Paul’s defense before Felix (Acts 24) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Paul’s defense before Felix (Acts 24)

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music

 

Scriptures reading Acts 24

Accused by the Jew’s advocate          

¹ Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea, with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. ² When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³ Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude.⁴ But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

⁵We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect ⁶and even tried to desecrate the temple, so we seized him. ( and would have judged according to our law.⁷ But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, ⁸ Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: (kjv)) By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” ⁹ The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

¹⁰When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so, I gladly make my defense.¹¹ You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹³ And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. ¹⁴ However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, Which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, ¹⁵ and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

 ¹⁷ After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. ¹⁸ I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. ¹⁹ But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to charge if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin — 21unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: “It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.”

²² The Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceeding. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “ I will decide your case. ²³ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

²⁴ Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.²⁵ As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 

²⁶ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. ²⁷ When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

 

Verse 1 Ananias headed the group that presented the complaint against Paul. Tertullus (Roman name) was probably a lawyer hired by the Jews in Caesarea to present their case. A spokesman, one who knew Roman legal procedure.

Verse 2 Tertullus’s word from here to the end of v.3 displayed his baseness, his lack of any ethical standard. (23.1)

Verse 5 Tertullus broadened the charge, and made it more serious in Roman eyes by, for the first time, accusing Paul of being an insurrectionist (stirring up riots).

Verse 6 many ancient MSS omit the section from this word through come to you in v.8

Verse 8 Tertullus now argued that Lysias had exceeded his authority in removing Paul from trial by Jewish authorities on the charge of profaning the Temple.

Verse 15 The resurrection of the righteous will occurs before the millennium at the Lord’s coming back (1Cor.15:23;1Thes.4:16). This will be the resurrection of life (John 5:28-29 and Dan.12:2a) and the resurrection of reward (Luke 14;14), which includes the first, or the best, resurrection (Rev.20:4-6)  the out –resurrection (Phil.3:11) The resurrection of the unrighteous will occur after the millennium ( Rev.20:5). This will be the resurrection of judgment (John 5:29b) and of shame and everlasting contempt (Dan.12:2b) and will be for the judgement of eternal perdition upon the unrighteous (Rev.20:12-15). It was concerning this judgment that the apostle warned the unrighteous Felix in v.25. 

Verse 22 adjourned the proceedings. Because Lysias wasn’t there to be heard from.

Verse 23 To give him some freedom. Paul was under a relatively loose military confinement.

Verse 24 A daughter of King Herod Agrippa. She was persuaded by Felix, who became enamored of her, to forsake her husband and marry him. This showed the intemperance and corruption of Felix, a Roman politician.

Verse 25 reasoning concerning Lit., saying thoroughly, discussing (in argument or exhortation), disputing the same as in 17:2;18:4,19). 

Verse 25 Righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come.  Felix was afraid. Realizing Felix’s unrighteousness (vv.26-27) and intemperance, the apostle reasoned with Felix regarding righteousness and self-control, the control of passions and desires, especially, here, sexual desires. The coming judgment is related to the resurrection of the unrighteous, which the apostle preached in v.15. The apostle reasoned with Felix regarding the coming judgment also, this was a warning to Felix. Through this, Felix became afraid. Felix had stolen Drusilla from her first husband. He also was corrupt as a governor (v.26), and Paul may have challenged him concerning his low morality.

Verse 26 This indicated the Roman politician’s corruption.

Verse 27 Luke does not disclose what the apostle did during these two years. He might have used the time to be with the Lord for His move on earth. If so, this might have influenced the Epistles he wrote during the time of his appeal in Rome-Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians-which are the most mysterious, most profound, and riches in the divine revelation. The supply that they have brought to the church throughout the generations cannot be fully told.

Verse 27 Festus, Felix’s successor as the governor of Judea. The change came about A.D.58. A Roman magistrate could decide when a case would be called; often the delays were long, as here.

Bibliography,

King James, The Holy Bible (KJV), Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.