Don’t Put Jesus Off Until Later

Acts 24 puts Paul on trial before Felix, but Felix is really the one being pressed to decide what he will do with Jesus. The chapter moves from the Jews’ prosecution, to Paul’s plea, to Felix’s procrastination. Tertullus calls Paul a plague, a ringleader of the Nazarenes, and a profaner of the temple, but the charges fall apart under the facts.

Paul answers that he was peacefully worshiping, not stirring up riots. Paul also refuses the label of cult leader, because “the Way” is not a departure from the Law and the Prophets but the fulfillment of them in Christ. Paul’s hope in the resurrection stands at the center of the case, since the resurrection of both the just and unjust means every person will finally answer before God.

Felix has “a rather accurate knowledge of the Way,” yet accurate knowledge does not mean saving knowledge. Felix knows things about Jesus without surrendering to Jesus. James warns that even demons believe true things about God and shudder, because truth that never changes a life is not living faith.

Paul reasons with Felix and Drusilla about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. God’s righteousness exposes sin because God himself is the standard of what is right. Christ’s righteousness also gives hope, because Jesus lived the righteous life sinners could not live, bore their unrighteousness at the cross, and credits his righteousness to those who trust him. The gospel does not merely offer escape from judgment. The gospel trains those who belong to Christ to renounce ungodliness and grow in self-control.

Felix becomes alarmed because the gospel confronts the life he wants to keep. Felix sends Paul away, not because the evidence is unclear, but because repentance would mean change. Felix also treats Paul as a possible means to a bribe, revealing the danger of treating God like a cosmic vending machine or salvation like a ticket out of jail. Moses understood that the promised land without God’s presence was no promise at all. God is the end, not the means to some other end.

Felix finally leaves Paul imprisoned to please the Jews, and later becomes never. James calls life a mist, here for a little time and then gone. Christ’s call is urgent: now is the favorable time, now is the day of salvation.

##

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Later can become never [01:09:33] Felix kept saying he would deal with Paul later, but his opportunity eventually ended. Delay can feel harmless because it does not sound like outright rejection. Yet postponed repentance can harden into settled refusal before a person even realizes what has happened. [69:33]
• 2. Knowledge about Christ is not enough [44:21] Felix had an accurate knowledge of the Way, but he did not know the One who is the Way. Faith that remains only facts, language, or religious familiarity has not yet reached the heart. Christ calls for trust that reshapes allegiance, desires, and daily life. [44:21]
• 3. Christ confronts what sin protects [01:00:39] Felix was alarmed by righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment because those truths exposed the life he wanted to preserve. Sin often resists Christ not because the evidence is weak, but because surrender feels costly. The alarm of conviction is meant to move a person toward Christ, not away from him. [60:39]
• 4. God is the end himself [01:06:23] Moses would not settle for the promised land without God’s presence. Heaven without God would reveal a heart that wants his gifts while keeping him at arm’s length. Christ himself is the treasure, because fullness of joy is found in his presence. [66:23]
• 5. People pleasing cannot serve Christ [01:08:40] Felix knew Paul was innocent, yet left him imprisoned to do the Jews a favor. The approval of people can quietly become a rival master that bends conviction and buries obedience. Christ calls his servants to fear God more than losing influence, comfort, or approval.
  
  ## [68:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [28:15] - The Danger of Putting Jesus Off
• [31:51] - Three Parts of Acts 24
• [32:14] - The Jews’ Prosecution of Paul
• [37:55] - Paul’s Plea and Clear Conscience
• [42:18] - Felix Delays His Decision
• [44:21] - Knowing About Jesus Versus Knowing Jesus
• [47:34] - Righteousness, Self-Control, and Judgment
• [52:26] - Christ’s Righteousness Credited by Faith
• [60:18] - Why Felix Refused to Change
• [62:36] - Treating Jesus as a Means to an End
• [68:15] - People Pleasing and Political Favor
• [69:33] - Later Became Never
• [72:30] - Now Is the Day of Salvation

Bible Reading

Acts 24
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. [28:09]

James 2:19
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! [46:26]

2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. [01:13:29]

Observation questions

1. What three main accusations does Tertullus bring against Paul, and how does Paul answer each one?
2. What facts does Paul point to in order to show that he was peacefully worshiping rather than stirring up a riot? [37:55]
3. What does Paul say he believes about “the Way,” the Law and the Prophets, the resurrection, and his conscience?
4. In the final verses, what actions reveal Felix’s divided motives toward Paul—both his interest in hearing him and his refusal to free him? [01:02:36]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul says that Christianity, “the Way,” is the fulfillment of what is written in the Law and the Prophets, not a break from God’s earlier promises. Why is the resurrection such an important part of Paul’s defense of this claim? [40:03]
2. Felix has accurate knowledge of the Way, yet he puts off a response to Christ. What does James 2:19 show about the difference between agreeing with true facts about God and having living faith in him? [44:21]
3. Why would Paul’s message about righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment alarm Felix? How do these truths both expose sin and point sinners toward hope in Christ? [50:18]
4. Felix’s words, “When I get an opportunity,” sound open-minded, but his actions show delay and avoidance. Why can putting off repentance become a form of refusal? [01:09:33]

Application questions

1. Is there an area of obedience that has been repeatedly moved into the “later” category—confession, repentance, reconciliation, generosity, serving, or a difficult conversation? What would a faithful next step look like this week? [01:12:30]
2. Felix knew true things about the Way but did not surrender to Jesus. Is faith in Christ shaping daily choices, desires, words, and relationships, or has it mainly remained knowledge and religious language? [46:57]
3. God’s righteousness exposes sin, but Christ gives his righteousness to those who trust him. When sin is exposed, is the usual response to hide, excuse, delay, or come honestly to Christ for mercy and change? [52:26]
4. Self-control is not merely trying harder; it is part of the new life Christ produces in his people. What desire, habit, or situation most often tests self-control right now, and what help from God and trusted believers may be needed? [55:06]
5. God is not a means to getting comfort, success, protection, or escape from judgment; God himself is the treasure. What do personal prayers reveal about whether God is being sought for who he is or mainly for what he can give? [01:03:44]
6. Felix left Paul in prison because he wanted to please people. Where might the desire for approval, comfort, influence, or avoiding conflict be making obedience to Christ harder? [01:08:40]