Day 55 - Acts 24

So what will happen to Paul?  

Will Felix buckle under the pressure of Ananias and the high council, as Pilate did, and execute Paul?

Will Paul defy the religious leaders once again and survive?


Let's find out together!


Acts 24 (Read it here)

Ananias, the high priest, arrives in Caesarea five days later with his posse, which included other leaders and a lawyer, Tertullus. (v. 1)

After buttering up Felix with platitudes (v. 3), Tertullus stated that Paul was guilty of:

• Being a ringleader of the trouble-making cult of the Nazarenes (v. 5, the term "Christian" was only used in Antioch at this point not universally, but "Nazarenes" did imply followers of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene)
• Desecrating the temple (v. 6, Tertullus doesn't mention how but we can assume by Paul's response in verse 12 that he is charging Paul with being irreverent or causing a scene in the temple)

Did you notice that verse 7 was missing in this passage? 

This, most likely, means that the oldest copies of this testimony did not include this quote from Tertullan to Felix, "We would have judged him by our law, but Lysias, the commander of the garrison, came and violently took him away from us, commanding his accusers to come before you." This means that this quote was probably added many years after Luke's writing by a scribe, which would bring its authenticity into question. So the New Living Translation omits it.  We'll talk about this principle again when we get to the end of the book of Mark.


Back to the trial. 

The other leaders all gave supporting testimony to Tertullus' claims. (v. 9) Their turn was done.

Felix gave Paul the floor.  Paul graciously thanked him for his many years of service to the area; not quite the lengthy brown-nosing session that Tertullus offered. (v. 10) Paul didn't shy away from the fact that he came to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, (v. 11) but he flatly denies causing an uproar in the temple. (v. 12)  In fact, he was only conducting a vow-ending, purification ceremony. (v. 18) He even confesses that the last riot he was a part of was in the province of Asia. (v. 19, Ephesus, even though he wasn't literally there during the rioting).

The only crime that the high council could possibly muster would be when his statement of believing in the resurrection caused a raucous, Pharisee-Sadducee debate, in which the Pharisees actually agreed with him!! (vs. 20-21)

Paul also confesses to follow the Way, which was called a cult even though he worships the same God and observes the same law and Scriptures as his accusers. (v. 14)  Luke notes that Felix was quite familiar with the Way. (v. 22)

Felix postpones his verdict until Claudius Lysias, the commander who had sent Paul to Caesarea, arrives. (v. 22) Felix returned Paul to prison but gave him special visitation rights so that friends could visit and bring him anything he needed. (v. 23)

During his stay in prison, Felix had Paul brought to him and his wife, Drusilla, so they could hear the gospel! (v. 24) As Paul preached about righteousness, self-control and judgment, it became too much for Felix to take.  So he sent Paul back to his cell. (v. 25)

What was it about those three aspects (righteousness, self-control and judgment) that frightened Felix so much?  Perhaps Felix felt a sense of conviction because of his sin. Maybe he knew he wasn't righteous and needed a Savior.  Like most in authority, he had lots of money and power. Was he abusing them? Did he feel like God knew that?  And, most of all, did the prospect of being separated from God for all eternity literally scare the hell out of him?

We can't know for sure. We do know that Paul's words were definitely compelling enough that Felix talked with him often.  He admired Paul and actually hoped that [he] would bribe him. (v. 26) Maybe he would release Paul if he did. Or if Paul did propose such a bribe, Felix would be more willing to qualify his claims about God as blasphemy; empowering Paul's accusers.

Paul would stay in prison there for TWO YEARS! (v. 27) During that time he spoke with Paul occasionally.  But since Felix wanted to keep the Jews from rioting, he left Paul in prison.

He couldn't have like him all too much, I guess.

Question

1.) Felix was freaked out about a few aspects of the gospel.  Are there any things about the Christian faith, God or the Bible that bothered or convicted you at first or that still do today? If so what are they? Why do you think you respond negatively towards them?