Paul Is Sent to Felix

Last time. In our last lesson Paul was arrested at the temple, and he told the crowd how Jesus had met him. After that, more than forty men promised not to eat or drink until they had killed him (23:12-13). A big escort. The commander said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night” (23:23). That was about nine o’clock in the evening. Safely. He told them to “provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor” (23:24). Mounts are animals to ride. Felix was the Roman governor, the ruler of the whole area. The letter. The commander’s name was Claudius Lysias. He wrote that Paul “had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains” (23:29). A better story. He also wrote that he had rescued Paul, “having learned that he was a Roman” (23:27). But he really learned that later, just before Paul was to be whipped (22:25-29). His letter most likely told the story in a way that made him look good. By night. The soldiers “brought him by night to Antipatris” (23:31), and the next day the horsemen took him on to Caesarea. Kept. Felix said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come” (23:35). Paul was kept in Herod’s Praetorium, a palace that King Herod had built. What we learn. God can use anyone, even a Roman commander, to protect His people. When you are afraid, remember that the Lord is with you, even on a dark road.

Why by night. After more than forty men bound themselves with an oath to kill Paul (23:12-13), the commander moved him quickly and quietly. The escort (23:23-24). “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” The third hour of the night was about nine in the evening. Caesarea, on the coast, was where the Roman governor lived. Claudius Lysias (23:26-27). “Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.” He wrote, “Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.” In fact he learned of Paul’s citizenship only later, when Paul was about to be scourged (22:25-29). Most likely he arranged the facts so that he looked careful and loyal. His finding (23:29). “I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains.” A Roman officer put it in writing: Paul had broken no Roman law. The road (23:31-32). The soldiers “brought him by night to Antipatris. The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks.” Before Felix (23:33-35). Felix asked what province Paul was from and learned that he was from Cilicia. He said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come,” and he “commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium,” a palace Herod had built that now served the governor. Application. The plot was secret, but God saw it, and He used a Roman commander and his soldiers to guard one servant. Nothing planned against God’s people is hidden from Him, and no road is too dark for Him.

In our last lesson, Paul was arrested at the Temple. Then some men made a plan to kill him. But God had a plan to keep Paul safe. The army leader got 200 soldiers and 70 horsemen ready. He also sent 200 men with spears. They left at nine o’clock at night. Paul rode a horse all the way to Caesarea. The army leader wrote a letter to Governor Felix. He said Paul had done nothing worthy of jail or death. God can use anyone to help His people. He even used Roman soldiers! Jesus was with Paul on that dark road.

Soldiers took Paul away by night. God used them to keep Paul safe. God knows how to take care of you.

The accusers. “Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus” (24:1). This Ananias was the high priest, not the Ananias who helped Paul in Damascus. An orator is a skilled speaker, like a lawyer in court. Sweet words first. Tertullus began, “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight” (24:2). He called him “most noble Felix” (24:3). His praise was most likely flattery, sweet words said to win Felix to his side. The charges. “For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (24:5). A plague is a sickness that spreads. Dissension means quarrels and fighting. The Nazarenes were the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. The temple. “He even tried to profane the temple” (24:6). To profane means to treat something holy as if it were common. No one had seen Paul do it. Agreed. The leaders who came with Ananias agreed with everything Tertullus said (24:9). Like Jesus. Many Christians see this as Paul following in the steps of Jesus, who was also accused before a Roman governor of things He had not done. What we learn. Smooth words can hide a wrong plan. God wants your words to be true, whether you are speaking to a ruler, a friend or someone you do not like.

The prosecution (24:1). “Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.” This high priest is a different man from Ananias of Damascus (22:12). An orator was a trained public speaker, hired here to argue the case in a Roman court. The praise (24:2-4). “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.” Then he begged Felix to hear “a few words from us.” The praise was most likely meant to win the judge before the case was heard. Loimos (24:5). “For we have found this man a plague.” Plague is loimos (say: LOY-mos), a deadly disease that spreads from person to person. Tertullus wanted Felix to see Paul as a danger to the whole empire. The charges (24:5-6). “A creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world” would sound to a Roman like a threat to public order. “A ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” named Paul as a leader of the followers of Jesus. “He even tried to profane the temple” repeated the guess made in Jerusalem (21:28-29). Hairesis. Sect is hairesis (say: HIGH-reh-sis), a party or school with its own teaching. Luke uses the same word for the Sadducees and the Pharisees (Acts 5:17; 15:5). Tertullus used it to make the believers sound like one more troublesome party, not the worship of Israel’s God. Assent (24:9). “And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.” These were the high priest and the elders who had come with him, and they backed every charge. The same path. Many Christians see this as Paul walking the path of Jesus, who was also accused before a Roman governor with charges that could not be proved. Application. Flattery and accusation came from the same mouth. Words that are smooth toward the powerful and harsh toward the innocent are not God’s way. Let your words be true and fair to everyone.

Ananias the high priest came to Caesarea with some elders. They brought a lawyer named Tertullus. Tertullus began by saying very nice things about Felix. He most likely wanted Felix to agree with him. Then he called Paul a troublemaker. He said Paul tried to make the Temple unclean. None of this was proved. Paul had only come to worship God. Many Christians see Paul here following in Jesus’ steps. Jesus was also accused of things He had not done. Sweet words can hide an unkind plan. God wants your words to be true and kind.

