The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, Who gave it to us, not just to read in our spare time, but to pray over and ponder. As we approach the final chapters of Acts, there is a constant message about sharing Jesus with the world. Our world is a lot smaller than Paul’s and yet a lot larger than Paul’s, and just as wanting for Jesus Christ. Paul shared Jesus by word of mouth; we have so many other means of doing so. Think about it and pray about it. I do exactly that every time I post to this blog. Our faith in Christ is from God through the Holy Spirit. As Pastor Adrian Rogers said in one of his sermons, we are the 29th chapter of Acts. God never asks us to do what He doesn’t enable us to do. 

Ratio Christi is Latin for “The reason of Christ”. The darkness entering America began on college campuses decades ago. Students in our churches are often ill-prepared for the challenges to their faith that they face on today’s college campuses. We as Christian parents and grandparents can help make a difference by supporting Ratio Christi. Just as Paul brought Christ to a darkened pagan world, we can help bring Christ to today’s darkened college campuses. 

https://ratiochristi.org/about/  (copy and paste into your web browser)

Have you every really thought about Acts and where it is taking us?  It’s history of the infant church, written via the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, and a roadmap for us today. It’s also about sharing Jesus with a world in need of a Savior. See Adrian Rogers message at the end of this chapter AND visit Ratio Christi’s website regarding how we can help, right here and right now, as parents and grandparents of college age youths. If we don’t care, who will?

When and how did the infant Christian Church, professed by Peter, Paul and the other Apostles, become the Roman Catholic Church? What led to the 16th century Protestant Reformation? Join us Sunday morning as we explore this question. 

John 14:26, in the NKJV the Holy Spirit is called “Helper”. As we read God’s Word, we can call on the Holy Spirit, the Counselor and Helper, to guide our understanding and its relevance to today’s world. 

Chapter 23 ended with Paul being brought before Governor Felix in Caesarea and placed under arrest in Herod’s palace. As we go through Acts, keep in mind, it was written by Luke as inspired by the Holy Spirit. Chapter 24 marks a turning point for Paul. 

May the Holy Spirit, the Helper and Comforter, open our minds and hearts to His Word and the wisdom in applying it in our life in thought, word and deed. 

V.1 picks up five days after the soldiers brought Paul before Felix with a letter of complaint against Paul. Ananias, the high priest arrived with their lawyer, Tertullus (Ter-tul-lus)—who was versed in Roman law, and who was to present their case against Paul. He begins with compliments to the Roman governor (v.2-3). The reality is that the Jews had no love for the Roman nor any desire to be under Roman rule. 

Rome was very sensitive to riots in their provinces, and it was the responsibility of the Roman governor to maintain peace and order. The case being made against Paul, though untrue, was that he had created disorder, not just in Jerusalem but elsewhere in the Roman Empire, a violation of Roman law. 

V.7 which appears in the NKJV, but not in the NIV, reflects the mood of their charges, with a degree of exaggeration to further enhance the charges. Lysian (Ly-si-as) was the Roman commander who rescued Paul from the crowd in Chapter 22:23, where the Roman soldiers carried Paul away. The violence was on the Jewish side and certainly not the Roman side. 

The way to make a lie sound like the truth is to emphasize it over and over, especially with loud accusations—something we would label as “fake news” on the mainstream media when something political is misrepresented and repeated almost verbatim on the other like-minded networks. 

Paul states his case noting that the charges are untrue. 

Paul states that he is a follower of “the Way,” thus proclaiming his belief in a physical resurrection. And that he has done nothing wrong in the eyes of God or man, nor did he violate Roman law. 

In v.17 Paul recounts his absence from Jerusalem—the time of his three missionary journeys. And that there was nothing in his actions when he was arrested, that warranted those charges. 

Paul continues to emphasize that there was absolutely no reason for the charges against him other than his stated view of the resurrection of the dead; which we know refuted the Sadducees' belief that there wasn't a resurrection nor an afterlife. 

Felix wanted commander Lysias’ testimony and postponed the hearing until his arrival. 

Scripture doesn’t explain whey Felix asked to see Paul at this time. Perhaps his Jewish wife’s curiosity concerning Paul and the rumors she may have heard concerning him and what he professed regarding "the Way". 

The truth comes out. Like many holding high office throughout history, Felix expected a bribe from Paul to dismiss the charges against him. These verses show Felix’ true colors as we conclude chapter 24.

The injustice against Paul is pretty revealing of the character of the Sanhedrin and Roman governor Felix to weight his decision regarding Paul, based on a bribe. The same is true in much of global politics today. 

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, as He was Paul’s Comforter. Ask the Holy Spirit for direction for our life as He would have us live it. Today’s world is every bit in need of the Gospel message as was the first century Roman world of Paul. Which takes us to Pastor Adrian Rogers’ message via the next slide. 

Pastor Adrian Rogers 38-minute message on “learning to share Jesus”. Let me pause for a moment to reflect back on Ratio Christi, whose goal is to share Jesus Christ on college campuses, which is only possible with the support of those who share their goal. 

https://youtu.be/YjXj7P0kv3c  (copy and paste into your web browser).

End of

The Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 24