We’ve reached the point in Acts where Paul’s great voyage to Rome begins. He, under Roman custody, is being taken to face Caesar himself!

Paul understood/believed that appealing to the then ruling Emperor was his best option, seeing the Jews (Sanhedrin) were so bent on killing him, legally or otherwise.

Acts 27:1 … the journey begins. “And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.”

(Julius deserves a Lesson, really! A “character study” at least. And I may write one concerning him before we’ve completed this analysis of Paul’s voyage to Rome.)

But today … verse 2 is our focus … “And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.” Luke is clearly with Paul at this time, the personal pronoun “we” proving as much.

But there’s another man, too. “Aristarchus,” whose name literally means “good leader” or “best ruler,” not Jewish for sure! Greek to the core!

We’ve all heard of him from time to time, anyone reading Paul very much. But few of us have studied him, I suspect.

He is specifically mentioned different five times in the New Testament. Three times in Acts (19:29 and 20:4 then here in Acts 27:2) plus once in Colossians (4:10) then finally in Philemon (verse 24, that little Epistle having only one so-called “chapter”).

He lived in Thessalonica and was no doubt saved when Paul preached there on his second missionary journey. Acts 20:4 initially tells us this.

Thus he is a Macedonian, that being the “state” in which the “city” of Thessalonica was located. (I am using today’s vocabulary to depict ancient geography!) See Acts 19:29.

And, most importantly to my mind and heart, Aristarchus was with Paul at some of his toughest times! He was no “fair weather” friend!

For example, during the “riot” at Ephesus! A life threatening situation for sure. “And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.” Acts 19:29, a travel companion!

And then when Paul was in jail in Rome, Colossians 4:10. “Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas.” incarcerated right by Paul, not forsaking him either!

And by Philemon 24, this man is Paul’s “fellowlaborer!” Still side by side with the great Apostle!

He lived up to his name, its meaning … didn’t he? “Aristarchus,” a “good man” indeed!

May we too be faithful servants!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I have a book named “Personalities around Paul.” There were a lot of them! Few any more helpful that “Aristarchus,” I suspect.

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These now famous words have been analyzed over and over again. “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Acts 26:28

And Paul had certainly been testifying/preaching to this lost Roman potentate.

And yet, soon as Agrippa made this declaration … as Luke tells us … the King rose up, and they that sat with him, and left the presence of Paul!

Then continued discussing Paul’s legal quandary!

“Almost” … but still lost.

“Almost” … but still an unbeliever!

This reminds me of the “rich young ruler” who came to Jesus. Seeming to be so sincere! Yet he left … also still unsaved!

Or the scribe in Mark 12:34 who asked Jesus two incisive questions (which our Lord answered fully and wisely) … causing Jesus to tell him … “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”

“Almost …”

“Not far …”

Sad words!

Especially when the Bible has verses like these …

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13, Paul writing.

And … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24, Jesus Himself speaking!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Some believe Agrippa may have been mocking Paul. But for me, when it comes to eternal salvation, I work with every spark of interest I can find. Believing as I do that Jesus died for everybody.

Including YOU … dear reader.

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Paul the poisoner has been heard by one Roman judge after another, working his way up to the “Supreme Judge” of them all, politically speaking! (Rome’s one man “Supreme Court!”)

Yes, we believe Paul will eventually face the Emperor Nero himself! (If our timeline on the Apostle’s life is correct, anyway.)

And in each judicial case (at least where Paul’s dialog is shared with us) he preaches the Resurrection of Jesus!

Even before Agrippa!

Luke has Paul asking the King … “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” Acts 26:8

Wow!

It’s not enough to just believe that Jesus died. Died vicariously (for you and me) in fact.

Or that he was buried, even in a wealthy man’s tomb.

To these great fundamental Facts must be added … belief that Jesus was raised from the dead!

Do I have proof, Scriptural proof?

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

Little wonder that the preaching throughout the whole Book of Acts centered on just that … the crucified Jesus is alive!

Here’s an excerpt from that great Pentecostal Sermon Peter preached the day those 3,000 souls were saved … “Jesus (Whom) ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: WHOM GOD HATH RAISED UP, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:24, quoting Psalm 16.

This too … the first Gospel ever written (chronologically speaking) ends with the no-longer-dead, glorified Jesus being … “Received up into heaven, and sitting on the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19, Jesus alive (resurrected) eternally!

Even in John’s Revelation, the New Testament’s final Book, Jesus is still the Resurrected Lord!

Revelation 1:18 … “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen.”

Again one chapter later, “These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive,” Jesus indeed!

Enjoy some time today with the living Jesus!

Wow, this is exciting, still quoting Jesus … “Because I live, ye shall live also.” John 14:19

Amen!

Do you know (personally) this living Jesus?

Better yet, is He living in you right now, this very second?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Doctrinally, Paul even when this far, emphasizing the necessity of Jesus’ being alive this very second. “If Christ be not raised, our faith is vain; and we are yet in our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17

Wow!

