Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
ACTS 24
Paul’s Trial Before Felix
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.
5 “We 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 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”
9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
10 When 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 ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will 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 be here before you and bring charges 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— 21 unless 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 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “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 Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment 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.
Application Notes
24:1 The accusers arrived: Ananias, the high priest; Tertullus, the lawyer; and several Jewish leaders. They travelled 60 miles to Caesarea, the Roman centre of government in Judea, to bring their false accusations against Paul. Their murder plot had failed (23:12-15), but they persisted in trying to kill him. This attempt to do away with Paul was both premeditated and persistent.
24:2-9 Tertullus was a special orator called to present the religious leaders' case before the Roman governor. He made three accusations against Paul: (1) He was a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews around the world; (2) he was the ringleader of an unrecognised religious cult, which was against Roman law; and (3) he had tried to desecrate the temple. The religious leaders hoped that these accusations would persuade Felix to execute Paul in order to keep the peace in Judea.
24:5 The charge against Paul that he was a troublemaker was too vague to be a substantive legal charge. The "Nazarene sect" is a reference to the Christians, named here after Jesus' hometown of Nazareth.
24:10-27 Tertullus and the religious leaders pressed their argument against Paul, but Paul refuted their accusations point by point. Tertullus could not present specific evidence to support the general accusations. For example, the Jewish leaders accused Paul of starting trouble among the Jews in the province of Asia (western Turkey), but those Jews were not present to confirm the accusation. Meanwhile, Paul was able to present the gospel message through his defence, using every opportunity to witness for Christ (see 24:14, 24).
24:22 Felix had been the governor for six years and would have known about the Christians ("the Way"), a topic of conversation among the Roman leaders. The Christians' peaceful way of life had already proven to the Romans that Christians didn't go around starting riots.
24:25 Paul's talk with Felix became so personal that Felix grew frightened. Felix, like Herod Antipas (Mark 6:17-18), had taken another man's wife. Paul's words were interesting to him until they focused on "righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come." Many people will be open to discussing the Bible with you as long as it doesn't touch their lives too personally. When it does, some will resist or run. God's Word can powerfully impact and convict people who hear it. In Felix's case, Paul's words convicted him enough to at least make him want to stop the conversation. The gospel is not effective until it moves from principles and doctrine into a life-changing dynamic. When someone resists or runs from your witness, it is possible that you have succeeded in making the gospel personal. If this happens, pray for understanding about the cause of their resistance and discernment about what you should do next. The resistance could be a sign that God is at work.
24:27 The Jews were in the majority, and the Roman political leaders often deferred to them to help keep the peace. Paul seemed to incite problems among the Jews everywhere he went. By keeping him in prison, Felix left office on good terms with the Jews. Felix lost his job as governor and was called back to Rome. Porcius Festus took over as governor in late AD 59 or early 60. He immediately ordered Paul's trial to resume.
24:27 Though God had promised that Paul would preach the gospel in Rome (23:11), the apostle had to endure more than two years of waiting in prison. In addition to this custody, Paul was subjected to other long stretches of time during which he could do little but trust God and wait for him to act. How do you handle waiting on God? Do you become anxious? Angry? Discouraged? Few things test our patience and faith like being forced to wait--which perhaps explains why our sovereign God often puts us in situations where we have no other choice.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)