Sermon, 2/16/03 am

Jim Huskey, Walking Through Acts # 31

The last time we left Paul, he had been taken out of the hands of the

Jews, having made his defense standing on the staircase, and when he

reached the point of mentioning the fact that God had sent him to the

Gentile world, an uproar ensued. The chief captain promptly came at

that point and took him by force, was intending to have him beaten,

only to be warned that Paul was a Roman and he best take caution of

what he was about to do. Finding that out, the chief captain has Paul

loosed from his bands and commands the Jewish council to come and make

a case against him, allowing him to defend himself. We pick up in

Acts 23 today.

They came, high priest included, and Paul was allowed to speak.

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I

lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high

priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the

mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall;

for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be

smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest

thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist (knew) not, brethren,

that he was the high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak

evil of the ruler of thy people." Acts 23:1-5.

There's an interesting statement Paul made as he began this defense.

"...I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

vs. 1. Now that's a mouthful!!! There are not many people who could

have made that statement. Paul, I believe, made it in all good

conscience. I believe, as much as anyone who ever lived, Paul sought to

do what was God's will. Now he didn't always know what God's will was,

because he's pointed out already, and will do so again, that there were

many things he wound up doing that were contrary to what God wanted

done, but at the time he was doing them, thought those were the things

to do, until he learned better. That principle is very broad and it

should tell us there is that old statement 'let your conscience be your

guide.' That is a safe thing to do ONLY as far as the conscience is

PROPERLY INSTRUCTED. You see, that was the problem into which Paul had

run. He was fighting against Christ all the while, thinking he was

doing the will of God, when in fact, he was doing things contrary to

the will of God. Yes, we should follow conscience, but the first thing

we must do is make certain conscience is properly instructed. If

conscience is NOT properly instructed, we can say the same thing Paul

said and still wind up in hell.

It's interesting also, that the high priest, after Paul had made that

statement, commanded those who stood by Paul to hit him; hit him in

the mouth. Well, Paul responded to that. Paul said, "God shall smite

thee, thou whited wall..." verse 3. Now remember, Paul did not

realize that Ananias was the high priest. Also remember, Paul had been

away from Jerusalem for a time and sometimes the high priest changed

as often as the governors of Judaea did - at a whim. So Ananias was

now the high priest. The last time Paul had contact with anyone named

Ananias, he was the Jewish convert who had been chosen to give Paul

instructions as to what to do to be saved and do God's will. But this

Ananias was high priest. Paul therefore apologized for his state-

ment. When Paul was asked 'are you going to revile God's high priest?'

Paul responded, 'I didn't know he was high priest.' Paul would NOT

have reacted that way had he known. Paul made a point. It did not

seem to bother the Jews, the high priest, the council, the Sanhedrin,

to violate the very law they supposedly upheld, because to smite Paul

like that was contrary to the VERY LAW the high priest was supposed to

be enforcing and upholding. It was sort of like some of our leaders

in recent years. The very law they were supposed to be upholding, they

didn't mind violating, themselves.

So Paul saw the die pretty much cast. So he plays his "trump care".

Pardon that expression, but that's exactly what he did. He looked his

audience over and he saw that they were already divided. They are

Pharisees and the are Sadducees. Now the Sadducees said there were

no angels, no spirits, no resurrection from the dead. The Pharisees

believed in all those things. "But when Paul perceived that the one

part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the

council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee;

of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And

when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees

and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees

say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the

Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry; and the scribes

that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no

evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let

us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension,

the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces

of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force

from among them, and to bring him into the castle." Acts 23:6-10.

That's the second time he had to do that. That's going to prove

interesting, too, before it's all over.

