Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul continued to answer for himself before Felix the governor by saying, “herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before you, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, except 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”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them”, where we read:
And 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.
The verse begins, “And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when Felix heard these things” which means “and at the time and moment Felix, whose name means happy and was a Roman procurator of Judea appointed by the emperor Claudius in A.D. 53. He ruled the province in a mean, cruel, and profligate manner. His period of office was full of troubles and seditions, was endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding the sayings of Paul”, “having more perfect knowledge” or “knowing and being advised exactly, accurately and diligently” “of that way” which means “pertaining to that course of conduct and manner of thinking, feeling and deciding”, “he deferred them” or “he, Felix, put off, delayed and postponed the people who were accusing Paul”. Luke shared after “Felix” listened to and had a better understanding of the complaints brought against “Paul”, he postponed his judgment in this case.
The verse goes on to say, “... and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.” Luke continued with the words, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “when Lysias the chief captain” or “at the time and moment Lysias, whose name means releaser and was a tribune or chiliarch of the Roman cohort” “shall come down” which means “will descend and appear to where they were located” “I will know the uttermost” or “I, Felix, will understand, perceive, know accurately and discern” “of your matter” which means “pertaining to your, Paul and the Jewish accusers' concerns or complaints”. Luke shared how “Felix the governor” postponed his judgment concerning “Paul” until “Lysias” would descend to where they were so he might understand and ascertain exactly why the accusations against “Paul” were made.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there was another delay to the judgment of “Paul”. Little did they know, this “delay” served to give “Paul” a greater amount of time to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people throughout that area. God's plan was as He desired, and in the natural flow of things, “Paul” was able to keep sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We shall see how he took advantage of this postponement, and anyone who carefully studies this “trial” of “Paul” should understand it was another effort of God to extend to people an opportunity to receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise receive Him and are forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life in Heaven. Let all who read these words discover the wonder of God's delays.
Next time Luke shares how Felix, “commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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