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The Scriptorium

No Recess

It's a full-time calling. Acts 24.22-27

The Trials of Paul (10)

Pray Psalm 57.1-3.
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

Sing Psalm 57.1-3.

(Faben: Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him)
Lord, be gracious, gracious to me, for my soul retreats in You.
In Your shadow keep me safely till the storms of life are through.
I will cry to You, the Most High; You do all things well for me.
You will save me when I thus cry, routing all who threaten me.


Read Acts 24.1-27; meditate on verses 22-27.

Preparation
1. Why did Felix put Paul’s trial on hold?

2. What did he hear from Paul, and how did he respond?

Meditation

Felix put the trial on hold for the time being (v. 22), in fact, for two years (v. 27). He apparently intended to send to Jerusalem for Lysias, perhaps in the hope he might be able to verify Paul’s statement of the facts. But either he did not send for him or Lysias was unable to come, since we have no record of his arriving.

Felix was generous to Paul, allowing his friends to visit and provide for his needs. He also entertained him not infrequently, albeit with mixed motives (v. 26). Given the opportunity to explain his views more fully, Paul didn’t hold back. The Gospel is about the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of His Kingdom, and that means righteousness, self-control, and preparation for the coming judgment (v. 25).

We note that Paul didn’t merely preach to Felix and his wife; he reasoned with them, thus implying a give-and-take that must have been more like an extended conversation (vv. 25, 26). What kinds of topics might you use to begin a conversation like this with people in your Personal Mission Field?

Felix was alarmed at what he heard. The warning of judgment to come can have that effect on people. Felix dragged this out as long as he could, hoping for a little money out of it all, until at last he was replaced by Porcius Festus (v. 27).

We see here no grumbling, complaining, or impatience on Paul’s part. The Lord told him he was going to Rome, and he was content to let the Lord unfold the timing. Meanwhile, he made the most of every opportunity to proclaim Christ and the Kingdom. No recess there.
Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
We never know who will be moved by our confession of faith. Paul’s confession seems to have ministered most to Felix. Our text today says: “But when Felix heard these things, having [now a] more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings…” (Acts 24.22).

Felix wanted his wife to hear what Paul had to say. Out of love for her, was he bringing her to hear the truth of the Way? That was certainly how many of the disciples were brought to Jesus. Andrew first found his own brother, and said to Peter, “We have found the Messiah.” And he brought him to Jesus. (Jn. 1.40-42)

“Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps our soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (Prov. 24.11, 12)

“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Prov. 31.8, 9).

Drusilla, Felix’s wife was Jewish, and may have had a background knowledge of this Way. We don’t hear about her response to Paul’s reasoning, but we do read that Felix “was afraid” (Acts 24.25). Maybe Drusilla was able to comfort him with a better understanding from the Old Testament about the Way, and the resurrection? Maybe they accepted the truth, maybe they didn’t.

What they decided was not Paul’s responsibility. That’s the Holy Spirit’s work. Paul’s responsibility, as is ours, was to speak the Word of confession to the truth: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Heb. 4.14).

“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6.1, 2).

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3.14).

We too must make the most of every opportunity we have to confess what we believe. We don’t know which unexpected person in our Personal Mission Field will hear it and be changed! No recess for us either.

For reflection
1. What would you say are the keys for making the most of every opportunity to share the Gospel?

2. In leading people to the Lord, we have our work and God has His (1 Cor. 3.5-9). Explain.

3. Why do we say there’s “no recess” for us who know the Good News about Jesus and His Kingdom?

And look at Paul, although he is talking with a ruler, he says none of those things that are likely to amuse, but rather he speaks “about justice,” it says, “and future judgment” and about the resurrection. And such was the force of his words that they even alarmed the governor. John Chrysostom (354-407), Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 51

Pray Psalm 57.4-11.
The antidote to all fear, doubt, and hesitation is praise. In silence, preview your day and all its activities, challenges, and temptations. Give praise to God for His Presence with you throughout the day, and for His grace and power to help you praise Him before others. Pray for a steadfast heart as you go into your Personal Mission Field.

Sing Psalm 57.4-11.
(Faben: Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him)
Send Your truth and lovingkindness; raging lions seek my soul.
Threats and sland’rous words without rest they against me fiercely roll.
Be exalted o’er the heavens, let Your glory fill the earth!
To Your Name all praise be given, let all men proclaim Your worth!

Nets and pits they set before me; overwhelmed, my soul bows down.
Let them all in their own works be thrown and scattered on the ground.
Let my heart no more be shaken, I will sing Your praises, Lord!
Harp and glory, now awaken to extol God’s faithful Word!

Praise and thanks among the nations I will sing with all my might!
For Your truth and love are statied far above the highest height!
Be exalted o’er the heavens, let Your glory fill the earth!
To Your Name all praise be given, let all men proclaim Your worth!

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to a summary of last week’s Scriptorium study by going to our website, www.ailbe.org, and clicking theScriptorium tab for last Sunday. You can download any or all the studies in this series on Acts by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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