Paul on Trial
Text: Acts 24
Core Idea: God is sovereignly at work in our lives, orchestrating all things to fulfill His purposes in and through us. Then, trusting in His wisdom and power, let’s make the most of every opportunity to advance the gospel, knowing that Christ is our only hope in life and in death. He is worth the cost.
INTRODUCTION
I want to welcome all of you, but especially our Tugboat and Anchor friends, as they will be joining us for the whole service today. Now, to help our children engage a little more, we’ve been following the curriculum that the Tugboat ministry is currently going through in these joint services – so please open your Bibles to Acts 24. But before we read this, let me quickly give you the context so that you’ll better appreciate this story. The last time we were in the Book of Acts, we saw Paul giving a final farewell to the believers in Ephesus as he prepared to make his way to Jerusalem. His purpose was to deliver a financial gift from the Gentile churches to support the poor believers there. After that, Paul intended to travel to Rome so that he would have an opportunity to share the gospel at the heart of the empire. That was where we left off in Acts 20. But as we’ll see, things didn’t go according to Paul’s plan. In Chapter 21, while Paul was at the temple participating in purification rites, some Jews from Asia falsely accused him of defiling the temple by bringing in Gentiles – something that was strictly forbidden under Jewish law. This sparked a violent uproar – and a riot broke out. So, to restore order, Roman soldiers intervened and placed Paul under arrest. Then, in Chapter 22, more than 40 Jews conspired to assassinate Paul. But by God’s providence, Paul’s nephew overheard their plot and informed the commander, who quickly arranged for Paul to be transferred safely to Caesarea to stand trial before Governor Felix. And that brings us to where we are in the story today. Then, let me invite Elia up – and she’ll read the passage for us.
1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. 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. 17 After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin – 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’” 22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. 24 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. 27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Thank you, Elia, for reading the passage for us. And children, I hope you enjoyed the video – a great summary of the story. Let me break this chapter into three parts:
· THE ACCUSATION
· THE DEFENSE
· THE DELAY
1) THE ACCUSATION
In verse 1, we see Ananias the high priest, along with some elders, traveling to Caesarea to present their accusations against Paul before Felix. Accompanying them was Tertullus, a skilled Roman lawyer hired to prosecute Paul. And it’s clear that Tertullus knew how to appeal to a judge – just listen to his opening statement in verse 2: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude.” Tertullus sought to win Felix’s favor by flattering him for the peace and reforms he supposedly brought to the Jewish people. Now, if you knew anything about Felix, you’d know that this was nothing but a lie. Felix was the first Roman governor to rise from slavery to such a high position of power. And yet he didn’t get there by merit or virtue but by bribery, manipulation, and betrayal. And once he had power, he did whatever it took to keep it. In fact, not long before this trial, Felix ordered the brutal slaughter of many Jews to crush an uprising – and as a result, their homes and possessions were seized and handed over to wealthy Romans. Everyone knew of his brutality. So, when Tertullus praised him, everyone there would’ve known that it was nothing more than a calculated lie. The Jewish leaders didn’t admire Felix – they despised him. But they flattered him anyway because their hatred for Paul outweighed their disdain for Felix. To them, Paul posed a greater threat to their power. Now, Tertullus brought three charges against Paul. First, he accused Paul of being a troublemaker – literally, a “plague” in the Greek. He claimed that Paul was inciting riots among the Jews throughout the empire. Now, this was no small accusation because maintaining public order was a top priority for Romans. And that’s what Tertullus was getting at – portraying Paul as an enemy of Rome that needed to be eradicated. Second, he accused Paul of being a ringleader of the Nazarene sect. Now, each of these terms was carefully chosen to discredit Paul and undermine his message. Calling him a “ringleader” implied that he was the mastermind behind all these rebellious and criminal actions. Labeling the movement a “sect” suggested it was a cult – heretical, divisive, and dangerous. And referring to it as “Nazarene” tied it to Nazareth, a town held in low regard in the ancient world. All that to say, he was trying to paint Christianity as illegal and unreliable. Third, he accused Paul of attempting to desecrate the temple. This refers back to the events in Chapter 21, when some Jews from Asia falsely claimed that Paul had brought Gentiles into the temple – an act punishable by death under Jewish law. So, in essence, Tertullus was appealing to Felix for permission to enforce that law.
