Acts 24:10-27 “Paul Makes the Daily Tribune”
This horse trots up to church and squeezes through the front door and is just able to take up a pew in the back of the church. All of the regular parishioners are looking over wondering what in the world is a horse doing coming to church. Then, one of the ushers approaches the horse, saying “Hey, why such a long face?!” (Get it? Horse—long face!) I know I shouldn’t be telling horsetails in church! I should bridle my thoughts and stick to the mane point!
I would like to start this morning by pointing out something that is almost glossed over as we read the text about Paul’s trial before Governor Felix in Caesarea. The Bible tells us that Paul stood before Felix cheerfully. He was happy to be there and showed this outwardly.
I am sure all of us have seen on the evening news defendants in court just before they are about to be sentenced. I don’t think I have ever seen any of them actually showing good cheer. They all have dower brought-down demeanor. So, it is quite surprising to consider Paul’s demeanor. He is smiling and giving the old “thumbs up” to his judge and accusers. Does Paul know something that we don’t know? Sure. He knows that God is on his side! He knows that whatever happens, God will be there with him to help him through it.
I think we all know this, yet too often we just do not show it. It is like that song “If you are happy and you know it” says, “then your life will surely show it.” Why not show somebody today that you are happy? Why not show somebody today that you know that God is in your life?! Don’t going walking around like you’re a horse with a long face!
I recall once while we were still living in Washington State being in Seattle’s downtown area. I was walking over a pedestrian bridge when I saw a whole line of homeless men huddled at one end of the bridge. Immediately I felt sorrow for them and wanted to help them, but I didn’t have more than two dollars in my pocket. So I continued to walk trying to avoid eye contact with any of them. Just then one of the men reached down beside him and with both hands held out a sign in front of him. On the sign was one single word: “SMILE.” And, I did smile. I was completely taken by surprise.
Now, on that same day I was driving back home then and was about to make the left turn onto the highway that led off to the town where we lived when a hug cattle truck pulled so far forward that I could not easily complete the turn but really had to struggle not to collide with him. But, just as I was going around him, I saw him flash a sign in the front cab that read “SMILE.” I couldn’t believe it. Two complete strangers showing me cardboard placards saying “smile” on the same day. And, it never happened again. I pretty much knew that this kind of strange thing had to be from God.
I want you therefore to consider what I thought about after that day: God is smiling down on your life. God is cheering for you everyday. God wants you to be happy. Maybe we ought to smile back at God. Be of good sheer no matter what you are facing in your. You believe in Christ.
Christ tells us this in his sermon in the mount that repeats the idea over and over again “happy is the who suffers for my sake,” “happy are the poor in spirit,” “happy, happy, happy.” You can read about all of this happiness from the Lord in Matthew 5. Some Bibles translate the Greek “makirioi” as “blessed.” Really it means just plain “happy.” But, if your life is blessed, then surely you must be happy!
So now we have this picture of Paul cheerfully standing up in court before Felix. Finally charges are brought against him by the attorney that Ananias has brought up with him from Jerusalem. The charges claim that in “all the world Paul is known as a pestilent man. . . .” so on and so forth. This is all laced with great hyperbole and misrepresentation. The argument really comes down to: some people think that Paul is a pest. This is really not much of a case against him.
Now, Paul’s response to this accusation is somewhat surprising. He tells the truth. He rightfully and righteously claims that all he did was his religious duty as a Jew to go into the temple in Jerusalem and offer sacrifice. We have to stop and think about this ourselves. Paul has down so many other things in other cities of Asia and Europe that we really have to think about the fact that really all he did while he was in Jerusalem was pray and make a traditional sacrifice. He did not preach. He did not teach. He did not confront anyone. He was honestly completely blameless of doing anything against Jewish or Roman law while he was in Jerusalem. Anybody not knowing who Paul was and his history already could have only deemed his actions to be those of a devout Jew.
Truth. . . .not a lot of people like to hear it! But, because Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the life,” if we say we believe in Jesus, then we must also mean that we believe in the Truth.
When we were children we would play a game of “Truth or Consequences” in which we would be given an option to either answer a difficult personal question with the truth or take on an undisclosed physical challenge. I remember as a youth playing this game at a church youth retreat and not wanting to answer any of the questions, so just always taking on the physical challenges. You know the kind of questions: “Would you like to date anybody in the group?” or do fifty push-ups. I would have walked on hot coals rather than tell the truth about my feelings back then!
This childhood game has recently made it to the realm of reality television. There is a show in which one can win a huge some of money simply by telling the truth. Whether someone is telling the truth or not is determined by a lie detector. The questions during the course of the game show include usually such things as: “have you ever cheated on your wife,” “have you ever falsely called in sick at work,” “have you ever lied about your age” etc.
I will honestly tell you that I watched the show for about twenty minutes and then got sick of watching people implode their lives on national television. I really could not see any entertainment value in the show. It was not fun watching people destroy themselves for a few dollars. Actually, I don’t think the show is still on.
Going back to Paul’s case before Governor Felix, we have to be amazed that Paul is more than completely honest. He even tells the court, “In Jerusalem I did nothing; however, in Asia you could find plenty to charge me with if you want to go out and find some accusers from there.” His point to Felix is simply: “If you are going to accuse me something, then at least let it be for something I actually did!”
In this is the greater Truth! We have all done things that we are not proud of. WE all know that we carry guilt and sin around with us. None of us are perfect. And, we should all be happy and cheerful that we are all sinners because it means that we are all on common ground with one another and all subject to God’s divine judgment and God’s divine grace!
This simple Truth really pricks Felix’s conscience. Felix says that he will call up the Roman Tribune from Jerusalem, who was witness to everything, to determine the truth of the matter. Meanwhile, he calls Paul back into his chambers privately to inquire more about the faith of Jesus Christ. You see, Governor Felix is impressed by Paul’s faith and honesty.
When Paul explains more thoroughly the hope in Jesus Christ of the divine judgment and resurrection, Felix becomes frightened and sends Paul away. We should read that together in verse 25 of the Scripture: “And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for now. . . ‘”
What is most interesting for us to consider is that in Roman mythology these ideas are not new. Felix would have heard since that time of being a young boy visiting the pagan temples with his family that if he lived a good righteous life that he would cross the River Styx in the afterlife and live out eternity in the Elysian Fields. And, if he did not live out a good life, he would be sent to Hades in the underworld. So, it is fascinating that he would become frightened by what Paul was saying to him. Maybe for the first time he realized that the final judgment on his life was absolutely real and true. This is what frightened him. It was the truth of his own life!
Felix heard and understood, but he did not become a Christian after listening to Paul. We know this because the Bible tells us that he kept Paul in prison with the hope that someone would bribe him for Paul’s release. In the end, Felix remained a greedy and politically motivated fellow. That caught up with him. He is forced out of the governorship on charges of corruption. A man by the name of Festus takes his place. Paul is still in prison then when Festus takes over. Again, it is fascinating to consider that Paul outlasted his captor! He had the Truth on his side!
Brothers and sisters, we are justified in our faith. We know the Truth is in Jesus Christ. On this point, we can face anything this world should put before us with cheerful hearts and happiness. Amen.