Study #72: Paul defended himself before the Roman governor Felix

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Acts, Chapter 2.5: Paul the prisoner witnessed to the Gentile Roman government in Caesarea before traveling to Rome (23:12 - 28:31)

§Complement Introduction: Paul’s nephew helped Paul to escape a Jewish conspiracy to kill him (23:12 - 35)

¶Opposite Paul’s nephew reported the conspiracy to kill Paul to the Roman tribune (23:12 - 22)

¶Opposite The Roman tribune sent Paul to Caesarea under heavy guard (23:23 - 35)

§Complement Body: Paul defended himself before the Roman governors and king Agrippa, who sent him to Rome (24:1 - 27:44)

¶Opposite Paul defended himself before Felix against false accusations from a lawyer hired by the Jews (24:1 - 23)

¶Opposite For two years, Felix tried to persuade Paul to bribe him for freedom, but failed (24:24 - 27)

¶Complement Paul appealed to Caesar to prevent his assassination by Jews on the road to Jerusalem (25:1 - 22)

¶Complement Paul appealed to Christ as the reason for all that he did in his life (25:23 - 26:32)

¶Unique Paul was transported under guard by a ship from Asia Minor, which crashed on the island of Malta (27:1 - 44)

§Unique Conclusion: Paul was transported to Rome by ship, where he explained the Kingdom of God to the Jews of Rome (28:1 - 31)

¶Complement Paul was transported to Rome from Malta on a ship of Alexandria, Egypt (28:1 - 16)

¶Complement Paul explained the Kingdom of God to the Jews of Rome (28:17 - 31)

The text of the first paragraph of the Body Section, arranged by the Golden Ratio design:

§Complement Body: Paul defended himself before the Roman governors and king Agrippa, who sent him to Rome (24:1 - 27:44)

¶Opposite Paul defended himself before Felix against false accusations from a lawyer hired by the Jews (24:1 - 23)

Unique 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. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done to this nation by your providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious to you, I ask of your courtesy that you would hear us briefly. For we have found this man a plague, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes; who also has gone about to profane the Temple; whom we took, and would have judged according to our Law. But the tribune Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands; commanding his accusers to come to you: by examining of whom you yourself may take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.” And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were true.

Complement Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered, “Forasmuch as I know that you have been a judge to this nation for many years, I do even more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 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; neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, 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; 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. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.

Complement Now after many years I came to bring gifts to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the Temple; neither with multitude, nor with tumult; who ought to have been here before you and object, if they had anything against me; or else let these same here say if they have found any evil doing in me while I stood before the council; unless it is for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, ‘Touching the resurrection of the dead am I called in question by you this day.’”

Opposite And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of the Way, he deferred them, and said, “When Lysias the tribune shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.”

Opposite And he commanded a centurion to guard Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come to him.

Comments: The orator Tertullus used false accusations to move the Roman governor Felix to have Paul whipped as an insurrectionist: He was “a mover of sedition”, and “a ringleader”.

Paul was none of these things; in fact, he was an Apostle, so he was a leader among the Christians, but that did not make him a “ringleader” of criminals or rebels against the Roman empire. He was also not “a mover of sedition”, because Paul had never done any such thing, against either the Romans or the Jews.

The only thing Paul was guilty of was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that sinners could be freed from their sins and become children of God with Eternal Life in Heaven!

But Tertullus and the leaders of the Jews, like most unbelievers, did not understand divine truth. The mind and heart of a lost person is blind to the truth, and (like Saul of Tarsus before he was saved and became the Apostle Paul), they were most likely acting out of pure ignorance. Satan was manipulating them behind the scenes in the spirit world through the influence of his demons.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4: “But if our Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost; in whom the god of this Age has blinded the minds of them who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine into them.”

But the Romans were unbelievers, and were generally ignorant of the Bible, so Tertullus thought he could manipulate Felix in this way. But, to his credit, Felix wasn’t a stupid man. He could see what the Jews were trying to do to Paul; and that Paul was likely innocent of the charges; so he set Paul free from his chains with a soldier to guard him.

I remember when I was lost and did not know Jesus Christ as my Savior 40 years ago. I committed many sins and said many evil things against Christians and churches, but only because I was ignorant of the truth. I did not know who God was; He was only a concept to me; “hell” was a word to be used in vain, along with the Name of Jesus Christ and God.

Without a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, there is no limit to the evil that can fill a person’s soul.

Jeremiah 17:9-10: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? I Jehovah search the heart, I test the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

The text of the second paragraph of the Body Section, arranged by the Golden Ratio design:

¶Opposite For two years, Felix tried to persuade Paul to bribe him for freedom, but failed (24:24 - 27)

Opposite And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the Faith in Christ.

Opposite And as he reasoned of righteousness, self-control, and Judgment to come, Felix trembled; and he answered, “Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient time, I will call for you.”

Complement He hoped also that money would be given him by Paul, so that he might release him.

