Felix’s opportunity

 Acts 24:17-27; 6/2/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

 Introduction

Paul was still in the middle of the trial in Caesarea.  Governor Felix nodded and told Paul to speak, and Paul continued to bear witness to the Lord.  What I never expected was that God would also leave an opportunity for Felix to hear the gospel and believe in Jesus.  This should be something that changes our values ​​and even shakes the very foundations of the earth.  Let’s look at the first point:

 State the facts

Stating the facts is a humble but powerful statement.  Usually people are more willing to express their opinions, views, and feelings, but they ignore the expression of facts.  First, perform a cleansing ceremony.  Because God is holy, He requires His people to be clean as well.    Jewish law’s rituals of cleansing, from the temple to family life, are in-depth and detailed. Whether it is leprosy, hemorrhage, wet dreams, menstruation, etc., they are all considered to be contrary to God’s creation, and even a sign of the loss of life potential and spiritual deficiency.   Paul said that a few years later, he meant that he briefly returned to Jerusalem during his second missionary trip and brought back donations from overseas.  What Paul means is that when I donated money, I performed a cleansing ceremony, which was a fact visible to everyone.  Not only were there no crowds, but there was also no noise.  Including these Jews who came from Asia and the high priest, they can all witness me.

Secondly, the complaint is unreasonable.  In addition, during the twelve days since I, Paul, came back this time, I lived in the light in everything, and nothing inappropriate happened.   Paul said: “they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.”  Meaning, if you didn’t sue me five years ago, why are you causing trouble for no reason now?  Since the reason you are suing me is “for inciting all the Jews in the world to cause chaos,” you should go directly to the governor and sue me!  Why did they ambush forty people at the Sanhedrin and claim that they would not eat or drink until they killed me, Paul?  I would like to ask, is it reasonable for you to do this?  What’s more, every time I come back to the temple, I always “bring donations and offerings for my own country.”  How embarrassing it is for you to treat me like this!

Lastly, just say the things if there’s any.  Even so, I, Paul, am open to any accusation.   “Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, ”  This is, just say the things if there’s any, don’t make endless claims and make things out of nothing!  You say that I “am a leader in the Nazarene religious party”.  What is the basis for this?  This is because the Bible prohibits forming cliques, and cliques for personal gain.    In fact, the church has only one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.  And apart from that, there is no other authority.  There is no high priest in the church, only God’s servants who follow the Lord’s example and wash the disciples’ feet.  Therefore, there is no evidence for the accusations you mentioned.  I neither incited the Jews in the world to cause chaos, nor did I intend to desecrate the temple, nor did I form any clique for selfish purposes.  Let’s look at the second point:

 Tell the truth

If stating facts is a means or method, then Paul’s telling the truth is the purpose.  This is also the relationship between thought and strategy, which is terrifying if you think about it carefully.  First, the conversation turned to resurrection.  Paul’s calmness is rare in the world.  He said, you might as well come and see what I am doing recklessly.  May I ask again, is there any?  If not, please listen to my important words!  And I want to say something out loud: “It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.” Have you ever thought about why resurrection is the most important truth?  It’s very simple, because even if a person gains the whole world and loses his own life, what is the benefit?  If Jesus did not rise from the dead, all our faith is in vain.  Death will devour all meaning in a person’s life, from cradle to grave.  Resurrection is the only way out of human despair!

Secondly, righteousness, self-control and judgment.  Apparently, God gave Governor Felix ample opportunity to receive the truth.  Paul even had the opportunity to speak to Felix about righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment, almost as part of a fundamental truth class in the church.  Righteousness refers to God’s fundamental attributes, self-control is the fruit of the Spirit, and judgment refers to eschatological teachings.  Everything involves people’s core values and matters that determine life and death.  Righteousness means exalting the Lord, that only God is correct, the only one, and the greatest.  Before God, our only choice is to obey. Self-control means surrendering the sovereignty of our lives to the Holy Spirit.  Instead of trying to express our own will in everything, including our flesh, feelings, and perceptions, we let God lead us.  The eschatology that drives our hopes and actions is about giving an account to God.

Lastly, bringing the family for sermon preaching.  It should be said that Felix was deeply moved after hearing Paul’s words.  Only when I wrote this did I discover that Felix’s wife was a Jewish woman named Silas.  I think this is why Paul said: “Felix knew the word in detail.” Perhaps his wife Silas once talked to him about the Pentateuch, history books, prophets and so on, and he would have some impression.  Paul came to stand trial, and maybe Silas would still be listening behind the door.  It seemed that the Holy Spirit was also at work, inspiring the couple to come together to listen to Paul’s sermon a few days later.  Let’s look at the third point:

 Missed opportunity

Grace has been given by God, whether to accept it or reject it depends on one’s own attitude.  First, knowing but putting them off.  Felix should have had the best opportunity to know the Lord, believe in the Lord, and follow the Lord, but such a good opportunity just passed him by.  The Bible makes it very clear: “But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way,”  It shows that he has heard the Word before and understands the truth of the gospel.   Felix was the governor of Judah, a man of great power.  Because of his high position and authority, all the world’s information, including gospel information, is gathered to him.  There is also a natural database of the Old Testament at home.  Felix thus had the unique advantage of knowing the gospel message.  However, it was precisely because of his power that he found it difficult to give up, so that he gained power but abandoned the gospel.

Secondly, being trembled when hearing it.  John said there is no fear in love because God is love.  But when Felix heard “Paul speaking about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment,” Felix “trembled.”  This is also a reference when we conduct self-examination, which is to understand whether we have love in our hearts and whether we are afraid when we hear the truth.  As for you, do you fear God more than you love God, or do you love God more than fear?  After all, Felix still couldn’t overcome his fear, so he chose to escape and hide.  Felix said to Paul: “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you. ” The so-called opportunity cannot be missed and the time will never come again!  Perhaps this was the last time Felix heard the gospel in his life.  From then on, fear became a portrayal of Felix’s life.

Lastly, Listening to sermons but for money.  A person’s timidity in the gospel does not affect his greed for money.  The Bible says:  “At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.”  When Paul said that at the end of his second missionary journey he had gone up to Jerusalem with donations and offerings for his country, Felix’s heart began to move.  Greed enveloped his heart.  In order to obtain the overseas donations that Paul brought back, Felix ordered the centurions to guard Paul,   treat him with leniency, and not prevent his relatives and friends from providing for him.  It seems that Felix’s motives betrayed his good deeds.  Just like the evil acts of destroying churches, tearing down crosses, and arresting servants of God that have occurred since 2013, they have also betrayed the motives of reform, opening up, and religious freedom.  Now that there are fewer and fewer overseas investments, of course the persecution of the church will also escalate.

Conclusion

Well, thank the Lord!  Even Felix of the Antichrist regime had the opportunity to hear the gospel.  We have to say how wide and long,and high and deep God’s love is.  May God give us the heart of Christ Jesus and pray for our enemies!  May all the good opportunities in this world be used to glorify God and benefit people.

Let us pray……

 

Acts 24:17-27

17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 

18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 

19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 

20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 

21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 

23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 

25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 

27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.