Acts 47. Acts 24:22 - 25:12

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5. a. How did his expectation of resurrection and possible judgment affect Paul (see 24:15-16)? 
He knew there was life after death
He took care to have a clear conscience.
There was assurance of reward, not of condemnation 
b. How did this idea affect Felix (see 24:25)?
 Felix was 'alarmed'. 
c. Why do you think the prospect of judgment affected these men so differently?
 One welcomed it and was ready for it. The other feared it.
 
Optional Application: 
a. What do you think were the truths about righteousness, self-control, and judgment that Paul discoursed upon (see 24:25)?
Righteousness = living according to God's standards
Self-control = mastery over one's impulses and desires
Coming judgment = a future event where all people will be held accountable. 
 
b. How should these truths affect your attitudes and actions? How are these relevant to the decisions currently facing you? Talk to God about this. 
 We also live in the light of coming judgment.
"... each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done".(1 Cor 3:13)

For Thought and Discussion: Paul allowed Jason to pay bond to release him from jail (see 17:9), but he refused to pay a bribe to released.by Felix (see 24:26). Why do you think the first was acceptable but the last was not?
One perverted justice, one was within a legal framework  ("(he wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice, Prov 17:23)
One went against his conscience, one did not.
One was in secret, something to be ashamed of. One was in the open. 

For Thought and Discussion: In your judgment, should Paul have appealed to Caesar or trusted God to protect him in Jerusalem? Why?
He knew he had to go to Rome (23:11)
He did not presume on God's protection 
He was identified with the Christian faith and wanted to establish his legal innocence. 
 
6. Lysias, Felix, and Festus all knew that Paul had broken no Roman laws (see 23:29; 24:22-27; 25:18-20). Why didn’t they free him?
Lysias had no authority to free him
Felix wanted a bribe and he hoped that Paul would be increasingly desperate enough to offer one
Festus wanted to gain favour with the Jews (24:7, 25:9)




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