"Introduction to Acts 24"

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/28/2018 8:46 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                    Focus:  Introduction to Acts 24

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 24:1-27

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [[We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.]] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

 

            “10 When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 “Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. 13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia- 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 "Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21 other than

for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ’For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’"

 

            “22 But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him. 24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you." 26 At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.”

 

            It has been a while since we have looked at an entire chapter of the Bible in one of the chapters in John MacArthur’s commentary.  He entitles this chapter in his commentary “Paul on Trial Phase One: Before Felix.”

 

            As we read over this section from the book of Acts it kind of reminds me of the section in the Gospels that talk about John the Baptists imprisonment and how Herod would come and talk with him, but did not believe that John was telling the truth although he was actually coming under some kind of conviction, he did not take advantage of it.  Felix would come and talk to Paul concerning salvation through Jesus Christ, and did this for two years, and yet because he was looking for money from Paul instead of salvation through Jesus Christ there is no evidence that he every became saved.  The eventual outcome of John the Baptist and Paul the apostle was death through having their heads cut off, although Paul’s life ended much later that Johns as John was killed after having not much time in jail as seen in Matthew chapter 14.

 

            We can go through the Bible, especially the New Testament and see other lost opportunities of coming to know Jesus Christ as Savior.  When Paul was in Athens we saw not many were saved.  Take a look at Luke 9:57-62 with me:

 

“57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." 59 And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." 60 But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." 61 Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

 

            In the parable that Jesus gives in Matthew 25 about the foolish virgins who did not take enough oil with them we find another lost opportunity.

 

            There is one lost opportunity that tops them all and that is Judas who lived with Jesus for three years, actually ministering with the other eleven, and yet in the end betrayed our Lord.  What a tragic loss. 

 

            Well we can add another one and that would be Felix as we have already written about.

 

            As our usual way of introducing different chapters from MacArthur’s outline we quote his last introductory paragraph:  “Paul’s hearing before Felix, like any trial, consisted of three parts:  the prosecution, the defense, and the verdict.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is always a difficult time that when I speak to someone about the Lord and they really don’t want anything to do with it, and that is what we are looking at in this section of Scripture.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Not to give up telling others about the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Pharaoh and his army” (Exodus 14:28).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Who wrote the book of James?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/28/2018 9:27 AM