“ … I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So, I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”
Acts 24:15-16 (NIV)
In Acts 23, we find Paul returning to Jerusalem to update the Apostles and the church about his missionary work among the Gentiles. He also brought an offering for the poor and went to the Temple to worship. However, Jewish religious leaders and a mob tried to kill Paul in Jerusalem. A Roman military official intervened to prevent this from happening. The reason for the Roman intervention was that, despite Paul's Jewish heritage (his mother was Jewish), he was also a Roman citizen due to his father's citizenship. Under the cover of darkness, Paul was taken to Caesarea, where he would face trial under Roman law, overseen by the Roman-appointed official, Governor Felix.
In Acts 24, we witness Paul's trial before Governor Felix of Cesarea. The lawyer arguing to prosecute Paul was a Jew named Tertullus. His argument for the prosecution was based on lies, claiming that Paul caused riots among Jews worldwide, was the ringleader of a Jewish sect called the Nazarenes, and had defiled the Temple by bringing a Gentile inside. According to Roman Law, Paul was granted the right to defend himself. Paul stated that he had been in Jerusalem for twelve days, had not argued with anyone at the Temple, and had not stirred up any crowds in the city. Since Paul had been in Jerusalem for a short time, eyewitnesses were readily available, yet there were none. Paul also mentioned that he had come to Jerusalem to bring gifts to the poor and to present offerings. He declared that he had not violated Temple requirements because he was ceremonially clean according to Jewish Law.
During his defense, Paul made a statement that appeared to be factual, truthful, and potentially explosive. While denying the truth of all other charges, Paul confessed to one thing: "However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and men."
Paul's defense strongly implied that Jesus was the subject of discussion. It was widely known that as a follower of "The Way," Paul interpreted Jewish teachings about resurrection to apply to Jesus. The followers of "The Way" also preached that Jesus, after rising from the dead, ascended to heaven to preside over the judgment of the righteous and the wicked. Paul's defense was a subtle yet direct way of conveying the message, "I am a Jew who believes in the prophesied Messiah, and I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus is God, and Jesus is our judge. I have a clear conscience before God and all of you regarding these beliefs."
Felix was aware that Paul's defense could cause trouble with the Jews as it was explosive. He decided to adjourn the trial and put Paul under low-security arrest for two years to keep the Jews at bay. During this time, Felix visited Paul along with his Jewish wife, Druscilla. During one of the visits, Paul spoke about faith in Jesus Christ and living a righteous life with self-control. However, when Paul talked about the coming judgment, Felix became very uncomfortable, and this topic shut down Felix's interest in matters of faith and truth.
Paul's conversation with Felix is where Paul's trial turns out to be Felix's trial. With interest, Felix leaned in to learn more about the followers of The Way. He listened to Paul's teachings about faith in Jesus and how following Jesus changes a person's priorities and behaviors. However, when Paul spoke about the coming Judgment, Felix withdrew from the conversation. It seemed as though Felix was saying, "Coming judgment? No, I can't agree with you there. I'm content with my current life. While I find Christians interesting and noble, I cannot accept the concept of a 'coming judgment.' No, I don't believe in it, and you can't prove it. Therefore, I'm out. I'm done with you, Paul."
After Felix left the conversation about Jesus, we should take a look at our thoughts and feelings about the coming judgment. It's important to acknowledge that we live in a culture that believes that there is no absolute Truth because Truth is subjective and ultimately beyond our understanding. However, some people may be interested in learning about Jesus and following some of his teachings. People from all walks of life can appreciate aspects of Jesus, especially those that portray him as loving. However, like Felix, conversations about Jesus might come to an end when the topic shifts to the coming judgment. The truth is that there are Christians in our society who are unsure about the coming judgment, or even deny its existence. They would say, "I don't know if there will be a judgment, and if there is, I'm not sure what it will entail. So, I'm out of that conversation." Like Felix, Christians can also leave the conversation about Jesus when it turns to the coming judgment.
Unlike the three thousand Jews who heard Peter preach the gospel in Acts 2, Felix couldn't join them in asking, "What must I do to be saved?" So, what do you think? As Paul's trial turns from him and Felix, it turns to us. Consider your own posture towards the coming judgement. Do not avoid the coming judgment. Instead, embrace it, confess Jesus with your lips, and believe in your heart that - in love - he paid your penalty for sin on the cross. Be thankful, pursue righteousness, seek Spirit's help with "self-control," and most importantly, ask the Lord help you carry a burden for the salvation of those you love. Always strive to keep your conscience clear before God and man.
It's a great day to live the Gospel!
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