16 April - Acts 24

Today we’re reading Acts 24 together. Below you’ll find some points of interest:

1. We pick up in this chapter with Paul’s accusers before Governor Felix making unsubstantiated claims of his guilt. They said Paul was stirring up riots against the Jews, when in fact the Jews were the ones stirring up riots against Paul all the time.
2. When Felix allowed Paul to speak he said there was no proof of the charges against him. Paul also said, “I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way. . .” He said he never had any large crowd around him so clearly he couldn’t be “stirring up riots.” The only “crime” Paul said they could find him guilty of was believing in the resurrection of the dead. 
3. Felix adjourned the trial in order to wait for the Roman commander to come to be a part of the proceedings. However, Felix allowed Paul to have some freedoms while under guard (most likely because of his status as a Roman citizen).
4. Felix kept Paul in prison for two years but would frequently bring him in to speak with him. He would not release Paul because he wanted to appease the Jews.

If you ever wanted to see someone who had a right to complain I think Paul would be a good candidate. Up to this point in our readings Paul has been frequently beaten, stoned until thought dead (not that kind of stoned), in jail and thrown out of nearly every city he’s been to and now he is unjustly kept in prison for two years while a corrupt governor was waiting for a bribe! Talk about life not being “fair.” I think we would all understand if in this chapter we were to read Paul complaining to God but we don’t see that. Instead it would appear the Paul is perfectly content with his circumstances. We can only surmise it’s because Paul knows he’s doing the exact thing God wanted him to do.

If you were in Paul’s position would you be so patient? That’s really not a fair question because none of us would be but Paul was. Obviously Paul knew he was where God wanted him and that gave him peace in the midst of unpleasant circumstances. Are you where God wants you and doing what he wants for your life? Are you still seeking that out? Can you ask God to help you be patient while you wait or to be patient if you’re in the middle of some tough times right now? Are you still skeptical of God? Ask him to prove himself to you. If there is a God than it would be reasonable to assume he is bigger than our doubts. Maybe just try it...