. Luke who wrote acts I believe visited because Luke recorded all of this.
But Paul was not used by God to minister to people like he did before and like God would use Paul again once he starts traveling to Rome. Right now Paul has been put on a shelf. A time out if you will.
Felix has a Jewish wife and he obviously told his wife about the case and since she is a Jew she has some curiosity about all of this and so Felix brings her to see Paul.
Acts 24:24 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.
Acts 24:25 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.
Paul preaches the truth like he has done so many times before and Felix had a little conviction but it was very temporary and not enough for Felix to get saved. All Paul hears is when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
But Felix never calls Paul for the reason of seeking salvation. He does call for him many times but the reason is given in verse 26 and it is greed.
Acts 24:26 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.
Acts 24:27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
So Felix left Paul in jail for 2 years. 2 Years and the Bible has not one positive thing to report about Paul doing anything for God. The doors have been open to visitors but nothing happens.
Paul has preached to Felix and his wife and nothing. Before that Paul preached on the steps to the castle and nothing. Paul gave witness during the trial and nothing.
But God has not forsaken Paul. Paul is protected. All the Jews could get out of Felix is to keep Paul in jail. That’s it. After 2 years Festus shows up and he will take over for Felix.
Acts 25:1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
And of course the high priest is going to try again with the new guy to get Paul. Even after 2 years the hate and anger remains and is very strong.
Acts 25:2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
Acts 25:3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
The high priest has the same evil goal. Get Paul traveling to Jerusalem and he will have men lying in wait to kill him somewhere along the way.
But Festus refuses to have Paul moved and invites any of those religious leaders to come with him and accuse Paul, if there be any wickedness in him.
And it is the same things they say things about Paul that they cannot prove.
Acts 25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
Paul gives a short answer. And then Festus tries to get Paul on the road to Jerusalem.
Acts 25:9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
It says Festus is willing to do the Jews a pleasure. Festus might not know that they will kill Paul on the trip. He may or may not know, but he wants to please the Jews.
Paul wisely refuses to go and appeals to Caesar’s judgment seat.
Acts 25:10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
Acts 25:11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
Acts 25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
Paul stays locked up. Festus replaced Felix and is the new guy in charge and so people in power want to smooze and visit. The king and his wife show up and not to see Paul but for political reasons to see the new guy in charge.
Acts 25:13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
Acts 25:14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
After many days. So when they kind of run out of things to talk about Festus brings up the odd case that he has. It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before a trial.
And Festus tells King Agrippa the story of Paul being accused before him.
King Agrippa then wants to hear the case for himself.
Acts 25:23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.
This was more about having a great show for Agrippa and his wife than anything else.
Acts 25:24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Acts 25:25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
Acts 25:26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
Acts 25:27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
So Festus says that this hearing is so that King Agrippa can maybe help Festus figure out what to write on the document that has to go with Paul to Rome.
Paul then gives his testimony and preaches Jesus and the resurrection. And Paul tells like he has so many times before about meeting Jesus on the Damascus road. And about Gentiles getting saved.
And look at the results.
Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
From Festus Paul hears you are mad as in crazy. And from king Agrippa Paul hears almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Acts 26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Acts 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Acts 26:30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
Acts 26:31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
Acts 26:32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
That is it. All that Paul has to show for well over 2 years is, when I have a more convenient time, and you are crazy, and you almost persuade me.
That is it. Nothing from any other place in the bible tells of anything else happening. And Paul had an open door for visitors and Paul had the freedom to write and Paul had the opportunity to preach several times.
And when Paul did he preached the same truth that he had preached before and saw results and Paul will preach these same truths later and he will see great results but not during this time.
One of the things that this teaches us is that the words alone, all by themselves is not what does the work. It is when those words are given with God working that things happen for God.
In this section of acts we see the example of what Jesus plainly stated.
Joh_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Paul has had over 2 years of sitting. He has had a lot of time to think. Paul is ready to not make the same mistake again and he will later write about Jewish ordnances taste not, touch not, handle not. And let no man deceive you in regard to that stuff.
After more than 2 years we are now approaching God’s time for Paul to be in Rome. Paul could have taken the easy route and not went to Jerusalem and done something else for God for those more than 2 years.
Remember how hard God tried to get Paul not to go to Jerusalem. God would have found another way to get Paul to Rome on time.
There is so much for us to learn here. One huge thing is that God will let man mess up and even to the point of having to be put on a shelf for a while. But that does not mean that God loves you any less. And that does not mean that God will not use you again.