Acts, Chapter 24

Please, read the chapter in your Bible.

Verse 1 “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.

Verses 5, 6, 7, 8 , 9 “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 Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true”.

Yes, the high priest, some of the elders and a lawyer, all of them supported by a group of Jews. The charges must be true. This man deserves death! The voice of the majority demands it.. Yes, but . . . God! Please forgive me, I must remind you. One man, with God, is the majority! The minority demands this one man’s death, the majority demands that he testify in Rome.

Verse 10: “When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul (the majority) replied . . .”.

In verse 21 we catch up with Paul’s reply:

“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’ “.

Here it was! Out in the open. It caused them to bitterly hate this man and his message. Not stopping, he was teaching and preaching that the scheming Jesus of Nazareth. escaped from the grave. They had seen him die on a cross. They had made sure there was a Roman seal on his grave. And a detachment of Roman soldiers to make sure the dead man could not escape.. And now, here was this man, a Jew, convincing men everywhere that Jesus is alive. More than that, claiming that this dignified group of theologians had murdered Him. Now there already were thousands who were singing it out: ‘He’s alive, Jesus has risen from the dead. Hallelujah, Jesus IS LORD!’

They must stop this man and his message. Must do so, even when their lies did break the Law of God.

Verses 22, 23 “Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. When Lysias the commander comes, he said, ‘ I will decide your cHe ordered the centirion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs”..

Verses 24, 25 “Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self control and 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’ “.

Felix, whose wife Drusilla was Jewish, was well acquainted with the Way. When the message of the Way was presented to him, he knew he did not want to walk the Way.

Verses 26, 27 “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”.