"And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good

cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must

thou bear witness also at Rome." verse 11. Jews had decided the best

way to handle Paul was to kill him. They couldn't silence him, they

couldn't answer him. A group of over forty men take a vow that they

would not eat or drink until Paul was dead. They went to the chief

priest and elders and said, 'We've bound ourselves under a curse; now

here's what we want you to do. You go to the chief captain and tell

him you want Paul to be brought down to testify and to be tried. When

they bring him down, we'll kill him. We'll lie in wait and we'll

kill him.' vs. 13-15. Now isn't that interesting???? The chief

priest, the high priest, the elders of the people, were willing to do

that. Now these were the religious leaders, my friend!!!! In the

meantime, Paul nephew heard about this plan, went to the jail and told

Paul. Paul called for the centurion and told him to take the boy to

the captain, he knew something the captain needed to hear. Paul's

nephew was carried to the captain. The boy told the captain the leaders

of the Jews were trying to use him, because they were going to send

to him to bring Paul down to testify and when he brought him down,

there was a group of over forty men who had taken a vow that they

would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul, so the captain

would be playing into their hands. In reality, the chief captain was

about to get "fed up" with this mess. "And he called unto him two

centurions saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea,

and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third

hour of the night." verse 23. He was sending down a pretty good party

to get Paul down there - 470 men. There were 70 horsemen, 200

soldiers, 200 spearmen. He intended for Paul to get down their

safely.

Then the captain wrote a letter. Now I mentioned that this rescue

deal would come into play again. "And he wrote a letter after this

manner; Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth

greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed

of them; then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood

that he was a Roman." verses 25-27. [Oh, Shucks!!!!! When did you

find out he was a Roman, captain??? Oh, after you'd bound him and was

about to have him beaten; that's when you found out he was a Roman!!!

You didn't rescue him because you thought he was a Roman; you rescued

him because of the uproar that was caused. Then when you nearly did

the WRONG THING that would put YOUR neck on the chopping block, you

found out he was a Roman, and THEN you delivered him from the Jews,

the second time.] So the captain didn't quite tell all the truth.

He sort of got the "cart before the horse" in a few places, in other

words. "And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused

him, I brought him forth into their council; whom I perceived to be

accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his

charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told me how that

the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave

commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had

against him. Farewell." vs. 28-30.

Well, the soldiers got Paul to Caesarea. "And when the governor

had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he

understood that he was of Cilicia; I will hear thee, said he, when

thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in

Herod's judgment hall." vs. 34,35.

About five days here came Ananias. An orator has been brought to

present the Jews' case. Now remember, what had been commanded was

that his accusers stand before him face to face, but wasn't going

to be done just yet. They brought an orator to present their case.

We can tell it, because the very first thing the orator tried to do

was "butter" up Felix, the governor. "And when he was called forth,

Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy

great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation

by thy providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble

Felix, with all thankfulness." Acts 24:2,3. Now he didn't have to lie

about it, but he did. The Jews hated his guts, because he was a

symbol of their bondage. They were under Roman domination. They

didn't think a Roman was fit to live in the first place, because he

wasn't a Jew. "Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto

thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few

words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of

sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of

the sect of the Nazarenes; who also hath gone about to profane the

temple; whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But

the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took

him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come unto thee;

by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things,

whereof we accuse him. And the Jews also assented, saying that these

things were so." vs. 4-9.

Now you notice no proof was given. How was he going to profane the

temple? How did he profane the temple? Oh, remember, that was brought

about because they S-U-P-P-O-S-E-D that Trophimus, a Greek, had been

with him in the temple. Had Trophimus been in the temple? NO!!! Was

Paul causing a stir when he was there? NO!!! In fact, when some came

who saw Paul in the temple and T-H-O-U-G-H-T that since they saw

Trophimus with him earlier in the city, he was there, and they started

stirring up the people. But none of the charges were true. So Paul

had presented his case before the mob, he presented his case before

the Jewish council, and now he was having to do it again. And in so

doing, he was speaking now to governors of Rome.

"Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak,

answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a

judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself;

because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve

days since I went up to Jerusalem for 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 whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto

thee, 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 offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many

years I came to bring alms 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 thee,

and object, if they had ought against me. (You see, they never DID

show up.) Or else let these same here say, if they have found any

evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, except it be for

this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the

resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of

THAT way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain

shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter."

