‘And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and with an orator, one Tertullus, and they informed the governor against Paul.' The importance attached to Paul comes out in that the High Priest came in person together with some leading elders and with a trained advocate... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that by the providence evils are corrected for this nation, we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.” ' It may be that the arrogant High Pries... [ Continue Reading ]
“But, that I be not further tedious to you, I entreat you to hear us of your clemency a few words.” He then assures Felix that his case will not take too long (we probably only have the gist of it) for he does not want to bore him. But he hopes that nevertheless he will listen to him patiently as h... [ Continue Reading ]
“For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, who moreover attempted to profane the temple. On whom also we laid hold.” He then paints the blackest possible picture of Paul. He is... [ Continue Reading ]
“From whom you will be able, by examining him yourself, to take knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him.” And Felix will only have to examine him in the right way in order to discover that all this is true. If he failed, all would know whose fault it was.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so.' Then the words of Tertullus were backed up by ‘the Jews', that is the Jewish party who had come with him. They too assured Felix that these things were so. So there was a goodly audience, and an important one, to hear Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered,' The governor then turned to Paul and beckoned him to speak and give his defence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Paul too recognises the need to win the judges confidence. So he states how gladly he makes his defence in front of such an experienced and knowledgeable judge. ‘Many years.' Prior to being procurator Felix had been an administrator in the area. Then he informs him that he can soon if he wishes dis... [ Continue Reading ]
“Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.” Nor could his accusers bring any proof that the things which they accused him of were true. It was a case of words without evidence. Not a single genuine witness had been produced. Their case was all generalities and accusations, a... [ Continue Reading ]
“But this I confess to you, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets, having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection both o... [ Continue Reading ]
“In this I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.” ‘This' either refers to ‘the Way', or signifies a general ‘all this I am talking about'. Either way it is because of these things that he behaves according to his conscience, seeking to have a conscienc... [ Continue Reading ]
“Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings, among which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult.” And what had brought him to Jerusalem? Why, he had come bringing charitable gifts to his nation, and offerings, which is why he was found in... [ Continue Reading ]
In fact the source of the accusations against him were certain Jews from Asia. It was they who, as his original accusers, should have been there if they really had anything to accuse him of (that was the law). But they were not there. The whole case was trumped up. Roman law in fact imposed heavy p... [ Continue Reading ]
“Or else let these men themselves declare what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, ‘Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.' ” And if these men had found any wrongdoing i... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter.” Having listened to all this, and having more exact knowledge about the Way, (so that he knew that some of the accusations were lies), Fel... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence, and not to forbid any of his friends to minister to him.' So he gave orders to the centurion that Paul should be held in charge, but with a great deal of indulgence given to him so that there should be... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.' Meanwhile Felix had been discussing Paul and his teaching with his wife and brought her with him one day, to a place to which he also called Paul to... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when I have a convenient season, I will call you to me.” ' When asked to expound the truth about ‘the faith of Jesus Christ' Paul did not dampen his me... [ Continue Reading ]
‘He hoped withal that money would be given to him by Paul, which was why also he sent for him the more often, and communed with him.' Felix, however, did follow it up. He had no intention of releasing Paul, or of bringing him to trial, and over the course of two years he sent for him and talked wit... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.' So time passed by until two years were up. And then Felix was called back to Rome and replaced. He continued to reveal the kind of man he was to the end.... [ Continue Reading ]