Acts 24:1-27
Good morning! Last week, we finished up Acts 23 which saw Paul rescued from a conspiracy to murder him. Today, we’re going to go on in Acts 24 as Paul will face yet another trial. This time, it is a trial before the governor of Judea. Before we dive in, let’s refresh briefly.
Paul has been going about the area of modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Macedonia for about ten years. There were times when Paul stayed in Antioch. Then, there were longer times in Ephesus and Corinth. During those years, Paul had preached the gospel to thousands certainly. Through his ministry and the ministry of others, millions had heard the gospel in those ten years. And, it’s not yet thirty years since Jesus rose from the dead.
During those ten years, Paul had performed amazing miracles. But there was also opposition, particularly from the Jews in different cities. In some cases, Paul simply had to move on. In others, Paul had been arrested, beaten, and even stoned by those who opposed the good news. In spite of the trials and difficulties, Paul continued not only in preaching and teaching, but also in good works.
He worked with other leaders in those churches he had helped to start and gathered an offering from among the churches of Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece for the poor believers in Jerusalem. And so, Paul returned to Jerusalem. While there, Paul was recognized by some Jews from Asia Minor who were also in Jerusalem at that time. They incited a riot at the temple and even tried to kill Paul on the spot.
Thankfully, because of the uproar, the Roman garrison got involved and rescued Paul by arresting him. Just before entering the barracks, Paul was able to convince the commander to allow him to address the crowd. They listened to Paul intently until he explained that God had sent him to the Gentiles. At that point, the crowd threw off their cloaks and started flinging dust in the air, preparing to stone him if they could.
The Roman soldiers then took Paul into the barracks and prepared to flog and interrogate him upon orders of their commander in order to figure out what was driving the people to riot. Paul then asked the centurion whether or not it was legal to flog a Roman citizen without a trial. This brought a reprieve, and in the morning, the commander, still wanting to know why Paul was being accused by the Jews, released Paul, arranged a meeting of the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, and brought Paul before them.
Paul addressed the Sanhedrin explaining that he had been put on trial by them because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead. Since the two main parties among the Jews disagreed on whether or not there is a resurrection, this threw everyone into turmoil yet again. Finally, the Roman commander had to send in the soldiers to rescue Paul lest he be killed. Again, they took Paul to the barracks.
It is at this point that a conspiracy is formed to kill Paul. Again thankfully, the plot is discovered, overheard by Paul’s young nephew of all people. Paul’s nephew tells Paul, Paul sends his nephew to the Roman commander, the commander listens to the boy, and takes decisive action.
Paul is rescued once more by being sent further along in the chain of authority. This time being taken to the Roman governor of Judea, Antonius Felix. At the end of chapter 23, Felix tells Paul that he will hear his case once his accusers arrive. He then keeps Paul under guard in Herod’s palace at Caesarea.
That brings us through the tumultuous period before the events we’ll read about today in Acts 24. It seemed right to review these events to help us understand what will come next. Recalling all these details, I have to say there is one person I feel sorry for. Poor Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander. He so desperately wanted to understand why everyone was rioting about Paul, partly because it was his job, but partly I think because he had been talking to Paul for a number of days and seemingly found him to be rational and non-threatening. Lysias had received Paul’s nephew, listened to him and believed him. I hope that Lysias ultimately heard, understood, and received the gospel.
Okay. Let’s pray and jump into Acts 24.
Father God, speak to us from your word today. We desire to hear and learn from you. Teach us we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. – Acts 24:1-4
Five days might seem like a long time to us today, especially when the distance from Caesarea to Jerusalem is only 70 miles, but in this time, it was pretty much immediate. Consider that a messenger would have to be sent down to Jerusalem notifying the accusers that Paul was in custody in Caesarea. Then, the Sanhedrin would have to appoint their representatives. Then, they would travel up to Caesarea and not like the Roman soldiers had done overnight.
