返回Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Acts 24:1–4. After five days the high priest Ananias came down with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who brought their complaints against Paul before the governor. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
Again, something is lacking in the words "they complained to the governor about Paul" for the completeness of the thought, which should be as follows: they presented a written accusation against Paul.
"To you… we owe much peace." You see how from the very first he predisposes the judge in his favor with praises, and how he tries to portray Paul as an innovator and troublemaker.
Acts 24:5–9. Having found this man to be a plague upon society, an instigator of sedition among the Jews living throughout the world, and a ringleader of the Nazarene heresy, who even dared to profane the temple, we seized him and wished to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came and with great violence took him from our hands, and sent him to you, commanding us, his accusers, also to come to you. You yourself may, upon examination, learn from him about everything of which we accuse him. And the Jews confirmed this, saying that it was so.
To be numbered among the Nazarenes was a matter of disgrace; therefore Tertullus was demeaning Paul from this angle as well, since Nazareth was an insignificant city.
He calls the Nazarenes heretics, as though such a sect also existed among the Jews. But Tertullus was a Greek, which is precisely why he was the one delivering the oration or accusing Paul.
Acts 24:10–15. Paul, when the governor gave him a sign to speak, answered: Knowing that you have justly judged this people for many years, I will the more freely defend my case. You can ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I came to Jerusalem to worship. And neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor throughout the city did they find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, and they cannot prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the teaching which they call a heresy, I indeed serve the God of my fathers, believing all things written in the law and the prophets, having hope in God that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, which they themselves also expect.
So far, says Paul, am I from stirring up disturbances, that I came to Jerusalem to worship. He dwells on this point because it presented a strong proof of his innocence.
"I truly serve the God of my fathers, believing." When, after being called to be Christ's apostle, Paul says that he serves the God of his fathers, he shows by this that the God of the Old and New Testaments is One and the Same.
Acts 24:16–21. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. These were certain Jews from Asia, who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here say, what injustice they found in me, while I stood before the council, except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, that touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
We show perfect virtue when we both give people no occasion for stumbling and strive to be blameless before God.
"Let these same men say what wrong they found in me." They found wrong at the assembly, when an inquiry was made. And that I speak the truth, my very accusers themselves testify to this. Not to avoid one's accusers, but to be ready to give an answer to everyone, is a sign of undoubted righteousness. At first they were even offended that I preached the resurrection, because after this preaching it was easy to add also what pertains to Christ — that He rose from the dead.
Acts 24:22–23. Having heard this, Felix deferred their case, saying: I will examine your case when the tribune Lysias comes, and I will learn in detail about this teaching. And he commanded the centurion to guard Paul, but not to restrict him and not to forbid any of his friends from ministering to him or coming to him.
He intentionally postponed the case – not in order to investigate it, but to get rid of the Jews and give relief to Paul, since he did not want to punish him for their sake.
"I will examine your case when the tribune Lysias arrives." Felix, instructed from the Old Testament in the things pertaining to Christ, knew well the faith of Paul and did not release him out of people-pleasing, as it says below: "desiring to do the Jews a favor" (v. 27). Or perhaps he also thought to obtain money from Paul. Felix knew about the things pertaining to Christ because he had a Jewish wife, from whom he often heard about these matters.
Acts 24:24–27. After some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and answered: Go away for now, and when I find a convenient time, I will call for you. At the same time he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, so that he might release him; therefore he sent for him often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. And Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
Being a Jewess, Drusilla, contrary to the law, married a Greek; or, perhaps, although she was a Jewess, upon marrying she became a Greek. Therefore, wishing to convert her husband, she communicated her faith to him.
"Felix became afraid." Such was the power contained in Paul's words that even the governor was frightened.
"Therefore he sent for him often and conversed with him." Do you see what truthfulness breathes in what is written? He sent for Paul often not because he admired him or because he approved of his words, and not because he wished to believe, but because he hoped that he would be given money.
