Acts 24:1-27 The Trial Before Felix

Today Paul’s case is brought before Felix. The high priest, Ananias, some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus appear as Paul’s accusers. Tertullus speaks for the Jews; starting with flatter towards Felix he then makes a brief statement. His main argument is that Paul is a troublemaker who has been stirring up riots among Jews all over the world. The evidence is that he is a “ringleader of the Nazarene sect” and the he tried to desecrate the temple when he was seized.

Paul’s rebuttal is that the Jews have no proof. He states that he went to Jerusalem to worship and give gifts to the poor. In fact, he was not arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd when they found him. Paul states that he was ceremonially clean, he was giving the gifts to the poor and presenting an offering when the Jews seized him.

Paul admits that some Jews in Asia may have reason to bring up charges, but they are not present. Paul also admits to worshipping the God of their fathers as a follower of the Way. Paul states his reason for being in front of Felix is that he shouted to the Sanhedrin that he believes in the resurrection. Luke tells us that Felix is well acquainted with the Way and adjourns the case until the commander, Lysias, arrives. Then he will decide the case. Felix allows Paul’s friends to take care of him while he is kept under guard.

Apparently, Lysias never arrives because Felix calls for Paul, listens to Paul’s preaching, gets scared and sends him back to his cell. Luke tells us the real motive for this is that Felix was hoping for a bribe from Paul. For two years this went on until Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. But because Felix wanted to grant the Jews a favor, he kept Paul in prison.

What intrigues me is Felix calling Paul to listen to him talk about righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come. This scares Felix, but he keeps talking to Paul. The motive is selfish, at least to start, but it scares Felix. I wonder if that fear comes from knowing he is hearing the truth, but he is unwilling to follow it. Maybe he is looking for Paul to change his message so that it would be easier to attain eternal life.

An essential piece of the salvation that Jesus promises is that we take up our cross and follow Him. It sounds easy at first, just believe He is the truth, the way, the life. But then the hard work starts, we must turn from our sins and turn towards God. We must obey Him so that His will be done on earth.

Paul states in his second letter to the Corinthians that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV) That is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. We humans don’t like change and to say that I will be a “new creation” if I choose to follow Jesus implies A LOT of change. It is exciting because the sins and mistakes of the past are left behind and I start with a clean slate, but I don’t know where I am going, what I will be doing or even who I will be.

I admit, I’m often scared to let go and follow Jesus completely. I’m thankful for the forgiveness, but I fear the unknown. The problem is that fear is the opposite of faith. Faith is trust in the future, a manifestation of the love I share with God. I am the only person keeping me from realizing my full potential. God has wonderful things planned for us all. What would happen if we all let go of our fear? What would St. Mark’s be to the community of Orchard Park? What would the world-wide Church be to the lonely, sick and dying? Who would you be? What would you create?