Acts 24
The Accusations Against Paul
1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor.
Ananias was the high priest, representing the Sadducees. The elders represented the Pharisees. Tertullus is a Latin name, meaning he was most likely a Roman attorney. The Pharisees and Sadducees needed Tertullus, because they did not understand Roman Law.
2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight.”
Tertullus opened the case with flattery. Felix was replaced by Festus, because he could not stop the uprisings and rebellion. Reforms were not being made, because Felix was involved in graft and corruption.
3 Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude.
"Most excellent" is a title of respect for someone who is in an authority position. Luke opened up the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts with "most excellent Theophilus", meaning that these two books may have been for the purpose of Paul's trial. The attorney flatters Felix again, by thanking him for his successful leadership.
4 But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.
This was more flattery. Tertullus implied that the time of Festus was too valuable to spend on this case.
5 For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Paul was accused of being a public pest. He was accused of staging riots, which was sedition against Rome. He was accused of being the ring leader of a sect called the Nazarenes. The term Nazarenes was used as an early name for Jewish believers, while Christian was a term for Gentile believers.
6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.
The Jews could apply capital punishment to any Gentile who entered their gates, so they did not need Rome's permission on this issue. The Jews did not arrest Paul. He was arrested by the Roman commander.
7 "But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands,”
This verse is not found in the Westcott-Hort, but it is found in the Textus Receptus.
8 When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing.”
Tertullus made this sound like a simple open and shut case.
9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true.
They were called Jews, because Tertullian was a Gentile.
Paul’s Defense Before Felix
10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.”
The Greek word for "gestured" is νεύω (neuo), meaning a signal, sign, or gesture to speak. Paul did not flatter Felix, but simply stated a fact. Felix had been governor for over seven years. He was also a military commander in Israel before his appointment. Paul was happy and confident to make his case. Why? He was called by God to witness to kings!
11 “As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.”
This is a fact that Felix could easily justify. If Paul was a ring leader trying to begin a revolt against Rome, then he would need more time than twelve days. Paul entered Jerusalem twelve days earlier to worship at Pentecost. He did not have time to raise up a conspiracy.
12 “They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city,”
Paul had not argued or stirred up any crowd. He was simply at the temple to worship. This eliminated all crimes of sedition against Rome.
13 “nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing.”
Paul's accusers could not cite a time or place or date when he was causing a revolt.
14 “But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets.”
Paul admitted that he was a Nazarene, or a follower of the Way, but this was not a Roman crime. He pointed out that the Way was part of Judaism, or actually, an advancement or fulfillment of Judaism.
15 “I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”
The Pharisees believed in a resurrection, but the Sadducees did not. The resurrection of the righteous will be the first resurrection. The resurrection of the unrighteous will be the second resurrection.
16 “This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.”
Paul kept his conscience clean by teaching the truth and not allowing anyone to stumble over false doctrine.
17 “After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings,”
Paul did not come twelve days ago to start a rebellion. He came to give an offering to his nation. The Messianic Jews still saw themselves as part of the nation of Israel.
18 “which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance.”
He was arrested and accused of rebellion for bringing an offering to his nation. Paul was in the temple ritually purified, meaning that he was alone in the temple without any Gentiles.
19 “But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.”
It was the Asian Jews who charged Paul with sedition, but they were not even present at the trial.
20 “Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the Council,”
When at the Antonia Fortress, the Sanhedrin could not point out any specific crime that Paul had committed.
21 “other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them, ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”
The only reason that Paul was on trial was because he believed in the resurrection of Jesus.
22 Then Felix, who understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.”
Somehow, Felix had more information about the Way than Tertullus. Lysias had already told Felix that Paul was innocent, so this call did not need to be made. Paul was innocent and should have been freed. Felix never called for Lysias.
23 He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.
Felix gave Paul liberty, because he did not see Paul as a dangerous criminal. This freedom gave Paul the opportunity to continue his ministry.
Paul Speaks Repeatedly to Felix
24 Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Drusilla was the third wife of Felix. At sixteen years of age, Drusilla was married, but Felix convinced her to leave her husband and marry him. Felix already knew something about the Christian faith, but he and his wife wanted to know more.
25 While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”
Paul did not tickle his ears. Felix did not like the teaching of righteousness, because he had no personal or public righteousness in his life. He did not like the teaching of self-control, because he was a lustful man who instigated three evil marriages. He did not like the teaching on the coming judgment, because his rejection of Jesus as the Messiah would place him at the feet of Jesus at the White Throne Judgment. Felix clearly understood what this new faith was about, but he wanted nothing to do with it. Therefore, he sent Paul away. This is a similar tactic used by atheists, agnostics, evolutionists, cults, and isms. They must invent reasons not to believe in order to escape eternal judgement.
26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him.
Felix hinted to Paul about a bribe, but Paul never offered it.
27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Felix never released Paul from prison, because he wanted the favor of the Jews. After rebellion broke out in Felix's region, Emperor Nero recalled him to Rome and replaced him with Festus. Paul had now been imprisoned for two years, because of the corruption and greed of Felix. Roman Law was not blind.