Now, what can we take away from this? Well, let’s think through this from Paul’s perspective. When his life was radically changed on the road to Damascus, God said in Acts 9:15, “This man is My chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” And from that moment on, Paul faithfully lived out that call – preaching the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles wherever he went. But up to this point, he had yet to have the opportunity to testify before kings and rulers – until now. Now, it’s unlikely that Paul expected to fulfill that part of his calling as a prisoner on trial – facing accusations that could lead to his execution. And yet, this was precisely how God chose to fulfill His purpose. It may not have looked like what Paul envisioned, but it was exactly as God ordained. The truth is that this is no different today, in that God often fulfills His promises and purposes in ways that are unexpected, uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful – yet they always unfold exactly as He intends, never straying from His perfect and wise plan. A powerful example of this is found in the life of Joni Eareckson Tada. As many of you know, she was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident as a teenager – and being diagnosed as a quadriplegic, she wrestled with deep depression, anger, and spiritual doubt, questioning why God would allow such suffering. But over time, through the work of the Holy Spirit and the support of her family, her pain became a platform for powerful ministry and her life became a testimony to the strength of Christ in weakness. Let me share a few quotes that she said in reflection of her journey through suffering: “God has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.” “The weaker I am, the harder I must lean on God. And the harder I lean, the stronger I discover Him to be.” “I’d rather be in this wheelchair knowing Him than on my feet without Him.” “My wheelchair is the prison God used to set my spirit free.” “God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.” “Real satisfaction comes not in understanding God’s motives, but in understanding His character.” Who would’ve imagined that her greatest hardship would become the foundation of her ministry? And yet, that’s exactly what happened – for her, and for Paul as well. Sometimes what looks like a detour is the very road God has sovereignly chosen to fulfill His purpose. Then, let me ask you, “Does it feel like God is taking you on a detour today?” If so, let Paul’s story encourage you to trust God’s greater plan. Imprisonment, suffering, and chains could’ve caused Paul to doubt God’s goodness and wisdom. He could’ve believed that God had abandoned him – but he didn’t. He didn’t let his mind go there. How do we know that? Because even in prison, he boldly proclaimed the gospel. Wherever he was, he remained faithful to the calling God had placed on his life. Then, let this story remind us that true hope and strength are not found in escaping suffering, but in drawing near to the God who works through it. Brothers and sisters, what once broke you may become the very thing God uses to bless others. Your mess can become your message. And your greatest trial may one day become your greatest testimony. So, keep your eyes fixed on Him.
2) THE DEFENSE
In verse 10, Paul begins his defense – but unlike Tertullus, there’s no trace of flattery. He simply said, “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.” Paul wasn’t trying to manipulate or impress Felix. He just respectfully acknowledged his position and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak. Even though Felix may not have deserved such respect, Paul still gave it to him. Then, he calmly and carefully addressed the accusations. First, he refuted the claim that he had stirred up riots or incited rebellion against Rome. He says in verse 11, “Felix, you can check for yourself that I arrived in Jerusalem only twelve days ago. And since it took nearly five days to travel here to Caesarea, I was in the city for barely a week – which hardly is enough time to start a revolt. They accuse me of stirring up crowds in the temple – but where’s the evidence? Where are the witnesses? There is none. Just accusations.” Second, he addressed the charge of belonging to the so-called Nazarene sect. He says in verse 14, “Yes, I follow the Way of Jesus – which they dismiss as a cult. But the truth is that I believe everything that’s written in the Law and the Prophets, just as my accusers do. I haven’t abandoned our faith – I simply embraced its fulfillment, for I believe that everything the prophets spoke of has come to pass in Jesus Christ. In fact, like my accusers, I hold to the same hope – that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. And it’s because of that hope that I strive each day to be blameless before God and others.” His point was clear: the gospel doesn’t oppose the Jewish faith – it completes it. Lastly, he denied the charge of defiling the temple. He says in verse 17, “Yes, I was in the temple – but if you had been there, you’d know that I wasn’t with a crowd – let alone with any Gentiles. Again, where are the people who claim they saw me do this? They’re not here because it never happened. Then, what exactly am I guilty of?” Under Roman law, a charge required credible eyewitnesses. Then, it’s clear that there was no real case against Paul – this should’ve been thrown out right away. But Felix delayed giving a verdict, saying, “I’ll decide once the commander comes to confirm what happened.” And in the meantime, he placed Paul under house arrest but allowed his friends to visit and care for him.
