Paul's Trial by Felix
24:1 After five days, the high priest, Ananias,
came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus.
They informed the governor against Paul.
24:2 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,
Accusation
"Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace,
and that excellent measures are coming to this nation,
24:3 we accept it in all ways and in all places,
most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
24:4 But, that I don't delay you,
I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.
24:5 For we have found this man to be a plague,
an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world,
and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
24:6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.
{TR adds "We wanted to judge him according to our law,"}
24:7 {TR adds "but the commanding officer, Lysias,
came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,"}
24:8 {TR adds "commanding his accusers to come to you."} By
examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse
him."
24:9 The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things
were so.
24:10 When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered,
Defense
"Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for
many years,
I cheerfully make my defense,
24:11 seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve
days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.
24:12 In the temple they didn't find me disputing with anyone or stirring
up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city.
24:13 Nor can they prove to you the things whereof they now accuse
me.
24:14 But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call
a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are
according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
24:15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for,
that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
24:16 Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense
toward God and men.
24:17 Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my
nation, and offerings;
24:18 amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,
not with a mob, nor with turmoil.
24:19 They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation,
if they had anything against me.
24:20 Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found
in me when I stood before the council,
24:21 unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them,
'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you
today!'"
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Comments
Accusation
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vs 2-4 Man-Pleasing Flattery - Although Paul also briefly
acknowledges Felix's credentials to judge his case yet Tertullus goes beyond
such and attempts to win favor though flattery. So Tertullus's first insult
is to Felix by implying he can influence his decision by playing on his
pride. He was furthermore being dublicitous in that he and the rest of
the Jews knew of the plan to murder Paul demonstrated that they did not
trust the Romans system of justice. Far from being thankful of Roman occupation
Israel was well known as a rebellious territory.
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vs 5 Accusation: Paul is seditious - The argument he makes
is kind of silly. Paul tells the truth and those who hate the truth get
angry. Is that Paul's fault? Yet this same kind of accusation is not uncommonly
made between Christians. If one tells the truth and the other gets angry
because they can't handle the truth, is the one who tells the truth guilty
of being divisive? Truth is often devalued in a pluralistic society.
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vs 6 Accusation: Paul defiled the temple - This was a straight
out lie, but may have been sincerely believed by those who already had
an innate hatred for Paul. Rumor easily gets interpreted as fact for those
filled with prejudice, hatred, and pride.
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vs 7 Insults the Roman commander Lysias - here he goes beyond
accusing Paul and now accuses the Roman commander of misbehavior and violence,
whereas the situation was much the opposite. It was the Jews who were disorderly
and violent. This is typical of the religious elite mindset of the Jews.
It leads to hypocrisy as Paul also points out in Romans chapter 2. While
they are quick in their bloodthirsty hadtred to accuse others, they refuse
to recognize that they are the guilty party.
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vs 9 Bearing false witness against your neighbor is a violation
of the 9th commandment. So in assenting to these accusations the Jews show
themselves in opposition to the Law of Moses which they claim to so zealously
uphold.
Defense
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vs 10 In deference Paul acknowledges Felix's credentials as a judge
and legitimate authority in this case showing himself submissive to legitimate
authority as he had behaved throughout the empire.
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vs 11-12 While it is true that in entering many cities Paul would
first go the synagogue to debate with the Jews, that was not his mission
in Jerusalem. He did not go there to argue with the Jewish unbelievers.
He went to the temple to show that he was still a practicing Jew by his
behavior.
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vs 13 The only evidence they had against him was the false testimony
of the Jews.
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vs 14-15 He does acknowledge himself a Christian, but says that
his beliefs are consistent with traditional Judaism, the resurrection from
the dead being an essential element to the hope he professed, as was spoken
of by the prophets.
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vs 16 Here is an essential key to living the Christian life. FOLLOW
YOUR CONSCIENCE. Yes it it true that many have a conscience overly
corrupted by sin. But as one follows Christ, one's conscience is gradually
healed. For the Christian, the Bible contains primarily general principles.
The Spirit gives more specific guidance in its interaction with the intuition,
the heart, the mind and the conscience. Don't do things which would make
you feel guilty. This closes a number of doors in life and thus makes one's
path clearer and more direct. And neither violate the conscience of another,
which is also Paul's instruction in dealing with gray areas. Not violating
your conscience is an attempt to have always a conscience void of offence
toward God. Not violating somebody else's conscience is an attempt to have
always a conscience void of offence toward man.
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vs 17-18 Paul goes on to reveal that rather than come to Jerusalem
to divide, he came with a generous gift to provide for the practical needs
of the nation. Yes it is true he gave it to the Jewish Christians, but
they are afterall Jews and citizens of Jerusalem. Then he reveals that
it was foreigners (Jews from other nations) who falsely accused him. In
this way Paul tried to show himself as a good citizen and his accusers
as outsiders.
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