Acts 24 - Part A

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That's connectwithskip.com. Now let's get into today's teaching with Pastor Skip Heitzig. Well I want to go to church.

Maybe one day I'll come, but I want to get my life straightened out first. So months went by and the pastor invited them again and the guy had the same excuse. Well, my life just isn't straightened out yet, but when it is, I'll come to church. A few weeks later that man died and the wife asked if they could have the funeral at the local church. The pastor said, sure, no problem. One of the church members saw that the pastor was doing a funeral for this man. Nobody knew who he was and they said, is this guy a Christian or was he a Christian? He said, well, I don't know if he ever received Christ.

Nobody ever heard him give a testimony. He certainly never come to our church, but I can say this. He's a man of his word because he said he would come to church when his life got straightened out and he did.

As he pointed down at the casket, there he was straightened out with rigor mortis. You know, it's pretty bad when you have to wait to get your life straightened out with rigor mortis rather than righteousness. And God wants to straighten out your life with his righteousness. That man, that husband, that father was a procrastinator. And atheism has slain its thousands, but procrastination has slain its tens of thousands.

People just put things off. One day I'm going to receive Christ. One day I'm going to get involved in church.

One day, one day and it never comes. In this chapter, we read a story, not only of Paul the Apostle on his way to Caesarea, on his way to Rome, but we read of a procurator of Judea, a procurator of Judea, the procurator who became the procrastinator. Now the procurator, when you hear the word procurator, I hope that does ring a bell. I hope you think of, when you think of procurator of Judea, you probably think Pontius Pilate. He's the most famous in the New Testament. He was the governor or procurator, appointed leader of that area of Judea 2000 years ago at the trial of Christ. But after him came another one and then another one and then finally a king. And so what we're dealing with here in chapters 24, 25 and 26, so we're not going to read them all. I'm going to make reference to chapter 24. But we have in these chapters a period of two years time that take place in Paul's life.

Two years with three trials. And the three trials take place in one city, the city of Caesarea by the sea. Interestingly, they have a staged, stepped theater like this one, only much, much bigger still today in Caesarea. But Paul the Apostle is there and he is there before two procurators. The two procurators are the names of Antonius Felix. The second is Porcius Festus.

You know them only as Felix and Festus, but that's their full name. Antonius Felix Porcius Festus and then a king by the name of Herod Agrippa the second. What we focus on here is the trial of Paul the Apostle before that first guy that I mentioned, Antonius Felix. The guy, not Felix the cat, but the guy who succeeded Pontius Pilate as the procurator of Judea. In Acts 24 verse one we read, Now after five days, Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and a certain orator named Tertulus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

And when he was called upon, Tertulus began his accusation, saying, Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix with all thankfulness nevertheless not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear by your courtesy a few words from us. For we have found this man that's Paul the Apostle, a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Now that's quite a charge to call somebody a plague, a disease. This guy Paul is a disease, man.

He's a plague on our nation. And did you notice that they call him a ringleader of a group called the Nazarenes? That's the very first time and the only time the entire New Testament uses that term to refer to Christians, Nazarenes. We know that they were first called Christians in Antioch. We see that term in the Book of Acts, the term Christian. That was a term of derision by the world, by the way. Christians didn't come up with the term Christian, the world did. But the second word Nazarenes was probably also a term of disrespect because you remember when there was a conversation and one of the disciples said, I found Jesus of Nazareth. And Nathaniel said, can anything good come out of Nazareth? So to be called a Nazarene was not like a compliment.

It was like a chop. And so obviously there was this term used by Jews in Jerusalem to refer to Christians not as Christians, but as Nazarenes, follower of the guy from that place up north that nobody likes Nazareth. The term that Christians preferred to use for themselves to describe themselves was the way, the way. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, the life. So believers didn't refer to themselves as Christians, but as followers of the way. They were messianic Jews for the most part, but they became followers of the way.

Here they are called the sect of the Nazarenes. Tertulus goes on to say, he even tried to profane the temple and we seized him and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you.

By examining him yourself, you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him. And the Jews also assented or agreed, maintaining that these things were so. So the trial begins and the trial begins with a prosecuting attorney by the name of Tertulus. Basically he was a Hellenistic Jew because his name is a is a Roman name. And so he has a Jewish background because he is hired by the council, the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem to represent their case before the procurator Antonius Felix. So Tertulus lays it on thick. He's bringing a very heavy charge, several of them against Paul.

