Acts 24:1-9 

¹Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. ²When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. ⁴But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. ⁵“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect ⁶and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. ⁷But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, ordering his accusers to come before you.  ⁸By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

⁹The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

Do You Believe?

Have you enjoyed the movie, “Do You Believe?” Which part of the movie you like the most? Which part of the movie touched your heart? Did you like Lilypad? Did it sink into your heart what Bobby told his wife? “We don’t need more money—we need to spend less!” Bobby, an Emergency Medical Technician, was charged for sharing about God’s love to a dying man. His boss, union, and wife did not support what he did.

There are many consequences that seemingly negative when we share the gospel. Friends and love ones may turn their back to us. It’s the price of earning God’s approval and reward prepared for those who persevere.

Paul’s life story has a significant share of unwanted trials and challenges. God’s grace was at work apparently even when Paul was charged by the Jewish leaders. Let’s learn from Paul’s experiences when his case was presented to Governor Felix.

1.  Acknowledgment

¹Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. ²When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. ⁴But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

When the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, it has confirmed the observation of some Bible scholars that commander Lysias made an appropriate decision when he sent Paul to Caesarea. There was not much crowd support for Paul’s accusers in Caesarea as compared in Jerusalem.

Bringing with them a lawyer named Tertullus implied that Paul’s accusers were real serious in their plan to eliminate Paul. Tertullus must have been well-informed about the accomplishments Governor Felix. Tertullus’ remark may have pleased the governor.

Acknowledging the governor’s accomplishment could have moved the governor emotionally in favor of Paul’s accusers. Tertullus said that they were profoundly grateful. “Wow! He was saying that they intelligently, seriously and thoroughly recognized what the governor has done remarkably for Jewish people. Tertullus articulately expressed his concern and not wanting to put much burden to the governor about Paul.

What can we learn from Tertullus’ way of addressing the governor? Is it helpful or recommendable when dealing or communicating with authorities? It’s very appropriate to acknowledge a person in authority, especially when seeking for favorable consideration.

We have been taught that adoration is a fundamental element of prayer. When Tertullus acknowledged what Governor Felix has done for Jewish people, it is similar to adoration.

Prayer of Jehoshaphat

We can learn much about adoration from the prayer of Jehoshaphat.

In 2 Chronicles 2:5-10, ⁵ Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard ⁶ and said:

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. ⁷ Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? ⁸ They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ⁹ ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

¹⁰ “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.

Jehoshaphat acknowledged what God has done against their enemies. It is specified adoration. When praying to God, we can expect what we personally know that the Lord can do. The story of the Israelites testifies to what God can do. Reading the Bible for enlightenment and inspiration, we need God’s help. To follow the life examples of great individuals in the Bible who trusted in God, displays the God’s grace at work in our life.

Jehoshaphat praised that God has delivered them from their enemies. His prayer request (v.10) of probable invasion was related to his adoration to God.

Similarly, Tertullus for his part, praised Governor Felix for the period of peace and the reforms that the governor had accomplished.  The charge he presented against Paul as troublemaker may possibly distract or disturb the peace that he has established.

2.  Accusation

⁵“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect ⁶and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. ⁷But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, ordering his accusers to come before you.  ⁸By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

⁹The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

At first Tertullus said that they were profoundly grateful for the period of peace under Governor Felix. Then he presented that Paul was proven to be a possible disruption of that peace established by the governor. When Tertullus said that the tried to judge him in accordance to their law, he was trying to impress the governor with their process or strategy of promoting peace. He implied that they were concerned about the peace and order that the governor has established. He claimed that if commander Lysias did not took Paul from them they would not have bothered the governor.

Tertullus had no idea that the governor has received a letter from commander Lysias. Commander Lysias wrote Governor Felix of what he observed when the case of Paul was presented to the Sanhedrin. Other Jews joined Tertullus in affirming that Paul was a troublemaker and the voice of the Nazarene sect. They have already given their verdict that Paul was guilty of a crime. They tried to influence the governor’s decision.

Can you identify with Paul’s situation? We Christians are often placed in terrible situations where we cannot defend ourselves. Believers are often accused of being subjective in their decision. Whatever others say, subjective or spirit-led decisions, joy and peace prevail in a spirit-filled believer. When others turn their back to you because they cannot agree with you, remember that Christ the Lord has experienced rejection.

In John 1:10-12, ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…

Paul tried to=convince the people of Jerusalem about Christ but he was rejected. Instead of believing, they planned to eliminate him instead. We are no better than the Lord or Paul. We are not exempted from persecution either. People even those who call themselves believers may ignore us. The Lord declared it and it sure happens.

In John 17:6-8, ⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them.

Proofs or intelligible explanations cannot persuade those whom God has not given to the Lord Jesus. When you share the gospel and your contact argues with you, it manifests resistance of the human sinful nature. Argument against the gospel is a signal for you to stop and pray. Your contact is not ready yet. He/she needs more prayer.

We need to keep praying for the right timing when sharing the gospel to others.

Witnessing is not about how much we know or how eloquent we are in explaining the gospel. Witnessing is the result of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Winning an argument can cause anyone to be proud but empowerment of the Holy Spirit produces humility. This is a reminder for each of us to be filled with the Holy Spirit always 24/7.

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