1. A L M O S T
But Lost

3. I’m a multi-tasking procrastinator… I can put off all kinds of things
at once

5. Now I never get anything done!!
Mama once told me to put off
‘til tomorrow what I could get done today.
Now I never get anything done!!

6. Review The “Bridge of Life” Three main characters in Paul’s encounter
Paul’s appearances before three officials

7. Reflect on implications
Non-Christian
Christian

9. The “Bridge of Life”

11. God’s Love and Plan

15. Three main characters in Paul’s encounter

16. The Roman procurator of Judaea Province
Marcus Antonius Felix 
The Roman procurator of Judaea Province
52-58

17. His brother Pallas was a favourite in the court at Rome
Wielded unlimited power and influence
Ambitious, passionate, wrathful, wicked, intemperate, solicitor of bribes, murderer

18. His practices led to increases in crimes across the province
He put down resistance mercilessly
His wife, Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa

19. The Roman procurator of Judaea Province
Porcius Festus 
The Roman procurator of Judaea Province
59-62

20. Plagued by a decision of King Agrippa to
build a wall between the temple and Agrippa’s palace
Festus extended (for a price) privileges to religious leaders
Increasing hostility to Rome lead to uprisings

21. Marcus Julius Agrippa
Herod Agrippa II

22. King Herod Agrippa II was the last of the Herodian Kings
Impulsive, unpredictable, avaricious
Appointed and deposed high priests at whim
Expelled by the people (along with his sister Berenice) in 66 AD

23. In Rome, he was treated as a returning hero
Named praetor and given additional territories
judicial officer who had broad authority
Financial priorities
production of the public games
extensive authority in the government.

24. Paul’s appearances before three officials

25. Developing Your Testimony
Before
How
After

26. Before Felix and Drusilla

27. 14 …this I confess to you, that according to
Acts 24
14 …this I confess to you, that according to
the Way which they call a sect,
so I worship the God of my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 

28. both of the just and the unjust.
15 I have hope in God,
which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, 
both of the just and the unjust. 

29. 16 This being so, I myself always strive
to have a conscience without offense
toward God and men.

30. 23 So he commanded the centurion to
keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and
told him not to forbid any of his friends
to provide for or visit him.

31. he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning
King James Version
24 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.

32. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,
Felix trembled,

33. and immediately all the doors were opened,
Acts 16
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison
were shaken:
and immediately all the doors were opened,
and every one's bands were loosed.

34. Felix trembled, and answered, “Go your way for this time;
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,
Felix trembled, and answered,
“Go your way for this time;
when I have a convenient season,
I will call for you…”

35. T R A G E D Y!!

36. He was going to be all that a mortal should be Tomorrow.
No one would ever be better than he
 Tomorrow.
 Each morning he stacks up the letters he’d write

37. Each evening he’d recount the battles he’d fight Tomorrow.
 He was a man who’d work like a fiend
The world would have known him had he ever seen
 Tomorrow.

38. Tomorrow. But the fact is, he died and faded from view,
And all that was left when living was through
Was a mountain of things he intended to do
Tomorrow.
 [Adapted from "Tomorrow";
Edgar Albert Guest]

39. “In an acceptable time I have heard you,
2 Corinthians 6
2 [God] says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

40. Drusilla, Marcus Antonius Agrippa, her son and countless others
from Pompeii and Herculaneum
perished in the AD 79 eruption of
Mount Vesuvius.

41. Before Festus

42. To the Jews I have done no wrong,
Acts 25
10…Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged.
To the Jews I have done no wrong,
as you very well know. 

43. …if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me,
no one can deliver me to them.
I appeal to Caesar.”

44. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered,
“You have appealed to Caesar?
To Caesar you shall go!”

46. Before King Agrippa

48. 14 When they had been there many days,
Acts 26
13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 
14 When they had been there many days,
Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying:
“There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,

49. I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
11…I punished them often
in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them,
I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

50. 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,
17 I will deliver you
from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 
18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light,

51. and from the power of Satan to God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

52. 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 
20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles,

53. …that they should repent, turn to God,
and do works befitting repentance. 
21 For these reasons the Jews seized me
in the temple and tried to kill me. 

54. 25…[Paul] said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words
of truth and reason. 
26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things;

55. …for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention,
since this thing was not done in a corner. 
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?
I know that you do believe.”

56. 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me
to become a Christian.”

57. might become both almost and altogether
29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today,
might become both almost and altogether
such as I am, except for these chains.”

58. T R A G E D Y!!

60. Mark 12
28 Then one of the scribes… asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

61. 34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him,
 “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” 

62. T R A G E D Y!!

64. Roy Halliday (1977 – 2017)
So close to safety,
but crashed

65. What Next?
Reflect on implications
Non-Christian
Christian

66. What Next? Implication for the Non-Christian
2 Corinthians 6
…Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

67. What Next? Implication for the Christian
Hebrews 9
 27…it is appointed for men to die once,
but after this the judgment, 
28 so Christ was offered once
to bear the sins of many.

68. the unsaved in our sphere of influence!
What Next?
Implication for the Christian
There is an urgency to our witnessing to
the unsaved in our sphere of influence!

70. (May) Christ dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted
Eph. 3:17-19
(May) Christ dwell in your hearts
through faith—that you, being rooted
and grounded in love, may have strength
to comprehend with all the saints

71. may be filled with all the fullness of God.
…what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you
may be filled with all the fullness of God.

72. A L M O S T
But Lost