Year 2, Week 47, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 47, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Acts 24-25.

Today’s reading continues the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts is a selective history of the early church, which demonstrates how Jesus, by the Spirit, empowers His followers to continue His work. While the Book of Acts traces the early history of the church in general, eventually, the ministry of the Apostle Paul will be the primary focus for much of the remainder of Acts. Acts 24 picks up within a week from the events of Acts 23, which ended with Paul being safely transported to Caesarea for a hearing with the local governor, Felix. Acts 24: “So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man…‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day” (Acts 24:16,21b). Felix found nothing that Paul did to warrant his arrest, but as something of a political favor, as well as with the hopes of receiving a bribe, he left Paul imprisoned: “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” (Acts 24:25b-27). Acts 25 describes the actions taken by Festus, who attempts to send Paul back to Jerusalem to be tried by the Jewish Council. But Paul requests an appeal to Caesar: “But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well…But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar” (Acts 25:10-11). But before Paul is sent off, Festus arranges a hearing for him before King Agrippa.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel before Felix: “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.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” (Acts 24:24-25a). Paul was focused on speaking about one thing: Christ Jesus; and was attentive about calling for one thing: faith in Christ Jesus. Paul’s most pressing concern was not release from his imprisonment, but helping Felix and his wife, Drusilla, being released from their imprisonment to sin and condemnation. Felix didn’t like what he heard Paul talk about and soon ended the conversation by sending Paul back to prison.

What it was that Paul said “about faith in Christ Jesus,” that so alarmed Felix and Drusilla, was that Paul explained the connection between faith in Jesus and the issues of “righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment.” It must have been with a straightforward clarity that Paul addressed the Gospel through the matters of righteousness, self-control, and judgment, that Felix and Drusilla were deeply troubled in their souls. While we are not provided with the particular details as to what Paul said about righteousness, self-control, and judgment, it seems that we should understand that Paul connected those matters to Jesus and turned to Jesus. It also seems that the way that Paul connected those matters to Jesus was upsetting to Felix and Drusilla. Our passage does not tell us much about Felix and Drusilla, it does suggest that they were lacking in moral character when it speaks of Felix keeping Paul in jail hoping to squeeze a bride out of Paul in exchange for his release. Beyond what the Scriptures say about Felix, historical records that tells us about him paint a terrible portrait of a corrupt government official who, along with Drusilla, were both morally corrupt. Paul shared a message that this illicit couple did not like.

While Christianity is not mere moralism, faith in Jesus concerns itself with righteousness. First, the Gospel confronts human unrighteousness: “None is righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10); and then warns of the consequence of unrighteousness: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). Felix and Drusilla needed to hear about Jesus because they lacked righteousness. Christianity also teaches that a lack of righteousness stems from the destructive inability of humans to controls themselves: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind” (Ephesians 2:1-3a). Sin corrupts our mind and desires to the point that we do not have control of ourselves. And because of such a condition, God’s judgment is certain: “and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Ephesians 3:3b). Felix and Drusilla needed to hear about Jesus because their inability to control their corrupted thoughts and desires warrants God’s judgment.

But faith in Christ Jesus resolves the lack of righteousness, for Christ provides a perfect righteousness to all who turn to Him: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Faith in Christ also resolves the inability of self-control, for Christ provides His Spirit to change, from the inside out, those who turn to Him: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a). Faith in Christ also resolves God’s judgment, for Christ absorbs the wrath of God for all who turn to Him: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5); and: “Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10b). Felix and Drusilla choose to reject their only hope for righteousness, self-control, and escape from judgment.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe