Lesson for August 6, 2025

Paul the Apostle

Lesson 11

Acts 24:1-27

Paul Before Felix, the Governor of Caesarea 

Verses 1-6

“Now after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges against Paul to the governor. ² After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began accusing him, saying to the governor, ‘Since we have attained great peace through you, and since reforms are being carried out for this nation by your foresight, ³ we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴ But, that I may not weary you further, I beg you to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness. ⁵ For we have found this man a public menace and one who stirs up dissensions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ And he even tried to desecrate the temple, so indeed we arrested him.’”

In Acts 23, a plot to kill Paul was revealed to the commander. So, the commander sent Paul to Felix, the Roman governor, in Caesarea. Acts 23:23 says, “And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.” They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” We will see in Acts 24:26, that Felix thought he could make money from him. So, he put Paul up in the governor’s palace, the Praetorium, until his accusers arrived. Under Roman guard, Paul had been brought safely to Caesarea, thus frustrating the plot of the forty Jewish assassins sent to kill him. (Acts 23:12-14) The Sanhedrin hired a lawyer named Tertullus to present their case before Felix and Ananias. The Jewish “elders” who came with Ananias were members of the Sanhedrin. So, Paul was about to present the Gospel to three of the most famous people of his day: 1) Felix, the present governor 2) Festus, the next governor 3) to Herod Agrippa II, King of the Jews who was a member of one of the most famous families of the ancient world. While Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea, these three men heard the Gospel, as we will see here and in the upcoming lessons.

Since we have attained great peace through you, and since reforms are being carried out for this nation by your foresight. It can be seen immediately that the prosecutor had a weak case, and so he started by flattering Felix. The first charge against Paul was disturbing the peace, the second charge was being the leader of a faction called the Nazarenes (Christians), and finally they accused him of profaning the Temple. The implications of the charge were designed to make it seem like Paul had led an attempt to revolt against the Rome Empire.

Verse 8-13

^“By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we are accusing him.” ⁹ The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.¹⁰ And when the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: ‘Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, ¹¹ since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself. ¹³ Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.’” 

Felix had to follow the Roman system of law, which said that a person was innocent until proven guilty and there could be no guilt proven until the defendant had a chance to answer the charges against him.This is important to note because it tells us that at least Felix was seemingly going to follow the correct Roman trial procedures. Paul began by using a similar tactic that Tertullus had used, saying that he was delighted to defend himself before Felix because Felix had a great deal of experience as a judge. Paul appealed to the spirit of Roman law and to an objective attitude on the part of the judge, expecting a fair hearing for the defense. Paul denied the charges and demanded proof of guilt. 

Verses 14-16

^“But I confess this to you, that in accordance with the Way, which they call a sect, I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and is written in the Prophets; ¹⁵ having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.”

The accusations against Paul were things the Jews claimed he did in Jerusalem. What he did in Jerusalem was in no way contrary to the Mosaic Law or what the Prophets taught. He was absolutely innocent of causing a riot, starting a revolution, or profaning the Temple. Paul said his conscience was clear before God and others. He then explained why he had been in Jerusalem.

Verses 17-21

^“Now after several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings, ¹⁸ in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia, ¹⁹ who ought to have been present before you and to have been bringing charges, if they should have anything against me. ²⁰ Or else have these men themselves declare what violation they discovered when I stood before the Council, ²¹ other than in regard to this one declaration which I shouted while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today!’”

Paul’s reason for being in Jerusalem was legitimate and had nothing to do with what he was accused of by the Jews. Paul asked why the men who stirred up this controversy in the first place, were not present. Everyone under Roman law had the right to face their accusers. They had not brought up one bit of evidence to show Paul had been profaning the Temple, that he was in the synagogues all over Judea talking against Rome, or that he had incited a riot. They had no evidence. The only people who had accused Paul in Jerusalem were the Asian Jews, and they didn’t even show their faces in the Roman court. They didn’t dare, because they were in violation of Roman law themselves, by stirring up trouble, and could have been seized and punished if the case showed them to be the instigators.

Verses 22-27

^“But Felix, having quite accurate knowledge about the Way, adjourned them, saying, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.’ ²³ He gave orders to the centurion for Paul to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from providing for his needs.”

Felix knew that Paul was not guilty, but Felix was an opportunist and sought to use the situation to his political and monetary advantage. So, Felix said he wanted more facts from other sources. He continued to keep Paul under house arrest until Paul’s departure to Rome, hoping he would receive money in the form of a bribe. Felix was thinking that if he let Paul’s friends come and go freely, they would bring Paul money to pay Felix a bribe for his release.

Verses 24-27

^“Now some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and responded, ‘Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.’ ²⁶ At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and talk with him. ²⁷ But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul imprisoned.”

Felix invited Paul to spend the day with him and his wife and Paul was able to share the Gospel with two of the most famous people in the Roman Empire. There were a lot of conversations during the day when he was at the palace with them. Paul reasoned with Felix and his wife, Drusilla, throughout the day about Jesus and the Gospel, until Felix got frightened.

Felix was fearful, perhaps realizing he was going to be judged by God, so he sent Paul away, not wanting to hear any more about Jesus and the Gospel. But Felix continued speaking with Paul during the time he was there, in the hope that a bribe would be forthcoming. After two years, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Once Festus arrived, Paul was no longer treated in the manner in which Felix had done because Festus wasn’t interested in a bribe.

Paul witnessed to Felix and Drusilla in the same manner that the Holy Spirit convicts a person – of sin (lack of self-control), of righteousness, and of judgment. Jesus explained the meaning in John 16:8-11, “And He (the Holy Spirit), when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me;and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”

The Holy Spirit convinces (convicts) a person that sin has caused them to be separated from God and in need of a Savior. He convinces them of the need to come up to God’s standard of righteousness which was personified in the Person of Jesus. And no one can measure up to Him without having His righteousness given to them as a gift, which occurs at salvation. The Holy Spirit also convinces unbelievers that there is a day of judgment coming where they will stand before Jesus and be judged for their rejection of Him as Savior. This is all done in an effort to convince a person to put their faith in Jesus as their Savior.