Acts 24:10-22. So he has Paul kept, but he didn't have him in bonds

or braces or chains or anything like that, letting him have liberty.

He commanded a centurion to stay with him, he was not to forbid any

of Paul's acquaintances to minister or come to him.

"And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which

was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in

Christ." vs. 24. He's already heard him as he stood before him

with the council was there. "And as he reasoned of righteousness,

temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy

way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for

thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul,

that he might loose him; wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and

communed with him." vs. 25,26.

Now Paul was right - Felix was knowledgeable about some of the things

among the Jews. One of the reasons for his knowledge was because his

wife was a Jewess. So in a lot of respects, he was one who understood

how to keep the Jews reasonably happy and at the same time keep Rome

happy. He had been able to do that, and the nation had been quiet for

some time in that area. When Paul reasoned with him of righteousness,

temperance and judgment to come, Felix trembled. You must remember

that this fellow had "been down the road and back". He was not your

most upright of characters, but Paul got to him. The record says he

trembled. But he said 'go your was, when I have a more convenient

season, I'll call for you.'

Now there are two factors that are going to enter in here. Paul had

gotten under Felix' skin for one thing. But also, Felix heard Paul

talking about bringing all those alms for his nation. He would be

wondering if Paul still had all that money with him. So he had hopes

of getting a little of that. Then there was a third factor. He was

a politician, and since he had to answer for the way the Jews acted

under his governorship, he wanted to keep them happy. So the record

says he sent for him the oftener and communed with him. But as far

as we know, that "convenient season" never came. It's evident it

didn't.

"But afer two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room; and Felix,

willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." vs. 27.

Now remember, Paul had some freedom to move about; he had a centurion

with him, his friends could come to him, they could minister to him,

but he's still a prisoner - and it's because of politics. It will

ultimately be because of politics that he will have to appeal to

Caesar. Now, we need to understand who the Emperor was at the time

this was going on. We know him better as Nero. He's the one, you'll

remember, who lighted his garden with torches, using for fuel, the

bodies of christians. He's the one, supposedly, who fiddled while

Rome burned. He's the one who set up games to pit christians against

beasts in the colosseums, yet Paul averred that he had a better chance

standing before him, than he had standing before the Jewish leaders.

Festus would hear him and in Acts 25:8 beginning, we read, "While he

answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither

against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing

at all. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a plessure, answered Paul,

and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these

things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat,

where I ought to be judged; to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou

very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any

thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there be none of

these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them,

I appeal unto Caesar." Acts 25:8-11. We might learn a lesson there.

There's a time when we need to appeal to the law that is. That's why

it's there. Paul said, 'no, I won't go down, I won't stand before

them in Jerusalem again, I'll go before Caesar's judgment seat.' And

we will later learn that when Agrippa comes, a king, Paul could have

been set at liberty, had it not been for politics. He felt his only

way out was to appeal to Caeaser. Agrippa said if he hadn't done that,

he should have been loosed. But you see Felix didn't want to turn him

loose because he might get some money from him, he wanted to appease

the Jews. Festus didn't want to turn him loose because he wanted

to appease the Jews. Paul was left with no recourse and we'll look

at that as he stands before Agrippa. When Agrippa and Bernice come,

Festus will tell them about Paul and Agrippa will say 'I want to hear.'

Of course, Festus wanted him to hear, because he hated to send him to

Rome and not have a charge to lay againt him. The bottom line is,

he didn't have a legal charge whereby he could charge Paul; so he hoped

Agrippa could come up with something, because he didn't have anything.

We'll close here, and the next time we'll see Paul making his defense

then before King Agrippa. Remember what the Lord told him? He would

stand before kings - first step in that process right here. He's

already been sent to the Gentiles, now he's going to stand before

the king and the Lord had already stood by him and told him 'you're

going to Rome, too.' Eventually, we'll read of saints in Caesar's

household, because of that trip.