The Initial Hearing Before Felix
Acts 24:1-21
1 And after five days Ananias
the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named
Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2 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, 3 We accept
it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Notwithstanding,
that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us
of thy clemency a few words. 5 For we have found this man a
pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the
world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6 Who also
hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged
according to our law. 7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us,
and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8 Commanding
his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take
knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. 9 And the Jews
also assented, saying that these things were so. 10 Then Paul, after that the
governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that
thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully
answer for myself: 11 Because that thou mayest understand, that
there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. 12
And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither
raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13 Neither
can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14 But this I
confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the
God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the
prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also
allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and
unjust. 16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a
conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. 17 Now after
many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18 Whereupon
certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude,
nor with tumult. 19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and
object, if they had ought against me. 20 Or else let these same here
say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among
them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this
day.
Introduction:
Paul finally made it to Jerusalem. And now Paul has made
it alive out of Jerusalem. Paul has been interrupted every time he had
opportunity to speak in Jerusalem in his own defense.
“Toto, I've a feeling
we're not in Kansas anymore.”
Let’s see Paul’s accusers
interrupt him now! Let’s see them treat him like they did in Jerusalem, now
that the Romans are in control of the hearing in Caesarea!
Outline:
I. The Prosecution Presented by Tertullus for the Jews
(24:1-9)
1. The Occasion for the
Prosecution (24:1)
2. The Presentation of the
Charges (24:2-8)
3. The Affirmation of the
Accusations (24:9)
II. Paul’s Self-Defense (24:10-21)
1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to
Felix in His Own Defense (24:10)
2. Paul’s Response to the First
Charge (24:11-13)
3. Paul’s Response to the Second
Charge (24:14-21)
Transition:
It is important to keep in mind two items of vital
background information as this hearing begins:
1. The letter from Claudius Lysias to Felix, and,
2. The historical information about the character of
Felix, and the impact of his rule on the Jews.
I. The Prosecution Presented by Tertullus for the Jews
(24:1-9)
1. The Occasion for the Prosecution (24:1)
2. The Presentation of the Charges (24:2-8)
3. The Affirmation of the Accusations (24:9)
1. The Occasion for the Prosecution (24:1)
1
And after five days Ananias the high
priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus,
who informed the governor against Paul.
“a certain orator named Tertullus” - This is a smooth
move on the part of the Jews. They seem aware of the carefulness they need to
operate with given this change of venue, which has removed the prosecution of
Paul from their control. This is about playing politics, and attempting to win
over Felix to their side with a skilled spokesman. How they are operating now
is quite different from the incidents which Claudius Lysias witness in their
midst in Jerusalem!
2. The Presentation of the Charges (24:2-8)
1) The Flattery of Felix (24:2-4)
2) The First Charge — Sedition, a violation of Roman Law
(24:5)
3) The Second Charge — Desecration, a violation of Jewish
Law (24:6)
4) The Complication — Prosecution in the proper venue
prevented by Lysias (24:7-8)
1) The Flattery of
Felix (24:2-4)
2 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,
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most
noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Notwithstanding, that I be not
further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy
clemency a few words.
Read: “You have been a royal pain to our nation, the
cause of great disruptions among our people. You have been guilty of many
criminal offenses in your corrupt rule, which rule we reject bitterly, and thus
expect no fair hearing or justice at your hands.”
If this were a ball game, there would not be 9 innings.
There is only one inning in this ball game, and Tertullus is on the mind. There
will only be 3 pitches thrown, and if they are not strikes then the side will
be retired. However, this pitch sets the pace for this first half of this one
inning ball game. Tertullus is throwing illegal pitches that were gradually outlawed
between 1919 and 1934. They were nicknamed “spit balls.” It does not look good for
Tertullus if this is the best Ananias has in his dugout!
2) The First
Charge — Sedition, a violation of Roman Law (24:5)
5 For we have found this man a
pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the
world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
Read: “No one could be more disturbing to our
troublemaking than he who was authorized by us to persecute the followers of
Jesus Christ, whom we crucified.”
3) The Second
Charge — Desecration, a violation of Jewish Law (24:6)
6 Who also hath gone about to
profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
Read: “…would have murdered in cold blood.”