Now, we’ll look more closely at this in the next section, but for now, notice what happened during Paul’s house arrest. Verse 24, “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.” Felix and Drusilla were curious, in that they wanted to hear more about Jesus – they were interested in the gospel. Now, if you were Paul, what would you have said? Remember, Felix had the power of life and death over him. Would that reality have shaped the message you shared? Would you have focused solely on God’s promises, His grace, His love, and the peace He offers while avoiding the uncomfortable truth about His wrath and coming judgment? Would you have spoken about God’s desire for a relationship with them, yet remained silent about His holiness and the reality of condemnation for unrepentant sinners? Look at what Paul chose to share in verse 25: “Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” Now, these weren’t random topics – there was a clear reason he addressed them. As I mentioned earlier, Felix was known for his corruption, cruelty, and injustice. Tacitus, a Roman historian, described him this way: “With all cruelty and lust, he exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave.” Obsessed with power, Felix used any means to maintain it – deception, bribery, manipulation, and violence. What about Drusilla? Scripture doesn’t tell us much about her, but historical records tell us that she came from a family known for opposing God’s purposes. Her great-grandfather was Herod the Great – the king who felt so threatened by the birth of Jesus that he ordered the massacre of infants in Bethlehem. Her father was Herod Agrippa I, who actively persecuted the early church – he was the one who had the apostle James executed, and Peter thrown into prison. Considering this, it’s reasonable to assume Drusilla may have harbored hostility toward Christianity. On top of that, her personal life was viewed as immoral by many Jews. She had originally been married to Azizus, king of Emesa, but left him to enter into an unlawful marriage with Felix. Knowing this, it makes perfect sense why Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. He was calling both of them to repent and turn to Christ for salvation. Now, would it have been wrong for Paul to speak about God’s love? Of course not. But knowing his time was limited, he went straight to the heart of what was keeping Felix and Drusilla from God – sin. He didn’t do this because he enjoyed confrontation, or because he wanted to guilt-trip or shame them. He did it because he longed for them to repent and be saved. That was Paul’s heart. Nothing else mattered. His deepest desire was to magnify Jesus and lead others to Him. No wonder he was able to speak so boldly, even with his life on the line. Honestly, I don’t know if I would’ve been that courageous in his place. I think I might have been more concerned with preserving my safety – justifying it by saying, “God wouldn’t want me to suffer. He would want me to be safe.” What about you? What would you have said if you were in Paul’s shoes?
Brothers and sisters, is there an urgency in your heart to advance the gospel? I’m sure this is not the case for everyone here – but I wonder if, for many of us, that sense of urgency has faded. As a result, we’ve chosen to take a very passive approach: “I’ll share the gospel only if God clearly opens a door – only if they bring it up first. But I really don’t want to be the one to start that conversation – because what if it gets awkward? What if it complicates the friendship? Besides, isn’t it enough that I’m living out the gospel? Maybe they’ll notice something different and ask me about it. But until then, I’ll just stay quiet. If they don’t ask, it must be because they’re not ready.” Have you ever thought this way? Are you tempted to remain passive when it comes to evangelism? If so, listen to what Rebecca Pippert said: “Even as our cultural landscape becomes increasingly secular, secularism does not have the power to erase our human longings for meaning and worth. If anything, it increases them. God has placed a longing for identity, meaning, and purpose in all human hearts; so, even if people can’t quite articulate what they feel they are missing, the longing and wistfulness are there. But they will not know where to look unless Christians both live and tell the good news of what God has done for all in Christ.” In other words, people are searching. They may not be able to identify the emptiness they feel, but the longing is there. Yet they won’t come looking for us because they don’t know where to look. That’s why we must go to them. They won’t hear the gospel unless we speak it. Friends, we need to recover that sense of urgency. We must seize every opportunity to advance the gospel, for we’re convinced that only Christ can save and satisfy. Then, let’s follow Paul’s example and boldly proclaim.