Complement Therefore he sent for him frequently, and communed with him.

Unique But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’s office; and Felix, willing to show the Jews favor, left Paul bound.

Comments: Felix was like many people who hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that Jesus was God, who came to Earth and was born of a virgin girl; He lived a sinless life for 33 years, was crucified for the sins of all mankind and paid for their sins on the cross; He was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day, victorious over sin, Hell, and the grave.

Romans 10:8-13: “But what does it say? “The Word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is to say, the Word of faith (which we preach), that if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved: for with the heart man believes into righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made into salvation: for the Scripture says, “Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.” For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him: for it is written, “whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If we believe the Bible, and we believe this good news (the Gospel), then we can repent of our sins, and place our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior to forgive us for our sins, and make us his child forever and ever. When we die, then God can allow us into his Heaven, because our sins have been forgiven. God cannot allow even a single sin there, because God is three times Holy.

Isaiah 6:3: “And one cried to another, and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!!”

We also must be holy if we want to go to Heaven when we die; but we cannot be holy on our own. Our works are imperfect, no matter how much good we might do in our lives; so God had to provide a Savior for us; and that Savior was Himself, Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been permanently saved through faith; and that faith is not out of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of our own works, lest any man should boast”

I Timothy 2:5-6: “for there is only one God, and only one Mediator between God and men: the Man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all mankind, to be testified in due time.”

Felix heard the Gospel, and understood it and even believed what Paul was saying! But he decided not to repent and receive Christ as his Savior, because it wasn’t “convenient” for him to do it. After all, what would his emperor Claudius think of him, if Felix became a Christian? He would lose his job as governor of Judea, and he might even lose his life!

Mark 8:34-37: “And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said to them, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me: for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it benefit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

This is often the decision that sinners have to make: if I accept Jesus as my Savior, then I will lose all of my friends, my family, and maybe even my job as well.

But which is worse? Going to Hell (and later, the Lake of Fire) forever and ever and ever, being roasted in fire and tormented by demons? Or losing a few friends and maybe your job?

God will provide new friends and a new job! God will bless your decision to repent of your sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior! Believe in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive Him as your personal Savior, right now.

Do not look back at the evil world! You must secure your own place in Heaven with Christ first; then you can reach out to others with the Gospel; if they reject the Gospel, that is not good for them, but you will be safe with Jesus, no matter what happens in this life; and nothing is more important than that!

Notice also that Felix delayed making a decision for Christ. He kept talking with Paul for two years, but in spite of all that the great Apostle could say to him about his soul and Jesus Christ, Felix never trusted in Christ as his Savior.

This was a tragedy for Felix; he had every opportunity to repent and be saved, but he kept putting off the decision until his heart had hardened to the point that he could not receive Christ!

Someone has said that the same Sun that melts the wax, also hardens the clay. This is also true when hearing the Gospel of Christ: when a sinner says “No” to Jesus, or even “Wait” or “Not now”, his heart becomes a little more hard to the Gospel; and eventually, the sinner cannot hear the Gospel at all; and he never will be saved.

Saying “no” or “not now” to Jesus is saying that you would rather go to Hell than be saved! Do not make this deadly mistake, as Felix did!

You may say, my spouse is not a Christian; I will talk to them first so we can be saved together and have a Christian family.

That is a noble thought, but here is the reality: unless your spouse is truly ready to be saved, they will not receive Christ as their Savior, and they might never receive Christ! So if you are waiting for them to receive Christ before you do, then both of you will go to Hell! Why?

Here is what Jesus said about this situation:

Matthew 10:38-39: “And he that does not take his cross, and follow after me, is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.”

You must be saved yourself FIRST; THEN, and only then can you tell others about Jesus. YOUR SOUL is your first priority, my friend!

I have heard stories where both spouses were saved at the same time, but these are rare. I have seen far more where that did not happen. Do not gamble your future in Eternity on a tiny hope that your spouse will be saved with you, because the most likely response will be the opposite.

As you study the Bible and learn how to follow Christ, God will give you wisdom and his power to lead your family to saving faith in Christ; but only if you receive Jesus Christ first!

I Peter 3:1-2: “Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, if any do not obey the Word of God, they may also without the Word be won to Christ by the conduct of the wives, while they observe your pure conduct in fear.”

Acts 16:31: “And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; and you shall be saved, and your household.”

Here is how you can repent of your sins, and be born again (or saved) into the Kingdom of God, right now:

Pray this prayer to receive Christ as your Savior and be saved:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against YOU. I am no good, and you are righteous! You are my only hope for salvation! I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, you were buried, and you rose again from the dead on the third day. I want you to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart right now. Forgive me for all my sins, and save my soul. In the mighty Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!”

If you have turned from your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and only Savior from sin, please message me through Facebook and let me know that you have done that, so that I can pray for you and rejoice with you in what God has done in your life. Amen.