‘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 ]