College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 24:1-22
b.
Paul's trial before Felix the governor. Acts 24:1-22.
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.
And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,
Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by thy providence evils are corrected for this nation,
we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.
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 assayed to profane the temple: on whom also we laid hold:
from whom thou wilt be able, by examining him thyself, to take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him.
And the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so.
And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered,
Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I cheerfully make my defence:
seeing that thou canst take knowledge that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem:
and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
Neither can they prove to thee the things whereof they now accuse me.
But this I confess unto thee, 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 shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.
Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:
amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but there were certain Jews from Asia
who ought to have been here before thee, and to make accusation, if they had aught against me.
Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing 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.
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.
Acts 24:1 The forty men in Jerusalem were going to have a long fast if they were going to eat nothing until they killed Paul. But when word got to them that Paul had left the city, they probably gave up their vow. But not the high priest Ananias. He was not one to be thwarted. When the Christians fled Jerusalem, Saul pursued them to foreign cities. Saul went to the high priest for permission to do so. This time the high priest was himself in pursuit. (Not of Christians, but of the very one who was once the pursuer.)
It is probable that Lysias sent word to the high priest that since Paul was a Roman citizen his case had been referred to the governor,
Paul had been in Caesarea five days when his accusers came, Here is an interesting chronology of the 12 days that had elapsed since Paul came to Jerusalem.
1May 8th Paul arrived at Jerusalem.
2May 9th Pentecost and council held.
3May 10th Paul goes to Temple with the four Nazarites.
4May 11th Second day of Nazarite week.
5May 12th Third day.
6May 13th Fourth Day.
7May 14th Fifth day and Paul is apprehended in the temple.
8May 15th Before the Sanhedrin.
9May 16th The conspiracy against Paul; at nine o-'clock at night
Paul is dispatched to Caesarea.
10May 17th Reaches Caesarea.
11May 18th)
19th)
20th) At Caesarea.
21st)
12May 22nd Trial before Felix.
(This chronology is taken from Lewin, as quoted by Dallmann).
889.
Show the great difference in the relation of Paul to the high priest here from that of previous times.
890.
How did Ananias hear that Paul had left Jerusalem and was now in Caesarea?
891.
When Paul was tried before Felix how many days elapsed since he first arrived in Jerusalem?
Acts 24:2-9 Ananias was prepared to make the most of this appearance. With this in mind he had brought along a Roman orator who understood better the procedure of Roman law. Of course this lawyer or orator was paid, but he was determined to do his mercenary best.
Paul was called out of the prison and all were summoned before the governor and the trial began.
Tertullus was the first to speak and his first effort was to secure the good will of Felix. This Roman orator said everything he could in favor of Felix. It wasn-'t what he did say that mattered, it was rather what he did not say that suggested flattery. Indeed:
(1) By the effort of Felix the country did enjoy a measure of peace. He even called himself The Pacifier of the Providence yet there was much discord and Felix was the cause of a good deal of it.
(2) And it was true that evils were corrected. Yes, and how many other evils were promoted by this one? And some of the corrected evils resulted in the slaughter of numerous Jews.
Felix like other kings felt he had divine right in his rule, hence the use of the world providence in Acts 24:2.
Tertullus says that it was not only here before the governor that the nation made mention of these things, but at all times and in all ways with thankfulness. (What a liar.) This smooth speaker says in essence that: I could go on like this for hours but I do not wish to bother you with it.
What is the meaning of clemency? It refers to compassion or remissionjust another word of flattery. Now to the charges against Paul.
1.
We (the Jews, since he was speaking for them) have found this man a -pestilent fellow-'.
This was but a general charge as much as to say that this man is a monster or this one is a desperate character, a dangerous criminal. This was only given to throw a dark aura around the apostle.
2.
He is a mover (originator) of insurrections. Not confined to one location, but among the Jews throughout the world.
When the Jews were pressed for a charge against Jesus they resorted to that of insurrection. This would be a very pointed appeal to a Roman ruler.
3.
A ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
This was a military term applied to those who were in the front rank of the army, a foremost manof the sect. The term Nazarenes was a term of contempt referring to Jesus of Nazareth. This sect was mentioned by Tertullus as if it were a low class of people. Thus Paul then was a ringleader of this rabble.
4.
A profaner of the temple. Literally attemptedendeavoredto profane the temple.
