1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Paul remained confined for five days until Ananias came to Caesarea with some elders and an orator named Tertullus. Before Tertullus presented the facts of the case, he opened with flattery, describing how, under Felix, they enjoyed much peace and prosperity in the nation. The reality, revealed by Tacitus, the Roman historian, is that Felix “reveled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.” His time in office yielded neither peace nor prosperity. Tertullus then presented Paul’s case in a completely different light to the official letter Felix had received from Claudius Lysias, the commander in Jerusalem. He described Paul as a plague who caused dissension among the Jews and throughout the world. He referred to him as a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes (named after Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth). The climax of their accusation was that Paul had tried to profane the temple but they seized him. The Jews with them confirmed all that was said.
When Paul was given a chance to speak he didn’t flatter Felix but acknowledged his ability to judge accurately. Paul explained that he had only recently arrived in Jerusalem to worship and deliver a financial gift to the church in Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-29). He rightly claimed that they had not found him disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple, in the synagogues, or anywhere in the city and they were unable to prove the claims they had made against him. Paul explained that his belief, which they called a sect, was essentially the same as his accusers. They worshipped the same God and believed the same Scriptures and had a shared hope in the resurrection (with the Pharisees). Paul asserted that he had always sought to keep a clear conscience before God and man. Paul explained that some Jews from Asia had found him purified in the temple without any crowd or uproar. They were the ones who had the original problem with him and should have been present to make their case if they had anything against him. Alternatively those present should explain what wrongdoing they found in him when he appeared before their council. Because they had not found him guilty, they had no legitimate case against him.
Felix already had a good understanding of the Way (Christianity) and so he adjourned the meeting and held his judgment for a later time. In what was likely a delay tactic, he said he would decide the case when Lysias came down, but he already had his views in the letter. He gave orders to the centurion to keep Paul in custody but with some liberty and will full access by his friends to care for his needs.
Felix then had Paul speak about his faith before him and his wife, Drusilla, a Jew. When Paul spoke of righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix was convicted and sent Paul away. His conviction didn’t lead to any life change because over the next two years he kept summoning Paul to discuss these matters, but his underlying motivation was to receive a bribe. Felix never did rule on Paul’s case but left him in prison when he was succeeded by Porcius Festus.
Despite his difficult circumstance, Paul knew he would make it to Rome. He didn’t turn to lies or bribery to get out of his situation but he rested in the knowledge that God was in control. Does your faith in God’s sovereign control allow you to live a life of integrity?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
A Superior Priesthood: Hebrews 7-8