Acts 24:1–4. After five days the high priest Ananias came down with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who brought their complaints against Paul before the governor. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
Again, something is lacking in the words "they complained to the governor about Paul" for the completeness of the thought, which should be as follows: they presented a written accusation against Paul.
"To you… we owe much peace." You see how from the very first he predisposes the judge in his favor with praises, and how he tries to portray Paul as an innovator and troublemaker.
Acts 24:5–9. Having found this man to be a plague upon society, an instigator of sedition among the Jews living throughout the world, and a ringleader of the Nazarene heresy, who even dared to profane the temple, we seized him and wished to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came and with great violence took him from our hands, and sent him to you, commanding us, his accusers, also to come to you. You yourself may, upon examination, learn from him about everything of which we accuse him. And the Jews confirmed this, saying that it was so.
To be numbered among the Nazarenes was a matter of disgrace; therefore Tertullus was demeaning Paul from this angle as well, since Nazareth was an insignificant city.
He calls the Nazarenes heretics, as though such a sect also existed among the Jews. But Tertullus was a Greek, which is precisely why he was the one delivering the oration or accusing Paul.
Acts 24:10–15. Paul, when the governor gave him a sign to speak, answered: Knowing that you have justly judged this people for many years, I will the more freely defend my case. You can ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I came to Jerusalem to worship. And neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor throughout the city did they find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, and they cannot prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the teaching which they call a heresy, I indeed serve the God of my fathers, believing all things written in the law and the prophets, having hope in God that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, which they themselves also expect.
So far, says Paul, am I from stirring up disturbances, that I came to Jerusalem to worship. He dwells on this point because it presented a strong proof of his innocence.
"I truly serve the God of my fathers, believing." When, after being called to be Christ's apostle, Paul says that he serves the God of his fathers, he shows by this that the God of the Old and New Testaments is One and the Same.
Acts 24:16–21. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. These were certain Jews from Asia, who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here say, what injustice they found in me, while I stood before the council, except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, that touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
We show perfect virtue when we both give people no occasion for stumbling and strive to be blameless before God.
"Let these same men say what wrong they found in me." They found wrong at the assembly, when an inquiry was made. And that I speak the truth, my very accusers themselves testify to this. Not to avoid one's accusers, but to be ready to give an answer to everyone, is a sign of undoubted righteousness. At first they were even offended that I preached the resurrection, because after this preaching it was easy to add also what pertains to Christ — that He rose from the dead.
Acts 24:22–23. Having heard this, Felix deferred their case, saying: I will examine your case when the tribune Lysias comes, and I will learn in detail about this teaching. And he commanded the centurion to guard Paul, but not to restrict him and not to forbid any of his friends from ministering to him or coming to him.
He intentionally postponed the case – not in order to investigate it, but to get rid of the Jews and give relief to Paul, since he did not want to punish him for their sake.
"I will examine your case when the tribune Lysias arrives." Felix, instructed from the Old Testament in the things pertaining to Christ, knew well the faith of Paul and did not release him out of people-pleasing, as it says below: "desiring to do the Jews a favor" (v. 27). Or perhaps he also thought to obtain money from Paul. Felix knew about the things pertaining to Christ because he had a Jewish wife, from whom he often heard about these matters.
Acts 24:24–27. After some days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and answered: Go away for now, and when I find a convenient time, I will call for you. At the same time he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, so that he might release him; therefore he sent for him often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. And Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
Being a Jewess, Drusilla, contrary to the law, married a Greek; or, perhaps, although she was a Jewess, upon marrying she became a Greek. Therefore, wishing to convert her husband, she communicated her faith to him.
"Felix became afraid." Such was the power contained in Paul's words that even the governor was frightened.
"Therefore he sent for him often and conversed with him." Do you see what truthfulness breathes in what is written? He sent for Paul often not because he admired him or because he approved of his words, and not because he wished to believe, but because he hoped that he would be given money.