Paul Appeared Before
Felix
– Acts Twenty-Four –
In Acts
chapters 24-28 we observe Paul's captivity and the constant effort of the
Jewish religious leaders to have him killed. They hated Paul so much that they
constantly made false and improvable charges against him. In this chapter we
see that they even brought Tertullus, an orator, to present their case against
Paul before Felix.
Paul often
spoke in his own defense. Much of his defense centered in the fact that he had
a good conscience before God in all things that he did. His time before the
various courts provides a sad picture of man's injustice! Paul had been
unsuccessful in his attempts to defend himself before the Jewish leaders. He
tired to explain to them that his focus had been on "the Way" and
that it centered in preaching about the resurrection of Christ. He knew that he
was on trial because he believed that the dead would be raised to life. The
resurrection of Christ is so vital that there is no salvation without it. He
never seemed to be concerned that his faith in the Christ might cost him his
earthly life.
Paul taught
Felix about doing right, about self-control, and about the coming judgment.
"Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a
convenient season, I will call for thee." Felix often
sent
for Paul and talked with him. The reason he did this was because
he hoped that Paul would give him a bribe. Felix heard the gospel many times
but we have no record that he ever became a Christian.
Paul
was accused in the court of Felix – Acts 24:1-9: The High Priest and
the Jews knew that they had done wrong in their dealing with Paul so they
wanted to get the matter settled quickly. Their interest was not in doing right
but in blaming Paul! They came to
Tertullus
used flattery to catch the ears of Felix. He said Felix had brought a long
period of peace to the Jews and that because of him the nation was better off.
He wanted Felix to think that the Jews were thankful for what he had done for
them. He told Felix, "All of us are always grateful for what you have
done." This was just deceitful flattery in an attempt to get Felix on
their side.
Tertullus
accused Paul of being a pest, plague, or troublemaker for the Jews all over the
world. He was accused of sedition and of
being a leader of a group called Nazarenes. "Sedition is a term of law to
refer to covert conduct such as speech and organization that is deemed by the
legal authority as tending toward insurrection against the established order.
Sedition often included subversion of a constitution and incitement of
discontent to lawful authority." "Nazarenes" was not a God given
name for His people. Christians were so called by way of contempt and scorn.
They were called Nazarenes because Jesus was from
The Jews accused Paul of attempting to
disgrace the
Paul
defended himself before Felix – Acts 24:10-18: Felix had judged the
Jewish nation for many years. He had been governor somewhere between ten and
thirteen years. If the charge was true that Paul was guilty of sedition surely
Felix would have heard something of him.
Paul said it
was no more than twelve days ago that he went to worship in
The Jews felt
that the Lord's Way was heresy. Paul wanted it clearly understood that he still
worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He believed that everyone,
both good and evil, will be raised from the dead. Belief in the resurrection
promoted holiness and godly living in the life of Paul. The desire of his life
was simply to discharge his duty to God and to man.
Paul
explained how that he had been away from
Paul
defense before Felix continued – Acts 24:19-23: Paul said the Jews from
The only
thing Paul was guilty of was saying that he was called into question concerning
the resurrection from the dead. When Paul had mentioned the resurrection the
court was thrown into confusion and division. Felix knew a lot about the Lord's
Way. He said he would hear more about this matter when Lysias the chief captain
came to
Paul
was kept under guard – Acts 24:24-27: Felix and his wife Drusilla, who
was Jewish, went to the place where Paul was kept to hear him. Paul spoke to
them concerning faith in Christ. Felix was frightened when Paul talked about
righteousness, temperance (self-control), and judgment to come. He stopped Paul
from speaking and told him he would hear him again when it was convenient.
Felix sent
for Paul often and talked with him. He hoped Paul would offer him a bribe. He
observed from Paul's own defense, that he came up to
God wants to save you. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9.) Have you obeyed the gospel? (Mark 16:15-16.) Are you living for Heaven? (I Corinthians 15:58.)