4) The Complication
— Prosecution in the proper venue prevented by Lysias (24:7-8)
7 But the chief captain Lysias came
upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8 Commanding
his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take
knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
There is a textual issue involving the end of verse 6,
all of verse 7, and the beginning of verse 8.
However, without these words we are left with no
explanation for the determination of Felix in verse 22: “And
when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said,
When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of
your matter.”
Read: “…who prevented the violence that we were about to
perpetrate.”
3. The Affirmation of the Accusations (24:9)
9 And the Jews also assented,
saying that these things were so.
The many against the one.
This is a familiar scenario in the history of the
faithful!
From Noah, to Elijah, from Christ to Paul, from
Athanasius to Martin Luther, it has been the same!
2 Timothy 4:16-18 — 16
At
my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God
that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding
the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be
fully known, and that all the
Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from
every evil work, and will preserve me
unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Note: What Paul refers
to in this “swan song,” his final epistle prior to his execution, may possibly refer
to his attempt at an informal defense in Acts 22:1, to this this event which stands
as a formal pre-trial hearing, or to an unknown initial hearing in Rome before Caesar.
II. Paul’s Self-Defense (24:10-21)
1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to Felix in His Own Defense
(24:10)
2. Paul’s Response to the First Charge (24:11-13)
3. Paul’s Response to the Second Charge (24:14-21)
1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to Felix in His Own
Defense (24:10)
10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to
speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge
unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
No flattery here! What a contrast to the opening
statement by the “orator”!
2. Paul’s Response to the First Charge (24:11-13)
1) The Time Period Involved in the Charge Insufficient
(24:11)
2) The Absence of Activity Anywhere to Substantiate the
Charge (24:12)
3) The Absence of any Proof of the Charges (24:13)
1) The Time Period
Involved in the Charge Insufficient (24:11)
11 Because that thou mayest understand,
that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
The significant point here is the limited time period:
“yet but twelve days.”
They give me an awful lot of credit if they claim that he
could do all of this in less than two weeks!
2) The Absence of
Activity Anywhere to Substantiate the Charge (24:12)
12 And they neither found me in the
temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the
synagogues, nor in the city:
Paul makes a specific point about the fact that he never
engaged in any arguments, nor attempted to stir up anyone in any venue: not in
the Temple, or in any of the synagogues in Jerusalem, nor in public.
3) The Absence of any
Proof of the Charges (24:13)
13 Neither can they prove the
things whereof they now accuse me.
Where is their proof?
3. Paul’s Response to the Second Charge (24:14-21)
1) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence According to the
Scriptures (24:14-16)
2) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Regarding the Charge of
Desecration (24:17-19)
3) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Before the Jewish
Council (24:20-21)
1) Paul’s
Declaration of Innocence According to the Scriptures (24:14-16)
14 But this I confess unto thee,
that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15 And
have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a
resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And herein
do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God,
and toward men.
What they call heresy, I call the truth of God!
My faith and my worship is rooted in the Scriptures!
My hope is in something that they themselves will not
deny, the general resurrection of the dead!
My conscience is clear, and I am not guilty of anything
against God or men!
2) Paul’s
Declaration of Innocence Regarding the Charge of Desecration (24:17-19)
17 Now after many years I came to
bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18 Whereupon certain Jews
from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with
tumult. 19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if
they had ought against me.
Here is what really happened!
Any tumult was their doing!
Where are the individuals who fabricated this false
accusation, and created the initial disruption in the Temple?
Why aren’t they here?
3) Paul’s
Declaration of Innocence Before the Jewish Council (24:20-21)
20 Or else let these same here say,
if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, 21
Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them,
Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
Why didn’t they deal with this in their own council when
they had the opportunity?
The only real issue on the table that there is any proof
of at all is my belief in the resurrection!
Conclusion:
The many against the one.
This is a familiar scenario in the history of the
faithful!
From Noah, to Elijah, from Christ to Paul, from
Athanasius to Martin Luther, it has been the same!
2 Timothy 4:16-18 — 16 At my
first answer no man stood with me, but all men
forsook me: I pray God that it may
not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me,
and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I
was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me
from every evil work, and will preserve me
unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul could stand alone.
You can stand alone.
Paul was not really alone.
You are not not ever really alone.
Paul was a prisoner, who was not free to go where he
wanted.
