The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
Paul had been accosted and imprisoned on false
assumptions, Acts 21:29ff.
He made a defense to the Jews just outside the
barracks, Acts 21:37 – 22:22.
He was almost beaten by Roman soldiers before
revealing his Roman citizenship, Acts 22:23-29.
The next day he was allowed to make a defense to
the Jewish Council, Acts 22:30 – 23:10.
On the following night, the Lord told him that he
would witness at Rome, Acts 23:11.
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
The next day, he found out about a plot on his
life, informed the Roman commander, and was
taken that night to Caesarea and Felix, the
governor, Acts 23:12-35.
After five days, Ananias, some Jewish elders, and
a lawyer named Tertullus came to Caesarea from
Jerusalem, and attempted to make their case
against Paul before Felix, Acts 24:1-9.
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
Felix was a corrupt and brutal governor; his
reforms brought “peace” only through brutality.
He was eventually removed from office by the
Emperor, Nero.
Paul makes his initial defense, but Felix puts him
off until Lysias, the commander, could come
down from Jerusalem, Acts 24:10-23.
Some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, his
wife… (Acts 24:24)
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa II
(cf. Acts 12:1-4) whom Felix had stolen from her
first husband, Azizus, the king of Emesa.
Tacitus, the historian, said of Felix, “with every
kind of cruelty (he) exercised the authority of a
king with the temper of a slave.”
So, this corrupt, brutal, thief was Paul’s judge…
What would Paul say to such a man?
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
Acts 24:25, “…he was discussing righteousness, self-
control, and the judgment to come…”
This was just what the governor needed to hear:
• “Righteousness” was how he should conduct his
business;
• “Self-Control” was how he should conduct his
life; and,
• “Judgment to come” was that with which he
should be primarily concerned.
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
But let’s focus on “the judgment to come” part for
a few minutes.
On what is this “judgment to come” to be based?
• Not our own estimations, Matt.7:22-23;
• Or that of our family, friends, or even
brethren, Luke 16:27-31; but on
• The words of Jesus, John 12:48; and,
• Personal conduct, Matt.7:21; 2Cor.5:10.
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
Now think this through:
• Since the Word of God/Jesus does not
change, Heb.6:17-18; 1Pet.1:25; and,
• We are all guilty and deserving of eternal
punishment by sin, Rom.3:23; 6:23a;
What must change in order for us to be saved?
Obviously, we must change! Rom.12:1-2.
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
But what can we change?
• Our past?
It cannot be changed, only corrected, 1Cor.6:9-11.
Then it can be erased from God’s memory, and
potentially from our own, Heb.8:13; Phil.3:13-14.
• Our future?
It can only be changed to the degree that we have
time/opportunity- neither of which are guaranteed,
Jas.4:13-16. So…
The Judgment to Come
Acts 24:25
But what can we change?
• Our present is what we must change!
Wallowing in the past does not change the present,
Luke 15:16-20a.
Remorse for the past and desires for a better future
must dictate change in the present, Phil.3:7-12;
For the present is all we can change!
Our own personal
Judgment to Come
Will not be based on:
• Our past unless we fail to avail ourselves of the
opportunities graciously given us by God to come
to repentance, 2Tim.2:25-26; 2Pet.3:9; or,
• Our future because it is determined by actions,
not intentions, 2Cor.5:10; Matt.25:31-46.
So, what are you / will you do presently regarding
your own judgment to come?
Felix delayed and procrastinated, but apparently
never did anything, Acts 24:25b-27, what about you?