Acts 24

1 Five days later Ananias, the high priest, went to the city of Caesarea. With him were some of the Jewish elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They had come to make charges against Paul before [Felix] the governor.

Felix was a slave. His brother worked for the Roman government and helped him become the governor. One history writer said, “Felix had the power of the king and the mind of a slave.”

2 – 4

Paul was called into the meeting, and Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Most Excellent Felix! Our people enjoy much peace because of you, and many wrong things in our country are being made right through your wise help. We accept these things always and in every place. And we are thankful for them. But I do not want to take any more of your time. I beg you to be kind and listen to our few words.

Tertullus was a man who liked to flatter people. When you flatter someone you are saying nice words to them so that they will do what you want them to do.

A man who flatters someone is setting a trap for their feet. Proverbs 29:5

5. This man is a troublemaker. He makes turns the Jews everywhere in the world against the Roman government. He is a leader of the Nazarene group.

In those days a Nazarene meant somebody who is hated (Matthew 2:23). There were riots in the streets at this time and the Roman government would not stand for anybody calling for the people to fight against the government. Tertullus was trying to make it look like Paul was leading people to riot against the government. Jesus was accused in the same lying way. Luke 23:2, John 19:12

6 – 9

Also, he was trying to make the Temple unclean, but we stopped him. And we wanted to judge him by our own law. But the officer Lysias came and used much force to take him from us. And Lysias commanded his people to come to you to accuse us. You can decide if all these things are true. Ask him some questions yourself.” The other Jews agreed and said that all of this was true.

Tertullus told more lies and said that they were going to give Paul a trial. The truth is they were going to kill him in the street. He repeated the lie that Paul brought a non-Jew into the temple. He tried to make it look like Lysias did something wrong but this Roman soldier saved Paul’s life. The Jews who agreed were not witnesses of what happened, so they were helping to spread lies.

10 – 12

The governor made a sign for Paul to speak. So Paul said, “Governor Felix, I know that you have been a judge over this nation for a long time. So I am happy to defend myself before you. I went to worship in Jerusalem only 12 days ago. You can learn for yourself that this is true. Those who are accusing me did not find me arguing with anyone in the Temple. I was not stirring up the people. And I was not making trouble in the Temple or in the synagogues or in the city.

There is no way Paul could have organized a riot in a few days. They are the ones who started a riot. See how the devil accuses us:
He tells everyone that we are doing things in a different way than they are used to. People are chained and confused and need God’s different way.

He tells people that we make them feel guilty. We bring the Spirit of God with us who shows them their guilt and shows them the way out.

13 – 16

They cannot prove the things they are saying against me now. But I will tell you this: I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of The Way of Jesus. The Jews say that The Way of Jesus is not the right way.

But I believe everything that is taught in the law of Moses and that is written in the books of the Prophets. I have the same hope in God that they have—the hope that all people, good and bad, will be raised from death. This is why I always try to do what I believe is right before God and men.

False teachers say that God has thrown away the Jews. They also say that we do not need any of the teaching from the Old Testament. See Romans 11:2.

Paul tried to split the Pharisees and Sadducees again by bringing up the resurrection from the dead. In those days, Christians did not call themselves Christians. The world called them Christians, but they called themselves followers of The Way. Acts 11:26

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

17 – 21

“I was away from Jerusalem for several years. I went back there to bring money to my people and to offer sacrifices. I was doing this when they found me in the Temple. I had finished the cleansing ceremony. I had not made any trouble; no people were gathering around me. But some Jews from Asia were there. They should be here, standing before you. If I have really done anything wrong, they are the ones who should accuse me.

Or ask these Jews here if they found any wrong in me when I stood before the Jewish council in Jerusalem. But I did say one thing when I stood before them: ‘You are judging me today because I believe that people will rise from death!’”

Paul knows that there are no witnesses who can come to the court and agree with these lies. We need to take ahold of every evil thought that accuses us (2 Corinthians 10:5). We refuse to accuse ourselves and teach our minds to look closely at the Words of Jesus while we ask Him to rebuke these thoughts and take them away. Paul wrote, “I do not judge myself but the Lord judges me.” 1 Corinthians 4:3–4

22. Felix already understood much about the Way of Jesus. He stopped the trial and said, “When commander Lysias comes here, I will decide about your case.”

History says that Felix always putting off making a decision.

23. Felix told the officer to keep Paul guarded. But he told the officer to give Paul some freedom and to let his friends bring what he needed.

Some say that Luke stayed in Caesarea so he could be a helper to Paul.

24. After some days Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who was a Jew. He asked for Paul to be brought to him. He listened to Paul talk about believing in Christ Jesus.

Drusilla was the daughter of Herod Agrippa who died when he pretended he was a god (Acts 12:23). Felix talked Drusilla into leaving her husband. Felix had hundreds of Jews killed because of riots in Caesarea. Felix and his wife were sent away by the Roman government.

25. But Felix became afraid when Paul spoke about things like right living, self-control, and the time when God will judge the world. He said, “Go away now. When I have more time, I will call for you.”

Paul was saying, “Right living and self-control means you need to do something about your sin. You have to overcome temptations because judgment is coming.”

Felix would have his conscience bothering him about adultery with his brother’s wife and using the government to get money from people before he would help them. This was too personal for Felix and he thought he could wait for another day to think about it but that day never came.

26. At the same time Felix hoped that Paul would give him some money. So he sent for Paul often and talked with him.

Felix remembered that Paul said he brought money to Jerusalem. He was hoping that the longer he took to make a decision then Paul would give him some of this money.

27. But after two years, Porcius Festus became governor. Felix was no longer governor, but he had left Paul in prison to please the Jews.

The history books say that at this time the Jews were sending complaints about Felix to the Roman government in Rome. By this time, Felix’s brother was in trouble with Nero so he could not help him.