Ananias was the high priest from 47-59 AD, not to be confused with Annas the former high priest who was involved in Jesus’ trial and was present when Peter and John had been arrested and then were brought before the elders and teachers of the Law in Acts 4.
In Acts 23, Ananias had ordered that Paul be struck on the mouth, and Paul responded, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!” Ananias has been noted as a cruel and violent man toward the Jews, and a friend of Rome. Within a few years of the events here in Acts 24, the Great Jewish Revolt (sometimes called the First Jewish-Roman War) will begin, and Ananias will be murdered by his own people.
The Sanhedrin was made up of 71 elders. No doubt, the elders mentioned here are some of that council. We don’t know anything about Tertullus, most likely, he was a Hellenistic Jew, familiar with Roman law and proceedings.
Tertullus opens with what is called a eulogy. Which I think I’ve only heard the word eulogy used in connection with funerals but it can also describe speeches made to commend or honor someone who is living. What he’s really trying to do here is sufficiently honor (and kind of butter up) Felix without going overboard. Interestingly, Felix was not a great ruler and he was recalled by Rome. The end of chapter 24 only tells us Felix is succeeded by Festus. The reason, Felix had been recalled was because of misrule. This business about years of peace and reform is likely what Felix wants to hear or believe about himself, but it’s being overly generous at a minimum. With the eulogy, Tertullus smoothly transitions to the accusation against Paul.
"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him." The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. – Acts 24:5-9
Tertullus makes two charges against Paul. (1) He has stirred up multiple riots among the Jews all over the world. Dissension in the empire was held to be treason against Caesar. That gives you an idea why we’ve seen so much energy go into calming people down and preventing riots. No one wanted to be found guilty of treason against Caesar. (2) Being a leader of a religious sect without Roman approval was contrary to Roman law. So, our title today is also the accusation of the Jews against Paul: Troublemaker and ringleader.
Jesus is from the small town of Nazareth. He is sometimes called a Nazarene or Jesus the Nazarene. Here, Tertullus uses that term to describe the followers of Jesus, the Nazarene sect.
I don’t know how important it is to dwell on the details, but I do find them fascinating. Here, Tertullus says that Paul even tried to desecrate the temple, so they seized him. If you remember back in chapter 21, the Jews from Asia Minor accused Paul of bringing Gentiles into the temple because they had seen Trophimus, a Gentile, with Paul outside the temple. Here, Tertullus states the point without running the risk of being guilty of making a falsifiable claim.
The other Jews here who join in the accusation are members of the council and, as we will see in a few verses, does not include the Jews from Asia who had originally confronted Paul in the temple and started the riot. Several Jews no doubt echo what Tertullus said, and the prosecution rests.
When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. – Acts 24:10-16
Paul includes an acknowledgment of Felix, but avoids Tertullus’ flattery. Paul’s defense seeks to answer the accusations laid against him. For starters, he’s only been in Jerusalem for max six days, and maybe only five. He’d spent a night in Roman custody in Jerusalem, a night on the road to Caesarea, and then five days waiting on his accusers to arrive. He simply hadn’t had time to be much of a troublemaker in Jerusalem. Then, he wasn’t arguing with anyone at the temple, nor was he stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. All of those are verifiable facts supported by the letter from Lysias. “I found that … there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.”
Paul admits that he is a follower of the Way, but he clearly states his confidence in the God of the bible. His words remind me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:17. Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Paul then believes everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets. The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New. Paul is a follower of the true faith. The Jews are the ones who have gone astray.
"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin--unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.' – Acts 24:17-21
Paul plainly explains what he was doing in Jerusalem. He was there to bring gifts to the poor and present offerings. He was worshiping in the temple, and he was ceremonially clean. The absence of the Jews from Asia at the trial is suspicious. If they could substantiate their claims, it would make sense for them to contribute their testimony. If they could not substantiate their claims (which they couldn’t do), then better to stay away. Paul makes this clear to Felix in a careful way.
