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THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
CHAPTER 24
It’s a perfect day
to share some Daily Bread, and a warm welcome back to you. Let’s see, where
were we? Well, we’ve got Paul, now sent to Felix the governor, awaiting his
accusers in Herod’s judgment hall. His accusers, the Jewish people, had a
group of men who had made an oath to go on a hunger and thirst strike, until
Paul was slain, but Paul’s nephew overheard about this and informed the
chief captain in Jerusalem, who in turn, safely delivered Paul with a
company of soldiers to Felix in Cæsarea.
Let’s take a look at what happened next.
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After five days,
Ananias, the high priest, went to Cæsarea
with the elders, and with a spokesman for them named Tertullus. When he was
called to speak, Tertullus began to accuse Paul, saying, Most noble Felix,
we enjoy great peace and the very worthy deeds that are done in this nation
by your generosity, and we accept it always, and in all places, with all
thankfulness. However, so I don’t bore you further, I ask that you would
hear us, of your mercy, a few words. We’ve found this man to be a pest, and
disloyal among all the Jewish people throughout the world. He’s a ringleader
of the sect of the Nazarenes, who has also profaned the Temple, whom we took
and would have judged according to our law, but the chief captain, Lysias,
interfered, and violently took him away, ordering his accusers to come to
you, so you can see first hand why we accuse him. All the Jewish people
present, agreed, saying that the accusations were true.
When the governor had motioned for Paul to speak, he answered:
As I know that you’ve been a judge to this nation for
many years, I do defend myself all the more cheerfully. So that you may
understand, it has only been twelve days since I went to Jerusalem to
worship. And they neither found me in the Temple disagreeing with
anyone, or stirring up the people in the synagogues, or in the city.
They can’t prove the things that they accuse me of now. But, this I
admit to you, that according to what they call heresy, I worship the God
of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the law and in
the prophets, and have hope in the promises of God, which they
themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead
(eternal life),
both of the just and unjust. After this manner do I conduct myself, to
always have a conscience without offence toward God, and toward men. Now
after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. For
these reasons, certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the Temple,
neither with crowd, nor disruption, who ought to have been here before
you, and object, if they had anything against me. Or else let these
people here tell, if they’ve found any evil doing in me, while I stood
before the council. Unless it’s because of one thing that I cried
standing among them, concerning the resurrection of the dead, I am
called in question by you today.
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When Felix heard these
things, having more exact knowledge of that way (that way = Christianity), he
detained them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain comes here, I’ll
decide your case. Felix commanded a centurion to guard Paul, and to let him
have freedom, and that he should forbid none of his friends to minister or
visit him.
After certain
days, Felix brought his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and he sent for
Paul, and listened to him concerning the faith in Christ. As he thought
about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and
answered, Go your way for now; when I have a convenient time, I’ll call for
you. He also hoped that money would be given to him from Paul, to free him:
so he sent for him more often, and communed with him. Perhaps the reason why
Felix wouldn't permit Paul's friends to see him was because he thought they
too would be inclined to give him money for Paul's release. But after two years Porcius Festus became the governor in Felix’ place: and Felix, wishing to
please the Jewish people, left Paul imprisoned.
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Can you believe
it? Two years! Some people, you can tell, they want to be good in
their hearts and they try. Felix wanted his wife to hear Paul speak, and he
respectfully reflected on the things that Paul said, but when it came down
to the bottom line, money was Felix's motivation and he wanted to be paid to
let Paul go, but his hopes were in vain. You could think of Felix as the
seed that fell among the thorns (Matthew 13:22).
In the next
chapter, we’ll find out what lies ahead for Paul with Festus in the
governor’s seat, so come and join us for another slice of Daily Bread soon.
CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STUDY
