CHAPTER 24

(A.D. 60)

PAUL BEFORE FELIX

¹And after five days Ananias the High Priest descended with the Elders (represented members of the Sanhedrin who were Sadducees), and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the Governor against Paul (he served as the prosecutor for the Jews).

²And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by you (Felix) we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by your providence (Josephus said that even though Felix did suppress some of the robbers and murderers in Judaea, he was himself more hurtful than them all),

³We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

⁴Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto you, I pray you that you would hear us of your clemency a few words (Felix was not a man of clemency).

⁵For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes (presents the name for followers of Christ coined by the Jews):

⁶Who also has gone about to profane the Temple (Paul didnt profane the Temple in any manner): whom we took, and would have judged according to our Law (presents another outright lie; they had no intention of giving him a trial as the word judge implies, but rather were attempting to beat him to death before he was rescued by the Tribune).

⁷But the Chief Captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands (is meant to throw the Roman Tribune in a bad light; it was a bad mistake on the part of Tertullus; no doubt, the Holy Spirit had him go in this direction),

⁸Commanding his accusers to come unto you: by examining of whom yourself may take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him (refers to the fact that the situation is now in the Court of the Governor, even though the Jews do not think it should be here; for all their plotting, they have not helped their cause).

⁹And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so (refers to the High Priest and those with him who joined Tertullus with their voices of approval respecting their hired prosecutors statements; as stated, it was a mistake on their part).

PAULS DEFENSE

¹⁰Then Paul, after that the Governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered (presents that which the Holy Spirit had said that Paul would do, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Israel [Acts 9:15]), Forasmuch as I know that you have been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself (there was no one in the world at that time who knew Mosaic Law any better than Paul; as well, being a Roman citizen, he was also quite knowledgeable of Roman Law):

¹¹Because that you may understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship (in essence, Paul is stating that what they were accusing him of was impossible, considering the short period of time).

¹²And they neither found me in the Temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the city (refers to the fact that absolutely nothing had been done that could be misconstrued in any way, referring to these charges):

¹³Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me (they couldnt prove their charge because they never happened).

¹⁴But this I confess unto you, that after the way which they call heresy (following Christ), so worship I the God of my Fathers (places Christianity as the fulfillment of the great Promises and Predictions given to the Fathers, i.e., all the Old Testament Worthies), believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets (the entirety of the Old Testament):

¹⁵And have hope toward God (in essence, states that the Law and the Prophets were not complete within themselves, only pointing to the One Who was to come), which they themselves also allow (even his enemies among the Jews believed in the coming Messiah, but not that He was Jesus), that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust (proclaims, as is obvious, two Resurrections).

¹⁶And herein do I exercise myself (diligence constantly practiced by Paul so that his life and conduct please the Lord in all things), to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men (Mat. 22:37-40).

¹⁷Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings (probably refers to the six or seven years Paul had been away from Jerusalem).

¹⁸Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult (refers to the fact that absolutely nothing was going on at that time which could have given any type of credence to these accusations).

¹⁹Who ought to have been here before you, and object, if they had ought against me (the ones who accused him were not present here; the High Priest and the members of the Sanhedrin who were present had not witnessed any of these so-called infractions).

²⁰Or else let these same here say (now puts the High Priest and those with him on the spot), if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the Council (shifts the attention away from those not present to those who are),

²¹Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day (this had to do with Jewish Law, which interested the Romans not at all).

²²And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way (Felix had greater knowledge of Christianity than Tertullus, and the Jews present at that trial were willing to give him credit), he deferred them, and said (means simply that he refused to give a verdict at this time), When Lysias the Chief Captain shall come down, I will know the ut termost of your matter (he was trying to delay the matter, hoping it would defuse the situation; moreover, there is no record he ever sent for Lysias).

²³And he commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty (tells us that Felix considered Paul someone above the ordinary; he was under house arrest, but basically had the run of the place), and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him (he could have as many visitors as he liked, with no restraint on such activity).

²⁴And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess (his wife was the young daughter of Herod Agrippa I, the Herod who killed James [the Brother of John] with a sword [Acts 12:1-2]), he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the Faith in Christ (it seems to imply that his interest was sincere).

²⁵And as he (Paul) reasoned of Righteousness (Righteousness can only come through Christ), temperance (the bondages and vices which affect humanity), and judgment to come (all must one day stand before God), Felix trembled, and answered (proclaims tremendous Holy Spirit conviction), Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you (presents the sinners excuse when under conviction and refusing to surrender).

²⁶He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him (the love of money was probably one of the reasons he would not give his heart to the Lord): wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him (there is no record that he ever came to Christ; so close, but so far off!).

SILENCE

²⁷But after two years (gives us no hint as to what took place during this particular time) Porcius Festus came into Felix room (means that Festus now replaced Felix as Governor): and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound (presents a terrible travesty of Justice).