Paul does exactly as Tertullus had hinted. Felix is able to learn the truth about all these charges they have brought against him. The charges are baseless. Paul is honest even to the last and includes what he told the Sanhedrin about the resurrection of the dead. That however brings Felix to intervene.
"Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. – Acts 24:22-23
Felix had been governor in Judea for six years at this point. It was not possible for him to be unaware of the Christians. He makes what seems to be a rather odd excuse. Why would the governor of an entire province be dependent on a Roman commander to give a verdict. Lysias was commander of a cohort, the tenth part of a Roman Legion. He was high ranking sure, but more like a colonel rather than a general. Perhaps he was thinking Lysias could contribute some additional evidence. At least, it would have be a chance for Lysias to meet Paul again and hear the gospel.
So, whatever the reason, no decision is rendered in Paul’s case, and Paul is kept under guard. It’s hard to predict what “some freedom” means. Perhaps a kind of house arrest, but when it goes on to say that his friends were permitted to take care of his needs, it sounds like he was still being held in some Roman facility.
Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." – Acts 24:24-25
We talked about some of the other folks involved in this chapter, but we didn’t really examine Felix other than generally saying he had been governor for six years in Judea and that he wasn’t a great leader. Felix was a shrewd but selfish character who did some truly horrible things including arranging the murder of the high priest Jonathan. Felix is the kind of person that Psalm 73 talks about, an arrogant and wicked one who prospers for a time. God tells us that such people will face judgment for what they have done.
Felix was born a slave and then freed. He was a pagan Greek, but he was able to convince Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa, and a Jew to marry him through trickery. Felix as much as anyone needed the gospel, starting with repentance.
Some days after the initial trial, Felix summons Paul to hear him further. So, what did Paul talk about before Felix and Drusilla?
Paul spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. That would have included the message of repentance, of turning away from sin and turning to Jesus. He would have spoken about the need to be saved and justified by faith in Jesus Christ rather than by trying to be or even just appear good.
“A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” – Gal. 2:16
But those points may not have connected with Felix where he was. Felix was already hardened in sin. I don’t know if he was even concerned about appearing good. Paul went deeper and began to talk about righteousness. No doubt Paul would have spoken of the righteousness we have in Christ. But with Felix, Paul may also have spoken of the kind of life we should live even if it is impossible to do it without Christ in us.
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. … Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? – Rom. 6:13-14, 16
Would those words of sin as slavery resonate with a man who had been born a slave and later freed? If not, perhaps he would have shared something even more concrete.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. ... This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. – 1 John 3:7, 10
There are other ways that Paul could have focused on righteousness. The prior verses deal with individual righteousness, but there is also the need for righteousness among the leaders of people. Could Paul have illuminated Felix with the following thoughts as well?
[Wicked kings] make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field. ... Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. – Hosea 10:4, 12
Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. – Prov. 16:12
For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. – Is. 61:8
How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. – Ps. 82:2-4
Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue. – Dan. 4:27
In addition to righteousness, Paul also spoke to Felix about self-control. Self-control is necessary to live in righteousness.
The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. – Titus 2:11-12
Paul could also have contrasted the acts of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit helping Felix to see the differences.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. – Gal. 5:19-24
And what of those who do not belong to Christ Jesus? Paul spoke of the judgment to come.
Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people. – Ps. 50:3-4
God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed." – Eccl. 3:17
If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. – Eccl. 5:8
I never could find an age for Felix, but Drusilla was just 22 years old at this point.
