Chronological Bible Study – Dec 13
What I Noticed Today (Acts 24-26)
Acts 24
In verses 1-9, after five days, the high priest, some of the elders, and a lawyer named Tertullus came before Felix in Caesarea. The lawyer began with an opening statement and accused Paul of 1) being an agitator against Rome, 2) being a ringleader of a sect of Nazarenes, and 3) desecrating the temple. He said if it had not been for Lysias interfering, they would have dealt with Paul themselves.
Note: Felix would not be concerned with issues of Jewish law, but he would be concerned with accusations that Paul was inciting people against Rome.
In verses 10-21, Paul gives Felix a defense against the accusations made by the Jews. This is his second defense or apologetic speech recorded by Luke.
It was 12 days since he was in the temple. He was there to worship and was not causing a disturbance in the temple complex or in the synagogue. Paul continued saying his accusers could bring no evidence against him proving their allegations. However, said Paul, he confessed to worshipping God according to the Way as written by the Law and the Prophets and believed in the resurrection. He always attempted to keep his conscience clear (not offending). Paul concluded saying his true accusers were not even present (the Jews from Asia) and ultimately, he was brought before Felix over the issue of the resurrection.
Note: There were no legitimate charges to bring against Paul because the Sanhedrin had not found him guilty and his accusers were not present before Felix.
In verses 22-27, Felix was familiar with the Way (the Christian beliefs) and adjourned the trial saying he would decide the case when Lysias, the commander, arrived. In the meantime, he ordered a centurion to keep Paul under guard while allowing him some freedom and visitors.
Note: Paul’s imprisonment under Felix was much like a house arrest.
After some days, Felix, with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, sent for Paul to listen to him about his faith in Jesus. When Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and judgment, Felix became afraid and sent Paul away.
Note: Felix may have been fearful of God’s judgment since he had taken his wife, Drusilla, away from her first husband, Azizus.
Felix sent for Paul and spoke with him often because he was hoping Paul would bribe him to be released. After two years, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus as proconsul. As a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Acts 25
In verses 1-12, Luke records Paul’s defense before Festus.
Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he visited Jerusalem. The chief priests and elders there appealed to Festus to bring Paul to trial in Jerusalem. Their plan was to ambush Paul along the way and kill him. Festus refused, saying they should come to Caesarea to present their charges to him there.
After 8-10 more days, Festus went to Caesarea, and the next day had Paul brought before him. The Jews who came brought many serious charges against Paul but couldn’t prove any of them. Paul once again proclaimed his innocence. Festus asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to face the charges against him.
Paul insisted that being in Caesar’s tribunal was the proper place for the charges since they were civil in nature. He then appealed to Caesar. After consulting with his council, Festus said since Paul had appealed to Caesar, he would be sent to Caesar.
Note: Paul likely remembered the 40 men who had taken an oath to kill him and realized that going back to Jerusalem was not only dangerous, but he would never get a fair trial there. Festus seemed happy to shift the responsibility for deciding the case to Caesar.
Acts 25:13- 26:32
In this section, Luke presents Paul’s defense before Herod Agrippa II.
Note: Herod Agrippa II was the grandson of Herod the Great. He was about 30 years old when he met with Paul. At the time, because of his family’s relationship with Rome, he had been appointed as king of the territories northeast of Palestine. Additionally, Rome had given him the authority to appoint the high priest in Jerusalem. Bernice was his sister, and he was having an incestuous relationship with her.
In verses 13-22, Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a visit to Festus. Festus presented Paul’s case to Agrippa; about how he had been in Jerusalem and heard the accusations against Paul. In Caesarea, he found no charges against Paul except for the dispute of the resurrection. He had offered to let Paul go back to Jerusalem for trial before the Sanhedrin, but Paul had appealed to Caesar.
The next day, Festus and Bernice came with commanders and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered Paul to be brought before him. Festus stated all of the Jews had demanded that Paul deserved to die, but he had found no charges against him deserving of death. Since Paul had appealed to Caesar and Festus had nothing to write to Caesar, he hoped after meeting with Agrippa, he would have something to write.
Note: As before, when referring a case to a higher Roman authority, the subordinate was required to write a letter stating the charges and facts of the case. Felix didn’t know what to write, so he was hoping Agrippa’s knowledge of Jewish customs would enable him to write a letter specifying the charges to Caesar.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- The Jewish leaders conspired to kill Paul, but Paul’s nephew somehow found out about the plot. All the false charges and lies could not stand against Paul, who was blameless before God. God was working behind the scenes to protect Paul, just as He had promised.
- All the time Paul spent in prison in Caesarea, he was protected, and with each of his defenses before the Roman leaders, he was able to preach his beliefs about Christ just as God said he would.
Acts 26
In verses 1-32, Luke records Paul’s defense before Agrippa. It has six major sections:
- Paul begins with a complimentary introduction directed to Agrippa (vv. 2-3).
- Paul describes his early life as a Jew (vv. 4-8).
- Paul describes his zeal against the followers of Jesus (vv. 9-11).
- Paul describes his Damascus road conversion and commission by God to preach the Gospel (vv. 12-18).
- Paul describes his ministry among the Jews and Gentiles (vv. 19-23).
- Paul debates Festus and Agrippa (vv. 24-29).
Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, and those sitting with them got up and met to discuss Paul. They concluded that Paul had done nothing to deserve being bound and held or death. If he had not appealed to Caesar, he could have been released.
Note: Paul’s rhetorical question to Agrippa in verse 27 (“Do you believe in the prophets? I know you believe.”), boxes Agrippa into a corner. If he says he does not believe, he is rejecting the prophets and their message. If he says he does believe the prophets, then he has to admit that Jesus fulfilled the message of the prophets and is the Messiah. His only way out was to dodge Paul’s question with another question.
Note: By the end of his defense to Agrippa, many had declared Paul’s innocence: The Pharisees (23:9), the commander Claudius Lysias (23:9), Festus the Governor, and now King Agrippa.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.