What is the Christian Message?

A Sermon on Acts 24:1-27

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Acts 24:1-27 ESV KJV

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 … 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. (ESV)

1And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, 3We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. 9And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. 10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: 11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. 12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. 17Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 19Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, 21Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

22And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. 23And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

Sermon Description

Christians are heralds of good news and have been sent with a message. In this sermon on Acts 24:1–27, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses what this message is not. It is not entertainment or personal stories or testimony. The Christian life is not a mere social message against war, injustice, or poverty. It’s a message of righteousness and the reality that all will stand before God. As the book of Acts comes to a close, the Apostle Paul stands before the Roman governor, Felix, to explain the Christian message. He doesn’t address the ills of Rome or his wrongful imprisonment. On the contrary, Paul proclaims the reality of judgement and righteousness, boldly declaring the Christian message––the hope of Jesus Christ. Felix trembles, yet being disturbed is not enough. The hearer must respond to Christ in repentance. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones applies this narrative to the modern church and exhorts the church to faithfully proclaim the message delivered to the saints. Sinners must be ready to meet God face-to-face. The preacher must, therefore, prefer the opinions of God before the opinions of humanity, and the hearer must believe the gospel.

Sermon Breakdown

The sermon is based on Acts 24:24-27 which describes Paul reasoning with Felix and Drusilla about faith in Christ.
Felix was the Roman governor of Judea and Drusilla was his wife. They were living in adultery.
Paul took charge of the situation and reasoned with them even though he was a prisoner. He did not entertain or tell stories. He reasoned with them about important matters.
The message of the church is not about politics or social issues. It is about righteousness, temperance and judgment to come.
Righteousness means living rightly according to God's standards. It is about worshipping God alone and following the Ten Commandments.
Temperance means self-control and discipline. It is about applying righteousness in practice. Many agree with righteousness in principle but fail in practice.
Judgment to come means that God will judge all people for how they lived. There is an afterlife and eternal consequences for our actions.
Paul pleaded with them to believe in Jesus Christ. He told them they were living in sin but could be saved through faith in Christ.
Felix trembled but did not repent. He was more concerned with pleasing the Jews than obeying God. He hoped to get money from Paul.
Sin debases people and drags them down. Felix's desire to please people showed how contemptible he had become.
People reject the gospel because they do not think or reason properly. They go against reason and conscience. They prefer pleasing people to pleasing God.
Felix lost his position within two years. Drusilla and her son died in Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted. They had rejected the gospel and lost eternal life.
We must consider our eternal destiny and judgment to come. We should repent, confess our sins and believe in Christ to be saved.

Sermon Q&A

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Felix, Drusilla, and Paul: Understanding the Gospel Message

What was the historical background of Felix and Drusilla as described by Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Felix was born a slave along with his twin brother Pallas. Though they started in humble circumstances, they were intelligent and ambitious. Pallas became the favorite adviser to the Roman emperor, and used his influence to secure Felix's appointment as governor of Palestine. As for Drusilla, she was a Jewish woman of royal blood from the Herodian dynasty. Despite Jewish law forbidding marriage outside their race, her ambition led her to marry a pagan prince. Later, she met Felix at a reception, left her husband, and began living with Felix in what Lloyd-Jones describes as "a state of adultery."

What were the three main points of Paul's message to Felix and Drusilla?

Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla about three main points:

Righteousness - The fundamental nature of God's character and His expectations for human behavior, essentially defined by the Ten Commandments and how we are meant to live upright lives.
Temperance (self-control) - The practical application of righteousness in daily life, concerning discipline over one's passions and desires, living not like animals driven by instinct but as beings with higher purpose.
Judgment to come - The reality that all people, regardless of their earthly status, will stand before God to give an account of their lives, and face eternal consequences for their actions.

How did Lloyd-Jones describe the difference between righteousness and temperance?

Lloyd-Jones explained that righteousness represents the general principles of God's character and His expectations for human behavior, while temperance represents the practical application of those principles. He illustrated this with examples of people who would eloquently defend righteousness in abstract or political contexts (like international treaties or national sovereignty) while violating those same principles in their personal lives (through adultery or other moral failures). Righteousness is the broad concept of what is right; temperance is the disciplined application of righteousness in one's personal conduct and self-control.

Why did Felix tremble at Paul's message according to Lloyd-Jones?

Felix trembled because Paul's message was personal and direct, confronting him with the truth about his own sinful life and the coming judgment. Despite being the one with power and authority in the situation, Felix was convicted by the Holy Spirit working through Paul's words. His conscience was stirred as he recognized the truth of what Paul was saying, especially as it related to his adulterous relationship with Drusilla and his corrupt practices. The prospect of standing before God in judgment made him physically tremble, though he ultimately rejected the message by sending Paul away.

What happened to Felix and Drusilla after rejecting Paul's message?

According to historical accounts cited by Lloyd-Jones, Felix lost his position less than two years after this incident when his brother Pallas fell out of favor with the emperor. Without his brother's influence, Felix was stripped of all his offices and lost everything he had held onto instead of accepting the gospel. As for Drusilla, she and her son were staying in Pompeii in AD 79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted without warning. They were among those killed in the disaster, suddenly thrust from temporal pleasures into eternal judgment without having responded to the gospel message they had heard from Paul.

Itinerant Preaching

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

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