You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. – Eccl. 11:9
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. – Eccl. 12:14
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. – Dan. 12:2
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." – Matt. 25:31-46
Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. – Rom. 14:12
God judges people's secrets through Jesus Christ. – Rom. 2:16
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. – 1 Cor. 4:5
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. – 2 Cor. 5:10
When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels, He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. – 2 Thess. 1:7-10
Felix was afraid. He had become frightened as Paul had talked. The word to describe his fear is a little bit unique. It’s still a word based on phobos where we get the word phobia. However, the particular word is only found five times in scripture. Two times, it’s used to describe the fear the people felt when they encountered Jesus after the resurrection. Once is the fear that Cornelius had when he saw the angel. The final time is in Revelation after an earthquake where the survivors were afraid, but rather than hardening their hearts, they give glory to the God of heaven. So, I think this fear that Felix felt was the right kind of fear. If only, he would respond in that fear with repentance.
Ultimately though, Felix only sent Paul away at that point saying, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." (Acts 24:25)
At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. – Acts 24:26-27
So, for two years, Felix waited for a bribe that never came. He had difficulty with the Jewish leaders throughout his governorship, and he was removed from his position because of misrule to face trial in Rome for his malfeasance. No doubt, he wanted to do everything he could to avoid further provoking the Jews so that they would not speak out any more strongly against him.
In many ways, it had to be a downer to Paul to be stuck in prison for two years without any clarity about what would happen next. Waiting is hard even when you have something to look forward to. Waiting when you don’t know how long you have to wait and waiting perhaps for an even worse sentence has to be excruciating at times.
And yet, I think Paul could bear it well. We don’t have a record here in Caesarea like we do in Rome, but I’m sure Paul found ways to share the gospel with the captive audience of guards that had to spend time with him. But even if that were not the case, Paul had peace in Christ and a clear conscience from serving Him. Even in his trial before Felix, Paul had said, “I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”
Our peace comes from Christ, and our salvation is in Him alone, but it is impossible to ignore how often a good conscience pops up in bible, at least 20 times. I only found one Greek word for it, and the King James Version even translates that word as “conscience” all 32 times that it appears.
Paul exhorts Timothy to hold on to the faith and a good conscience. (I Timothy 1:19)
So, how’s your conscience? Are you troubled? Are you putting the right things first? Yesterday, we had a men’s meeting, and Brad shared something I had heard before, but he put it a bit differently. I thought it was a good way of thinking of these things in our modern time. With all the technology that we have at our fingertips, it’s like this sound-bite, YouTube, quick game, series of instant satisfactions, are grooming us with a rapid release distraction that conceals this need to fill the hole in our hearts.
This idea of a God-shaped hole or a God-shaped vacuum is attributed to Blaise Pascal. In one of his books published in 1670, he talked about the fallacy of trying to be happy apart from faith.
“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.” – Blaise Pascal, Pensées VII (425)
C.S. Lewis used a different illustration, comparing a human to a car. A car needs fuel to run. Without it, it does not go. In Mere Christianity, he wrote that the human “machine” is designed to run on God Himself. Without Him, we don’t run.
How do we get fueled up? How do we keep from putting something other than God in that infinite abyss in our hearts? I John gives us another picture.
If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – I John 1:6-9
If we walk in the light, then we can see sin for what it is. Hate it. And confess it when we find ourselves in it. It doesn’t say that we are sinless. In fact, it says the opposite. If we claim to be without sin, we are deceived. Rather we have to see when we’re going astray and then we are purified. Isn’t that what a good conscience feels like? Being purified from unrighteousness?
Don’t miss the first verse either. Claiming to have fellowship with God, but walking in darkness is almost a sure recipe to having a bad conscience and being unable to experience forgiveness. I don’t want to spend time to unpack the theology of whether or not someone walking in the darkness can be saved. Because why would anyone want to live like that?
Let’s continually walk in the light. By that, we will be prepared for whatever circumstances we might face, even for times of waiting. Remember, it is Jesus who has done the work even to clear our consciences. We need only stay by Him.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! – Heb. 9:14
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, I do pray for each one who is listening now and even ones who may come across this message in the future. Lord God, help us to walk in the light as you are in the light. Enable us to have continuing sweet fellowship with one another and other believers. Glorify your name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
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