Why would a Roman governor be interested in this thought? Because it was a capital offense in both Roman and Jewish law. The accusation they had against Paul had to do with bringing a Gentile into the Jewish quarter. This was strictly forbidden on penalty of death. This the Roman ruler knew.
To put the Jews in the best light, Tertullus insinuates that left alone the Jews would have tried the case and settled it in justice and law, but Lysias interfered and made it ultimately necessary to appear here in Caesarea.
892.
Why bring Tertullus along?
893.
In what way was Tertullus deceptive in what he said to Felix?
894.
Mention two of the sins of The Pacifier of the Providence.
895.
What is the meaning of the word providence in Acts 24:2?
896.
What obvious lie did Tertullus tell?
897.
Why call Paul a pestilent fellow?
898.
What is the meaning of the term insurrection?
899.
Why call the Christians Nazarenes?
900.
Why mention profaning the temple?
901.
In what way did Tertellus attempt to put the Jews in a favorable light? How false?
Acts 24:10-21 Of course a greater falsehood could hardly be imagined, for far from being about to judge Paul, they were about to murder him when Lysias interfered.
The orator adds in conclusion that a simple examination on the part of the governor will substantiate all that has been said. The Jews led by Ananias, although they knew how the facts had been perverted were so full of hatred they joined in assailing him.
Notice how carefully and completely Paul answers the false charges and note also his adroit introduction. When the governor gave Paul the nod of assent to speak he spoke after this fashion:
Since you have been for many years a judge of this nation (from 6 to 10 years, a long time when the average term was 2 years or less) I am glad to make my defense before you for I can be more confident of a fair judgment.
Then follows the reasons why the things whereof he was accused were not so.
(1)
A pestilent fellowThis general charge was passed over by Paul as not even worthy of notice. Anyone who actively objected to the belief of another would be considered by the one opposed as a pestilent fellowa monster of wickednessThis proved nothing.
(2)
A mover of insurrection. Hear Paul on this charge: Take knowledge, O Felix, it has been but 12 days since I came to Jerusalem. A mover of an insurrection against Rome? Where? Did they find me in the temple? Did they? Can they prove that I stirred up a crowd in the synagogues? Prove it. Or in the streets of the city? I have been here in Caesarea five days. Stir up an insurrection in seven days? Ridiculous! For proof of what they have said, they have nothing.
(3)
A ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Guilty! But I am only serving the God of our fathers by this means. Far from introducing a new god, I am following the law and the prophets who hath told of these days. I have the same hope as these, my accusers, the hope of the resurrection of both the just and the unjust. Far from being some kind of a heretic I do so thoroughly believe these things that I constantly exercise myself (a term alluding to athletic exercises at the Grecian games) so as to have a conscience void of offense before God and man.
(4)
A profaner of the temple.
This was a charge of sacrilege. As to being sacrilegious Paul had this to say of his relationship to the temple at Jerusalem: I was in the temple to worship. I had no thought of profaning the temple or insulting my people. Indeed, I brought alms and offerings to them from foreign places. There was no tumult or crowd. This was how they found me in the temple. Certain Jews from Asia also found me in the performance of these rites. They should be here today to accuse me now as they accused me then. But since they are not here let the ones that are here say what wrong I have done. I was examined before the Sanhedrin and they found nothing against me. On only one point could I be called in question and that has to do with a point of doctrine and not of law. I cried before the council: Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.
902.
Show the advantage of the introduction given by Paul?
903.
Why not answer the first charge?
904.
How did the mention of the twelve days answer the charge of insurrection.
905.
How did Paul show that being a Nazarene was no offense against God?
906.
Who should have been present at the trial to substantiate the charges?
907.
Why make the point that the charge was not one of law but rather of doctrine?
Acts 24:22 If either Paul or Ananias thought a decision was to be made at this time they were to be disappointed. Felix knew very well of the relationship of Christianity and Judaism. Felix was not thinking primarily of justice, but like a certain other, Pilate, about his job. He was afraid to incur the disfavor of the Sanhedrin and yet he could not condemn this innocent man. A pretext was used to relieve the pressure.
When Lysias the chief captain shall come down I will determine your matter.
He was a long time in coming for Paul stayed two years in Caesarea.
908.
How account for the indecision of Felix?
909.
Why did Felix make the statement that he did?