Title In front of Governor Felix
Contents
Title: In front of Governor Felix
Bible: Acts 24:1-23
2010.3.7. Afternoon
Representatives of the Jewish council came up to the governor, and after five days of being imprisoned in Herod's palace, he was again tried before the governor. The high priest Ananias appeared with the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus.
1, Abu for the governor
2, Perjury against Paul
3, Paul's Apologetic Expressions
1. The High Priest's Charge to the Governor (1-9)
The high priest Ananias came down to the governor to accuse Paul. The job of the high priest is to administer the sacrificial service in the temple, and the essential meaning of that job is to represent mankind as an intermediary in seeking reconciliation with God. That is why such a high priest has turned away from his duties and has come to accuse one of his people to the governor. Considering the high priest's body hair representing the Jews, this behavior of the high priest could not but be shameful.
The saints should not be pursued to the courts of the world for church affairs. Forgetting the noble status of the saints who will judge the kings and judges of the world, and instead bowing their head and kneeling before them to ask for a trial, it is foolish to forget their identity and know neither body hair nor shame.
Who is Governor Felix?
1) The governor who ruled Judea for 52-58 A.D.
2) Origin - Slave
3) Personality - Vicious and greedy. He is not shy about habitual cruelty. A person who seeks bribes and extravagance. Sending an assassin to kill anyone who disobeys his conscience.
What kind of person is lawyer Durdulo?
1) Romans - by name
2) The courtier - his flattering pleadings are famous.
3) The one who was bought by the high priest for money
4) The accuser of the apostle Paul.
Three accusations against lawyer Durullo
1) The first charge is that you are a riot of the Jews.-People like an epidemic
2) The second crime is that you are the leader of the Nazarene heresy.
3) The third crime is to defile the temple.
But all these charges were maliciously fabricated charges.
2. The Apostle Paul's Excuses
One). Paul's excuses for the first offense (sin of disturbing the Jews) (10-13)
1) Arguing that Paul's stay in Jerusalem was only 12 days
Governor Felix gave the defendant Paul a chance to make an excuse after the plaintiffs' accusations were over. First of all, Paul was well acquainted with the religious practices of the Jews because Felix had been governor of Judea for many years. This is the kind of man who greeted Paul that he was happy to be judged. This is an expression of respectful courtesy as a defendant to the presiding judge.
Then he started making excuses for the accusation against himself.
Regarding the first charge of causing a disturbance among the Jews, Paul said that his coming up to Jerusalem was for the purpose of worship, so how could the people going to worship cause a disturbance? Furthermore, he provides objective evidence that he has only been up in Jerusalem for 12 days. I also add the fact that no one has ever seen Paul himself arguing with anyone in the temple. Paul had been praying for seven days in the temple together with the other four people to fulfill his vows for chastity, but he had never quarreled or discussed with anyone. (Acts 21:23,26). He also said that Paul had never caused a public disturbance in the streets or squares of Jerusalem in the city.
2). Excuses for the second offense (the chief of the Nazarene heresy) (14-16)
Paul professing to be a Christian
The Apostle Paul believes in the way he called heresy. makes a clear confession. The Christian faith needs confessional witnesses. In other words, you must be able to admit and confess your faith in front of people. The way of a believer is to confess and testify that you are a follower of the Lord just as He said that He will be my witness to the ends of the earth.
Paul Confessing to Serve God
A key element of the Old Testament is the law. He confesses that he believes in all the laws spoken by his ancestors, believes in all the prophecies of the prophets, and believes in Jesus Christ, who came according to the prophecies, so that he has the hope of resurrection. He confesses that his conscience is never offended.
Paul uses it as an opportunity to testify of Christ, faith, and the gospel in front of his life-threatening opponents and before the rulers of the world.
3). Paul's excuse for the third sin (those who defiled the temple) (17-21)
The purpose of Paul's visit to Jerusalem was to save the nation.
Paul visited Jerusalem with the relief offerings he had collected through the Gentile churches for the church in Jerusalem, which was in a very difficult situation due to a great famine. And while many saints were praying, knowing that Paul's going up to Jerusalem would be the way to go through a lot of persecution and hardship, he tried to stop them, but it was more important to practice the love of Jesus than to take his own life. Furthermore, he really wanted the Jews to become one with the Gentiles and be faithful for the gospel, freeing them from self-righteousness and narrow thinking about the gospel that only they could be saved. So they brought relief offerings as a medium.
Therefore, Paul did not come up to defile the temple, but only to practice God's love.
and disciplining in the temple
Paul is not a person who disobeys the law, but rather respects the ordinances of the law, so he testifies that he sanctified himself at the temple and devoted himself to keeping the ordinances.
This is evidence of how much Paul values the temple, unlike the accusations of the Jews.
In conclusion, it was proved that Paul was being unfairly accused.
The world is trying to unfairly accuse and punish believers. However, we should not panic at this time and should be able to properly apologise like Paul did. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid, and you must win by dialecting as evidence of faith.
I pray that you will become victorious saints by keeping your faith and faith in any tribulation and always confessing the Lord Jesus.