He's sort of sucking up to the governor, you know, you are so awesome and amazing and we have peace because of your reign. But then he lays into Paul and brings these accusations. Then it says in verse nine, the Jews assented, maintaining that these things were so.

So you gotta picture the scene. They're in Caesarea. The governor of Judea is there. The lawyer presents the case. Those Jewish people from the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council in Jerusalem, have traveled 65 miles to be in that town for this trial. And they're all sitting in the corner nodding their heads agreeing like, yeah, yeah, what he said.

As if to persuade the governor that they really have an important case here. Now Paul's gonna stand up. Now Paul is all alone. He does not have a representing attorney. He has no defense. He has the Holy Spirit and he is very competent with words as well.

You're gonna find he does not fumble at all. He'll get right to the point. But I've always loved what Martin Luther said and I think Paul the apostle lived by it. He said with God one is a majority. They've got their lawyers. They're all lawyered up.

They've got their attorneys. They've got the council members nodding their heads. But with God one is a majority. Paul will stand up. And in verse 10, then Paul, after the governor nodded to him to speak, answered, in as much as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself. Because you may ascertain that it has been no more than 12 days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you that according to the way in my Bible that's capitalized, there's the reference according to the way which they call a sect.

So I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets. You're listening to connect with Skip Heitzig. Before we return to Skip's teaching, we want to tell you about this month's resource titled The Holy Spirit Then and Now, which comes with two books by Chuck Smith. The book of Acts commentary will help you understand how the Holy Spirit worked in the early church and power a biblical balance on the person and work of the Holy Spirit will help you see how he works in you. You'll be inspired as you discover that the same spirit who worked in Paul, Peter, and the early church is active and involved in your life today. We'll send you the Holy Spirit then and now as our thanks for your gift of $50 or more to reach people with God's love through Connect with Skip Heitzig.

Go to connectwithskip.com slash offer or call 800-922-1888 and request your copy when you give. Now let's get back to Skip for more of today's teaching. Paul's defense is clear and it's simple. I'm not a rabble-rouser. I didn't stir up any trouble.

I cause no riot whatsoever. But then he says something and I'm wondering if you can agree with this statement. The last part where he said, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.

Can you say that? Do you believe all the things written in the Old Testament, the law and the prophets? Do you believe the story of creation? Do you believe the story of the worldwide flood as told in the book of Genesis?

Do you believe the stories of the Passover and the plagues that happened in the parting of the Red Sea and the great fish that swallowed Jonah? Because I know many people who say, I follow the Lord and I read my Bible, but I wonder if they can say I believe all the things written in the law and in the prophets. Jesus could.

Paul could. Paul believed about the Bible what Jesus believed about the Bible. Our Lord Jesus, the one we claim to follow, said not one jot, not one tittle will by any means pass from the law until all of it, all of it, all of it is fulfilled. That's what he believed about the Bible, the Old Testament he was referring to. And Paul the Apostle likewise says, I believe all things. Too many people I meet get messed up over this issue and they have a theology. I would call it, I would describe it as Dalmatian theology.

I had a Dalmatian. I love the breed of dog, but they have a theology like my old dog Dalmatian theology. They believe that the Bible is inspired in spots. That spot is inspired and that spot is inspired and I like that red letter spot and that Psalms a cool Psalm that's inspired, but they cannot say truthfully, I believe all things written in the law and in the prophets.

Jesus could and did state of that and Paul the Apostle likewise could and did. That's the legacy that we have. I'll get even more basic. I hope you own one of these, a Bible. I hope you own it. I hope you carry it. I hope you read it. I hope you study it. And more than that, I hope you believe it. And if you have struggles with it, I hope you get through those struggles. I had many struggles in my early Christian walk with things in the Bible and stories that I read.

And so I went on a search and I got found good answers to those issues. But I love that. I believe all things which are written in the law and in the prophets. He continues on verse 15. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of both of the just and of the unjust. If you've been with us in our studies and acts, we've already covered the fact that part of the council was made up of Pharisees. Part of the council was made up of Sadducees. The Pharisees believed in angels, spirits, miracles, resurrection, all of the scripture. The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection, did not believe in miracles, did not believe in the Old Testament scripture except the first five books of Moses. So there was a division that Paul capitalized when he was in Jerusalem for the first trial. Now he just says what he believes.

