Acts 24:22-27 (NKJV) 22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias.

Acts 24:22-27 (NKJV)

22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” 23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

Acts 24:22-27 (NKJV)

24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money…

Acts 24:22-27 (NKJV)

would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

LESSONS FOR A LEADERActs 24:22-27

Lessons For A Leader

We often hear the saying, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander”

The basic meaning is what is good for one is good for another

Paul had the privilege to speak to some very influential people during his time on earth

Lessons For A Leader

When we read about what Paul spoke, it would be easy for us to think of those lessons as only for dignitaries

However, what is good for the leader is also good for the rest of us to hear as well

So we should carefully heed Paul’s words

Background

Here in Acts 24, Paul had come to Jerusalem just a few chapters earlier

While there, Paul was seen in the temple and arrested because the Jews from Asia knew who he was and what he taught

A commander came to take charge of the situation and took over from there

Background

After learning of a plot against Paul’s life (and finding out he was a Roman citizen), they sent Paul to Caesarea

Eventually Paul comes before Felix and his wife

Felix was a governor and history tells us he was a wicked one

Background

He often took bribes from those who needed a favorable ruling from him

He was hoping that Paul would do such (24:26)

He was the kind of person who did what he wanted to do because of the power he had

Background

His wife Drusilla was a Jewess, the daughter of Herod Agrippa I

She was known to be young (not yet 20) and very beautiful

The story goes that when she was 16 and married to another man, Felix saw her, wanted her and took her for his 3rd wife

Righteousness

Paul now has an opportunity to tell Felix more about his faith in Christ

Paul begins to reason with Felix (v. 25)

One of the first thing the text points out is that Paul reasoned about righteousness

Righteousness is simply living right

Righteousness

The Bible gives us a good definition of righteousness in Luke 1:6

“And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless”

Righteousness is living blameless before the Lord

Righteousness

Felix was certainly not blameless before God

He has been described as an “unscrupulous scoundrel”

He simply did not care how he lived his life before God, much less anyone else

Righteousness

It took great boldness for Paul to preach such a thing to a man in Felix’s position, who did not seem to have a conscience and whose wife probably wanted Paul dead

If a lesson on righteousness is needed for a governor, it can be necessary for us too

Self-Control

Paul also reasoned with him about self-control

If there was something Felix struggled with more than anything, it might have been self-control

After all, he saw no problem in fulfilling his every desire, no matter what

Self-Control

He was notorious for taking bribes from those under his judgment

He certainly did not show self-control when it came to acquiring his wife, Drusilla

Again, it was bold for Paul to preach such a thing to a man in the position of Felix (Mk. 6:17-28)

Self-Control

Again, self-control is not just something that Felix dealt with

Self-control is listed as one of the fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:23) as well as one of the Christian graces (II Pet. 1:6)

We must practice self-control in our lives if we wish to be pleasing to God

Judgment

Paul could not speak to Felix without talking about the most important event to come in the life of Felix and Drusilla

Paul reasoned about the judgment to come

Why should Felix live righteously and with self-control?

Judgment

Why should any of us live in a way that pleases God and not ourselves?

We do so because one day we will stand before the God of creation

In that day, we will give an account of all the things that we have done in this life, whether good or bad (Rom. 14:12)

Judgment

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27)

The doctrine of the eternal judgment is one of the basic doctrines of Christianity (Heb. 6:2)

Felix will stand before God someday

Reaction

What was Felix’ reaction to all of this?

“Felix was afraid” (v. 25)

“Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you”

All these things had an effect on him, yet still he did not respond in the right way