Paul before governor Felix
24
📚And five days later Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and with a certain advocate 📖 named Tertullus. They informed the governor of the charges against Paul. 2 📚And when Paul was called in, Tertullus began the accusation, saying, “Seeing that because of you we enjoy much peace, and under your providential care very worthy deeds are done for this nation, 3 📚we everywhere and always receive this with complete gratitude, most noble Felix. 4 📚But so that I might not be more tedious to you, I request you in your kindness to listen to a few words from us.5 📚“For we have found this man a plague 📖, and one who stirs up rebellion among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes 📖. 6 📚Also he has gone about to desecrate the temple. We seized him, and would have judged him according to our law, 7 but the commander Lysias came and very forcibly took him out of our hands, 8 📚commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you can understand all these things of which we accuse him”.
9 📚And the Jews also gave assent, saying that these things were so.
10 📚Then Paul, after the governor had gestured to him to speak, answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge to this nation for many years, I answer for myself the more cheerfully, 11 📚because you can find out that no more than twelve days have passed since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 📚And they did not find me in the temple disputing with anyone, or stirring up the people, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 📚Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 📚But this I confess to you, that according to the Way 📖, which they call a sect 📖, I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 📚And I have the hope toward God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection 📖 of the dead, both of the righteous and unrighteous. 16 📚And I take pains in this: Always to have a clear conscience toward God and men.
17 📚“Now, after many years, I came to my nation to bring a donation for the poor, and offerings. 18 📚At which time some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, with neither a mob, nor an uproar. 19 📚They ought to have been here before you to object, if they had anything against me.
24:18-19 See Acts 21:26-29.⚜
20 Or else let these who are here say if they have found any wrongdoing in me when I stood before the council, 21 📚unless it was for this one statement that I cried out, standing among them: ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
22 📚And when Felix heard these things, having a very accurate knowledge of the Way, he postponed things, and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will determine your case more exactly”.
23 📚And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul under guard, and to let him have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from performing service for him or visiting him.
24 📚And after some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul, and listened to him speaking about faith in Christ.
24:24 Drusilla was a Jewess and the third wife of Felix. Though Felix was the most powerful man in the country and was going to decide Paul’s case, Paul did not hesitate to tell him about the Lord Jesus Christ. Compare Acts 20:24; Matt 10:18.⚜
25 📚And as Paul reasoned concerning righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, “Go your way for now. When I have a convenient time, I will call for you”.
24:25 Felix completely lacked righteousness and self-control (Acts 23:26. Notes on righteousness at Matt 5:6, 20), and he was facing God’s judgment (Acts 17:31). Paul the prisoner dared to go right to the heart of this ruler’s sin and need. Felix was like so many in every era – he wanted to put off the day of decision. Does a “convenient” time ever come for such people who want to remain in rebellion against God?⚜
26 📚He hoped also that Paul would give him money to release him. Therefore he sent for him the more often, and talked with him.
27 📚But after two years Porcius Festus came in the place of Felix, and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favour, left Paul imprisoned.
24:27 Does it not seem strange that God permitted the greatest of the apostles to be confined for two years? Compare Acts 12:2-7. We may be sure Paul’s stay in prison was not wasted. He had much time for prayer, for witnessing to fellow prisoners, and for writing letters.⚜