I believe, like they believe, at least the Pharisees in that group, that there will be a resurrection from the dead of the just and the unjust. This being so, verse 16. So I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. Now, after many years, I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation. Paul said, I came to Jerusalem to worship.

He stated that a few verses prior. Now he says, I came to bring alms and an offering. He was in the temple making an offering, but he had brought alms.

What are alms? Monies. He collected money from gentile churches and was bringing them to Jewish believers in Jerusalem. So, man, I've been in Jerusalem improving the economy of Jerusalem. I brought outside money in. I brought support to help our nation.

That's his defense. It was all true. Verse 18, in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with the tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me or else let those who were here themselves say if they have found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council. Now, Paul brings up an interesting point.

Do you remember what we have read so far? When Paul was arrested in the temple right before that, it says some Jews supposed that Paul the Apostle had brought Trophimus the Ephesian into the temple courts with him. That's how the riot started. It was Jews from Asia who made that first charge against Paul. Now, according to Roman law, if you bring a prisoner to trial like this and the accusers, the original accusers of the wrongdoing aren't there, they're to be found and tried themselves, there's a stiff penalty for making an accusation than not showing up in court.

Paul knew Roman law. He brings this up. So we have Tertulus, prosecuting attorney, some of the council members, but not the original accusers. So he says, where are the original accusers? They're not here at court. And if the ones bringing the charge who were there in the council, they can think back to the first trial when nothing at all was found against me.

He makes a great point. Unless, verse 21, unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, concerning the resurrection of the dead, I am being judged by you this day. But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, when Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision in your case. The author of this book of Acts is who? Luke. The doctor, the physician, the traveling companion with Paul, the historian who wrote the book of Luke also wrote the book of Acts. And did you notice that Luke, the historian, ascribes to the procurator Antonius Felix that he is a person who has an understanding, a greater knowledge, a more accurate knowledge of the way, right? Now he succeeded Pontius Pilate. He would have heard of the crucifixion.

Big news. He would have heard of the news of the resurrection. He would have known that Christians are spreading around, that many people are upset that Christianity is spreading around the Middle East. He has heard the rumors. He no doubt has some concern. He has been briefed on the case of Jesus of Nazareth and his capital punishment, death by crucifixion.

So he has a knowledge and understanding of the way. Now, who was this procurator? Well, he wasn't a good guy. He was a bad guy. Antonius Felix at one time was a slave who was given freedom by the emperor in Rome by the name of Claudius. Claudius gave him his freedom, but he was a nobody. But this nobody had a brother by the name of Marcus who was very popular in the Roman court in Rome itself.

He got his brother the job as procurator of Judea. This man called Felix is a name he gave himself. It means happy. In Spanish, Feliz. In Latin, Felix.

Happy. But he wasn't a happy man, nor did he bring happiness wherever he went. He was a disaster. In fact, the Roman historian by the name of Tacitus said he was a master of cruelty and lust, and he exercised the power of the king with the spirit of a slave.

He was brutal. Paul knew it. They knew it. Tertulus knew it, but he tried to butter him up, saying, You're just so awesome. But verse 22.

We're nearing an end toward this chapter. But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case. So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. And after some days, when Felix came with his wife, Drew Cilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Boy, I wish I could have been a fly on the wall in those conversations. The procurator calls for the prisoner. The procurator says to the prisoner, Tell us about your faith in Christ. And we're gonna see what what Paul says to him in just a moment. But it says that he was there with his wife by the name of Drew Cilla.

Drew Cilla was the youngest daughter of King Herod Agrippa I. Now I've told you about the Harrods in our studies in the Book of Acts. I mentioned that they're a mess. I've gone through all the different ones.

I'll leave it at that for tonight. I think the wind will blow all recollection of it far away if I were to get into it. So she was the youngest daughter of King Herod Agrippa I. She was known for her beauty, and she was married at age 16. Now she comes from the family of Harrods, which means it's her grandfather who killed those babies in Bethlehem. It was her great uncle who had John the Baptist's head severed from his body. So they're a family that was well known, illustrious. They were an Edomite family, but says she was Jewish.

So she had some kind of messianic hope. Thanks for listening to Connect with Skip Heitzig. We hope you've been strengthened in your walk with Jesus by today's program. Before we let you go, we want to remind you about this month's resource that will help you understand the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Our two book bundle, The Holy Spirit Then and Now, with two books by Chuck Smith, is our thanks for your support of Connect with Skip Heitzig today. Request your copy when you give $50 or more. Call 800-922-1888.

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