Acts 24

complacency |kəmˈplāsənsē| (also complacence)

a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements; 

ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin complacentia, from Latin complacere ‘to please.’

Complacency is deadly when it comes to seeking the truth. We must constantly be lead by the Holy Spirit, learning daily, as we search the Gospels. We need the Holy Spirit whom Jesus gives to believers to guide and teach us. The only One we should seek to please is the Father.

Knowledge is the beginning of wisdom.

Paul was held for 2 years before he was able to fulfill the promise given to him that he would testify to Rome of the Christ. 

God works in His timetable not in ours but His will will always be fulfilled.

The Lord encouraged Paul not to be afraid because he was under the sovereign care of God. As Paul had borne witness to Jesus as a prisoner in Jerusalem, so he would do as a prisoner in Rome. Paul’s chains would glorify God in ways that would have been impossible without them.

It may be that this was the time Luke wrote most of the Book of Acts, considering that he had access to people in Jerusalem and Caesarea for information about the early church.

Acts 24

23:¹¹ But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

24:²⁷ But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

⁹ Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 

Acts 18:9

²⁴ saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 

Acts 27:24

²³ So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 

Acts 28:23

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, 

Acts 25:14