A man said nice things to Felix to please him. Then he said untrue things about Paul. God wants our words to be true.

A plain answer. When Felix nodded, Paul said, “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself” (24:10). Paul spoke with respect, and what he said was simply true. He did not flatter. The facts. It was “no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship” (24:11). No one had found him “disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd” (24:12). “Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me” (24:13). The Way. “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets” (24:14). The Way was a name for following Jesus. Hope. “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” (24:15). Resurrection means being raised from death to life. Its first words are our memory verse. A clear conscience. “I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (24:16). Paul worked to keep nothing wrong between himself and God or other people. Gifts for his people. Paul had come “to bring alms and offerings to my nation” (24:17). Alms are gifts for the poor. The real question. The only thing he had cried out was, “Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day” (24:21). What we learn. You can be kind and honest at the same time. Paul’s hope rested on Jesus, who rose from the dead, and that hope is for you too.

Respect without flattery (24:10). “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself.” Paul named one plain fact, Felix’s years as judge, and claimed nothing more. Compare it with Tertullus’s praise in 24:2-3. Checkable facts (24:11-13). It was “no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.” “They neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd.” “Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.” The Way (24:14). “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.” Paul turned their word around: following Jesus was faithfulness to the God of Israel and His Scriptures, not a breakaway religion. Elpis (24:15). “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Hope is elpis (say: el-PEES), a confident expectation, not a wish. This hope was part of the faith of Israel, so Paul stood on common ground. Conscience (24:16). “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Because a resurrection is coming, Paul lived carefully now. Purified (24:17-18). He came “to bring alms and offerings to my nation,” and “some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.” Missing witnesses (24:19-20). “They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.” A Roman court expected accusers to appear in person, so their absence weakened the case. The center (24:21). “Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.” Application. Paul answered false charges with facts, respect and hope. The resurrection of Jesus is the ground of that hope, and it makes honest, careful living worth it.

Paul did not use sweet words like Tertullus. He spoke kindly, and he told the truth. He told Felix the facts. The leaders could not prove anything against him. Paul said he worshiped the God of his people. He believed what God had written in the Scriptures. Paul also had hope in God. One day God will raise all people from death. Paul knew Jesus had already risen! Because of that hope, Paul tried hard to do right. You can be kind and honest at the same time. Your hope can be in Jesus too.

Paul told Felix the truth in a kind way. Paul had hope in God. One day God will raise people from death!

Adjourned. Felix had “more accurate knowledge of the Way” (24:22), so he most likely knew the believers were not dangerous. Yet he did not set Paul free. He said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” Some freedom. Felix told the centurion “to keep Paul and to let him have liberty,” and not to “forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him” (24:23). Faith in Christ. Later Felix came “with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish,” and “heard him concerning the faith in Christ” (24:24). Three subjects. Paul “reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” (24:25). Righteousness means being right with God and doing what is right. Self-control means saying no to what is wrong. The judgment to come is the day God will judge every person. Afraid. “Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you’” (24:25). He heard the truth, but he pushed it away. Money. “He also hoped that money would be given him by Paul” (24:26). Felix wanted a bribe, money paid to get an unfair decision. Two years. “But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound” (24:27). Most likely he wanted to please the leaders who had accused Paul. Still on the way. The Lord had told Paul, “so you must also bear witness at Rome” (23:11). Two years of waiting did not cancel that promise. What we learn. When God speaks to your heart, listen to Him. And when you have to wait, keep trusting Jesus. God keeps His promises, even when the wait is long.

Accurate knowledge (24:22). “But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.’” Felix knew enough about the Way to judge the charges, and he still would not decide. Custody with liberty (24:23). He “commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.” Paul was guarded, yet his friends could care for him. Drusilla (24:24). Felix came “with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish,” and “heard him concerning the faith in Christ.” The governor and his wife heard the gospel from a prisoner. Three subjects (24:25). Paul “reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come.” Righteousness is what God requires. Self-control is mastery over our own desires. The judgment to come is God’s final verdict on every life. Together they leave every listener needing a Savior. Afraid (24:25). “Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’” Fear without faith led him to send the message away. Hoping for money (24:26). “Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.” Felix talked with Paul often, most likely more interested in a payment than in the truth. Two years (24:27). “But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.” Most likely the favor was for the high priest and elders who had accused him (24:1). The promise stands. The Lord had said, “so you must also bear witness at Rome” (23:11). Delay was not defeat. Application. Hearing the truth is not the same as receiving it. Respond to Christ while He speaks to you. And when God’s timing feels slow, keep trusting the One who keeps His word.

Felix already knew much about the Way of Jesus. But he did not set Paul free. Later Paul told Felix and Drusilla about believing in Jesus. He talked about right living and self-control. He also talked about the day when God will judge everyone. Felix heard the truth about Jesus, but he sent Paul away. Felix hoped for money instead. So Paul waited in prison for two years. That was not fair. But Jesus was with Paul every day. When God speaks to your heart, listen to Him. When you must wait, keep trusting Jesus.

Paul told Felix and Drusilla about Jesus. Felix kept Paul waiting for two years. God was with Paul the whole time.

Paul Is Sent to Felix

🎉 All words found!