Lineage Pentecost to Patmos
Paul: Before Felix and Agrippa Episode 11
Paul had stopped on his way to Jerusalem in Miletus
in order to encourage the church leaders in Ephesus
in what he sensed might be his last journey.
As Paul arrived here in Jerusalem,
he was advised by some of his friends to go to the temple
and take part in some of the rites of purification.
The accusation against Paul was that he was converting Gentiles
and telling them not to keep the ceremonial law
and some of his friends thought that if he himself participated,
it would go a long way to removing this objection.
Their strategy was misguided, though,
for they failed to grasp the level of anger and hatred against him.
After several days, some Jews from Asia Minor
recognized him and raised the alarm
and if it wasn't for the intervention of the Roman commander,
Paul might have lost his life.
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Paul was taken to prison where his status as a Roman citizen
afforded him the privilege of not being beaten,
but he still knew that he was not safe.
About 40 or so Jews took an oath
that they wouldn't eat or drink anything until Paul was dead.
Paul's sister's son heard about this ambush
and came and warned Paul, who told him to tell the guards.
They, taking this threat seriously,
arranged for Paul to be transported here to Caesarea at night
and put under the protection of Felix.
Both Claudius and Felix did not see any weight of evidence
in what they were charging Paul with
and realized that it was a doctrinal issue over Jewish beliefs
that they were trying to kill Paul about.
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Felix is not known as being a noble man.
One historian is quoted as saying,
'He has the power of a king and the temper of a slave.'
Yet even he could find no reason to execute Paul,
and the Jewish leaders were defeated at trial.
After the trial, Felix called for Paul and gave him a hearing.
The Bible says in Acts 24:25
that 'he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come',
but sadly, Felix, under conviction, told Paul,
'Go away for now;
when I have a convenient time I will call for you.'
We never hear of Felix calling for Paul again.
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Paul remained here in prison for two years.
Felix wasn't courageous enough to release a man he knew was innocent,
and after he was called back to Rome
he was replaced by Festus as the regional leader.
The Jewish leaders and high priest petitioned Festus to have Paul tried in Jerusalem.
Initially he refused, but they traveled here to Caesarea and petitioned again,
and wanting to win favor with them,
he asked Paul if he'd be willing to go.
Paul knew that the plan was to kill him on the way,
and so now he exercised his right as a Roman citizen to stand before Caesar.
Festus answered, 'Unto Caesar you have appealed, and unto Caesar you will go.'
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While Paul was waiting here for the ship to take him to Rome,
King Agrippa and his wife Bernice came by to see Festus
and hearing about Paul's situation, they asked to see him.
Right here in this room Paul was able to give a defense of his faith
and his powerful testimony, and it's recorded in Acts chapter 26.
When he was finished, King Agrippa,
maybe unaware of his surroundings for a few moments, said,
'Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.'
These two men, Felix who asked for a convenient time,
and Agrippa who was almost persuaded,
represent a large class of people today.
Those who were convicted but are stubborn,
and those who want a better time
where there's no obstacles to give their life to Jesus.
If you are thinking of giving your life to Jesus today, don't delay.
The best time to give your life to Jesus is always the earliest time.
May we not be 'almost persuaded' like Agrippa, but fully persuaded
of who Jesus is and what He has done for us today.