Acts 24 - Who Is Really On Trial? Paul or King Felix?

Acts 24

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

I imagine Tertullus to be a slick talking lawyer who is trying to "sweet talk" King Felix by attributing the peace they have to him. He compliments his wisdom. He calls him Most Excellent Felix hoping his flattery can get him an audience with the king.   

5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.  8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

Tertullus then presents his case against Paul. He paints a picture of Paul as someone who is trying to foment resurrection with the radical members of the so-called Nazarene sect. 

Ancient Judea was filled with would-be messiahs and revolutionaries against Rome. Tertullus wanted to put Paul in the same group with these kinds of terrorists. A ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: The reference to Paul being a Nazarene was intended to connect him to a generally despised and lowly place. It was a term of slight scorn used for the followers of Jesus. Nazareth had a poor reputation as a city. - Guzik

The other Jews there made it known they were in agreement. 

10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Paul calmly laid out the facts of the matter. He quickly dismissed the accusations of the Jews pointing  to his actions, which were known to everyone over the past 12 days. But then he pivots, as he sees the opportunity to share the gospel with Felix. He doesn't back down that he was going there to worship "the God of our ancestors". 

Paul is setting the table to make the important connection between the Old Testament and New Testament. The common starting point is "the God of our ancestors". He says that he is a "follower of the way." Christians were commonly by called this term. I had a bible in 8th grade Confirmation called "The Way".  In John 14, Jesus called himself, "the way, the truth, and the life".

Paul is making the case that what he believes he is purely based on the Hebrew bible, which is made up of the Law and the Prophets. Paul slips in that like the other Pharisees, he believes in the resurrection of the dead. It is for this reason that he strives to keep and respect God's Law. 

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’” 

Paul recounts all the reasons why there is really no case against him, as he was merely obeying his religious duty to come to the temple in Jerusalem and give gifts to the poor. Paul can only find one thing he was guilty of, preaching about the resurrection of the dead. That's what got him in hot water and he is not ashamed at all of it. 

“This was a strong point in his defense: the people who had raised the hue and cry in the first instance, claiming to be eyewitnesses of his alleged sacrilege, had not troubled to be present.” (Bruce) 

Because Paul was in the right, he consistently called the case back to the evidence, the very thing his accusers avoided. Christians should never be timid about or ashamed of the truth or of the evidence. If we are truly following God, the truth and evidence are our friends, not our accusers.(Guzik)

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

Felix was definitely not convinced that Paul had done anything wrong. The charges against him were weak with no real evidence to condemn him. Felix kept Paul but gave him the privilege of seeing his friends who cared for him. This shows that Paul's brothers and sisters in Christ who had not abandoned him. 

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Since Felix's wife was Jewish, maybe Felix thought she would be more educated in the ways of Judaism Paul was describing to him earlier. As Paul talked about faith and the Christian life, Felix got nervous. Why?

Hearing this message made Felix afraid. Knowing something about his life, at least we can say that he probably understood it. The gospel should make those who are intent on rejecting Jesus afraid.

When we talk about sin and judgment people get nervous, if they don't have the peace that comes from being justified by faith in Jesus. If we are relying on our own righteousness at the judgment day, we have reason to be afraid. As the prophet said, 

"Our righteousness is like filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6

Felix dismissed Paul and hoped he could bribe him. The further he got away from Paul probably the better in his mind. After all, Felix was getting very uncomfortable thinking about his standing before a holy God and the possibility of being judged for his sin one day. 

I can confess as a pastor it is sometimes I don't preach enough on sin and judgment. I would rather focus on the Good News of what Jesus has done for us on the cross, as well I should. I love talking about Jesus' love, but talk enough about his justice. I think part of it is that a lot of people have gotten really turned off by the church when it only focuses sin, judgment, and the fear of being thrown into hell one day. But maybe those people are a lot like Felix. They leave because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the thought of having to change their ways. 

Yes, Jesus loves us. He loved us so much he died for us on a cross. But Jesus still calls us to pick up our cross, die to ourselves, and follow him. We need to remember that we will not be judged for our sin because of what Jesus did on the cross, but we will be judged on how we used the grace we have been given.