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The Book of Acts
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BIBLE STUDY ACTS 24:1-27 REVIEW: Chapter 23 began with Paul’s appearance before the Jewish Sanhedrin Council. He had been brought there by the Roman tribune to find out what charges the Jews had against him. As William Barclay mentioned in his Daily Study Bible commentary, there was a certain audacious recklessness about Paul’s conduct while there. He spoke out of turn, and addressed them as equals. Perhaps in reaction to this behavior, the high priest ordered him to be struck on the mouth – earning a retort from Paul that he was a “whitewashed wall”. Paul then asserted that he was on trial because of his belief of a resurrection of the dead – thus setting the Pharisees and Sadducees against each other. The final result was that all became enraged against Paul. A plot was made to assassinate him, but the plot was discovered and conveyed to the tribune by Paul’s nephew. The tribune then makes sure that Paul was safely transferred to Caesarea (which, as a Roman citizen), he would have gone anyway for a trial. CHAPTER 24:1-9 “A Flattering Speech and a False Charge” “Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.” The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.” The Interpreter’s Bible Commentary has this to say about the Roman governor: “Antonius Felix was governor of Judea from A.D. 52 till his recall, probably in 58, and was the brother of Pallas, the notorious freedman favorite of Claudius, to whom no doubt he owed his preferment, and backed by whose influence, according to Tacitus, “he thought that he could commit all kinds of enormities with impunity.” Tacitus and Josephus agree that he was a thoroughly bad man, and Luke’s narrative here shows him to have been venal and corrupt. In a famous epigram Tacitus says of him that “with all manner of cruelty and lust he exercised the functions of a prince with the disposition of a slave.” But – by fair means of foul Felix seems to have been able for several years to maintain some measure of order. Hence Tertullus’ compliment, “Through you we enjoy much peace.” (vs. 2) According to Josephus, he suppressed the robber chief Eleazar, defeated a formidable rebellion by an Egyptian-Jewish impostor in Jerusalem (see Acts 21:38), and settled what threatened to be a civil war between Greeks and Jews and Caesarea.” Be that as it may, Tertullus began his speech with a passage of almost nauseating flattery. But the reason he did so was not only to curry favor with the governor, but to then try to portray Paul as “a persistent fellow”; and “agitator”; and a “ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes”. The charges were untrue, but would certainly have resonated with Felix. Anyone who was suspected of stirring up trouble and rebellion against Roman rule would be dealt with ruthlessly. Even if Paul was not directly fermenting rebellion, the charge that he was causing the people to riot (through his supposed profaning of the temple) was a damaging one. This was much the same charge that the Sanhedrin had made against Jesus in Lk. 23:1-5. CHAPTER 24:10-21 “Paul’s Defense” “When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: “I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation. As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. They did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city. Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in God – a hope that they themselves also accept – that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people. Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifices. While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance. But there were some Jews from Asia – they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me. Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.” Paul’s defense is straightforward – he simply lays out the facts:
CHAPTER 24:22-27 “The Frightened Governor” “But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs. Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him. After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” As shown above, Felix should have released Paul – there was no reason according to Roman law that Paul should have been imprisoned. But here he is shown as being directed by political considerations rather than doing what was right – in the same way Pontius Pilate had with Jesus. Felix did not want the Jews to riot because of releasing Paul. Felix’s relationship with Paul seems to be similar to that of Herod Antipas’ with John the Baptist (see Mk. 6:19-20). In his heart, he knew that Paul was a righteous man – but he was afraid both of his enemies and of his own inner self. Finally, Luke mentions that Felix was hoping to receive a bribe for Paul’s freedom. -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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