He would not have chosen this avenue.
Paul had been the subject of violent and frightening
opposition.
He did not anticipate this turn of events.
However, Paul keeps speaking of hope.
Paul is looking far beyond his circumstances, and the
events of this life.
With the eye of hope he sees and seizes opportunities
like this to witness to Christ and the truth of God’s ultimate triumph over death
and sin.
Opportunities continue to be laid before the people of
God even in the midst of violent persectution, unjust imprisonment, and wicked
false accusations.
God does not just “use” wicked turns of events.
God designs and controls every event.
He is not in the business of merely “making the best of a
bad situation.”
God’s best is every situation He places His people into.
The way of the cross is His way.
What the eye of the flesh considers the worst things that
can happen, the eye of faith understands as the best.
His hand does not just hold the future.
God’s hand has shaped our past, and is in absolute
control of our present.
Complete outline:
I. The Prosecution Presented by Tertullus for the Jews
(24:1-9)
1. The Occasion for the
Prosecution (24:1)
2. The Presentation of the
Charges (24:2-8)
1) The Flattery of Felix
(24:2-4)
2) The First Charge — Sedition,
a violation of Roman Law (24:5)
3) The Second Charge —
Desecration, a violation of Jewish Law (24:6)
4) The Complication — Prosecution
in the proper venue prevented by Lysias (24:7-8)
3. The Affirmation of the
Accusations (24:9)
II. Paul’s Self-Defense (24:10-21)
1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to
Felix in His Own Defense (24:10)
2. Paul’s Response to the First
Charge (24:11-13)
1) The Time Period Involved in
the Charge Insufficient (24:11)
2) The Absence of Activity
Anywhere to Substantiate the Charge (24:12)
3) The Absence of any Proof of
the Charges (24:13)
3. Paul’s Response to the Second
Charge (24:14-21)
1) Paul’s Declaration of
Innocence According to the Scriptures (24:14-16)
2) Paul’s Declaration of
Innocence Regarding the Charge of Desecration (24:17-19)
3) Paul’s Declaration of
Innocence Before the Jewish Council (24:20-21)
[Sermon preached 22
MAR 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Appendix 1 — Resources
on Acts
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Paul Barnett, The
Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 2005).
Darrell L. Bock, Acts,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text
with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of
Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts:
An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The
Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar
New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts,
Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary,
gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers,
1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts,
Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical
Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2012).
W. C. van Unnik, “The ‘Book of Acts’ the Confirmation of
the Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum 4:1
(OCT 1960), pp. 26-59; reprinted in The
Composition of Luke’s Gospel: Selected Studies from Novum Testamentum,
compiled by David E. Orton, Vol. 1 of Brill’s
Readers in Biblical Studies (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 184-218.
William H. Willimon, Acts,
in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for
Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed.
Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Appendix 2 — Resources on Paul
Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural
Studies in 1 Corinthians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).
F. F. Bruce, Paul:
Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1977).
D. A. Carson, The
Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996), pp. 496-501.
W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged
American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Adolf Deissmann, Paul:
A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson
(New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).
F. W. Farrar, The Life
and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and
Letters”, in The Face of New Testament
Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R.
Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.
Richard B.Gaffin, Jr.,
"Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center
on Westminster Theological Seminary
at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].
Frank J. Goodwin, A
Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and
the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Richard N. Longenecker, The
Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).
Richard N. Longenecker, Paul,
Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).
Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life,
Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
Richard N. Longenecker, Studies
In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press,
2004).
J. Gresham Machen, The
Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1925).
Leon Morris, The
Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1955).
John Pollock, The
Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969,
2012); also published as The Man Who
Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York:
Doubleday, 1969).
Stanley E. Porter, Paul
in Acts, in Library of Pauline
Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,
Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of
Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen
Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).
W. M. Ramsay, The
Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A.
C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, Pauline
and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and
Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul
the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton,
1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal
Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
W. M. Ramsay, The
Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York
University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf
[accessed 13 FEB 2013].
A. T. Robertson, Epochs
in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies
And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic,
2008).
Udo Schnelle, Apostle
Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker
Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben
und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).
Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul,
Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL:
IVP Academic, 2001).
James Stalker, The
Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by
Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google
Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=vT0HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 7 FEB 2013].
James Ironside Still, St.
Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).
