Acts 24:24-27

                                                                     Acts 24:24-27

 

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

 

None of us like to feel like our lives are “on hold” or “out of control.”  Imagine how Paul must have felt sitting in prison without being convicted or even really standing trial and without any real resolution in site.  Two years of a holding pattern will put any person’s sanity to the test.  However, this is what God allowed in the life of Paul.  Besides looking at what Paul must have been feeling, I would like to think about the problems that these Roman leaders demonstrate in their attitudes and actions.  It is important to learn from the mistakes of others.

 

THE PROBLEM OF CURIOSITY: Felix and his Jewish wife Drusilla are curious about Paul’s teachings on Christ, holiness, transformation, and future judgment.  They want to know what this new “Way” teaches on these subjects.  Curiosity is often a first step towards understanding and faith.  However, curiosity is never sufficient.  It may seem encouraging that they want to hear what Paul believes on these subjects, but it is to no avail if they are not truly searching for truth and being drawn to the Gospel by the Spirit.  True conversion rarely begins with curiosity.  It almost always begins with desperation: a terrible realization that what I currently believe and do is wrong and must be abandoned.  Curiosity typically leads to pride.  Desperation is born out of humility.

 

THE PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION: The governor’s search for information from Paul was also motivated by a hope of being bribed for favors or even freedom.  When dealing with unjust political powers, corruption is a common reality.  Power, pride, and possessions are addictive so the more one has, the more one wants.  It is ironic that a Roman governor is trying to shake down a Christian prisoner for money.  As we go to the nations of the world, these nations have corrupt governments that will do all they can to prevent the spread of the Gospel and to line their own pockets.  We must be prepared for this and be determined not to be sucked into it.

 

THE PROBLEM OF CONCILIATION: The entire time Felix was in office he strings Paul along for a period of two years as a means of appeasing the Jews.  It is no secret that the Jews resented and were at odds with the far more powerful and in-charge Romans.  The reality is that the Roman government simply wanted to keep the peace.  Conciliation was the main balancing act the Roman governors found themselves playing.  It may have preserved peace, but it denied the truth and the order of law.  Paul was paying the price.  As Felix turns over his power to Festus, Paul continues in prison.  When the powerful seek to please the people, the innocent are usually oppressed. 

 

APPLICATION: Don’t read the Scriptures from a posture of curiosity.  Read it from a posture of desperate humility.  Be prepared to face persecution from corrupt and powerful people but be careful of not being influenced by them.  Recognize that even in extended periods of a waiting or holding pattern, God is in control and He will bring all the confusion and corruption to a God glorifying, kingdom building end.

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