Written ~ 07-04-2024
Read Acts Chapter Twenty Four
Acts 24
Here’s a quick overview from Acts chapter 23, Paul was standing before the Jewish high council to defend himself from the accusations that came from the leading priests and elders. Though the outrage was great, no pronouncement of guilt could be sentenced. It was the commander of the Roman army who got Paul out of the violent uproar and brought him to safety. Paul was then brought to Caesarea to stand before Governor Felix. When he arrived in Caesarea, Felix says to him in Acts 23:35…
“ ‘I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive.’ Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.”
It wasn’t until five days later that Ananias the high priest arrived. Let me point out that the “five days” would have been since the day Paul was arrested. Ananias brought along with him some of the Jewish elders and a man named Tertullus, who was an orator. An orator would be known as a person quite distinguished for skill and power as a public speaker. In today’s terms he would have acted as a lawyer to present charges against the accused.
Acts 24:1-2a…
1“Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. 2aWhen Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor…”
As any smooth speaking lawyer, Tertullus starts his address with flattery by using seemingly untrue accolades to embellish Governor Felix’s accomplishments, as far fetched as they may have been, the men with Ananias would have nodded in agreement, while the people watching the proceedings would have been caught by surprise at what Tertullus was saying about the governor.
Acts 24:2b-3…
2b “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. 3 For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you.”
After a bit of adulation, Tertullus continues… let’s highlight the things they are charging Paul with, all in hopes Felix will agree and sentence him to death… (Acts 24:4-9)
- Troublemaker, constantly stirring up riots
- Ringleader for the Nazarene “cult”
- Trying to desecrate the Temple
Sounds bad if any of it were true. That’s why Ananias chose to bring Tertullus with him because of the incriminating way he had with words. Even the Jewish elders chimed in saying that what Tertullus had said was the truth.
Let’s take a moment now to read Paul’s response… keep in mind that Paul had the Holy Spirit on his side! This gives him great courage, boldness and authority in the things he says in his defense.
Acts 24:10-21…
10The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.
14“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. 19But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, 21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”
So who was Governor Felix going to believe? Was he going to believe the slippery lies of the lawyer or the courageous truth from the lips of Paul?
Verses 24:22-23 give us a pretty clear answer as to what side he was leaning towards…
22 “At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.”
We can come to our own conclusions, but I think the overall feeling was that Felix was not going to give in to the lies brought to him by the high priest and the Jewish elders.
The “Expositor’s Bible Commentary” had a lot to say about these two verses, let’s read what it says…
- Felix seems to have summed up the situation accurately. After a decade in Palestine, he was “well acquainted with the Way.” While certainly not a Christian, he could see that the Jewish charges against Paul were entirely religious in nature—even though presented in the guise of political rebellion. He therefore sought to preserve the peace of Rome within his jurisdiction simply by removing the possibility of confrontation between the disputants and by delaying judicial procedure. So Paul was placed under protective custody in the palace of Herod the Great, and Ananias was given the deceptive promise of a decision being reached when the commander Lysias came down to Caesarea and presented his testimony (which he had already given in his letter, see Acts 23:25-30). As a Roman citizen, Paul was allowed some freedom and permitted visits from friends to care for his needs. But both he and Ananias seem to have realized that Felix had no intention of bringing the case to a decision in the near future; and they evidently, each for his own reasons, decided to await the appointment of a new governor before pressing for a resolution.
In the next few verses it seems to me that Felix was quite interested in what Paul had to say. He sent for Paul numerous times so he and his wife Drucilla could hear more about Paul’s faith in Christ Jesus. Plus, it was quite evident Felix was convicted by what Paul was telling him.
Acts 24:24-26…
24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
Why would Felix hope for Paul to bribe him? I think it’s because he was under such conviction from the things Paul was sharing, that he hoped Paul would bribe him to be released! Then Felix would have reason to keep him in prison. It says in verse 24:26 that Felix sent for Paul quite often, we learn in verse 24:27 that it was for two years Felix kept him in custody. Even though Paul was in custody during this time, he did have freedom to spend time with his friends and he was under guard, but he wasn’t locked away in a dungeon and forgot about.
The “Expositor’s Bible Commentary” says…
- During those two years, Paul remained in Herod’s palace at Caesarea—with Felix rationalizing Paul’s imprisonment as a way of protection for him and a favor to the Jews. It must have been an extremely tedious time for Paul.
Can you imagine Paul anxiously waiting for his release so he can get back to spreading the gospel message, but instead, feeling sort of trapped by Felix’s selfish rationalization by keeping him in custody. Even though he was able to visit with friends, I would imagine two years would have gone by very slowly for him.
When I read all that Paul has gone through since he arrived in Jerusalem, wouldn’t you think he would become discouraged? But we never read about his countenance being negatively impacted. Even though the protective custody he remained in for those two years would have been a bummer, I believe he used every opportunity to share the message of Christ with whoever would listen. I’m sure when his friends visited he would get the latest news and they would spend time in prayer and study the Scriptures together.
If from the very beginning the high priest and the Jewish elders would have been truthful, Paul would not be in this predicament. But God always has a plan… even if we don’t understand what it is…
One huge lesson we should learn from today’s chapter… Lying and making up stories never has a good outcome. We may think it’s a good tactic to get our own way, but sooner or later the truth will always come out. It’s better to just start with the truth so judgement doesn’t come back on you.
In the next chapter we will continue to see what happens to Paul! Will he ever get released from prison? Wait and see!
Be blessed!! Always give praise and honor to the Father!
~AMEN~