3) THE DELAY
Although it was evident that there was no real case against Paul, Felix, as mentioned earlier, chose to delay the verdict. Now, at first glance, it might seem like he was simply being cautious – waiting for the commander to arrive so he could make a more informed decision. But that explanation doesn’t hold up because verse 22 tells us that Felix was already well acquainted with “the Way.” In other words, Felix likely knew that Paul wasn’t an insurrectionist and that the Christian movement posed no real threat to the Roman Empire. Then, we can’t help but ask, “Why did he keep Paul in prison?” Two reasons. First, verse 26 reveals that Felix was hoping Paul would offer him a bribe. He knew that Paul had come to Jerusalem with financial contributions from the churches in Asia – and he saw this as an opportunity to profit. So, he kept Paul in prison as a way to enrich himself. Second, verse 27 says that Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor. As mentioned earlier, he had recently ordered a brutal massacre of Jews who had rebelled against Roman rule – and he knew the Sanhedrin resented him for it. So, keeping Paul in prison was a political move – a way to win their favor and maintain his own power. In other words, Felix wasn’t motivated by justice but by greed and self-preservation. He knew Paul was innocent, but he chose to do what suited him. Interestingly, he wasn’t just indecisive in his verdict but also in his response to the gospel. Think with me. He was well acquainted with “the Way” – and even if his understanding was incomplete, his conversations with Paul would’ve deepened it. In fact, when Paul spoke to him about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix was afraid – indicating that he was getting the truth. Now, even though he told Paul to leave at that time, he continued meeting with Paul, which shows that he wasn’t just informed – he was also interested. He wanted to hear more. But despite all of that, Felix still never made a decision. He didn’t reject the gospel, but he never embraced it either. He delayed and kept delaying – until eventually he was replaced by another governor. And we never hear from him again in Scripture. Now, could he have come to faith later in life? Possibly. But based on this passage, even though he was informed and intrigued, Felix ultimately hardened his heart and resisted the truth.
Then, I want to take this moment to speak to our non-believing friends here – those who have yet to surrender their lives to Jesus. First of all, thank you for spending your time with us – we’re genuinely glad that you’re here. In fact, I pray that you’ll continue to come to hear more about the gospel – but my plea to you today is that you wouldn’t harden your heart as Felix did. The truth is that if you’ve been with us for a while, you’re likely already familiar with the core truths of the gospel. You may know that it begins with God, who created us in love – who wanted to enjoy an intimate relationship with us. But because of our sin, we were cut off from His presence and destined to face His righteous judgment. But because of His love for us, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to substitute His place with us. He died the death that we should’ve received so that His righteousness could become ours. And Scripture makes it clear that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Many of you already know this. But you’re not only informed, but you’re also interested. You’re here because you like what Jesus has to say. If this is you, please don’t be indecisive like Felix. Yes, it’s true that no one can come to Christ unless the Lord opens their heart, in that we can’t force ourselves into faith. But when God does begin to stir your heart, don’t resist Him. Don’t harden your heart. Friends, what are you waiting for? A miraculous sign? A breakthrough in your doubts? An overwhelming spiritual experience? Sure, those things may stir you for a moment, but the feelings will fade. They won’t transform your life – only the gospel can do that. So, open your heart and surrender your life to Jesus today. Turn from your sin and trust Him for the forgiveness only He can offer.
Now, if you’re a follower of Christ, my plea to you today is that you won’t give up sharing the gospel no matter what. The truth is that people we care about may respond with resistance or indifference. They might say what Felix said in verse 25, “When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” When I was in university, I tutored math for a girl whose family was very kind to me. They would invite me to dinner, and over time, I got to know them well. Now, around that time, I had recently become a Christian – so with this newly found passion, I decided to share the gospel with them. I expected the conversation to be challenging, especially because the father was an atheist – but I wasn’t prepared for what he said. After I shared, he looked at me and said, “I don’t want to hear more – and I don’t want you to pray for us.” I was stunned. But before I could respond, he said it again more firmly: “I mean it. Don’t you dare pray for me or my family.” Honestly, I didn’t know how to process that at the time. But I share this with you because I want you to be prepared. The truth is that some people will tell you to stop. They’ll tell you to leave them alone. But don’t be discouraged if this happens – and don’t give up. Keep praying for them. Keep loving them – because who knows? God might use the seed you’ve planted to bear fruit in His perfect time. Trust God and stay faithful to the call. This is our mission: to proclaim Christ and advance the gospel, no matter the response.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, God is sovereignly at work in our lives, orchestrating all things to fulfill His purposes in and through us. Then, trusting in His wisdom and power, let’s make the most of every opportunity to advance the gospel, knowing that Christ is our only hope in life and in death. He is worth the cost.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Where do you see God’s sovereign hand at work in Paul’s situation? How does that encourage you in your own trials or detours?
2) Paul used every circumstance (even unjust imprisonment) to proclaim Christ. What opportunities has God placed before you right now?
3) Have you ever felt tempted to tone down the gospel to avoid awkwardness, rejection, or conflict? In what ways can you recover a sense of urgency in your personal evangelism?