This is the last message in our series on Acts of the Apostles. We have not covered everything, obviously, in these twenty-eight chapters. But we have reviewed many of the major texts in this early history of the church.

It is encouraging to think about the number of people who readily obeyed the Gospel when they first heard it. Many individuals are named in Luke’s account; among both those who obeyed and those who did not. Here is a brief list of those named: Ananias, Sapphira, Simon the sorcerer, the Ethiopian eunuch, Saul of Tarsus, Cornelius, Herod, Sergius Paulus, a sorcerer named Barjesus, Timothy, Lydia, the Philippian jailor, Jason, Priscilla & Aquila, Apollos, Justus, Crispus, Felix, Festus, Tertullus, and Agrippa. There are groups not named, like: the three thousand on Pentecost (2:41), the five thousand (4:4), the seven servants (6:5), the family of Cornelius (10:2), the audiences who gathered in synagogues and town halls to hear Paul and others preach, Sadducees and Pharisees, the women who gathered with Lydia down by the river to pray, about twelve men at Ephesus who had only John’s baptism, the Ephesian elders, the Jews in Rome with whom Paul met and made his case, some in Caesar’s own household, and those who came to Paul during his two years’ stay in Rome.

In the account before us, we do know some of the reasons why some did not obey the Gospel. It is not for us to determine all the reasons why people do not obey; only God knows the heart. But we can say that there is no valid reason why one should not obey the Gospel. All reasons for not obeying should be put aside, because God will judge those who do not obey the Gospel.

I want to select only a few of those where a specific statement is made concerning those who rejected the Gospel.

On several occasions, the reason is given why some did not obey. They simply did not believe. Faith and obedience are always found together in Scripture. Unbelief and disobedience go together. These are inseparably connected. (Hebrews 4:2.)

"Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed and the number of the men was about five thousand." (4:4.)

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (8:12.)

"Then Simon himself believed also, and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." (8:13.)

"And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord." (11:21.)

"Then the deputy (Sergius Paulus) when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord." (13:12.)

"And it came to pass in Iconium that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews and so spake that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil affected against the brethren." (14:1-2.)

"And some of them which believed and consorted with Paul and Silas and of the devout Greeks a great multitude and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort. . . ." (17:4-5.)

". . . many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized." (18:8.)

"But when divers were hardened and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them." (19:9.)

Paul preached in Ephesus for about two years (19:10) and many were stirred by the Gospel. Many brought their books on witchcraft and burned them publicly. The things they destroyed were valued at over 50,000 pieces of silver. (19:19.) Demetrius, a silversmith, made his living by making silver shrines of Diana for others to worship. (verse 24.) He called all the craftsmen together who made these shrines and said, "Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth." He further told them that Paul was teaching for people to turn away from these gods. So, he said, "Not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised and her magnificence should be destroyed." (19:27.)

It should not surprise us that money sooner or later would enter as a reason why some did not obey the Gospel. Paul said that "the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6:10.)

Ananias and Sapphira fell because they lied about how much they gave to the apostles. (5:1-11.) It seems that they desired recognition, but was not willing to give all they reported. There was no requirement for them to give anything. It was theirs to decide. (5:4.) But money was involved in their downfall.

There are several sorcerers in the story of Acts. They bewitched the people in order to make money from them. (8:9-10.) Peter told Simon the sorcerer, "Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." (8:20.) Barjesus, a sorcerer on Paphos, tried to persuade the deputy of the island, Sergius Paulus, from obeying the Gospel. (13:6-8.) If the deputy obeyed the Gospel, this man would have lost his job. Sergius Paulus did obey the Gospel.

When people obey the Gospel, believing in God and in His Son, there is no need for palm readers, astrologers, fortune tellers, and soothsayers. All of these lose their jobs! Christianity stands opposed to brides, unethical business deals, drug dealing, the liquor industry, pornography, gambling. . . .

"And 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. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he sent for him the oftener and communed with him." (Acts 24:25-26.)

Here is money in the picture again. Felix had hoped that Paul would bride him to dismiss the charges. Imagine the scene with Paul patiently teaching this Roman ruler the Gospel and all the while Felix is hoping at some point that Paul would offer him some money. But Paul was not interested in being released, as much as he was that Felix obey the Gospel.

Felix said, "When I have a convenient season, I will call for you." It is not a convenient time anytime the person’s interest is taking brides, making illegal money. Someone has said that Felix adjourned his own case for salvation. He tabled it until some other day. The message about righteousness, temperance and the judgment did not seem to affect Drusilla, but it did visibly affect Felix. The KJV says he trembled; the NIV says he was afraid; the ASV says Felix was terrified. This was the moment of truth for Felix. His conscience had already passed a judgment against him. He stood self-condemned. He was guilty as charged. He knew that he was lost. This was his golden opportunity. How different things would have been for him if he had only cried out like others in Acts, What must I do? But instead, he said, Wait until another day. For the important things in life, we must make time for them.

"It is a significant matter to put off becoming a Christian. The story is often told that Satan once held a conference with his demons. He announced his concern about the number becoming Christians and asked if any had a suggestion on how they might slow the trend. One demon said, We could tell people there is no heaven, so there is no need for them to become Christians. No, that won’t work, said Satan. All who believe in God know there is something beyond this life---an existence with God himself. Another demon spoke up: We could tell people there is no hell, so they have nothing to worry about if they don’t become Christians. Satan sighed. That won’t work either. Anyone who looks at the injustice in the world knows that there has to be a time when everything is made right. Finally, one demon suggested, We could tell people that they should become Christians, that there is a heaven and a hell---but that there is no hurry. Satan laughed and said, Perfect! That will cause more to be lost than any other message we could preach! The story is fiction, but the message is not: The idea that there is no hurry has sent millions to face God unprepared." (Truth for Today Commentary: Acts 15-28, David L. Roper, 392.)

Brother Roper continued by naming the three major dangers of procrastination. They are: 1) One may die before he has another opportunity, 2) The Lord may return as a thief in the night, and 3) The heart may become hardened. Every time the invitation is rejected, the heart becomes a little harder. The Bible says, Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:2.)

What happened to Felix and Drusilla? History records that Felix was dismissed from his government and only the influence of his brother Pallas saved him from execution. (Josephus Wars 2.13.7) Felix was banished to Gaul where he died. Drusilla and their son later perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, ending the sad tale of a couple who tried to gain the world and thereby lost their souls.

The closing words of Paul to some Jews at Rome are sad and serious. He met with a large gathering of Jews when he first arrived. They continued to come and hear Paul preach. Then a disagreement ensued among the Jewish leaders. (28:25.) Paul gave them a warning from the prophet Isaiah. Jesus referred to this same passage during his preaching. (Matt. 13:14-15, Isaiah 6:9-10.) It is one thing to choose not to believe, it is quite another to become so hardened that you cannot see and believe.

These words were the last words spoken to the Jews before the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus foretold their destruction earlier. (Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21.) Now, that event is just a few years away. Why did the Jews at Rome not believe and obey the Gospel? Because they could not due to the condition of their eyes and ears.