Responding Rightly To Disappointment Acts 24:17-27
Circumstances which come into our lives often do not fit exactly
our
plans. The Apostle Paul had a huge burden to reach his own (the
Jews).
However, when he went to Jerusalem with hopes of presenting Christ
to them,
the situation turned from good to bad to worse.
Paul almost lost his life; he was rescued by the Roman garrison
and sent to
Caesarea for his protection.
Through his stay in Caesarea, God served His purpose through
Paul to get the
gospel to people who otherwise would not have heard.
It is amazing how God works to place us in the right circumstances,
so we
can share Christ. As Paul is routed to Rome, doors open for him
to publicly
defend his faith and testify before dignitaries the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Let us look again at one of the first of several opportunities
of the
Apostle Paul to preach the Gospel, when he stands before Felix,
the governor
of Palestine.
I. He Proceeded EVEN When Misrepresented (vs. 17-
21)
Paul's enemies sought to derail his ministry by bringing false
charges against him.
The Jews haired a lawyer against him in hopes of securing the
conviction against Paul
A. Deliberate deception
His enemies did not care about the truth. They attacked his
character.
The charges were nothing but a batch of lies.
B. Downright distortion
Paul did not quit; he kept on keeping on.
II. He Persisted EVEN When Misjudged (22-23)
Felix should have let Paul go, but he did not. Paul had been
accused, and
he had answered the charges. Felix knew Paul was right, but he
did not let
Paul go.
A. The case was deferred when it should have
been dismissed
Felix knew Paul's case should have been dismissed, but Felix
was a politician and was more interested in his position and purse
than
justice.
If he lets Paul go free, he would irritate the Jews; so he
deferred the case.
He postpones the case with the excuse that he will decide it
after he hears the testimony of Lysias, the commander. This gets
the Jews
off his back and out of town.
Felix was fully aware of the flimsiness of the charges against
Paul, especially in the absence of any first hand witnesses.
B. The captive was given leniency when he
should have been given liberty
Paul was kept in custody but was given liberty for his friends
to visit him and bring him sustenance and comfort.
The leniency given to Paul, in his light confinement, only
showed how clearly Felix knew himself to be doing wrong, but small
kindnesses do not patch up a great injustice.
III. He Preached EVEN when Mistreated (24-27)
Here is Paul, a prisoner who is innocent of the false
charges against him, coming before the man who had the power to
release
him or execute him. Paul easily could have been tempted to argue
for his release, but Paul lived for the gospel.
PAUL WAS CONCRNED FOR THE SOULS OF MEN AND NOT FOR THE
SAFETY OF HIS OWN LIFE.
In his preaching of the gospel, he could have been
tempted to go very lightly, being sure not to say anything
offensive to this powerful man and his wife. Maybe he should
present the gospel in a user-friendly fashion, showing them how
Jesus could help them have a happier life. He could bring out
his
best stories to warm their hearts and maybe Felix would even let
Paul out of prison.
But Paul didn't know anything about a user-friendly
gospel! He didn't give Felix and Drusilla an inspiring message
that
left them feeling good about themselves
When he spoke of righteousness, Paul probably spoke on
the perfect righteousness of God and the absolute righteousness
that God demands from every person as revealed in the law.
Paul's words on the need for self-control hit this couple
with their own sins of lust, adultery, greed, and selfish indulgence.
Perhaps he said to them, "For the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously,
and godly, in this present world."
The judgment to come pointed them to the fact that God
"hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world
in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath
given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from
the dead."
Paul saw the opening for the gospel, and he went with it with
full force.
A. The Governor heard
B. The Governor hesitated
C. The Governor hardened
Delay blinds the mind with lesser issues.
Felix wanted a bribe out of Paul. He was so materialistic
that he would do for money what he wouldn't do for justice.
He would allow himself to be put in jeopardy
for money but nothing else. He wasn't about to let Paul go because
the
Jewish leaders might give him trouble. But he might have let
Paul go if he got money, and then he wouldn't care if they troubled
him.
Paul told Timothy, "The love of money is the root of all
evil" (1 Tim.
6:10).
What would make Felix think Paul had money?
He probably figured that since Paul brought an offering to Jerusalem,
and since he was the leader of the Nazarenes, he might have some
money on hand. Or he might have thought the Christians could have
pooled
their money and bought him off.
Felix sent for Paul again and again, but the sad part is,
Scripture doesn't record that Felix was ever convicted again.
There
never was a convenient season. He just wanted money. Jesus said,
"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and
lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?" (Mark 8:36-37).
Felix tired to gain the world, but as far as we know, he
lost his own soul.
Conclusion
How should respond to what comes our way is so important!
Though the accusations were all false, the apostle remained
faithful. Paul never lost his focus.