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Festus, the name is Latin, he being a Roman. We have imported it into English and end up with the noun “festivity” or the adjective “festive.” Loosely meaning: “given to frivolity.” It might even have a “hint” of the word “feast” as well, one of those gluttonous events for which Rome was so well know.

Yet he (Festus) is more powerful (in Roman hierarchy) than anyone Paul has faced so far, in the sense of Paul being judged for violating some law! And it seems, Festus was more noble (in some ways) than anybody yet!

Again, we must let Luke narrate. He here quotes Festus … “It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man TO DIE, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul AFFIRMED to be alive. Acts 25:16-19

Paul, still defending (“affirming” has the idea of the words “rolling” off one lips, “overflowing” so to speak) the Faith … preaching Jesus, dead and buried and risen!

Festus’ conclusion: this litigation is no matter of “major consequence.” It merely deals with some facet of the Jews’ “religion, superstition!” This last word meaning literally: their “fear of gods and goddesses!” (Obviously Festus is no monotheist, rather quite polytheistic!)

Earlier in our chapter Paul, figuring (probably rightly so) that the Jews would “kill” him if he returned to Jerusalem … the Apostle finally deciding to stay away from that city, deciding to obey the Lord’s command given him way back in Acts 22:18 … appealed to Caesar in Rome! (The most powerful man in the world, bar none, at that time.)

Paul told Festus: “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.” Acts 25:8

“Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.” Acts 25:10, a return to Jerusalem at that point would have been tantamount to suicide. (That’s where the Jews really wanted to “try” Paul, on their home turf. They KNOW he will be found “guilty” there. Or he could be ambushed and assassinated on the way back there!)

Even here though, Festus wobbled, wavered, being a politician … “But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?”

Then Festus made his decision, after conferring (not with the Sanhedrin) with his own brain-trust (cabinet) … “Then Festus answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.” Acts 25:12

Paul’s life right now is rather “topsy-turvy,” yet he firmly believes (though he has not written it yet) … “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

I doubt not that I am speaking (via the written word, via a Website) to someone today whose life is much like Paul’s … rather complex, indefinite, confused!

Then you must do (as did the great Apostle) this one thing: TRUST JESUS! LEAN ON HIM! BELIEVE HIM!

Trust Jesus, using Paul’s words spoken later in Acts … “whose I am, and whom I serve.”

It’s called “faith,” isn’t it?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Faith, and it’s real!

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Paul witnessing to Felix (Roman Governor or Procurator of Judea) is a classic example of Jesus’ Parable about the “Sower.”

I’m not sure if Felix’s heart was a picture of the “hard ground” or the “thorny ground” or the “shallow ground” … but clearly it wasn’t that of the “good ground!”

Luke tells us: “And 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.” Acts 24:25

Paul preaching Jesus!

And at first things looked promising, too.

“And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled.” Acts 24:25, the Greek construction here implies he “became very fearful!” Hence, he is “shaking.” Maybe he is even “under conviction!” Those three listed themes Paul preached deal with one’s past (sins forgiven, righteousness imputed) and one’s present (how to lived day-by-day with godly self-control, temperance) and then with one’s future (preparing for judgment by being born-again)!

No wonder Felix seemed to be so moved! He is left completely “without excuse!” (Quoting Romans 1:20.)

As I said earlier … it looked like Felix might get saved, might believe!

But then he “postpones” his decision! (Not God’s Idea, but Felix’s idea!) The Governor commanded Paul … “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” Acts 24:25, the verse’s last clause.

Looks like Felix came to the very “brink” of salvation … and (apparently) rejected the Gospel!

He will wait until “just the right time!” He has spurned the Grace of God! He has rejected Jesus!

The Holy Spirit “gripped” him, ever so briefly, ever so gently … but Felix decided to “not believe.” At least at that time, at that “season” (the noun “kairos” in Greek, a “window of opportunity”)!

Now, back to the idea of the different kinds of soil … looks like he has his hardened his heart (the “hard ground” in the Parable) … having said “no” to the Word of God. “He 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.” Luke records in Acts 24: 26 … less conviction now and more greed!

When the Holy Spirit “draws” one to Christ … he or she had best “yield” to His Hand … and the sooner the better!

If not, the devil will “steal away” the good seed of the Truth … and the “cares of this world” (including $$$) will choke out the Message of eternal salvation!

And this “rejection” of Jesus continued how long? “But after TWO YEARS Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.” Acts 24:27

And Felix left town … still lost in his sins!

Not Paul’s fault!

Not the Holy Spirit’s Fault!

Solely Felix’s fault … proof a man can “of his own will” neglect Jesus … to his own detriment!

And today, this very minute …. Felix may be in the unquenchable Fires of Hell, in “outer darkness; where there is weeping, gnashing of teeth, eternal darkness!”

Are YOU saved?

Jesus tells us how to be … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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