Acts 24
As a reminder of where Paul was and why
Acts 23:34-35 (KJV), “34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; 35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.”
Those who trying to accuse Paul and to have him imprisoned
Acts 24:1 (KJV), “And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.”
Ananias son of Nedebeus (Hebrew: חנניה בן נדבאי Ḥananyá ben Nadváy “… (son of) the philanthropist”) was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 23:2) and Caesarea (Acts 24:1). Josephus, Antiquities xx.
The office of High Priest, established by God, was meant to be a lifelong position filled by those in the bloodline of Aaron (Exodus 29:9, 29). Jewish religious leaders, when death required them to act, would select someone to serve in this important responsibility based on a variety of factors.
In the Bible, Tertullus (a modification of “Tertius”) was a lawyer, who was employed by the Jews to state their case against Paul in the presence of Felix.
What was Paul accused of? (Tertullus to Felix)
Acts 24:5-6 (KJV), “5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.”
Paul was his own defense
Acts 24:10 (KJV), “Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself.”
Felix was fearful of Paul and hoped Paul would bribe him to let him go
Acts 24:24-26 (KJV), “24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.”
Festus succeeded Felix
Acts 24:27 (KJV), “But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.”
2 Timothy 4 Paul instructs Timothy to preach the Word
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (KJV), “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
Paul tells us what we should all be thinking when our time has come
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (KJV), “6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
The Abandoned Apostle
2 Timothy 4:9-11 (KJV), “9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.”
Who Was Demas?
Paul tells the church at Colossus about his brethren (vs. 1-14)
Colossians 4:14 (KJV), “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.”
Beware of falling into a person as Demas – don’t ever substitute someone’s preaching over hearing directly from the Lord
Did Demas substitute listening to Paul with following the Lord? Demas warns of the danger of substituting a relationship with strong believers for a growing relationship with Christ. Listening to Paul preach was wonderful. But Demas also needed to listen to Jesus and personally follow Him.
John 15:5 (KJV), “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
John 10:27 (KJV), “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
1 John 2:15 (KJV), “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Job 42 Job’s Repentance and Restoration
Job did not actually see God but his eyes were opened
Job 42:5 (KJV), “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”
Job 42:16 (KJV), “After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.”
Proverbs 10 Wise Sayings of Solomon
Isaiah 63 The Lord in Judgment and Salvation
Isaiah asks who is this who comes dawning glorious apparel?
Isaiah 63:1a (KJV), “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?”
The victory therefore is obtained over the Edomites themselves, who had triumphed in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans and cut off those who, making their way as far as they could from the enemy, escaped to the Edomites
Psalm 137:7 (KJV), “Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.”
Joshua asks the same question after conquering Jericho
Joshua 5:13 (KJV), “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?”
Israel asks the same question during the exodus
Exodus 15:11 (KJV), “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
An admirable answer returned by Him
Isaiah 63:1b (KJV), “’I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save’.”
Isaiah 63:3-4 (KJV), “3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”
Revelation 14:19 (KJV), “And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.”
God sent His Son to Redeem us
Isaiah 63:8-9 (KJV), “8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”Isaiah 63:16 (KJV), “Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.”
Grow in the Word of the Lord 